A Change in a Religious Perspective The entirety of the 18th century was a period full of new ideas, rules, colonies, movements, and revolutions. One of the key movements during this period was called the Great Awakening. This movement pulled away from common religious practices such rituals, ceremonies, sacraments, and hierarchies, and ultimately made Christianity more personal by expounding a deep relationship with God. Through this movement, some of the founding fathers of America, like Benjamin Franklin, were able to experience this large transformation in ideas. Through various sermons, colonists were able to hear the powerful words that originated from the Great Awakening and also realized how they should be living their lives. …show more content…
In this sermon, Edward addresses that God holds the colonists over the Pit of Hell (Line 1). Specifically, Edwards states that God thinks that the colonists are not worthy of anything better than h=Hell. Despite this, Edwards then addresses the people by saying that God has taken pity on them. Even though they have broke away from God, He still loves them and keeps their heads from touching the fire in Hell (Lines 2-6). Edwards proves this point when he says, “You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn Rebel and his Prince: and yet ‘tis nothing but his Hand that holds you from falling into the Fire every moment” (Lines 4-5). Overall, Edwards focuses on the fact that God takes pity on His people, but He also has the power to determine where one’s faith lies. In the end, Edwards was addressing the sinners across the colonies and advising them to turn to God for guidance rather than the British
Colonial America experienced significant changes during the late seventeenth and early eighteen centuries. The most important changes included the development of cities to became the main ports, and Southern part of America was transformed to be a major contributor to colonial America’s economy. These changes resulted in the rise in population with thousands of immigrants coming in large numbers due to the growth and improvement of the agricultural estate. Following this period of economic boom, colonial America experienced two major revivals that had long-term effects on the nation with regards to religion, government, and human nature.
He describes heaven as a magnificently holy place filled with love, celebration, and all the holy Puritans who worked, endured, and face the challenges that came to fully embracing God. On the other hand Edwards goes on to explain how pitiful it would be for the sinners to miss out on the glorious celebrations up in heaven and spend the rest of eternity in the fiery vortex of pain and suffering that is hell. All because they did not repent their misdeeds while refusing to follow the holy ways of God. This form of persuasion is meant to strike fear into the Puritans hearts because this means that there is a great possibility that each individual is not worthy of God's love and that they will miss out on the glorious reservation in heaven because they are not good enough for God's
In sinners in the hands of an angry God Jonathan Edward’s most effectively appeals to the people who have yet to convert to a puritan's by using rhetorical analysis. One of the first metaphors he uses was when he was describing the fire that God holds you over and if provoked (when you sin) he will drop you down to hell. He uses a great analogy when he talks about it because 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”, and that is a real interpretation of what we are to God in Edward’s eyes. All these metaphors can also be used as imagery too because the author uses such good words and phrases it good that you can imagine what he is saying.
The Great Awakening, which lasted from 1739 to 1745, left a permanent impact on American Protestantism. It was a revitalizing movement, and prompted many religious conversations that deeply impacted various communities. The two main ideas in America were Enlightenment Rationalism and Continental Pietism. Before the Great Awakening, the majority of people were Calvinist, however this quickly changed. When the Great Awakening began, new sects began to form - such as the Latter Day Saints.
In these lines Bradstreet portrays heaven as being a place where you visit in the afterlife and prosper, she uses heaven to convince people to convert into a Puritan and follow her ways so that they can go to heaven. A strong distinction between Bradstreet and Edwards is that Edwards uses hell instead of heaven to convince readers into converting into a Puritan. In the sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Edwards” says; “The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow. The glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened its mouth under them….”. In the lines Edwards explains how God is ready to smite down the sinners and hell is always burning awaiting for the next person to be cast down into hell.
An intense religious movement called, The Great Awakening, occurred in the 1730’s and 1740’s. This movement started in Colonial America, which originally came from a town named Northampton located in Massachusetts. Two preachers whose name’s are, Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield both called Northampton home. Between these two men and their belief that the only thing that could save us humans, from the eternal fires of hell, was The Lord’s mercy. This had a massive affect on the colonists of America, due to there spiritual beliefs coming to end for the past century.
