The Life of Jonathan Edwards – Part 6 (pages 83–96)
ikfr.
And whether ever God will hold us guiltless
'till
we cry to him
for ChriPi's fake to pardon and fave us from thit judgment whxh such ungodly deeds deserve, and publickly humb'e and take fl-inme And I most heartily wifli and pray that to our selves therefor.
the town and church of Norihampon would fejioufly and carefully examine whether they have not abundant cause to judge tbatiliey ar.d whether are now lying under great guilt in the sight of Gcd thofe of us who were concerned in that most aw ul contention with Mr EdxvarJs, can ever more reasonably expe6l God's favour and blefting, 'till our eyes are opened, and wc become thoroughly convinced that we have greatly provoked the mofthigh. and been injur'ous to one of the bell of men ; and until we shall he thoroughly convinced that we have dreadfaily perftcuiedlhrift by perunt'l we secuting and v€xing that just man and feivant of Christ Ihall be humble as in the dud therefor, and till we op-, nly in :
confess the same full terms, and without baulking the mr.tter, before the Vvorld, and mod humbly and earn diy seek forgiveness of God, and do vvh.it we can to honor the memory cf Mr. ns wh ch we u.juHy cafl Bduoards, and clear it oi all the afpe upon him ; since God has been pleas'd to put it beyond our power to aik his forgiveness. Such terms I am perfwaded the great and
God will hold us to, and that it v/i!l be in vain for us to This I am convinced of with regard to my self. and this way I moO foiemnly propose to take to my self (if God in his mercy Ihali give me opportunitvjthatfo by making Uqz confeftion roGod & man of ray righteous
hope to escape with impunity in any other way.
and guilt, and publickly taking shame to my self therefor, | glory to the God of Israel, and do what in me lies,to clear the memory of that venerable man from the wrongs and injufies I was {o a£live in bringing on his reputation and charafber; and I thank Goi that he has been plcafed to spare my life and,, opportunity therefor to this time, and am sorry that I bavs delayed the affair so long. Altho' 1 made the fubllanca of almost all the foregoing tefleftions in writing, but not exadlly in the same manner to Mr. Edixards and the brethren who adhered to him, in Mr, Ednvards\ life, and before be removed from Stackbridge and I have re fbn to believe that he, from his great candour and charity, heartily forgave me and pray'd for me yet because that was not generally known, I look on ir.y feif obliged to tnke further steps ; fov while I kept fiience, my bones waxed old, -c. For all these my great fiui therefore, in the first place, I humbly and mnlt earnelTly a[k forgiveness of God nexrly, of the relatives and near friends of Mr. Ed-iv.irds, I also ask the forgiveness of ail thofe who were called Mr. Edivardi'i adhercnra ; * J of all the members of the ecclefirift'cal councils above mentioned ; and lastly, of all chrillian people, who have had any knowledge of the matters abovefaid, or any cf ihe.n, sin
may give of the Reverend
zvt ro desire, ir. that you sh u'd make any fecrct of this Hu desire you u ula conimun-ciBl the lame to whom * .« and 1 purpoie ji'U c proper f (iod lha!l give me oppTtLP ty (o p»ocuie it to be puhlilhe in lome one of the pubr c rev.8 papers ; \oi 1 cai/t cevik any other way of rrak ng knnwn n>> cn-in ert of the f' re-go nj; niotrer- to all who oughc to be .'icqu iin eo therewith, and the rcfcre I ih:r.k dught to do r, wha etcr remarks i may fcrtfre will be made thtrron r'r ah y when it comcb ou:, lome ol my acquaim rce will prrpounce me quite ' ver rur with v poLTs others will be furrifhed w.th matter for mirh ap'-j p!ea(":.utiy ; other«> will Curlorily \
leier
j alj.
