A Spiritual Giant in a Day When Spirituality Was Highly Prized Jonathan Edwards (703-758) became the pastor of the church at Northampton, Massachusetts, in 724. His powerful preaching launched the Great Awakening in 734-35 and a geographically more extensive revival in 740-4. He became a firm friend of George Whitefield, then evangelizing in America, who continued to promote the revival. Edwards was called to the presidency of the then nascent Princeton College shortly before his death. Edwards was the most prominent American philosopher-theologian of his time. He is best known for contributing a vast body of writings to the evangelical community on not only theological issues, many of which still challenge scholars, but also metaphysics, ethics, and psychology. His influence is felt today through his works and godly example.