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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The first argument of the Doctrine section is where Edwards first introduces which analogy?

2. In the "Doctrine" section of his sermon, Edwards makes reference to God's "sovereign" power. What kind of power is this?

3. In the Doctrine section of his sermon, Edwards calls God's laws "immutable" (407). What is he saying is true of God's laws?

4. In the Doctrine section, Edwards speaks of the "multitudes" of God's enemies (406). What is true of these enemies?

5. In the Doctrine section, what Biblical story does the "serpent" allude to?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the end of the Doctrine section of his sermon, what criticism does Edwards make of religious authorities who do not believe what he believes?

2. Explain why, in the Doctrine section of his sermon, Edwards says that God is not like an earthly prince.

3. Why does Edwards say, in the Doctrine section of the sermon, that those who think that they are protecting themselves from hell are fooling themselves?

4. What reasons does Edwards give, in the Doctrine section of his sermon, for divine justice not stopping God from casting sinners into hell?

5. Explain what Edwards is saying, in the Doctrine section of the sermon, about the nature of the souls of sinners when he says "There are in the souls of wicked men those hellish principles reigning, that would presently kindle and flame out into hell fire, if it were not for God's restraints" (408).

6. According to the Doctrine section of Edwards' sermon, what different promises has God made to the converted and the unconverted?

7. When, in the Doctrine section of his sermon, Edwards says of sinners that "The glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened her mouth under them," (407), what does he mean, and what analogy found elsewhere in the sermon is he making reference to?

8. Why, in the Doctrine section of his sermon, does Edwards say that sinners should not be comforted by the fact that there is no "visible means of death at hand" (408)?

9. In the Doctrine section of his sermon, what does Edwards mean when he says that the "mere pleasure of God" (406) is all that keeps sinners out of hell?

10. According to the Doctrine section of Edwards' sermon, what is God's attitude toward the sinners who are not yet in hell?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose a hymn by Isaac Watts (his work is available on Project Gutenberg, online). Write an essay that explains how this hymn represents the ideas of the Great Awakening.

Essay Topic 2

Explain how Edwards uses images to create fear in his listener.

Essay Topic 3

The theology of Edwards' sermon relies on both the idea of free will and the idea of divine providence. After some brief research, make and defend a claim about whether these two ideas are compatible.

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