of sovereign grace. In giving though great, and in our view
his Son to redeem the world it far beyond comprehension, is
was the will of the Father, that l.finite. The idea would be ab-
he should take on him not the surd, to suppose that the view of
nature of angels but the seed of infinitude is increased by joining
Abraham, and be a merciful any thing finite with it. An
and faithful high priest in things object cannot be contemplated
pertaining to men. It was all of greater extent and import-
the sovereign determination of ance than God, the infinite Je-
God, “according to the good hovah.
pleasure of his will, to the praise If the greatest possible good
of the glory of his grace, where of creation be included, or im-
in he hath made us accepted in plied, in the glory of God, then
the beloved.” The gospel, which it is secured in his seeking his
reveals his mercy, makes known glory. But if, in any respect,
" the mystery of his will, accor- it be a separate and different in-
ding to his good pleasure, which terest from that of God, so as
he hath purposed in himself."- not to be included in his glory,
6 That we should be to the he doubtless will honor himself:
praise of his glory.” And saith “ Yea, let God be true, but every
an apostle, “ Ye were sealed with man a liar :" let him possess all
the Holy Spirit of promise, which glory, whatever may be the glo-
is the earnest of our inheritance, ry, or happiness of creation.
until the redemption of the Is the accomplishment of the
purchased possession, unto the greatest possible good of crea-
praise of his glory.”

tures necessary to the glory of
The good of creatures is con- God? Is it essential to the dis-
sidered by God as they are his play of his infinite benevolence ?
work ; and to show justice, The question is vast, and is it
truth and benevolence in his certain that a finite mind and
treatment of them is necessary one affected by sin, can compre-
to the display of his glory.- hend it? Let man pause, before
His nature being love, including he decides on a subject so high
every moral excellence, he can- and full of glory.
not do wrong, and acting in infi- God has seen fit to create
nite wisdom he certainly will do finite intelligences, and to make
right. In the inspired passages himself known to them in
which have been adduced, all works, which to them appear of
things are said to be to him, as vast extent. The glory of God
well as of him and through him; in them is adorable. Bụt are.
and the redemption of men, men prepared to say that he
which of all works is the great has exerted almighty power as
est, is to the praise of his glory. far as is possible, and that infinite
Christians also, who are to be wisdom is, or ever will be, ex-
imitators of him, are command- hausted, or will do its utmost,
ed,“ Doall to the glory of God." in contriving varieties of created

Deity, in the immensity and beings with capacities nearest eternity of his being, is the infi- | possible to infinity, and means nite object of his own regard in of happiness so multiplied and doing all things to his own vastly enlarged, that Deity himglory. The good of creation I self can do no more? To use VOL. VI. NO. 7.

li

the language of the psalmist, one evidenced in creation and provwould think more modest,“ Our idence ; if his grace declared God is in the heavens ; he in his word, secure our happihath done whatsoever he hath ness, then we are safe. But as pleased.”

to those who reject Jesus Christ, Will any object that to say, and yet have opportunity to reGod does all things to his own pent, it may be answered, “ He glory, represents him as acting that believeth and is baptized with contracted views; and that shall be saved, but he that bethe representation gives coun- lieveth not shall be damned.”. tenance to selfish men in their | And, as to the question, whether having no higher principle than it be probable that his grace will love to themselves ? Infinitude renew those who are sinners, cannot be a contracted object of the reply is, “He hath mercy regard ; neither is it a reproach on whom he will have mercy, to the great Eternal, whose are and“ It pleased God by the foolall things, to say, that he su-ishness of preaching to save premely loves himself, and looks them that believe.” on creatures as they are, the So long as the final character work of his hands, originated by of any one is not ascertained, he him and wholly dependent on cannot know what will be his his power. But man is finite, a everlasting state. God is holy, creature lately brought into ex- and holy creatures will be hapistence, having nothing of his py: he is gracious to mankind, own, placed among fellow crea- and those who accept his grace, as tures alike dependent, and hav- offered in Christ, will be saved : ing a common interest in the he also is just, and those that defy favors of the Creator. To him his law and refuse his mercy will the first duty is to love God with perish. God cannot deny himall the heart, the mind and self; the ereatures therefore strength, and then to love his which will eternally partake of neighbor as himself. His char- his blessedness will be happy in acter as a creature of the being the display of his glory. The who is infinitely greater than redeemed of mankind will be himself, and a fellow creature saved “ to the glory of his with others of the same Gods grace,” and “ to tke praise of requires all this of him, that he his glory.** may act suitably to his nature

EGRAPHE. and condition.

