Apart from George Whitefield, he was the most important figure of the First Great Awakening, and his disciples Joseph Bellamy and Samuel Hopkins defined New England Theology, the premier Calvinist salvation theology of America until it was gradually replaced by Scottish Common Sense Realism. 

His books A Faithful Narrative Of The Surprising Work Of God and

Most students know he was famous for preaching Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God in the First Great Awakening, but they don't know within 10 years, he was voted out of his church because he insisted that only regenerate Christians should be allowed to partake of the Lord's Supper. 

He was forced to find employment as a missionary to native Americans until he was offered the Presidency of the College Of New Jersey. Unfortunately, he died of a smallpox innoculation before he could take charge. His son Jonathan Edwards, Junior was a teacher at the College when John Witherspoon became president in 1768. Witherspoon brought Scottish Common Sense Realism from Scotland, and quickly got rid of all instuctors sympathetic to New England theology, including Jonathan Edwards' son.