Jonathan Edwards Bio
Biographical Book Reviews
This is a an outstanding book on
the life of Edwards.
Jonathan Edwards, A New Biography
by
Iain Murray
Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle, PA: 1996
503 Pages, Paperback
The life of the
greatest American Theologian and Philosopher is again described in this
new biography by Iain Murray. This
full length account shines with new material as well as old from the
life of
Jonathan
Edwards. Much
of what you will find in older biographies is found here, but it is also
laden with
more recent material which has arisen from recent scholarship.
This makes the book a more complete volume on the subject.
Murray moves us through
Edward’s early years as the “Son of East Windsor”, through to his
tutoring at Yale University. He
describes his relationship to his grandfather, Solomon Stoddard, and his
ministry in the Church at
Northampton. Chapters on
The Great Awakening, the Defense of Experimental Religion, The Religious
Affections and the Communion Controversy were particularly excellent.
It was also shocking to read of the vivid circumstances of his
“Removal” from his pastorate as a result of the Communion
Controversy and half-way covenant.
There are also
appendices dealing with the published works of Edwards during his
lifetime, as well as posthumous works and collected works.
Murray also includes a letter of Sarah Edwards in 1750 which
dealt with the controversy surrounding the expulsion of Edwards at
Northampton.
This is an excellent
work, and one of the best, if not the best, biography on Edwards I have
read in a long while. I would highly
recommend it for its insight into Edwards' life, and the sensitive
issues which surrounded the most influential American Theologian we have
had since the birth of this country.
Some
Quotes:
“Stoddard’s last published sermon, in 1723, had been entitled The
Defects of Preachers Reproved.
In it he blamed the ministry for the low spiritual conditions.
There was, Stoddard believed, “a great want of good preaching; whence
it comes to pass, that among professors a spirit of piety runs
exceedingly low.””
“His hearers had
little conception what both the Sunday sermons and the mid-week lecture
cost him in terms of time.”
““The duty of
singing praises to God seems to be appointed wholly to excite and
express religious affections,” Edwards believed.””
“It is the manner of
God before he bestows any signal mercy on the people, first to prepare
them for it.”
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