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Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758)
Edwards, Jonathan. An American divine and theological writer of worldwide fame; born in East Windsor, CT, Oct. 5, 1703; died at Princeton, NJ, March 22, 1758. He was the son of Timothy Edwards, a Congregational minister, and was himself minister at Northampton, MA, 1727–50. From 1751 to 1758 he was an Indian missionary, and at the time of his death he was president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). His works are the recognized exponents of essential Calvinism, next to those of its founder, and rank high in the theological metaphysic of all time. They include among others: ‘An Inquiry into the Modern Prevailing Notions respecting that Freedom of the Will which is Supposed to be Essential to Moral Agency’ (1754); ‘The Great Christian Doctrine of Original Sin Defended’ (1757); and ‘A Dissertation concerning the End for which God Created the World’ (1789). (See Critical and Biographical Introduction).