Jonathan Edwards Quotes
Jonathan Edwards was an American Puritan theologian, philosopher, and pastor and the leading intellectual of colonial New England. From his pulpit in Northampton, Massachusetts, he became a central figure in the First Great Awakening of the 1730s and 1740s, preaching the famous sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God in 1741. The quotes below are attributed to Jonathan Edwards, organized by topic.
Browse Jonathan Edwards by topic
Jonathan Edwards on God
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Attributed to Jonathan Edwards:
“Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected.”
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“Every Christian that goes before us from this world is a ransomed spirit waiting to welcome us in heaven.”
Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers(1895) | p. 304. -
“Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help.”
Seventy Resolutions(1722-1723) | No. 68. -
“Holy practice is the most decisive evidence of the reality of our repentance. "Bring forth fruits meet for repentance."”
Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers(1895) | p. 509. -
“A little, wretched, despicable creature; a worm, a mere nothing, and less than nothing; a vile insect that has risen up in contempt against the majesty of Heaven and earth.”
The Justice of God in the Damnation of Sinners (1734). -
“Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.”
Seventy Resolutions(1722-1723) | No. 29. -
“Edwards later writes in this sermon... "The entire active uniting of the soul, or the whole of what is called coming to Christ, and receiving of him, is called faith in Scripture..."”
Justification By Faith Alone (1738) -
“The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow.”
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (1741)
Jonathan Edwards on Happiness
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“Intend to live in continual mortification, and never to expect or desire any worldly ease or pleasure.”
Diary (1723).
Jonathan Edwards on Knowledge
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“They say there is a young lady in [New Haven] who is beloved of that Great Being, who made and rules the world, and that there are certain seasons in which this Great Being, in some way or other invisible, comes to her and fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight; and that she hardly cares for any thing, except to meditate on him— that she expects after a while to be received up where he is, to”
Written in 1723; from The Works of President Edwards, vol. I, ed. Sereno B. Dwight, 1830. -
“The young woman described here was Sarah Pierrepont, who became Edwards' wife in 1727.”
They say there is a young lady in [New Haven] who is beloved of that Great Being, who made and rules the world, and that there are certain seasons in which this Great Being, in some way or other invisible, comes to her and fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight; and that she hardly cares for any thing, except to meditate on him— that she expects after a while to be received up where he is, to -
“Diary (7 July 1724).”
When I am giving the relation of a thing, remember to abstain from altering either in the matter or manner of speaking, so much, as that, if every one, afterwards, should alter as much, it would at last come to be properly false. -
“Diary (10 November 1724).”
To mark all that I say in conversation, merely to beget in others, a good opinion of myself, and examine it.
Jonathan Edwards on Life
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“Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.”
No. 6. -
“Resolved, never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.”
Seventy Resolutions(1722-1723) | No. 7.
Jonathan Edwards on Love
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“Love is the active, working principle in all true faith. It is its very soul, without which it is dead. "Faith works by love."”
Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers(1895) | p. 396. -
“Consider that as a principle of love is the main principle in the heart of a real Christian, so the labor of love, is the main business of the Christian life.”
Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers(1895) | p. 396.
Jonathan Edwards on Mind
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Attributed to Jonathan Edwards:
“The world exists only as it is known by mind.”
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“The Mind (begun in September 1723; not completed).”
There is, therefore, no difficulty in answering such questions as these. What cause was there why the Universe was placed in such a part of Space? and, Why was the Universe created at such a Time? for, if there be no Space beyond the Universe, it was impossible that it should be created in another place; and if there was no Time before, it was impossible it should be created at another time. -
“A greater absurdity cannot be thought of than a morose, hard-hearted, covetous, proud, malicious Christian.”
Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers(1895) | p. 106. -
“If you seek in the spirit of selfishness, to grasp all as your own, you shall lose all, and be driven out of the world, at last, naked and forlorn, to everlasting poverty and contempt.”
Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers(1895) | p. 538.
Jonathan Edwards on Nature
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“There is, therefore, no difficulty in answering such questions as these. What cause was there why the Universe was placed in such a part of Space? and, Why was the Universe created at such a Time? for, if there be no Space beyond the Universe, it was impossible that it should be created in another place; and if there was no Time before, it was impossible it should be created at another time.”
The Mind (begun in September 1723; not completed). -
“When I am giving the relation of a thing, remember to abstain from altering either in the matter or manner of speaking, so much, as that, if every one, afterwards, should alter as much, it would at last come to be properly false.”
Diary (7 July 1724). -
“The beauty of the world consists wholly of sweet mutual consents, either within itself or with the supreme being.”
The Beauty of the World" (c.1725), from the notebook The Images of Divine Things, The Shadows of Divine Things, The Language and Lessons of Nature (published 1948).
Jonathan Edwards on Time
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“Resolved, never to lose one moment of time.”
No. 5. -
“Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.”
Seventy Resolutions(1722-1723) | No. 5.
Jonathan Edwards on Truth
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“Christian practice is that evidence which confirms every other indication of true godliness.”
Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers(1895) | p. 619.
Jonathan Edwards on Virtue
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Attributed to Jonathan Edwards:
“True virtue consists in benevolence to being in general.”
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“To mark all that I say in conversation, merely to beget in others, a good opinion of myself, and examine it.”
Diary (10 November 1724). -
“Whatever in Christ had the nature of satisfaction, was by virtue of His suffering or humiliation; whatever had the nature of merit, was by virtue of His obedience or righteousness.”
Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers(1895) | p. 489.