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?
I can imagine if I was sitting in listening to this sermon I would be terrified if I was told this. As if there is no way to change your believes and ask for forgiveness, the way Edwards is speaking is making it sound like theres no way getting out of going to hell
How awful is it to be left behind at such a day!
This statement reminds me of something like in school as a kid, if you get a bad grade or weren't behaving that day you didn't get to pick something out of a treasure chest it made you feel terrible seeing all your friends get a cool toy except you. Imagine seeing everyone being overcome with Joy when Jesus comes down, this statement grabs your attention because who ever wants to be left behind on something so amazing? No one
But indeed these things are nothing; if God should withdraw his hand, they would avail no more to keep you from falling
Typically, we live life and abuse these "worldy things" given to us and we think we like to think we have everything we need but what I think Edwards is saying here is that yes we may be happy and think everything is going great but If you don't have a relationship with God, those worldly things are not going to save you. God is our gateway to heaven and if He takes his hand away, nothing is stopping us from going to hell. Edwards is basically saying if you are not living you're life for God as a christian, God will not give you his hand
There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is hell’s wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor anything to take hold of: there is nothing between you and hell but the air; ’tis only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.
The description here of hell is extremely vivid. Imagine looking down and sing nothing but fire and it being too late to ask God for forgiveness, it is intimidating to think about and I can imagine why the people who were listening to this sermon were frightened and crying