over,
prrfwsd'd
as relating
to mat
rejryce
to lee
vvii'j
qui e
Ita e
fcoie
to a sense of
nny sin
and I »iiv {e\\ OiaM be conscious thnt J have done of what the na'ure of the caie admits, towards urdoincT whai ii>, anu long has beeo, to my greaielt ;emorle and troub e that it was ever d 'ne Sir, \ dcfirc that none V o_.d enterta'n i ihougVt rrm my having fpoker, rcfpeftfuliy of iVlt EiWuordi, that 1 am dilaifefied to aiid r:u>
lorn' rh ng
rcve;fe is true ; and I have a ard hearty affedbon for him, and b;el od, thai he has nowithiirrdirj? a',1 fur un\\« rthinels, gi\cn us ne to fuccccd Mr. frs'ivarvi, who. (as I have reason to hope) preiert palt.T ;
reverend
i> truly
ihe very
value,
real
e'.leerti,
faithful.
concitide this !nnj» letter, by
heartily desiring
your prayers,
my sins 'db vemfr.tic ncc may e ui:feigntd and gci-uine, and such as God m infinite raecy so. C/iriil's tlat
repi'ntar.ce of
i:ikc wi.l accept :
beg ea/e to fblcnbe
in- ulf,
yi ur realjtio' very ur.woi thy friendy
ti>Vr,
obedient jcrva it
JOSS.I H
HaWLEY.
III.
s St
Stockbrirf e
Indian MiiTion zt F.udhidc." [z Town In the wtlkrij part or the fromiicc of the AJaJJuchuJctts-
/>V;;-, fixt\ Miles ftoni Ncrihaf.iJ tifi) being vacaju by tnc ciil) i>i the larc revere d Vlr. Sr.KChANT, tlic onoreA and reverend (J« nu-nUi.O' ets for Indian aflairs, ii. //'*ff, I
have ilie care and »'.irccii()i\ of it, applied to him, as fuitablc pcrfi-n ihcy cculd think of to bctrufl vviiL
ir.ofi
JVir.
Jonathan Edwards.
And he was at the same time invited by that mission. the inhabitants of Stockbridge ; and being advised by the council, above mentioned, to accept of the invitation, he and was introduced and fixed as repair'd to Stockbridge miifionary to the Indians there by an ecclesiastical council cali'd for that purpose, / uguji 8- 1751. ;
When Mr. Edwards first engaged in the miftion, there was a hopeful proi'pec!: of it's being extenfivejy serviceable, under his care and mfluence j not only to that tribe at Jndians which was settled at Stoikbridge bur among the Six Nations : some of whom were coming to Stockbridge to fettle, and bring their own, and as many of their neighbours children as they could get ; to be educated and inftrudled there. For this end, a house tor a boarding fchuol, which was projedted by Mr. Sergeant, was erected on a trac5t of land appropriated to that use by the Indians at Stockbridge : where the Indian Children, male and female were to be educated, by being cloath'd and fed, and inftruv5led by proper perlbns in uferul learning. And the boys to be learned husbandry or mechanic trades, and the girls all sorts of women's work. For the encouragement of which, some generous subscriptions were made both in England and America. And the great and general Court of the Province of the Majfachufeiis-Bay did much to promote the affair, -and provided lands for the Mohocks to fettle on, who (hould incline to come, /ind the generous Mr.HoLLis, to encourage the thing, order'd twenty four Indian Children to be educated on the same footing, wholly at his cost. Also the Society in London for propagating the Gospel among tlie Indians in and d oout Neiv- England dl* rtt\td their Commiirioners in Bojion to do considerable to-
wards this design.
But partly by reason of some unhappy differences that took pbce among thofe who had the chief management of this affair ar Stockbridge, of which a particular accour>c would not be proper in this place j and partly by thenar's breaking out between England and France, which is generally very fatal to such affiifls among Indians, this hopeful
profpedt came to notliing.
