In a Puritan sermon, as in Edwards's sermon, what is one of the central themes of the message in the rhetoric

Answer: Believing in the power of God's to save us from eternal destruction.

Puritan sermons often focused on the power of God to save humans from eternal destruction. The sermons emphasized the importance of believing in this saving power. The sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards, is a good example of this. This sermon argues that following doctrines is not the way to achieve salvation. The only way to reach it is to put oneself on the hands of God, and to believe in his power to grant us eternal salvation.

Before the Great Awakening, most of the religious Americans believed they were predestined by God for Hell or Heaven. Therefore, they cared less about what their acts towards God may bring when they die. However, promoters of the Great Awakening did not agree and believed if every individual loves God and accepts his love, they could save themselves from the cruel suffering.

Jonathan, through his sermon, wanted to persuade people to believe and love God, as well as accept the love that God returns, so as to stay away from Hell. He warns individuals about the dangers in Hell and says - to improve their chances of going to Heaven, they must devote their true believes towards God and his mercy.