city with which he held and defended what in his opinion was revealed truth, might have left the impression of obstinacy on the minds of errorists and superficial judges. But candid and observing men would always discover in his writings, sufficient cause for unyielding firmness, so clear, comprehensive and unanswerable were his exhibitions of truth. In theology, as in everything else, whatever he undertook to do, he did thoroughly and perspicaciously." "Few men," says a writer in the American Review and Literary Journal for 1801, "were more fitted or disposed to be useful than Dr. Edwards. Endowed with an active and penetrating mind, he consecrated his powers to the promotion of human happiness. And in taking a retrospect of his character and deportment, it is difficult to say whether he was most distinguished for his talents, his learning, his piety, or that unassuming modesty which is not always a concomitant of genius and erudition. In his pulpit performances he never failed to discover that good sense, acuteness, and unaffected piety which interest and instruct the more enlightened class of hearers."

While a minister in Connecticut, he superintended the theological studies of a number of young men. They were thoroughly instructed and guided by a clear and well digested system of truth. Some of them afterward attained to the highest standing in their Master's service; and by all of them Dr. Edwards was ever regarded and spoken of with the highest respect and affection. He merited and possessed also the esteem and affection of an extensive literary and ministerial acquaintance, who looked upon him, under God, as one of the firmest pillars and strongest defenders of the church in a day of declension and infidelity, and as one of the ablest expounders of evangelical truth.

1

Such is a brief memoir of the life and character of this great and good man. Like his venerable father in the structure of his mind, and in his professional pursuits, he resembled him also in

Among them were the late Presidents Dwight and Griffin, of Yale and Williams Colleges. Dr. Dwight, on the occasion of Dr. Edwards' death, preached in New Haven, an eloquent and masterly discourse, giving, it is said, a most able and discriminating view of the life and character of Dr. Edwards. It is much to be regretted that the discourse has probably been lost or destroyed with other papers.

all the excellent qualities of his heart, and in a remarkable series of the actions and events of his life. The name, education, and early employments of both were alike. Both were pious in their youth; were distinguished scholars; and were tutors for equal periods in the colleges where they were respectively educated. Both were settled in the ministry as successors to their maternal grandfathers; were dismissed on account of their religious opinions, and were again settled in retired country towns, over congregations singularly attached to them, where they had leisure to pursue their favorite studies, and to prepare and publish their valuable works. Both were removed from these stations to become presidents of colleges; and both died shortly after their respective inaugurations, the one in the fifty-sixth and the other in the fifty-seventh year of his age, each having preached on the first sabbath of the year of his death, on the text, "This year thou shalt die."

Perhaps this brief memoir cannot be closed in a more interesting manner, than by carrying out this parallel in the language of another and an able writer.* "If," says he, "in making out a catalogue of the most distinguished American divines, we were required to arrange them according to our best judgment, we should certainly assign the first and highest place to JONATHAN EDWARDS the elder; and then leaving a blank space, as is sometimes done in the English universities to indicate the comparative standing of candidates for academical honors, we should not know what name to insert next in preference to that of JONATHAN EDWARDS the younger. Few and far between, in any part of the world, have such sentinels appeared on Zion's watch towers. Rarely, indeed, has the church been blessed with champions so highly gifted by nature, so well furnished with " the whole armor of God," so skilful in wielding the "sword of the spirit," and so triumphant in every quarter. It is but seldom that a son has such a father; and it is still more rare that such a father leaves behind him a son so worthy of his lineage."

"A parallel drawn by the hand of a master, between these two

* Christian Spectator for January, 1823.

great men, would not fail of being highly interesting and instructive. For such a parallel as might be furnished from the ample materials which they have left behind them, we have not room in the present article, even if we possessed the ability of doing full justice to the subject. But we cannot let the opportunity pass, without inviting the attention of our readers to the following brief and imperfect sketch."

After giving in substance the coincidences in their lives which have already been mentioned, the writer proceeds: "But the parallel is far more deeply interesting in other particulars. The talent of the first President Edwards for philosophical and metaphysical disquisition, was of the very highest order. There was no subject within the legitimate range of human investigation which was too high or too deep for his powers. He saw those relations of things that lie far beyond the ken of ordinary minds, with a clearness that has excited the admiration of the most distinguished metaphysicians of a later age; and in tracing out remote analogies; in straightening and shedding light upon dark and intricate paths; in putting his finger at once upon the sophistry of an argument, and foiling his opponents with their own weapons; in striking out new trains of thought and following them up to the point of complete moral demonstration; in anticipating, inventing and answering objections; and in all that pertains to what we shall venture to call the pure algebra of mental philosophy and metaphysical science,-few men have ever equalled, and perhaps, all things considered, none have gone before him."