Mr. Edwards's labours were attended V(4th no remartlio'ii erform'd kable visible success while iStcckbridge the business of his miftion to the good acceptance of the Inhabitants in general, both Englifli and Indians, and of the CommilTioners, who supported him honorably, and con:
sided very much in his judgment ters relating to the miflion.
and wisdom in
mat-
Stockbridge proved to Mr. Edwards a more quiet, and, on many accounts, a much more comfortable situation it being io much in one corner of than he was in before, the country his time was njt so mucli taken up with company, as it was at Northunipany tho* many of his friends, from almoin all parts of the land, often made him picafant and prulitable visits. And he had not so much concern and trouble with other churches as he was obliged to have when at Northampton by being frequently sought to for advice, and call'd to affill: in ecclcfraiiicaj councils.
Here
therefore he followed his beloved study more closely, and In these fix years he doubtto better purpose than ever. less made swifter advances in knowledge than ever before,
and added more to his Manuscripts than in any fix Years of his life.
And this was probably as useful a part of his life as any. in this time he wrote the tv o hst books that have been publii'ned by him (of which a more particular account will be given hcreatter) by which he has doubtless greatly fcrved the church of Cl iii.) and will be a bleffjiig to many thousands yet unborn.
Thus, after his uprichtncfs and
faithfulncfs
had been
kind inailcr provided for him a quiet retreat, which was rcndrcd the more fvveet by the prccceding Horm ; and whejc he had a better opportunity to purfuc and finifti the work had for
fufncienlly tried at Northampton,
him to do.
Se CTI OK
— Mr. JonathanEdwards.
Sect. made
n\s being
Jer fey College ;
P RESIT) ENT of
NewDeath. and Sickness his
Mr. Aaront
Burr Prefident of New-Jersey Co' lege died.
the next meeting of the Truikes, IVlr. Edwards was chosen his fucceftor. The news of which was quite He unexpected, and not a little furprizing to him. looked on himself in many refpe s so unqualifyed for at
that bufmefs, that he wonder'd that Gentlemen of so good judgment, and so ,well acquainted with him, as he knew
lome of the Truftecs were, lliould think of him for that He had many obje6tions in his own mind againd undertaking the buhnefs, both from his unfitness, and his place.
particular circumftarices ;
yet could
not certainly deter-
was not his duty to accept. The following extradl of a letter which he wrote to the TruAees, will give the reader a view of his sentiments and excrcifes on this occasion, as well as of the great designs he was deeply
mine
that
engaged in, and zcaloufly prosecuting. Stockbridge
I gib
OSlober IJS7*
E.evercnd and Ho}Wcd Gentlermn **T as not a httle rurprizeJ, on receiving the unexpe<5led NoI t'ce of your having made choice of me to succeed the late J* prefident Burr, as the Head of Naftau Hail -I am much
doubt vv' ether I a;n called to undertake the bufmefs, which have doiie ma the unraerlted honour to c'loose me for If some regard may be had to my outward comfort, I, might me:-':ion the many Inconveniencies and great detriment, which mufl be furtained, by my removing wita my numerous family, so from a!l the estate I have in the world (without any profpeft of disposing of it, under present circumllancss, without losing it, in great part) now when we have fcarceiy got over the troible and damiige sustained by our removal, from Noriha nptcn, and have but just begim to have our affairs in a comfort:;b'e fruation for a fubfii ence in this place ; and the ex'pcnce muit immediately be at to pat my self into circu'.'iftanci t)]er/ibly comporting with the needful support of the hanor of the office I an invited -to ; which will not well confiil The wi h my ability,—-Sut ;his i$ net my main obje ion in
chief
— The Life of the Reverend
cliicf d'fficulty in
mv mind,
in the way of accept)ng this
tant and arduous ofnce, are these two fitting
known
First
Impor-
mc for such an undertaking, many of which arc generally bjcfides oth r, which mv own heart is ccnfcious tj.<.— ;
