The Life of Jonathan Edwards – Part 1 (pages 13–26)
Of the Reverend
Mr. Jonathan Edwards.
Part
Containing the History of
Life,
from his
Birth, to his Settlement in the Work of the Ministry. ..Jonathan Edwards was born0 i? r 5. 1703. at Windsor
aTown in ConmSikut,
His Father was
the Rev. Mr. Timothy Edwards, Iviinilurof the Gospel on the east S\dto( Conne< icut River ia indfor.
He began to reside and preach at Windsor
He but was not ordained tiii7 '' » 1 9' 1758. in the 89th Year of his Age, not two Months before this his Son. He v. as in the Work of the And rrom his tirft beginning to Miniftry above 59Years
Death, are above 63 Years and was able to attend on the Work of the Miniftry and preach constantly till within a few Years before his Death. He was very univerfaliy eftecmed & beloved as an upright, pious,exemplary Man,and faithiul Minister of the Gospel ; and was greatly useful. He was born at Hartford in ConneSiicut May 14. 1669, received the Honours of the College at Cambridge in New-England by having ihe Degrees of Batchelor and Mader of Arts given him the same Day, July 4. 1694, one in the Forenoon, and the oiher in the reside and preach there, to his
Afternoon.
7'he IjITZ of the Reverend
On the 6th Day of November 1( 94, he was married to Mrs. Esther Stoddard, in the 23ci Year of her Age, the Dauglitcr of the late famous Mr. Solomon Stoddard whose great Parts and Zeal tor experiot Ncrthampton mental Religion are well known in all the Churches in Jmnica and will probably be tranfmitied to Posterity yet unborn, by his valuable Writings. They lived together Mrs. Edwards was in the married State above 63Years. born June 2. 1672, and is now living in her 89th Year, remarkable for the little decay ot -her mental Powers at so great an Age. They had eleven Children All which lived to adult Years, viz ten Daughters, seven of whom are now living, and this iheir only Son and fifth Child.* j
As the following more largo and particular Account, of Mr. Edwards's Arceftors may gratify some Readers, *iis infertcd here in the Margin. Edwards's Grandfather was Mr. Richard Edwards. His firlt Wife was Mrs. Elisabeth Tuttle, Daughter, of Mr. William Tuttle of S'eiv Ha'ven in Conne icut, and Mrs. Elis. Tuttle his Wife, who c me out of NorthamHis second U'ifc was Mrs. Talcot, tonfhire in England. By his first Wife he had seven Siller to Governor Talcot Children, the oldest of whi h was the Rev. Mr. Timothy Edwards of Vvirjfor, his Father, before mentioned. his second Wife Mrs. Talcot he had fix Children The Father of Mr. Richard Edwards was Mr. William Edwards, who came from England young and unmarritd. His Wife, Mrs. Agnes Edwards, who also came out of England, had two Brothers in England, one of them Mayor Mr. M Edward.s's ot Exeft-r, and the other of Barf:/ia le. E ather was the Rev. Mr. Rici:. Edwards. Minilicr of the
IVlr.
He lived in ( een Ei.isabei h's Day, Anne F!dwards alfillcd in making a Ruff After the Death of Mr EnwARD.-i Ihe mar-
Gospel in London. and hi-: Wife Mrs for tie Q ieen.
Mr.JAMi3 Cole. She with her second Hu/h ind, and her Son V»M. Edwards came into Jrmricti, ar.d all died
ried to one
at Hiir(so»-d in Conrfsiicut.
