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people, though others of inferior moment had their influence: but the ostensible cause assigned by the society was, their inability to support a minister. Dr. Edwards did not continue long in this unsettled state; for, in Jan. 1796, he was installed pastor of the church in Colebrook, Litchfield County, Connecticut. Here he continued administering the word and ordinances to a very affectionate people for above three years. In this town he intended to have spent the remainder of his days; and it was much his wish to pursue his favourite study of theology in a less confined manner. To this the retired situation of Colebrook greatly contributed, and a change of audience would render the weekly preparations for the Sabbath somewhat less laborious. So favourable an opportunity was not neglected; but his continuance in this desirable retreat was not of long duration. :

In the summer of 1799 he was elected President of a college in the town of Schenectady, in the state of New York, which had lately been instituted and endowed. His election thus made, was immediately communicated to him, with an invitation to remove as soon as he conveniently could. In consequence of this, he was again dismissed by an ecclesias tical council from his pastoral office, in the month of June; and in the July following, removed to Schenectady. From which time his talents and attention were appropriated, with uninterrupted assiduity, to the concerns of this newly instituted seminary.

In this situation he continued only two years; for, about the middle of July 1801, his labours were suspended by an intermitting fever, unattended with any immediately alarming symptoms. This was probably occasioned by his fatigue on the preceding Sabbath, in going to preach for Mr. Coe, of Troy; the day being very hot, and haying walked, as well as rode, more than usual. About eight days before his decease, nervous symptoms shewed themselves, and indicated his approaching dissolution. The progress of the disease from this date, was very rapid; and he experienced its impairing effects so much, that within three days he was almost entirely deprived of his speech, of the regular exercise of his limbs, and, at intervals, of his reason. Thus he, continued regularly to decline; and on August 1, 1801, he expired. By the effects of his disorder, he was unavoidably prevented from expressing his views and feelings on the approach of eternity for the five last days of his life. In the early stages of his illness, however, he expressed his entire and willing resignation to the pleasure of God; and that he satisfactorily acquiesced in the gospel way of salvation, through a divine Redeemer.

In about twelve months after Mr. Edwards was ordained to the charge of the Whitehaven Society, he married Miss Mary Porter, daughter of the Hon. Eleazer Porter, of Hadley, in

Massachusetts. By her he had four children; three of whom survived him, a son and two daughters. Their eldest daughter married Mr. Hot, a respectable merchant in Schienectady. Their youngest daughter was married to the Rev. Mr. Chapin, a gentleman of respectability, settled in Stepney, seven miles below the city of Hartford. Their son, Jonathan Walter Edwards, Esq. was educated in Yale College, regarded as an excellent scholar, and afterwards a tutor in it. After this he became a counsellor at law, in the city of Hartford; and, to use the words of a respectable American gentleman, is perhaps not exceeded in abilities or reputation by any practitioner of the same standing, The vigour of mind for which his father and grandfather were distinguished, seems to have descended in a very liberal measure to him.' Both the daughters, it is apprehended, are members of Christian churches; and the son appears an uniforin and strenuous advocate for the cause of Christianity, and a constant and serious attendant on the worship of God. They are all in easy circumstances, and have ever sustained an unblemished and respectable character.'

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Mrs. Edwards, the excellent mother of the persons now mentioned, was drowned in June, 1782. The circumstances of this affecting event were these: The Doctor and Mrs. Edwards were taking an airing in their chaise, in the northeastern part of Newhaven, when, at some distance from home, the Doctor was called away to attend to some necessary business. As Mrs. Edwards was returning, she suffered the horse to drink at a watering-place, in a small river, with the depth of which she was wholly unacquainted. The horse suddenly plunged, fell, and threw her from the chaise into the river, where she was drowned.

Dr. Edwards was married a second time; and the object of his choice was Miss Mercy Sabin, of Newhaven; whom he left to deplore his loss. As a husband and parent, he was kind, faithful, and affectionate. As a brother, he merited and possessed the esteem and affection of all his brethren and sisters. When a child, he was eminently dutiful to his parents; and manifested a most affectionate and conscientious disposition of mind through life. By nature, however, he was of an ardent and irritable disposition; of which he appears to have been early conscious; and whilst he was quite young, formed a resolution that he would uniformly, and with unabating watchfulness, withstand this propensity until it should be subdued; and such a blessing attended his diligent and indefatigable vigilance, as enabled him to possess an unusual command over his passions, and to pass through a life attended with many trying circumstances, with the reputation of an uncommon equanimity. He knew what it was to be abasedand to abound; but in prosperity and adversity he appeared

the same.

His fortitude, under trials, was great: a fort tude founded on a constant reliance on Providence, and in resignation to the will of God:- a temper of mind as different as possible from the frigid apathy of a Stoic.

About the time that he first made an explicit dedication of himself to the service of God by a written covenant, he began a Diary of his religious life. This he continued a few

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months only; and it does not appear that he resumed it afterwards. This, however, is no uncommon thing. Christians, while young, have more need of such helps than when they have made greater progress, as young students need common-place books. Besides, when persons are engaged in public situations, they are often obliged to abridge their time of writing, at least concerning theinselves. From what he has written, by way of diary, he appears early to have determined to strive against sin and temptation, to live in a manner becoming his holy profession, and to devote himself wholly to the service of God. The blessing with which it pleased God to accompany these pious exertions, was visible throughout the remainder of his life.

