Reading Jonathan Edwards…painfully

Journal of  Reading Jonathan Edwards

16 April 2005

            Interesting that Isaac Watts is commenting on the revivals in America from London and is one of the editors of this work.  These men evaluated the New England revival as a wetting of Gideon’s fleece while the rest of the world was dry.  Their basis for considering that God was not at work in England (possibly Europe) was that there was a wall raised between them and God because of:

            A. Iniquities

            B. Coldness in Religion

            C. General carnality of spirit

            D. Pride

                        a. Perverse attitude of infidelity

                        b. Perverse attitude of degeneracy

                        c. Perverse attitude of apostasy

They attribute the revival success to a discovery of:

A. Sense of sin

B. Danger of God’s wrath

C. All sufficiency of Jesus

            a. Jesus relieves our spiritual wants

            b. Jesus relieves our spiritual distresses

D. Consent of souls to receive Him in offices of Grace–per Scripture

Furthermore, the Spirit honors preaching of doctrine that is neither antinomian or

Arminian but that is middle-ground.  The revival was not precipitated by calamity so that people were induced to turn to God from fear for their lives. 

            There is a strange reference in this introduction to “a woman” that is not clear. 

            Interesting that this introduction is well written and inclusive of plenty of excellent analysis of revival conditions. 

17 April 2005

            According to Edwards, the people that experienced revival were relatively free from error or from sectarian divisions or opinions and were not under the evil influence of immigrants.  They were, by and large, sober, orderly and good folk.  They exercised their religion in good order under the teaching of pure doctrine.  They had no divisions or quarrels in church and well managed their own church government.  It certainly makes one wonder why they would need to be “awakened.”

            Overall, the Northampton people were rational and intelligent and they revered their pastors.  They were the beneficiaries of long-term pastorates.  Edwards makes special note of their attention to evangelizing the young people.

18 April 2005

Edwards describes recent incidents of profligacy and lack of family government.

Edwards’ response to these ills is to preach topical sermons against the real evils in the town.  Interesting that Edwards is viewed as a great preacher by many who consider that expository preaching is the only proper preaching…certainly was not Edwards’ style.

19 April 2005

            Description of a woman – a distressed young woman – who dies in peace of God’s mercy.  The result is a profound solemnity among the town’s young people.  The young people established into worship groups.  An elderly person dies under unusual circumstances…the details of which are not given.

            Again, Edwards practices topical preaching as he inveighs against the threat of Arminianism that would corrupt people.  He preaches on justification by faith alone.  Interesting that his hatred of Arminianism is contrary to the position of Watts and the other editors who promoted a middle ground approach.

20 April 2005

            Awakening comes about because of the conversion of a young woman of bad reputation.  Edwards admits to having had no relationship with her until after she came to describe her conversion to him.  Is it safe to conclude that the awakening had nothing to do with his Calvinistic harshness toward Arminianism and that God broke through because of the Arminian influence he detested?  Edwards admits that his attitude toward the young woman’s testimony was that it would lead others to rationalize worldliness.  The opposite condition actually came about.  Was Edwards a control freak?

            Apparently the outcome of the “awakening” was that people set aside their worldly pursuits and were concerned to “fly from the wrath to come.”  A number of astonishing conversions took place.  People met in house meetings and public worship was bent toward holiness and the “beauty of holiness.”  Grace was drawn forth and hearts were uplifted to the excellency (sic) and dying love of Jesus Christ.

21 April 2005

            Edwards proceeds with a description of the spread of the revival into the nearby towns of Suffeld, Deerfield, Green River and beyond.  He contends that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not unique and was not contrived and lists Guildford and Mansfield, Tolland and Hebron and Bolton, etc., as among the venues that were visited by the Holy Spirit.

22 April 2005

Edwards’ analysis of the revival in 1735 shows that over 300 people were converted.  He declares it to be an “extraordinary dispensation of Providence; God has… gone out of His usual and ordinary way.”  The revival is described as being universal in scope and not confined to age group or gender or race.  Interesting that Edwards describes that the new converts are admitted to be able to take communion with the church but there is no mention of baptism either after conversion or in relation to communion.  Was the sacrament/ordinance of baptism something of which Edwards was ashamed to speak or was he disobedient to God’s Word in this matter?  How could a church be blessed with great revival and be blatantly disobedient in essential practice?