Mr. Solomon STODP RD, and manied Mrs. M.m hfr, the Rc!i(f> of the Rev Mr. Mather his Prcdeceflbr, and the H«r rpnir on Name was Xjriham tcn a: first Min-der
y\t. EDWARDs'r. Gr3' dtathtr, his
Predcccfi-)r at Nurtbrimfto'-]
ESTBIR
Mr, Jonathan Edwards. Mr. Edwards entered
Tale Cillege
and received the Degree of Batclielor of Arts in September He had the 1720, a little before he was 17 Years old. Characfter of a sober Youth, and a good Scholar while he was a Member of the College. In his second Year 3t. College, and thirteenth of his Age, he read Locke on the human Understanding, with great delight and proti'. His
uncommon
Esther Warham, Daughter and youngest Child of the Rev. Mr. John VV arham. Mi.'iifler at H'indjor in ConneSIicut, who came out of England, before which he was Mtnil er ia He had four Children, all Daughters ; Exeter in England : and Mrs. Warham furvivej him, and had two Daughters by Mr. Newbury, her second Husband, Mrs. Esther Warham had ».hree. Children by Mr Mather, And ftie had twelve Chjlviz. Eunice Warham and Eliakim. Three dren by Mr. Stoddard, iix Sons and fix Daughters :
of the Sons died in Infancy. The three that liv'd to adult Israel died in rifon Years were Anthony, John and Ifrari. in France. Anthony >»a3 the Rev. Mr. Anthony Stoddard,
who Work of the Miniftry
late Minister of the Gospel at Woodbury in ConneSIicut,
lived to a great Age,
and was in the
He died Sept. 6. 1760, in ihe 82d Year of John vjzs the honourable John Stoddard, Esq; yNhoXwtA z': North amp to >i, and who often, especially in his 60 Years
his Age.
-younger Years, served the Town as their Reprcfentatjve at and was long the Great and General Court \n Bojion Head of the County of Hampshire as their chief Colonel, -,
Ard he and chief Judge of the Court of Common Pleas His Majesty, ard the Province of the Mafjacbufettsbay, zs ovic o{ his Majesty's Couficil. .He was re:
long served
markable as a Politician, and for his Spirit of Government; a wife Counsellor, an upright and fli'lful Judge, a Heady and He was a great great Friend to tie Interest of Religion. Friend and Admirer of Mr Edwards, and greatly Ihengthen'd his Hands in the Work of the Minithy while he livtd. A more particular Account of the Life and Charadler of this truly great Man may be seen in the Sermon which Mr Edivards preach'd and published on the Occaiion oi his Death. Mr Stoddard's Father was Anthony Stoddard, Esq; of Bojlon a zealous congregational
He had five Wives,
Stoddard's Mother.was Mrs Mary Downing, Sifter to Sir George Downing, whose other Sifter married Mr. Solomox Governor Bradstreet, the firrtof which, Mr.
Stoddard was their oldest Child.
T he
Life of the Reverend
uncommon Genius, by vihicb he was,
as it were by
Thoucht and deep Penetranow began to exerrife and discover it fils. Taking
ture, form'd lor clofcnefs of tion,
that I3ook into 'his Hand,
upon feme Occasion, not Jong before his Death, he said to some of his feie6V PViends, who were then with him. That he v.'as bevond Exprcffion exteriain'd and pleas'd with it, when lie read it in his Youth at College ; that he was as much engaged, and had more Satisfa6\ion and Pleasure in studying it, than the most greedy Miser in gathering up handfuls of Silver and Gold trom some new difcovi-red Treafyre.
Tho' he made good Profjciencv in all the Arts and uncommon Tafie for natural Philo-
Sciences, and had an
sophy, which he cultivated to the end of his Life, with that juflnefs and accuracy of Tliought whicli was almost peculiar to him ; yet moral Philosophy or Divinity was his favourite Study. In this he early made great Progress.
'He lived at College near two Years after he took his first Degree, designing and preparing for the Work of the Miniflry. After which, having; paftcd the pre-requiriteTrials,he as a Candidate. And being pitched upon, and applied to by a Number of Minifiers in New England,yj\\o were intruded to adl in Behalf of the English Prcfbyterians at NewTorkj as a fit Pcrfon to be sent to them, he complied with their Requell,and went to Neiv York the beginning of Jugu/} '722; and preach'd there to very good Acceptance about eight Months But by Reason of i-he Smallncfs of that Society, and some special l ifeculties that attended it, he did not think they -were in a Capacity to kitle a Minider, with a rational }Vofpecft of anfucring the good Ends proposed. He therefore left them, the next Spring:, and retired to his Father's Houle where he fperit the Summer in close Study. ) e was indeed earneMly folicjted by the People he had been among at New Tcrk to return to them again ; but for the Reason juli m.entioned, he could not think himfclf jri the w y or his Duty to gratify them.
