5.2 Jonathan Edwards' Sermons and Philosophical Works

Jonathan Edwards, a prominent Puritan preacher, delivered powerful sermons that shook colonial America. His fiery rhetoric emphasized the precarious position of sinners before God, urging immediate repentance to avoid eternal damnation.

Edwards' theological ideas centered on God's sovereignty and predestination. He believed in unconditional election and argued that human choices, while voluntary, were ultimately determined by God's plan. This perspective shaped the Great Awakening and influenced future generations of preachers.

Jonathan Edwards' Sermons

Themes in Edwards' sermons

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• Emphasizes the precarious position of sinners before God hanging by a thread over the pit of hell
• Stresses the urgency of repentance and salvation to avoid eternal damnation
• Portrays God as all-powerful and in complete control of human destiny
• Highlights the helplessness of sinners without God's mercy and grace
• Encourages self-examination and conviction of sin leading to genuine repentance
• Presents the beauty and glory of God as the ultimate object of human affection

Edwards' theological ideas

• Believed that God predestined some individuals for salvation and others for damnation based on his sovereign will
• Emphasized God's sovereignty and the unconditional nature of election not based on human merit
• Argued that human choices are voluntary yet determined by God's overarching plan
• Maintained that God's sovereignty does not negate human responsibility to respond to the gospel
• Defined true virtue as a love for Being in general, centered on God rather than self-interest
• Contrasted genuine virtue with common morality based on self-interest or societal norms
• Stressed the centrality of the heart and emotions in authentic religious experience
• Viewed genuine spiritual affections as evidence of divine grace at work in the believer

Effectiveness of Edwards' preaching

• Used dramatic gestures and modulated his voice for emphasis captivating his audience
• Spoke with passion and conviction, demonstrating his own spiritual fervor
• Evoked strong emotional responses, such as weeping and trembling among the congregation
• Inspired a sense of urgency for repentance and spiritual renewal leading to changed lives
• Helped shape the theology and rhetoric of the Great Awakening emphasizing personal conversion
• Influenced future generations of preachers and religious leaders in America and beyond

Edwards vs other Great Awakening figures

• Shared with George Whitefield an emphasis on the necessity of a personal conversion experience
• Agreed with Whitefield on a Calvinistic theology and belief in predestination and God's sovereignty
• Differed from Charles Chauncy who criticized the emotionalism and enthusiasm of the revivals
• Contrasted with Chauncy's more rationalistic and liberal theological perspective emphasizing human reason
• Resembled John Wesley in stressing the importance of religious experience and personal piety
• Diverged from Wesley on the doctrine of predestination, with Wesley emphasizing human free will