Jonathan Edwards: Theologian of the Heart (Jonathan Edwards Classic Studies)

The vast corpus of Jonathan Edwards includes sermons treatises dissertations Miscellanies Diary and Resolves and his Personal Narrative. Underlying all his writing is his Calvinist God whose anger (justice) matched his love (glory). Equally important is the human condition its darkness and its regenerative light sin and salvation. For these reasons Simonson aptly calls Edwards a theologian of the heart one not satisfied with only theological abstractions but also a necessary heartfelt sense of them. Penetrating to these levels where literary artists do their work he shares company with the likes of Herman Melville Nathaniel Hawthorne Emily Dickinson and William Faulkner. Since the resurgence of interest starting in the 1950s Edwards is now recognized as Americas foremost religious thinker. Simonson emphasizes Edwards language--its imagery metaphors grand sweeps of cadences along with Edwards intensity of both thought and feeling. Throughout Simonsons book provides an incisive and carefully documented introduction to Edwards magisterial range of mind and style.