| Basic Concepts: Mysticism, Neurosis,
and Asceticism: The Complexities of Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) is recognized as one of the most influential Protestant churchmen of the 18th century. His sermons inspired the "Great Awakening," the first revivalist movement in the English colonies. Perhaps his most renowned sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," reflects his descriptive power and resolute commitment to the Calvinist world view. At the same time, he was a serious theologian whose Freedom of the Will is still a fixture in evangelical seminaries. . Edwards' intensity as a proselytizer is translated to his private writings as well. "Personal Narrative," Edwards' chronicle of his own spiritual journey, reveals a driven personality, divided between his deep love of God and his pulverizing sense of unworthiness. The Edwards of the "Narrative" is a mystic, a seerer of visions that keep him entranced and "in a flood of tears" for hours at a time. So intense is the effect of such experiences that Edwards can bear the presence of no others than those who share his intense life of faith. He reads reports of the world only to discover some news favorable to the Kingdom of God. . Edwards' life in faith develops from a childhood where he first established his ascetic postures. He notes how he was given to "set aside" all matters of worldly endeavors so that he might concentrate more fully on spiritual matters. His life becomes a model of worship and private devotion. . A mystic by definition, an ascetic by choice, Jonathan Edwards exhibits a palette of neuroses which all but debilitate him socially and emotionally. He retreats from any fellowship other than the community of the "saints," while at the same time, he is obsessed with his own degradation and the mordancy of society. His unwavering insistence on the mechanisms of salvation eventually costs him his ministry, and he retreats to the Berkshire hills to pursue a solitary scholarship. . Online Resources A number of web resources help to illuminate the enigmatic character of Jonathan Edwards. See "Jonathan Edwards" for a brief biography with links to e-texts. A more extensive biographical note can be found at "Jonathan Edward: Portrait of a Revival Preacher." . Our Course Connections "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and "Personal Narrative" are two defining texts selected from one of the most voluminous of the latter-day Calvinist apologists of the 18th century. .  |