The Revolutionary Spirit Of The Times Considered As The Rod Of Gods Anger And The Staff Of His Indignation A Sermon Preached On Wednesday The 8th Of March 1797 Being The Day Appointed For A General Fast By Basil Woodd

Preached at Enfield, Connecticut on July 8, 1741, this is perhaps the greatest sermon ever preached in America—and is certainly among the most well known. Owing to its forthright dealing with God’s wrath and His intense hatred of sin and the sinner, it is also one of the most controversial. Indeed, for more than three-quarters of the sermon Edwards lays down a relentless stream of the most vivid and horrifying descriptions of the danger facing unregenerate men. While it is difficult to read such graphic language, there is abundant hope in the sermon’s conclusion. Edwards puts it this way, “And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open and stands calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners.” While those who would rather ignore God’s justice in favor of His mercy condemn Edwards and his sermon, those who were present and actually heard him preach that day reacted in a decidedly different manner. According to the diary of Reverend Stephen Williams who attended the sermon, “Before the sermon was done there was a great moaning and crying through the whole House, ‘what shall I do to be saved; oh, I am going to hell, etc.’” The diary goes on to indicate that Edwards had to interrupt his sermon and come down to minister to those who were under such awful conviction. And so, in spite of what the scoffers might think or say, “the amazing and astonishing power of God” was manifested among the people that day—with many falling not into the hands of an angry God, but into the arms of a mighty Savior.

This is probably the most well-known sermon preached in the history of the United States. Even though this sermon was delivered over 250 years ago, Edwards's most memorable sermon is still needed today! Far more than a depiction of the punishments of hell, it is a call to personal salvation through Christ and spiritual revival in our time. Jonathan Edwards (October 5, 1703 – March 22, 1758) a Christian preacher, theologian, and missionary to Native Americans, was born in the colony of East Windsor, Connecticut. Although broad in scope, his theological work was well rooted in Reformed Puritan theology. Edwards played a significant role in shaping the First Great Awakening, and watched over some of the first revivals in 1733–35 at his church in Northampton, Massachusetts. Even though this sermon was delivered over 250 years ago, Edwards's most memorable sermon is still needed today! Far more than a depiction of the punishments of hell, it is a call to personal salvation through Christ and spiritual revival in our time.

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