in many iffpcfls peculiar unhappy, attended with fluci.l solids. vapid fizy and scarce Hu'ds.d: a ow 'ide of fp rits; often occnfioning a kind of ch-ldilh weakncfb and con:empf»biencfi ot fp ech presence and demeanor; w-th acifgreable oulnefj a«ul fliffnefs, much unfiting mc for corvcrfat'On, but more efpeciaily (or tlie governtnent ot a -Jolle i. Tlrs poorness of coufti'.ui.on makes me shrink at the ihou h'? of taking upon me, in the decline of li'c, lucii a new ad great bufinels, amended with fjch a multip'ieitv of c.ires, a id .-equiring such a degree of activity, alcrincfs and fpir t of government ; cfpcrirtlly as luccceding one, so rermrkaS'y we'll qualiiied in tltefe --efpefls, giving cccifiun to every one to remark the wide d(fference I a:n also deficient in fomr p' Ks of learning, p rt'cuhrly in Algebra and the higher paris c>f Matbernatickp, and in ihe Greek 'lafficks j my (jfcek learning having been chiefly ia ihs new Tef*amtRt -— Toe other thing is :his ; that mv engaging in this business, will not well confid, with tbofe vie. vs. and :!iat course of employ in my (ludy, which h.ive long engngccl. and swallowed up my mind; and been ths chief entertainai'Tt and delght of my life. And here, honored Sir, (emboldncd by the testimony, I have now received of your unmerited eftcem, to rely on your candor) I will with freedom open my self to you. My method of iludv, from my firll beginning the work cf the minilhy, has been very much by wri'ing ; app'ying mv (k i in this way, to improve everv mp' rtant iiint pursuing the clc'.v to ray utmwft. when any thing in reading meditation or convcrfati n, has been fuggcfted to my mind, iha: fecmed to promise light in any wi-ighry p;»irt >"hus penning what appeareJ to me mv heft ' thoughts, on ir.n.imerab'e fubje tts for my own benefit.
I have a conli'tution
The longer
my itud'es
in thi* method, the more more pleaiant and profitable I found rravelicJ in this way, the more ard wider the
prcf«-cu'ed
habitual it becoino, and vhe it.— The fiirihci i field opened, whlc'i
occafioncd
my Isying out many things,
mln I, to do in t'l 5 manner, if God fliculd spare my life, which my hear? hvJi been much upon : particulrirly many ihirgs aga nft raist ol the pr.v.i iirr» errors of the prcfent day. which I in my
CJr.noi with anv
panencc !e.- mainctincd (to the uticr fubvcrtirg of ihc gofpc of Lftriro wi.h so high a hand, and so long continued 2 iriM.uph. with so )i:t*e controul, when it appears so evi<lcot to ;:ic. that thcri* is tra'y no foundation for any of thJG glo.yvir.g and itifu'.i I hare alrcac y pubUHitd fomcthing on cne of
the t.iain p»:nts »n d.f utc b :t\vc::; t!jc .\r:r.inians and Calvinilb : sjxl have ic in T:e\v, God ivillirg as I have already fignififd tothr
publ 0 public) in like raanner to confider all the other controverted points,
But bcand have done much towaros a preparation for it fides (hefe, 1 ha' ehad on my mind and heart (which I lorg ago began, not with any view to publication) a great work,, whxh { caii a Uijiary of thelVork of Redtmption, a Body of Divinity in an en. ire new merhod. being thrown into the form of an hiftorv, considering the ass ir of chiiltian Theology, as the whole of it, in each part. Hands in re'ertnce to the great work of redemption by which I suppose is to be the grand dciign, of all Jcfus Chrilt God's designs, and the fummum and ultimum of all iht divine particularly cmfidering all parts of the operations and degrees grand scheme in their hillorical order. The order of their ex.ftence, or their being brought forth to view, in the course of divine dispensations, or the wonderful series of facceffive aih & events j beginning from eternity and defcendjng from thence to the grtai work and fucceillve difpenfitions of the infinitely wile God in time, considering the chief events coming to pass in the cburci of God, and revolutions in the woiild of mankind, af eding the Hate of the church and the affair of redemption, which we have account of in hiflory or prophecy ; 'till at last we come to the general Refurre ion, last Judgment, and confummition of all thing! when it (hal! be said, It is dene. lam Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. Concluding my Work, with the consideration of that perfect f ate of things, which (hall be finally settled, to lafl for eternity. This hillory will be. carried on with regard to all th ee Worlds, Heaven, Earth and HeU coniideiing the conne6led, successive events and alterations, in each so far ai the scriptures give any ight ; introducing all psrts af divinity in that order which Is moll scriptural and most natural : which is a method which appears to me the moil beau'.iful and entertainirg. wherein every divine dc6liine, will appear to greatest advantage in the brighcefl light, in the most Ut iking manner, shewing the admirable contex-ure and harmony of the whole. I have also for my own proiit and entertainment, done much towards another great work, which 1 call the Harmony of the old and ;
