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