The Life of Jonathan Edwards – Part 4 (pages 55–68)
Mr, JonathanEwards.
wards her. He was won't frequently to admit her into his Study, and converse freely with her on Matters of Religion,
And he ulcd commonly to pray with her in his Study,
least once a
Day, unless fomeihing extraordinary prevented. time in which this used to be commonly artended>
was jurt before going to Bed, after Prayers in the Family. As he rose very early himself, he was wont to have his Family up in season m the Morning ; after which, before the Faipily entered on the Business of the Day, he attended on Family Prayers. When a Chapter in the Bible was read, commonly by Candle-light m the Winter upon ; which he aiked his Children Q.iei>ions according to their Age and Capacity ; and took Occasion to explain feme Parages in it, or enforce any Duty recomended &c. as he thought mo?i proper.
He was careful and thorough in the Government of his Children ; and, as a Confequcnce of this, they revertnced, eemed and loved him. He took special care to begin his Government of them in
Season. When they first discovered any conHderable degree of Will and Stubbornness,he
would attend to them till he had thoroughly subdued them and brought them to submit. And such prudent thorow Discipline, cxercifed with the greatest Calmness, and com-
monly wirhour
Blow, being repeated once or for that Child ; and es-feaually established his parental Authority, and produced' twice,
striking a
was generally
sufficient
a chearful Obedience ever arjter.
He kept a watchful Eye over his Children,
that
might admonifli rhem of the fir/i wrong Step, and dired:
them in the right Way. He tookOpportunities to treat with them in his Study, singly and particularly about their own Soul's Concerns ; and to give them Warning, Exhortation and Direction, as he saw Occasion He took much
Pains
to inrtrucl them in the Principles of Religion in ; he made use of the Ajfemhly's Shorter Catechism : not
whi'-h
mecrly by taking care that they learned it by Heart but by leading them into an undertl ndmg of the Do rines therein taught, by asking them Q«ieftions on each Answer, and explaining it to them. His usual time to attend this was on the Evening before the Sabbath. And as he believed that the Sabbath or holy Time bgan at Sun-set the Evening before the Day, he order'd his Family to liniHi ail their -,
secular secular Business s!i called
of the Reverend
by that time or before ; when they were and Prayer at-
together, and a Psalm was lung
tended, as an Introduction to the falsifying the Sabbath. This care and exacf ness esse(5tually prevented that intruding on holy Time, by attending on secular Business, too common in Families where the Evening before the Sabbatk is pretended to be observed.
He was a great Enemy to young People's unfcafonabic Company-keeping and Frolicking, as he look'd upon it a great Means ot corrupting and ruining Yourh. And he thought the Ex use many Parents make for tolerating their Children in it, (viz. that it is the Custom, and others Children praifvife it, wl-.ich renders it difficult, and even impoffibic to retrain theirs) was insufficient and frivolous and manifehed a great Degree of Stupidity, on supposition the pradiice was hurtful and pernicious to their Souls. And when some ot his Children grew up he found no difficulty in retraining them from this pernicious Pra6ticc ; but ihey chearfully complied with the will of their Parents herein. He allowed not his Children to be from home after nine o'clock at Night, when they went abroad to see their Friciids and Companions. Neither were they allowed to fjt up much alter that Time, in his own House, when any came to make them a visit. li any Gentleman desired Acquaintance with his Daughters ; atter handsomely introducing himself, by properly consulting the Parents, he was allowed all proper Opportunity for it j. a Room and Fire, but mult not intrude on the proper Hours of if needed Reft and Sleep, or the Religion and Order of the Family. :
He had a ftrivft and inviolable regard to JuHice in all Neighbours, and was very careful to provide for Things honcft in the sight of all Men ; so that scarcely a fclan had any Dealings with him, that was not conscious of liis uprlghtnefs. He appeared to have a facrcd regard to truth in his Words, both in Promifcs and Narrations, agreeable to his Resolutions. This doubtless was one Rcafon why he was not so full of Words as many his dealings with his
are.
No Man tcarcd to rely on his Veracity.
