Memoirs of Jonathan Edwards in Vol I of the Works - XVI - Chapter 16

Required reading
Memoirs of Jonathan Edwards in Volume I of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 16.

My summary.

This week we hear about the issues that led to Edwards' dismissal at Northampton.

The first issue was the way Edwards handled obscene reading and conversation among the young people at Northampton.

The second was Edwards' attempts to restrict communion to Christians, which went against the practice of Stoddard, his grandfather.

What grabbed me

I appreciated the warning from Edwards' handling of the situation with the young people.  

About the way he announced the investigation into the matter, we read the following: 'Some of those whose names were thus read, were the persons accused, and some were witnesses; but through mere forgetfulness or inadvertence on his part, he did not state to the church, in which of these two classes any particular individual was included; or in what character he was requested to meet the committee, whether as one of the accused, or a witness.'

Sensitive issues require sensitive handling and much wisdom.  May God grant such wisdom to pastors!

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 17.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.