V'as licenced to preach the Cjofpel
In Sfpifmher 1 7? - I'C received his Degree of Maftcr c Arts ; about whiai time he had Invitations from fcveral 'ongrrgaticns to conjc among them in order to his Settlemcnt
Mr, Jonathan Edwards. tlement in the Work of the Minfiftry ;
but being chofea
Tutor oi Tale- Coliggg the next Spring in the Year 1724., being in the twenty first Year of his A?e, he retired to the College, and attended the Business of Tutor there above two Years.
While he was in this Place, he was applied to by the! .People ai Northampton, with an Invitation to come and fettle in the Work ot the Miniftry there, with his Grandfather Stoddard, who by Reason of his great Age, stood He therefore resigned his Turorin need ot" Afliftance. (hip, in September, 1726, and accepted of their Invitation j and was ordained in the Work of the Miniftry at Northam" ton. Colleague with his Grand-father Stoddard, February 15. 1727, in the twenty fourtii Year of his Age, where he continued in the Work of the Miniftry till June 22. 1750, twenty three Years and four Months.
Between the Time of hi$ going to New-York and his Settlement at Northampton, he formed a Number of Resolutions, and committed them to Writing the particular Time, and special Occasion of his m-aking many of them, he has noted in his Diary v hich he th-en kept ; as well as many other Observations and Rules, which related to his own Exercises and Conduct. And as these Resolutions, together with the Things noted in his Diary, may justly be considered, as the Foundation and Plan of his whole Life, it may be proper here to give the Reader a Taste and Idea of them which will therefore be done/ in the following Extracts. :
PART
The Life of the Rrjerend
Part
Containing EXTRACTS iVom his Private Writings &c.
Section His
RESOLUTIONS.
''TOEING sens.b'e thit I am unable (o do anything I J wiiliout God's Ht!p, do humbly nitreat him by J
his Grace to enab e
me to keep these Resolutions,
fa far as they aje agreable to his Will, tor Chriii's Sake.
Remember to read over ihcCeRc/olutions once aWcek. Resolved, That I will do whatsoever 1 think to be God's Glory, anil mv own Good, Profit and Plcafure, in the whole of my Duration, without any Consideration of the Time, wliciher now, or never so many Myriads of Ages hence. Rtlolved to do whatever 1 think to be my Duty, and most for the Good and Advantage of Mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever Difficulties meet with, how many and how great focver. 2. Resolved, to be contii\ually endeavouring to find out some tiew Jnvention and Contrivance to promote the 1.
most to
(ore-menuontd Thini s. <
Resolved, never to do any mam er of Tiling, wheitfs or more, bur what tends to the
ther rn Soui or Bocv,
glory oi- God 5.
nor be, not fuftcr it, ir I can avoid it. ; Resolved, never to loose <>oe Moment of Time ; but
improve it the mod profitable Way I poHlbly can. 6. Resolved, to live with all mv nijght, while do live. 7. Resolved, never to do any Thing, which I Ihould be afraid to do, if it were the lalt Hour ot my Life. 9. Resolved, to think mucli on all Occafii>os of my own dying, and of the common Circumfianccs whicti attend Dea»h. I
If. Relolved,
when I
think of
nity to be solved, immcdiniely
solving jt,
if Circumltances
my Th«orem in Divi-
to do
what
can towards
don't hinder, 13. Resolved
Mr. Jonathan Ed wards.
13. Resolved, to be endeavouring to find outfit Objeds
of Charity and Liberality. 14. Resolved, never to do any Thing out of Revenge. 15. Resolved, never to suffer the least Motions of An-
ger to irrational Beings. 17. Resolved, thst I will live so as
done when 18.
fliall
wish I had
come to die.
