He is telling true religion the people that trials shine true light on religion and that is a beautiful thing about Christianity; it can withstand all trials. The biggest trial was showing restraint when Jesus was killed. The religion continued to be pure, even with the Son of God no longer being on Earth. The second is being
Edwards begins his speech by emphasizing on how people in the audience have drifted away from God and how angry God is at most of them . He uses the personification ‘’their damnation does not slumber.., the furnace is now hot and ready to receive them” to create a feeling of fear in the audience by warning them that God will condemn them to hell. His main purpose is to instill fear
Have you ever been deathly afraid of something or someone? If so, then you have experienced some of the emotions that the audience endured during the sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. This is written by the great theologian Jonathan Edwards. It is recorded that many screamed in terror when Edwards was giving this approximately six hour long sermon. This sermon given in a level voice manor was delivered in 1741 as a piece of oratory.
The sermon was meant to make the congregation be mindful that their behavior and while on earth was more vital than anything else. It also seeks out for that specific punishment that looks for sinners in hell because they fail to obey the proper religious qualities as provided by the Holy Scriptures. Edward influences the congregation action; he thought it would be a good idea to discuss God’s anger with different levels of sinning and greed instead of going forth with the cliché warnings about sinning. To attain this objective of guaranteeing that the congregants are aware of their wrong doings in the world, Edward guaranteed that they knew God has the authority to wipe them all
He appeals to the congregation when he says “The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you…” by displaying how strong and powerful God really is. He wanted the people to picture this gruesome image that describes how weak people are in comparison to God’s power. Edwards make God seem merciless when He deals with sinners of the congregation, and wants them to fear God’s punishment against those who wrong Him. He begins to end his sermon by saying “…a day wherein Christ has flung the door calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners…”. He said this to appeal to unconverted men ethically and emotionally by describing how Christ is calling for the people of the congregation to return to him and recant all their sins.
For instance, when he stated in paragraph 6 "Thus all you that never passed under a great change of heart, by the mighty power of the spirit of God upon your soul, all you that were never born again, and made new creatures and raised from dead in sin, to a state of new, and before altogether unexperienced light life, are in the hands of an angry God". This shows if you don't change when God is asking you to, you will never rise again because your being disobedient. God will crush you in the palm of his hands. Just like you crushed his harmless creature. The Sermon also informs the sinner that if you don't apply by God rules you will be death
Edwards uses repetition a number of times in order to further stress his ideas. Throughout the sermon Edwards continues to warn the listeners of “The wrath of God…” (88). The purpose of repeating this phrase is to over stress the concept that God has the ability to cause mass harm at will. The wrath is said to not be unleashed out of sheer pleasure by God. Because of this God must be feared and respected, especially since he is angry.
It is clear that Edwards chose this particular sermon because it was an effective and relative way to convey his message of condemnation. It was the easier way he could reach the audience that his message was targeting. It instilled the fear of what is to come and the unknown futures if they continue to remain stagnant. After the audience had been instilled with fear, he once again brings back the thought of repentance.
Such messages, delivered from a pastor’s heart, surely would have challenged and convicted his congregation to come to God accept God’s mercy and grace for the abundant life only God can
(Edwards) . Edwards is addressing his younger audience by introducing to them the Wrath of God who is supposedly angry at them for not converting. Edwards uses tone to draw attention to the believers and give them a way into the light of
Edward’s was trying to tell people that God love them, and they should love God. He talked about how they should leave their sinful life and give their hearts to God. Edwards believed if the sinner gives their life to God, they will be saved from hill. Edwards purpose to those who listened to his sermon was that what he said is true. And he warned them about the danger of Hell, Edwards was trying to explain to his audience that God is giving them an opportunity to accept God and have salvation.
This lets the congregation know that God’s anger is unknown, and it is important to be converted as soon as possible. Lastly, stated in Edwards sermon is “many that were very lately in the same miserable condition that you are in, are now in a happy state, with their hearts filled with love to him who has loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood” (44). This emphasizes that Jesus died on the cross to save all from their sins, and he doesn’t want any individual in eternal hell but living in eternity in heaven with Him. This statement was made to make sure the unbelievers see that there is a difference in hope that one would convert and not pass up God’s offer to be with
With these ideas and images, he means to perturb his audience, stirring them up emotionally and causing them to be afraid and discontent, desperate for a way out and a way to redeem themselves in the sight of their angry God. Much of this technique is shown throughout the sermon, clearly designed to evoke terror in the
Edwards advises his audience, “God stands ready to pity you; this is a day of mercy; you may now cry with some encouragement of obtaining mercy. But once this day is past, your most lamentable and dolorous cries and shrieks will be in vain…” (21). Throughout his sermon, Edwards provides fearful imagery to frighten the people, but now he gives them hope of lessening God’s wrath.
This is important as He is one who would have as Solomon describes a fear of God. Isaiah then says that He
