Jonathan Edwards
Dare to Hope!
Jonathan Edwards
(1703-1758)
“God is wont to open a door of hope, a door through which there flashes a sweet light out of heaven upon the soul. Then comfort arises, and then is there a new song in the mouth, even praise unto God.”
—Jonathan Edwards
More Online Resources
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
Works of Jonathan Edwards, Volume 1
Jonathan Edwards: Revival theologian
Edwards was a pastor who not only helped spark America’s First Great Awakening and himself ministered to the Native Americans in later years, but was also a prolific writer and is considered America’s greatest theologian.
Highlights of his life and ministry
Edwards was a pastor who not only helped spark America’s First Great Awakening and himself ministered to the Native Americans in later years, but was also a prolific writer and is considered America’s greatest theologian.
Highlights of his life and ministry
- Entered Yale before 13th birthday, graduating four years later at head of his class.
- In 1729, succeeded his grandfather, Solomon Stoddard, as pastor of the prestigious Congregational Church in Northampton, Massachusetts.
- In 1734, six people were suddenly converted in his church, then 30 or more every week. America’s First Great Awakening was launched.
- In 1741, preached the famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” at Enfield, Connecticut. Even though his preaching style was not dramatic, the power of God was so strong that parishioners screamed and held onto the pillars of the church, fearing they would fall into hell.
- Wrote numerous scholarly works and is considered America’s greatest theologian.
- Edited journal of David Brainerd, a missionary to Native Americans who died at the Edwards’ home at the age of 29. This journal is credited with inspiring some of the greatest evangelists and missionaries in history.
- In 1750, he was removed as pastor of the Northampton church because of his commitment to godly standards for church members and his requirement of proof that members were truly saved.
- From 1751-1757, he served in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where he ministered to Native Americans.
- In 1757, he became president of the College of New Jersey, now Princeton, but died a few months later from smallpox.
Stories about Jonathan Edwards
When 18th century missionary David Brainerd was dying from tuberculosis, the teenage daughter of Jonathan Edwards, Jerusha, became his nurse. She and Brainerd had once considered marriage, but decided instead that he would dedicate himself to the Native Americans.
Four months after Brainerd’s death, Jerusha died, also. Edwards was such a man of hope and faith that he accepted the death of his daughter and continued to thank God publicly that Brainerd’s brief life had been a divine inspiration to him.
He wrote that “it has pleased a holy and sovereign God to take away this my dear child by death, on the fourteenth of February, next following; after a short illness of five days, in the eighteenth year of her age. She was a person of much the same spirit with Mr. Brainerd. She had constantly taken care of and attended him in his sickness for nineteen weeks before his death, devoting herself to it with great delight because she looked on him as an eminent servant of Jesus Christ.”
When 18th century missionary David Brainerd was dying from tuberculosis, the teenage daughter of Jonathan Edwards, Jerusha, became his nurse. She and Brainerd had once considered marriage, but decided instead that he would dedicate himself to the Native Americans.
Four months after Brainerd’s death, Jerusha died, also. Edwards was such a man of hope and faith that he accepted the death of his daughter and continued to thank God publicly that Brainerd’s brief life had been a divine inspiration to him.
He wrote that “it has pleased a holy and sovereign God to take away this my dear child by death, on the fourteenth of February, next following; after a short illness of five days, in the eighteenth year of her age. She was a person of much the same spirit with Mr. Brainerd. She had constantly taken care of and attended him in his sickness for nineteen weeks before his death, devoting herself to it with great delight because she looked on him as an eminent servant of Jesus Christ.”