Resolved, to live so at all Times, as I think is bed
my devout Frames, and when 1 have clearest Notions
of Things of the Gofpej, and another World. 20. Resolved, to maintain the ftridteft Temperance in eating and drinking. 21. Resolved, never to do anyThin?, which if I should see in another, I (liould count a just Occasion to despise him for, or to think any Way the more meanly of him. 24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil A(5tion, to trace it back, till I come to the original Caufc ; and then both carefully endeavour to do so no more, and to sight nd pray with all my Might against the Original of
Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, con* may find, and plainly perceive my self to grow in the Knowledge of the same. 30. Resolved, to ftrlve to my utmost every Week to be brought higher in Religion, and to a higher Exercise of Grace, than I was the Week before. v 32. Resolved, to be firidly and firmly faithful to my Trust, that that in Prov. xx. 6. jahhful Man who. can find f may not be partly fulfilled in me. 33. Resolved, always to do what 1 can towards making, maintaining and ellablifhing Peace, when it can be without over-balancing [detriment in other Refpedls. 34. Resolved, in Narrations never to speak any Thing but the pure and simple Verity. 36. Resolved, never to speak Evil of any, except I have 28.
fiantly and frequently, as that I
some particular good Call
tor it.
37. Resolved, to enquire every Night, as I am going to y wherein I have been negligent, what Sin 1 have
committed, anH wherein I have denied my {di\ Also ac the end of every Week, Month and Year. 38. Resolved, never to speak any Thing that is Ridiculous, or Matter of Laughter
on the Lord's Day. 39. Rcfol/ed,
The Life cf the Reverend
T hirig tlut I
39. Rcfolved, never to do any qiiciiion the Lawfuhiefs of, as that
much
the same 1 ime, to confidcr and examine afterwards, wheflicr it be lavviul or no except 1 as much qucRion the Jawfulnefs of 1
)niend,
the omifllon. 41. Relblvcd, to ask my self at the end of every Day, Wttk, JVlonih and Year, whetein I could poftibly in any
Rcfpciv have done better. 42. Rclblved, tiequenrly to renew the Dedication of my self to God, wl ich was made at mv Baptilm ; which I foiemnly renewed, when I was received into the Communion ct the Church and which have lolemnly re-made this twelfth Day of January 1722,3. 43. Refolvcd, never hence-torward, till I die, to a<5> as if 1 were any vay my own, but entirely and altogether God's, agreable to what is to be tound in Saturday January 12. 46. Relolved, never to allow the least Measure of any frettmg Uneafir efs at my Father or Mother. Refolvcd to I
fbffer
no Effecfls of it, lo much as in the least alteration of
Speech, or motion of my Eye And to be especially careful ot if, with refpev f to any of our Family. 47. Refolvcd, to endeavour to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a pood, and universally sweet and benevolent, quic, peaceable, contented, easy, compafllonatc, generous, humble, meek, modes , fubmiltive, oblifiing, diligent and induflrious, charitable, even, pitient, nr»odera'e, forgiving, lincere 1 cmper and to do at all Tiines what such a Temper would lead me to. Examine ftncfly every Week, whether 1 have done so. 48. kefolvcd, constantly, with the utmoO Niceness and Dilieence, and the ikidtell Scrutiny, to be looking into the State of my Soul, that 1 may know whether 1 have truly an Intercfi in Chrifl or no ; that when I come to die, J may not have any Negligence refpedting this to repent :
50 Resolved, I will a< so as I think I (hall judge would have been bcft, and mof\ prudent, when 1 come into tlic future VVbrld. 52. 1 frequently hear Persons in old Age say how they would live, if they were to live their Lives over a<iain : Kefolvcd, that 1 wiil live jurt so as I can think 1 (hall wjfli 1
had done, fuppofu g 1 live to old Age. 54. VV hcnevcr
Mr, Jonathan
54. Whenever 1 hear any thing spoken in Conversation of any Person, if I think it would be praise- worthy in me, Refoived to endeavour to imitate it. 55. Refoived, to endeavour to my utmost to ac la s I can think I (hould do, if I had already fcen the Happiness of Heaven, and Hell Torments. 56. Refoived, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my Sight with my Corruptions, however unsuccessful
may be.