Will there be a wish to ask,
If the glory of God be his high-
est object, what security have Memoir of the Rev. Lynde
creatures, that the sovereignty

Huntington.
of his power will not destroy
them? The answer

is easy. Mess'rs. EDITORS,
Truth, justice, goodness, and an HAVING found from ex-
other divine perfections are esperience and observation, that
sential to God's glory. In these biographical sketches of persons
he maintains an unchanging eminent for piety are not only
amiableness of character. If entertaining, but really animat-
his wisdom and goodness, as ling and instructive, I have at-

THE

tempted a brief memoir of the want of clear evidence of grace, life of the Rev. Lynde Hunting- however prevented him, for ton late of Branford ; to which some time, from commencing are annexed some extracts from a preacher of the gospel. At his diary: The whole is now length it pleased God to afford submitted to you for publication him light and hope, in richer if you judge proper, by a friend, measures ; and he entered upon &c.

D. the work with a zeal and firm

ness, becoming the importance "HE Rev. Lynde Hunting- of the cause in which he en. ton was a son

of Mr. Oli- gaged. ver, and Mrs. Anne Huntington Having deliberately, and of of Lebanon, in the state of Con-choice, devoted himself to the necticut, who were pious and service of God, and the souls of respectable. Me was born March men, and after a requisite pre22d, 1767. He early manifested paration, he was licensed and rea disposition to acquire' knowl-commended as a preacher of the edge, and while quite young, gospel in May 1793. In the had many serious impressions. summer 1795, he received a call In 1784 he became a member of to take the pastoral charge of Yale College, where he was re- the first church and society in spectable as a scholar, and be- Branford, which after mature loved by the friends of virtue. deliberation and prayer for diIn the early part of his collegi- vine direction, he accepted ; ate life, he became a subject of and on the 28th of October folvery serious impressions and lowing he was ordained to the conviction of sin, which termi- pastoral office. nated in a hopeful conversion The natural talents with which and union with Christ. He he was endued, and the genuine made a public profession of re- piety which enriched and warm. ligion, and joined the church at led his heart, eminently qualifcollege, September 3d, 1786, ed him for the evangelical work; and ever after adorned his pro- and afforded a happy presage

of fession. About this time he be- fidelity and usefulness in the gan a diary, which he continu- vineyard of our Lord. Nor were ed, with some intermissions, these expectations disappointed, during his life ; from which it His strong mental powers, clear appears, that he ever had a understanding, with a fixed apgreat sense of the evil of sin, the plication to theological studies, purity of God's law, and the rendered him a scribe well invileness of his own heart. structed in the things of the Though he was, at times, great- kingdom. In the manner of his ly distressed with darkness and life, and in the doctrines which doubts, yet he had many lucid he taught, he was truly a burnintervals, in which he enjoyed ing and a shining light. In his much divine consolation, and life and conver

culcated, were enforced, notonly ration, of repentance, faith and by arguments drawn from rea- good works; the importance of son and revelation, but by the holiness in believers as an evi. weight and authority of an il- dence of grace, and preparatory Justrious example of true piety. for future glory ; and the cerHe manifested that he felt the tainty that all true saints will be force of them on his own mind, kept by the power and grace of and that what he taught he fully God, through faith unto salvabelieved. He went in and out tion, were doctrinal truths which before his flock, evidently in the he believed, taught, and enfor: fear of the Lord, keeping him-ced. He stood boldly in de. self unspotted from the world, fence of the gospel, and endeavand carefully abstaining from ored, with wisdom and prudence every appearance of evil. His to declare the whole counsel of whole life was a standing testi- God, rightly dividing the word of mony against the enemies of truth, and giving to each one a Christ, and in favor of pure portion in due season. In preachand vital religion. In every do- ing, he was solemn, pungent and mestic relation in which he engaged-in prayer, devout and stood, he was faithful, kind and fervent-in conversation instrucaffectionate. As one set to tive-in counsel, judicious-in watch for souls, he was faithful, hospitality, rich. zealous and laborious. He spar