He was cautious in chufing his intimati Frunds znd theremany thai might properly be called such. B' he ftiewcd himfclf fracndly in a peculw man:..
fore had not to ihtm
Mr, Jonathan Edwards,
He was indeed a faithful Friend, and able above most oTo them he difcoverm himself thers to keep a Secret. more than to others, led them into his Views and Ends in his Condu6t in particular Instances : by which (hey had abundant Evidence that he well understood human Naiure ; and that his general Reservedness, and many particular Instances of his Condu6t, which a Stranger might impute to ignorance of Men, were really owing to his uncommon Knowledge of Mankind. Hrs Converfarion with his Friends was always savory and profitable In this he was remarkable, and almost iingular. He was not wont to spend his time with them, in Scandal, Evil-speaking and Back-biting, or in foolish But his Mouth was Jesting, idle chat, and telling Stories that of the Just, which bringeth forth Wisdom, and his Lips dispersed Knowledge. His Tongue was as the Pen of a ready Writer, while he conversed about important, heavenly, divine Things, which his Heart was so full of, in such a natural and free manner, as to be most entertaining and in(\ru<5tive so that none of his Friends could enjoy his Company without Inftrudion and Profit, unless it was by their own fault. *; :
His great Benevolence to Mankind discovered it k]( the uncommon regard he shewed to Liberality, and Charity to the Poor and Diftrefted. Fie was much in recommend ng this, both in his publ-ckdifcourfes and private Cbnverfation. He often declared it to be his Opinion, that profefted Christians, in these Days are greatly deficient in this Du y ; and much more (Oy than in moll: other Parts of external Christianity. He often observed how much this is spoken of, recommended and en-
among other ways, by
coura ed in the holy Scripture, especially in the Newteftament. And it was his Opinion, that every particular Church ought by frequent and liberal ContribuMons, to maintain a publ'ck Stock, that might be ready for the poor and neceiTitous Members of that Church and that :
the principal Business of Deacons is to take care of the Poor in the faithful and judicious Diftnbution and improvement of the Church's temporals, lodged in their Hands, And he did not content himself with only recommending Charity to others, but pradis'd it much him/ejf:
Tho', according to his Master's Advice, he took great of the Reverend
greatCare to conceal his Deeds of Charity ; bywhichMeani doubtless moll o\ his Alms-deeds will be unknown till the Refurroc ion, which if known, would prove him to be as great an Inst.incc of Charily as any that can be produced This is not mver Conjecture, but is evident in this Age. many ways. He vv2S forward to give on all publick OccaCharity, rho' when it could properly be done, he And lome InOanccs of always conccaTd the Sum given. his giving more privately have accidentally cume to the KnovNl vie ct oilicrs, in which his Liberality appeared m One of the Inrtances was a v< rv extraordinary Degree. Upon hearing that a poor oblcure Man, whom e this. never saw, or any of his kindred, was by an extraordin?ry bodilv Disorder, brought to great Straits ; he, uiiafked, gave * to a Friend lo be delivered to the diftreflcd Person having firll required a Promile of him, that he wouM let neither the Ferlon, who was the Objec5l of bis Charity, nor any one else know by whom it was given This may serve both as an Instance of lii« extraordinary Charity, and of his great Care to conceal it. f fions of
Mr. Edwards had the
incft univerfa) Chara6fer of a almost anv Miniller in this Age. There were but tew that heard him, who did not call him a good Preacher, however they might dillike his religious Piinciples, and be much offended at the same Truths when
gfjcd Pre-chd of
And moss admired him above by others aH that ever they heard. His Fminency as a Preacher seen)s to be owing to the following Things. Pirj} The ercat Pains he took in composing his SerAs by hi mons, especially in the firff Part of his Life cariy Tiline, and constant atiention to his Study, he had iteljvcred
more time than most others lo he spent more time in making his Sermons. He wrote moil of his Sermons all ;
out. tiio'
. rr near twenty Years alter he liif began to preach ; he did not wholly confine himfcif to his Notes m his
delivering them. Secondly
A corfjderablc Sum.
