What images and figures of speech might have helped Edwards' listeners to feel the peril of their sinful condition?

A fire and
brimstone preacher, the Reverendemploys fear to motivate his congregation. He creates images to
make his listeners feel the horror of the sinful condition in which their souls dwell. Here are
some of theand figures of speech that the minister employs:

Edwards tells his
listeners that they have provoked God with their sins and they are done nothing to appease the
Lord.

• Hell is gaping with "the dreadful pit of
  the glowing flames of God's wrath." There is nothing to stand on or hold
  onto; it is only the "power and mere pleasure of God" that keeps them from falling
  into the pit.
• The sinners are weighted down by
  their "wickedness" which makes
  them "as heavy as lead" and it is only
  "the hand of God" that keeps them from
  falling.
• The "wrath of God" is
  further compared to "great waters" that are dammed';
  these waters increase and gain strength and set water speed.
• God's wrath is
  then compared to a bow in which an arrow is
  poised; it is only the hand of God that holds the
  arrow back from striking people.
• These sinners are "ten times
  more abominable in God's eyes than the "most
  hateful venomous serpent." 
• Hell is described as a
  "great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit." This
  pit is filled with fire, with the flames of divine
  wrath flashing all around.
• The sinners hang over
  this fiery pit, held only by "a gossamer
  thread."

Edwards also uses repetition
effectively. For instance, he repeats the word nothing to impress upon
people that they cannot be saved by their actions, but only through acceptance of
grace.