Jonathan Edwards

Dec. 22. Saturday. This day, revived by God’s Holy Spirit; affected with
the sense of the excellency of holiness; felt more exercise of love to Christ,
than usual. Have, also, felt sensible repentance for sin, because it was
committed against so merciful and good a God. This night made the 37th
Resolution.
Sabbath night, Dec. 23. Made the 38th Resolution.
Monday, Dec. 24. Higher thoughts than usual of the excellency of Christ
and his kingdom. — Concluded to observe, at the end of every month, the
number of breaches of resolutions, to see whether they increase or
diminish, to begin from this day, and to compute from that the weekly
account my monthly increase, and out of the whole, my yearly increase,
beginning from new-year days.
Wednesday, Dec. 26. Early in the morning yesterday, was hindered by the
head-ache all day; though I hope I did not lose much. Made an addition to
the 37th Resolution, concerning weeks, months, and years. —At night.
Made the 33d Resolution.

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The Life and Character of the Lae Reverend, Learned and Pious Mr. Jonathan Edwards–by Samuel Hopkins

Part One

Containing the History of his Life, from his Birth to his SETTLEMENT in the Work of the Ministry.

Mr. Jonathan Edwards was born October 5, 1703, at Windsor, a town in Connecticut. His father was the Reverend Mr. Timothy Edwards, minister of the gospel on the east of the Connecticut river in Windsor. He began to reside and preach at Windsor in November 1694, but was not ordained till July 1698. He died January 27, 1758, in the 89th year of his age, not two months before this his son. He was in the work of the ministry above 59 years: and from his first beginning to reside and preach constantly till within a few months before his death. He was very universally esteemed and beloved as an upright, pious, exemplary man and faithful minister of the gospel; and was greatly useful. He was born at Hartford in Connecticut, May 14, 1669, received the honours of the college at Cambridge in New England, by having the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Arts given him the same day, July 4, 1691, one in the forenoon, and the other in the afternoon.
On the 6th day of November 1694, he was married to Mrs Esther Stoddard, in the 23rd year of her age, the daughter of the late famous Mr Solomon Stoddard of Northampton; whose great parts and zeal for experimental religion are well known in all the churches in America; and will probably be transmitted to posterity yet unborn, by his valuable writings. They lived together in the married state above 63 years. Mrs Edwards was born June 2. 1672, and is now living in her 89th year, remarkable for the little decay of her mental powers at so great an age.

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The Life and Character of the Late Reverend, Learned and Pious Mr. Jonathan Edwards–by Samuel Hopkins

PRESIDENT EDWARDS, in the esteem of all the judicious, who were well acquainted with him, either personally or by his writings, was on the greatest—best—and most useful of men that have lived in this age.
He discovered himself to be one of the greatest of divines by his conversations, preaching and writings: one of remarkable strength of mind, clearness of thought, and depth of penetration, who well understood, and was able, above most others, to vindicate the great doctrines of Christianity.
And no one perhaps, has been in our day more universally esteemed and acknowledged to be a bright Christian, and eminently good man. He love to God and man; his zeal for God, and his cause; his uprightness, humility, self denial, and weanedness from the world; his close walk with God; his conscious, constant and universal obedience, in all exact and holy  ways of living: in one word, the goodness of the holiness of his heart, has been as evident and conspicuous as the uncommon greatness and strength of his understanding.

And that this distinguished light has not shone in vain, there are a cloud of witnesses. God, who gave him his great talents, led him into a way of improving them, both by preaching and writing, which has doubtless proved the means of converting many from the error of their ways; and of greatly promoting the interest of Christ’s church, both in America and Europe. And there is reason to hope, that though he is now dead, he will yet speak for a great while to come, to the great comfort and advantage of the church of Christ; that his publications will produce yet greater harvest, as an addition to his joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord.

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