Reverend Edwards And The Great Awakening

Jonathan Edwards, a famous preacher in pre-colonial times, composed a sermon that was driven to alert and inject neo Puritanical fear into an eighteenth century congregation. This Bible based and serious audience sought after religious instruction and enlightenment. Through the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Edwards offers a very harsh interpretation to humankind. Edwards utilizes various rhetorical techniques to evoke an emotional response in his audience and to persuade the members of his congregation that their wicked actions will awaken a very ruthless and merciless God.

On July 8th 1741, Jonathan Edwards preached the sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” in Enfield, Connecticut. Edwards states to his listeners that God does not lack in power, and that people have yet not fallen to destruction because his mercy. God is so forgiving that he gives his people an opportunity to repent and change their ways before it was too late. Edwards urges that the possibility of damnation is immanent. Also that it urgently requires the considerations of the sinner before time runs out. He does not only preach about the ways that make God so omnipotent, but the ways that he is more superior to us. In his sermon, Edwards uses strong, powerful, and influential words to clearly point out his message that we must amend

Edwards’ had a completely opposite way of conveying his message. His use of imagery, restatement, repetition, and biblical allusions helped him explain to his readers why they needed to be saved. His tone during his sermon was monotone and calm even though he was describing hell. Many people were terrified of his vivid descriptions of hell. In paragraph one, Edwards’ describes hell as “that lake of burning brimstone.” This is just one of his many descriptions of hell.

In the speech, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” the preacher uses a very extreme and hardcore tone in his words. To express what he means, he gave his congregation some imagery. As he tells them about us having an inevitable fate of burning in hell, he says that it is “ Nothing but the mere pleasure of God” that keeps us from falling into the gaping hole of Hell. This speech, spoken by Jonathan Edwards, strikes fear into one’s heart. With this fear, his attempt at making a point has succeeded.

The Puritans were a group of religious people who sailed to the new world in the early 17th century to establish the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Puritans left Europe in hope to purify the Church of England, and to reestablish a society with firm beliefs in hard work, self-discipline, and devotion to God. The beliefs of the Puritans in the Massachusetts Bay Colony remain firm until the Great Awakening almost a century later. The Great Awakening was a revival of religion in the New World that instructed people to let their heart put their faith in God. The revival spread across the colonies through a series of powerful sermons that attacked the emotions of congregants.

Jonathan Edwards's sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" is moving and powerful. His effectiveness as an eighteenth century New England religious leader is rooted in his expansive knowledge of the Bible and human nature, as well as a genuine desire to "awaken" and save as many souls as possible. This sermon, delivered in 1741, exhibits Edwards's skillful use of these tools to persuade his congregation to join him in his Christian beliefs.

The author of “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, Jonathan Edwards, uses his words to develop a sense of displeasure with those who sin or do not follow in the path of God. He managed to obtain this by the use of symbolism to frighten the audience of the sermon. Edwards, clearly, has the impression that there is only one singular way to gain the audience's attention. His approach was to frighten the audience into the belief that without God, you will be condemned to Hell. Edwards states in his sermon, “There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is Hell’s wide gaping mouth

The age of colonization formulated new issues for the people and nations of the world, particularly the question of nationalistic identity. As immigrants from various backgrounds poured into the newly discovered continents, they had address the issue with creating a society for their own while considering the native population and their ties to their homelands. Many of the original American colonies were established depending on religious lines, such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, etc., and, consequently, their societies were largely based on beliefs and practices of their particular religious sect. For the most part, the respective areas settled into their systems and experienced religious harmony within their colonies.

Edwards instills fear in his congregation by threatening the wrath of God and what will happen if one does not omit their lives to Him. “So that thus it is, that natural men’ are held in the hand god over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it;” (102). Here Edwards uses sharp descriptions to show his congregation that any wrong move can put one in Hell, promoting the practice of religion, more specifically; his church. Edwards also writes and speaks very poetically in such a way that his sermons are delivered with an intense amount of imagery that it seems as if those in attendance are watching a movie. Comparing the earth to God’s hand and the mention of God’s wrath being a loaded bow that is ready to rain down on sinners at any moment, helps add the the fear and the image. Another way Edwards creates his atmosphere is by referring to the mass in front of him as ‘you’. When spoken to in such a personal manner one is more likely to be afraid or concerned about the subject as opposed to the sermon being delivered with a more general

Edwards' creative choice of words that he uses describes the power of God and the terrible Hell awaiting sinners. These words easily infiltrate into the minds of his congregation and frighten them beyond belief. These choices of words and his use of such vivid images are mostly successful in their intent, to scare and put fear into his audience. Edwards held his audience locked up with his promises of eternal damnation if proper steps were not taken. The congregation felt the intense impact of his rhetorical strategies and lived on the fear of the power of God. In this way, he was able to keep his followers from sin and away from the fiery pits of Hell.

In the sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, Edwards displays controversial viewpoints and ideas concerning heaven and hell. As Edwards speaks to the congregation he warns them of the misery and suffering they will face if they do not repent of certain sins. He also describes God as angry which probably struck fear into the hearts on many. To illustrate his own point that hell is unenviable without repentance Jonathan Edwards creates the idea of an angry God using intense similes, a harsh tone, and strong emotional appeal in “Sinners in the hand of an Angry God”.

In Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Jonathan Edwards delivers a powerful sermon to his congregation about the horrors of hell. Throughout the piece, the author explains there is no escape from “eternal destruction,” and one must join God to reach salvation (para. 27). Edwards uses dark, gruesome imagery along with gloomy diction in order to instill fear into the audience, and persuade them to more devoutly worship God.

Jonathan Edwards gave his most famous speech, Sinners in the Hands of an angry God, during the Great Awakening. The main motive for this famous sermon was to warn the people that they must ask God for forgiveness of their sins before it’s too late. Edwards used vivid imagery of what he thought hell was like to try to scare the people from turning against God. He hoped to make the Puritans fearful of their destiny and this would encourage them to follow his teachings. After his sermon, many people from the crowd screamed out phrases about were curious to figure out ways that they could be saved. Many colonists came to North America to seek freedom and Edward’s sermon offered them an insight on religious freedom. Colonists wanted something to

Jonathan Edwards Sermon “ Sinners in the Hands of an angry god” contributed into the Great Awakening, showing that Hell was real, and whoever defied god was put down. Edwards used dark imagery to get his our heads, the meaning that everyone is predestined and anyone can be sent to hell. Edwards says in his sermon that “ God's enemies are easily broken into pieces, they are a heap of light chaff before the whirlwind”(2). Edwards hoped that the imagery and language of his sermon would awaken audiences to the horrific reality that he believed awaited them, should they continue life without their devotion to Christ? This made many people horrified and help start the great Awakening, making Christians more aware of the power of Christ, and increase their devotion to Christ.

Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield had an indirect impact on the American Revolution due the Great Awakening. The Great Awakening was a revival of a person’s personal spirituality sparked by Whitefield and Edwards; which de-emphasized the church. The revolution preached similar messages regarding criticism and tensions of authority. Without these two men, the American Revolution would not have happened as early as it did, if it all.