Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Essay

1. Introduction
a. Hook – “Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering.” ( A quote from Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”) 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. 2. Body Points

c. Body 1
i. Topic Sentence – Ethos is referred to as the trustworthiness or credibility of the speaker and their tone of the literature.
d. Body 2
ii. Topic Sentence – Pathos is referred to as the literature’s emotional appeal to the audience’s senses or imagination.
e. Body 3
iii. Topic Sentence – Logos is referred to as clear the message is and how effective it is to the audience.
3. Conclusion
f. Re-Stated Thesis – Through the use of the rhetorical triangle, Puritans are portrayed as sinful people of their own religion in Jonathan Edwards’s sermon. g. Clincher – “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

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But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (A quote from the bible Matthew 6: 14-15)

“Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering” (Edwards, Jonathan). The Puritans of early America were constantly reminded of the consequences of sinning. They were told that sinning would lead them directly to hell where they would rot. Jonathan Edwards was a very dynamic preacher of his time and his mission was to convert and persuade his audience of sinners. He ensured this through his authoritative sermons with “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” being one of his most famous sermons. In “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” Edwards uses several rhetorical devices that contribute to the effectiveness of his sermon. Jonathan Edwards’s sermon portrayed Puritans as sinners of their religion through the use of rhetorical strategies such as ethos, pathos, and logos. Ethos is referred to as the trustworthiness or credibility of the speaker and their tone of the literature. 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. Pathos is referred to as the literature’s emotional appeal to the audience’s senses or imagination. Edwards uses imagery to paint a horrifying picture of eternal damnation for unsaved souls. His use of detailed words describing the horrors and nuisance awaiting sinners has a significant effect on his audience. Hell may or may not be a real place and all of the suffering and pain described is a lie, Edwards’ way of delivering his message is so effective that it puts fear into his listeners so that they believe and follow his suggested method of recovery.

Moreover, he uses imagery to give his audience a mental picture of God holding sinners above the fiery pits of Hell. After filling their minds with fear, he uses this image to show them that there is a light at the end of the tunnel to represent God’s mercy and forgiveness. The effectiveness of his tactics in using imagery to infiltrate into the minds of those who are present is very doubtful. Logos is referred to as clear the message is and how effective it is to the audience. Edwards uses figures of speech to compare theoretical concepts of God’s wrath and the sinner’s wickedness to common capabilities. He uses metaphors that expand over whole paragraphs. One of the metaphors is about the bow of God’s wrath being drawn and held over the hearts of sinners. This metaphor shows that God could unleash his wrath and punish anyone at any moment but his mercy and forgiveness saves them. Edwards also compares sinners to spiders and serpents, which were creatures hated by humans just as sinners are hated by God.

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This shows his unconverted audience how poorly God thinks of them. Jonathan Edwards uses these figures of speech to make his message easier to understand. Edwards expresses terrifying images throughout his sermon to persuade his congregation into believing they are defenseless to God’s wrath. He repeatedly uses images of pain and eternal damnation to express to those present to leave their old ways and convert. The Puritan emphasis on demonic forces is very evident throughout Edwards’s sermon, as tries to instill fear into his listeners about the horrors of Hell. Through the use of the rhetorical triangle, Puritans are portrayed as sinful people of their own religion in Jonathan Edwards’s sermon.

Edwards persuades Puritans to convert from being sinful people in order to keep away from God’s wrath and the fiery pit of Hell. Edwards is very successful at his attempt because it was very effective and it persuaded the Puritans to change their demonic beliefs. God’s mercy and forgiveness saves sinners from the horrors and fears of Hell, but you must forgive before you can be forgiven. “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Works Cited
Edwards, Jonathan. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Pub., 1992. Print.

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