Although Edwards conveys an argument, his sermon is persuasive. How is it persuasive? Is it effective? How do you define a persuasive text?

His text is
persuasive because he uses graphicto describe what happens to sinners who do not accept God's
plan of salvation: the eternal judgment of Hell. Edwards's sermon focuses on the purity of God
and the loathsomeness of mankind's condition. He spends a great deal of time demonstrating that
life is fragile and that God is the only one keeping man from eternal torment. Edwards does this
in order to provide a sense of immediacy to one's decision to accept Christ's plan of salvation
and to turn away from sin.

Given the historical record, the sermon was very
effective. People were in hysterics at the time of the sermon's presentation, and many made a
decision to accept salvation. Edwards did not focus on the reward of Heaven so much as he did
man's unworthiness of God's grace and the eternal torment that awaited him if he did not accept
salvation. People were willing to do anything to get out of Edwards's version of Hell.

While everyone's view of what makes a good persuasive text varies, I will provide the
components that I think one needs in order to persuade someone. First, one needs to demonstrate
a problem and move people to action. In Edwards's case, he was demonstrating that mankind was
bound for Hell, and he used imagery to show the dangers that awaited the soul without the
benefit of salvation. Next, a persuasive text must give a plan of action in order to remedy the
problem. For Edwards's turning away from sin and accepting Christ's plan of salvation was the
solution. Finally, one must demonstrate the benefits of adopting the plan. Edwards did not spend
time on the eternal reward so much as he did the damnation part, but he scared people into
turning their lives around for Christ which was the purpose of his sermon.