57. Refoived,
when I fear Misfortunes and Adversities, have done myDuty,and resolve to do
to examine whether
and let it be jufl as Providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my Duty and mySin. 62. Refoived, never to do any thing but Duty and
then according to Eph. vi. 6, 7, 8. do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to Man ; knowing that whatever good Thing any Man doth, the same (hall he receive of the Lord. 65. Refoived, very much to exercise my self in this all my Life long, vix. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my Ways to God, and lay open my Soul to Him all my Sins, Temptations, Difficulties, Sorrows, Fears, Hopes, Desires, and every Thing, and every Circumstance j according to Dr. Mantons 27th Sermon on the 1 19 Psalm. 67. Refoived, after Afflidlions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what Good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them. * :
The Resolutions are seventy in Number. Bat part of them are here transcribed, as a Specimen of the whole. The Number here affixed to them, is that by which they are numbered in the original Manuscript; and retained here for the Sake of the References made to some of them in the Diary, as the Reader will presently see.
Section of the Reverend
Section Extra( s from his
Private Diary.
' {Atur ay, December 22. 1722. This Day revived by 1 Ciod's Spirit. Affedled with the Sense of the excel-' lency of Holincfs. Fe!t more exercise of Love to Christ than uCual. Have also felt fenfibl e Repentance of Sin, because it was comrnitted against so merciful and good a God. This Night made the 37th Resolution. Sahhath Day- Sights Dec. 23. Made the 38th Resolution. A Iorakj, Dec. 24.. Higher Thoughts than usual of the Excellency of Jesus Cinirt and his Kingdom. Ivednefday January 2. 1722,3. Dull. I n by Experience, that let me make Resolutions, and do what I will, with never so many Inventions, it is all nothing, and to no Purpofc at all, without the Motions of the Spirit of
for if the
Spirit of
drawn from me always,
God (hould be as much withfor the Week part, notwith-
standing ail I 60 I (hould not grow but lliould languKh, and mil rably fade away There is no Dependence upon my self. It is to no Purpose to resolve, except we ficpcnd on the Grace of God for if it were rot for his meer Grace, one -might be a very good Man one Day, a..d a very wicked one the next. Siahhath'Day Jan. 6. at Night. Much concerned about the improvement of preciousTime. Intend to live in conti;
nual Mortihcation, without ceasing,as'long as in thisWorld. Tuefiay\ Jan. 8. in the Morning. HigherThoughts than usual, of the Excellency of Christ, and felt an unusual Re-
pentance of Sin therefrom. lyednefday Jan. 9. at Night. Decayed. I am fomctimes apt to tliink, I have a great deal more of Holiness than I have. I find now and then, that abominable Corruption
which
Chrillians.
contrary
what
read of eminent I take up a
How deceitful is n y Heart
Urong Resolution, but how soon does it weaken Thursday Jan. 10. aboutNoon. Reviving. 'Tis a great Diflionour to Christ, in whom I hope 1 have an IntcreO, !
to be uncafy at my worldly J
with ihcm >
State
and Condition.
When
Things goeafy the World is smooth to them, and ihcy arc happy
see the Proipcrity ot
others, and that all
Mr, Jonathan
happy in manv Rerpe6ts,»and very prosperous, of are advanced to much Honour &c. to grudge and envy them, or be the least uneasy at it ;
to vviih or long for the fanr'
Whereprofperity, and that \\ would ever be {o with me. fore concluded always to rcjoyce in every one's Prosperity,
my self no Happiness of that Nature as but depend upon Afflidions, and betake my fcif entirely to another Happiness. I think I find my self much more sprightly and healthy, both in Body and Mind, for my Self-denial in eating, drinking, and fleeplng. be advantageous every Morning to I think it would confider my Bufmefs and Temptations ; and what Sins I Ihall be exposed to that Day and to make a Resolution how to improve the Day, and to avoid thofe Sins. And so at the beginning of every Week, Month and Year. I never knew before what was meant by not setting our Hearts upon thefethings. 'Tis, not to care about them, to depend upon them, to afri(5t our selves much with Fears of losing them, nor please our selves with Expedation of obtainincT them, or hope of the Continuance of and to exped for
long as I
live ;
them
At Night made the
41ft Resolution.
