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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Edwards' first argument for the truth of his statement of doctrine?
(a) God's enemies believe they can defeat Him.
(b) God is like an earthly prince.
(c) God is strong enough to make the earth tremble.
(d) God can easily cast sinners into hell.

2. In the Doctrine section of his essay, Edwards claims that something is under the "dominion" of the devil (407). What is the devil's dominion?
(a) Things under his control.
(b) The devil's attention and interest.
(c) The devil's agreement with God.
(d) Things the devil wishes for.

3. In the Doctrine section of his sermon, Edwards connects the idea of the "poisoned fruit" to what people?
(a) The Romans.
(b) The English.
(c) The residents of Sodom.
(d) The citizens of Connecticut.

4. When Edwards uses the phrase "natural man," what is he referring to?
(a) Those who have not been "born again."
(b) People who live as God intends them to.
(c) Adam.
(d) Souls already in hell.

5. The first argument of the Doctrine section is where Edwards first introduces which analogy?
(a) The comparison of sinners to rocks.
(b) The comparison of sinners to insects hanging by a thread.
(c) The comparison of God to a farmer.
(d) The comparison of God to slippery ground.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. In the Doctrine section of his sermon, Edwards makes reference to the "manifold" experience of the world. What kind of experience is this?

3. What is Edwards' eighth argument for the truth of his statement of doctrine?

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

5. In the Doctrine section of his sermon, when Edwards says "as the heart is now a sink of sin, so, if sin was not restrained," (408), this is an example of which literary technique?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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).

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

3. In the Doctrine section of his sermon, Edwards compares God's power to the power of a human to crush a worm. Explain the meaning and significance of this analogy.

4. 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?

5. 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?

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

7. 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?

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

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

10. 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?

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