Age of Reason and Revival Age of Reason and Revival IIII

Edwards, Whitfield, Wesley and Edwards, Whitfield, Wesley and Awakening Awakening

Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards• Born in 1703 to Timothy Edwards and Esther Born in 1703 to Timothy Edwards and Esther

Stoddard their only son and 5Stoddard their only son and 5thth of 11 children of 11 children

• Grew up somewhat sheltered and was much Grew up somewhat sheltered and was much fascinated with nature, especially spidersfascinated with nature, especially spiders

• Learned Latin by age 6, and had a command Learned Latin by age 6, and had a command of the “three learned languages” by 13of the “three learned languages” by 13

• 1716 at 13 years old he entered Yale College1716 at 13 years old he entered Yale College

• Graduated in 1720, but stayed until 1722 to Graduated in 1720, but stayed until 1722 to study divinitystudy divinity

• Taught in New York then became tutor at YaleTaught in New York then became tutor at Yale

Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards• 1727 became assistant pastor in Northampton 1727 became assistant pastor in Northampton

under his grandfather Solomon Stoddardunder his grandfather Solomon Stoddard• Married Sarah Pierrepont, a model wife, mother Married Sarah Pierrepont, a model wife, mother

and housekeeper. Started having the first of their and housekeeper. Started having the first of their 12 children12 children

• During his youth and schooling Edwards was a During his youth and schooling Edwards was a very prolific writer and influenced by Lockevery prolific writer and influenced by Locke

• 1729 became head pastor diligently studying (13-1729 became head pastor diligently studying (13-15 hours a day) and leading15 hours a day) and leading

• 1735(39)-41 the First Great Awakening broke out 1735(39)-41 the First Great Awakening broke out in his Church, He preached against abuse but in his Church, He preached against abuse but fully acknowledged “Religious Affections”fully acknowledged “Religious Affections”

Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards• 1749 Published a memoir of David 1749 Published a memoir of David

Brainerd his Son-in-law to be who had Brainerd his Son-in-law to be who had died from Tuberculosisdied from Tuberculosis

• Edwards disputed over communion being Edwards disputed over communion being given to nominal/non Christians given to nominal/non Christians

• Criticized the sons of leading members of Criticized the sons of leading members of the communitythe community

• 1750 He was dismissed from his pastorate1750 He was dismissed from his pastorate

• He left with dignity, but expressed his He left with dignity, but expressed his dislike for Congregationalist church dislike for Congregationalist church government preferring Presbyterianismgovernment preferring Presbyterianism

Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards• Edwards became a missionary to the Edwards became a missionary to the

Native Americans in the frontier town of Native Americans in the frontier town of StockbridgeStockbridge

• While struggling against a corrupt While struggling against a corrupt missions board Edwards wrote his more missions board Edwards wrote his more famous booksfamous books

• 1758 became President of the College of 1758 became President of the College of New Jersey aka PrincetonNew Jersey aka Princeton

• After becoming president he was After becoming president he was inoculated against smallpox, then inoculated against smallpox, then rampant, and diedrampant, and died

George WhitefieldGeorge Whitefield• Born 1714 to Thomas and Elizabeth at the Bell Born 1714 to Thomas and Elizabeth at the Bell

Inn in Gloucester, EnglandInn in Gloucester, England• He was educated in the Crypt School until 15 He was educated in the Crypt School until 15

when he dropped out to help his motherwhen he dropped out to help his mother• He got measles that left him squint eyedHe got measles that left him squint eyed• Worked at the Bell Inn for a year and a half Worked at the Bell Inn for a year and a half

before completing school and going to Oxfordbefore completing school and going to Oxford• While at Oxford he became religious, initially While at Oxford he became religious, initially

ascetic, then later genuinely convertedascetic, then later genuinely converted• Along with John and Charles Wesley he founded Along with John and Charles Wesley he founded

the Oxford “Holy Club”the Oxford “Holy Club”

George WhitefieldGeorge Whitefield• 1735 he claimed to have been truly converted1735 he claimed to have been truly converted• Asceticism left him weak so he returned Asceticism left him weak so he returned

homehome• He was noticed by Bishop Benson who He was noticed by Bishop Benson who

wanted to ordain him, he returned to Oxford, wanted to ordain him, he returned to Oxford, became ordained at 22became ordained at 22

• Preached his first sermon in Saint Mary de Preached his first sermon in Saint Mary de CryptCrypt

• Began teaching in various places and was Began teaching in various places and was invited by the Wesley’s to come to Georgiainvited by the Wesley’s to come to Georgia

• In Georgia he helped with an orphanage and In Georgia he helped with an orphanage and other efforts before returning homeother efforts before returning home

George WhitefieldGeorge Whitefield• Upon return from Georgia he was ordained Upon return from Georgia he was ordained

a Priest in the Anglican church by Bensona Priest in the Anglican church by Benson

• He had lost favor with much of the He had lost favor with much of the England crowd and had an increasingly England crowd and had an increasingly hard time finding pulpits in which to hard time finding pulpits in which to preachpreach

• Preached in whatever pulpits were open to Preached in whatever pulpits were open to him regardless of denomination, but most him regardless of denomination, but most were too smallwere too small

