1. Background:
Puritans
Embarkation of the Pilgrims," by Robert Walter Weir (1837).
William Bradford is depicted at center, symbolically behind Gov. John Carver (holding hat) whom Bradford would succeed.

2. Jonathan Edward’s
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
Most of the sermon's text consists of 11 "considerations“
• "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" is a typical based in the Scriptures:
sermon of the Great Awakening, a revival of the
Puritan faith from the previous century. 1. God may cast wicked men into hell at any given moment.
2. The Wicked deserve to be cast into hell. Divine justice does not
• The sermon emphasizing the widely held belief that prevent God destroying the Wicked at any moment.
Hell is a real and functional place. 3. The Wicked, at this moment, suffer under God's condemnation to
Hell.
4. The Wicked, on earth - at this very moment - suffer the torments
• Edwards used vivid imagery to awaken his audience of Hell. The Wicked must not think, simply because they are not
to the horrific reality that he argued awaited them physically in Hell, God (in whose Hand the Wicked now reside) is -
at this very moment - as angry with them as He is with those
should they continue without Christ. He believed miserable creatures He is now tormenting in hell, and who - at
that Christians should do more than understand this this very moment - do feel and bear the fierceness of His wrath.
reality, but should be moved by it. Religious faith 5. At any moment God shall permit him, Satan stands ready to fall
was an experience—an intense emotional upon the Wicked and seize them as his own
experience (as characteristic of religious revivalism). 6. If it were not for God's restraints, there are, in the souls of wicked
men, hellish principles reigning which, presently, would kindle and
flame out into hellfire,
• The underlying point of the sermon is that God has 7. Simply because there are not visible means of death before
given humanity a chance to rectify their sins. them, at any given moment, the Wicked should
Edwards says that it is the will of God that keeps not, therefore, feel secure.
wicked men from the depths of Hell; this act of 8. Simply because it is natural to care for oneself or to think that
others may care for them, men should not think themselves safe
restraint has given humanity a chance to mend from God's wrath.
their ways and return to Christ. 9. All that wicked men may do to save themselves from Hell's pains
afford them nothing if they continue to reject Christ.
• Jonathan Edwards' sermon continues to be the 10. God has never promised to save us from Hell, except for those
contained in Christ through the covenant of Grace.
leading example of a Great Awakening sermon and 11. The wicked will not escape the wrath of God unless they repent.
is still used in religious and academic settings today.

3. Puritan Belief and Culture
• No separation of
church and state: the
scripture was the law
and people were
punished for
breaking church
doctrine

4. • Protestants from
England: believed
that religion has
gotten too loose in
England; wanted
reform; had to
leave the country
and start their
own society

5. • Wanted moral purity
• Do not celebrate holidays: dancing is not
allowed, somber celebrations of God; no joy in
religion – doom and gloom: no
images, candles, songs – simplicity of worship
and dress (lace outlawed)

6. • Individuality is discouraged and looked upon
as suspect
• Fear: church used fear to encourage society to
follow the law

7. • Believed that the
woods were the
home of the devil:
scared of what
people might do
under the cover of
the wild; Native
Americans came
from the woods

8. • Believed in the demonic forces: they were sent
by God to test humans; temptation
• Emphasized self examination

9. • Believed people were
born with original sin and
had to go through life
attempting to purify their
soul with moral deeds
and good behavior:
especially women, who
were descendants of the
corrupt Eve – women are
held responsible for the
fall of men and many were
charged with
seduction, temptation and
witchcraft

10. • Had to give evidence
that they have
experienced God’s grace
in their souls – a
moment of conversion
and clarity: being a good
person and knowing the
Bible was not enough

11. • Authority and obedience characterized the
parent child relationship: love = discipline;
breakdown of discipline is breaking God’s rule to
honor mother and father. A disobedient child
reflected negatively on the parents – they were
thought to be disobedient to the Lord in some
way and punished for their wrongs.

12. If you love your child or
husband too much you are
suspect: no room for God in
your heart – not supposed to
dote on family
Paranoia and intolerance