Jonathan Edwards
The revival began with Jonathan Edwards in Northampton, Massachusetts. Edwards came from Puritan, Calvinist roots, but emphasized the importance and power of immediate, personal religious experience. Edwards was said to be 'solemn, with a distinct and careful enunciation, and a slow cadence.' Nevertheless, his sermons were powerful and attracted a large following. The Anglican preacher George Whitefield, visiting from England, continued the movement, traveling across the colonies and preaching in a more dramatic and emotional style, accepting everyone into his audiences.
Winiarski (2005) examines Edwards's preaching in 1741, especially his famous sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." At this point, Edwards countenanced the "noise" of the Great Awakening, but his approach to revivalism became more moderate and critical in the years immediately following.
Read more about this topic: First Great Awakening
Famous quotes containing the word edwards:
“Inspector Clouseau: How long have you been a bellboy?
Bellboy: Too long, monsieur.
Inspector Clouseau: Keep up this good work and very soon I will see to it that you become a bellman.”
—Blake Edwards (b. 1922)