Holy Spirit in American Protestant Thought, 1750-1850

The unique emphasis upon the Spirit in American Protestant theology in the century of theological debate following Jonathan Edwards is the focus of this study. It traces the contours of one of the dominant ideas in American Protestant preaching from Jonathan Edwards to Horace Bushnell. The experience of the work of the Spirit in the regeneration of both the self and society, and the corresponding prominence of the Spirit as the agent of change in American religious life and thought receives detailed attention, with the conviction that such a study will contribute to a richer understanding of American religion and culture.