17 Matching Annotations
  1. Oct 2020
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    Jonathan Edwards revives Northampton, Massachusetts, 1741 | The American Yawp Reader
    17
    1. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      And let everyone that is yet out of Christ, and hanging over the pit of hell, whether they be old men and women, or middle aged, or young people, or little children, now hearken to the loud calls of God’s Word and providence. This acceptable year of the Lord, that is a day of such great favor to some, will doubtless be a day of as remarkable vengeance to others… Therefore let everyone that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the wrath to come. The wrath of almighty God is now undoubtedly hanging over great part of this congregation: let everyone fly out of Sodom. Haste and escape for your lives, look not behind you, escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed [Genesis 19:17].

      Kendall Hershman Jonathan expresses here that no matter who you are, what age you are, or what gender you are there will come a time where you either choose to follow God or you get let go into Hell. Jonathan is very firm when he speaks and wants to instill the fear into the congregation to make them follow God. He gives specific ways to do what is necessary. He does everything he can to speak truth into his congregation and make them change. Jonathan is disappointed and wants change but he also speaks that God feels the same. He wants to give all of the congregation the information they need to live a life with God and what needs to be done to carry that out. Jonathan is very firm throughout to be more assertive to the congregation as a whole.

    2. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      And you children that are unconverted, don’t you know that you are going down to hell, to bear the dreadful wrath of that God that is now angry with you every day, and every night? Will you be content to be the children of the devil, when so many other children in the land are converted, and are become the holy and happy children of the King of kings?

      Kendall Hershman Jonathan makes it known for the people that are confused or just to make it known that if you are not converted to his religion that he is preaching on then you will go to Hell. He is speaking to the children in the church specifically here and explaining what will happen if they are not living the right way. He point blank says why children will end up in Hell.

    3. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has flung 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 in now an 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? Are not your souls as precious as the souls of the people at Suffield,7 where they are flocking from day to day to Christ?

      Kendall Hershman Jonathan uses his words to express how great it would be to go with Christ and live in heaven. He still instills the fear into the congregation by saying how awful it would be to be left behind and the misery that you would have if you were one of the ones left behind. He shows how happy the people that are chosen by God and go to heaven will be overjoyed to help prove that it would be bad to be left behind.

    4. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      Those of you that finally continue in a natural condition, that shall keep out of hell longest, will be there in a little time! your damnation don’t slumber; it will come swiftly, and in all probability very suddenly upon many of you. You have reason to wonder, that you are not already in hell. ‘Tis doubtless the case of some that heretofore you have seen and known, that never deserved hell more than you, and that heretofore appeared as likely to have been now alive as you: their case is past all hope; they are crying in extreme misery and perfect despair; but here you are in the land of the living, and in the house of God, and have an opportunity to obtain salvation. What would not those poor damned, hopeless souls give for one day’s such opportunity as you now enjoy!

      Kendall Hershman This is the part that Jonathon really does give the audience the questions to self reflect on the way they lived their life and the choices they made. Jonathan speaks to the point where he makes the congregation fearful. He states how everyones time comes differently and it can catch you by surprise so that is why he says you need to get right with God as soon as possible. Jonathan says to the sinners in the congregation that you need to be thankful that you are given another day to live and that you need to take advantage of it.

    5. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      what an awful thing would it be to think of! If we knew who it was, what an awful sight would it be to see such a person! How might all the rest of the congregation lift up a lamentable and bitter cry over him! But alas! instead of one, how many is it likely will remember this discourse in hell? And it would be a wonder if some that are now present, should not be in hell in a very short time, before this year is out. And it would be no wonder if some person that now sits here in some seat of this meeting house in health, and quiet and secure, should be there before tomorrow morning.

      Kendall Hershman In this it is appealing to the congregations emotions because Jonathan is making them think about the fellow people going to Hell. He expresses that the older peoples time may come before the younger peoples but makes the congregation think about it happening to everyone. This is a chance for the people to reflect on their lives and also the fellow people in the congregation.

    6. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      How dreadful is the state of those that are daily and hourly in danger of this great wrath, and infinite misery! But this is the dismal case of every soul in this congregation, that has not been born again, however moral and strict, sober and religious they may otherwise be. Oh that you would consider it, whether you be young or old

      Kendall Hershman Edwards states here that if you are not born again then you will go to Hell. Edwards doesn't ever speak about any other ways but just says you must be born again. He also doesn't mention any other type of religion just preaches on his own. He as well as all of us sins and therefore he is not pure 100%. He too must live by the things he is preaching. I am a Christian but I have not been baptized yet so what Edwards is preaching is intimidating and I can see the people in the congregation at this time feeling the same way.

    7. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      Consider this, you that are here present, that yet remain in an unregenerate state. That God will execute the fierceness of his anger, implies that he will inflict wrath without any pity… you will be a vessel of wrath fitted to destruction; and there will be no other use of this vessel but only to be filled full of wrath: God will be so far from pitying you when you cry to him, that ’tis said he will only laugh and mock (Proverbs 1:25-32)…

      Kendall Hershman Jonathan shows here that there will indeed come a time where the people that do not repent their sins and ask for forgiveness will be dropped into Hell. Here it is showing people that there is nothing left for them to do if they do not believe and follow the truth being God. He expresses the pure disappointment that God has with the people that he has to let go into Hell. Jonathan throughout the whole thing uses imagery and description to help push his congregation and all people into repenting and asking for forgiveness to get right with the Lord and here it shows that if you are left behind then you will go to Hell and that is very scary here.