As a man of learning and strength of mind, he probably had not a superior in the United States; and but few in the world.' His logical powers were pre-eminent; and little, if at all, inferior to those of his father. Being generally favoured with good health, he improved this and his other valuable talents for the defence, the support, and the advancement of that cause in which he was engaged. In his own country at least, his name will be long remembered with respect and honour; and is already placed in the department of divinity beneath very few, probably none, except that of his father. A more industrious man in whatever he undertook, and a character less soiled with human imperfection is not easily to be found. His Answer to Dr. Chauncey, his Reply to Dr. West, and his Sermons on the Atonement of Christ, are in America extensively regarded as standard works; and will most probably never be refuted.

Considered as a preacher, in his manner of delivery he was bold and animated; but he addressed the understanding and conscience, rather than the passions of his audience. All who had the pleasure to hear him, will acknowledge with readiness, that in his own mode he was rarely, if ever, exceeded. His reasonings were strong and conclusive; and in his writings especially, from such a mind, he closely confined himself to his subject, always presenting something new, original, and instructive.

His constitution and health admitting it, he generally rose early; and immediately began his regular diurnal routine of duty and business, which he observed through life with great uniformity; and from which he was not easily diverted. He

considered his immediate duty to his Creator as requiring his first obedience and attention; and then the relative and social duties of life were not neglected. His exercises, studies, and other concerns, as far as was consistent with his parochial duties, were conducted with regularity, upon a well-formed system, whereby each duty was attended to in its proper season. He possessed and merited the respect and affection of an extensive literary and ministerial acquaintance. The latter looked to him, under God, as to one of the firmest pillars and ablest defenders of the genuine interests of the church in a day of declension and infidelity; and in his death, the cause both of science and religion has sustained a loss not easily repaired. A correspondent of his observes, I never knew Dr. Edwards's equal for impartial enquiry after truth: he always seemed thankful for any thing that could be urged against any peculiar sentiment of his own. His modesty and humility were very remarkable.

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Dr. Edwards died possessed of an independent estate, as that subject is estimated in America. Mrs. E. also, the widow, had considerable property of her own, whereby she was placed in easy circumstances. This favourable distinction, in the order of Providence, contributed much to relieve his mind of solicitude, both when coping with difficulties among his flock, and in the prospect of being removed from his family by death. His literary productions are small, compared with those of his father, we mean in bulk, though rather numerous. general titles we shall subjoin below*. Dr. E. inserted many excellent pieces in the New York Theological Magazines, signed T. or O. It is not believed that he has left many manuscripts; but he proposed, long before his death, to write two works; the failure of which has been much regretted.

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Their

1. The Salvation of all Men strictly examined, &c. in Answer to Dr. Chauncey. A masterly work, but little known in this exuntry.

2. A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity.

3. Observations on the Language of the Mohekancew, or Stockbridge Indians; communicated to the Society for Arts and Sciences, and published at the Request of the Society.

4. Brief Observations on the Doctrine of Universal Salvation.

5. Three Sermons, on the Atonement.

6. Avariety of Occasional Sermons, separately published, viz.

1783.

An Ordination Sermon, for Dr. Dwight.

1791. The Injustice and Impolicy of the Slave Trade.

1792. An Ordination Sermon, for Mr. D. Bradley.

1793.

Ditto,

for Mr. W. Brown.

The Marriage of a Wife's Sister considered.
A Funeral Sermon, for Mr. Senator Sherman.

1794. The Necessity of the Belief of Christianity to Political Prosperity. 1795,

Ordination Sermon, for E. D. Griffin.

1797. A Future state and the Immortality of the Soul, illustrated from Scripture and Reason."

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1799. A Farewell Sermon to the People of Colebrook.

They were intended to be examinations of the doctrines of Socinians and Infidels. There is the less reason, however, for regret in this country, because this lack of service' has been abiy supplied by Mr. Fuller, in his Calvinistic and Socinian Systems compared, and, The Gospel its own Witness: works very similar in design with those projected by Dr. E.; and which have been stamped with the approbation of the religi ous public.

We are indebted for this Memoir to the Third Appendix to the Life of President Edwards, prefixed to the valuable edition of his Works; now publishing by Dr. Williams and Mr. Parsocs; and they acknowledge their obligation for its principal materials to a writer in the Connecticut Evange lical Magazine.

THE PROVINCE OF REASON,

IN CONTROVERTED POINTS OF RELIGION.

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THERE certainly is no subject which more forcibly claims our attention than that of Religion. This opens to us, as rational and immortal beings, the most pure source of pleasure; and lays the only solid ground of our hope as sinners. You have well studied the evidences of Christianity; and, from the most decided and rational conviction, admit that its origin is truly divine. You are deeply convinced of your state as a sinner, of your relation to God, and your accountableness to him for all your spiritual advantages. Under these impres sions, you deem it of vast importance to ascertain the meaning of the particular parts, no less than the general truth of the gospel. I am not surprized at your solicitude to arrive at an accurate knowledge of truth, after admitting, so fully as you have done, the moral influence which truth or error has over the mind, and consequently, over the conduct also. We act under the influence of our passions; these again are moved by our views and sentiments; and consequently, we cannot, even as friends of morality, think the pursuit of truth a trifle. The importance of this is strongly marked in our Lord's lartguage," Sanetify them by thy truth." The sins of the Jews are often charged on their misunderstanding the word of truth. I have long had reason to think you a sincere disciple of Jesus, willing to submit your understanding to the dictates of his word, and your heart to the influence of his Spirit. It was not, however, without considerable pleasure, that I heard you lately make so explicit an avowal of your belief, on the testimony of Scripture, in the divinity and atonement of Christ. Yet this avowal was attended with the expression of a sentiment which has seldom, if ever, been maintained by any but the avowed enemies of these doctrines. I was considerably struck with it at the moment; but had not time to

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