Jonathan Edwards's "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"

The bow of God's wrath is bent . . . it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood. In this excerpt, the word "wrath" suggests that

God is fiercely angry.

Yea, God is a great deal more angry with great numbers that are now on earth; yea, doubtless with many that are now in this congregation, who it may be are at ease, than he is with many of those that are now in the flames of hell. What does this excerpt suggest about Edwards's opinion of society?

He feels society in general, including many members of the congregation, is more sinful now than ever.

In paragraph six of "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," what does Edwards suggest about spiritual reform?

He suggests that good works alone will not save a person from damnation.

Which statement best explains why Edwards repeats the image of fire throughout "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"?

He wants to increase his audience's fear of hell.

Is it not a reasonable thing to fright a person out of a house on fire? What is the purpose of this sentence in Edwards's sermon?

It justifies Edwards's strategy of scaring people into accepting God.

Which statement best describes Edwards's views in "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"?

People who were "born again" in Christ would be spared.

Enlightenment thinking placed value on scientific knowledge and thought. Based on "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," which best describes the relationship between Enlightenment thinking and the thinking of Edwards's followers?

The beliefs of the two groups directly opposed each other.

Based on the excerpt, which statement best describes Edwards's opinion, as a minister, of the members of his congregation?

They had angered God and were in danger of damnation.

Which quotation from "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" uses a rhetorical device to show that people have a fragile hold on life?

Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering, and there are innumerable places in this covering so weak that they won't bear their weight, and these places are not seen

In "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Edwards uses the image of a spider dangling on a thread over fire to describe

a person's ability to avoid damnation.

It would be dreadful to suffer this fierceness and wrath of Almighty God one moment; but you must suffer it to all eternity. In this excerpt, what is the denotation of the word "fierceness"?

aggression

Based on "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," which best describes Edwards's feelings toward his congregation?

compassionate

And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open, and stands in the door calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners; a day wherein many are flocking to him, and pressing into the kingdom of God. Many are daily coming from the east, west, north and south; many that were very lately in the same miserable condition that you are in, are now in a happy state, with their hearts filled with love to him that has loved them and washed them from their sins in his own blood, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. How awful is it to be left behind at such a day! To see so many others feasting, while you are pining and perishing! To see so many rejoicing and singing for joy of heart, while you have cause to mourn for sorrow of heart, and howl for vexation of spirit! How can you rest one moment in such a condition? In this excerpt, Edwards is attempting to convince readers that they

could miss an invaluable opportunity.

The devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them, and would fain lay hold on them, and swallow them up; the fire pent up in their own hearts is struggling to break out; and they have no interest in any Mediator, there are no means within reach that can be any security to them. In short, they have no refuge, nothing to take hold of. Which word has a similar connotation to the word "swallow" in this excerpt?

devour

Throughout "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Edwards uses imagery in an attempt to make readers feel

fear about being sent to hell

Which image is used throughout "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" to provoke fear in the audience?

fire

So that thus it is, that natural men are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it; and God is dreadfully provoked, his anger is as great towards them as to those that are actually suffering the executions of the fierceness of his wrath in hell; and they have done nothing in the least to appease or abate that anger. In this excerpt, "natural" is used to describe people who

have not been touched by the spirit of God.

You will know certainly that you must wear out long ages, millions of millions of ages, in wrestling and conflicting with this almighty merciless vengeance; and then when you have so done, when so many ages have actually been spent by you in this manner, you will know that all is but a point to what remains. So that your punishment will indeed be infinite. Oh who can express what the state of a soul in such circumstances is! Edwards uses the phrase "Oh who can express what the state of a soul in such circumstances is!" in order to

illustrate that this type of suffering is unimaginable.

In this excerpt, what does "exquisite" mean?

perfect

Sermons such as "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" were written largely in response to

the rejection of religion in favor of rationalism by some colonists.

What is the denotation of the word "cast" in this excerpt?

throw with force

The fact that "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" was popular suggests that the colonists

were interested in Edwards's ideas about religion.