Question

Why does Edwards claim that nonbelievers are akin to spiders in "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"?

". . . and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider's web would have to stop a falling rock."

I. Spiders are considered to be errors of God’s creation.
II. Spiders are powerless should a rock fall on them.
III. Spiders are considered the lowest form of life and thus expendable.

Answer 1

II. Spiders are powerless should a rock fall on them.

Edwards uses this comparison of non-believers to a spider to show that should God decide to send someone to hell, he or she does not have the power to stop it. Even if the non-believer felt assured and arrogant about it, he would still not have the ability to keep himself out of Hell. Option I is incorrect because Puritans, like Edwards, did not believe that any of God's creations were a mistake. Option III is also incorrect because the purpose is not to show the expendable nature of the spider, but rather the almighty power of God.

Answer 2

He compares unbelievers to spiders because they are powerless if a rock falls on them, as shown in option II.

What this comparison represents:

• The comparison represents a metaphor.
• Comparison represents the fragility of human beings.
• The comparison represents the unstoppable strength of God.

Edward uses the metaphor to make a comparison between unbelievers and a spider. This metaphor shows a comparison, where unbelievers are powerless to escape the condemnation of hell if God so wills. This is because no one can stop the will of God, just as a spider cannot stop a stone from destroying its web.

More information about metaphors in the link:

https://brainly.com/question/12555695