Gloria Filiorum Patres

“The Puritans were too honest to dilute the vinegar of life.”

- Harriet Beecher Stowe

I have been reading Mrs. Edna Gerstner’s Jonathan and Sarah: An Uncommon Union and am almost finished with it. It has been a fun, easy, informative read into the life of Jonathan Edwards, his family and his ministry. Not too detailed, but enough. Not too elementary, but enough. I do suggest this as a good book to read, if you want to know more personal characteristics of the Edwards’ family.

Throughout it have been some excellent quotes to remember and I will jot some down here and if I am able, will go back and try to remember some earlier ones.

“Every Christian family ought to be, as it were, a little church consecrated to Christ, and wholly influenced and governed by His rules.” (p. 127)

It is said of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards the following, “While her husband wrestled with great theologies of the faith, Mrs. Edwards walked like a child with her God, frequently ecstatic to be with Him.” (p. 155)

Of her parenting: “Amazing but true, it seems to be the fact that in raising a house full of children Sarah Edwards had never been known to raise her voice. Yet she controlled her children. It was said she never let the children taste the heady wine of disrespect. It was axiomatic with the household that parents were respected. All the children rose when any adults, including the parents, spoke to them. They learned obedience with their first steps.” (p. 155)

Of his parenting: “Jonathan Edwards, the pastor-father, worked diligently to see that his own family became a part of the greater family of God.” (p. 137)