Jonathan Edwards expresses throughout his entire sermon one common ideal. Being born again is the only way to salvation. Articulating many puritan ideals about Gods vision of humans, he claims humans are instinctive sinners and we must change to escape the jaws of hell. Believing in predestination he emphasizes on this matter. But its central argument is not the most important aspect of this sermon. The technique and method used to generate a resounding and influential sermon are indispensable to its composition. The dramatic use of fear exemplifies all of his motifs and produces a more significant reception. Fear is a weapon used not only for the control of the masses, but a necessary tool that influences people’s lives and is used as a way
…show more content…
In the sermon fear is used to essentially control his audience, which is implemented through intense imagery, scare strategies, and use of fearsome descriptions. He uses all these to mold his audience’s viewpoint to be similar as his, so this way he can convince his public to morally change. In the sermon this is exemplified by an analogy relating the ability of a person to crush a worm with the ability of God to cast his enemies to hell (First Paragraph). This supports the main argument of representing God as a merciless, wrathful deity and at the same time this concept is present in the audiences mind. “God has unsearchable ways of taking wicked men out of the world” (Paragraph 3), this again proposes the idea of an angry god, a fearsome god, someone who they should be afraid of. Fear is the key to subtly transmit your ideal, and this way the public listens and pays close attention. His use of fear is also stated in the metaphor where he associates Gods wrath as a bent bow with an arrow aiming towards your heart (Paragraph 6), this typifies Gods supremacy over sinners and how he can terminate anyone. This along other rhetorical devices and the constant repetition build up a big sense of dread, this fear is used by Edwards to instill what he believes is the key to salvation. His use of fear is justified according to his principles and considering what he
In the sermon fear is used to essentially control his audience, which is implemented through intense imagery, scare strategies, and use of fearsome descriptions. He uses all these to mold his audience’s viewpoint to be similar as his, so this way he can convince his public to morally change. In the sermon this is exemplified by an analogy relating the ability of a person to crush a worm with the ability of God to cast his enemies to hell (First Paragraph). This supports the main argument of representing God as a merciless, wrathful deity and at the same time this concept is present in the audiences mind. “God has unsearchable ways of taking wicked men out of the world” (Paragraph 3), this again proposes the idea of an angry god, a fearsome god, someone who they should be afraid of. Fear is the key to subtly transmit your ideal, and this way the public listens and pays close attention. His use of fear is also stated in the metaphor where he associates Gods wrath as a bent bow with an arrow aiming towards your heart (Paragraph 6), this typifies Gods supremacy over sinners and how he can terminate anyone. This along other rhetorical devices and the constant repetition build up a big sense of dread, this fear is used by Edwards to instill what he believes is the key to salvation. His use of fear is justified according to his principles and considering what he