Morning. I have this Day solemnly renewed my baptismal Covenant and Self- Dedication, which I renewed when I was received into the Communion of the Church. I have been before God j and have given my self, all that I am and have to God, so that- I am not in any Refped my own I can challenge no Right in my self, 1 can challenge no Right in this UnSaturday Jan.
in the
derftanding, this Will, these Affeol ions that are in me ; neither have I any right to this Body, or any of its
Members
No Right to this Tongue, these Hands,
these Eyes, these Senses, my self Smell or Taste. I have given clear away, and have not retained any Thing as my own. I have been to this Morning, aiid told Him that I gave my self wholly to him. I have given every Power to him ; so that for the future I will challenge no Right in my self, in any Refped. 1 have exprefly promised Him, and do now promise Almighty God, that by his Grace I will not. told Him, I have this Moroing that I did take Him for my whole Portion and Felicity, Jooking on nothing else as any Part of my Happiness, jftor adingasif it were i and his Law for the constant
nor Feet
these Ears,
no Right .to
this
Rule
The Life es the Reverend
Rule o my Obedience
and would
with
sight
Might agamrt the World, the Fiefh, and the Devil, to the J nd of my Lite. And did believe in Jesus Chnft, and receive him as a Prince and a Saviour and would adhere \
Faiih and Obed ence of the Gospel, how hazardous and difficult foevcr the Profeftion and Pradice of it may be. T"hat I did receive the blefied Spirit as piy 7 eacher, Sandl fit' r and only Comforter ; and cherilh all his Motions to enlighten, purify, confirm, comfort and a(fii\ to
tlie
me. This I have done. And 1 pray God, for the fake of Chrifi, to look upon it as a Self- Dedication \ and to receive me low as entirely his own, and deal wjth me in all Refpedts as such whether he sfflic s me or prospers mc, or wiiatever he plcafes to do with me, who am his. Now, ;
henceforth 1 am not to adl in any Rc'fpe6l as my own. I f} all ac as m) own, if I ever make ule of any of myPowers to any thing that is not to the glory of God, and don't
make the glorifying Him my whole and entire Business 1 murmur in the least at Affiidions if I grieve at the ;
if I if 1 am any way uncharitable am angry because of Injuries if I revenge If I do any thing, pure'y to pleale my self, or if I avoid any thing for the fake of my Ease If I omit any thing because it is great Se.f denial if I trust to my self If I take any of the Prajfe of any Good that I do, or rather GOD does by me or if I am any way proud.
Profperiiy of others ;
This Day made the 42d and 43d Resolutions.
Monday Jan. 14 The Dedication I made of my self to my God, on Saturday last, has been exceeding uletul to
thought 1 had a more spiritual infioht into the 8th Chapter to the Romans than
Scripture, reading the
ever in my Lite before. Great Infiancts of Mortificatipn arc deepWounds given to the Mody of Sin, hard B ows that make him fiacrgcr and reel wc thereby get great Ground and footing against :
While we live without prcat Inf ances of Mortiand Self denial, the old Man keeps whereabouts he-vvas ; for he is sturdy and obstinate, and will not flir for small Blows. Alter the greatellmortifications, 1 always find the gi eat ell Comfort. Supposing there was never but one complcat Chrifiian, in all Rcfpcc s of a light Stamp, hu\ing Chrillianity (hining in its irus Lu(lre/at a lime in the World s Refolvcd him.
fication
Mr, JonathanEdwards. to a6t just as I would do, if I strove with all my be that One, that (liould be in my Time.
