A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections

WITI£

EXTFJACTS FROM HIS DIARY, AND OTHER PRIVATE

WRITINGS;

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TOGETHER WITH HIS OWrf

‘”ACCOUNT OF HIS CONVERSION.

Mr. Jonathan Edwards was born on the 5th of October, 1703, at Windsor, in the state of Connecticut, North America. His father was minister of that place almost sixty years: he was descended from Mr. Richard Edwards, minister of the gospel in London, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, by whom it seems, his wife was employed for some part of her royal attire. In short, by his lineage it appears, that his ancestors came from the west of England, and allied themselves, upon their emigration, to some of the best families in the new country, whither they came.

Our author was entered at Yale College in 1716, and was made Bachelor of Arts in 1720, before he was seventeen years of age. His mental powers opened themselves so early and so strongly, that he read Locke’s Essay upon Human Understanding with delight, in his second year at this college, when other boys usually amuse themselves with Robinson Crusoe, or books of romance and amusement. He discovered thus early an uncommon depth, solidity, and penetration of mind, which found nothing so pleasant to itself, as the exercise of its own powers.

He lived at College nearly two years after taking his first degree, preparing himself, principally, for the sacred function. After passing the usual trials, he was licensed.

In August, 1722, he received a call to preach to the English presbjierians at New- York, where he continued with approbation above eight months. This society was then too small to maintain a minister; and therefore, in the spring of the year 1723, he returned to his father’s house in Connecticut, where during the following summer, he followed his studies with the closest applica-VI LIFE OF EDWARDS.

tion. It appears, however, that he had a deep sense of his christian and ministerial profession upon his mind, during his abode at New- York; that the people he watched over became very dear to him; and that he left them at last with great regret.

In the spring of the year 1724, having taken his master’s degree in the year before, he was chosen tutor of Yale College; and he followed this duty above two years. It must be owned, that this was an engagement of great consequence for a young man of twenty -one, who, by his early introduction to the ministry and other avocations, could not have found too many opportunities for his own improvement: but the strength of his mind overcame what are usually insufferable difficulties in the way of the generality.

In September, 1726, he resigned his tutorship, in consequence of the invitation of the people at Northampton, in (^tawMs«<#eu<^ for assistance to his mother’s father, Mr. Stoddard, who Was the settled minister of the town. He was ordained colleague on the 15th of February, 1727, in the 24th year of his age, and continued in the ministerial service there, till the 22d June, 1750; when he was dismissed.!

Thus ended his service of near four-and-twenty years for a people, who had been much upon his heart, and for whom he had always expressed a very tender concern. “For their good he was always writing, contriving, labouring; for them he had poured out ten thousand fervent prayers; and in their welfare he had rejoiced as one that findeth great spoil.” Yet all their bad conduct did not alter the frame of his mind. “His calmness and sedateness, his meekness and humility under the most injurious treatment, his resolution and conduct in the whole affair, were truly wonderful, and can not be set in so beautiful and affecting a light by any description, as they appeared in to his friends, who were eye-witnesses.”

Mr. Edwards, who was able to shine in the seats of learning, and some time after was called to preside over one, was now delegated to the instruction of savage Indians at Stockbridge. This place is in the western part of Massachusetts Bay, and about sixty miles from Mr. Edwards’s former residence at Northampton. He was fixed here on the 8th of August, 1751; and here he continued his labours, in more peace and quietness than he had ever known before for six years. In this interval, old as he was, he made greater attainments in knowledge, and wrote more for the

fThe circumstances which led to the dismissal of Mr. Edwards, are detailed in the Biogiaphia Evangelica; and his conduct is there represented in a truly blameless and amiable light.

church of God, than he had ever been able to do, within the same space of time, during the former part of his life. In this retirement, he composed his deepest and most valuable works; so that when, in his own judgment, as well as in that of others, his usefulness seemed to be cut off, he found greater opportunities of more lasting service than ever. A pleasing calm, after so grievous a storm, to his placid mind!

On the death of Mr. Aaron Burr, president of New-Jersey College, which was on the 24th of September, 1757, the trustees of that seminary did themselves the honour of choosing Mr. Edwards to succeed him. As this was unsolicited and unexpected, it does great credit to both sides. But our excellent author was so far from desiring this preferment, that it was with difficulty he could be prevailed on to accept it: modestly and unaffectedly alledging his own insufficiency, ill health, and disuse to that kind ot life. At length, upon the arguments and persuasions of his brethren in the ministry, he did accept of this presidency, and went from Stockbridge to Princeton, in January, 1758. But, alas! the end of his labours on earth was approaching. He had only preached two or three sermons, not having entered fully upon the duties of his new office, before he was called to a higher place and to a better service. The small-pox, which had always been unusually fatal in America, had infected Princeton, which induced the physician of the place to advise him to be inoculated, with the consent of the corporation. Accordingly he was inoculated, on the 1 3th of February, and his disorder at first seemed to be favourable; but a fever coming on, and the pustules lying much in his throat, no proper medicines could be administered, and therefore the violence of it raged, till it put an end to his mortal life, on the 32d of March, 1758, in the fifty-fifth year of his age.

When he was sensible that death was approaching, he called his daughter (who was the only part of his family which had yet removed with him,) and addressed her in the following words: “Dear Lucy, it seems to me to be the will of God, that I must shortly leave you: therefore, give my kindest love to my dear wife, and tell her, that the uncommon union which has so long subsisted between us, has been of such a nature, as I trust is spiritual, and therefore will continue for ever. I hope she will be supported under so great a trial, and submit cheerfully to the will of God. And as to my children, you are now like to be left fatherless, which I hope will be an inducement to you to seek a Father, who will never fail you.” He desired that his funeral might be attended with no parade (as is usual in America,) but rather something be given to the poor. He could say but little in his

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