Examples Of Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God

Edwards instills fear in his congregation by threatening the wrath of God and what will happen if one does not omit their lives to Him. “So that thus it is, that natural men’ are held in the hand god over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it;” (102). Here Edwards uses sharp descriptions to show his congregation that any wrong move can put one in Hell, promoting the practice of religion, more specifically; his church. Edwards also writes and speaks very poetically in such a way that his sermons are delivered with an intense amount of imagery that it seems as if those in attendance are watching a movie. Comparing the earth to God’s hand and the mention of God’s wrath being a loaded bow that is ready to rain down on sinners at any moment, helps add the the fear and the image. Another way Edwards creates his atmosphere is by referring to the mass in front of him as ‘you’. When spoken to in such a personal manner one is more likely to be afraid or concerned about the subject as opposed to the sermon being delivered with a more general

Several times throughout his message, Edwards uses stories and images of the elements to bring his points to life. “O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in: it is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath, that you are held over in the hand of that God, whose wrath is provoked and incensed as much against you, as against many of the damned in Hell.” This excerpt from Jonathan Edwards Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, references the element, fire. He uses this element to intensify the words he is speaking and create a terrifying image of what will happen to sinners who don’t repent.

Jonathon Edwards maintains his audience’s attention by creating intense and meaningful similes. Edwards uses these similes as a way for his audience to understand the points he is making and adds dramatic imagery and piercing words to get the audience to consider what he is saying. The first simile he uses says this, “…they were always exposed to destruction; as one that stands or walks in slippery places is always exposed to fall” (Edwards 1). Edwards includes this quote in his sermon to provoke the readers thought. The point he is trying to make is that God’s people are exposed to destruction which is a hard to imagine so he breaks it down for his audience by saying that just as they are exposed to destruction if you walk in a slippery place you will also fall. The next memorable simile Edwards uses says this, “The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked. His wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else but to be cast into the fire…” (6). Here Edwards compares his congregation to a “loathsome insect”. Edwards does this to try and describe how God views them. He continues his claim by comparing God’s wrath on them burning like fire, which would probably spark fear in the hearts of the people that they may repent. This simile helped further Edward’s main point, that hell is inevitable. One last simile Edwards uses is this, “Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards

In one metaphor Edwards creates a clear image for his congregation when he explains that

The rhetorical strategies that Jonathan Edwards exploits in this sermon offers an emotional response from his audience. The audience is forced to face the reality of the circumstance through Edward's carefully crafted argument. The use of the various techniques that Jonathan Edwards uses contributes to the rhetorical effectiveness of the piece and persuades the audience to repent and turn towards God.

Imagery is used by Edwards to induce terror onto the congregation by illustrating the power of God on “wicked men” (para. 10). In the beginning of the excerpt, Edwards paints a picture of sinners ready to fall into the pit of hell, with only God’s will keeping them up. He describes it as such,

In the sermon, Edwards applies an imagery into his speech. For example, he claims that "Their case is past all hope, thay are crying in extreme misery and perfect despair..." The evidence composes an auditory imagery consisting of cries filled with misery and despair. Edwards believes that by setting a preview beforehand of what the consequences are, he can convince his audience. Usually no

“I’m a devil worshiper” is the very first line as Fetty Wap begins rapping in his song, “679.” In a way, this statement is very similar to Jonathan Edwards writings because both speakers had very unconventional views for their respective times. In today's world, Fetty Wap’s satanic beliefs aren’t generally accepted by other people; this is similar to Edwards views because he opposed the stereotypical loving image of God by warning others of his potential destruction and power. In, “Sinners of the Hands of an Angry God,” Jonathan Edwards makes it clearly known that he portrays God as dangerous and unafraid to take violent action through the use of imagery in nature by water, wind and insects.

Within the eighteenth century, Christians were going through the Great Awakening, a wave of religious enthusiasm that swept through the colonies in an effort to make an impact on the religion within the areas. In the sermon written by Jonathon Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” he is trying to persuade nonbelievers into joining his religion in a way unused by many. To show nonbelievers the two altering sides of God based on what people believe and “they may imagine him to be so” (3), Jonathon Edwards’ sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” utilizes threatening tone, conveying repetition, and augmenting similes to express the fury and hopefulness of God.

In “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards, fear is being used in order to try and scare the reader into becoming a better person and religious.

b. Thesis – Jonathan Edwards’s sermon portrayed Puritans as sinners of their religion through the use of rhetorical strategies such as ethos, pathos, and logos.

Jonathan in his sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (July 8, 1741), claims that the unconverted are hanging from the hands of God, and can be dropped off to the eternity of hell, his sermon is used to make the sinners be afraid and understand how the power of God is saving them, but it is only for his pleasure, unless if they return to Christianity. Edwards strengths his argument by using metaphors and imagery of a wrathful God to make the unconverted people afraid of being sinners and encourage them to have a relationship with Christ to be fully saved from falling to an eternity in the flames of hell. Edwards purpose is to start his sermon with such powerful use of visualization to provide fear to the sinners and give them a

In the sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathon Edwards, Edwards uses all sorts of devices to persuade the audience about what he strongly believes. Specifically he uses devices such as rhetorical techniques, language, distinctive style, and stylistic devices to further explain his point. Jonathon Edwards incorporates devices of language to his religious views to persuade the audience of the consequences of sinning in the eyes of God.

He preaches that the wickedness of the congregation was as “heavy as lead” (para. 27). Therefore, Edwards compares their chances of saving themselves from Hell to the likelihood that “a spider’s web would have to stop a fallen rock” (para. 27). This analogy shows the depth and magnitude of the peoples’ sin and their complete dependence on God. In order to make people turn from their sinful ways, he compares God’s wrath to many striking images. Edwards creates fear with metaphors by comparing an abstract concept like God holding sinners over the pit of Hell to a person who “holds a spider, or some loathsome insect, over the fire” (para. 32). The use of metaphor is effective because frightening images remind the Puritan congregation that Hell is real. Another powerfully delivered image is the “bow of God’s wrath” (para. 29) that is bent, whose arrow is ready and pointed to pierce the heart of the sinner. The bow is interpreted as God’s anger at sin, and the arrow is the punishment. This metaphor conveys the power of God by revealing how only God has the power to keep the arrow “from being made drunk with your blood” (para. 29). Through the use of metaphors, Edwards stresses God’s mercy and frightens the congregation in order for them to return to

In Johnathan Edward's, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Edwards has a particular style of writing that conveys an underlying purpose when delivering the sermon. Throughout the sermon, he uses multiple writing techniques and tools to engage the listener more, and to assure the listeners believe and trust him. Edwards purpose of writing and delivering the sermon, is to warn his people and to whomever else wants to agree, that they all must show their remorse of their sins to God before it is too late. Every sentence in the sermon, is based around scarring the people even more and more. Edwards accomplishes this by using certain diction and structure, a certain tone, and persuasive figurative language.