B 3L, I Pi- -A. Pt "ST ^ Ibcalogical fcmtuiiviu PBINCETON. X. J. The Stephen Collins Donation. ^'^• No. Case, No. Shelf,^Q^x\on. No. Book, ._-_.J «»^*IIK. TREATISE coxcEnxixe RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS IN THREE PARTS. I. NATURE OF THE APFECTIONS, AJfD THEIR IMPORTAXCE rx UELIRIOV. II. SHOWING WHAT ARE NO CERTAIN SIGNS THAT RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS ARE GRACIOUS, OR THAT THET ARE NOT. III. SHOWINGWHATARE DISTINGUISHING SIGNS OF TRULY GRACIOUS AND HOLY AFFECTIONS. BY THE LATE REVEREND JONATHAN EDWARDS, A. M. rHESIDEXT OF PRINCETON COLLEGE. TO WHICH IS PREFIXED, A Sketch of the Life of the Author PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY JABIES CRISSY, NO. 177, CHESNUT STREET, OPPOSITE THE STATE HOUSE. G.GOODMAN,PRINTER. 1831. ADVERTISEMENT. After this work had gone to press, it was suggestedtothe pub- lisherthatsomebiographical information ofitsjustly esteemedau- thor, would be peculiarly acceptable to the reader and give a higher interest to the work. A sketch of the Author's life, his edifying diary, and a very particular account ofhis conversion, have accordinglybeen added. Asthe works of thelate President Edwardsmaynothavebeea so generally diffused asmanyotherworksofless instructivetenor, the presentpublisherofhisTreatiseon ReligiousAffectionsdeems it necessary to insert the recommendation of the following reve- rend gentlemen: Recommendation. Mr. James Crissy, printer, being about torepublish, in asingle Volume,the" Treatise concerningRtligiousJlffections,''''bythelate President Edwards, and wishing an expression of the sentiments ofsome of the Ministers, relative to the utility ofthe work, the diiliculty lies in attempting to recommend a book, the praise of which is in the churches. It admits of no rival on its subject. which is uninspired. The language is heavy, but every part of it indispensable. It is constantly put into thehands ofthose who wishto know themselves, and whether they be really Christians. To such we recommend it. JAMES P. WILSON. JANEWAY. J. J. WILLIAM NEILL. T. H. SKINNER. EZRA STILES ELY. BRODHEAD. J. ; A SKETCH %mm ®w wwM§2wmm^ mmfAmm§9 WITI£ ^ EXTFJACTS FROM HIS DIARY, AND OTHER PRIVATE r^ WRITINGS TOGETHER WITH HIS OWrf '"ACCOUNT OF HIS CONVERSION. Mr. Jonathan Edwards was born on the 5th of October, 1703, at Windsor, in the state of Connecticut, North America. His father was minister ofthat place almost sixty years: he was descended from Mr. Richard Edwards, minister of the gospel in London, in the reign ofQueen Elizabeth, by whom it seems, his wife was employed forsome partofherroyal attire. In short,by his lineage it appears, that his ancestors came from the west of England, and allied themselves, upon theiremigration, to some of the best families in the new country, whither they came. Our authorwas entered at Yale Collegein 1716,and was made Bachelor ofArts in 1720, before he was seventeen years of age. His mental powers opened themselves so early and so strongly, thathe read Locke's Essay upon Human Understandingwith de- light, in his second year at this college, when other boys usually amusethemselveswith Robinson Crusoe,orbooksofromance and amusement. He discovered thus early an uncommon depth, so- lidity, and penetration of mind, which found nothing so pleasant to itself, as the exercise of its own powers. He lived at College nearly two years after taking his first de- gree,preparing himself, principally, forthe sacred function. After passing the usual trials, hewas licensed. In August, 1722, he received a call to preach to the English presbjierians atNew-York, where he continued with approbation above eight months. Thissociety wasthen too small tomaintain a minister; and therefore, in the spring of the year 1723, he re- turnedto his father's house in Connecticut, where during the fol- lowingsummer, he followed his studies withthe closest applica- 1 VI LIFE OF EDWARDS. tion. It appears, however, thathe had a deepsenseofhischris- tian and ministerial profession upon his mind, duringhisabodeat New-York; thatthe people he watched over becameverydearto him; and that he left them at last with greatregret. In the spring ofthe year 1724, having taken his master's de- gree in theyear before,he was chosen tutor ofYale College; and he followed thisduty above two years. It must be owned, that thiswas an engagement ofgreat consequence for a young man of ^ twenty-one, who, by his early introduction to the ministry and ^^ other avocations,could not have found too manyopportunities for his own improvement: but the strength of his mind overcame what are usually insufferable difficulties in the way of the gene- rality. In September, 1726, he resigned his tutorship,in consequence of the invitation of the people at Northampton, in (^tawMs«<#eu<^ forassistancetohismother'sfather,Mr.Stoddard,whoWasthe set- tled minister ofthe town. Hewasordainedcolleagueonthe 15th ofFebruary, 1727, in the 24th yearofhis age, and continued in the ministerial service there, till the 22d June, 1750; when he was dismissed.! Thus ended his service of near four-and-twenty years for a people, who had been much upon hisheart, and forwhomhehad always expressed a very tender concern. "For their good he wasalwayswriting, contriving,labouring; forthemhehadpoured out ten thousand ferventprayers; and intheir welfare he had re- joiced as one that findeth greatspoil." Yetalltheirbad conduct did not alter the frame ofhis mind. " His calmness andsedate- ness, his meekness and humility under the most injurious treat- ment, his resolution and conduct in the whole affair, were truly wonderful, and can not be set in so beautiful and affectingalight by any description, as they appeared in to his friends, who were eye-witnesses." Mr. Edwards, who was able to shine in the seats oflearning, and some time after was calledto preside over one, was now de- legated to the instruction ofsavage Indians at Stockbridge. This place is in the westernpartofMassachusettsBay, and aboutsixty miles from Mr. Edwards's former residenceatNorthampton. He was fixed here on the 8th of August, 1751; and here he con- tinued his labours, in more peace and quietnessthan he hadever known before^for six years. In this interval, old as he was, he made greaterattainments in knowledge, and wrote more for the fThecircumstanceswhichledtothedismissalofMr.Edwards,aredetail- ed intheBiogi^aphia Evangelica; andhisconductis thererepresented in a truly blamelessandamiable light.