Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God Essay Example

incidents such as stumbling and getting hurt or a house catching fire. These events were believed to serve as opportunities for individuals to learn lessons and develop humility. The author highlights that God was regarded as an essential component of everyday existence, and this perspective finds reinforcement in Edwards' literature.

Another way to identify Puritan beliefs is by determining whether God has an influence on one's life or not. The Puritans consistently sought signs of God's presence in their daily lives. They viewed every aspect of their lives as a reflection of God and evaluated whether it pleased or displeased Him. For instance, on page 80 of the fifth course of "Elements of Literature," they regarded their wickedness as an offense to God, making them feel as heavy as lead. Though this perspective may seem grim, they believed in an angry God. Additionally, on page 77 of the same textbook, known as "Elements of Literature fifth course," it is noted that Christians were individuals who adhered to church teachings and led morally upright lives, but they had not professed to being reborn in God's grace and therefore were not considered saved. Jonathan Edwards, a devoted Puritan, observed his own life and those around him and concluded that one's life lacked God's influence if they did not publicly announce their salvation.

The complexity and intricacy of God's actions in our lives are evident to the Puritans, as seen in A third part of "Sinners," which embodies Puritanism in a plain style of writing. This style is simple and avoids the use of Latin quotes or highly expressive language like in the King James Bible. Instead, it utilizes a

simplified version of English, as demonstrated by the phrase "I have commanded you." On page 81, the passage "The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds you a spider" exemplifies this approach by avoiding Latin quotes and high-style writing.

The plain style of writing exemplifies the beliefs of puritans, as it embodies an exact and straightforward approach. The puritans spent their entire lives contemplating whether they were among the chosen few destined for Heaven, known as the elect. According to the puritans, God only chose a select group of individuals to enter Heaven, and one had to have a sudden realization or epiphany to prove this. In the excerpt on page 77 of the Elements of Literature, from Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," it is stated, "-After receiving grace you were reborn as a member of the community of saints and you behaved like a saint." Jonathan Edwards, the renowned writer, believed, as did many puritans, that demonstrating one's "newness" involved behaving like a saint.

Many people did not feel the same experience as the writer, which made them question their worthiness after Edwards' sermon. The Puritans who grew up with a strong sense of self-reliance gained from their difficult lives. This information about the writer provides insight into how it influenced the writing of the sermon. According to page 77 of "Elements of Literature," he was described as a brilliant, thoughtful, and complicated man. He was intelligent and cautious, constantly pushing himself to be as Godly as he could be.

And his fellow Church members, and then his accomplishments as a child, Pg 77 “‘Entered Yale

at the age of 13” a young man in a higher school, but it proved he was intelligent and self-reliant.. “when grandfather died in 1729, Edwards quickly took over the pulpit... ” Edwards rapidly advanced in his studies and achieved success at a young age. However, he was self-taught and depended on his own abilities and faith in God, as did many Puritans. The concept of self-reliance was central to Puritan beliefs and greatly influenced the writing of the “Sinners” Sermon. In conclusion, it is evident that God's wrath is profound and can be observed in the powerful sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” which remains one of the most unsettling and terrifying sermons in history. It caused people to faint in the church, although now the church has become much less intense.

In this text, we can observe the direct connections of real life to God, the workings of God in our lives, the plain style, the determination of whether someone is among the chosen or not, and the self-reliance exhibited by each and every Puritan. It is thanks to these individuals that we are able to be here, reading this today. Therefore, I pose the question - are you damned or not?