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Morgan Rogge
English Comp. 105
Professor Eric Luthi
10/11/2020
Essay on Rhetorical Devices of “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

"I will tread them in mine anger, and will trample them in my fury, and their blood shall

be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment" (Is. 63:3)(Edwards). This is just

one of the overwhelming statements given in the famous sermon by the name of “Sinners in the

Hands of an Angry God” given by Johnathan Edwards. He conveys all three forms of rhetorical

devices in his sermon. Ethos is shown in the form of Edwards being a well-versed preacher as

well as a philosopher. He has the knowledge as well as his own ideas about the bible that are

well thought out and compel the audience. Though may be difficult to find, the sermon also

includes ideas of pathos. As Edwards preaches to his own protestants, some Christians may

disagree with his ideas of how God rules over his people. Finally, the largest use of rhetorical

devices is Logos. Johnathan Edwards was extremely moving in this sermon, and still moves

people with fear to this day who read it. At the time of the sermon, the world was a very different

place, and at the beginning of what is now known as the Great Awakening. This changed how

religion was viewed and taught in America. People began to fear God and became stricter in

their faith in the Lord.

“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” is not the first of Jonathan Edwards deep dives

into the extreme depths of fear mongering. He was well known for many of his speeches to his

congregation in Northampton, Massachusetts. His teachings come into the spotlight along with

the Great Awakening in America. (c. 1730–1755) With this well-known recognition, he
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definitely had the authority to be speaking on the topic of Hell, Heaven, and Theology. This is a

perfect example of ethos. Edwards speaks to his people with a strong attitude, and with the

recognition this speech got him, the people obviously took it to heart. Since ethos is the

establishment of authority, this is a proven point. He intended this message for all who doubted

the wrath of the Lord. For example, “There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath

of God; there is hell's wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor

anything to take hold of; there is nothing between you and hell but the air; it is only the power

and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.” (Edwards)

Logos is one of the more difficult parts to find in the speech, as Edwards presents

arguments that may only seem logical to those who follow him in Christian ministry. If we are

coming from a Christian standpoint, then we can call parts of this speech an example of logos.

For example, “How dreadful is the state of those that are daily and hourly in the danger of this

great wrath and infinite misery! But this is the dismal case of every soul in this congregation that

has not been born again, however moral, and strict, sober, and religious, they may otherwise be.”

(Edwards) In this line, Edwards explains emphasizes to the people how terrible it would be to be

in an infinite hell, as a result of not repenting and pleading for God’s mercy. As the congregation

seems to be led by fear, this would seem very logical, as they don’t seem to have any other

option.

Lastly, the most obvious rhetorical point in this speech, Pathos. Everything about

Jonathan Edwards and his sermons personifies what it means to be able to sway the audience

emotionally. The speech is based on the ability to use the fear of God on the attendees and

listeners of the sermon. One part that stood out to me is the quote, “If you cry to God to pity you,

he will be so far from pitying you in your doleful case, or showing you the least regard or favour,
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that instead of that, he will only tread you under foot. And though he will know that you cannot

bear the weight of omnipotence treading upon you, yet he will not regard that, but he will crush

you under his feet without mercy; he will crush out your blood, and make it fly, and it shall be

sprinkled on his garments, so as to stain all his raiment.” (Edwards) In this statement, he pities

the crowd who doesn’t beg for God’s forgiveness and mercy, and for those who choose not to, he

goes into gruesome detail of how they will be smote by Him and his ultimate wisdom. Those

who dare defy him shall perish and live in eternal hell. This would sway any crowd into doing

what is commanded of them.

Johnathan Edwards does an excellent job of using facts, emotion, and social standing to

unhinge the people who can have listened to his sermon, and to this day, read and understand it.

It plays off how the wrath of God will rid non-believers off the earth if they do not repent. This is

like advertising tactics that we still use in society to this day.

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Works Cited

Edwards, Johnathan. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” July 8, 1741, Enfield

Congregational church, Enfield, CT. Sermon.