As both ihc River, and tbc Ob]e<f> of Ms Chanty
arc dear?,
and all the Ends of the proposed fecrccy arc ar.fwcrcd ; 'tis tliought not inconfiflcnt with the above mentioned Proiuifls to
make known the f i.6\, as it is here related.
Mr. Jonathan
Edwards.
Suondly, His great acquaintance with Divinity, his study
and knowledge of the Bible. Hjs extensive and universal Knowledge, and great clearness of Thought, enabled him to handle every Subjed with great Judgment and Propriety, and to bring out of his Trcafury things new ar.d old. Every Subjed he handled was inftrudive, plain, entertaining and profitable ; which was much owing to his being Master of the Subje<ft, and his great skill to treat ir in a most None of his Comnatural, easy, and profitable Manner. pofures were dry Speculations, or unmeaning Harangues, or Words without ideas. When he dwelt on rbofetruths which are much controverted and opposed by many, which was often the Cafe, he would set them in such a natural and easy Light, and every Sentiment from Step to Step, would drop from his Lips, attended with such clear and striking Evidence, both from Scripture and Reason, as even to force the assent of every attentive Hearer. Thirdly His excellency as a Preacher was very much the Esse6t of his great Acquaintance with his own Heart, his inward Sense and high Relish of divine Truths, and This the high Exercise of true, experimental Religion.
He knew gave him a great insight into human Nature This what was in Man, both the Saint and the Sinner. helped him to Skill, to lay Truth before the M1nd,so as not only to convince the Judgment, but toych the Heart and Confcience ; and enabled him to speak out of the abundance of his Heart, what he knew, and testify what he had seen and felt. This gave him a taste and difcerninjj:, without which he could not have been able to fill his Seraions, as he did, with such firiking, affecting Sentiments, all fuitcd to solemnize, move, and rectify the Heart of the Hearer. His Sermons were well conneded, not ulua'ly long, an4 commonly a large Part taken up in the Improvement which was closely conneiled with the Subject, and conUlled in Sentiments naturally flowing from it. :
But no Description of his Sermons will give the Reader the Idea of them which they have who sat under his Preaching, or have even read feme of his Discourses which are in prmt. There is a great Number now in Manufcripr, which are probably as worthy the view of the Puhlick,
Chrilii;ins,
at least
tend as
much to inn:ru( and quickea
as molt that have been publilhed in this Cen-
His Appearance in the Desk was with a good Gracf, and his delivery easy, natural and very solemn. He had not a llronp:, loud Voice but appear'd with luch gravity and lolcmnity, and fpakc with such diltindiitfb, clearneis and precilion his Woids were f6 fu'l of Ideas, set in luch a plain and striking Light, that few Speakers have been so able to demand the Attention of an Audience as he. His V/ords often discover'd a great degree of inward fervor, without much Noise or external Emoti<n, ar»d fe!l with great weiglit on the Min sos his Hearers. He made but little Morion ot his Head or Hands in the Dt(k, but Ipjke so as to dilcover the Morion of his own Heart, which tcrjded in the most natural and effcctual manner to move and ;
others.
As he wrote his Sermons out
at large for
many Years,
and always wrote a considerable part of moll of his pubJick Discourses so he carried his Notes inio the Desk with him, and read the most that he had wrote ; yet he was not so confined to his Notes, when he had wrote at large, but that, if some Thouglus were fuggeded while he was fpejking, which did not occur when writing, and appeared to him pertinent and striking, he would deliver them and that vvith as great propriety and fiuencv, and oftner with grcaHT pathos, and attended with a more fimifible good effcd on !us Hearers, than a:l he liad Arote. ;
Tno', as has been observed, he was wott to read (o considerable a part of what he delivered ; yet lie was Mar Jrom thinking this the beQ way of preaching in geneand look'd upon his using hij-Notes io much as he did, ; a Deficiency and infirmity. And in the laiicr par: of his Life was inclined to think it had been better, if he had ral
never accullomed himlclf to life his Notes at all. It appeared to him that preaching wholly without Noies, agreeable to the Custom in mo!l Proteflant Countries, and what fetms evidently to huvj been the manner of the Apof les and primitive Miiiiflers of the Gospel, was by far tlie moll natural way ; and had the grcateft tendency on the whole, to anfwcr the P>id of. Preaching and fuj)i)ofed that none who had Talents equal to the Woik of thcMii iffry, was incapable of speaking Mcmorlter, if he took fuiiable Pains for this Attairmer.t from his Youtfi. He would have the young Preacher wri:e all his Senn<'f.jr, or at Icall moA of ihcm,out it lar£c and inflepd oirt rvf :
Jonathan Ed-wards.
