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Treatise on Grace

Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was an influential Congregational minister, often referred to as America's greatest theologian. Born in Conneticut to religious and well-educated parents (his father was a Congregational pastor), he initially studied at home (including Latin, Greek, and Hebrew), before graduating from Yale in 1720. He was well-read, and became familiar with the philosophical and scientific currents of the day (the writings of Newton, Locke, and Henry More). In 1727 he was ordained pastor in Northampton, Massachusetts, alongside his grandfather Solomon Stoddard, where he ministered until 1750. During this period Edwards' preaching, along with that of George Whitefield, became part of what is called the First Great Awakening. This is reflected in his powerful sermons from the 1730's and 40's. The later writings, many published after his death, show a more mature and deepened thought, touching with profound insight upon matters of theology, human psychology, and morality.

An important unpublished treatise which makes the important distinction between 'common' grace and saving grace.

This is a short treatise, unpublished in Edwards' lifetime, which has many features in common with other of his mature works – Freedom of Will, Treatise of the Religious Affections, etc. In formulating the distinction between common grace and saving grace, he was in part responding to humanistic trends in 17th and 18th century Enlightenment philosophy, just as he was to defend the distinction between natural virtue and true virtue in the major unpublished treatise Nature of True Virtue. Yet he was also following in a long theological tradition stretching back to Augustine, and beyond – emphasizing that all true grace and virtue stems from the presence of God's Spirit; that humans are sinful and insufficient of themselves to "naturally" know and experience the divine presence, or to be justified before God. To this end the treatise, organized in three simple parts, is written.

Inspirational & Devotional

Grace