In "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards, Edward implements personification and similes to persuade his congregation into thinking that they will eventually be punished by god if they continue their sinning habits. In the sermon, Jonathan Edwards utilizes personification to describe the way god is shielding a person from their own punishments. In addition Edward states, " It is nothing but his mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction." The act of destruction is being presented with a human trait which is swallowing. Since destruction is not a human it can not literally be swallowing someone, therefore the quotes actual significance is that if it wasn't
Jonathan Edwards, a famous preacher in pre-colonial times, composed a sermon that was driven to alert and inject neo Puritanical fear into an eighteenth century congregation. This Bible based and serious audience sought after religious instruction and enlightenment. Through the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Edwards offers a very harsh interpretation to humankind. Edwards utilizes various rhetorical techniques to evoke an emotional response in his audience and to persuade the members of his congregation that their wicked actions will awaken a very ruthless and merciless God.
First, Jonathan Edwards uses imagery in order to show those who have not yet accepted Him what awaits them “The devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them, and would fain lay hold on them, and swallow them up.”(Edwards 48)
Just as effective as language manipulation is Edwards's use of language transformation; indeed, his skillful employment of descriptive language adds a visual dimension to his message. Even if the foundation is misinterpreted, these transformations allow any listener to mentally "see" Edwards's overall direction. For instance, God's wrath is referred to as "great waters that are dammed", "a glittering sword", and a "drawn arrow". These terms indicate powerful and deadly forces. On the other hand, sinners are likened to "worms of the dust", "miserable creatures", and "loathsome insects"; consequently, these labels are receptors of God's wrath through the forces Edwards introduces. Although these conceptual images appear basic, Edwards's frequency and placement throughout his delivery produce a clear and precise overview to even
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
Edwards' creative choice of words that he uses describes the power of God and the terrible Hell awaiting sinners. These words easily infiltrate into the minds of his congregation and frighten them beyond belief. These choices of words and his use of such vivid images are mostly successful in their intent, to scare and put fear into his audience. Edwards held his audience locked up with his promises of eternal damnation if proper steps were not taken. The congregation felt the intense impact of his rhetorical strategies and lived on the fear of the power of God. In this way, he was able to keep his followers from sin and away from the fiery pits of Hell.
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 Jonathan Edward’s sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, Edwards uses fear and intimidation to persuade his congregation to escape the wrath of God. In the sermon he uses metaphors to gain control over the congregation. Another reason why Jonathan Edwards uses metaphors is to prove his point to the congregation. Edwards also links the spiritual world to the physical world of the listeners. He uses metaphors to dramatize human powerlessness. He states that human has much chance of keeping out of hell.
Jonathan Edwards and Nathaniel Hawthorne are similar because of the fact that they both talk about religion. Therefore they both get their points across but in different ways. Edwards, the writer of “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” is the actual preacher of that sermon. He wants people to repent and turn to god, he does this through the way he preaches the sermon or through his tone. His demeanor is not like a normal sermon, Edward is shouting. At the end of many sentences there are many exclamation marks which tells you he is not just talking in a regular voice. On the other hand, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism throughout the story. The story is of a preacher that wears a black veil for years which is symbolising his sins. Hawthorne’s
Puritan Test Question #4 Looking to help revive Puritanism, John Edwards became a traveling minuter giving intense, hellfire sermons. Through the powerful and relatable use of imagery, Edwards invoked fear and guilt from his audience in “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”.
During the Puritan Era, much of the literature was written as a way to share the gospel of God’s word with others by interweaving some of the Puritan beliefs and doctrines in to the works. Jonathan Edwards uses many of these beliefs in his atypical sermon titled “from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” in order to scare members of the church congregation into going through conversion and being “saved”. From the very beginning of his sermon, Edwards introduces the doctrine of Total Depravity, or the belief that all men are born tainted with sin, and uses it as a building block for setting up the imagery in his speech. When Edwards says, “They (sinners) have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it; and God is dreadfully provoked…”,
“His mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction.”Quoted by Jonathan Edwards in the story,”from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”What is happening on my poster is there’s jesus hands holding a cold melting heart over the fiery pits of hell(everlasting) as it drips for iternity giving him pleasure ,because of the persons bad dues.Why this image is effective is because thats what god would do to those that sinned,he would torture them.How it hits home to the puritans is it shows the ones that have sinned to the ones who “haven’t” gods wrath and what he does to sinners.The point Edward is trying to make is god holding you in his hands doing such is preventing you from falling into the fiery
What does God have to do with these two texts; you may seem to ask yourself. During this specific time period God made a big deal to these people’s everyday lives. Jonathan Edwards’s text, “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God”, and William Bradford text, “Of Plymouth Plantation”, both include using religion into their texts. To inform and persuade the audiences that God is always with you no matter what. These texts are similar and different to one another. But also have different purposes to the audience and styles of the texts are written. One author creates a strong message and leaves the audience with fear of God. The other author creates a message that God will always be there ups and downs.
“If I could, I’d trade it all. Trade it for a halo. And she said that she’ll pray for me. I said, ‘it’s too late for me.’” These dark lyrics in the song, “Ordinary Life” by The Weeknd contradict the general Christian concept of forgiveness. Because The Weeknd feels he has strayed so far from God he believes he can not be forgiven, even though the Christian Church teaches that you can always repent your sins to God and be forgiven. This is similar to Jonathan Edwards views on God at the time because he opposed the idea of God being a loving savior, and said he was capable of mass destruction with his ultimate power. In the short story “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Jonathan Edwards preaches that God is a powerful and dangerous leader of his people through his use of imagery of natural elements, such as water, fire, and weather.
The piece that most impacted me this week was “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards. He portrayed real honesty, reliance on God, and devotion for God. First off, Jonathan Edwards’ honesty really touched me. I have never heard a sermon describing Hell as the main topic. Usually when Christians mention Hell in a secular setting, they are called haters or hypocrites, so they, we, have stopped talking about it.
In Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Jonathan Edwards created the emotion of fear by using imagery and figurative language to persuade his audience. He used imagery and figurative language so the wrath of God is more fearsome and gave you a mental picture of hell in your head.