1. American Literature A- Unit two
Sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” By: Jonathan Edwards

2. Thematic Link
Edwards preaches that all humans are sinners poised between heaven and hell.
Those who believe in and accept Christ, Edwards declares, will go to heaven.
Those who refuse Christ will be condemned to hell.
Focusing your Reading:
Persuasive Writing

3. Reading and Analyzing Literary Analysis: Persuasive Writing
Frightening powers Edwards attributes to God and emotions in this view of God creates for Edwards audience who he is trying to persuade:
Example:
Edwards claims that God is able to take wicked people at any time by saying that God’s wrath is directed at “unconverted men” (pg. 154).
Edwards is try to persuade his listeners to become born again and thus escape this wrath.

4. Reading and Analyzing Literary Analysis: Emotional Language
Edwards chooses his language very carefully to achieve the greatest emotional effect on his listeners.
Loaded words and phrases that Edwards uses to convey God’s view of human beings:
Language such as loathsome insect, worthy of nothing else, abhors, and abominable-shows God’s distaste for human beings.
Dreadfully provoked and wrath show His anger.
All of these words depict the wickedness of people who have not been “born again” through Christ.
Edwards’s listeners would have felt guilty and afraid, making them more likely to do what he recommended to avoid going to hell.

5. Reading and Analyzing Literary Analysis: Repetition
Edwards uses the word nothing and repeats the word to alert listeners; emphasizing that human beings are nothing and can do nothing.
Example:
“…Mediator, and nothing to lay hold of to save yourself, nothing to keep off the flames of wrath, nothing of your own, nothing that you ever have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment…(pg. 156).

6. Reading and Analyzing Literary Analysis: Persuasive Writing
To be most effective, persuasive writing must anticipate the counter arguments that readers or listeners might have. Edwards refutes in this passage the thought that listeners might think that they do not need to be “born again” because they already live according to God’s principles. Edwards says that this is not enough to save them from hell.
Example Passage:
“How dreadful is the state of those that are daily and hourly in the danger of this great wrath and infinite misery! But this is the dismal case of every soul in this congregation that has not been born again, however moral and strict, sober and religious, they may otherwise be…” (pg. 156).

7. Reading and Analyzing Literary Analysis: Emotional Language
Emotionally powerful words and phrases that Edwards uses to describe the state of those who heed Christ’s call and the effect this language would have had on his listeners:
Examples:
Door of mercy wide open
Happy state
Hearts filled with love
Rejoicing in hope of the glory of God
Singing for joy of heart
Effect this language would have had on his listeners: These words would have made the congregation long to share in the happiness of the converted.

8. Questions pg. 158
1. Describe the most vivid image from this sermon and how it made you feel?
God holds people over the pit of hell as humans would hold a spider over a fire.

9. Questions pg. 158 Comprehension Check
According to this sermon, what is a constant threat to all human beings?
All human beings are in danger of being sent to hell by God at any moment.
According to this sermon, which people are spared God’s wrath?
People who have undergone a change of heart and been born again are spared God’s wrath.
What does Edwards say sinners can do to save themselves?
Sinners who love and accept Christ can save themselves.

10. Think Critically Questions pg. 158
2. Would you want to hear another of Edwards sermons? Why or why not?
Yes, because Edwards is a strong, emotional speaker who truly believes in what he preaches.
No, because his speeches are too harsh and they evoke feelings of fear.
3.Emotional Language-Two that are the most emotionally charged:
Loathsome insect and worthy of nothing else
Edwards chooses his words carefully to make his message more powerful.
His words emphasize the lowliness of humans and the torments of hell.

11. Think Critically
4. Why do you think people were persuaded to change their lives as a result of Edwards sermon?
Edwards convinced many of God’s power over human beings by comparing it to our ease in crushing a worm.
Despite the threat of being sent to hell by God at any moment, Edwards offers hope and an escape from hell through Jesus.

12. Think Critically
5. What can you draw about the spiritual beliefs and values of the people who belonged to Edwards’s congregation?
The people believed that human beings are inherently evil and can only escape hell through God’s grace, not by anything they do themselves.
6. How would you describe the view of human beings and the view of God presented in this sermon?
Human beings are presented as powerless to control their own lives or help themselves.
God is presented as powerful and threatening.