Analysis Of Cotton Mather's From The Wonders Of The Invisible World

Religion is a highly debated topic in our current society. This was also the case back in the late 1600’s and mid-1700’s. How religion is interpreted by different individuals, and by the society in which they live, is most likely a debate that will never be won or lost. During the time of Cotton Mather’s writing of From the Wonders of the Invisible World, the people of New England are firm believers in religion. Although New England has its firm Christian believers, some chose to use their religious beliefs to practice evil doings such as witchcraft, bringing us to the era of the Salem Witchcraft Trials. Now, fast-forward over 50 years to Jonathan Edwards delivering a sermon amongst his people. His primary focus during Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God is to impact his congregation, and make them realize that God is the ultimate power in which they need to follow. Both of these stories, though written in different time periods and states, focus on one main point. That main point would be how society is letting their religious background and Godly beliefs slip away to worship evil, in one form or another. The meanings behind the two stories here can be interpreted in many …show more content…
Here he tells his congregation “Therefore let everyone that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the wrath to come. The wrath of Almighty God is no undoubtedly hanging over a great part of this congregation: let everyone fly out of Sodom” (Edwards 358). Closing with this message is with the purpose of leaving them with a heavy heart and mind. He wants them to change their focus from their worldly possessions, and to follow God and his Word. He wants the people of his congregation to make the right choice in what they follow. In the Bible, God destroyed Sodom for the evil and wrong doings of the people there, and Edwards seems very sure that the same thing will happen to Boston if the problems at hand aren’t