Under what circumstances did Jonathan Edwards preach his Farewell Sermon???

Question

What, historically, was going on when he preached his sermon? What was the message behind it?

link to doctrine:

http://articles.christiansunite.com/article3433.shtml

Answer 1

Good question.

Jonathan Edwards was, of course, God's instrument for the spread of the First Great Awakening in America, which began in 1734-1735 and lasted for about ten years.

This period of time was characterized by conversion and genuine change.  People not only started coming to church, but they made good for wrongs they had done to others, they altered their behaviors at work and at home; they became more than nominal Christians.

By the mid 1740's, the Great Awakening was drawing to a conclusion.  People were getting tired of being different; and although the churches were now much fuller than they had been, these parishioners proved more and more often to be "Sunday" Christians - i.e., those who came to church, but for whom their status as Christians made little difference during the week.

Jonathan Edwards grieved at the loss of fervor among his people, and tried to convince them of the need to be dedicated to the cause of Christ.  In 1747, he wrote a book called "A HUMBLE ATTEMPT TO PROMOTE EXPLICIT AGREEMENT AND VISIBLE UNION OF GOD’S PEOPLE IN EXTRAORDINARY PRAYER," and sent it throughout New England to ministers, pleading with them to pray for the situation.   In 1749, he published the definitive biography of the missionary David Brainerd, in an attempt to give the people of America an example of what it meant to be wholeheartedly dedicated to the cause of Christ.

In 1750, Edwards told his congregation that only those who had made a confession of faith in Jesus Christ could take the Lord's Supper.  The church disagreed with the limiting of the sacraments, and voted him out by one vote.

Edwards' farewell sermon was a genuine plea to his people, in which he challenged them to live in accordance with sound doctrine.  It was a message he had been preaching for years.  He says that all ministers are separated eventually from their congregations, and asked that they would, whether in his presence or absence, live in good conscience towards the Lord Jesus Christ.  He further tells them that he shall see them again one day, in the day they stand before God, and greatly desires that they should keep this knowledge before them as they choose how they shall live.