Guide for Interpreting

JonathanEdwards(1703-1758)JonathanEdwardsissosynonymouswith“fireandbrimstone”-aphrasesymbolizingthetormentsofhellenduredbysinners-thathisnamealonewase－noughtomakemanyeighteenth-centuryPuritansshakeintheirshoes.ThisgreatAmericantheologianandpowerfulPuritanpreacherwasborninEastWindsor,Connecticut,wherehegrewupinanatmosphereofdevoutdisci－pline.Asayoungboy,Edwardsissaidtohavepreachedsermonstohisplaymatesfromamakeshiftpulpithebuiltbehindhishome.Abrilliantacademic,helearnedLatin,Greek,andHebrewbytheageoftwelve,enteredYaleatthirteen,andgraduatedfouryearslaterasclassvaledic－torian.Hewentontoearnhismaster’sdegreeintheology.APreacherBornandRaisedEdwardsbeganhispreachingcareerin1727asassistanttohisgrandfather,SolomonStoddard,pastorofthechurchatNorthampton,Massachusetts,oneofthelargestandwealthiestcongregationsinthePuritanworld.EdwardsalsopreachedasavisitingministerthroughoutNewEngland.StronglydesiringareturntotheorthodoxyandferventfaithofthePuri－tanpast,hebecamealeaderoftheGreatAwakening,areligiousrevivalthatsweptthecoloniesinthe1730’sand1740’s.ChangingAttitudesTheGreatAwakeningdidnotlast,however,andin1750Edwardswasdismissedfromhispositionafterhisextremeconservatismalienatedmuchofthecongregation.Hecontinuedtopreachandwriteuntilhisdeathin1758,shortlyafterbecomingpresidentoftheCollegeofNewJersey(nowPrincetonUniversity).Edwards’shighlyemotionalsermon“SinnersintheHandsofanAngryGod”isbyfarhismostfamouswork.Itwasdeliveredtoacongrega－tioninEnfield,Connecticut,in1741,anditissaidtohavecausedlistenerstorisefromtheirseatsinastateofhysteria.  [返]