American Literature : “Personal Narrative” By J.Edwards

The name of Jonathan Edwards was associated with religious views and American evangelical revivals in the 18th century. His views were many-sided, as he on the one hand supported the concept of the human will and on the other hand he supported the Puritans. In 1740 Edwards produced his famous writing “Personal Narrative”, where he expressed his religious attitudes and told the story of his own faith path. He openly tells about the contradictions in the doctrine of predestination, which he experienced in his life, about his views about the belief that God makes the choice of those, who would have the chance to get their eternal lives and those, who would be sent to hell. All these considerations and arguments didn’t distance him from religion, however, as he devoted a lot of attention to studies of Bible. The author writes about spiritual experience of Christ, he has the will to talk about his own sinfulness, although there are no recollections of concrete sins: “if God should mark [my] iniquity . . . I should appear the very worst of mankind . . . my sins heap, infinite upon infinite” (Edwards 2002). For the readers it is not difficult to perceive his writing, as there are lyrical notes in it, for example he compares the souls of true Christians with tiny spring flowers. Most critics agree that this writing is different from other works by this author, as this is an emotional and profound recollection of his personal relations with God. For example Edwards describes the events of his early childhood, when he was not ready to accept the idea of hell and then comments upon his shifting thoughts: “I scarce . . . found the rising of an objection to it.” (Edwards 2002).

Overall, Jonathan Edwards in his Personal Narrative did not simply reveal his religious position, rather explained his rocketing between hell and heaven, which could be experienced by any Christian.

Works cited:

Edwards, J. Personal Narrative. New York: American book company,  2002.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

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"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
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[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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