23 April 2005

            Edwards reiterates (his writing style is cumbersome and tedious because of his penchant for overstatement and rehashing issues! Comes from having been raised on Horace instead of Caesar!) his analysis of the extraordinary dispensation of the Holy Spirit’s awakening and regenerating influences.  Very important semantic pivot here.  Why is it necessary for Edwards to distinguish between awakening and regenerating?  Sheds light on what is meant by Great Awakening.  “Awakening” apparently does not mean salvation in a Baptist sense of the word “salvation.”  Edwards seems to view awakening as the influence of the Holy Spirit upon people to examine themselves.  This examination may not lead to regeneration.  Edwards reveals that he is a strict Calvinist who believes in the blasphemous doctrine that Calvin invented that the Holy Spirit can convict the reprobate of sin and deceive them into believing that they may be regenerated…even though the Holy Spirit knows beforehand that regeneration will not happen.

            Interesting that Edwards had been reticent to write about his experiences and those of others in the area in regard to the awakening.

24 April 2005

            In section 2, Edwards begins to describe the various ways that people experience conversion.  Actually, the latter statement is a Baptist filter of what Edwards says.  People are “wrought upon.”  This statement is, of course, in keeping with Calvin’s hideous doctrine of the work of the Holy Spirit.  Persons that are wrought upon may be reprobate and the Holy Spirit is merely toying with them.  The awakened that Edwards describes are awakened to:

                        A. Sense of their miserable condition by nature

                                    Danger of 2nd death that is imminent

                                    Gradual and Sudden work

                        B. Sense of being religious but lost

The effects on the awakened were to:

                        A. Quit sinful practices

                        B. Begin to work to gain salvation by

                                    1. Reading

                                    2. Prayer

                                    3. Meditation

                                    4. Ordinances

                                    5. Private conferences (presumably with Edwards)

In their terror of damnation, it is noticeable that Edwards points them to the church and to a works based salvation instead of justification by the free gift of salvation that is found in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God.

25 April 2005

            Edwards takes special note of melancholy people and describes them as being easily twisted by the devil, unstable in their fears, and unable to relax and enjoy salvation.  He criticizes them as unstable because of their need to feel conviction of sin.

Edwards’ idea of the warfare in spiritual terms was rather strange.  He seemed to think that he was able to tell where Satan was at work directly.  Interesting that a man of such great erudition was so pathetically ignorant of rudimentary aspects of biblical teaching on spiritual warfare.  He fails to mention demons but is consumed with knowing what Satan is up to.  Appears to be extreme spiritual pride on the part of Edwards that he thought he was battling with the enemy of Jesus without heeding the precautions of Jude 9.  Interesting that Edwards knows exactly when the Holy Spirit withdrew.  His description points toward a victory on the part of Satan.  The people described in this section are a snapshot of Edwards’ sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. 

            Edwards gives an interesting description of those he claims have prevailed against sin as being without confidence in themselves.  Having been wrought upon by the Holy Spirit, they are shown their “exceeding wickedness and guiltiness in his sight.”  Since the terms “lost” and “saved” as Baptists understand them don’t apply to Edwards’ Calvinist frame of reference, it is difficult to know what sort of people the Holy Spirit is dealing with.  If saved (whatever that means—beginning to wonder if I may just be reprobate and have been deceived by the Holy Spirit…or is it Satan that deceives people…gosh, I guess I will know for sure when I am burning in HELL!!), then this ministry of the Holy Spirit sure seems to be an unbiblical description of the Comforter.  If lost, well, never mind…the Calvinist lost are reprobate.  Who can sort out all of this confusing Calvinistic nonsense?

