Sinners Part 2

"Another eyewitness, a certain Stephen Williams, provided a more complete account: 'We went over to Enfield where we met dear Mr. Edwards of Northampton who preached a most awakening sermon from these words -- Deuteronomy 32-35 and before sermon was done -- there was a great moaning & crying out through the whole House -- What Shall I Do to be Saved -- oh I am going to Hell -- oh what shall I do for Christ, etc. So that the minister was obliged to desist -- the shrieks and crys were piercing and amazing -- after some time of waiting the Congregation were Still so that a prayer was made by Mr. W. and after that we descended from the pulpitt and discoursed with the people -- Some in one place and Some in another -- and Amazing and Astonishing the power of God was seen -- & several Souls were hopefully wrought upon that night. & oh the cheerfulness and pleasantness of their countenance that received comfort -- oh that God would strengthen and confirm -- we sung an hymn & prayed & dismissed the Assembly.'

The principal consequence of the sermon was that the hardened hearts of many people were so changed because the people were 'bowed down with an awful conviction of their sin and danger' (Trumbell). The power of the Holy Spirit caused that softening, not the persuasive speaking powers of Jonathan Edwards. The truth is that Edwards was not a flamboyant preacher in his delivery at Enfield; as Davidson points out, Edwards 'set his eyes on the bellrope at the rear, and spoke the words in a level tone and with no high pomp of rhetoric or oratory.' Tradition reports that Edwards used little or no gesture, and he read the sermon very closely from a manuscript on the pulpit before him.