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from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards
Build Vocabulary
Spelling Strategy To decide how to spell the unstressed vowel sound represented by a
schwa (∂), think of another form of the word in which the vowel is stressed so that you can
hear it. Then use the same vowel. For example, think of morality and you’ll know it’s moral;
think of potent and you’ll know it’s omnipotent.
Using the Prefix omniA. DIRECTIONS: The prefix omni- means “all” or “everywhere.” Bearing that in mind, circle the
letter of the best answer to the following questions.
1. If laughter is omnipresent, where is it found?
a. here b. there c. everywhere d. nowhere
2. Giraffes are herbivorous, eating only plants; cats are carnivorous, eating only meat. If monkeys are omnivorous, what do you think they eat?
a. only plants b. only meat c. only bananas d. plants and meat
3. Science is from a root meaning “to know.” What kind of narrator is an omniscient narrator?
a. a character in the story who knows only his or her own thoughts
b. someone outside the story who knows all the characters’ thoughts
c. someone outside the story who knows just one character’s thoughts
d. someone outside the story who knows no characters’ thoughts
Using the Word Bank
omnipotent
ineffable
dolorous
B. DIRECTIONS: On the line, write the letter of the definition next to the word it defines.
______ 1. dolorous
a. inexpressible
______ 2. omnipotent
b. sad; mournful
______ 3. ineffable
c. all-powerful
C. DIRECTIONS: For each pair of sentences, circle the letter of the sentence in which the italicized word is used correctly.
1. a. The athlete’s ineffable muscles were visible even under his thick robe.
b. The ineffable sadness of the bereaved parents covered them like a cloak.
2. a. Startled by the bat, she let out a dolorous shriek of terror.
b. The dolorous tones of the great violinist moved the audience to tears.
3. a. The omnipotent ruler declared that he would pardon the six prisoners.
b. Sorry for insulting his friend, the boy walked for miles on the omnipotent sand.
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from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
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Unit 1: Beginnings
(to 1750)
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from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards
Grammar and Style: Forms of Adjectives and Adverbs
The basic or positive form of an adjective or adverb is used when no comparison is being
made. The comparative form is used to compare two things. The superlative form is used to
compare more than two, or one out of many, things.
Positive: Edwards was a famous eighteenth-century minister.
Comparative: His sermons are more famous than his other writings.
Superlative: Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God is his most famous sermon.
One-syllable words and many two-syllable words form the comparative by adding -er and the
superlative by adding -est. Other adjectives and adverbs form the comparative by adding more
and the superlative by adding most.
Positive: high, holy, famous, mercifully
Comparative: higher, holier, more famous, more mercifully
Superlative: highest, holiest, most famous, most mercifully
A. Practice: Circle the correct form of the adjective in parentheses.
1. Edwards spoke of a power (mightier, more mightier) than ours.
2. He compared the wrath of God to great waters forever rising (higher, highest).
3. Were we ten thousand times (stronger, more stronger) than the (stouter, stoutest),
(sturdier, sturdiest) devil in Hell, God’s wrath would be (stronger, strongest).
4. Clearly, of Heaven and Hell, he found Heaven (more powerful, most powerful).
5. Still, he seems to have found Hell (colorfuller, more colorful) to describe.
B. Writing Application: Rewrite each sentence using either a comparative or a superlative
form of the adjective or adverb in italics.
1. Edwards speaks of the dreadful pit in the world.
2. He feels that while we now may not be fully convinced of the truth, eventually we will be
fully convinced.
3. Compared to physical danger, he considers the sinner’s danger fearful.
4. Of all the world’s sufferings, sinners will suffer a horrible misery.
5. However, the door of mercy has opened wide to let the poor sinners in.
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from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards
Reading Strategy: Context Clues
When you come across an unfamiliar word in your reading, you can often determine its
meaning from its context—the words, phrases, and sentences which surround it. For example,
notice how the context provides clues to the meaning of avail in the sentence that follows:
But indeed these things are nothing; 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.
Since we know that “these things are nothing” and that “they would avail no more” than
“thin air” to keep a person from falling, we can figure out that avail must mean “help.”
DIRECTIONS: As you read these sentences from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, use context clues to determine the meaning of each italicized word. Write your definition on the lines
provided, along with an explanation of how you used context clues to help determine the word’s
meaning.
1. It is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up. You are probably not sensible of this; you find you are kept out of Hell, but do not see the hand of God in it.
2. It is 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.
3. 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.
4. He will not forbear the executions of his wrath, or in the least lighten his hand: there shall
be no moderation or mercy.
5. There will be no end to this exquisite horrible misery. When you look forward, you shall see
a long forever, a boundless duration before you, which will swallow up your thoughts and
amaze your soul.
6. To see so many rejoicing and singing for joy of heart, while you have cause to mourn for
sorrow of heart.
© Prentice-Hall, Inc.
from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
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Unit 1: Beginnings
(to 1750)
Name _____________________________________________________
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Name _____________________________________________________
Date ___________________
from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards
Literary Analysis: Sermon
A sermon is a speech given from a pulpit in a house of worship, usually as part of a religious
service. Jonathan Edwards delivered many sermons that dealt with “fire and brimstone,” or the
torments of hell. Although he delivered his words in a level and calm voice, his message often
caused listeners to shriek with fright. Edwards achieved such results by appealing to the emotions of his congregation and by using such literary devices as vivid imagery, striking similies
and metaphors, and repetition of key ideas.
A. DIRECTIONS: Answer each of the following questions.
1. To what emotion does the following passage appeal? Explain your answer.
It would be dreadful to suffer this fierceness and wrath of Almighty God one moment; but you
must suffer it to all eternity. There will be no end to this exquisite horrible misery. When you
look forward, you shall see a long forever, a boundless duration before you, which will swallow
up your thoughts and amaze your soul; and you will absolutely despair of ever having any
deliverance, any end, any mitigation, any rest at all.
2. What is the message of this passage from the sermon?
And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door
of mercy wide open, and stands in 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 that were
very lately in the same miserable condition that your are in, are now in a happy state, with their
hearts filled with love to him who has loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own
blood, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.
B. DIRECTIONS: Below each of the passages from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, list the type
of literary device(s) employed and explain how the passage exemplifies the device(s).
Imagery: the descriptive or figurative language used to create word pictures
Metaphor: a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as if it were something else
Simile: a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two subjects using either like or as
Repetition: the repeated use of any element of language
1. Were it not for the sovereign pleasure of God, the earth would not bear you one moment . . . There
are black clouds of God’s wrath now hanging directly over your heads, full of the dreadful storm, and
big with thunder; and were it not for the restraining hand of God, it would immediately burst forth
upon you.
2. The wrath of God is like great waters that are damned for the present.
3. Now they see, that those things on which they depended for peace and safety, were nothing but
thin air and empty shadows.
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