The Great Awakening in New
England
Religion in America
Recapturing the Spirit
•
Decline in church membership & fervor
•
Deterioration of community, discipline
•
Innovations in preaching
•
“Harvests”
•
“Fire
and Brimstone” sermons: scare tactic
Kindling the flames
•
Jonathan Edwards in Northampton
•
1735-39:
“Showers of grace”
•
“Sinners
in the hands of an angry God”
•
George Whitefield, 1741
•
Friend
& associate of John Wesley
•
Up
the coast from Georgia
•
Fiery
effect everywhere
•
New
England set ablaze
The Revivals Flame Out
•
The problem of itinerant ministers
•
Gilbert
Tennent, Presbyterian from New Jersey’s “Log College”
•
The
Dangers of an Unconverted Ministry
•
Excess:
James Davenport crashes and burns
•
Ministers divided: New Light, Old Light
•
Division
of churches: Enthusiasm vs. coldness
•
Triumph
of ministers is final blow to Puritan vision