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Biography Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards is one of the most dominant figures in 18th century American religion, a fiery revivalist preacher and a pioneer in the Reformed Church, which would eventually be today's United Church of Christ. The fifth child of Rev. Timothy and Esther Edwards, Jonathan was the only boy in their family of 11 children. He was born in 1703 in East Windsor, Connecticut. Edwards' smartness was noticeable from an early age. He went to Yale before he was 13 years old and graduated as the valedictorian. Three years later he received his master's degree. At the age of 23, Jonathan Edwards succeeded his grandfather, Solomon Stoddard, as pastor of the church in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was the richest and most influential church in the colony, outside of Boston. Jonathan Edwards married Sarah Pierpoint in 1727. They had three sons and eight daughters. Edwards was a key figure in the Great Awakening, a period of religious passion in the middle of the 18th century. Not only did this movement bring people to the Christian faith, but it also influenced the fathers of the Constitution, who guaranteed freedom of religion in the United States.

Jonathan Edwards gained fame for preaching the sovereignty of God, the evil of all humans, the danger of hell, and the need for a New Birth. This is when Edwards preached his most famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" in 1741. Edwards became disfavored in his church and from area ministers in 1748. He called for stricter requirements on receiving communion than did Stoddard. Edwards believed too many pretenders and unbelievers were being accepted into church membership. The controversy led into Edwards' dismissal from the Northampton church in 1750. Scholars see the event as a turning point in American religious history. Many believe Edwards' ideas of faith on God's grace instead of good works began a rejection of Puritan attitudes widespread in New England up to that time.