Jonathan Edwards on Prayer

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10.28

Distinguishing Marks
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
“It is no argument that a work is not from the Spirit of God, that it seems to be promoted by ministers insisting very much on the terrors of God’s holy law, and that with a great deal of pathos and earnestness. If there be really a hell of such dreadful and never-ending torments, as is generally supposed, of which multitudes are in great danger – and into which the greater part of men in Christian countries do actually from generation to generation fall, for want of a sense of its terribleness, and so for want of taking due care to avoid it – then why is it not proper for those who have the care of souls to take great pains to make men sensible of it? Why should they not be told as much of the truth as can be?”

In Edwards’ day, people were being stirred and moved toward revival by the preaching of God’s Law, and warnings about hell and eternal condemnation. Some objected that, if people were believing because of this, then that was no true revival, but only a response to guilt and fear. But Edwards’ point was clear: Should not people who are guilty of sin be advised of their guilt? Should not those who were bound for eternal perdition be warned and urged to repent? When Edwards and others preached this way, many people responded by confessing their sins and turning to the Lord. In our day, nothing could be further from what we’re likely to hear from any pulpit than the moral duties attached to the Law of God and the certainty of judgment and hell for those who will not believe. We decline to preach such verities, and the results are predictable: People who are not confronted with their sins do not repent of them; people who don’t worry about hell seek only the fleeting joys of the present. And revival stalls.

Why do you think we’re so reluctant these days to preach about the Law of God and the certainty of hell? Do you think our failure to do so is keeping people from coming to the Lord?

Ready for Revival?
Are you praying for revival? Are you gathering others to pray with you? Are you preparing your church for the coming harvest? You can, and you should. Two resources from our bookstore can help. The book, Restore Us!, can provide the rationale, resources, and encouragement you need to take up this calling as an ongoing aspect of your walk with and work for the Lord. Order your copy by clicking here. And our book, Preparing Your Church for Revival, shows you how to ready the hearts of church members and leaders for the work we look to God to do in our community. Order your copy by clicking here.

An Humble Attempt
If you have not read Edwards’ book on praying for revival, I urge you to do so. We’ll send it to you in a free PDF which you can print or download to your e-reader. Just email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.and request Jonathan Edwards’ An Humble Attempt.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.All quotations are from Jonathan Edwards, Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God, in Edward Hickman, ed. The Works of Jonathan Edwards(Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1834, 1995), Vol. Two, pp. 257ff.