Papers from Hillsdale College
REL 319 -- Eighteenth Century Theology:
Jonathan Edwards and American Puritanism
Solomon Stoddard: An Annotated Bibliography
by Jettie Fields and Katy Shamess
Brand, David C. Profile of the Last uritan. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1991.
On pages 9 and 20, Brand gives an account of some of the issues which may have attributed to Jonathan Edwards' dismissal. Among these are Solomon Stoddard's expanding of the halfway covenant and allowance of full communion.
Davidson, Edward H. Jonathan Edwards: The Narrative of a Puritan Mind. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1968.
Davidson presents an overview of Solomon Stoddard's communion controversy and Jonathan Edwards' arguments against his ideas.
Davies, Horton. The Worship of the American Puritans, 1629-1730. New York: Peter Lang Publishing Co., 1990.
This book describes worship in the Puritan church, focusing on things such as the sacraments and preaching styles. Stoddard's views on communion are discussed on page 159, and his ideal preaching style appears on page 103
Gildrie, Richard P. The Profane, the Civil, and the Godly. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1994.
Gildrie gives a brief overview of Solomon's beliefs on the Lord's Supper. The book discusses the Mather-Stoddard debates in detail. On page 201, it gives a brief summation of Stoddard's view on communion as a means of grace rather than a seal of the covenant.
Gilsdorf, Joy. The Puritan Apocalypse. New York: Garland Publishing Inc., 1989.
This book describes, in detail, the communion controversy. It goes through Stoddard's reasons for open communion, the people who would participate in it, and other clergymen's opposing opinions. The book also explains how Stoddard shattered the "unity of spirit" in New England.
Grabo, Norman S. Edward Taylor's Treatise Concerning the Lord's Supper. Michigan State University Press, 1965.
Grabo discusses Solomon's doctrine of the Lord's Supper as a converting ordinance, according to his sermon on Gal. 3:1. He also describes the guidelines for a person to be able to partake in communion.
Gura, Philip F. "Going Mr. Stoddard's Way: William Williams on Church Privileges, 1693." The William and Mary Quarterly. Vol. 45.3. July 1988. 489-98.
Gura outlines Williams' philosophy on the Lord's Supper. By demonstrating similarities between Stoddard and his son-in-law, Gura proves that Stoddard was not completely disregarded by other ministers in the Connecticut River Valley.
Jewett, Paul K. Infant Baptism and he Covenant of Grace. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1978.
Jewett makes a brief mention on page 118 of Stoddard's position on the Lord's Supper as a converting ordinance. He finishes with a mention of Stoddard's position on unregenerate ministers.
Jones, James W. The Shattered Synthesis. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1973.
Jones traces the lines of Puritan thought through their development. He gives a brief background on Stoddard, and then proceeds to map out his theology. He focuses on the evangelical nature of Stoddard's theology, concentrating on works theology and his concept of true conversion and the process leading up to it.
Kling, David W. A Field of Divine Wonders. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1993.
This book briefly describes, on page 22, Stoddard's goal of evangelism through open communion.
Levin, David. "Edwards, Franklin, and Cotton Mather: A Meditation on Character and Reputation." Jonathan Edwards and the American Experience. Ed. Nathan O. Hatch and Harry S. Stout. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988. 34-49.
On page 43, there is a brief mention of Stoddard's impact on Jonathan Edwards' ministry by virtue of his powerful preaching style.
Lucas, Paul R. "An Appeal to the Learned: The mind of Solomon Stoddard". Puritan New England. Ed Alden T. Vaughan and Francis J. Bemer. New York: St Martin's Press, 1977. 326-345.
Lucas' essay gives a description of Stoddard's evangelical purposes. The essay explains Stoddard's ideal of an instituted church in which the sole reason for ministry was to bring members to the ordinances which would help them to be saved. It also contains his views on how to save the "dying" church.
Miller, Perry. The New England Mind: From Colony to Province. Boston: Beacon Press, 1953.
Miller briefly describes the Halfway Covenant, and then elaborates on Stoddard's expansion of it. He offers a brief summary of Stoddard's most important treatise, explaining his position that God's grace is unpredictable, and therefore, open to all.
Murray, Ian H. Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography. Great Britian: Southampton, 1987.
Murray stresses Solomon's influence over the community. On page 88, he gives a few statistics on the number of communicants in 1677 compared to 1720. He also gives an overview of Stoddard's views on communion.
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Last updated: 19 March 1998