EDWARDS, JONATHAN (ante), in all accounts given concerning him, is sufficiently celebrated as a severe reasoner and profound writer on metaphysical themes. But they who would understand the influence which he has already exerted, and estimate rightly that which he will continue to exert, must not neglect other points of his nature and work. 1. His humility, modesty, and serenity of spirit endeared him to his friends and made him appear amiable to all who conversed with him. As a Christian he was an example of rational virtue and religion. In him men saw a rare assemblage of spirit ual graces united with the richest mental gifts. He read all useful books that lie could procure, especially those on theological subjects, examining both sides of a question, studying views which to him were erroneous, and investigating the arguments of extreme infidelity. But the Bible he studied more than all other books. His intimate acquaintance with,it is conspicuous in all his writings. Few men were less under the bias of education or of bigotry. He exerted all his powers to find out truth, searching for it as for hid treasure. Every valuable thought he pursued at once as far as he then could. He read pen in hand, not so much to take notes of other men's thoughts as to .secure his own. His scholarship was remarkable for the day in which he lived and the opportunities which he enjoyed. Born in an obscure village of a new and thinly settled colony, with the forests around him, and separated by 3,000 m. of ocean from the seats of art, refinement, and knowledge; edunated at a college (only three years older than him self) that offered advantages less than academies now supply, he passed all the rest of his years amidst the cares of a laborious profession, on the very frontiers (and some of those years in the heart) of savage life. Yet, with all these hindrances, lie was a profi cient in classic and Hebrew literature, physics, mathematics, history, chronology, men tal philosophy, and ethics. His greate:it work was written in four and a half months, •during which he carried on the correspondence of the mission and preached, each Sab bath, two sermons in English, and two by interpreters to two Indian congregations, besides catechising the children of both tribes. His neglect of style as a writer is to be regretted. His works were printed very much as first written. a marked improve ment was effected in his later years. The style of the Inquiry Concerning the Freedom of the WM (written, as has just been said, in so short a time) is considered by competent judges to be as correct as that of most metaphysical treatises. 2. In the early part of his life he acquired a very high character as a minister and preacher. Most of his hear ers felt and acknowledged his power. Long before the publication of his writings, his fame as a preacher had spread through the colonies and into Great Britain. To elo quence, as many use the word, he had indeed no claim. He exhibited no studied varie ties of voice, no strong emphasis, no graceful gesticulation, no attempt at elegance of style or beauty of illustration. But if eloquence be the power of presenting important truth to an audience with overwhelming weight of argument, and with the whole soul of the speaker thrown into every part of the conception and of the delivery, so that the attention of all is riveted until the end, and impressions are made which cannot be effaced, then Jonathan Edwards has been justly pronounced one of the most eloquent preachers of his own or of any age. His solemn consciousness of the presence of God controlled his preparations, was manifest in his services, and had an irresistible effect on his congregations. His knowledge of the human heart, springing from knowledge oaf the word of God, skill in mental philosophy, and his own personal experience, enabled him to speak to the consciousness of his hearers. His theological learning was so complete, and his general information so extensive, that lie could impart variety and richness of thought to his sermons, and bring illustrations to bear on every point. From first to last his aim was simply the salvation of his hearers and the glory of God. In the introduction to his sermon he explained the passage from which he was to preach, and with great skill presented its whole drift in all its bearings. In the body of the ser mon he did not attempt an elaborate proof of his doctrine, but rather placed it before his hearers as, a fact, and painted it to their imagination. He laid out his strength in the application, speaking to the consciences of his hearers, applying to different char acters the important ideas of the sermon, and closing with a solemn and earnest appeal to every feeling and principle of human nature. He counseled, exhorted, warned, expostulated, as if he was determined not to stop without convincing and persuading every man. 3. While his visits among his flock were, in a great degree, restricted to the sick and afflicted, he was eminently faithful and successful in other departments of pastoral work, especially in extraordinary labors during "revivals" which sprang up under his ministry, and in conversing with those who sought spiritual counsel. His
study was at times thronged with persons who' came. to lay open to him their minds and hearts. 4. His theological treatises, especially, have made him extensively known, and are the foundation on which his highest reputation will ultimately rest. (1) In these lie is distinguished for scriptural views of divine truth, adducing many passages in illustration and proof, examining them critically, arranging them carefully, and draw ing conclusions from them with fidelity and skill. He seldom introduces any hypothesis of his own, and betrays little confidence in his own reason unless it is supported by the oracles of God. (2) He presents no partial or contracted views; all are simple, great, and sublime. His mind was too expanded to regard the minor distinctions of denominations and sects. He belonged to no church but the church of Christ, con tended for nothing but the truth of God, and aimed supremely at holiness and salvation. His labors coincide so completely with those which the gospel prescribes, that no denomi nation can appropriate him exclusively to itself. His originality in argument is striking and continued. He never walks in a beaten path. His positions, arguments, and conclu sions are his own; and he did much to render theology a new science. (3) In contro versy lie maintained an excellent spirit. His integrity and fairness were conspicuous. 'The idea of employing sophistry in his argument seems never to have occurred to him as a possible thing. He was kind and sincere; fair in stating the real point in debate; and candid towards his opponents. He carefully avoided personalities and the imputa tion of unworthy motives to those from whom he was compelled to differ. These excel lences as a disputant 'appear the more remarkable when the circumstances in which he wrote, and the topics which he handled, are considered. The treatise on the affec tions was written in the heat of a violent controversy which divided and agitated the whole country. In his works on the will, original sin, and justification, he dealt with subjects which had aroused bitter opposition, and replied to persons who had boasted of their victories in vain-glorious and irritating terms. His book ou qualifications for coin mullion was composed in the midst of a furious parochial storm, which did not ruffle his temper, although it drove him from his parish and home. (4) While his manner was courteous and his temper undisturbed, his arguments were, for the most part, imam swerable. They derived their strength from the conclusiveness of his reasoning, the employment of different trains of proof, all converging to one result, the anticipation of objections which might be taken to his view, and the skill with which lie brought the reductio ad absurdum to his aid. The most metaphysical of his writings—On the Freedom of the been described by high authority as "a book which never has been, and never will be, answered." His most practical treatise—on The Qualifications for an attack on a favorite scheme of lax religionists, aroused indig nation all over the country. Yet after a disastrous controversy it has so changed the opinions and practice of the New England ministers and churches, that a mode of admis sion to church-membership or to a guard membership,. then almost universal, is now disused. (5) In all his writings, even the most metaphysical, lie aimed at the most important practical results. In them all his immediate success was great, and by them his influence on doctrine and piety has been extended through Christian schools of theology, pulpits, churches and homes. Some of the themes on which he has given light are the following: God's end in creating this material and spiritual universe; the nature of his government over intelligent minds, and how it is consistent with their freedom; the nature of the virtue which they must possess in order to secure his appro bation; the source, extent, and evidences of human depravity; the series of events by which redemption is effected; the qualifications for the church to which the redeemed belong; the grounds on which they are justified; the nature and evidences of the relig ion imparted to them by the spirit of grace; the distinguishing marks and effects of revivals of religion produced by the effusion of divine influence on men ; the'induce ments to united and special prayer that such effusions may be abundantly enjoyed by the church of God. Why—it has often been asked—did such a man die at the age of -54 years, in the fullness of his powers, and just when lie had been called from the wil •derness to fill one of the highest stations lathe 1: