1. Jonathan edwards

2. Overview 1715 entered Yale College just before his 13th birthday
1720 received bachelor’s degree
1726 accepted a call to the Congregational church at Northampton
1735 stirred revival fires in Northampton
participated in the Great Awakenin
1740 wrote Personal Narrative
1741 published “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
1746 published Religious Affections
1750 dismissed from the Northampton Church
1751 became pastor of a missionary church at Stockbridge
1757 elected president of the College of New Jersey (Princeton)

3. Preparation, evangelism, & exile
Graduated at age 17 from Yale with honors, masters degree 4 years later
Committed to Christianity through a great conversion at age 18
Preached for 9 months
Tutored back at Yale for 2 years

4. Preparation, evangelism, & exile cont’d
Ministry of nearly 24 years in Northampton
Became assistant to his grandfather, Solomon Stoddard
Married Sarah Pierrepont
Became minister of the Congregational Church when his grandfather died in 1729
His fervent preaching brought “flocks” of people to Jesus
Preached “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” at the height of the Great Awakening
Tried to reinstate the Puritan practice of requiring a candidate for church membership to give public testimony. Resulted in discontent in his religious community
Stoddard was the most respected minister west of Boston
The public testimony practice had been required up until the instution of the Halfway Covenant: baptized, but not able to take Lord’s Supper
Discontent became so great, that Edwards offered to resign, but the church refused his offer. However, in 1950 they voted to dismiss him.

5. Preparation, evangelism, & exile cont’d
Moved to Stockbridge, MA to direct missionary activity among the Indians
Wrote two of his greatest works: Freedom of the Will and The Great Doctrine of Original Sin Defended
Turning of a seeming failure in his ministry into his most productive period
Accepted presidency of College of New Jersey. Contracted small pox.
Arrived in Jan to assume new job and died in March

6. Biographical works Diary Personal Narrative
Record of mostly 1722 – 1724
Personal Narrative
Autobiographic account of his spiritual life
Shows the intense care with which he examined the heart and mind

7. Other works Sermons Personal writings
Images of nature and physical forces combined with the Puritan plain style
Intensely persuasive
Personal writings
Reveal belief in unity of the natural and spiritual worlds
Only religious vision gives meaning in mankind and the world

8. Main theme
Religious knowledge must be in the heart, not just in the head.