them to his Hearers, take pains to commit them to Memory. Which, tho* it would require a great deal of La* bour at first, yet would soon become easier by use, and help him ro fpcak more corredtly and freely, and be of great Service to him all his Days. His Prayers were indeed extempore. He was the farthelt from any appearance of a Form, as to his Words & manner He was quite finguiarand ofexprelfion-of almort anyMan. inimitable in this, by any who have not a Spirit of real and undiflembleddcvotion. Yet he always exprefled himfejf wi!hDecency& Propriety. He appeared to have much of the Grace and Spirit of Prayer j to pray with the Spirit and with theUnderilanding and he perform'd this part of Duty much to the acceptance and edification of thofe wbo joined with him. He was not wont, in ordinary Cases to be long in his Prayers an error which he obkrved was often hurtful to pubJick and social Prayer, as it tends rather to damp than promote true Devotion, :
He kept himself quite free frorri worldlyCares. He gave himfelt wholly to the Work ot the Miniftry, and entangled He leit the parnot himself with the Ass irs of this Life. ticular Over sight 2nd Dire<5\ion of the temporal Concerns of his Family, almost entirely to Mrs. Edwaras ; who wifs better able than moil of her Sex to take the whole Care of them on her Hands.
He was less acquainted with mort of many of h)s Neighbours and
his temporal Affairs than
fcldom icnew when and by whom his Forrage for Winter was gathered in, or how many milk Kiiie he had j whenc;; his liable was turnilhcd &c.
He did not make it his Cuf om to visit his People in their ownhoufes, unless he was sent for bv theSick ; or he heard that they were under some fpccialafflidion. In fieid of visiting trom House to House, he used to preach frequently at private Meetings in particular Neighbourhoods ; and often call the young People and Children to his own Huufe when he uftd to pray with them & treat with them in a manner suited to theirYears & Circumstances. And he catechized theChildren in puhlick everySabbath in theSummer. And he used sometimes to propofcqueftions to particulagyoungperfons in writing/or them 10 ans 'er after a proper timo Ji :
5 given
time
them
of the Reverend prepare.
putting out these
Questions,lic cndeuvoured to luit them to the Age, Genius His and Abilities of thofe to whom they vere given.
Questions were generally such as required but a Ibort Answer and yet could not be answered without a particular and Knowledge of some hil oricai Part of the Scripture therefore led, and (Jven obliged Persons to study the Btble. He did not ncgl2(5\ visiting his People from House to House, because he did not look upon it, in ordinary Cases, But to be one Part of the Work of the Gospel MiniPer. ;
supposed
that Ministers
fbould, with
refpecl
this,
consult their ownTalents and CircumOances, and vifu more
less,
accordmg to the degree in which they could hope
hereby to promote the great Ends of the Gospel Miniftry. He observed, that feme Ministers had a talent atenieriaining and profiting by occasional Visits among their People. They have Words at Will, and a knack at introducing natural, and, as it such had a call to spend a great deal oi their time in visiting their People. But he looked on his Talents to be quite otherwise. He was not able to enter into a free Conversation with every Pcrfon he met with, and in an easy manner turn it to what Topick he plcafed, without the lielp of others, and, as it profitable, religious Discourse in a free,
He supposed
were undesigned way.
may that
their Inclination. He therefore found of this kind mufi be in a great degree unpro-
against
liis visits
And as he was settled in a great Town, it would Time to visit from House to
fitable.
take up a great part of his
House
which he thought he could spend in his Siudy to
much more valuable Purpofcs, and so as much
better to
promote the great Knds of his Miniflry. For it appeared to him, that he could do the grcateft good to Souls, and most promote the intercfi of Chrilt by preaching and writing, and conversing with Persons under religious ImprclTions in his Study whrrc he encouraged all such to repair where, they might be sure, in ordinai7 Cases, to find him and to be allowed easy acccfs to him, and where they were treated with all desirable tenderness,kindness5c familiarity. In times thcrclorc of the out- pouring of God's Spirit, and the revival of Religion among his People, his Study was throng'd withperfons to lay open their spiritual Concerns to him, and feck hisAdviccand Dirc(5 jon whom he received and convcrfcd with, with grcst freedom and pleafurc,'nnd bad ; bad the best Opportunity to deal in the most particular man« rier
with each one.
