A Brief Account of the Book and Its Author
AS the Revelation author of the following Piece has been removed by death, before its coming into public View, Custom has made it decent to introduce it with a prefatory Page.
The Copy he brought to the Press sometime the last Year, and a Number of Sheets passed his own Review. But a Variety of Incidents retarded finishing the work till now.—It is hoped, no material Mistakes of the Printer have escaped correction, besides what are noticed in the Table of Errata.
They that were acquainted with the author, or know his just Character, & have any Taste for the serious Theme, will want Nothing to be said in Recommendation of the ensuing Tract, but only that Mr. EDWARDS wrote it.
Several valuable Pieces on this subject have lately been published, upon the same Side of the question. But he had no Notice of so much as the very first of them, till he had wholly concluded what he had in View: nor has it been thought, any Thing already printed should supersede this work of his; being designed on a more extensive plan; comprising a Variety of arguments, and answers to many objections, that fell not in the way of the other worthy writers; and the Whole done with a Care of familiar method and Language, as well as clear Reasoning, in general accommodated very much to common Capacities.
It must be a sensible pleasure to every Friend of truth, that so masterly a Hand undertook a Reply to Dr. TAYLOR; notwithstanding the various answers already given him, both at home and abroad.—And should the said Dr. or any other in his behalf, attempt to vindicate his book, though our author being dead, this his work will have the Disadvantage of wanting his Pen to defend it, yet it is not doubted but other sufficient Hands will be found to engage in the cause, & support labouring truth.
As it has been thought unfit, this Posthumous book should go unattended with a respectful Memorial of the author, it is hoped, the reader will candidly accept the following Minutes of his life and Character; chiefly extracted from Accounts given of him in the public Prints, upon Occasion of his Decease.
Mr. EDWARDS was the only Son of the late Revelation Mr. TIMOTHY EDWARDS, long a faithful Pastor of a church in Winsor, in Connecticut; who (together with his Wife, our author's pious Mother) was living, in a very advanced Age, till a-little before the death of this his excellent Son, who had for many Years been his Parents joy and Crown.
He had his Education in YALE COLLEGE.—At the Age of about Eighteen, commenced Batchelor of Arts, Anno 1720.—Afterwards resided at College for some Time, pursuing his Studies with [〈◊〉] laudable diligence.—Took the degree of Master, at the usual Time: and for a while served the College in the Station of a Tutor.
He soon entered into the ministry, and was settled at Northampton, in Massachusetts, as Colleague with his aged Grandfather, the Revelation and famous Mr. SOLOMON STODDARD; with whom, indeed, as a S[•]n with the father, he served in the gospel, till death divided them.—There he continued his Labours for many Years, in high Esteem at home, as well as abroad; till uncomfortable Debates arising about a right to sacraments, and after his best Attempts finding no rational Prospect of any safe and speedy Issue of them, he at length amicably resign'd his Pastoral relation, and had an honourable Quietus, Anno 1750.
Soon after this, there being a Vacancy in the Mission at Stockbridge, by the death of the Revelation and learned Mr. JOHN SERGEANT, the Board of Commissioners at Boston, who act under the Society in London, for propagating the gospel among the Indians in and about New-England, turned their Eyes to Mr. EDWARDS, for a Supply of that Mission. And upon their unanimous Invitation, in Concurrence with the Call of the church (consisting of Indians and English) at Stockbridge, he removed thither, and was regularly re-instated in the Pastoral Office.
He continued his ministry there, until on Occasion of the death of his worthy Son-in-law, the Revelation and Learned Mr. AARON BURR, who had succeeded the Revelation and Learned Mr JONATHAN DICKINSON (so memorable as an author) in the Station of President of the College of NEW-JERSEY, he was by the Hon. and Revelation TRUSTEES of that Society chosen to be his Successor. The Commissioners at Boston having received a Motion from them for his Translation, did in Deference to the judgment of so respectable a body, as well as from an Esteem for Mr. EDWARDS, and a View to his more extensive Usefulness, generously consent to his Removal: and the venerable Council, to whom he finally refer'd himself for Advice on this important Occasion, giving their unanimous Opinion for the Clearness of his Call to the President's Place, he at Length (thô with much Reluctance and Self-diffidence) relinquished his Pastoral Charge and Ministerial Mission at Stockbridge, and removed to Prince-Town in New-Jersey, where NASSAU-HALL stands, lately erected.
But that fatal Distemper, the Small-pox, which has in former Days been so much the Scourge and terror of AMERICA, breaking out, in or near the College, about that Time, and Inoculation being favoured with great Success, Mr. EDWARDS, upon mature Thought and Consultation, judged it advisable to go into this method. Accordingly he was inoculated on the 23d of February 1758. And thô his Disease was comparatively light, the Pock of a milder sort, and few, yet such a Number happened to be seated in his Throat and Mouth, as prevented his receiving the necessary cooling and diluting Draughts; and so, upon the Turn of the Pock, a secondary Fever came on, which prevailed to the putting an END (on March 22d) to the important life of this good & great Man.—As be lived chearfully resigned in all Things to the will of heaven, so he died, or rather, as the scripture emphatically expresses it, in relation to the saint in Christ Jesus, he fell asleep, without the least Appearance of Pain, & with great Calm of mind. Indeed, when he first perceived the Symptoms upon him to be mortal, he is said to have been a-little perplexed for a while, about the meaning of this mysterious Conduct of providence, in calling him out from his beloved Privacy, to a public Scene of action and Influence; and then so suddenly, just upon his Entrance into it, translating him from thence, in such a way, by Mortality! However, he quickly got believing and composing Views of the wisdom and goodness of God in this surprising Event: and readily yielded to the sovereign Disposal of heaven, with the most placid submission. Amidst the joy of faith, he departed this world, to go and see JESUS, whom his soul loved; to be with him, to behold his glory, and rejoyce in his kingdom above.
But he left a bereaved Family (his beloved and amiable Spouse, with Ten desirable Children ) and a bereaved young Seminary of Learning, to sit in the Dust, and mourn the unspeakable, yea, in some obvious Respects, irreparable Loss, of a most affectionate, wise and faithful head! And this, in a Season of general Calamity, and threatning Danger to church and state. Oh, when a holy God takes away such righteous persons, such invaluable Jewels, in repeated instances and in quick Succession, from our guilty Land and Nation, and that in the Beginning of a dark gathering Temp, big with the Fate of nations, surely it is an awful Omen, claiming our serious Attention and Regard.—May we not justly lament over this excellent Man, in Language like that of David over his Royal father, & his Brother JONATHAN; "Oh, the BEAUTY of Israel is slain"!—Or, as he mourn'd over a brave Warriour, "Know ye not, that a GREAT Man is fallen this Day in Israel!" Or, 'in the pensive Strains of Elisha, lamenting after Elijah, that eminent prophet, and head of the Schools, as he saw him ascending from earth to heaven; "My father, my father, the CHARIOTS of Israel, and the HORSE MEN thereof!"
Though, by the preceeding Account of Mr. EDWARDS, the reader may form a general Idea of his Character; yet doubtless a more particular description will be expected.
In person, he was tall of Stature, and of a slender Make.—There was something extreme delicate in his Constitution; which always obliged him to the exact Observation of the rules of temperance, and every method of cautious and prudent living. He experienced very signally the benefit hereof, as by such means he was helped to go through incessant Labours, and to bear up under much Study, which, Solomon observes, is a Weariness to the Flesh.—Perhaps, never was a Man more constantly retired from the world; giving himself to Reading, and Contemplation. And a Wonder it was, that his feeble Frame could subsist under such Fatigues, daily repeated and so long continued. Yet upon Occasion of some Remark upon it by a Friend, which was only a few Months before his death, he told him, "He did not find but he was then as well able to bear the closest Study, as he was 30 Years before; and could go through the Exercises of the Pulpit with as little Weariness or Difficulty."—In his Youth, he appeared healthy, and with a good degree of Vivacity; but was never robust.—In middle life, he appeared very much emaciated (I had almost said, mortified) by severe Studies, and intense Applications of Thought.—Hence his Voice was a-little languid, and too low for a large Assembly; though much relieved and advantaged by a proper Emphasis, just Cadence, well-placed Pauses, and great Distinctness in Pronunciation.—He had a piercing Eye, the truest Index of the mind.—His Aspect and Mein had a Mixture of Severity and Pleasancy. He had a natural Turn for Gravity and Sedateness; ever contemplative; and in Conversation usually reserved, but always observant of a genuine Decorum, in his Deportment [•] free from sullen, supercilious and contemptuous Airs, and without any Appearance of Ostentation, Levity, or Vanity.—As to Imagination, he had Enough of it for a great and good Man: but the Gaieties of a luxuriant Fancy, so captivating to many, were what he neither affected himself, nor was much delighted with in others.—He had a natural Steadiness of Temper, and Fortitude of mind; which, being sanctified by the Spirit of God, was ever of vast Advantage to him, to carry him through difficult Services, and support him under trying Afflictions, in the Course of his life.—Personal Injuries he bore with a becoming meekness and patience, and a Disposition to forgiveness.—The humility, modesty, and Serenity of his behavior, much endeared him to his Acquaintance; and made him appear amiable in the Eyes of such as had the privilege of conversing with him.—He was a true and faithful Friend; and shewed much of a disinterested Benevolence to his neighbor.—The several relations sustained by him, he adorned with an exemplary Conduct; and was solicitous to fill every Station with its proper duty.—He kept up an extensive Correspondence, with ministers and others, in various parts; and his letters always contained some significant and valuable Communications.—In his private Walk, as a Christian, he appeared an example of truly rational, consistent, uniform religion and Virtue: a shining instance of the power and Efficacy of that holy faith, which he was so firmly attached to, and so strenuous a Defender of. He exhibited much of spirituality, and a heavenly Bent of soul. In him one saw the loveli Appearance,—a rare Assemblage of Christian Graces, united with the richest Gifts, and mutually subserving and recommending one another.
As a scholar, his intellectual Furniture exceeded what is common, under the Disadvantages we labor of in this remote Corner of the world. He very early discovered a Genius, above the ordinary Size: which gradually ripened and expanded, by daily Exertment and application. He was remarkable for the Penetration and Extent of his understanding, for his powers of Criticism and accurate distinction, Quickness of Thought, Solidity of judgment, and Force of Reasoning; which made him an acute and strong Disputant. By nature he was formed for a Logician, and a Metaphysician; but by Speculation, Observation, and Converse, greatly improved. He had a good Insight into the whole Circle of liberal Arts and Sciences: possessed a very valuable Stock of Classick Learning, Philosophy, Mathematicks, History, Chronology, &c. By the blessing of God on his indefatigable Studiousness, to the last, he was constantly treasuring up useful knowledge, both human and divine.
Thus he appears uncommonly accomplished for the arduous and momentous Province, to which he was finally called. And had heaven indulged us with the Continuance of his precious life, we [••]ve reason to think, he would have graced his new Station, and been a signal blessing to the College, and therein extensively served his Generation, according to the will of God.
After all, it must be owned, Divinity was his FavoriteStudy; and the ministry, his most delightful Employment. Among the Luminaries of the church, in these American Regions, he was justly reputed a Star of the first Magnitude. Throughly versed in all the Branches of Theology, didactic, polemic, casuistic, experimental, and practical. In point of divine knowledge and Skill, had few Equals, and perhaps no Superiour, at least in these foreign parts. On the matur Examination of the different Schemes of principles, obtaining in the world,& on comparing them with the sacred scriptures, the Oracles of God, & the great standard of truth, he was a protestant & a calvinist in judgment; adhering to the main Articles of the reformed religion with an unshaken Firmness, and with a fervent Zeal, but tempered with charity & Cand[••]r, and governed by Discretion. He seemed as little as most Men under the Bias of Education, or the Possession of Bigotry.—As to practical & vital Christianity, no Man appeared to have a better Acquaintance with its nature & Importance; or to understand true religion, & feel it's power, more than he: which made him an excellently fit Guide to inquiring souls, and qualify'd him to guard them against all false religion. His internal sense of the Intercourse between God and souls, being brought by him to the severe Test of reason and Revelation, preserved him, both in Sentiment & Conduct, from the least Tincture of Enthusiasm.—The accomplished Divine enters deep into his Character.
As a Preacher, he was judicious, solid, and instructive. Seldom was he known to bring controversy into the Pulpit; or to handle any subject in the nicer modes & Forms of scholastic Dissertation. His sermons, in general, seemed exceedingly to vary from his controversial Compositions. In his preaching, usually all was plain, familiar, sententious, practical; and very distant from any Affectation of appearing the great Man, or displaying his extraordinary Abilities as a scholar. But still he ever preserved the Character of a skilful and thorough Divine. The common Themes of his ministry were the most weighty and profitable; and in special, the great Truths of the gospel of Christ, on which he himself lived by faith. His method in preaching was, first to apply to the understanding and judgment, labouring to enlighten and convince them; and then to persuade the will, engage the affections, & excite the active powers of the soul.—His Language was with Propriety and purity, but with a noble Negligence; nothing ornamented. Florid Diction was not the Beauty he preferred. His Talents were of a superiour kind. He regarded Thoughts, rather than words. Precision of Sentiment and Clearness of Expression are the principal Characteristicks of his Pulpit-Stile. Neither quick nor slow of Speech, there was a certain Pathos in his Utterance, and such Skill of Address, as seldom failed to draw the Attention, warm the hearts, and stimulate the Consciences of the Auditory. He studied to shew himself approved unto God, a Workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.—And he was one that gave himself to prayer, as well as to the ministry of the word. Agreably it pleased God to put great honor upon him, by crowning his Labours with surprising Successes, in the conversion of sinners, & the Edification of saints, to the Advancement of the kingdom and glory of God our savior Jesus Christ.
Mr. EDWARDS distinguished himself as a writer, especially in controversy, which he was called to on a Variety of Occasions. Here the Superiority of his Genius eminently appeared. He knew to arrange his Ideas in an exact method: and close application of mind, with the uncommon strength of his intellectual powers, enabled him in a Manner to exhaust every subject he took under consideration. He diligently employed the latter part of his life in defending Christianity, both in its doctrinal and practical Views, against the Errors of the Times. Besides his excellent Writings in Behalf of the power of Godliness, which some Years ago happily prevailed in many parts of the British America; he also made a noble Stand against Enthusiasm & false religion, when it threatned to spread, by his incomparable treatise upon religious affections. And more lately in Opposition to Pelagian, arminian, and other false principles, he published a very elaborate treatise upon the Liberty of the human will. A volume, that has procured him the Elogy of eminent Divines abroad. Several Professors of Divinity in the Dutch Universities very lately sent him their Thanks, for the assistance he had given them in their inquiry into some controverted points; having carried his own further than any author they had ever seen.—And now this volume of his, on the great Christian doctrine of Original sin, is presented to public View. Which, thô studiously adapted to lower Capacities, yet carries in it the evident Traces of his great Genius, and seems with superiour Force of argument to have intirely baffled the Opponent.
Besides numerous other fair Manuscripts, he has a volume on the NATURE of VIRTUE; which he designed should follow the present one into the public light. It is hoped, that we shall yet see it; and that they who have the Care of his Papers, will consult the common benefit, by publishing more of the valuable Remains of this great Man: by which, he being dead, may still speak, for the Instruction of Survivors.
His Writings will perpetuate his Memory, and make his name blossom in the Dust. And the blessing of heaven attending the Perusal of them, will make them effectually conducive to the glory of God, and the Good of souls; which will brighten the author's Crown, and add to his joy, in the Day of future Retribution.
In fine, the candid reader will excuse the Imperfections in this Sketch of a Character and Account of the deceased Man of God. It is hoped, some good Hand will give us the Memoirs of his LIFE at large, and do greater justice to his merits.
Some Lines in verse, published on Occasion of his death, deserve a Place here.
Great EDWARDS dead! how doleful is the Sound? How vast the Stroke! how piercing is the Wound? heaven now impatient of our num'rous Crimes, Scourges the bold Rebellion of the Times: The fatal Messenger, commission'd first To bring the learn'd and pious BURR to Dust, Scarce gave us Leave to dry our weeping Eyes, And bid the Dawn of glimm'ring Hopes arise, When lo! with dreadful Aim and pointed Dart, The Arrow flies, and pierces EDWARDS' heart. Oh painful Stroke! distressing Hand of death! No vulgar Mortal then resign'd his Breath; Nor can the Muse in deepest Numbers tell, "How Zion trembled, when this Pillar fell. "Sure nature's self, with all her ample Store, "Can furnish such a Pomp for death no more!
