Imagery and Metaphors in Sinners in The Hands of Angry God by Jonathan Edward

Are you prepared to face the Wrath of God? This is the question that Johnathan Edwards is proposing to his listeners in “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. Edwards delivers three central ideas in his sermon: humans are sinners who belong in hell, it is only by God’s mercy that you are not already in hell, and the only way to escape hell is to accept the mercy and sacrifice of Christ. Deuteronomy 32.25 reads “Their foot shall slide in due time.” This biblical verse serves as the backbone for Edwards’ sermon in which he provides terrifying imagery to persuade the congregation to accept God and begin living for him. In the first part of his sermon, he gives four implications along with ten more observations based on the text in the Bible and the second part is an application of his preaching to their lives. Edwards used his sermon as a warning to his listeners that without the mercy of God, every living soul is destined for eternal damnation because of the sinful nature of humankind.

Some of the most vital aspects of Edwards’s sermons were metaphors. Edwards used many metaphors to make his sermons more compelling and engrossing. But these metaphors could also be very abhorrent. One of the metaphors is “ We find it easy to tread on and crush a worm that we see crawling on the earth; so it is easy for us to cut or singe a slender thread that ant thing hangs by; thus easy is it for God when he pleases to cast his enemies down to hell.” He uses this line to make his congregation understands that God in omnipotent and can send them to hell whenever he wants. As harsh as this is the congregation took this in their minds as a reason to not sin, as was Edwards’s purpose.

Another metaphor used by Edwards to brainwash his congregation is “ The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow.” This second metaphor closely follows the first to illustrate what hell will be like. It compares hell to a furnace, showing the heat and fire. He first tells them that God will cast them into hell on a whim then he makes them realize just how awful this would be. This shows that Edwards is a true literary genius, he understands how to affect people with his speaking. One more metaphor used by Edwards is “ The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire…” This metaphor talks about how God could care less about you, you are to him as a spider is to you. He makes it obvious that we are all nothing in the eyes of the almighty.

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Edwards also uses forceful narration to produce vivid imagery. His imagery forces the listeners to visualize hell and how easily they could end up there. One sentence that provokes vivid images is “It would be dreadful to suffer this fierceness and wrath of almighty God one moment; buy you must suffer it to all eternity”. Edwards conjures images of torture and everlasting pain. He asserts that not only will you go to hell but also you will indefinitely endure torture that would be unbearable for a bare moment. Another extraordinary image producing phrase is “ How awful is it to be left behind at such a day! To see so many others feasting, while you are pining and perishing! To see so many rejoicing and singing for joy of heart, while you have cause to mourn for sorrow of heart, and howl for vexation of spirit! How can you rest one moment in such a condition?” In this Edwards creates an image of everyone celebrating and generally being happy. But while this is going on you endure torture and are left behind in hell while others go to heaven. He shows just how awful those punishments given by God are.

Edwards used terrifying imagery and metaphors to persuade his listeners to accept and follow Christ or they will suffer eternal damnation. Edwards pointed out and supported his three central ideas that all humans are sinners who belong in hell, it is only by God’s mercy that you are not already in hell, and the only way to escape hell is to accept the mercy and sacrifice of Christ. Along with imagery and metaphors, he also references biblical text to support his points. Edwards’ intention was to warn and persuade the unconverted people in the congregation of what was to come if they continued to live a life without God.

In “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Edwards is able to easily convince his congregation of their wrongdoing easily. Edwards does this by using amazing imagery and innovative metaphors. Edwards constantly reminds his people that they are going to hell and how awful it will be. The sermon was extremely effective then and could well be now. For effectiveness now though, it may need to be changed in a number of ways to suit the current times and mindset.