What do you think?
Rate this book
Jonathan Edwards: On Revival
This volume contains one of Edwards' most analytical treatises on revival, Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God, and his famous Narrative of Surprising Conversions, a detailed account of the famous revival of religion at Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1735.
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1984
66 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Edwards
1,604 books523 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database named Jonathan Edwards.
Jonathan Edwards was the most eminent American philosopher-theologian of his time, and a key figure in what has come to be called the First Great Awakening of the 1730s and 1740s.
The only son in a family of eleven children, he entered Yale in September, 1716 when he was not yet thirteen and graduated four years later (1720) as valedictorian. He received his Masters three years later. As a youth, Edwards was unable to accept the Calvinist sovereignty of God. However, in 1721 he came to what he called a "delightful conviction" though meditation on 1 Timothy 1:17. From that point on, Edwards delighted in the sovereignty of God. Edwards later recognized this as his conversion to Christ.
In 1727 he was ordained minister at Northampton and assistant to his maternal grandfather, Solomon Stoddard. He was a student minister, not a visiting pastor, his rule being thirteen hours of study a day. In the same year, he married Sarah Pierpont, then age seventeen, daughter of Yale founder James Pierpont (1659–1714). In total, Jonathan and Sarah had eleven children.
Stoddard died on February 11th, 1729, leaving to his grandson the difficult task of the sole ministerial charge of one of the largest and wealthiest congregations in the colony. Throughout his time in Northampton his preaching brought remarkable religious revivals.
Yet, tensions flamed as Edwards would not continue his grandfather's practice of open communion. Stoddard believed that communion was a "converting ordinance." Surrounding congregations had been convinced of this, and as Edwards became more convinced that this was harmful, his public disagreement with the idea caused his dismissal in 1750.
Edwards then moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, then a frontier settlement, where he ministered to a small congregation and served as missionary to the Housatonic Indians. There, having more time for study and writing, he completed his celebrated work, The Freedom of the Will (1754).
Edwards was elected president of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) in early 1758. He was a popular choice, for he had been a friend of the College since its inception. He died of fever at the age of fifty-four following experimental inoculation for smallpox and was buried in the President's Lot in the Princeton cemetery beside his son-in-law, Aaron Burr.
Jonathan Edwards was the most eminent American philosopher-theologian of his time, and a key figure in what has come to be called the First Great Awakening of the 1730s and 1740s.
The only son in a family of eleven children, he entered Yale in September, 1716 when he was not yet thirteen and graduated four years later (1720) as valedictorian. He received his Masters three years later. As a youth, Edwards was unable to accept the Calvinist sovereignty of God. However, in 1721 he came to what he called a "delightful conviction" though meditation on 1 Timothy 1:17. From that point on, Edwards delighted in the sovereignty of God. Edwards later recognized this as his conversion to Christ.
In 1727 he was ordained minister at Northampton and assistant to his maternal grandfather, Solomon Stoddard. He was a student minister, not a visiting pastor, his rule being thirteen hours of study a day. In the same year, he married Sarah Pierpont, then age seventeen, daughter of Yale founder James Pierpont (1659–1714). In total, Jonathan and Sarah had eleven children.
Stoddard died on February 11th, 1729, leaving to his grandson the difficult task of the sole ministerial charge of one of the largest and wealthiest congregations in the colony. Throughout his time in Northampton his preaching brought remarkable religious revivals.
Yet, tensions flamed as Edwards would not continue his grandfather's practice of open communion. Stoddard believed that communion was a "converting ordinance." Surrounding congregations had been convinced of this, and as Edwards became more convinced that this was harmful, his public disagreement with the idea caused his dismissal in 1750.
Edwards then moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, then a frontier settlement, where he ministered to a small congregation and served as missionary to the Housatonic Indians. There, having more time for study and writing, he completed his celebrated work, The Freedom of the Will (1754).
Edwards was elected president of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) in early 1758. He was a popular choice, for he had been a friend of the College since its inception. He died of fever at the age of fifty-four following experimental inoculation for smallpox and was buried in the President's Lot in the Princeton cemetery beside his son-in-law, Aaron Burr.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 2, 2017
If for no other reason, the book is worth the price for pages 7 through 22 as Jonathan Edwards reflects upon and recounts the revival that took place his in town and the surrounding area. Very sobering and convicting.
