Jonathan Edwards [TO THE TRUSTEES
OF THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY AT PRINCETON]
Stockbridge, Oct. 19, 1757.
REV. AND HON. GENTLEMEN,
I was not a little surprised, on receiving the unexpected notice
your having made choice of me, to succeed the late President Burr as the Head of Nassau
Hall.- I am much in doubt, whether I am called to undertake the business, which you have
done me the unmerited honour to choose me for.- If some regard may be had to my outward
comfort, I might mention the many inconveniences, and great detriment, which may be
sustained, by my removing, with my numerous family, so far from all the estate I have in
the world, (without any prospect of disposing of it, under present circumstances, but with
great loss,) now when we have scarcely got over the trouble and damage sustained by our
removal from Northampton, and have but just begun to have our affairs in a comfortable
situation for a subsistence in this place; and the expense I must immediately be at, to
put myself into circumstances, tolerably comporting with the needful support of the
honours of the office I am invited which will not well consist with my ability.
But this is not my main objection. The chief difficulties my
mind, in the way of accepting this important and arduous office, are these two: First, my
own defects, unfitting me for such an undertaking, many of which are generally known;
beside others, of which my own heart is conscious.- I have a constitution, in many
respects peculiarly unhappy, attended with flaccid solids, vapid, sizy and scarce fluids,
and a low tide of spirits; often occasioning a kind of childish weakness and
contemptibleness of speech, presence, and demeanor, with a disagreeable dulness and
stiffness, much unfitting, me for conversation, but more especially for the government of
a college.- This makes me shrink at the thoughts of taking upon me, in the decline of
life, such a new and great business, attended with such a multiplicity of cares, and
requiring such a degree of activity, alertness, and spirit of government; especially as
succeeding one so remarkably well qualified in these respects, giving occasion to every
one to remark the wide difference. I am also deficient in some parts of learning,
particularly in Algebra, and the higher parts of Mathematics, and in the Greek Classics;
my Greek learning having been chiefly in the New Testament.- The other thing this; that my
engaging in this business will not well consist with those views, and that course of
employ in my study, which have long engaged and swallowed up my mind, and been the chief
entertainment and delight of my life.
And here, honoured Sirs, (emboldened, by the testimony have now
received of your unmerited esteem, to rely on your candour,) I will with freedom open
myself to you.
My method of study, from my first beginning the work of the
ministry, has been very much by writing; applying myself, in this way, to improve every
important hint; pursuing the clue to my utmost, when any thing in reading, meditation, or
conversation has been suggested to my mind, that seemed to promise light, in any weighty
point; thus penning what appeared to me my best thoughts, on innumerable subjects, for my
own benefit. - The longer I prosecuted my studies, in this method,the more habitual it
became, and the more pleasant and profitable I found it.-The farther I travelled in this
way, the more and wider the field opened, which has occasioned my laying out many things
in my mind, to do in this manner, if God should spare my life, which my heart hath been
much upon; particularly many things against most of the prevailing errors of the present
day, which I cannot with any patience see maintained, (to the utter subverting of the
gospel of Christ,) with so high a hand, and so long continued a triumph, with so little
control, when it appears so evident to me, that there is truly no foundation for any of
this glorying and insult. I have already published something on one of the main points in
dispute between the Armenians and Calvinists: and have it in view, God willing, (as I have
already signified to the public,) in like manner to consider all the other controverted
points, and have done much towards a preparation for it.- But beside these, I have had on
my mind and heart, (which I long ago began, not with any view to publication,) a great
work, which I call a History of the Work of Redemption, a body of divinity in an
entire new method, being thrown into the form of a history, considering the affair of
Christian Theology, as the whole of it, in each part, stands in reference to the great
work of redemption by Jesus Christ; which I suppose to be, of all others, the grand design
of God, and the summum and ultimum of all the divine operations and
decrees; particularly considering all parts of the grand scheme, in their historical
order.- The order of their existence, or their being brought forth to view, in the course
of divine dispensations or the wonderful series of successive acts and events; beginning
from eternity, and descending from thence to the great work and successive dispensations
of the infinitely wise God, in time, considering the chief events coming to pass in the
church of God, and revolutions in the world of mankind, affecting the state of the church
and the affair of redemption, which we have an account of in history or prophecy; till at
last, we come to the general resurrection, last judgment, and consummation of all things;
when it shall be said, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.-
Concluding my work, with the consideration of that perfect state of things, which shall be
finally settled, to last for eternity.- This history will be carried on with regard to all
three worlds, heaven, earth and hell; considering the connected, successive events and
alterations in each, so far as the scriptures give any light; introducing all parts of
divinity in that order which is most scriptural and most natural; a method which appears
to me the most beautiful and entertaining, wherein every divine doctrine will appear to
the greatest advantage, in the brightest light, in the most striking manner, shewing the
admirable contexture and harmony of the whole.
