In "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Jonathan Edwards uses parallel structure to show similarities between ideas. He uses paradox to show differences in ideas. Both literary devices would have caused his audience to think deeply about the overall message of the sermon.
All the passages in the activity below appear in "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Apply your understanding of parallel structure and paradox by answering each question.
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Which passage uses parallel structure to convey its points?
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"...the sun does not willingly shine upon you to give you light to serve sin and Satan; the earth does not willingly yield her increase to satisfy your lusts; nor is it willingly a stage for your wickedness to be acted upon; the air does not willingly serve you for breath to maintain the flame of life in your vitals, while you spend your life in the service of God's enemies."
God's creatures are good, and were made for men to serve God with, and do not willingly subserve to any other purpose, and groan when they are abused to purposes so directly contrary to their nature and end."
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The repeating pattern includes the phrase "does not willingly."
The repeating pattern includes the phrase "does not willingly."
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Which passage uses parallel structure?
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"There are black clouds of God's wrath now hanging directly over your heads..."
"That world of misery, that lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you."
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This pattern, separated by a comma, causes the listener to pause.
This pattern, separated by a comma, causes the listener to pause.
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Which passage uses parallel structure?
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"...and never was there so great danger of such persons being given up to hardness of heart and blindness of mind."
"Yea, there is nothing else that is to be given as a reason why you do not this very moment drop down into hell."
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In addition to repeating a pattern in these two phrases, Edwards also plays with sound to make this parallel structure appear rhythmic.
In addition to repeating a pattern in these two phrases, Edwards also plays with sound to make this parallel structure appear rhythmic.
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What is the paradox in this passage?
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 more abominable in his eyes, than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. |
The paradox is that God is pure, but at the same time, he dangles people over the pit of hell.
The paradox is that God's wrath burns like a fire, but at the same time, hell is a pit of burning fire.
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Edwards wants his audience to believe God is filled with both hate and purity, two contradictory ideas.
Edwards wants his audience to believe God is filled with both hate and purity, two contradictory ideas.
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What is the paradox in this passage?
You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince; and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment. It is to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to hell last night; that you were 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 have not 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 do not this very moment drop down into hell. |
The paradox is that God hates you but also saves you from dropping into hell.
The paradox is that humans are sinful and wicked, and yet God lets them attend his solemn worship.
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God's emotions towards humans do not match his actions.
God's emotions towards humans do not match his actions.
Complete