February 14, 2023
“The effects and consequences of things among us plainly show the following things, viz. That the degree of grace is by no means to be judged of by the degree of joy, or the degree of zeal; and that indeed we cannot at all determine by these things who are gracious and who are not; and that it is not the degree of religious affections but the nature of them that is chiefly to be looked at.”
August 24, 2022
Three short works that give a good introduction to Edwards' thoughts, views, and experiences on revival.
'A Narrative' had a dramatic effect on England during the Evangelical revival, and it is easy to see why. The account puts forth such an exciting situation that any believer would long to see in their own town - men, women, and children all turning to God in repentance and seeing incredible manifestations of the Spirit amongst them.
'The Distinguishing Marks' is an absolutely superb look at how to judge spiritual activity as from God or not. Edwards is surprisingly fair, and often surprised me with how willing he was to not dismiss various phenomena out of hand. Overall it provides a very fair and Biblical analysis, which would require patience and wisdom to apply - take note, 'discernment bloggers'.
'A Narrative' had a dramatic effect on England during the Evangelical revival, and it is easy to see why. The account puts forth such an exciting situation that any believer would long to see in their own town - men, women, and children all turning to God in repentance and seeing incredible manifestations of the Spirit amongst them.
'The Distinguishing Marks' is an absolutely superb look at how to judge spiritual activity as from God or not. Edwards is surprisingly fair, and often surprised me with how willing he was to not dismiss various phenomena out of hand. Overall it provides a very fair and Biblical analysis, which would require patience and wisdom to apply - take note, 'discernment bloggers'.
October 8, 2024
still waiting for the revival of my spirit after reading this
May 19, 2016
One of my first mentors in the faith was a man named Dennis Hooper (No, not the guy from Easy Rider). Dr. Hooper had a fire for revival, and it caught me. I long to see God move in a way that defies conventional explanation. 20 years later, and I'm still praying for it (and by praying, I mean forgetting about it for months at a time, then saying a lazy token prayer).
I thought I'd see what programs the great Jonathan Edwards recommends. Silly me. If I've learned anything, it's that revival isn’t something you can trick God into doing. God will move as he sees fit. I was teasing with that "programs" line, but I thought Edwards would have some suggestions. This was more his observation of the revival going on in his time. Still, a worthy exercise.
Couple Notes:
-Surprisingly tolerant of affective worship
-Pictorial imaginings of God during prayer and worship
-Danger of using anything but Scripture as authority.
ala Philosophy (p. 64)
-Praying for the same revival then as now. p. 90
-Don't be the older brother! (p. 128)
I thought I'd see what programs the great Jonathan Edwards recommends. Silly me. If I've learned anything, it's that revival isn’t something you can trick God into doing. God will move as he sees fit. I was teasing with that "programs" line, but I thought Edwards would have some suggestions. This was more his observation of the revival going on in his time. Still, a worthy exercise.
Couple Notes:
-Surprisingly tolerant of affective worship
-Pictorial imaginings of God during prayer and worship
-Danger of using anything but Scripture as authority.
ala Philosophy (p. 64)
-Praying for the same revival then as now. p. 90
-Don't be the older brother! (p. 128)
November 3, 2024
This work is essentially three works in one. i) A narrative of surprising conversions, ii) the distinguishing marks of a work of the spirit of God and iii) an account of the revival of religion in Northampton 1740-1742.
The latter is by far the shortest of the three. The interest of this book lies, for me , in the insight it provides into the state of religion in what were then the North American colonies a generation before independence. A narrative of surprising conversions shows the central role of God in everyday life at that time and how people "lived" their faith, In some of the accounts a modern reader may suspect a psychological or mental health illness rather than religious revelation.
Overall recommended.
The latter is by far the shortest of the three. The interest of this book lies, for me , in the insight it provides into the state of religion in what were then the North American colonies a generation before independence. A narrative of surprising conversions shows the central role of God in everyday life at that time and how people "lived" their faith, In some of the accounts a modern reader may suspect a psychological or mental health illness rather than religious revelation.
Overall recommended.
