Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God By Jonathan Edwards

617 Words3 Pages

Throughout centuries, persuasion has been used to argue your point of view, whether it was the ability to give reason, or to cite evidence to support that idea. Jonathan Edwards, a Puritan preacher, used the power of appeal to reach his audience during a sermon. During Mr. Edwards sermons, he was able to capture the audience's attention by using many literary techniques such as; imagery to scare the literal hell out of people, the contrast of God's wrath and grace, and the demeanor in which he spoke in. An effective method that Mr. Edwards uses in his sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, is the detailed and vivid imagery he conveys while speaking. Imagery is visually descriptive and allows the audience to to virtually see the glories of heaven, and the fears and trepidation of hell. Edwards uses descriptions to set the fear of hell into his audience. Edwards uses imagery to recall God's wrath in the Old Testament, “If God should only withdraw his hand from …show more content…

Mr. Edwards argues that the only way to be saved from eternal damnation of hell was in the glory of God. Edwards divulged, “And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open… a day wherein many are flocking to him.... and now in a happy state with their hearts filled with love to him who has loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.” This excerpt from Jonathan Edwards’ speech, states the wonderful power in Gods salvation. Although Edwards also argues the wrath that God can inflict on people, “It would be dreadful to suffer this fierceness and wrath of Almighty God one moment; but you must suffer it to all eternity.” This explains that God will allow people to suffer in Hell, not only for a moment, but for all of