What is the dominant image in the opening paragraph of Sinner in the Hands of an Angry God? What generalization does Edwards make about all people?...

The dominant
image in the opening paragraph of the Reverend 's sermon to his congregation is the idea that,
like the "wicked, unbelieving Israelites" mentioned in Deuteronomy
2:35, members of his following have been unfaithful and also are on "the
slippery slope" of damnation. Edwards makes the generalization that there is a close
connection among all people in their sinfulness, and they will "slide" in their faith
if they are not diligent in their worship of God and adherence to His laws.

Since all men and women are descended from Adam and Eve, all can sin equally.
Therefore, Rev. Edwards makes the comparison of his congregation with the Israelites. He tells
his congregation,

There is nothing that keeps wicked men,
at any moment, out of Hell, but the mere pleasure of God.

To impress this idea upon his listeners, Edwards employs strong and frighteningand
harsh condemnations. Also, his congregation knows of the punishments that the Israelites
suffered and they become terrified by the images of their hanging by a gossamer thread over the
fiery pits of hell. To increase this fear, Edwards describes their being "ten times more
abominable in God's eyes than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours," and that
"the bow of God's wrath is bent...and it is nothing but "the mere pleasure of
God" that holds the arrow back. 

By generalizing that his congregation
is like the Israelites and are subject to the wrath of God in similar fashion, Edwards generates
such terror of hell and damnation in the hope that his people will repent and become
saved.

 

href="https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1053&context=etas">https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?refere...