Jonathan Edwards Rhetorical Analysis

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Pages: 2

Throughout his sermon, Jonathan Edwards preached to his congregation about the unpleasant misery and burdens that occur alongside sinning to instill fear and guilt in order to persuade the people to change their ways of being sinful. He does this through his vivid metaphors and descriptive language and imagery that serves as a base to the emotional appeal of the listeners. Edwards is very direct to the audience, referring to them as sinners who are held above a “fiery pit” by the hands of “an incensed God.” By addressing the parishioners directly as sinners, Edwards catechized their self image and worth from the eyes of God. He portrays God as full of wrath and anger who retains the sinners from hell only by his “power and mere pleasure;”