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Henry says, ''Are we disposed to be of the number of those who having eyes see not, and having ears hear not, the things which so nearly concern...

Henry is actually using four rhetorical techniques at once when he asks his audience:



''Are we disposed to be of the number of those who having eyes see not, and having ears hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?"



Here is an analysis of the four techniques:


1.  Henry asks a rhetorical question to engage his listeners and make them think about his point.


2.  It is an allusion to The Bible, specifically Mark 8:18, in which Jesus is asking his disciples a series of questions, as Henry does in the speech.


3.  It is parallel structure, a rhythmic device well-suited for oratory.


4.  Henry makes an appeal to both logic and emotion when he asks his listeners if they want to be the kind of people who fail to read the signs of what is happening around them.  He is asking why people would chose to ignore their situation, which in his opinion, affects their "salvation" from the British in their "temporal" (Earthly) lives.

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