neav Tejiamffit in three Parts
first
considering the prophecies
of the Mefiiah, his Redemption and Kingdom ; tne Evidences of their Referrences to the Mefllah &c. comparing them all one with another, demonstrating their agreement and true fccpe and sense also considering all the various particulars wherein thefc prophecies have their exad fulfilment ; fliswing the universal, prccife, and admirable correspondence between predi6\ions and events. The second Part Coi si lerin the Types of the old testament, (h 'wing the evidence of their being intended as reprcfentationi of the great things of the gofp l of Christ anvl the agree nent of the type w.th the antitype. The third and great Part, considering the harmony of the old and new tefiament, as to doariA and pr cepi,*—— In the course of thi» woik, J find chcrc ;
Tbs Life
of the Reverend
will be occasion for an CA'pIanation of a very great part of the holy scripture ; which may, in such a view be explained in a method, which to inefeems the most enlertairing and prcfi'able, bcft tending to lead the mind ;o a view of the trucfpirit, design,
and foui cf the fcripturec.as weil as to their prcper ufc and jmprovement. 1 have also m?ry ether things in hand, jn ferns cS which I have made great progress, which I will net t;oub!c ycirwith an accountof ---Some of ihefe things, if divine providence favour I fliouid be willing to atrcinpt a publication of —— So far as J my life
am able to juc ge of whp.t talents 1 have, for benefiting ray fellow creatures by word, I think I can wri'.c better than I can fclf
fpcak.
My heart is so much in these studies, that I cannot find it in my heart to be wiling to pat my self into an incapacity to purfje them any more, in the future part of my life, to such a degree as I mjft, if[ undertake to go thro' tho same course of cmploy, in the cfiice of a Prcfidenr, that Mr. i7z/rr, did, inHrudlirg in all the iargunges, and taking the whole care of the inlbufti n ts one of the Llafi-s in all parts of learning, btfidcs his oth r labours Jf I fliould see light to determine mc to ac ept the place offered me, I should be willirg to take upon me the work of a Prelident, so far as it consists in the gcncrnl infptdion of the whole fcciety and fubfervicnt to the school, as to their order
and methods of fludy and inilrnftion, afiifling my self in im* mediaie inflruftion in the arts and fcicrccs (as dTcretion Diould diicd and cccaficn serve, and the fia-e of things require) cfpecially the senior class and added to all (hould be willing to do the whole woik of a profcftor of divinity, in publick and private lc(flure5, proposing quclbors to be cnfwcrcd. and some to be difcuflcd in writing ard free converfaiion, in meetings of graduates and others, appointed in proper seasons for these cncr.-Jt would be now out of my way, to fpcrd time, in a ccnflant teaching of the languages unless it be the hcb.cw lorgtie, whxh I should be willing to improve my self in, by inilrutling :
others.
On the whole, I am much at a cf my duty in this important affair
with refpe fl to the way am in doubt, whether if I
fhoi'ld engage in it, I fliould not do what both you and I fhoald be ferry for aftcr%\ards. Nevcrthclcfs, 1 thir.k the grcatncfs of the fiffat. and the regard due to so woiihy and venerable a body. .IS that of the 'IViAks of NnjJ'au Hal!, requires my taking the matter into fcrious cwfideraiion ; And unless you fliould appear to be ciifcoi: raged, by the things which I have now reprefcnted, as to any fuith<fr expectation from me, (hall proceed to sfk advice, of fjch a? ciicein mol wife, friendly and faithful if after the mitjd cf the C ommifliorcrs in Uojlon is known, it appears that they consent to Itavcme at liberty, with rcfpcil to the I
bufincls ihcy have
employed mc in here.