His constitution was naturally ed no pains to promote the cause

firm, and had never been essenof his divine Master, and the tally impaired by sickness until salvation of sinners. On every he was attacked by the fatal malfavorable occasion, he spake a word for him whose servant he and his life. This attack, at

ady, which terminated his labors; was ; and the dilgent attention

first, not formidable and alarmhe paid to the state of his flock, evinced his willingness to spend, threatening aspect, till it put a

ing, by degrees assumed'a more and be spent for the good of souls

. Neither were his labors period to his life, September confined to his own particular

19th, 1804. flock ; but, with a ready mind,

In the death of this truly exhe assisted his brethren on prop. cellent and worthy man, his fame er and various occasions.

ily have sustained an irreparable He faithfully consulted the loss, and the church and people oracles of divine truth, that from

over whom the Holy Ghost had this source he might learn the made him an overseer, a most will of God, and the doctrines severe frown of Providence. which he taught. And what he Yea, in him a bright star is exclearly conceived to be divine tinguished, and a pillar fallen in truth, from faithfully searching the house of God. the holy scriptures, he shunned During the first part of his not to declare.

sickness, which continued severDivine sovereignty and de- al months, he was greatly ope crees, man's absolute depend-pressed with doubts and fears ence on God, election, the total concerning his spiritual state.moral depravity of the human Clearer evidence of grace, and heart, the necessity of regene-/ a greater degree of holiness

were objects for which he pant- through favor I am now better, ed. But in his darkest, and and hope (and I think earnestly most gloomy seasons, his hope, desire) to see the assembly of which was an anchor to his soul, the saints again the next Lord's he did not wholly lose ; and at day. I trust I do not prize the times it was strong, almost to house of God the less, by being assurance. The state of his detained from it. I think of the mind may be more fully learned 122 Psalm.” from his own observations du- In another letter to the same ring his sickness, and from some friend, written about a month extracts from two letters, writ before his death, he writes thus: ten to a ministerial brother in " My brother, if you could see the western country, which I my heart through these scenes, will here insert. · The first you would have an idea of weakbears date, Tuesday April 25, ness, emptiness and unbelief, 1804, in which he writes thus : such as you never had before. “I hope through divine favor, If there ever have been, or ever that I am a little better. I yes- shall be any thing good in me, terday had a visit from Doctor I am sure I must say, Not I.”. M. of New-Haven. He speaks In the same letter, a few days favorably of my prospects, after he adds : “ My soul is vethinks my case deserving of ve- ry much in bondage, but, blessry careful attention, but not ve- ed be God, not in despair. Last ry alarming at present. I pray night I was greatly distressed, that I may avoid Asa's sin, and I was almost certain, that a which, I think, was not merely malicious accuser of the brethseeking to physicians; but in ren, was concerned in it. I got seeking to physicians, and not some relief by praying to God unto the Lord. To the Lord I against him. This morning desire to commit my case. In Job's case gives me some hope his hands, all will be well. I and comfort. I should be sure think no sentiment is more ha- of light by and by, but this terbitual with me, than the perfect rible doubting, as to our interrectitude of his government ; est in the promises, cuts off the and it seems to me that I do hand that takes hold of them. daily rejoice in it. As to the May all this prepare me for the little corrections he his pleased restto deal out to me, nothing seems The next morning he thus mysterious or strange about writes in the margin of the letthem, except that they are so ter." Not having sealed my infinitely lighter than I deserve. letter yesterday, on finishing it If I were in the bottomless pit, in the morning, I am enabled, by it would be abominable to mur- the grace of God, to fill this mur or complain how much tittle corner with information, more, when surrounded with that yesterday afternoon, I exnumberless mercies, and at the perienced one of the pleasantest footstool of sovereign grace, seasons of light and comfort with the hope of glory, and im- that I have enjoyed since my mortality set before me.- sickness." The Lord can I have been detained four sab- clear the darkest skies, &c. baths from the pulpit ; but, Blessed be his name !"