Name: ______Period: ______
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
Directions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences with evidence and support.
1. Edwards claims it is easy for God to “cast his enemies down to hell.” To emphasize this point, he uses two comparisons. Provide one of them here. How does Edwards want us to view God’s power?
Crush worm; cut or singe a slender threadàterrible and awesome
2. “They” in Edward’s sermon refers to “unconverted men.” Who are these people?
People who have not been born again/not excepted Jesus Christ
3. Edwards uses fear to persuade his congregation by presenting them with vivid imagery. Provide one example of this type of imagery and explain why the image is effective in persuading his audience.
“pit is prepared” “the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot” “flames now rage and glow” “glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened its mouth under them” Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering”
“the devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them” “The bow of God’s wrath is bend, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart” “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, and is dreadfully provoked”
4. What frightening power does Edwards attribute to God?
Ability to cast people into the flames of Hell at any moment
5. What is Edwards trying to convince his listeners to do?
Become born again
6. Edwards claims “God ...holds you over the pit of hell” and compares people to what creature? According to Edwards, God views us like we view “hateful venomous serpent[s].” According to Edwards, why does God view us this way?
Spider; natural sinners until we’re born again
7. What is the only reason Edwards believes we are not “dropped into hell” at any given moment?
God is willing to spare us
8. What do you expect Edwards would have hoped people would do at the end of his sermon?
Profess their faith in Jesus Christ and become born again
9. How is this sermon an example of a jeremiad?
Jeremiad—first U.S. literature—bitter lament or prophecy of doom
10. On the back of this sheet, provide your own visual interpretation of one image Edwards uses to persuade his audience.