In the introduction to “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” the narrator states that the sermon delivered on July 8, 1741 by Jonathan Edwards, was remembered as the most famous sermon preached in America. Edwards was given a reputation as a stern, loveless man, because of his harsh words as he preached. The sermon itself caused much controversy, and began a fire known as the Great Awakening. Through his sermon he pulled colonies out of traditional European Christianity, and the colonist began to understand salvation. Though his words were harsh, Jonathan Edwards was depicted by his family and friends a loving, sensitive, warm, and a good father and husband. To Edwards, hell was a real place that he could envision. Though he depicted hell in a horrible way through his sermon, it was men for the people to realize the reality of sin and hell, and to not let the people forget the gospel through Jesus Christ. Jonathan Edwards is now known as the man who gave the most terrifying sermon to this day, and unfortunately is unrecognized for the care he had towards the people and the way they live there life today, so that they can have a good future.
In the actual sermon by Jonathan Edwards, I would expect to hear about many gruesome and frightening images. As Edwards preached I would imagine him to be very descriptive, and use many words to portray the image of hell in his mind to the people. I would expect to be persuaded to live by the ways of the gospel throughout his sermon, because of the way he describes the awfulness of hell. The way he preaches could be very intense, and unusual to the way people normally give sermons. Through his words I would probably begin to understand salvation. The image of him in my perspective would be fear-provoking. I would not see him as a personable being, but would be terrified to step close to him. This is what I would expect to hear in the sermon by Edwards, because of the reactions of the many listeners before me.
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