Edwards, Jonathan. Edwards on Revivals: containing A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God in the Conversion of many hundred Souls in Northampton, Massachusetts, A. D. 1735. Also, Thoughts on the Revival of Religion in New England, 1742, and the way in which it ought to be acknowledged and promoted; With Introductory Remarks, and a Full General Index, prepared by the present editor. New York: Dunning & Spalding, 1832. First Edition in this format. [11220]
Speckled calf, scuffed and worn, joints well-rubbed and holding, lacks most of the spine title label, small ink call numbers at base of spine, 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches. Bookplate of Douglas B. MacCorkle; gift inscription to him; "Daniel Judson's" large signature in brown ink on the ffep. Engraved portrait of Edwards, no tissue guard, hinge at portrait open without detachment. 424 pp., foxing, some stains at the end of the volume; pencil underlining/marginal notes in many places. Fair. Hardcover.
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), b. East Windsor, CT; d. Princeton, NJ. He was educated at Yale College, and in 1724 became co-pastor with his grandfather Samuel Stoddard of the church at Northampton, MA., assuming full duties upon the latter's death in 1729. Under the influence of Edwards's powerful preaching, the Great Awakening occurred in 1734-35, and a geographically more extensive revival in 1740-41. Edwards became a firm friend of George Whitefield, then itinerating in America.
After various differences with prominent families in his congregation, and a prolonged controversy over the question of the admission of the unconverted to the Lord's Supper, he was dismissed as pastor in 1750 and became, in 1751, pastor of the church in the frontier town of Stockbridge, and a missionary to the Indians. He was elected president of Princeton in 1757, but was reluctant to accept because of his desire to continue writing. He was inaugurated at Princeton College in February 1758. One month later he died of the effects of a smallpox injection.
Edwards was firmly in the tradition of New England Calvinism and the Westminster Divines. Because of his commitment to salvation by sovereign grace, Edwards was agitated by what he considered to be the religiously destructive developments in New England, particularly Arminianism and Socinianism, and revivalistic excess. The first concern prompted the book Freedom of the Will and, later, Original Sin. The second inspired a group of writings, notably the Religious Affections.
"A preacher of rare power, Edwards was the foremost leader of the Great Awakening. A man of passion, integrity and honor, he labored quietly among the Indians following his removal from Northampton. A giant of intellect and a theologian of great precision, Edwards was called to the Presidency of Princeton, but sudden death claimed him soon thereafter. No one before or since has written as wisely and thoroughly on the subject of revival as this saintly man." - Roberts, Revival Literature: An Annotated Bibliography, no. 1673.
The bookplate: Douglas Beals MacCorkle (1915-2002), b. Boston, MA; d. Lancaster, PA. After studying art in Boston and Washington, DC, MacCorckle studied theology, graduating at Gordon College of Theology and Missions (1944) and at Dallas Theological Seminary (1947). He a pastor before becoming Professor and Academic Dean at Washington Bible College; then dean and founder of Capitol Bible Seminary. From 1963 to 1979 he was Professor, then President and Chancellor of the Philadelphia College of the Bible.
