George Marsden’s An Infinite Fountain of Light: Jonathan Edwards for the Twenty-first Century is available for pre-order with a release date of June 27. This is a gem of a book containing wisdom and reflection on the significance of Edwards for our day from one of the great American historians.
As I initially perused Marsden’s wonderful book, a couple of passages immediately resonated with me:
On beautiful days Edwards loved to go out riding into the meadows and woods on horseback, relishing the glimpses of the love of Christ communicated in creation. He in fact kept notebooks on “Images of Divine Things,” noting “types” of Christ and of biblical doctrines of salvation in what he saw. Those "types" included the ugly or dark sides of creation that he saw as being there to point us to the light. So the ravens that feed on dead animals are “remarkable types of devils who with delight prey upon the souls of the dead.” Or dead rotten carcasses are “the lively image of a wicked man that is spiritually and exceeding filthy and abominable.” The snakes that charm birds and squirrels were biblical images for the devil enticing sinners. They draw their victims toward their favorite lusts until Satan finally makes prey of them. Even so, such evil in creation is to show us that “the way in which poor souls are delivered from the snare of the devil is by Christ's coming and bruising the serpents head.”1
Edwards viewed nature as having a profoundly personal dimension, for he accepted the biblical notion that the created world speaks the language of God. Though the language of creation is sometimes hard to comprehend due to the fall, it speaks of redemption, and its beauty is heightened by the strife and violence of corruption. Christ, the Word, was in the beginning, and He will make all things new. Thus, Edwards saw the beauty of nature as a reminder of the redemptive power of Christ and the promise that God shall wipe away all tears and pain.2
So in this biblically refracted view of reality, we can appreciate how Edwards saw the stunning beauty even in fallen nature as language to remind us of the beauty of the redemptive work of Christ.3
Thoughts such as these have occupied my mind for years since I first encountered Edwards in the fall of 1994. Thunder God, Wonder God: Exploring the Emblematic Vision of Jonathan Edwards expands upon Edwards’s ideas highlighted by Marsden above.
Although scholars have long known about Jonathan Edwards’ fascination with signs, symbols, types, and emblems, Robert Boss’s study goes well beyond what others have done before. His wide-ranging comparison of Edwards with other figures of the period, but especially his exhaustive catalog of images (“emblems”) in nature from which Edwards drew deep spiritual meaning, adds significantly to understanding Edwards. The book also suggests how Edwards' use of emblems could aid contemporary believers in finding more riches in Scripture as well as seeing more of Providence in the natural world.” - MARK A. NOLL, author of The Rise of Evangelicalism: The Age of Edwards, Whitefield, and the Wesleys
A note on 800+ Pages of Thunder and Wonder
Part One of Thunder God, Wonder God (the first 200 pages, including the foreword by Gerald McDermott and author preface) is comprised of material which introduces the reader to Jonathan Edwards and his place within the history of the emblematic world view. Part One tells the story of the emblematic world view, outlines its reception by Protestant and early Evangelical theologians, frames Edwards as an emblem writer, and provides a theological reconfiguration of his notebook “Images of Divine Things.”
Part Two (the remaining 600+ pages) sets Edwards’ emblematic thought alongside that of 9 emblem writers including John Bunyan, Robert Boyle, Andrea Alciati, and Bishop Joseph Hall. Organized around Edwards’ lengthy subject index to “Images of Divine Things,” Part Two is meant to serve as an emblematic resource. Each subject section begins with a brief paraphrase from Edwards’ notebook followed by corresponding writings and illustrations from other emblem writers. Though there is much to read in Part Two, it is meant to be perused meditatively and to serve as a demonstration of “Edwards among the Emblem Writers.”4
This is a deeply fascinating book which demonstrates how out of touch we moderns are with Edwards's God-centered vision of the world. Boss takes us deep into Edwards's typological and emblematic interpretation of nature, giving us both a rich scholarly study as well as a 'how to' manual packed with visuals designed to stir our theological imagination in Edwardsean ways. Many thanks to Rob Boss for pointing us back to Edwards's God-infused vision of interpreting the natural world! - ROBERT W. CALDWELL III, Professor of Church History, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
As thunder, and thunder clouds, as they are vulgarly called, have a shadow of the majesty of God, so the blue sky, the green fields and trees, and pleasant flowers have a shadow of the mild attributes of goodness, grace and love of God, as well as the beauteous rainbow. - WJE 11:58
NOTECARDS
1. Beauteous Rainbow, WJEO 11:58
TERMS & REFERENCES
Term Set A: rainbow light
Term Set B: beauty beautiful beauteous fountain
Max Distance Between Terms = 10
Reference List A/B
WJEO 2:236 - Religious Affections
WJEO 2:237 - Religious Affections
WJEO 2:250 - Religious Affections
WJEO 2:262 - Religious Affections
WJEO 4:118 - The Great Awakening
WJEO 4:459 - The Great Awakening
WJEO 6:296 - Scientific and Philosophical Writings
WJEO 6:390 - Scientific and Philosophical Writings
WJEO 8:145 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:332 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:373 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:386 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:446 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:521 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:539 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:543 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:544 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:573 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:597 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:658 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 10:420 - Sermons and Discourses, 1720-1723
