JONATHAN EDWARDS

 Born in Connecticut  The only son in a family of 11 children  Was educated  At a young age proficient in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew  Studied religion Concerned about his own salvation and state of grace

 Attended Yale at 13 Gifted in math, philosophy, astronomy Interested in John Locke Knowledge comes from experience – understanding and feeling different Edwards – reading fire and being burned

 Married Sarah Pierrepont  They had 11 children  Launched a career in ministry  Father and grandfather were Puritan ministers

 Became pastor at a church in Northampton, Massachusetts after his grandfather’s death  There for 24 years  Developed a reputation as a powerful preacher  Sermons were about sin and salvation

 Was part of the Great Awakening  Began in Northampton in 1730’s  Reviving Puritan ideals  People denouncing their sins and dedicating themselves to God – born again to be saved  Conversions – very emotional

 Sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”  Delivered in Enfield, Connecticut, 1741  Trying to “awaken” natural men who had not been “born again”  Encouraged listeners to reexamine beliefs about grace, salvation, and religion  Listeners actually swooned and shrieked

 Eventually dismissed from his congregation in 1750  Would call out well-known church members by name as sinners  Tried to limit membership to people who had undergone religious conversion or who had been “born again”

 Moved to remote setting of Stockbridge  Ministered to Indians for 8 years  Accepted an appointment as president of what is now Princeton University  Died of small pox after receiving vaccination