Fun with Literature II - December 18, 2003

[Aristus]

This could be a toughy for y'all. See if you can find a copy of Jonathan Edwards seminal 17th Century sermon 'Sinners In The Hands of an Angry God'. You may need to check your old college freshman lit textbook. Then sing it to the tune of "The Yellow Rose of Texas."

Have fun! B-)

[Aristus]

1. Kick.

Where are my literature fans from a few days ago? :shrug:

[grannylib]

2. I don't know the Yellow Rose of Texas sorry!

[Aristus]

3. Ah well, just ask somebody, granny.

You must be the only person in this sector of the galaxy who doesn't know the tune. :-)

[Goldmund]

5. I don't...

know the tune either.

[Anaxamander]

4. "Sinners" always reminds me of...

...that scene in _Inherit the Wind_ when that preacher is going off, almost foaming at the mouth, and William Jennings Bryan's character finally has to tell him to chill the fuck out. Too bad old Edwards didn't have a moderate around to temper is fire & brimstone.

[On the Road]

6. I Have a Hard Making the Words Fit

Somehow Edwards just doesn't seem very rhythmical. Maybe a samba would make it come to life.

SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD

-Their foot shall slide in due time- Deut. 32:35
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In this verse is threatened the vengeance of God on the wicked unbelieving Israelites, who were God's visible people, and who lived under the means of grace; but who, notwithstanding all God's wonderful works towards them, remained (as ver. 28.) void of counsel, having no understanding in them. Under all the cultivations of heaven, they brought forth bitter and poisonous fruit; as in the two verses next preceding the text. The expression I have chosen for my text, Their foot shall slide in due time, seems to imply the following doings, relating to the punishment and destruction to which these wicked Israelites were exposed.

1. That they were always exposed to destruction; as one that stands or walks in slippery places is always exposed to fall. This is implied in the manner of their destruction coming upon them, being represented by their foot sliding. The same is expressed, Psalm 73:18. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction."

2. It implies, that they were always exposed to sudden unexpected destruction. As he that walks in slippery places is every moment liable to fall, he cannot foresee one moment whether he shall stand or fall the next; and when he does fall, he falls at once without warning: Which is also expressed in Psalm 73:18, 19. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction: How are they brought into desolation as in a moment!"

3. Another thing implied is, that they are liable to fall of themselves, without being thrown down by the hand of another; as he that stands or walks on slippery ground needs nothing but his own weight to throw him down.

4. That the reason why they are not fallen already, and do not fall now, is only that God's appointed time is not come. ....