He was a (kilful Guide to Souls under spiritual Difficuland was therefore sought unto not only by his own People, but by many who lived scores of Miles off. He ties.
partly by his own experimenacquaintance with divine things, and unwearied study of God's Word ; and partly by his having so much con« cern with Souls under spiritual Troubles For he had not been settled in the Work of the Miniftry many Years bewas wonderfully poured out oa fore the Spirit of his People, by which a great Concern about their Souls became almost univcrfal ; and a great Number were hopeThis was prinfully the Subjects of saving Conversion. particular Account ot which, cipally in the Year i734» has been wrote by him, entitled, A faithful Narrative oftjje in the Conversion of many hundred Jurprizing Work es Which has been prmied in EngSouls in Northampton. land, Germany and America i to which the Reader must
became Tuch an able Guide,
be refer'd.
And there was another remarkable Time of the outpouring of GOD's Spirit in the Years 1740, & 1741. ift which Northampton partook largely ; iho' not exclultve o£ most other Parts of the Land. Mr. Edwards in this time had to deal not only with his own People, but with. Multitudes of others. The hearing that the same things were at Northampton some Years before, and the same Mr. Edwards had for Knowledge, Piety, and a great Acquaintance with experimental Religion, naturally \q both Ministers and People, in almost all Parts of New-Englandy io look to him for Direction and Afliftance, in this extraordinary time. Being in this time earnelUy foilicited by the Ministers & People of many Places to come and preach, among them, he went to many ; tho' he was not able to gratify all who desired him. And his preaching was attended with great Success.
Anp as many of theminifters & People in New-England had been unacquainted with such things as then appeared, they were greatly exposed to run wild, as it were, and a<5tually did, by the fubtlc Temptations of th« Devil, takin t, 2
*The Life of the Reverend
ing Advantage of the Ignorance and Wickcdnefs of Men's Hearts, go into great Extreams both as Oppofers &Fricnds to the Work of GOD. Mr. P dwards was greatly helpful by his Direction and Aftillance againrt the two opposite Extremes, both in Conversation, Preaching and Writing. His Publications on this Occasion were especially of great and extcnfiveservice. Of which it may be proper to give fomc Account here. The first is a Sermon preached at N€W-Haveny Sept. lo, i5c. 1741. On the dtji'wgwjhing AJarks of the Spirit 0/ Jn the Year F742, he published a Book of five Parts, intitled. Some Thoughts concerning the prejent Revival of Religion in New England, and the IVay in which it ought to be acknowledged and promoted tffc. In the Year 1746, he published a Ireatife on Religtoui All which might be justly confidercd by the Jffe ions. Church of Christ as a Voice behind them saying, " This is the Way, walk therein." Especially the last mentioned Book, which has been esteemed by many the best that has been wrote on that Subjedl ; fettingthe diftinc ion between true and false Religion in the most clear and striking Light. To the same Purpose, is The Life of the Rev. AJr. David i RASiERD.,iuithrrfleslions and Observations thereon ; published
by Mr. Edwards in the Year 1749. Mr. Edwards was what by feme is called a rigid CaU Thole Doctrines of Calvinism, which have been mort objc( led agamft, and given the greatcft Offence, appeared 10 him as fcnpiural, reasonable and important as any ; and he thought that to give them up, was in effect to give up all. And therefore he looked upon thofe who 'uinifi.
called thcmfelves Calvinxjli
that were tor palliating the Matter, by, as it \Acre, tiimingon' the Knots of Calvmifm,
that they might conform it more to the tarte of thofe who arc most disposed to objc against it, were really giving up
and betraying the Caule they pretended to elpoufe and ¥rcrc paving the way not only toarminianifm,but to Deilm. :
Jor if ihefe Dod rincs, in the whole length and breadth of them were relin(jui(hed, he did not see, where a Man could fct his Foot down with confuu-ncy and fafcty, Ihort oi Dcilm,or cvenAihcilm it felt , or raiJicr univcrfaj bcvpticifm.
