In Edwards's sermon, the appeal to fear is used to evoke a sense of urgency and persuade the congregation to repent and seek salvation. Biblical allusions support this appeal by drawing on narratives of divine punishment and the wrath of God, creating a sense of impending doom for sinners. For example, Edwards references the biblical image of God's "bow [arrow] is bent" to emphasize the imminent danger sinners are in, reinforcing the fear of divine judgment.