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wrath of almighty God which they will suffer, will [be] mild and moderate in comparison

of that which the sinners in Zion will suffer."

Edwards even goes so far as to quantify

the degree of difference in suffering. "God's wrath is manifested in his Word against the

wicked heathen, but it is ten times as much manifested against the sinners that have the

professions and privileges of a people of God, but yet remain enemies to him."

Edwards provides three reasons why God is angrier with sinners in Zion than

those who are disconnected from the people of faith. First, "they sin against so greater

light."

Second, they sin against their vows. These professed to be worshippers of God

but they were merely pretending. "God highly resents falseness and treachery. Judas, that

betrayed Christ with a kiss, was a greater sinner, and much more the object of God's

wrath, than Pilate, that condemned him to be crucified and was his murderer."

Third,

sinners in Zion sin against greater mercy. "They have the infinite mercy of God in giving

his own Son often set before them. They have the dying love of Christ, have this mercy,

this glorious Savior, and his blood and righteousness, often offered to them."

In short,

they sin against greater light and opportunity.

Edwards concludes this section with three short paragraphs, each of which is

packed with a heightened sense of the contrast. First, he observes, "There is no wrath like

that which arises from mercy abused and rejected. When mercy is this way turned into

"Sinners in Zion," 279.

"Sinners in Zion," 279. In support of this claim, he invites his audience to "read over the books

of Moses, and read the Prophets, and you will find 'em full of dreadful threatenings against such. Read over
the history of Christ's life and the speeches that he spoke when upon earth, and there you will see what
woes and curses he from time to time denounced against such. . . . Read over the story of the Acts of the
Apostles, and their epistles, and there you will find the same. 'Tis the sinners in Zion and hypocrites that
are always in Scripture spoken of as the people of God's wrath" ("Sinners in Zion," 279). That this is a
biblical motif, a clear teaching of the Scriptures seems to be a legitimate claim. Edwards has not, however,
provided support for his claim that the punishment on hypocrites is ten times worse than on other sinners.

"Sinners in Zion," 279.