An Infinite Fountain of Light

Jonathan Edwards for the Twenty-First Century

By: George M. Marsden

Narrated by: Tim Danko

Length: 5 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

For perspective on our own times and how we got here, it helps to listen to wise guides from other eras. In An Infinite Fountain of Light, the renowned American historian George Marsden illuminates the landscape with wisdom from one such mentor: Jonathan Edwards. Drawing on his deep expertise on Edwards and American culture, Marsden explains where Edwards stood within his historical context and sets forth key points of his complex thought. By also considering Benjamin Franklin and George Whitefield, two of Edwards's most influential contemporaries, Marsden unpacks the competing cultural and religious impulses that have shaped our times. In contrast, Edwards offered us an exhilarating view of the centrality of God's beauty and love. Christians' love for God, he taught, can be the guiding love of our lives, opening us to transformative joy and orienting all our lesser loves. There is an infinite fullness of all possible good in God, a fullness of every perfection, of all excellency and beauty, and of infinite happiness, wrote Edwards. This infinite fountain of light should, diffusing its excellent fullness, pour forth light all around. With Marsden's guidance, listeners will discover how Edwards's insights can renew our own vision of the divine, of creation, and of ourselves.

©2023 George M. Marsden (P)2023 Vision Audiobooks

An Always Relevant Teaching

This is a great book for any Christian, but especially any who have a respect for history and what we can learn from those who have lived before us. Particularly valuable is the explanation of beauty in the world as an expression and sign of the love of God. This teaching has the potential to be paradigm shifting for those who tend to feel disenchanted with a cold, mechanical and meaningless world. This book invites you to see the miracle of God all around us, appreciate the provision and miraculous that surrounds us every day.

Great book

I loved the way he compared Edward’s to the thoughts of today. It made him pertinent to the people of today.

Excellent.

Like almost anyone familiar with Edwards, several years ago I read his most famous sermon. But I had also read ‘Heaven, a World of Love’ as well as portions of ‘Charity and its Fruits’ and Religious Affections. Then I read his biography by Ian Murray, and loved it. It is hard not to love him, as he makes Christ and the corresponding desire for beauty, and (as Marsden so rightly interprets it) Augustinian ‘rightly ordered loves’ so attractive. But like many in our era, reading and really profiting from Edwards can be painfully tedious (right up there with the equally lovely John Owen). I was attracted by the title, and although surprised by Marsden’s approach in this book, I was nevertheless delighted to see him mine Edwards’ incredible relevance for our postmodern malaise. Marsden digs deep and with remarkable finesse and grace demonstrates his intimate familiarity with Locke and other Enlightenment thinkers, then compares and contrasts Edwards with his contemporaries Franklin, Jefferson, Whitefield and others, finally brings him forward to interact with Lewis, Charles Taylor, Timothy Keller (and with them) and others to rightly assess our disordered loves, and reignite a passion for faithful Christian living and witness in the 21st century. Tolle lege.