Edwards'sis
magnificent and moving. It contrasts the sinners who have accepted God and those who are
unrepentant so powerfully that members of Edwards's congregation were asking throughout the
sermon, "What must I do to be saved?" (or something along those lines).
Edwards's sermon focuses primarily upon the wrath--nay,
the fury--of God. God is so powerful than nothing can stop him; he can
easily cast men into hell; they deserve it; they are already sentenced to hell; the devil is
there waiting for them (the devils are "like greedy hungry lions that see their prey, and
expect to have it, but are for the present kept back; if God should withdraw his hand, by which
they are restrained, they would in one moment fly upon their poor souls"); God is under no
obligation to save any man, etc. And finally, the classic line:
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; his wrath towards you
burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he
is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times so abominable
in his eyes as the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours.
God has the power, he is furious with you, and he's dangling you over the fiery pit
like a loathsome insect (and there's nothing you can do on your own to avoid this horrible
fate). Contrast this to what awaits the repentant: They will be 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." They are "feasting"
and "rejoicing and singing for joy of heart."
Most of the sermon
expounds upon how horrible hell is. He doesn't spend much time talking about how wonderful
heaven is. Threats are more motivating than rewards.
No comments:
Post a Comment