The Kitchen Sink
An occasional piece of paper
June 15, 2008
Vol. 11 no. 23

Everything But...
           On a long journey you sometimes find yourself back where you started. The greatest minister, preacher, theologian in North American history is Jonathan Edwards, the minister of First Church of Christ in Northampton, Massachusetts, from 1729-1750. I served one of its daughter congregations, living in Northampton for 10 years. Jonathan is still there.
           Edwards succeeded his grandfather, Solomon Stoddard, to the Northampton pulpit after a 60 year pastorate. His preaching was one of the sparks in the First Great Awakening in colonial America, and his most famous (and infamous) sermon, “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God,” is still printed in many university English textbooks. No doubt, this was the classic model of hellfire and brimstone. Edwards wrote numerous theological works in the best Calvinist tradition – he is studied all over the world even more today - but over time conflict in his church resulted in his dismissal from the pastorate in 1750.
           Moving westward to the frontier of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, he preached primarily to the Indian communities and wrote many of his most sophisticated works, before being called in 1758 to become the President of the College of New Jersey in Princeton. Upon arrival a small pox epidemic was in full force, but an early vaccine was at hand. Many were hesitant, but Edwards volunteered immediately to take the vaccine to demonstrate that it was safe. It wasn’t. Edwards died within 3 months of his arrival and is buried here in Princeton and I walk by him every day. He follows me.
           Edwards was often accused of being too severe and judgmental in his preaching, yet he offered his own body for the health of others. Isn’t that the Gospel?