26 April 2005

            Well, good news!  Here is a better description of the descent into spiritual terrorism as administered by Edwards.  Sinners in God’s angry hands find that:

                        1. Awakening begins

                        2. Outward sinfulness is examined

                        3. “Heart-sins” are examined

                                    a. Corruption of nature

                                    b. Enmity with God

                                    c. Pride in heart

                                    d. Stubborn, obstinate will

Some who try to rely on their regret of and confession of sin as atonement only obtain greater distance from God.  I have no idea what that means and what standard is being used to measure the “distance” from God.  Fear of dying increases and they try harder but rebellion sets in and some are blasphemous.  There is no explanation of what Edwards means by the word “blasphemous.”  If the Spirit of God does not abandon them (Edwards seems to know where the Spirit of God is at all times and doesn’t find it outside his own sphere of approval very often.) and they remain under conviction, they are afraid of having committed the unpardonable sin.  Edwards does not explain what the unpardonable sin is (The Unpardonable Sin is substituting oneself for the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy must be biblically defined, not defined by modern commentarians or rationalists.).

            Some put off coming to Christ because they are too wicked and try to better themselves.  They are beaten down and eventually humbled to accept their helplessness and become open to Christ and the gospel.  They seek salvation and their condition is that they are:

                        1. Ignorant of themselves

                        2. Insensitive to their blindness

                        3. Unaware of their impotence toward spiritual things

                        4. Incapable of works of grace

And they are insensitive to:

                        1. Having no love for God

                        2. Having no holy attitudes

                        3. Being dead in sin

So, per Edwards, they vainly try to wash away their own sins…interesting thing to do for someone who is insensitive to being dead in sin. Where does the awareness of sin come from if he is unaware of sin?

            Now Edwards shifts his definition of “awakening” from the conviction of the Holy Spirit on anyone regardless of decreed status from God, to one who is being awakened to salvation that has been previously decreed.  Awakening, encouragement, fear of God and hope are seen as being at odds with self-flattery and despondence.  At last, something to think about besides all this disgusting drudgery of spiritual terrorism.  Here is where the great line that Marilla speaks to Anne (of Green Gables) comes from when Anne says that she is in the depths of despair and asks if Marilla has ever been in the depths of despair.  Marilla says, “No. To despair is to turn your back on God.”  Despondency is un-Christian in Edwards’ church.

            Edwards makes the point that God is just in rejecting natural men (Romans 3:19).  Of course, he never explains, as Calvinists never do, how the justice of God is that part of Him that is responsible for forgiveness of sin (1 John 1:9).

            Edwards’ attitude toward the unregenerate that they are not heard by God in their prayers and petitions is nonsense that he has made up (or derived from Calvin) since it fails to account for God’s dealing with Cornelius in Acts 10:1-48.

27 April 2005

            Edwards seems pretty hung up on the common person’s inability to understand what he perceives is really happening to them.  Edwards lists things that converts declare as having led them to awakening. 

                        Mercy 

                        Love

                        Grace

                        Blood

                        Death

                        Text of Scripture

                        Forgiveness of Sins

                        Faithfulness

                        Guilt

                        Fears of Wrath

The convert’s affections are moved to laughter, tears, weeping, crying out.  Many doubt their salvation.  Satan is able to work effectively with those who have no assurance or had assurance and are now weakened.  Edwards appears to fear declaring a sinner to be saved because he is not able to know if God elected them and truly implanted grace.  Awakening brings an awareness of the great things of religion.  It also brings to mind great doctrines of the Bible.  It seems rather odd that someone who had no intention of writing about all these things that happened has gone to such enormous lengths to catalog them all.  Edwards seems to imply that real conversions are the dramatic ones as opposed to those that are pastoral.  Seems that he was more enamored with the spirit of awakening than with the Spirit of God. He is also frightfully ignorant of the biblical definition of “elect” as servant or those wh are tried!

28 April 2005

Edwards outlines the common practices of converts as being:

                        1. Fasting

                        2. Fascination with nature                     

                        3. Annihilating self

                        4. Praising God

                        5. Love of the Bible

                                    a. Psalms

                                    b. Isaiah

                        6. Sensing majesty of God

                        7.Understanding doctrine

Edwards reiterates manifestations of conversion.  Renewal comes from testimony and brings with it a sense of vileness and unworthiness in the believer.  Sounds like someone should have been reading Romans 8 to these people.