WJEO 10:539 - Sermons and Discourses, 1720-1723
WJEO 10:613 - Sermons and Discourses, 1720-1723
WJEO 11:133 - Typological Writings
WJEO 13:261 - The "Miscellanies," a-500
WJEO 14:79 - Sermons and Discourses, 1723-1729
WJEO 14:108 - Sermons and Discourses, 1723-1729
WJEO 14:340 - Sermons and Discourses, 1723-1729
WJEO 14:341 - Sermons and Discourses, 1723-1729
WJEO 15:329 - Notes on Scripture
WJEO 15:330 - Notes on Scripture
WJEO 15:331 - Notes on Scripture
WJEO 15:333 - Notes on Scripture
WJEO 15:334 - Notes on Scripture
WJEO 16:416 - Letters and Personal Writings
WJEO 17:133 - Sermons and Discourses, 1730-1733
WJEO 17:412 - Sermons and Discourses, 1730-1733
WJEO 18:75 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 18:285 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 18:406 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 19:441 - Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738
WJEO 19:590 - Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738
WJEO 19:725 - Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738
WJEO 19:729 - Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738
WJEO 20:431 - The "Miscellanies," 833-1152
WJEO 20:465 - The "Miscellanies," 833-1152
WJEO 20:466 - The "Miscellanies," 833-1152
WJEO 21:116 - Writings on the Trinity, Grace, and Faith
WJEO 21:138 - Writings on the Trinity, Grace, and Faith
WJEO 21:365 - Writings on the Trinity, Grace, and Faith
WJEO 21:386 - Writings on the Trinity, Grace, and Faith
WJEO 22:294 - Sermons and Discourses, 1739-1742
WJEO 22:356 - Sermons and Discourses, 1739-1742
WJEO 23:574 - The "Miscellanies," 1153-1360
WJEO 23:623 - The "Miscellanies," 1153-1360
WJEO 24:816 - The "Blank Bible"
WJEO 24:867 - The "Blank Bible"
WJEO 24:1181 - The "Blank Bible"
WJEO 25:90 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
WJEO 25:526 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
WJEO 25:637 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
Reference List B/A
WJEO 1:404 - Freedom of the Will
WJEO 2:208 - Religious Affections
WJEO 2:267 - Religious Affections
WJEO 2:343 - Religious Affections
WJEO 4:459 - The Great Awakening
WJEO 6:306 - Scientific and Philosophical Writings
WJEO 8:145 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:332 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:369 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:373 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:382 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:433 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:521 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:539 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:551 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:640 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 8:658 - Ethical Writings
WJEO 9:484 - A History of the Work of Redemption
WJEO 10:535 - Sermons and Discourses, 1720-1723
WJEO 10:539 - Sermons and Discourses, 1720-1723
WJEO 10:542 - Sermons and Discourses, 1720-1723
WJEO 11:58 - Typological Writings
WJEO 11:67 - Typological Writings
WJEO 11:89 - Typological Writings
WJEO 13:279 - The "Miscellanies," a-500
WJEO 13:425 - The "Miscellanies," a-500
WJEO 13:470 - The "Miscellanies," a-500
WJEO 14:95 - Sermons and Discourses, 1723-1729
WJEO 14:477 - Sermons and Discourses, 1723-1729
WJEO 15:52 - Notes on Scripture
WJEO 15:130 - Notes on Scripture
WJEO 15:332 - Notes on Scripture
WJEO 15:333 - Notes on Scripture
WJEO 15:334 - Notes on Scripture
WJEO 15:335 - Notes on Scripture
WJEO 16:203 - Letters and Personal Writings
WJEO 16:390 - Letters and Personal Writings
WJEO 17:62 - Sermons and Discourses, 1730-1733
WJEO 17:412 - Sermons and Discourses, 1730-1733
WJEO 17:422 - Sermons and Discourses, 1730-1733
WJEO 18:406 - The "Miscellanies," 501-832
WJEO 19:134 - Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738
WJEO 19:135 - Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738
WJEO 19:137 - Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738
WJEO 19:384 - Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738
WJEO 19:590 - Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738
WJEO 19:724 - Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738
WJEO 19:729 - Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738
WJEO 19:731 - Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738
WJEO 20:137 - The "Miscellanies," 833-1152
WJEO 20:180 - The "Miscellanies," 833-1152
WJEO 20:299 - The "Miscellanies," 833-1152
WJEO 20:446 - The "Miscellanies," 833-1152
WJEO 20:465 - The "Miscellanies," 833-1152
WJEO 20:466 - The "Miscellanies," 833-1152
WJEO 21:128 - Writings on the Trinity, Grace, and Faith
WJEO 21:322 - Writings on the Trinity, Grace, and Faith
WJEO 22:475 - Sermons and Discourses, 1739-1742
WJEO 23:571 - The "Miscellanies," 1153-1360
WJEO 23:623 - The "Miscellanies," 1153-1360
WJEO 24:150 - The "Blank Bible"
WJEO 24:816 - The "Blank Bible"
WJEO 24:1181 - The "Blank Bible"
WJEO 25:88 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
WJEO 25:89 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
WJEO 25:90 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
WJEO 25:96 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
WJEO 25:100 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
WJEO 25:235 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
WJEO 25:282 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
WJEO 25:346 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
WJEO 25:471 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
WJEO 25:481 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
WJEO 25:625 - Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758
Marsden, 57.
Marsden, 58.
Marsden, 58.
Boss, xii.
June is for Jonathan Edwards