Throughout his sermon, Jonathan Edwards discusses people’s relationship with God. How does Edwards change or refine the idea of God and people’s relationship with God from the beginning to the end of the excerpt?
In the beginning of the excerpt, Edwards emphasizes the power of God and the insignificance of humans in comparison. He states that God is “infinite in all perfections” and that humans are “sinful and polluted creatures.” He also emphasizes the need for humans to repent and turn to God in order to be saved.
By the end of the excerpt, Edwards has refined his idea of God and people’s relationship with God. He emphasizes the love and mercy of God, stating that God is “gracious and merciful” and that He “delights in mercy.” He also emphasizes the importance of humans’ faith in God, stating that “the only way to be accepted of God is to believe in Christ.” Thus, Edwards has changed his idea of God and people’s relationship with God from emphasizing God’s power and humans’ insignificance to emphasizing God’s love and mercy and the importance of humans’ faith in God.