was exceedingly refreshing to me, although I was something damped by hearing that I should not see you until spring. But it is my comfort in this disappointment, as well as under all my afflictions, that God knows what is best for me, and for his own glory. Perhaps I doted too much on the company and conversation of such a near and dear affectionate father and guide. I cannot doubt but all is for the best, and I am satisfied that God should order the affair of your removal as shall be for his glory, whatever comes of me.

"Since I wrote my mother's letter, God has carried me through new trials, and given me new supports. My little son has been sick with a slow fever, ever since my brother left us, and has been brought to the brink of the grave, but I hope in mercy God is bringing him up again. I was enabled to resign the child (after a severe struggle with nature) with the greatest

When Mr. Edwards wrote the letter she refers to, he did not think of going to Princeton till spring; but he afterwards determined otherwise, and went in January, as before stated.

freedom. God shewed me that the child' was not my own, but his; and that he had a right to recall what he had lent, whenever he thought fit; and I had no reason to complain, or say God was hard with me. This silenced me.

"But O, how good is God! He not only kept me from complaining, but comforted, by enabling me to offer up the child by faith, if ever I acted faith. I saw the fulness there was in Christ for little infants, and his willingness to accept of such as were offered to him. Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, were comforting words. God also shewed me in such a lively manner, the fulness there is in himself of all spiritual blessings, that I said, Although all streams were cut off, yet so long as my God lives, I have enough. He enabled me to say, Although thou slay me, yet will I trust in thee.

"In this time of trial, I was led to enter into a renewed and explicit covenant with God, in a more solemn manner than ever

before; and with the greatest freedom and delight. After much self examination and prayer, I gave up myself and children to God, with my whole heart. Never until now, had I a sense of the privilege we are allowed in covenanting with God! This act of soul left my mind in a quiet and steady trust in God.

"A few days after this, one evening, in talking of the glorious state my dear departed husband must be in, my soul was carried out in such longing desires after this glorious state, that I was forced to retire from the family to conceal my joy. When alone, I was so transported, and my soul carried out in such eager desires after perfection, and the full enjoyment of God, and to serve him uninterruptedly, that I think my nature would not have borne much more. I think, dear sir, I had, that night, a foretaste of heaven. This frame continued in some good degree the whole night. I slept but little, and when I did, my dreams were all of heavenly and divine things. Frequently since, I have felt the

same in kind, though not in degree. Thus a kind and gracious God has been with me in six troubles, and in seven.

"But O, Sir, what cause of deep humiliation and abasement of soul have I, on account of remaining corruption; which I see working continually, especially pride! O how many shapes does pride cloke itself in! Satan is also busy shooting his darts; but, blessed be God, those temptations of his, that used to overthrow me, as yet have not touched me! O, to be delivered from the power of Satan, as well as from sin! I cannot help hoping that the time is near. God is certainly fitting me for himself; and when I think it will be soon that I shall be called hence, the thought is transporting."

APPENDIX III.

A Sketch of the Life and Character of the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, D. D.

JONATHAN EDWARDS, junior, D. D. President of Union College in Schenectady, was the second son of his parents, and was born at Northampton, May 26, 1745. In his early childhood he appeared a boy of great expectation; but, however promising his capacity, and however ambitious he might be of excelling at that age, when the mind begins to unfold itself, this period of his life was attended with a number of singularly embarrassing circumstances, the tendency of which was to repress his exertion, and to discourage his mind. He was afflicted with an inflammatory weakness in his eyes, which almost entirely prevented his learning to read, until a much later period than is common. This weakness