A Puritan Upbringing
Jonathan Edwards, born in 1703 in East Windsor, Connecticut, was immersed in Puritan tradition from his earliest days, with both his father and grandfather serving as ministers. Despite his religious upbringing, Edwards grappled with the doctrines of God's sovereignty and predestination, often finding them difficult to reconcile with his understanding of faith.
A Delightful Conviction
However, a profound change occurred in 1721 when, while reflecting on the scripture 1 Timothy 1:17, he experienced what he described as a 'delightful conviction' of divine sovereignty. Edwards wrote, 'As I read the words, there came into my soul, and was as it were diffused through it, a sense of the glory of the Divine Being; a new sense, quite different from anything I ever experienced before.' This revelation transformed his perception, allowing him to see God's glory in the entirety of creation. He began to view the world with a newfound appreciation, seeing divine beauty in everything from the stars to the trees.
The First Great Awakening
This transformation marked the beginning of Edwards' influential role in the First Great Awakening. As a pastor in Northampton, Massachusetts, he became a key figure in the revivalist movement of the 1730s and 1740s. His sermon, 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,' delivered in 1741, underscored the urgency of seeking God's grace and the precariousness of human existence without it. Yet, Edwards also emphasized that the essence of true religion lies in 'holy love,' a love that should be evident in one's actions and character.
A Legacy of Holy Love
Throughout his life, Edwards experienced multiple spiritual awakenings, consistently pursuing a deeper relationship with God. He expressed a profound sense of God's presence in nature, writing, 'I saw the glory of the Son of God, as Mediator between God and man, and his wonderful, great, full, pure and sweet grace and love, and meek and gentle condescension.' His legacy as a theologian and revivalist endures, demonstrating how one man's encounter with Jesus can transform his understanding and impact generations.