29 April 2005

            Edwards denies that people have seen any visions but that their imaginations are largely effected by their thoughts and ideas.  Apparently there were criticisms that Edwards was not working under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and he denies the accusation.  Edwards recounts the story of a young woman who starves herself to death.  The narrative is suspicious and sounds like demonic forces were at work that Edwards did not disturb.

            Chilling story of a 4 year old child who can hardly be described as anything other than demon possessed and the stupidity of the parents and Edwards in dealing with her.  Phebe Bartlet’s sudden change in behavior and desire to have “three come to me” is interpreted by Edwards as deep sense of the Holy Spirit leading her.  The child is described as living in constant terror and performing rituals that indicate that she was obsessive-compulsive = demonized.

30 April 2005

Edwards’ account definitely shifts to demonic activity as he describes the suicide of a melancholy man.  The impact of the man cutting his own throat is that Edwards concludes that Satan was loosed upon them at the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit.  Many others in the town were terrorized by demons that tried to influence them to commit suicide. 

1 May 2005

Cooper introduces the Distinguishing Marks section. 

Edwards likens his experience with that of the Pentecostal participants and claims that, since counterfeits are introduced into the world by the devil to establish false religion and revival, then there must be rules for determining the true marks of God’s spirit against the false.  The Scripture is the true guide for telling what the marks are.

Edwards’ rationalizations are amazing: one cannot argue that extreme measures reflect against events being from the Holy Spirit.  Even if mostly children are impacted (mitigates against his claim that the revival was universal) and the modus operandi appears to have been extreme applications of guilt and terror, that’s not grounds for criticism.  After all, unusual things happened at Pentecost.  So, physical phenomenon in the bodies of persons doesn’t prove anything since the Bible doesn’t specifically say anything about these conditions.  Never mind that a number of the conditions described are directly analogous to conditions shown in scriptures to be of demonic influence.

2 May 2005

The influence on person’s minds by the Holy Spirit causes commotion and moral influence.  What does that mean?

Edwards’ use of Scripture to justify his position that his awakening is a manifestation of the coming of the kingdom leads him to strip away the context of such verses as Luke 17:24.

Hopefully the ecstasies that are aroused are not the same as that phrase would imply in modern parlance.

The Holy Spirit’s influence is passed on to others by example…good observation.

Just because people behave in a manner that is corrupt and opprobrious does not prove that the Holy Spirit was not poured out on them…after all, zeal is dangerous since good zeal can turn into bad zeal.

Satan’s delusions being mixed with the work does not discredit the Holy Spirit’s movement…after all, Jannes and Jambres did false miracles.  What does that mean??

Just because some fall away and do not persevere does not discount the validity of the others–witness Judas.

It’s not fair to say that Edwards (according to him) has induced fear into the people and terrorized them with his position and capacity as spiritual leader so that he could get results such as he did.  Fear, dread, terror and the power of the pulpit must be combined to bring people under legal conviction.  Sounds like justification of unsound pastoral ministry…or spiritual terrorism.

3 May 2005

Marks section 2

Edwards seems ready to defend the simple gospel of confessing Jesus and then switches to describing the complicating factors of works that he deems important in their confession.  They must know and fully understand particulars and their affections must be neurotically retuned as his have been in his contemplation of guilt and worthlessness—ALL of this makes for salvation.

Edwards makes a severe misstep in positing that being anti-Satan can only be interpreted as the Holy Spirit in operation.  Jesus allows that mere morality is good for this sort of work (salt without savor is effective at suppressing dust on the road—worldly sin) but the agents of traditional morality are sons of hell themselves; Pharisees.

4 May 2005

            Edwards makes a good point that the Holy Spirit is interested in a true regard for the scriptures.  That the Bible should be regarded as divine should be denied by all Christians.  Edwards is close to blasphemy.  Unless he is just using “divine” as shorthand for divinely inspired.  Not likely that Edwards used any shorthand.

            Well observed that truth and error are at war.  Simplistic attitude tward Satan’s style of maintaining deception.

            Good description of godly love—especially that charity is humble.

            Edwards concludes that the Holy Spirit has been poured out in the awakening.

Advertisement