He judgM that nothing was wanting, but to have thcfe Doctrines properly stated and judiciously and well defended, in order to their appearing most agreable to Reason and common Sense, as well as the Do(5trines of Revelation ; and that this therefore was the only effec itual Method to All convince, or silence and shame the oppofers of them. will be able to faristy themselves of the truth of this, by reading his Treatise on Ju/iification and his two lad Books on the Freedom of the fvill and Original Sin, In this view of Things, he thought it of Importance that Ministers should be very critical in examining Candidates for the Miniftry, with Refped to their Principies, as well as their religious Disposition and Morals. And on this Account he met with considerable Difficulty and Opposition in some Inftanct.. His Opinion was,that an erroneous or unfaithful Minister was likely to do moive hurt than good to the Church of Christ ; and therefore he could not have any Hand in intro lucing a Man into the Miniftry, unless he appeared y «W in the Faith, and manifested to a Judgment of Charity, a Disposition to be faithful.
His Dismission from Northampton, with the Qccafton and Circumflances of
MR. Edwards
was very happy in the esteem love of his People for many Years, and there
and was
the greatcft Profped of his living and dying so.
He was the last Minister aimoft in New- England ih x. would have been pitched upon to be opposed and renounced by his People. But by what has come to pass with refpedt to this, we have an inftrudtive Lelfon on the instability of all human Affairs, and the unreasonableness of trusting * ia
Man.
In the Year 1744. Mr. Edwards was informed that some of the young Persons in Town, who were Members of the Church, had Books in keeping, which they improved to promote lascivious and obfcenc Discourse among
thc{
Life of the Reverend
the young Poople. And upon inquiring, a Number of Pcrfons were found to testify, that they had heard one and another from time to time talk obfcencly ; as what they verc led to by reading a Book or Books, vhich they had among them. Upon which Mr. Edwards thought the Brethren of the Church ought to Jook into the Matter. And in order to introduce it, he preach'd a Sermon from JHib. xii. 15, 16. *' Looking diligently, left any Man fail of * the Grace of GOD, left any Root ot bitterness springing * up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled left there *' be any Korntcaior,Gr profane Perlon a Esau &c." After Sermon, he desired the Brethren of the Church toftay, and told them what Information he had got ; and propofcd whether rhey thought proper to take any Measures to examine into the Matter. They with one consent, and much eal, manifested it to be their Opinion, that it ought to be enquired into. And proceeded to chose a Number of l en, to afiift their Paftcr in examining into the Affair. :
.Upon which Mr. Edwards appointed the time
for their
meeting at his House and then read a Catalogue of the Names of young Persons, whom he dcfired to come to his House at the lame time. Some were the accused, and feme Vvitneftes ; but it was not then declared of which :
Number any particular Perlon was.
When the Names were publifliedjt appeared, that there were but few of the confidcrable Families in Town, to which none of iheperfons named did belong,or were nearly related. "Whether this was theOccalion ot the alteranon or not, before the Day appointed came, a great Number of Heads of Families alrered their Minds (yea many condemned what they had done, before thev gor home to their own Houses) and declared, they did not think proper to proceed as thev had done ; that chcir Children ihould not be called to an Account in such a way lor such things c. &c. And flic
Town was fuddtnly.all on a Blaze.
This strengthen'd
Hands of the iccufed, and some
refu fed
to appear,
nd others that did apprrar, behaved unmannerly, and with a great Deprce of Ii.folence, and conterript ot the Authority of the Church. And littk ur nothing could be done furihcr in ihc Aifair.
This
Mr. JonathanEdwards.
