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Jonathan Edwards Rhetorical Devices

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Sinner’s Fate Jonathan Edwards, a philosopher, preacher and puritan of the 18th century acknowledges that many sisters and brothers have walked away from God. In an attempt to bring those people back he establishes a fear into them, a fear of God, so those who left may come to find their church and God once more. Jonathan Edwards’ sermon aims to bring the people who have walked away from God and from the church, back. His homily is strong and effective, and is able to produce an argument that frightens those listening to his sermon, contributing, in part to the Great Awakening. Throughout his sermon Edwards utilizes rhetorical devices to transmit his message. He applies devices such as invectives, analogies, and imagery to make his speech effective toward the audience and successfully deliver his news of how God will eventually punish the sinner. Edwards uses literary devices such as invectives and analogies to convey his message of having people come back to the church, and mainly to God. Edwards harshly criticizes his audience when he describes how God "looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire… you are ten thousand times more abdominal in his eyes than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours." (Edwards). Edwards manages to get through to those who left, criticizing the society that has become corrupt in the …show more content…
He gives frightening illustrations of hell to condemn the sinner and his fate if he does not change his ways. Edwards’ message was well received that such great was the response that this and other of his works contributed to part of the Great Awakening in the English settlers during the mid 1700s. Edwards, through harsh criticism and description of God’s anger and “wrath” creates an argument that describes the sinners

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