Jonathan Edwards

 

1703-1758

Biography

Edwards was born in 1703, the fifth of eleven children (ten sisters, no brothers), into a very well-educated family. He was converted at 18, and took his first pastorate at 19 (Presbyterian). At 26, he became the pastor of the second largest church in the colonies in Northampton, (Congregational with about 500 people). There followed revival in the 1730s and The Great Awakening in 1740-42. Edwards and his wife Sarah had eleven children. He was dismissed from the Northampton church in 1750. He took up missionary work to the Mohicans in Stockbridge and died in 1758 following a small pox vaccination.

 

 

Notable Writings and Sermons

  • Sinners in the hands of an angry God

  • Charity and its fruits

  • Freedom of the Will

  • Original Sin

  • The Religious Affections

  • The Personal Narrative (Edwards' conversion)

  • A Faithful Narrative of the Surprizing Work of God in the Conversion of Many Hundred Souls in Northampton and the Neighbouring Towns and Villages of Hampshire in New England.

  • History of the Works of Redemption

 

Quotes

  1. God's purpose for my life was that I have a passion for God's glory and that I have a passion for my joy in that glory, and that these two are one passion.

  2. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

  3. Resolved, never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

  4. And let every one that is yet out of Christ, and hanging over the pit of hell, whether they be old men and women, or middle aged, or young people, or little children, now hearken to the loud calls of God's word and providence.

  5. Holiness appeared to me to be of a sweet, pleasant, charming, serene, calm nature; which brought an inexpressible purity, brightness, peacefulness and ravishment to the soul.

  6. Nothing sets a Christian so much out of the devil's reach than humility.

Additional Materials