Jonathan Edwards

The introduction to Jonathan Edwards included an explanation of the man's dual reputation. Some saw him as a Puritan extremist, fearful of the Old Testament wrathful God, and others as a noteworthy philosopher. He even lamented what he felt to be the loss of true religious conversion during the Great Awakening. He studied John Locke and Rene Descartes, thus mastering his own explanation of determinism, the idea that every event is caused by preceding events according to Newton's laws of nature (cause and effect). The study of these philosophes greatly impacted his views on salvation. I am wondering, though, how this impact was translated into his sermon, which was meant to appeal to emotion rather than to reason.

In "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Edwards repeated the same points often. He mentioned, on more than one occasion, "divine justice". This confused me, though. Edwards was supposedly a "Puritan Calvinist," a believer in predestination. Why, then, did he believe that divine justice would favor someone if they did not stray from the divine path? Also, he makes mention that, "...you shall not suffer beyond what strict justive requires." Why should justice even matter at this point if your fate is determined even before your death? Edwards goes even further to ask his audience to "hearken to the loud calls of God's word and providence."

At least this is the impression I got; I could be mistaken... Explanations are appreciated.

(Sam Maliha)