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ment. Otherwise, instead of rightly placing them in a view for an imitation, attainable in any degree only through grace, or for an encouragement, reviving to the soul through the same grace, we should only set up idols, though idols of more worth than gold, and lead others astray, as well as ourselves, from the ONE GREAT OBJECT of the Christian life, which is JESUS CHRIST and his fulness, which filleth all in all. Interested in HIM, it is a privilege to hear of his wonderful works in or by his eminent servants; and it is the confirmation of the privilege to be enabled to imitate them. If their graces send us upon our knees, and thereby are the means of quickening ours, we have not run over their history for an idle amusement, but have made the right use of it, which is, the spurring us on to follow them, who now through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Mr. Jonathan Edwards* was born on the 5th of October 1703, at Windsor, in the province 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 strong, 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 near two years after taking this first degree, preparing himself, principally, for the sacred function. function. After passing the usual trials, he was licensed, according to the custom of the college and the form of religion in the province, to preach the gospel as a candidate.

* There was another valuable writer of the name of Jonathan Edwards, Principal of Jesus College, Cambridge, who published an excellent book, entitled, A Preservative against Socinianism, in four parts, 4to. The first of which was printed in 1693, and the last 1703. Another writer of the same name, Dr. John Edwards, is worthy of remembrance for his well-known treatise Veritas redux, and many other books upon theological subjects.

In August 1722, he received a call to preach to the English presbyterians 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 application. 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. Some extracts from his own Diary will delineate more exactly the frame of his mind at this time, and therefore they are committed to a note below.*

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*" Wednesday, January 2, 1722-3. Dull. I find by experience, that let ine make resolutions, and do what I will, with never so many inventions, 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 dependence 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 inight be a very good man one day, and a very wicked one the next. Thursday, January 10, about noon, reviving. It is a great dishonour to Christ, in whom I hope I have an interest, to be uneasy at my worldly state and condition, When I see the prosperity of others, and that all things go easy with them; the world is smooth to them, and they are happy in many respects, and very prosperous, or are advanced to much honour, &c. to grudge and envy them, or be the least uneasy at it; to wish or long for the same prosperity, and that it would ever be so with me. Wherefore, concluded always to rejoice in every one's prosperity, and to expect from myself no happiness of that nature as long as I live; but depend upon afflictions, and betake myself entirely to another happiness. I think I find myself much more sprightly and healthy, both in body and mind, for my self-denial in eating, d'Inking, 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 how 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. It is, not to care about them, to depend upon them, to afflict ourselves much with fears of losing them, nor please ourselves with expectation of obtaining them, or hope of the continuance of them. At night made the forty-first resolution. Saturday, January 12, in the morning. I have this day solemnly renewed my baptismal covenant and self-dedication, 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 Gob

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

God, so that I am not in any respect my own: I can challenge no right in myself; I can challenge no right in this understanding, this will, these affections that are in me; neither have 1 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 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 his 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 believe in Jesus Christ, and receive bim 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 self-dedication; and to receive me now as entirely his own, and deal with me in all respects as such; whether he afflicts me or prospers 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, and do not make the glorifying Him my whole and entire business; if I 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; if I do any thing, purely to please myself, or if I avoid any thing for the sake of my ease: If I 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. Tuesday, January 15. It seemed yesterday, the day before and Saturday, that I should always retain the same resolutions to the same height, but alas! how soon do I decay! O, how weak, how infirm, how unable to do any thing am 1! What a poor, inconsistent, what a miserable wretch, without the assistance of GOD's Spirit! While I stand, I am ready to think I stand in my own strength, and upon my own legs; and I am ready to triumph over my enemies, as if it were I myself that caused them to flee: When, alas! I am but a poor infant, upheld by Jesus Christ; who holds me up, and gives me liberty to smile to see my enemies flee, when he drives them before me; and so I laugh, as though I myself did it, when it is only Jesus Christ leads me along, and fights himself against my enemies. And now the Lord has a little left me, and how

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could not have found too many opportunities for his own improvement: But the strength of his mind overcame what are usually insuperable difficulties in the way of the generality; and perhaps his genius acted more forcibly from not being fettered with academical clogs, which other geniuses, of an elevated rank, could never endure. I

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weak do I find myself! O, let it teach me to depend less on myself, to be more humble, and to give more of the praise of my ability to Jesus Christ. The heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it? Saturday, March 2.-0, how much pleasanter is humility than pride! O, that God would fill me with exceeding great humility, and that he would evermore keep me from all pride! The pleasures of humility are really the most refined, inward and exquisite delights in the world. How hateful is a proud man! how hateful is a worin that lifts up itself with pride! What a foolish, silly, miserable, blind, deceived, poor worm am I, when pride works! Wednesday, March 6, near sun set. Felt the doctrines of election, free-grace, and of our not being able to do any thing without the grace of Gon; and that holiness is entirely, throughout, the work of Gon's Spirit, with more pleasure than before. Wednesday, May 1, forenoon. Last night I came home, after my melancholy parting from New-York. I have always, in every different state of life I have hitherto been in, thought the troubles and difficulties of that state to be greater than those of any other, that I proposed to be in; and when I have altered, with assurance of mending myself, I have still thought the same; yea, that the difficulties of that state are greater than those that I left last. Lord, grant that from hence I may learn to withdraw my thoughts, affections, desires, and exрес tations, entirely from the world, and may fix them upon the heavenly state, where there is fulness of joy; where reigns heavenly, sweet, calm, and delightful love without alloy; where there are continually the dearest expressions of their love: Where there is the enjoyment of the persons loved, without ever parting: Where those persons, who appear so lovely in this world, will really be inexpressibly more lovely, and full of love to us. How sweetly will the mutual lovers join together to sing the praises of God and the Lamb! How full will it fill us with joy to think, this enjoyment, these sweet exercises, will never cease or come to an end, but will last to all eternity! Thursday, October 18. To follow the example of Mr. B-, who, though he meets with great difficulties, yet undertakes them with a smiling countenance, as though he thought them but little; and speaks of them as if they were very small. Monday, February 3, 1724. Let every thing have the value now that it will have on a sick bed: And frequently in my pursuits, of whatever kind, let this come into my mind: How much shall I value this on my death-bed? Saturday night, June 6. This week has been a remarkable week with me with respect to despondencies, fears, perplexities, multitudes of cares, and distraction of mind; being the week I came hither to NewHaven, in order to entrance upon the office of tutor of the college. I have now abundant reason to be convinced of the troublesomeness and vexation of the world, and that it never will be another kind of world. Tuesday, September 2. By a sparingness in diet, and eating, as much as may be, what is light and easy of digestion, I shall doubt

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