Memoirs of Jonathan Edwards in Vol I of the Works - XX - Chapter 20

Required reading
Memoirs of Jonathan Edwards in Volume I of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 20.

My summary.

This week we learn about Edwards first year at Stockbridge, particularly his dealings with the Indian school.

We hear about:

(i) Edwards' views on what the Indian children should be taught, including spiritual matters;

(ii) Edwards' consolation to a friend due the loss of her son;

(iii) the financial situation of his family in the early days at Stockbridge;

(iv) the employment of a new school teacher;

(iv) the awful behaviour of the resident trustee of the Indian school and Edwards' attempts to remove his influence.

What grabbed me

Edwards' letter to his sorrowful friend was marvelous.  

It clearly demonstrates how contemplation of Christ can calm the aching heart: 'His loveliness, and his love, have both their greatest and most affecting manifestation in those sufferings, which he endured for us at his death. Therein, above all, appeared his holiness, his love to God, and his hatred of sin, in that, when he desired to save sinners, rather than that a sensible testimony should not be seen against sin, and the justice of God be vindicated, he chose to become obedient unto death; even the death of the cross. Thus, in the same act, he manifests, in the highest conceivable degree, his infinite hatred of sin, and his infinite love to sinners. His holiness appeared like a fire, burning with infinite vehemence against sin; at the same time, that his love to sinners appeared like a sweet flame, burning with an infinite fervency of benevolence It is the glory and beauty of his love to us, polluted sinners, that it is an infinitely pure love; and it is the peculiar sweetness and endearment of his holiness, that it has its most glorious manifestation in such an act of love to us. All the excellencies of Christ, both divine and human, have their highest manifestation in this wonderful act of his love to men—his offering up himself a sacrifice for us, under these extreme sufferings. Herein have abounded toward us the riches of his grace, in all wisdom and prudence. (Eph. i. 8.) Herein appears his perfect justice. Herein, too, was the great display of his humility, in being willing to descend so low for us. In his last sufferings, appeared his obedience to God, his submission to his disposing will, his patience, and his meekness, when he went as a lamb to the slaughter, and opened not his mouth, but in a prayer that God would forgive his crucifiers. And how affecting this manifestation of his excellency and amiableness to our minds, when it chiefly shines forth in such an act of love to us.'

The editor said that this letter 'will probably be regarded as one of the happiest specimens of christian sympathy and condolence, to be found in epistolary writing.'  

I agree.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 21.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.