comment to Lucy's

Well, I must admit that I love Edwards. And that I've agreed with only one point you've made, and disagree with the rest.

For your first point: I might remind you that Edwards is not directing any of his statements to believers, but to those who have rejected a relationship with Christ. All the scriptures you pointed out were for believers. However there are scriptures for un-believers that prove the wrath of God. And yes, there must be wrath for Him to be a just God, otherwise He would be a liar, and that is impossible.
"Look, the LORD will come with fire - His chariots are like the whirlwind - to execute His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For the LORD will execute judgement on all flesh with His fiery sword" Isaiah 66:15-16
"Thus He will repay according to their deeds: fury to His enemies retribution to His foes," Isaiah 59:18
"Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned." John 3:18
Paul tells us in the New Testament that anyone who does not have a personal relationship with God is an enemy of God.

Yes, there is divine love of God for sinners. This is why Edwards goes on and on about God holding them from hell for his sovereign pleasure.
"This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4
"Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways. This is the declaration of the LORD God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so they will not be a stumbling block that causes your punishment. Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in anyone's death." Ezekiel 18:30-32
This is what Edwards is talking about when he talks about God's pleasure. God is loving and wants everyone to come to Him, yet God is omniscient and knows that everyone will not come to Him, that is the purpose of hell.

Also, we are of course called to have a certain fear of the LORD.Edwards says, "What are we, that we should think to stand before Him, at whose rebuke the earth trembles, and before whom the rocks are thrown down?" This is the beautiful picture of grace. We don't deserve the love of our Savior, in no way. Yes, we should be confident in it, but it is good to be reminded of how more holy and powerful He is than we.
"Guard your step when you go to the house of God. Better to draw near in obedience than to offer sacrifices as fools do, for they are ignorant and do wrong. Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few." Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" Proverbs 1:7

Edwards is often looked down upon because he used the scare tactic. I think most miss the motive behind his tactics though. He paints God as angry and condemning because Edwards has a sense of urgency about him. He understands that Jesus will come like a thief in the night and for many it will be the point of no return. They will not have the chance to repent, it will be too late. At that time, God will no longer be merciful towards them. He will punish them and pay them all that is due. I also think that Edwards had a bold hate for sin, as did Paul who said, "Stop sinning for some people are ignorant about God" 1 Corinthians 15:34
Lastly, Edwards has compassion, which most people never see. He says speaking of a non - believer in his congregation: "If we knew that there was one person, and but one, in the whole congregation what was to be the subject of this misery, what an awful thing would it be to think of! If we knew who it was, what an awful sight would it be to see such a person! How might all the rest of the congregation lift up a lamentable and bitter cry over him!"
Edwards prayer was that people would be saved from an eternity of misery.

One last thing, while God is our Husband and Friend, He is not just those two things alone. He is also our Master, our Judge, our Savior, our Rock, our Comforter, Love. He is all these things and many more. We can't just pick one that we like the most and ignore all the other things of God. He is reigning on the throne as our Judge and Master, and again, this is where a certain level of fear and respect must come into play in our relationship with Him.