Mr. Jonathan
In this fiifpcnce he determined
number of gentJemen in he
to ask the advice of a the miniftry, on whose judgment
friendship
Who upen his, and his
could rely,
people's
according-
desire,
And having heard Mr. 758. Edwards's rcprefcntation of the matter, and what his StHkbridgey
January
people had to say by way of objedion againll his removal, determined it was his duty to accept of the invitation to the prefulency of the College. they publiflied their judgment and advice to Mr. Edwards and his people, he appear'd uncommonly mov*d and affecfted with it, and tell into tears on the occasion ; which was very unusual for him, in the presence of others : and soon after said to the gentlemen, who had given thd*v< advice, that it wss matter of wonder to him, that th y could so easily, as they appear'd to do, get over the objecSlions he had made against his removal, to be the head of a college ; which appear'd great and weighty to him.
When
But as he thought it
his duty to be direc ied by their adhe fliould now endeavour chearfully to undertake it, b Ueving he was in the way of his duty.
vice,
Accordingly, having had, by the application of the Trustees of the College, the consent of the Commiflioners to resign their milfion ; he girded up his loins, and set oft for Prince-TQivn in January, He left his family at StockbridgeyUot to be removed till Spring. He had two daughters at Prince- town Mrs. Burr, the Widow oi' the late Prefident Burr, and his oldeil daughter that was
from HtQckridge
unmarried.
His arrival at Prince-town was to the great fatisfa(5 ion and joy of the college. And indeed all the greatest friends to the college, and to the intcreft of religion, were highly fiiiisfied and plcas'd with the appointment of Mr. Edward. to the Presidency of that College, and had their hopes and greatly raised hereby. And his correspondents and friends, and well-wilhers to the College in Sa iland greatly approved of it. pxpCv' iations
Ths Corporation met as soon as could be with convenlency, after his arrival at the College, when he was by <hem t;xed ia the preiidenfs chair. While of the Reverend
While at Prlme-icwn before his sickness, he preachd in the ColUgc-hall from Sabbath to Sabbath, to the gieat acctptance of the hearers but did notliinji as prefidenr, un'els it was to give out some quefiions in diviniiy to the senior class, to be ai:!rwered befoie him ; each ont liaving :
opportunity to (ludy and write wliat lietliought proper upon them. When they came together to anlwcr them, they found so much entertainment and prcfat by it, especially
by the light and inflri:<5\ion Mr. Edwards communicated in what he said upon the qutftions, \\hen tliey liad deliver'd v,hat tlit-y had to say, tl.at they spoke oi it with the greatcft satisfaction and wonder.
During this time, Mr. Edwards seem'd to enjoy an uncommon degree o{ the presence of GOD. He told his
daughters, he had had great exercise, concern and tear, reliis engaging in tliat bufmels ; but fmce it now appeared, so far as he could see, that he was cali'd of God to that place arid work, he did chc-erfully devote iumfelf to it. leaving himfelt and the evcm with God, to order what leemed to iLm good. lative to
Tfie Small- pox had now become very common in the country, and was then at Prince-hivn and likely to fprcad. And as Mr. Edwards had never had it, and Inoculation was then praxftifed with grtat success in thofe parts, hepropofed to be inoculated, it the ph\fician fliculd advile to it, and tlie corporation would give their ccnfcnr. Accordingly, by the advifc of the ph\fician, and consent ofilie corporiition, l)cwas inoculated Fdrumy 13, He had it lavourably, and it was thought all danger was over : But a secondary tever fct in ; and by reason of a number of puliles in liis tliroat, the cbfiru licn was such, that the medicines neceflary to llench the fever, could not be adminilier'd. It ihtrtrote raged till it put an end so his life on the 22d of AJarJj i;-, . in the 55ih Year of his Age.