"Others have been greatly his superiors both in learning and eloquence have had much more of what is loosely styled ‘genius' have lived much longer, and moved in far higher spheres. For a century to come, Locke and Reid, Stewart and Brown, may possibly be more extensively known and admired than Edwards. But to say nothing here of his heavenly crown, he has taken his place permanently in the very first rank of intellectual greatness. It can hardly be necessary to add, that among the righteous, he will be held in everlasting remembrance.' In the unclouded brightness of that sun, which will not go down for a thousand years, his name will shine with a new and increasing lustre."

"If Dr. Edwards was not in all respects equal to his honored father, there was, nevertheless, a striking similarity in the structure of their minds-a strong intellectual resemblance, which is very observable in their writings. Thoughts and not words, arguments and not ornaments, were the things that engaged their most earnest attention. Neither of them borrowed his pen from the wing of the eagle; nor did father or son, so far as we know, ever spend an hour in wishful gazing at the heights of Parnassus. It was the hill of Zion,' which they loved. It was the holy 'mount of God,' towards which their kindling eyes were oft directed; and it was to sit down there, and shout redeeming love, that they ardently aspired. It was not to make a vain parade of their prowess that they engaged in controversy, but to defend what they believed to be important truth; and they never entered the field, till they had carefully reconnoitered every position and thoroughly proved their own armor. The first advances of both were slow, but direct and sure. Neither of them ever attempted to frighten or trample down his antagonist by a furious onset, nor to carry a strong place by assault. Everything of this kind was entirely foreign from the temperament of these two distinguished champions of the truth. But when they had once buckled on their armor, neither of them ever thought of putting it off, till the enemy should be effectually discomfited."

In managing a controversy, the method of each was nearly the same. The point in dispute was first clearly stated; the thing to be proved or disproved was placed by itself in a strong light, and then the principal terms to be used were carefully defined. After that, the opponent was generally met on his own ground. His statements and arguments were compared and analyzed. He was often proved to be unacquainted with his subject -inconclusive and even absurd in his reasoning, and palpably inconsistent with himself. This being done, the next step with the Edwardses was, to bring out their own strength, and to show by many separate and almost independent trains of argument, that the scheme which they were opposing was contrary to reason, at war with common sense, and above all, contradictory to the plainest declarations of Scripture. For the correctness of this

statement we need only refer to the treatises of President Edwards on the Will,' and 'Original Sin;' to that of Dr. Edwards on 'Liberty and Necessity,' and to his answer to Dr. Chauncy's book on Universal Salvation."

"Moreover, neither father nor son was scarcely ever satisfied with merely proving his point; so that often when it would seem as if every one must be already convinced, we find from five to fifteen strong reasons still to be adduced, besides hints at many others which might be brought forward in case of need. And what must have been extremely mortifying, not to say provoking to an opponent in the writings of the Edwardses, is, that they would anticipate more objections than he ever dreamed of himself, and then answer them in such a way as to discourage every attempt at reply. We have often, from our very hearts, pitied the prostrate theologian; and have been ready to sue for quarter in his behalf, when we found that he was too far gone to speak for himself."

"Neither of the Edwardses appears to have relied at all upon his genius; but they were both indefatigable in their studies. In these too, and in their exercise and rest, they were as systematic as possible. They rose early and lived by rule, as every man must, who would enjoy a clear mind, and accomplish much in a little time. They were not afraid to let it be known that they had their hours sacred to study and meditation. In this way they avoided needless interruptions, as most other men in the sacred office might do, and thus bring much more to pass than is generally accomplished. In looking over the controversial writings of the times in which they lived, and thence passing down to the present hour, it is curious to observe how few attempts have been made formally to answer any of those larger works in which they put forth their strength. Nibbling enough about the points of their arguments, there certainly has been, but for the most part it has been extremely chary; and we suspect that the few who have taken hold in earnest, have in the end, found pretty good reason to repent of their temerity. Or to change the figure, it is quite amusing when some slight impression is made upon an Edwardean outpost, to hear the shouts of victory, as if the cita

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