his education, and which conferred upon him that degree; a clear indication that the managers had a high opinion of his talents and qualifications, when only in the twentyfirst year of his age. It must be owned, that this was an engagement of great consequence for so young a man; especially, considering that no small portion of his time had been devoted to ministerial occupations, and the requisite preparatory studies which relate exclusively to that important business. But the strength of his mind overcame difficulties, which to the gene rality of students appear insuperable. It must be allowed, indeed, that Mr. Edwards was not in what some call the highest class of learned men; for his time, his means, and his duties, did not allow of such an attainment. We should recollect, however, what Mr. Locke somewhere very properly observes, that though men of much reading

are greatly learned, yet they may be but little knowing." In some situations and circumstances, he might have been a great linguist, a profound mathematician, a distinguished natural philosopher; but, (with

out any designed reflection on those who excel in these or any other branches of literature and science,) he was far more happily employed, both for himself and others. In fact, he has given proofs of a mind so uncommonly vigorous and enlightened, that it is rather a matter of joy it was not engrossed by studies, which would have rendered him only the admiration of a few, but prevented him from producing those works which are of universal importance, and in which he appears as the instructor of all. He had, in short, the best and sublimest kind of knowledge, without being too much encumbered with what was unnecessary, or but little compatible with his calling.

We have also seen that Mr. Edwards resigned the office of tutor at Yale College, when he had been there, in that capacity, a little more than two years, in consequence of an invitation from Northampton, in Massachusets, in order to assist his mother's father, the aged and venerable Mr. Stoddard. In the present chapter, we propose to detail his general demeanour, more

particularly while at this place; which, in connection with the uncommon revival of

religion there, of which he was the happy and honoured instrument, is a very interesting period of his life.

He who enters into the true spirit of Mr. Edwards's writings, and especially of the ample extracts we have given from his private papers, cannot question that he made concience of private devotion; but as he made a secret of such exercises, nothing can be said of them but what his papers. discover, and what may be fairly inferred from circumstances. It appears, by his Diary, that in his youth he determined to practise secret prayer more than twice a day, when circumstances would allow; and there is much evidence that he was frequent and punctual in that duty, often kept days of fasting and prayer, and set apart portions of time for devout meditations on spiritual and eternal things, as part of his religious exercises in retire

ment.

So far as it can be known, he was much on his knees in secret, and in devoutly

reading God's word, and meditation upon

it. And his constant solemn converse with God in these exercises, made his face, as it were, to shine before others. His appearance, his countenance, his words, and whole demeanour, (though without any thing of affected grimace, or sour austerity,) were attended with a seriousness, gravity, and solemnity, which were the genuine indications of a deep, abiding sense of divine things on his mind, and of his living constantly in the fear of God.

Agreeably to his resolutions, he was very careful and abstemious in eating and drinking; as doubtless was necessary for so great a student, and a person of so delicate a make as he was, in order to be comfortable and useful. When he had, by careful observation, found what kind, and what quantity of diet best suited his constitution, and rendered him most fit to pursue his work, he was very strict and exact in complying with it. In this respect he lived by rule; and herein he constantly practised great selfdenial; which he also did in his constant early rising, in order to redeem time for

study.. He accustomed himself to rise at four, or between four and five, in the morning.

Though he was of a tender constitution, yet few students are capable of a closer or longer application, than he was. He commonly spent thirteen hours, every day, in his study. His usual recreation in summer, was riding on horseback and walking. He would commonly, unless prevented by company, ride two or three miles after dinner to some lonely grove, were he would dismount and walk a while. At such times he generally carried his pen and ink with him, to note any thought that might be suggested, and which promised some light on any important subject. In the winter, he was wont, almost daily, to take an axe, and chop wood, mode- . rately, for the space of half an hour or

more.

He had an uncommon thirst for knowledge, in the pursuit of which he spared no cost or pains. He read all the books, especially books of divinity, that he could procure, from which he might hope to de