Info On Bradstreets Sermon Essay, Research Paper
In this essay about John Edwards, I will show his styles of writing, and his attitudes towards God, himself, and his audience. This essay will also describe his tones throughout the sermon.
John Edwards was a very abstract speaker, he was not afraid to offend and condemn his fellow Christians. In his sermon ?Sinners in the hands of an Angry God? he demonstrates many forms of figurative speech. Such as referring to ?There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God?. He also refers to Gods wrath and vengeance: ?The wrath of God is like Great Waters that are dammed for the present?. Also when he says ?The bow of God?s wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart.?
John Edward?s speech was still a formal speech; its main purpose was to convince the congregation into being converted, through fear of the Lord. An example is when he said ?Your wickedness makes you as it were as heavy as lead, and to tend downward with great weight and pressure towards Hell; ?have no more influence to uphold you than a spider?s web would stop a falling rock?. He was trying to tell his audience that they are wicked and without Gods just hand in their lives they would fall into the pit of Hell.
Throughout the sermon Edwards adds many examples of figurative speech to increase the intensity of his message, like when he referred to a spider?s web and Gods hand; Great waters that are dammed and Gods hands; black clouds and Gods Wrath; finally when he compared, flames and divine wrath.
Edwards was very stern and out spoken to everyone, of all age groups, the older members were told ?Your guilt and hardness of heart is extremely great.? To the young men and woman ?Will you neglect this precious season which you enjoy now, when so many others your age are renouncing all vanities, and flocking to Christ.? And finally to the children, who are unconverted ?do not you know that you are going down to hell, to bear the dreadful wrath of God, who is angry.?
This sermon was a very stern sermon, which was meant for everyone, John Edwards used many different types of writing languages to describe his message. His tone was very critical and harsh, His meaning for the sermon was to convince everyone to hurry, repent and turn towards God, ?Haste and escape for your lives, look not behind you, escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed.?