Might to
Tmfday, Jan, 15. It Teemed Yesterday, the Day before and Saturday, that I (hould always retain the same Resolutions to the same Height, but alas, how soon do I decay O, how weak, how infirm, howunable to do any thing am What a poor, inconsistent, what a miserable Wretch, I While I Hand, without' the afliftance of God's Spirit I am ready to think I stand in my own Strength, and upon my own Legs and I am ready to triumph over my Enemies, as if it were I my self that caused thsm to flee : !
when alas I am but a poor Infant, upheld by Jefuschrill who holds me up, and gives me Liberty to smile to see my Enemies flee, when lie drives them before me and so I Jaugh, as tho' I my felt did it, when it i$ only Jesus Ghrift leads me along, and fights Himself againfi my Enemies. And now the Lord has a little left me, nd how weak do I find my self O, let it teach me to depend less on I
my self, to be more humble, and to give more of the The Heart of Man praise of my Abihty to Jeius Christ. is
above
deceitful
Things,
desperately wicked,
who can know it ? 16 I do certainly know tha| I love Hofuch as the Gospel requires. At Night. I have been negligent for the Month pad in these three Things ; I have not been watchful enough over my Appetite in eating and drinking ; in rifmg too late a Mornings ; and in not applying my self with Applicatioii enough to the Duty of secret Prayer. Renewedly proSabbath Day, Feb. 17. near Sun-set. mifed, that 1 will accept of God, for my whole Portion ; and that I will be contented, whatever else I am denied. Saturday, Febr.
linefs,
I will not murmur, nor be grieved, whatever Prosperity, upon any Account, 1 see others enjoy, and am denied. I
Saturday Adarch 2.— O,how much pleasanter is Humility
than Pride O, that God would fill me with exceeding great Humility, and that he would evermore keep me troin all Pride 7 he Pleasures of Humility are really the most Piow refined, inward and exqiiifue Delights in theWorld. hateful is a proud Man How haieful is a Worm that lifts up it self with Pride What a foolio , filly, miserable, blind, deceived, poor Worm am I, when Pride !
v;orks
Ifednejday, fvednefday March 6. near Sun set. Felt the Do6lrines of Elcdion, Free Grace, and of our not being able to do any thing without the Grace of God ; and that Holincfs entirely, througliout,
the Work of
God's Spirit, with
more Pleafurethan before. Monday Mornings
y pjtl
think it bed
not to allow
my self to laugh at the Faults, Follies and Infiriiiities of others. tiaturday Night,
so tar gone,
yfpril 7.
This Week
found my self
seem'd to me, that I Ihould never recover more. Let God of his Mercy return unto me, and no more leave me thus to fink and decay I know, Lord, tliat without thy Help, I fliall fall innumerable times, notwithstanding all my Resolutions, how often so ever repeated. that
Saturday Night, Jpril 14. this Night, for the
could
pray
more
heartily
Forgivcnefsof my Enemies, than ever
before.
May i. Forenoon. Lafl Night I came Home, melancholy parting from New-York. 1 have always, in every different State of Life, I have hitherto been m, thought the Troubles and Difficulties of that State, to be greater than'thofe of any other, that 1 proposed to be in and when I have altered with afturance of mending my self, I have still thought the same ; yea, that the Difficulties of that State, are greater than thofc of that I left last. Lord, grant that from" hence I may learn to withdraw n.y Thoughts, Aftedions, Dcfires a; d Expectations, intircly from the World, and may fix them upon the heavenly State where there is tulnefs of Joy ; where reipns heavenly, sweet, calm and delightful Love without Alloy where there arc continually the dearest Expressions of their Love where there is the Enjoyment ot the Persons loved, without ever parting where thofc IVedhejday,
after my
Persons, who appear so lovely in this World, will really be incxprcdlbly more lovely, and full of Love to us. How fwecily wjII the mutual Lovers join to etlier to sing the Praises of God and the Lamb How full will it fill us with Joy to think, this Enjoyment, thcfe sweet Exercises, !
will
never cease or come to an End, but
will
laf to
Eternity.
Remember, after Journeys, Removes, Ovcrturnings and Alterations in the State of my Life, to rcfled and confider.
Whether