Rhetorical Analysis of Jonathan edwards’s Sinners in the hand of an angry god: jeremiad Jonathan edwards, is known as one of the most important religious figures of the great awakening, edwards became known for his zealous sermon “sinners at the hand of an angry god”. During his sermon he implies that if his congregation does not repent to christ they are in “danger of great wrath and infinite misery”. Throughout this sermon edwards uses literary devices such as strong diction, powerful syntax and juxtaposition to save his congregation from eternal damnation. Throughout Edwards’s sermon the use of turgid diction is exceedingly prevalent.
The first event that occurred was the Enlightenment. It occurred through the years of around 1650 to about 1700. The enlightenment opened up the eyes and the minds of the people living in the British colonies in America. The enlightenment changed the way people were thinking and gave them a sense of freedom and individualism, in this case, individualizing them selves from their British rulers. There was not much revolutionary action but the impact that John Locke’s enlightenment ideas had on people started unraveling events, one after the other to eventually lead to the revolution.
One of his well-known sermon is “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” preached at the meeting house in the village of Enfield, Connecticut, on Sunday, July 8, 1741, at the height of the great awakening. In this sermon, Edwards focused on the consequences of leading a sinful life, the power of God and repenting of ones sins, in order to be saved from hell. The purpose behind this piece of writing was not to terrorize or dismay the hearers, but to make them repent and believe in God again. This piece was aimed at those who lacked belief in God as well as churches.
The most important feature of a sermon is the application of a scripture text to the personal experience of the listener. Especially this last part is what reduced many of Edwards’s listeners to tears. In Edwards’s sermon the scripture text is “Their foot shall slide in due time”. This meant that eventually, all sinners would be punished by God, which could be at any time. Edwards speaks of a wrathfull God, a God who by Puritan standards is considered forgiving for not letting all of humanity fall into the deepest pits of hell.
This interpretation of God becomes the reference point for the rest of the sermon. All of the commands and accusations in the sermon rely on Edwards' portrait of God as an angry, all-powerful being that has no obligation to have mercy upon his creations. By convincing his congregation of God's wrathful character, Edwards is then able to convince the congregation that they are in danger of damnation and severe punishment at the hand of this wrathful God. Edwards characterizes God as a being that "abhors" mortal men and "looks upon [them] as worthy of nothing else but to be cast into the fire" (200). Edwards then uses scriptural references to support his claims about the nature of God.
The Great Awakening The Great Awakening sew a seed of independence in American’s minds because it promoted the religious tolerance, led to the abolishment of the belief of single, authoritarian religious rules, and evoked a sense of self-governance. During this significant period, many charismatic preachers such as Jonathan Edward and George Whitefield emerged, being enthusiastic about delivering their messages with their distinct preaching styles. The increased religious tolerance in the colonies during the Great Awakening resulted in the diversity of the denominations.
"This is the case that everyone one of you is out of Christ..." It is true, as according to the Puritan faith, that unconverted people will go to Hell." To further convince potential Puritans, he uses another logical appeal. Edwards points out something observable, that would seemingly contradict his assertion, and debunks it. “You probably are not sensible of this; you find you are kept out of Hell, but do not see the hand of God in it; but look at other things, as the good state of your bodily constitution, your care of your own life, and the means you use for your own preservation.
He claims that the sinners within his congregation “…have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open, and stands in calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners” (734). Throughout Edwards’ speech, he has described God as this amazingly cruel being who relishes in the idea of dropping sinners into Hell, be it man, woman, or child, and yet here is a sign of some compassion. If they convert over to God’s side, He will welcome them with open arms and they will be allowed to join the others “…with their hearts filled with love to Him who has loved them, and washed them from their sins in His own blood, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God” (734). There is a duality within Winthrop’s and Edwards’ view in this area, as one of the main focuses of God seems to be expanding His reach. Winthrop’s God looked to expand his body to spread more love, and Edwards’ God wants to expand to add more “elect” to his side.
On July 8, 1741 Jonathan Edwards delivered the sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” During this time many people were moving away from their Puritan beliefs and did not make God a priority. In the message he talked about how everyone was a sinner and how everyone belongs in hell. He also talked about how if God wanted to He would throw everyone in Hell, but since He gave us His Son we should take Him and repent. While delivering this message many people began to repent and ask for forgiveness.