Edwards Versus Franklin | Edwards Versus Franklin

Jonathan Edwards wrote a sermon called, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God during the Puritan Revival, it tells the reader about Edwards's dependency on God. The voice in Edwards sermon is far more extreme than in Benjamin Franklin's book, The Autobiography. Franklin says people should base their life on moral perfection, "It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving moral perfection." (Franklin 71). Edwards also says this, however, there is a consequence if you do not abide by it. Which is, "natural men are held in the hand of God over the pit of Hell." (Edwards 65).

"Soul on Fire" is a review for Jonathan Edwards's sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. The author mentions Edwards's concern for the Devil, Satan, and says it was, "Edward's duty to rearm his people against the Devil and build toward new awakenings." (Wills 10). In this article, Edwards is called, "the most important religious figure in American history." (Wills 10). Edwards was considered a forward thinker because, "he put the ancient teachings in modern terms, and bolstered them with new arguments" (Wills 10). Edwards was a man with many talents, and he stuck with what he had to say.

The Autobiography tells the reader, "how to achieve moral superiority" (70 Franklin). Benjamin Franklin tells the reader that moral perfection is not easy, however, it is possible. Franklin believes that people need to be completely honest with themselves, in order to reach moral perfection. People need to break their bad habits and make good habits. Franklin does not give any consequence if you do not follow these rules and regulations. Whereas, if you do not follow what Edwards says your consequence is Hell. In Walter Isaacson's biography taken from Joseph Ellis review, Franklin is described as "a man of multiple masks" (as qtd. in Ellis 11). Franklin was a logical man, whereas Edwards was a man who was much more extreme in what he believed in than Franklin.

Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklin were two men who very committed to what they did. Edwards was a brilliant philosopher, theologian, and an excellent speaker, who helped start the Great Awakening. Edwards was also an original thinker who completely depended on God. Franklin, "was a man of enormous intelligence and energy" (Franklin 70), who suggests how to achieve moral perfection. Both, Edwards and Franklin, are men who will not be forgotten.