This was the Occasion of weakening Mr. Edwards's Hands in the Work of the Miniftry, especially among the with whom by this Means he greatly loft young People This seemed in a great Measure to put an his Influence end to Mr. Edwards's Usefulness at Northampton and ;
doubtless laid a Foundation, and will help to account for the furprizing Events which will by and by be related. be sure he had no great visible Success after this ; but the
Influences of God's Spirit were greatly with-held, and fethat cuiity and carnality much increased among them. great and lingular degree of visible religion and good order
which had been found among them, soon began gradually and the youth have fmce been more wanton and diiTolute. to decay :
Mr. Stoddard, Mr. Edwards's grand-father and prewas of the opinion, that unconverted persons had a rignr in the sight of God, or confider'd as such, to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ; that therefore it was their duty to come to that ordinance, tho' they knew they had no true goodness,or gospel deceflbr in the work of the miniftry,
holiness.
He maintained, that visible chril\ianity does not
appearance of that wherein true That therefore the persons profelfion which make in order to be received as visible Members of Christ's Church, ought not to be such as to express or imply a real compliance with, or consent to the terms of the covenant of grace, or a hearty embracing the gospel. So that they who really rejeA Jesus Christ, and dislike the gospel way of salvation in their hearts, and know that this is trueof themselves,may make the profeftion without lying and hypocrisy. Accordingly, he endeavoured to form a short profeftion for persons to make in order to be admitted into the church and come to the sacrament, answerable to this principle. And it took place and was pradtifed upon in Northampton ; and persons were admitted into the church, and to the sacrament, not under the notion of their being true faints, or that they had any consist in a profeftion or
holiness or real christianity confirts.
real goodness.
Mr. Stoddard's appearing to maintain this principle made a great noise in the country ; and he was opposed as introducing
something contrary to the principles and
practice
And pr3<5ticc of almost all the churches in Nnv-England. the matter was publickly controverted between him an4 Dr. Increase
Mather of Bo/ion.
However, thro' Mr.
Stood ARD*sgreat influence & afcendancc over ihePeople at Northumpton n was introduced there, tho' not withouiOppoAnd his principles by degrees spread very much afifion. m iz MnilUrs & People in that county, and in other parts o\Niw E':gianfi ; tho' no church txcQ\>xNorthampi9n publickly aad profeitedly acted upon this principle, by altering the prorefti )n that thole made, who were admitted to the Sabut required of all crament, to i'uit it to such a notion who joined to the church a profeftion of that wherein true And of late years chrillianity, or real godliness confiih. his opinion that persons who have no real goodness, but are in a christ'efs Hate, and know thcmfelves to be so, may make a chridian profcftion and come to the Sacrament, without lying and hypocrisy ; and that they have a righi,and 'tis iheir duty so to do, ha» greatly spread in the country. :
about this matter but ; did not receive such a degree ot convi6tion, that 'he admitting persons into the church, who made no pretence to real godliness was wrong, as to prevent his pradtifin;: upon But at length it with a good confcience, for some years. his doubts about the matter greatly increased, which put him upon examining it more thorouc hly than he had ever before d'\e, by searching the Scripture, and reading and examining such books, as were written to de end the admiftun of persons to sacraments, without a protelhon of
Mr. Edwards had feme
hesitation
when he first settled at Noithamptony and afterwards
And the rcfult was a full conviction that it laving taith. was wron':, and that he could not pra(5tife upon it with a good Confcience. He was fully convinced that to be a uifihu Chr'ijVian was to put on the vifibiiitv or appearance of a real chriftia i ; that the protetr.on o' chnflianity was a protclTi on of th3 wherein real chrillianity consists ; wes tlK-rcforc a pr 'fcflion of true rffpe(5\ of Chtit , and a hearty
Miat therefore no person who <.mbracin<» ilif pofpcl he. rcj oKd Chii! ;n his heart, cou!<l m ke such a pro'cflion And fhcrclorc, as the Ordinance confuk-nt with tiuth. of the l/ord's ,Supper was inflituted for none but visible prolcfting chiiflians, none but thofewho arc real chrirtian* tight in the U- ' ft C - ti -- ---. ro that ordiJji'. e a real
nmce