The works of Jonathan Edwards and Patrick Henry use significant literary devices.

             Each of the speeches mentioned here had a definitive purpose and main idea. The authors also used rhetorical questions and repitition to sway thier audiences. The individual characteristics of .

             these works are sometimes found to be alike and somtimes found to be different. .

             "Speech to the Virginia Convention" had a very distinct purpose. That purpose was to .

             persuade the members of the Virginia House of Burgesses to raise arms against the British. This .

             is exemplified with the quote "An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left to .

             us!" (Henry, 90). This is one of the more direct quotes that Henry uses to illustrate his purpose. .

             Also connected with his purpose was the fact that he argued some ideas that did not match his.

             thoughts. For example "They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable .

             an adversary. But when will we be stronger?" (Henry, 90). Henry is speaking here of a point .

             of view that others have adopted. This point of view is used as a definition of what Henry .

             believes is the wrong opinion. .

             The purpose of Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" was to .

             persuade the natural men or unregenerate Christians to declare themselves reborn. Edwards .

             believed that a Christian must declare himself reborn in front of his own peers in order to be .

             saved by God. "The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider." .

             (Edwards 39). Here Edwards is speaking of how God feels about the unregenerate Christians .

             and what could happen to them. By giving examples of what would happen to the unregenerate .

             Christians, Edwards is attempting to persuade the poeple of his congregation to follow his .

             guidelines. Edwards is simply playing with human emotions here and using fear as a tool of .

             persuasion. .

             The main idea of Henry's speech was that unless the people of the colonies fight back .