    8. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in: ’tis a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath, that you are held over in the hand of that God, whose wrath is provoked and incensed as much against you as against many of the damned in hell; you hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder; and you have no interest in any mediator, and nothing to lay hold of to save yourself, nothing to keep off the flames of wrath, nothing of your own, nothing that you ever have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment…

      Kendall Hershman Jonathan is now calling out and addressing the sinners. The sinners should be thankful that they have lived this long and that they are given multiple chance to not go to Hell. Also the imagery here describing Hell as a bottomless pit with flames in it is enough for Jonathan to get his point across. He is expressing the imagery for his congregation and all people to change now and follow God so that they won't be put into the position being described here.

    9. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      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. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince: and yet ’tis nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment; ’tis to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to hell the last night; that you was suffered to awake again in this world, after you closed your eyes to sleep: and there is no other reason to be given why you have not dropped into hell since you arose in the morning, but that God’s hand has held you up; there is no other reason to be given why you han’t gone to hell since you have sat here in the house of God, provoking his pure eyes by your sinful wicked manner of attending his solemn worship: yea, there is nothing else that is to be given as a reason why you don’t this very moment drop down into hell.

      Kendall Hershman The imagery here does the job of describing what is going on, that God is holding you in his hand and to describes the pitot hell and the burning flames beneath you. Jonathan Edwards expresses here that God is indeed very merciful. God is described by Edwards being so mad and fruited with his people. Jonathan Edwards is telling people that God is made with them and mad at all who do not believe in him. He shows what will happen and where you will go if you do not believe in God but here Jonathan really expresses Gods disappointment. The imagery he uses just shows the strong angry and disappointed emotions that God has right here. He shows that God has no reason to hold the people that do not follow him up but he still does it because he is that merciful. If the people do not take advantage of this last chance to repent their sins and ask God for forgiveness then they will be dropped.

    10. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      if God should withdraw his hand, they would avail no more to keep you from falling, than the thin air to hold up a person that is suspended in it….

      Kendall Hershman Here is where God finally lets you go if you do not choose to repent your sins and believe in God. Jonathan made it clear that the time will come when God will let you go and it will be too late. Here is that time where the time has finally come and the people who do not get forgiven will be let go into Hell.

    11. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      ’tis only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.

      Kendall Hershman God is so merciful and loving that even though people live sinful lives he doesn't let them go right away. He gives people the chance right here when he is holding them in his hands above Hell for the final chance to repent sins and be forgiven. This truly shows how pure and kind God is. He is giving a final chance to the people he created and is showing them what Hell is like so they will decide to repent and live an eternal life with him.

    12. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      you have nothing to stand upon, nor anything to take hold of:

      Kendall Hershman What I imagine is that yes literally people are in the hands of God but cannot physical see that. I also think where this says you have nothing to stand upon I also take that as the people are not saved, so they don't have a foundation of God to stand upon or depend on. God is very merciful so he holds you up and gives you a chance to repent right here when you are in the air. He lets you see what is beneath you but doesn't let you go just yet.

    13. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      That world of misery, that lake of burning brimstone is extended abroad under you.

      Kendall Hershman Misery, flames, lake of burning brimstone are all words used by Jonathan Edwards to describe Hell. Gives off an image as something you would suffer in and be in constant pain. Wanting people to get right with the Lord so they don't end up in Hell. Showing how mighty and strong and painful Hell really is.

    14. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      he did deliver the most famous sermon of the eighteenth century, commonly called “Sinners in the Hands of Angry God.”

      Kendall Hershman Jonathan Edwards delivered this sermon as a warning to his congregation and to all people. He saw the bad things that were going on and knew something had to be done of they would be sent to Hell. So he delivered this sermon to want everyone that they needed to fix themselves and repent their sins. They need to ask God for forgiveness so that they can be saved. He knew a time would come where there wouldn't be enough time so his sermon was to make people to do it now. Repenting of sins and asking for forgiveness was the only way to escape the ultimate death in Hell he preached. He spoke the sermon to do his part and warn people about what will happen in they don't change their ways and repent their sins and be forgiven right away.

    15. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      Jonathan Edwards catalyzed the revivals known as the Great Awakening.

      Kendall Hershman Jonathan Edwards was one of the founders of the famous religious revival movement known as The Great Awakening.

    16. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      Jonathan Edwards Revives Enfield

      Kendall Hershman (username is supposed to be khershman) Jonathan Edwards Revives Enfield was an American philosopher and minister. His goal was for everyone to wake up and see that they need a relationship with God and stop living in sin. This was a warning to his congregation that they must ultimately fix their lives and repent their sins and ask God for forgiveness. He preached for his congregation to get this done as soon as possible or it may be too late when the wrath is upon you.

    17. mhershman 01 Oct 2020
      Connecticut

      Kendall Hershman

      Jonathan delivered this sermon in Enfield Connecticut at a Congregational church located there in 1741. The sermon took place on July 8.

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