The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1872-04-17
The Wife Of jonathan Edwards.
BY JAMES PARTON.

4
BY JAMES PARTON.
In 1913 Jonathan Edwards then a youth
of twenty years, but noted already for his
learning and maturity of character, went to
live at New Haven as tutor of the infant
college there, which had recently been
named Yale after one of ID benefactors.
He was the very picture Of astudent: of a
tall. slender, slightly STOPPING figure, and a
face pale and wasted with excessive study.
Young as he was in years, there was in his
bearing the dignity with which serious and
elevated thought invests the most ordinary
person.
One of the eminent clerkymen of that
time in New Haven was jams Pierrepont,
q member of the distinguished New En-
gland family of that name He had an ex-
tsemely pretty and Interesting daughter,
thirteen years of age, who vas greatly be-
loved by her family and friends for the ex-
cellenoe of her character. The young tu-
tor. hearing her much spoken of, made an
entry concerning her in lisrX.
GS3ss Bang, sass nassa Il sJRs n
comes to her and fills q mind with ex-
ce eding sweet delight. and Mat she hardly
cares for anything, exceptto mediate on
him-that she expects after awhile to be re-
ceiued up where he is. to be raised up out
of he world and caught up in heaven; be-
ing assured that he loves her too we'll to let
her remain at distance from him always.
There she is to dwell with him, and to be
ravisted with his love and delight forever.
There fore, if you present al the world be-
fore her, with the richest of its treasures,
she diregards it and cares not for it, and
is unmiudful of any pain or affection. She
has q strange sweetness IN her mind, and
singular purity in her affections: is most
Just and considerations in al her conduct :;
and you could net persuds her to do any,
thing wrong or sinful if you would give her
al fhe world. lest she should offend this
Great Being. She ;s of wonderful sweet
.uess, calmness and uRiyenal benevolence of
mind especially after tbs Great God has
manifested himself to he mind. She will
sometimes go about from place to place,
singing, sweetly; and seems to. be always
| full of Joy and pleasure; md no one knows
for what. She loves to be5one, walking in
the fields and groves, md seems to have
some ono Visible always pconversing with
ther."
In due time he became acquainted with
tb is young lady. and found her es lovely
a, L admirable as report lsd given her out.
His .tutorship was extremely laborious, for
there had been riot in tls college, which
had ended by the resigndion Of its presi-
dent, and some of.its tutrs; so that the
institution, for some years was without
head. and the students hae become disor:
derly aud disSolute. Threeyoung men. tu-
tors of the college, one of whom was Jona-
than Edwards, restored orde. encouraged
habits of study and subotdnation, and so
rescued the college from detruction. Ed.
wards, indeed. exerted himser to such de-
gree as to endanger his life, ar1 he was con.
fined by illness to his room forhree months.
/ After two years service " find him &C.
cepting the post of coneagueto his grand.
father. Who was minister Of he church in
Northampton, Massachusetts,, which was
then one of the most important churches in
New England; and there he t once dis |
t;nsuiehsd himself as an sbla s0i eloquent |
preacher. When he had ben two years in |
his new employment. he m.de journey to |
New Haven, where he received in marriage |
the hand of Miss Pierreont. Of whom be
had written so warmly I've years before.
She had now become sinularIy beautiful
and one of the most accomplished young
ladies in New England, vtsed as we'll in all
household arts. as in thosewhich cheer and
adorn an elegant home. Md, indeed, she
had need Of all her skilfsr she was mar
ried man who was strngely untitled to
conduct the affairs of ever day life.
Jonathan Edwards was hblly devoted to
the studies appertainingIo his profession.
During most Of his life, lie spent thirteen
hours every day in his sndy. writing SER
mons, composing weigH and important
treatise, and in the investtation of abstruse
subjects. With weak constitution he
could not have done this dess he had been
constantly seconded byp thoughtful and I
self sacrificing wife. Housed to observe I
the effects Of the diffent kinds of food
upon him, and the precis quantity which
was best for him and. hdng ascertained I
these things, he governedlimself accord I
ingly. He uDd to rise 1.-THE morning at
four. and spend some hourin study. before
people in general had hgun their days J
work. This e4ly rising eibled him to de- t
vote q considerable perid to recreation 7
but evsn bis recreation wa.a kind of work.
He usually riae every d on horseback, 9
but before laving bomehe made up his n
mind what Aould be th| subject Of his d
thoughts duri1g bis ride; al when he had a
zone few miles, he wnld dismount at P
sems ssclnd4 place, ant walk while re- o
aecting upaa ts'sshjsct cbsen. la