Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God essay

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Maritza Bivens
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Jonathan Edwards, a famous preacher in pre-colonial times, composed a sermon that was driven to alert and inject Puritanical fear into the eighteenth century congregation. This Bible centered and serious audience sought religious instruction and enlightenment. Through the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Edwards offers a very harsh interpretation to mankind. 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.

Through the use of imagery, Jonathan Edwards effectively injects fear into his congregation of their destined fate, and paints horrifying pictures of eternal damnation. His use of vivid imagery instills fear into his listeners. Edwards appeals to their emotional side through a similes such as God's hand holding mankind, able to drop them into hell at any moment. Edwards states: "The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow." He descriptively characterizes the pit of hell in great detail. The audience is terrified by the genuineness of his words and are driven out of fear to listen to what he is saying. He also uses the metaphorical "bow of God's wrath" being drawn over the

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