Age of Reason and Revival II

1. Age of Reason and Revival II Edwards, Whitfield, Wesley and Awakening

2. Jonathan Edwards • Born in 1703 to Timothy Edwards and Esther Stoddard their only son and 5th of 11 children • Grew up somewhat sheltered and was much fascinated with nature, especially spiders • Learned Latin by age 6, and had a command of the “three learned languages” by 13 • 1716 at 13 years old he entered Yale College • Graduated in 1720, but stayed until 1722 to study divinity • Taught in New York then became tutor at Yale

3. Jonathan Edwards • 1727 became assistant pastor in Northampton under his grandfather Solomon Stoddard • Married Sarah Pierrepont, a model wife, mother and housekeeper. Started having the first of their 12 children • During his youth and schooling Edwards was a very prolific writer and influenced by Locke • 1729 became head pastor diligently studying (13-15 hours a day) and leading • 1735 the First Great Awakening broke out in his Church, He preached against abuse but fully acknowledged “Religious Affections”

4. Jonathan Edwards • 1749 Published a memoir of David Brainerd his Son-in-law to be who had died from Tuberculosis • Edwards disputed over communion being given to nominal/non Christians • Criticized the sons of leading members of the community • 1750 He was dismissed from his pastorate • He left with dignity, but expressed his dislike for Congregationalist church government preferring Presbyterianism

6. Jonathan Edwards • Edwards became a missionary to the Native Americans in the frontier town of Stockbridge • While struggling against a corrupt missions board Edwards wrote his more famous books • 1758 became President of the College of New Jersey aka Princeton • After becoming president he was inoculated against smallpox, then rampant, and died

7. George Whitefield • Born 1714 to Thomas and Elizabeth at the Bell Inn in Gloucester, England • He was educated in the Crypt School until 15 when he dropped out to help his mother • He got measles that left him squint eyed • Worked at the Bell Inn for a year and a half before completing school and going to Oxford • While at Oxford he became religious, initially ascetic, then later genuinely converted • Along with John and Charles Wesley he founded the Oxford “Holy Club”

8. George Whitefield • 1735 he claimed to have been truly converted • Asceticism left him weak so he returned home • He was noticed by Bishop Benson who wanted to ordain him, he returned to Oxford, became ordained at 22 • Preached his first sermon in Saint Mary de Crypt • Began teaching in various places and was invited by the Wesley’s to come to Georgia • In Georgia he helped with an orphanage and other efforts before returning home

9. George Whitefield • Upon return from Georgia he was ordained a Priest in the Anglican church by Benson • He had lost favor with much of the England crowd and had an increasingly hard time finding pulpits in which to preach • Preached in whatever pulpits were open to him regardless of denomination, but most were too small • Turned to the “highways and hedges” to “compel them to come in”

11. George Whitefield • Began preaching to the colliers (coal miners) in Kingswood, to increasingly large crowds • Traveled to London to preach, but was kicked out of church so preached in a field • He began a long and massive itinerant evangelistic career • Traveled across the Atlantic 13 times spending over two years on water • Continued working with and building the orphanage in Georgia

13. George Whitefield • 1740 played a major role in the Great Awakening in America • Met and preached to Benjamin Franklin • Split with John Wesley over the Calvinist doctrine of predestination, becoming the father of Calvinist Methodism • Was beaten several times but proclaimed “We are immortal ‘til our work is done” • Married Elizabeth James who bore him one son who died as an infant

14. George Whitefield • He vastly changed the philosophy of preaching and evangelism, emphasizing charismatic and heartfelt sermons • Had a very aggressive approach to preaching • Preached 13 sermons per week all extemporaneously • 1770 He died in Newbury Port leaving very little behind

15. John Wesley • Born 1703 in Epworth, England to Samuel and Susanna • Susanna was a strong influence on him and took a firm hand in her children’s education • At 6 years old he was saved from a fire a “brand plucked from the burning” • Studied in London at the Charterhouse School then went to college in Oxford • He was studious and did well with his studies • Unsure what to do with his life he looked for direction before deciding on preaching

16. John Wesley • 1726-1734 He founded the Holy Club at Oxford trying to live a religious life • 1734 His father died and he received a call to go to Georgia • Went to Georgia, did little and learned much • Along the way he became acquainted with Moravian missionaries who challenged him to know his salvation • 1738 due to trouble in Georgia he returned to England.

17. John Wesley • He continued studying and like Luther “felt his heart strangely warmed” • Began preaching, but was increasingly unwelcome in churches so turned to the fields • From here he embarked on 53 years of itinerant preaching • The social conditions of England at the time were appalling, full of poverty and immorality • Wesley traveled over 250,000 miles on horseback during his ministry

18. John Wesley • As he traveled Wesley founded groups and organizations which became the Methodist Church • He initially didn’t want to break with the Anglican church, but had to, being unwilling to reject inward and present salvation by faith • Broke with Whitefield in proclaiming his Arminianist doctrine, though they made up and remained friends. • At 48 he unwisely married to a wife who made him miserable for 15 years then left

19. John Wesley • He rejected leisure and pursued the work of God with all he had • Was always up early usually at 4am and in bed at 10pm • Wesley died in bed at 88 years old. He sang a hymn, encouraged his brothers, and said “farewell”