Required reading
Memoirs of Jonathan Edwards in Volume I of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 7.
My summary
Today Edwards continues his ministry at Northampton.
We learn about a revival of religion, particularly among the younger people (although we learn that people even from outside the community are soundly converted too). Edwards preaching on social behaviour and doctrine (Arminianism) is a primary precursor for the revival.
Also, Edwards is involved with an ecclesiastical controversy regarding the settlement of a minister at Springfield.
Sarah Edwards' supervision of secular concerns in the home is discussed, including her management of their children, her practise of hospitality and her religious piety.
The chapter concludes with Edwards' own words on his relationship with the Lord.
What grabbed me
I appreciated Edwards' honesty about his sinfulness: '"My wickedness, as I am in myself, has long appeared to me perfectly ineffable, and swallowing up all thought and imagination; like an infinite deluge, or mountains over my head. I know not how to express better what my sins appear to me to be, than by heaping infinite upon infinite, and multiplying infinite by infinite. Very often, for these many years, these expressions are in my mind, and in my mouth, 'Infinite upon infinite—Infinite upon infinite!' When I look into my heart, and take a view of my wickedness, it looks like an abyss, infinitely deeper than hell. And it appears to me, that were it not for free grace, exalted and raised up to the infinite height of all the fulness and glory of the great Jehovah, and the arm of his power and grace stretched forth in all the majesty of his power, and in all the glory of his sovereignty, I should appear sunk down in my sins below hell itself; far beyond the sight of every thing, but the eye of sovereign grace, that can pierce even down to such a depth. And yet, it seems to me that my conviction of sin is exceedingly small and faint; it is enough to amaze me, that I have no more sense of my sin. I know certainly, that I have very little sense of my sinfulness. When I have had turns of weeping and crying for my sins, I though I knew at the time, that my repentance was nothing to my sin.'
We certainly do not fathom our sin as we should.
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 8.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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