Grace's most recent essay. The subject is Jonathan Edwards' dismissal as pastor of the Northampton church. It's based on chapter 21 and 22 of George Marsden's biography of Jonathan Edwards. This is a one week assignment. The text is read Monday and Tuesday. Essay draft is done Wednesday. We discuss the draft on Thursday and she made changes to enhance the flow and use more active verbs. Friday is a final reading with spelling corrections made. Here's the final product:
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Although Jonathan Edwards' congregation had enjoyed fervent revival a few short years previously, many of his flock had gone astray once more, and were growing dissatisfied with Edwards' leadership. The real turning point in the acceptance of the church, however, was the conservative revolution Edwards launched directly after the death of his uncle and the town's leading citizen, Col. John Stoddard. It is difficult to discover why he chose this awkward moment to reveal his new ideas. It seemed to the people that, with Stoddard out of the way, Edwards was daring to start something that never would have been approved by his late uncle. He answered that he had been waiting for an appropriate occasion- for someone to seek membership at the church. He wanted stronger standards for new members, for his grandfather had only required a formal assent to church doctrine. Now Edwards wanted something more reliable and asked for new members to present a "credible profession of faith" for acceptance into the fellowship.
The opportunity he was waiting for came right after Stoddard's death, as a young man asked to be made a member. But when Edwards declared the new policy, the town was enraged and the young man backed off, wishing to yield to the majority. When the next person came along, this time a young woman, the church committee still vehemently refused the new standards. Edwards had been preparing a treatise defending his beliefs, and gave the town a promise to resign if they read it and still disagreed. But the townspeople had made up their minds, fueled by old disagreements and their belief that he was being devious in waiting until after the death of Stoddard. Although there were many reliable witnesses who supported Edwards, the town could not be convinced. Throughout the next year, they relentlessly pressed for his removal and finally succeededed. On July 1st, 1750, he preached his farewall sermon to the church of Northampton.
Edwards pleaded tirelessly with his congregation, but he would not back down and compromise his beliefs. In truth, he was more an Edwards than a Stoddard. He shared his father's outlook on many things, and it was difficult to preside over a church which had for so long been under the wings of the great Soloman Stoddard.
Edwards tact in promoting his views could have been improved, but he was a man of great patience. His conduct throughout the last year of his service was that of one who looks on heavenly rewards; not to the things this world has to offer. Though rejected by his congregation, with only 23 of the 230 male voters supporting him, ultimately he triumphed. For all through the trial he served the Lord in all things; doing right in God's eyes, not the eyes of men.
-------by Grace, age 14