July 1, 2025
This's a collection of three of Edwards' essays - two short descriptions of the start of the First Great Awakening in Edwards' town, and a longer piece ("The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God") where Edwards argues this is a true work of the Holy Spirit.
Once again, Edwards is a cogent thinker; I started this book agreeing with him, and now I agree with him more emphatically and in more detail. I also see more now how careful and cautious a pastor he was. Just like his previous book, he was writing in a very different day and his style takes some getting used to - but I'd say this is more accessible, and I recommend it to anyone wanting to start on Edwards. This's definitely a better starting point than his commonly-cited "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"!
Once again, Edwards is a cogent thinker; I started this book agreeing with him, and now I agree with him more emphatically and in more detail. I also see more now how careful and cautious a pastor he was. Just like his previous book, he was writing in a very different day and his style takes some getting used to - but I'd say this is more accessible, and I recommend it to anyone wanting to start on Edwards. This's definitely a better starting point than his commonly-cited "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"!
July 28, 2023
This book is basically three small books as the cover suggest. The first and last treatise are accounts written to other ministers of certain characteristics of the revival. The middle book, “The distinguishing marks of a work of the Spirit of God” was my favorite. It reminded me of his treatise on the religious affections (which is my favorite book). He explains the ways in which a true work of the Spirit can be distinguished from all counterfeits, using Scripture as the ultimate rule. Overall, this is great read (as you would expect from Edwards) and it is well worth your time.
December 2, 2024
Excellent Peak into that Great Awakening
I love to see the heart of Edwards. His love for and concern for the unbelievers of this world.
Though I am not a Calvinist, and the very few remarks he makes against free will, I simply ignore. This is because the rest of this book actually shows that he did believe that these folks were brought to a place of acceptance..
I love to see the heart of Edwards. His love for and concern for the unbelievers of this world.
Though I am not a Calvinist, and the very few remarks he makes against free will, I simply ignore. This is because the rest of this book actually shows that he did believe that these folks were brought to a place of acceptance..
February 11, 2020
It's surprising how much a book filled with double negatives every sentence can make you feel like an idiot.
Loved the letter at the end describing the revival. Would be amazing to live through something like hat.
Loved the letter at the end describing the revival. Would be amazing to live through something like hat.
September 18, 2019
The Distinguishing Marks, even with all the double negatives, is brilliant in particular.
March 18, 2024
A marvelous (and historically significant) first-hand account and theological appraisal of the Evangelical Revival.
July 28, 2024
An amazing account of the start of the first great awakening. I was hoping for more teaching on how the awakening came about, but the account and little bits of teaching were great.
January 30, 2010
Jonathan Edwards stands as a giant in Christian literature and history. Particularly among the Reformed Christian camp, he is mentioned in the same breath as Calvin and Luther. Fortunately, he wrote often, and there are no translation barriers to make his works less accessible in English.
On Revival is a collection of three works: "A Narrative of Surprising Conversions," "The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God," and "An Account of the Revival of Religion in Northampton 1740-1742." The first and last are letters; the middle is a treatise or long sermon (if by long you accept 75 pages!).
Edwards systematically details the amazing movement of the Spirit of God in Boston and on the east coast, focusing particularly on the years 1732 and following (in "Narrative") and 1740-1742 (in the piece by the same name). In one sense, then, these are historical accounts, with Edwards serving as narrator, highlighting the movement of God among people he pastored and walked with daily.
More importantly, though, this is Edwards work on what revival meant to him, practically and especially theologically. He spends great time in "Marks" detailing not just what marks a revival, but what does not disqualify a revival from being true. In other words, he deals with diversities of how the Spirit of God moves; over-zealousness toward the lost; fear of hell; and errors in doctrine; and insists that all are not on their own enough to say, "Such-and-such is not really experiencing a revival."
These works are immensely helpful in, first, illuminating what revival looked like 300 years ago; and second, detailing the various workings of the Holy Spirit throughout history apart from the works recorded in Scripture during apostolic times. You get a sense of Edwards' being a continuist rather than a cessationist, at least to some degree; as well as his view on fear of hell being a useful device in moving a man or woman toward heaven.
