St Jude's In The Mountains
Anglican Church - Tehachapi CA
Anglican Church - Tehachapi CA
2
The rain came down in sheets as winter storms swept through the New England landscape. A young man drew his cloak close around himself as he stepped carefully through the muddy street. As he arrived home, he opened the door to be greeted by eager children, but his wife noticed the worried look on his face. He confided to her that they would have to move once again on very short notice. He still had no idea where they would next live, but trusted the Lord to provide. The young man was Jonathan Edwards, and he had just been fired from his position as Pastor of his church. Little did the discontented churchgoers realize that this man would become the greatest theologian America would ever produce, and a catalyst for the Great Awakening.
Jonathan Edwards was a brilliant man, even from an early age. He was born in 1703 to The Rev. Timothy and Esther Edwards in East Windsor, Connecticut. When he was only thirteen years old, he began his studies at Yale, graduating as the Valedictorian four years later. After three more years of study, he completed his Masters Degree in 1723 at twenty years of age. Though he was quite religious, he did not have a real relationship with the Lord Jesus until 1721, after his first year in seminary. Edwards was ordained in 1727 and started serving at a large church in Northampton where his grandfather was the senior pastor. That same year he married his wife Sarah, and in their life together they had eleven children. After only two years as assisting pastor, his grandfather died and Jonathan became the senior pastor. The years that followed in that parish were challenging because the most powerful families took exception to his preaching and to his policy of giving Communion only to those who could testify of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Edwards was fired from that church in 1750. He then served as a missionary and pastor of a small church in the settlement of Stockbridge, Massachusetts until his election as President of Princeton University in 1758, only to die on March 22nd of a severe fever from an attempted smallpox inoculation.
Jonathan Edwards distinguished himself as a preacher and theologian. Though he acknowledged God's sovereignty, he preached for conversion and revival. His doctrine of the sovereignty of God is known as "Theological Determinism", but his writings on the subject nonetheless explore the role of human choices in this life. They also explore the moral and ontological aspects of the holiness of God. Edwards' principal work was his book "Freedom of the Will", published in 1754. Later works were published after his death, including "Of Being", "The Mind", "Miscellanies", "End of Creation", and "True Virtue". Through the course of his ministry and writing, Edwards sought for ever more people to come to the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ, and manifest in a personal relationship with Him.
Edwards' impact lies in the fact that his ministry served as a catalyst for revival not seen since the Reformation. His preaching for conversion hearkened back to the calls for repentance by Martin Luther and Thomas Cranmer. His articulation of the Grace of our sovereign Lord gave theological depth to a movement that would sweep the English speaking world, and leave a legacy which thrives even now.
Jonathan Edwards was a brilliant man, even from an early age. He was born in 1703 to The Rev. Timothy and Esther Edwards in East Windsor, Connecticut. When he was only thirteen years old, he began his studies at Yale, graduating as the Valedictorian four years later. After three more years of study, he completed his Masters Degree in 1723 at twenty years of age. Though he was quite religious, he did not have a real relationship with the Lord Jesus until 1721, after his first year in seminary. Edwards was ordained in 1727 and started serving at a large church in Northampton where his grandfather was the senior pastor. That same year he married his wife Sarah, and in their life together they had eleven children. After only two years as assisting pastor, his grandfather died and Jonathan became the senior pastor. The years that followed in that parish were challenging because the most powerful families took exception to his preaching and to his policy of giving Communion only to those who could testify of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Edwards was fired from that church in 1750. He then served as a missionary and pastor of a small church in the settlement of Stockbridge, Massachusetts until his election as President of Princeton University in 1758, only to die on March 22nd of a severe fever from an attempted smallpox inoculation.
Jonathan Edwards distinguished himself as a preacher and theologian. Though he acknowledged God's sovereignty, he preached for conversion and revival. His doctrine of the sovereignty of God is known as "Theological Determinism", but his writings on the subject nonetheless explore the role of human choices in this life. They also explore the moral and ontological aspects of the holiness of God. Edwards' principal work was his book "Freedom of the Will", published in 1754. Later works were published after his death, including "Of Being", "The Mind", "Miscellanies", "End of Creation", and "True Virtue". Through the course of his ministry and writing, Edwards sought for ever more people to come to the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ, and manifest in a personal relationship with Him.
Edwards' impact lies in the fact that his ministry served as a catalyst for revival not seen since the Reformation. His preaching for conversion hearkened back to the calls for repentance by Martin Luther and Thomas Cranmer. His articulation of the Grace of our sovereign Lord gave theological depth to a movement that would sweep the English speaking world, and leave a legacy which thrives even now.
