The Astonishing Conversion of a Four-Year-Old Child | Jonathan Edwards

Deep Dive into Narrative of Surprising Conversions by Jonathan Edwards - The Instance of Phebe Barlet - Aged FourThe narrative recounts the remarkable spiritual awakening of a four-year-old girl named Phebe Bartlet in the spring of 1735, as documented by Jonathan Edwards based on the testimony of her parents. Her religious interest was initially sparked by the recent conversion of her eleven-year-old brother, which prompted her to earnestly listen to religious advice and retreat to her closet for secret prayer up to six times a day. By late July, Phebe experienced a profound spiritual crisis, weeping in deep anguish because she felt she could not find God and feared she would go to hell.Her distress eventually culminated in a sudden shift to joy when she stopped crying, smiled, and announced that the kingdom of heaven had come to her. She quoted passages from her catechism, declared her supreme love for God above all earthly things, and confidently stated that God had granted her salvation. Following this profound experience, Phebe's behavior underwent a lasting transformation characterized by deep cheerfulness and an overwhelming affection for God and Christ, which occasionally moved her to weep tears of joy late at night.Phebe demonstrated extraordinary piety and maturity for a young child. She eagerly anticipated the Sabbath day, listened attentively to sermons by her minister, Mr. Edwards, and deeply cherished religious conversations. She also developed a severe dread of sin. In one notable incident, after taking a neighbor's plums without permission, she cried inconsolably even after the owner forgave her, distressed solely because her action was a sin against God. Furthermore, she frequently counseled her sisters, such as Nabby and Eunice, urging them to pray and prepare for eternity, and she displayed striking charity, once begging her father to give away a cow to an impoverished neighbor. She remained steadfast in her daily prayers and catechism.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerWorship Music: https://suno.com/playlist/3a498d0f-c90e-4981-8aa7-59834e7239f7https://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730