Free audio downloads of works by Jonathan Edwards
We’re still celebrating Jonathan Edwards week around here. Yesterday I posted a variety of audio resources about Jonathan Edwards. Today’s list focuses instead on audio resources by Jonathan Edwards. So, if you’re looking to gain some exposure to the famous American theologian while you’re driving around town, exercising, or whatnot (be careful with the whatnot), you might be interested in some of these.
The following are all available as free downloads. (The first two include many of the works in the rest of the list. But, I just found those links and I haven’t tested them yet. So, I kept the others on the list anyway.)
Posted on May 12, 2011, in The Enlightenment and tagged Jonathan Edwards. Bookmark the permalink. 8 Comments.
scientia et sapientia 
Wow! Marc, that is amazing to have found so many audio recordings by Jonathan Edwards. 😉 While I knew he was a prolific writer – I didn’t realise he had access to that technology back then 🙂
On a serious note – thanks for linking them up. I have only read one small book about him and was impressed with his life and ministry – though I do have theological doubts about his sermon – “sinners falling into the hands of an angry God.”
Yeah, he really was ahead of his time! Regardless of what you think of the sermon theologically, I suggest just reading it for the power of the language. It’s unfortunate on the one hand that we have high school english students read it because they generally don’t get the theological/historical/culutral background necessary for understanding what he’s doing in the sermon. But, if you just consider the way he uses languge, I can see why it’s so commonly read.
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Its a pity we don’t have the full copy of that sermon.
Talking about communication and language – what do you think of his style (puritan) of preaching – head down, no eye contact and monotone voice – so as not to interfere with what God was doing through his word.
Do you think the church has a need for that type of sermon delivery?
First, the blandness of Edwards’ sermon style has been over-emphasized. (Apparently some later writers really played up the idea to emphasize the miraculous way that God worked through his preaching anyway.) It still sounds like he was nowhere near as dynamic as we’re used to today, but not as bad as he’s commonly made out to be. Second, while I appreciate the importance of drawing attention to God and his Word rather than me and my ability, I also have no problem with delivering material in such a way that people are more likely to listen and respond. There’s no difference between writing well/creatively and preaching well/creatively. Both are a means to a greater end.
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I have often wondered about how true it was about the blandness of his preaching. I could never equate his passion and creativity in writing with such an apparent bland delivery.
On a more personal note – what is it that draws you to Edwards?
To be honesty, originally it was just because of his influence. As someone who lives history, I’ll study just about anyone who’s had a big impact on the church. But as I got into him more, his emphasis on the affections, his creativity (especially his philosophical creativity) wedded to a relatively traditional calvinism, and his pastor’s heart, all made a huge impact.
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