Final answer:
Jonathan Edwards conveys that God is prepared to unleash his wrath on sinners, using vivid imagery to instill fear and prompt repentance. Edwards's rhetoric in "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" was influential during the Great Awakening.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Edwards says, "the bow of God's wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string", he means that God is prepared to demonstrate his anger against sinners. This metaphorical imagery serves to convey the immediacy and intensity of divine judgement awaiting those who do not repent.
Jonathan Edwards, a central figure in the Great Awakening, employed such vivid metaphors to spark a sense of deep religious conviction and fear of hell among his congregation. His sermons, notably "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", were designed to illustrate the dangers of sin and the necessity of seeking salvation. Edwards’s usage of scriptural references further emphasizes the sternness of God’s judgement, aligning with biblical passages that portray God's wrathful disposition towards the unrighteous.
Edwards’s revivalist message spreads throughout the Connecticut River Valley, deeply influencing the religious landscape of the era. The repeated printing of his sermon suggests the widespread impact of his fiery rhetoric on American religion in the 18th century.