The only drawback with this work is that, by the time you're finished, you're going to get some repetitive sections. 160 pages on revival, in three different works, can be at time a bit mono-themed. The repetition is good and profitable, and serves to reinforce Edwards points. However, there are definitely times when you'll need to focus to not drift over a paragraph or two that are substantially the same as you've already read.
On Revival is a collection of three works: "A Narrative of Surprising Conversions," "The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God," and "An Account of the Revival of Religion in Northampton 1740-1742." The first and last are letters; the middle is a treatise or long sermon (if by long you accept 75 pages!).
Edwards systematically details the amazing movement of the Spirit of God in Boston and on the east coast, focusing particularly on the years 1732 and following (in "Narrative") and 1740-1742 (in the piece by the same name). In one sense, then, these are historical accounts, with Edwards serving as narrator, highlighting the movement of God among people he pastored and walked with daily.
More importantly, though, this is Edwards work on what revival meant to him, practically and especially theologically. He spends great time in "Marks" detailing not just what marks a revival, but what does not disqualify a revival from being true. In other words, he deals with diversities of how the Spirit of God moves; over-zealousness toward the lost; fear of hell; and errors in doctrine; and insists that all are not on their own enough to say, "Such-and-such is not really experiencing a revival."
These works are immensely helpful in, first, illuminating what revival looked like 300 years ago; and second, detailing the various workings of the Holy Spirit throughout history apart from the works recorded in Scripture during apostolic times. You get a sense of Edwards' being a continuist rather than a cessationist, at least to some degree; as well as his view on fear of hell being a useful device in moving a man or woman toward heaven.
The only drawback with this work is that, by the time you're finished, you're going to get some repetitive sections. 160 pages on revival, in three different works, can be at time a bit mono-themed. The repetition is good and profitable, and serves to reinforce Edwards points. However, there are definitely times when you'll need to focus to not drift over a paragraph or two that are substantially the same as you've already read.
July 14, 2016
This book is made up three different works. "Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God" is an exposition of 1 John 4 where he addresses things that are and are not marks of a true work of the Spirit. This is an excellent treatment of the subject and one where sound thinking is lacking today. If I were to point out a weakness, it would be that it was written in the 1700's. That's when Edwards lived so you can hardly fault the man for not living longer. It's a weakness because he was writing before the rise of revivalism, pentecostalism, and the pervasive and pernicious charismatic influence throughout the world that have mostly exploded in the twentieth century.
The other works are "A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God" and "An Account of the Revival of Religion in Northampton in 1740-1742." These are the accounts he wrote of the revivals he experienced during his ministry. It is interesting and informative reading.
The other works are "A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God" and "An Account of the Revival of Religion in Northampton in 1740-1742." These are the accounts he wrote of the revivals he experienced during his ministry. It is interesting and informative reading.
October 11, 2007
Edwards looks at the 2nd Great Awakening from his perspective in New England. The amazing way the Spirit moved from town to town, from city to city, as an extraordinary work independent on man's revivalism techniques. Edwards shares how people in his town/church repented, turned to Christ, and lived a new life. Some supernatural movements of the Spirit (visions, slaying in the Spirit, etc.) is problematic for the non-Charismatic, but Edwards does not hestitate to record what he saw. One note though, Edwards took as much time to screen out people from the church who were there for false reasons rather than true convictions of the Spirit. The idea was NOT to get a 'sinner's prayer' but to find people who loved the Lord and lived for them the rest of their life.
July 12, 2007
This short, but dense, read is a wonderful insight into the events of the great awakenings of Jonathan Edwards' days. Edwards tells the story of several individuals (men and women, young and old) who were "awakened" by the Spirit's moving in their lives. He then explains why and how to evaluate what is a true mark of the Spirit--or what is a real revival. I enjoyed it very much.
April 29, 2009
Excellent.
April 1, 2015
Steers a middle ground between cold establishmentarianism and proto-pentecostal wackiness.
January 31, 2017
This work by Edwards is interesting as he wrote about the events that he witnessed during the Great Awakening and what distinguishes a true work of the Holy Spirit from the false. A good read!
November 22, 2022
Great devotional material as the church watches and prays for reformation and revival.
June 13, 2021
Hard to read at times but a general observations of what sparks revival and what quenches a church on fire is always a relevant read.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews