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with more effect, and is itself a neverceasing impulse to their exertion. A good man, therefore, is actually greater than he would be if not good; and a truly great man, never appears so great as when employed in doing good. We have often seen a weak, vacillating character, after his conversion, immediately assume an independence of thought, a decision in action, and a dignity of character, to which he was before a stranger. A new spring and a new direction are given to his activity, and his future life exhibits efforts and effects, which could not have been anticipated. We cannot believe that President Edwards would have exerted his talents in such a manner as to raise him to that eminence among authors, which he now holds, if they had not been sincerely, and wholly, and ardently devoted to the service of his Maker. He would not have appeared equally great, if he had possessed a less degree of holiness, and we are interested in tracing the wonderful effects of his powers back to the spring of his exertions, to those active, operative principles, whose unceasing energy has raised a monument both of his abilities and piety, more lasting than the pyramids of Egypt, and more honourable than statues of brass and marble.

Mr. Edwards' first exercises of piety are thus described by himself:

"I had a variety of concerns and exercises about my soul from childhood; but had two more remarkable seasons of awakening, before I met with that change by which I was brought to those new dispositions, and that new sense of things, that I have since had. The first time was when I was a boy, some years before I went to college, at a time of remarkable awakening in my father's congregation. I was then very much affected for many months, and concerned about the things of religion, and my soul's salvation; and was abundant in duties. I used to pray five times a day in secret, and to spend much time in religious talk with other boys; and used to meet with them to pray together. I experienced I knew not what kind of delight in religion. My mind was much engaged in it, and had much self righteous pleasure; and it was my delight to abound in religious duties.

But in process of time, my convictions and affections wore off; and I entirely lost all those affections and delights and left off secret prayer, at least as to any constant performance of it; and returned like a dog to his vomit, and went on in the ways of sin.-Vol. I. pp. 31, 32.

"From my childhood up, my mind bas been full of objections against the doctrine he would to eternal life, and rejecting of God's sovereignty, in choosing whom whom he pleased; leaving them eternally to perish, and be everlastingly tormented in bell. It used to appear like a horrible doctrine to me. But I remember the time very well, when I seemed to be convinced and fully satisfied, as to this sovereignty of God, and his justice in thus eternally disposing of men, according to his sovereign pleasure. But never could give an account, how, or by what means, I was thus convinced, not in the least imagining at the time, nor a long time after, that there was any extraordinary influence of God's Spirit in it; but only that now ! saw further, and my reason apprehended the justice and reasonableness of it. However, my mind rested in it; and it put an end to all those cavils and objections. And there has been a wonderful alteration in my mind, with respect to the doctrine of God's sovereignty, from that day to this; so that I scarce ever have found so much as the rising of an objection against it, in mercy to whom he will shew mercy, and the most absolute sense, in God's shewing hardening whom he will. God's absolute sovereignty and justice, with respect to salvation and damnation, is what my mind seems to rest assured of, as much as of any thing that I see with my eyes; at least it is so at times. But I bave often, since that first conviction, had quite anthan I had then. I have often since had other kind of sense of God's sovereignty not only a conviction, but a delightful conviction. The doctrine has very often appeared exceeding pleasant, bright and

sweet. Absolute sovereignty is what I love to ascribe to God. But my first conviction was not so.-Vol. I. p. 33.

From this time, I began to have a new kind of apprehensions and ideas of Christ, and the work of redemption, and the glorious way of salvation by him. An inward, sweet sense of these things at times, came into my heart; and my soul was lead away in pleasant views and contemplations of them. And my mind was greatly engaged to spend my time in reading and meditating on Christ, on the beauty and excellency of his person, and the lovely way of salvation by free grace in him. I found no books so delightful to me, as those that treated of these subjects. Those words Cant. ii. 1, used to be abundantly with me, I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lilly of the valleys. The words

seemed to me, sweetly to represent the loveliness and beauty of Jesus Christ. The whole book of Canticles used to be pleasant to me, and I used to be much in reading it, about that time; and found, from time to time, an inward sweetness, that would carry me away, in my contemplations. This I know not how to express otherwise, than by a calm, sweet abstraction of soul from all the concerns of this world; and sometimes a kind of vision, or fixed ideas and imaginations of being alone in the mountains, or some solitary wilderness, far from all mankind, sweetly conversing with Christ, and wrapt and swallowed up in God. The sense I had of divine things, would often of a sudden kindle up, as it were, a sweet burning in my heart; an ardor of soul, that I know not how to express.-Vol. I. pp. 34, 35.

I felt a harmony between something in my heart, and those sweet and powerful words. I seemed often to see so much light exhibited by every sentence, and such a retreshing food communicated, that I could not get along in reading; often dwelling long on one sentence, to see the wonders contained in it; and yet almost every sentence seemed to be full of wonders.-V ol. I. pp. 38-40.

In these early exercises of piety, we see some warmth of imagination, and of animal feeling, which might raise a suspicion in those who knew nothing further of Mr. Edwards' piety, that it principally consisted in contemplation and joy, rather than in active piety. But these lively emotions were immediately followed, or rather accompanied by fixed determinations to devote his life and all his powers to the service of God, do

The soul of a true Christian, as I then wrote my meditations, appeared like such a little white flower as we see in the spring of the year; low and humble on the ground, opening its bosom to receive the pleasant beams of the sun's glory; rejoicing his will and avoiding every thing ing as it were in a calm rapture; diffusing around a sweet fragrancy; standing peacefully and lovingly, in the midst of other flowers round about; all in like manner opening their bosoms, to drink in the light of the sun. There was no part of creature holiness, that I had so great a sense of its loveliness, as humility, brokenness of heart and poverty of spirit; and there was nothing that I so earnestly longed for. My heart panted after this, to lie low before God, as in the dust; that I might be nothing, and that God might be ALL, that I might become nothing as a lit tle child.

On January 12, 1723. I made a solemn dedication of myself to God, and wrote it down; giving up myself, and all that I had to God; to be for the future in no respect my own; to act as one that had no right to himself, in any respect. And solemnly vowed to take God for my whole portion and felicity; looking on nothing else as any part of my happiness, nor acting as if it were; and his law for the constant rule of my obedience; engaging to fight with all my might, against the world, the flesh, and the devil, to the end of my life.

I bad great longings for the advance ment of Christ's kingdom in the world; and my secret prayer used to be, in great part, taken up in praying for it. If I heard the least hint of any thing that happened, in any part of the world, that appeared, in some respect or other, to have a favourable aspect on the interest of Christ's king. dom, my soul eagerly catched at it; and it would much animate and refresh me.

I had then and at other times the greatest delight in the holy scriptures, of any book whatsoever. Oftentimes in reading it, every word seemed to touch my heart,

which he has forbidden. These fixed purposes, he committed to writing from time to time, under the title of "Resolutions." They amounted, at last, to above seventy in number, and discover to us those secret springs of holy activity, to which we before alluded. It is, we hope, needless to add, that no one acquainted with the character of Edwards can have a doubt that these "resolutions" were penned in the sincerity of his heart, and were faithful representations of his genuine purposes at the time. The ingenuousness, simplicity, and godly sincerity of his whole character, compel us to believe it, and his whole life shows that he actually did reduce them to practice, in his habitual course of conduct. We shall

give a few of them, as an illustration of the state of our author's heart at that time, and as a pleasing exhibition of the manner in which religious affections become active principles of obedience.

"Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think will be for God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, on the whole; without consideration of time, whether now or ever so many myriads of ages hence; to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general-whatever

difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever."

"Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can."

Resolved, to live with all my might while I do live.

Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it if circumstances do not hinder.

Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of the gospel and of another world.

Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

Resolved, whenever I do an evil act, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavour to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of

it.

Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

Resolved, never to speak in narrations, any thing but the pure and simple verity. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the church; and which I have solemnly ratified this twelfth day of January, 1723.

Resolved, never to act as if I were in any respect my own, but entirely and altogether God's.

I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I should live to old age. Vol. I. pp. 14-17.

These resolutions he determined to" read over once a week" that he might incorporate them with his habitual course of thought, and reduce them to practice in his life. The faithfulness and effect with which he did this, may be seen from his "diary," a few extracts from which will be given.

Wednesday, Jan. 2, 1723.-Dull. I find by experience, that let me make resolutions, and do what I will, it is all nothing, and to no purpose at all, without the motions of the Spirit of God; for if the Spirit of God, should be as much withdrawn from me always, as for the week past, notwithstanding all I do, I should not grow; but should languish and miserably fade away. There is no dependance upon myself. It is to no purpose to resolve, except we depend on the grace of God, for

if it were not for his mere grace, one might be a very good man one day, and a very wicked one the next.-p. 18.

Thursday, Jan 10.-I think I find my. self much more sprightly and healthy, both in body and mind, for my self-denial in eating, drinking and sleeping. I think it would be advantageous every morning to consider my business and temptations; and what sins I shall be exposed to that day and to make a resolution here to improve the day and to avoid those 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 these things, afflict ourselves much with fears of losing them, and please our selves with expectation of obtaining them, or hope of their continuance.

Saturday, Jan. 12.-In the morning. I have this day solemnly renewed my baptismal covenant and selfdedication, which I renewed when I was received into the communion of the church. I have been before God; and have given myself, all that I am and have to God, so that I am not in any respect my own: I can claim no right in myself, no right in this understanding, this will, these affections that are in me; neither have I any right to this body, or any of its members: No right to this tongue, these hands, nor feet: No right to these senses, these eyes, these ears, this smell or taste. I have given myself clear away, and have not retained any thing as my own. I have been to God this morning, and told him that I gave myself wholly to him. I have given every power to him; so that for the future, I will challenge or claim no right in myself, in any respect. I have expressly promised him, and do now promise Almighty God, that by his grace I will not. I have this morning told him, that I did take him for my whole portion and felicity, looking on nothing else as any part of my happiness, nor acting as if it were; and bis law for the constant rule of my obedience; and would fight with all my might against the world, the flesh, and the devil, to the end of my life. And did be lieve in Jesus Christ, and receive him as a prince and a saviour; and would adhere to the faith and obedience of the gospel, how hazardous and difficult soever the profession and practice of it may be. That I did receive the blessed Spirit as my teacher, sanctifier and only comforter; and cherish all his motions to enlighten, purify, confirm, comfort, and assist me. This I have done. And I pray God, for the sake of Christ, to look upon it as a selfdedication; and to receive me now as entirely his own, and deal with me in all respects as such; whether he afflicts me or pros pers me, or whatever he pleases to do with me, who am his. Now, henceforth I am not to act in any respect as my own. I shall act as my own, if I ever make use

of any of my powers to any thing that is not to the glory of God, or do not make the glorifying of him my whole and entire business; if 1 murmur in the least at afflictions; if I grieve at the prosperity of others; if I am any way uncharitable; if I am angry because of injuries; if I revenge my own cause; if I do any thing purely to please myself, or avoid any thing for the sake of my ease, or omit any thing because it is great self denial; if I trust to myself; if I take any of the praise of any good that I do, or rather God does by me; or if I am any way proud.-Vol. I pp. 19 -21.

Saturday night, May 4th.-Although I have in some measure subdued a disposi tion to chide and fret, yet I find a certain inclination which is not agreeable to christian sweetness of teu,per and conversation too dogmatical, too much of egotism; a disposition to be telling of my own dislike and scorn; and freedom from those things that are innocent, or the common infirmities of men; and many such like things. O that God would help me to discern all the flaws and defects of my temper and conversation, and help me in the difficult work of amending them; and that he would fill me so full of Christianity, that the foundation of all these disagree able irregularities may be destroyed, and the contrary beauties may follow.-p. 23.

Twenty years after the foregoing extracts were written, while he was a minister at Northampton, he wrote a short statement of his feelings on the subject of religion, and compared them with the early exercises of his youthful piety. The account is the more interesting as it presents us with a history of his religious exercises, exhibits an instance of the progress of christians in affections,-how growth in grace produces a greater sense of sinfulness, and unworthiness, and the highest attainments in holiness are accompanied with the deepest humility.

"Often, since I lived in this town, I have had very affecting views of my own sinfulness and vileness: very frequently to such a degree, as to hold me in a kind of loud weeping, sometimes for a considerable time together; so that I have often been forced to shut myself up. I have had a vastly greater sense of my own wickedness, and the badness of my heart, than ever I bad before my conversion. It has often appeared to me, that if God should mark iniquity against me, I should appear the very worst of all mankind; of all that have been, since the beginning of the world to this time; and that I should have Vol. 3.-No. VI.

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by far the lowest place in hell. When others, that have come to talk with me about their soul concerns, have expressed the sense they have had of their own wickedness, by saying that it seemed to them, that they were as bad as the devil himself: I thought their expressions seemed exceeding faint and feeble, to represent my wickedness.

My wickedness, as I am in myself, has long appeared to me perfectly ineffable, and swallowing up all thought and imagination; like an infinite deluge, or mountains over my head. I know not how to express better what my sins appear to me to be, than by heaping infinite upon infinite, and multiplying infinite by infinite. Very often for these many years, these expressions are in my mind, and in my mouth, "Infinite upon infinite.... Infinite upon infinite!" When I look into my heart, and take a view of my wickedness, it looks like an abyss infinitely deeper than hell. And it appears to me that were it not for free grace, exalted and raised up to the infinite height of all the fulness and glory of the great Jehovah, and the arm of his power and grace stretched forth in all the majesty of his power, and in all the glory of hiз sovereignty, I should appear sunk down in my sins below hell itself; far beyond the sight of every thing, but the eye of sovereign grace, that can pierce even down to such a depth. And yet it seems to me, that my conviction of sin is exceeding small, and faint; it is enough to amaze me, that I have no more sense of my sin. I know certainly, that I have very little sense of my sinfulness. When I have had turns of weeping and crying for my sins I thought I knew at the time, that my repentance was nothing to my sin.-Vol. I. pp. 44, 45.

Though it seems to me, that in some respects, I was a far better Christian, for two or three years after my first conversion, than I am now; and lived in a more constant delight and pleasure; yet, of late years, I have had a more full and constant sense of the absolute sovereignty of God, and a delight in that sovereignty; and have bad more of a sense of the glory of Christ, as a Mediator revealed in the gospel. On one Saturday night, in particular, I had such a discovery of the excellency of the gospel above all other doctrines, that I could not but say to myself, "This is my chosen light, my chosen doc. trine;" and of Christ, "This is my shosen Prophet." It appeared sweet, beyond all expression, to follow Christ, and to be tanght and enlightened, and instructed by him; to learn of him and live to him. Another Saturday night, (January 1739) I had such a sense, how sweet and blessed a thing it was to walk in the way of duty; to do that which was right and meet to be done, and agreeable to the holy mind of

God; that it caused me to break forth into a kind of loud weeping, which held me

some time, so that I was forced to shut myself up, and fasten the doors. I could not but, as it were, cry out, "How happy are they which do that which is right in the sight of God! They are blessed in deed, they are the happy ones!" I bad, at the same time, a very affecting sense, how meet and suitable it was that God should govern the world, and order all things according to his own pleasure; and I rejoiced in it, that God reigned, and that his will was done.-Vol. I. pp. 46, 47.

To this time, the christian feelings and purposes of Edwards, had met with no severe trials. One however was approaching, which put them to the severest test, and ended in his dismission from his church and people. From the moment in which his mind was fully decided that it was his duty not to admit to full communion in the church, such as did not make a profession of godliness, he apprehended what the consequences would be to himself, of deviating from the custom of the church, and the practice of his venerated predecessor; and his imagination presented them in the most appalling forms and colours. He expected to be dismissed. He thought from his age, and the odium which would be thrown on him, his sentiments, and his practice, that he should not again be speedily and eligibly settled. His family was large and expensive, and had few or no means of subsistence, except from his salary, and he foresaw, as he told one of his friends, that if he discovered and persisted in his sentiments, it would most likely issue in his dismission and disgrace, and the ruin of himself and family, as to their temporal interests. With these views he conscientiously and disinterestedly resolved to follow what he believed to be his duty, and suffer all the bitter consequences. Here his self-denial and faithfulness were fully proved.

Notwithstanding the greatest moderation and prudent circumspection, in making known his change of sentiments, and intended change in practice to his people, the knowledge of it caused a great excitement among them. A great majority, both of the

church and society, became violently opposed to the man, who for more than twenty years, had been the object of their love, admiration and reverence. They thrust him out from them with violence. He loved them, he had placed great confidence in them, many of them he looked on as his spiritual children, and he felt as an affectionate parent would feel at the rebellion of a child. But his feelings had no bitterness and his conduct was marked with singular moderation, patience and humility, under insults and injuries. Even the council, that dismissed him, a majority of whom steadily opposed his principles and measures, gave the most decided testimony to his conscientiousness, and the

christian spirit and temper he discovered in the unhappy controversy." A few short extracts from his farewell discourse to his people, will complete our view of the christian feelings of Mr. Edwards on this trying occasion.

It was three and twenty years, the 35th day of last February, since I have laboured in the work of the ministry, in the regregation. And though my strength has lation of a pastor to this church and conbeen weakness, baving always laboured under great infirmity of body, besides my insufficiency for so great a charge in othble strength, but have exerted it for the er respects, yet I have not spared my feegood of your souls. I can appeal to you as the apostle does to his hearers, Gal. iv. 13. "Ye know how through infirmity you." I have spent the prime of my life of the flesh, I preached the gospel unto and strength in labors for your eternal welfare. You are my witnesses, that what strength I have had I have not neglected in idleness, nor laid out in prosecuting worldly schemes, and managing temporal affairs, for the advancement of my outward estate, and aggrandizing myself and family; but have given myself wholly to the work of the ministry, laboring in it night and day, rising early and applying myself to this great business to which Christ appointed me. I bave found the work of the ministry among you to be a great work indeed, a work of exceeding care, labour and difficulty: Many have been the heavy burdens that I have borne in it, which my strength has been very unequal to. God called me to bear these

burdens; and I bless his name, that he has so supported me as to keep me from sinking under them, and that his power here

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