Intimidation of 'Sinners'

In Jonathan Edwards' sermon; Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Edwards provides a detailed account that all that are wicked shall be cast into hell. The point of reading this sermon is to provide detailed evidence that this is an intimidating sermon with the sole purpose of scaring those with guilt to convert to Christianity and hope that God will be merciful unto them and prevent the followers of God from falling into the pits of hell.       "The devil stands ready to fall upon them, and seize them as his own, at what moment God shall 
permit him." (Edwards, 392). This is further in the text but as described by Edwards, the devil is already ready to fall upon wicked people to claim them. The tactic here is to instill a sense of fear into the congregation that are not believers or believers that aren't as devout in following God. Edwards continuously shows people that if God is not followed with hearty fervor that all are risking falling into hell. 

 "Natural men’s prudence and care to preserve their own lives, or the care of others to preserve them, do not secure them a moment." (Edwards, 394). Edwards here shows that no matter what an individual does there is no way to have a moment of security or safety. "All wicked men’s pains and contrivance which they use to escape hell, while they continue to reject Christ, and so remain wicked men, do not secure them from hell one moment." (Edwards, 394). Edwards again instills fear as those dubbed wicked that do not accept Christ will not be safe. This is a nod towards those who have not converted to Christianity. To those listening to this sermon would it not be intimidating to hear these words that no matter what you do if you do not believe Christ that wicked people would be sent to hell regardless. 

    It is prominent to showcase that Edwards is a man who sought to intimidate and scare individuals to follow God or be looked at with pity by those who do believe and follow Christ knowing that many of who are seen on a daily basis will be going to hell. Edwards' approach is genius but morally incorrect in how to usher in a feeling of being welcomed into a religion.