Fire, hell, and eternity were essential topics of puritan preachers during the colonial period. Theologian, Jonathan Edwards took a new view on God, that he was heartless and condemning toward those known as sinners. Edwards outlined this belief in his famous sermon, “Sinners in the Eyes of An Angry God.” His fiery images, advanced topics, and effective use of rhetoric created a successful speech that struck terror and conversion into the hearts of his followers.
Initially, Edwards implements frightening and vivid imagery in order to establish fear and dread, two motives that focus on the negative aspects of life. The first refers to God’s wrath and the evils of humanity. To emphasize