Jonathan Edwards Tells his Life as a Pastor that Helped Spur the First Great Awakening

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My name is Jonathan Edwards, and I’d like to tell you about my life—a life dedicated to God, faith, and the pursuit of understanding. I was born in 1703 in East Windsor, Connecticut, the only son in a family of eleven children. From an early age, I had a thirst for knowledge and a deep connection to spiritual matters. By the time I was thirteen, I entered Yale College, where I studied theology, philosophy, and the natural world. I was fascinated by how reason and faith could work together to reveal God’s truth.

After completing my studies, I became a minister, first assisting my grandfather at a church in Northampton, Massachusetts, and later becoming the lead pastor myself. It was here that my calling truly took shape. I believed with all my heart that people needed a personal, emotional connection to God—not just rituals or traditions. I began preaching about the need for true repentance and a heartfelt relationship with Christ. My sermons were passionate, intense, and filled with vivid imagery meant to awaken the soul. Perhaps my most famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," painted a powerful picture of God’s justice and mercy. It was meant to shake people out of complacency and lead them toward salvation.

This approach made me one of the key figures in what is now called the First Great Awakening, a religious revival that swept through the American colonies in the 1730s and 1740s. The movement inspired people to re-examine their faith and brought new energy to churches across the land. I traveled extensively, preaching to crowds hungry for spiritual renewal. But my methods weren’t without controversy. Some thought my focus on personal experience over established doctrine was too radical, and eventually, I was dismissed from my Northampton church.

Despite this setback, I continued my work. I became a missionary to Native American communities in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where I also had the opportunity to write and reflect. My writings on theology, philosophy, and the nature of the human soul were some of my most important contributions. I sought to show how God’s glory could be seen in every part of creation, from the stars in the sky to the love in our hearts.

Later in life, I became the president of the College of New Jersey, which you now know as Princeton University. Sadly, my time there was short. In 1758, I died from complications after receiving a smallpox vaccination, a treatment I had supported in the hopes of protecting others.

As I look back on my life, I see a journey filled with challenges, devotion, and an unwavering desire to bring people closer to God. I wanted to ignite a flame of faith that would shine brightly for generations to come. To you, I say: never stop seeking truth, and always let your heart and mind work together in the service of something greater than yourself.

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