After he was fenfillc that he fbould not survive that fickncls,
a htilc bciore his death, he caiKd his dauthhim, who attcj»df d him in his f.ckncfs,and addrcfs'd lieV in a tew woidj, which were immediately takci i\n\\\\ ill writing, as luar as cculd be rc\;oilciSt«d> acd a c
tcr to
Jon ATH AN Edwards.
Dear Lucy, it seems to mc to be the will of GOD
thai I must Ihortly leave you ; therefore give my kmdeft love to my dear v 'ife, and tell her, that the uncommon
union,which has so long subsisted between us,has been of such a naturc,as I trust is spiritual,and therefore will con*« tinue forever : And I hope (he (hall be supported under " so great a trial, & submit cheerfully to the will Of GOD. *' And as to'my children, You are now like to be left father" less, which 1 hope will be an inducement to you all to seek " a Father, who will never fail you. And as to my fune" ral, I would have it to be like Mr. Burr's 5 and any " additional fum of money that might be expe(5ted to be * laid out that way, I would have it difpos'd of to cha*'
ritable uses."*
He fa id but very little in his (icknefs ; but was an admirable instance of patience and resignation to the last. Just at the close of his life, as some persons, whoftood by, and expeded he would breath his last in a few minutes, were lamenting his death not only as a great frown on the college, but as having a dark afpe6t on the interest of religion in general ; to their surprize, not imagining that he beard,or would ever speak another word,he said,
"TRUST
IN GOD,
AND YE NEED NOT FEAR."
were his last words. table to the occasion is as
much matter of inftrudion and support,
wrote a volume.
These
And what could have been more fuiand what need of more In these as if he had
This is the only consolation
to his be-
reaved
* Prefident
Burr crdcr'd on his death bed, that his funeral ihould not be attended with that pomp and cost, by procuring
and giving away a great number of costly mourning scarfs &c, and the consumption of a great quantities of fpiriteus liquors s which is an extravagance that is become too cuftomaiy in thofe parts especially at the funerals of the great and tha rich and that nothing ftiould be expended, but what was :
agreeable to the diftates of christian decency. And tha: the fum which must be expended at a modijh funeral, over and abore the necessary coll of a tUctnt one, ihould be given to the poor, out of his eft ate. It is to be wilhed and hoped,that the laudable example of these
two worth yprefidents, in which they bear their dying tefti-
mony against a prafticc so unchristian, and of such bad tendency so m ny ways, will have foroe gQpd css ft, rcaved friends, who are sensible of the loss they,
church of Christ have sustain*d in his death j
and the is
ali-
fuffictenty andjlill has the care of his church.
Hi appcar'd to have the uninterrupted use of his reason to the last, and died with as much calnnnefs and composure,
to all appearance,
as that
with which one goes to
flecp.
The physician who inoculated and conAantly attended him in his sickness, has the following words in his let" Never did any ter to Mrs. Edwards on this occasion ** mortal man more fully and clearly evidence the since:
rity of all his profeltionsjby one continue d,univeifal, calm,
cheerful resignation and patient fubmiflion to the divine will, thro' every stage of his disease, than he. Not so
much as one discontented cxpreiTion, nor the least appearancc of murmuring through the whole. And ne»vcr did any person expire with more perse(5l freedom from parn not so much as one distorted hair, but in the most proper sense of the words, he really fell alleep. :
Part
Containingan Account of his Manuscripts, and the Books pubhfhed by him.
Section His
Manuscripts.