• Turned to the “highways and hedges” to Turned to the “highways and hedges” to “compel them to come in” “compel them to come in”

George WhitefieldGeorge Whitefield• Began preaching to the colliers (coal Began preaching to the colliers (coal

miners) in Kingswood, to increasingly miners) in Kingswood, to increasingly large crowdslarge crowds

• Traveled to London to preach, but was Traveled to London to preach, but was kicked out of church so he turned to the kicked out of church so he turned to the fieldsfields

• He began a long and massive itinerant He began a long and massive itinerant evangelistic careerevangelistic career

• Traveled across the Atlantic 13 times Traveled across the Atlantic 13 times spending over two years on waterspending over two years on water

• Continued working with and building the Continued working with and building the orphanage in Georgiaorphanage in Georgia

George WhitefieldGeorge Whitefield• 1740 played a major role in the Great 1740 played a major role in the Great

Awakening in AmericaAwakening in America

• Met and preached to Benjamin FranklinMet and preached to Benjamin Franklin

• Split with John Wesley over the Calvinist Split with John Wesley over the Calvinist doctrine of predestination, becoming the doctrine of predestination, becoming the father of Calvinist Methodismfather of Calvinist Methodism

• Was beaten several times but proclaimed Was beaten several times but proclaimed “We are immortal ‘til our work is done”“We are immortal ‘til our work is done”

• Married Elizabeth James who bore him Married Elizabeth James who bore him one son who died as an infantone son who died as an infant

George WhitefieldGeorge Whitefield• He vastly changed the philosophy of He vastly changed the philosophy of

preaching and evangelism, emphasizing preaching and evangelism, emphasizing charismatic and heartfelt sermonscharismatic and heartfelt sermons

• Had a very aggressive approach to Had a very aggressive approach to preachingpreaching

• Preached 13 sermons per week all Preached 13 sermons per week all extemporaneously extemporaneously

• 1770 He died in Newbury Port leaving very 1770 He died in Newbury Port leaving very little behindlittle behind

John WesleyJohn Wesley• Born 1703 in Epworth, England to Samuel Born 1703 in Epworth, England to Samuel

and Susannaand Susanna• Susanna was a strong influence on him and Susanna was a strong influence on him and

took a firm hand in her children’s educationtook a firm hand in her children’s education• At 6 years old he was saved from a fire “a At 6 years old he was saved from a fire “a

brand plucked from the burning”brand plucked from the burning”• Studied in London at the Charterhouse Studied in London at the Charterhouse

School then went to college in OxfordSchool then went to college in Oxford• He was studious and did well with his He was studious and did well with his

studiesstudies• Unsure what to do with his life he looked for Unsure what to do with his life he looked for

direction before deciding on preachingdirection before deciding on preaching

John WesleyJohn Wesley• 1726-1734 He founded the Holy Club at 1726-1734 He founded the Holy Club at

Oxford trying to live a religious lifeOxford trying to live a religious life

• 1734 His father died and he received a call 1734 His father died and he received a call to go to Georgiato go to Georgia

• Went to Georgia, did little and learned Went to Georgia, did little and learned muchmuch

• Along the way he became acquainted with Along the way he became acquainted with Moravian missionaries who challenged Moravian missionaries who challenged him to know his salvationhim to know his salvation

• 1738 due to trouble in Georgia he returned 1738 due to trouble in Georgia he returned to England. to England.

John WesleyJohn Wesley• He continued studying and like Luther “felt He continued studying and like Luther “felt

his heart strangely warmed”his heart strangely warmed”• Began preaching, but was increasingly Began preaching, but was increasingly

unwelcome in churches so turned to the unwelcome in churches so turned to the fieldsfields

• From here he embarked on 53 years of From here he embarked on 53 years of itinerant preachingitinerant preaching

• The social conditions of England at the The social conditions of England at the time were appalling, full of poverty and time were appalling, full of poverty and immoralityimmorality

• Wesley traveled over 250,000 miles on Wesley traveled over 250,000 miles on horseback during his ministryhorseback during his ministry

John WesleyJohn Wesley• As he traveled Wesley founded groups As he traveled Wesley founded groups

and organizations which became the and organizations which became the Methodist ChurchMethodist Church

• He initially didn’t want to break with the He initially didn’t want to break with the Anglican church, but had to, being Anglican church, but had to, being unwilling to reject inward and present unwilling to reject inward and present salvation by faithsalvation by faith

• Broke with Whitefield in proclaiming his Broke with Whitefield in proclaiming his Arminianist doctrine, though they made up Arminianist doctrine, though they made up and remained friends. and remained friends.

• At 48 he unwisely married to a wife who At 48 he unwisely married to a wife who made him miserable for 15 years then leftmade him miserable for 15 years then left

John WesleyJohn Wesley• He rejected leisure and pursued the work He rejected leisure and pursued the work

of God with all he hadof God with all he had

• Was always up early usually at 4am and in Was always up early usually at 4am and in bed at 10pm bed at 10pm

• Wesley died in bed at 88 years old. He Wesley died in bed at 88 years old. He sang a hymn, encouraged his brothers, sang a hymn, encouraged his brothers, and said “farewell”and said “farewell”