I have also, for my own profit and entertainment, done much
towards another great work, which I call the Harmony of the Old and New Testament,
in three parts. The first, considering the Prophecies of the Messiah, his redemption and
kingdom; the evidences of their references to the Messiah, etc. comparing them all one
with another, demonstrating their agreement, true scope, and sense; also considering all
the various particulars wherein those prophecies have their exact fulfilment; showing the
universal, precise, and admirable correspondence between predictions and events. The
second part, considering the Types of the Old Testament, shewing the evidence of their
being intended as representations of the great things of the gospel of Christ; and the
agreement of the type with the antitype. The third and great part, considering the Harmony
of the Old and New Testament, as to doctrine and precept. In the course of this work, I
find there will be occasion for an explanation of a very great part Of the holy
Scriptures; which may, in such a view, be explained in a method, which to me seems the
most entertaining and profitable, best tending to lead the mind to a view of the true
spirit, design, life and soul of the scriptures, as well as their proper use and
improvement. - I have also many other things in hand, in some of which I have made great
progress, which I will not trouble with an account of. Some of these things, if
divine providence favour, I should be willing to attempt a publication of. So far as I
myself am able to judge of what talents I have, for benefitting my fellow creatures by
word, I think I can write better than I can speak.
My heart is so much in these studies, that I cannot find it in my
heart to be willing to put myself into an incapacity to pursue them any more in the future
part of my life, to such a degree as I must if I undertake to go through the same course
of employ, in the office of president, that Mr. Burr did, instructing in all the languages
and taking the whole care of the instruction of one of the classes, in all parts of
learning, besides his other labours. If I should see light to determine me to accept the
place offered me, should be willing to take upon me the work of a president, so far as it
consists in the general inspection of the whole society; and to be subservient to the
school, as to their order and methods of study and instruction, assisting, myself, in the
immediate instruction in the arts and sciences, (as discretion should direct, and occasion
serve, and the state of things require,) especially of the senior class; and added to all,
should be willing to do the whole work of a professor of divinity, in public and private
lectures, proposing questions to be answered, and some to be discussed in writing and free
conversation, in meetings of graduates, and others, appointed in proper seasons, for these
ends. It would be now out of my way, to spend time, in a constant teaching of the
languages; unless it be the Hebrew tongue; which I should be willing to improve myself in,
by instructing others.
On the whole, I am much at a loss, with respect to the way of
duty, in this important affair: I am in doubt, whether, if I should engage in it, I should
not do what both you and I would be sorry for afterwards. Nevertheless, I think the
greatness of the affair, and the regard due to so worthy and venerable a body, as that of
the trustees of Nassau Hall, requires my taking the matter into serious consideration. And
unless you should appear to be discouraged, by the things which I have now represented, as
to any farther expectation from me, I shall proceed to ask advise of such as I esteem most
wise, friendly and faithful: if, after the mind of the Commissioners in Boston is known,
it appears that they consent to leave me at liberty, with respect to the business they
have employed me in here.
Source:
Clarence H. Faust and Thomas h. Johnson, eds., Jonathan Edwards: Selections (Hill
and Wang, 1935, pp. 409-413
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