MR. Edwards
has left a great m: ny Volumes in manufcripr, which he wrore in a mifccllaneous way on almoin all fubjc s in divinity ; which he did,
npfwith any dcfjgn they (hould ever be publiflied ia the form in which they are
but, for the fatisfaaicn ami im; i/nprcvcment of li»s own mind, and that he 'might retain the thoughts, which appcar'd to him worth preserving. Some idea of the progrcf: he had made, and the materials h« had collc ed in this way, he gives in the forcgom* let-
NATHAN
ter to the Truftecs of Najpiu-Hally f
He has wrote much
on the prophecies of the Messiah, Justification, the Divinity of Chrid;, and the eternity of Hell Torments. He wrote a great deal on the Bible, in the same way, by opening his thoughts on particular passages of it, as they occur'd to him in reading or meditation j by which he has cast much light on many parts of the bible, which has efand by which his great and caped other interpreters. painful attention to the Bible, and making it the onlyTule of his faith, are manifest. If the publick was willing to be at the cost,
and pub-
lifhing books of divinity met with as much encouragement
n6w,'as it has fohietimes, "there'trilglrr be a rtumber of verJumes publiihed from his manuscripts, which would afford a great deal of new light and entertainment to the church of Christ tho' they would be more imperfe<5t, than if he himself had prepared them for publick view. :
As the method he took to have his miscellaneous writings in such order, as to be able with ease to turn to any thing lie '.ad wrote upon a particular fubje V, when he had occasion, is perhaps as good as any,if not the best that has been proposed to the publick ; some account of it will here be given, as what may be of advantage to young students, who have not yet gvone into any method, and are disposed to improve their minds by writing.
He numbered all his miscellaneous writings. The first thing he wrote is No. i. the second No. 2. and so on; And when he had occasion to write on any particular fubjed, he first set down the Number, and then wrote the Subject in capitals or large chara6ter, that it might not escape his eye, when he Ihould have occasion to turn to iti As for inHance, if he was goins; to write on the happiness of Angels, and his lait No. was 148, he would begin thus— And when he had I4q. ANGELS, their Happiness. wrote what he design'd at that time on that fubje6t,he would turn to an alphabetical table which he kept, and under the letter A, he would wrif.e, Angels, their happiness, if this was not already in his alpliabet ; and then set dov\n the if he had Number, 149, close at the right hand of ir. occasion to write any new thoughts on this'fime subject ; he Life 9/ the Rivercnd
Number of his mifccllanies was incrcafcd, so thtit Number was 161, he would fct down the Number 262, and then the fubjcdt, as before. And when he had if the
last
done writing for that time, he turn'd to his table, to th« word Angels ; and at the right hand of the Number 14.9, set down 162. By this means he had nooccafion to leave iny chasms ; but began his next fubjedt where he left off his Jaft. The number of his mifcellancous writings rang'd in this manner, amounts to above 1400. And yet by a table contained on a (hect or two of paper, any thing he vrrotc can be turned to, at pleafurc.
Sect. II. His Publications. Edwards MR.AUTHOR,
was greatly esteemed and fam*d as an both in Europe and America. His
publications naturally raised in the reader of taste
and judgment, an opinion of his greatness and piety. His books met with a good reception in Scotland efpeciajly, and procured him great esteem and applause there. A gentleman of note there for his superior genius and talents, has llie following words concerning Mr. Ed"WARDS, in a letter to one of his correspondents in Ame* I Jook'd on him as incomparably the greatest rica. *' divine and philosopher in Britain or her Colonies and j *
rejoiced that one so eminently quallticd for reaching divinity was chosen Prefidentof Ncw-Jersey College." And
in another letter the same gentleman says,
** Ever since I was acquainted with Mr. Edwards's writings, 1 have ** look'd upon him as the greaieft divine this age has pro*' duced. And a rev. gentleman lately from Holland, says, That Mr. Edwards's writings, especially on the Frejf«* dom of the tVill were had in great erteem there that «' the profcftors of the celebrated academy, prefentcd their * compliments to President EDWARDS. Several *' members of the Claftis of Amsterdam gave their thanks, * by him, to pious Mr. Edwards, for huguft obfervati* ons on Mr, Braintrd'i life which book was tranllatcd ; «* in Holland, and was highly approved «f bv the Univcr-
" fityof Uirea— ."