New-York tribune., 1877-11-27
NEW PUBLICATIONS,


al ,.rvr,cn Of more recent date. his ministry was
chiefly pcrioraod IN sic venerable town of Hadey IN
Massachusetts adjacent 20 Northampton IN the no""
ful valley ~ the Connecticut and almost Wl'Hh s-' %
the sr0t So closely assOcat "a with the memory Oh leS
0,nt jonathan Edwards Of whose system OF tncoogicm
dtriuc he WAS one OF the most powerful eloquent and
earnest representatives lie was settled In the year
$50. soon after which time commenced the scues o.
revivas which form remarkable feature 'n the eoo
sias;ic history of NewEngiand and Ia Whch ne oote
prominent aud effective share. The fruits Oh MS
labors were abundant and gr1ciousy atcstcd by the
c,aracf of hor iuAucucc ON thc people OF his charge
Durire ais rs. ministry h HadeY hc ruled the church.
Ike monarch Israel. There was not u dis'h'ctcd
family Boo tlc whole town. The entire populauon was
addicted 90 church-soug. One might 1--we there Tor
months and not hear a word OF profanity Tho suc'o'
sive rcyiyals had given the place mionnial aspect
For mo. than three months at time, the number of
converts was from ten 20 twenty in week. Religion
appeared 10 en- -Oss the time and thoughts OF all IL
mingled with The nIst salutauons OF the moihns' anu
was tho parting theme OF the social evening Al His'
most OF the subjects OF the WORK were mona large pro
portion Of tlem heads Of families Several were iar "o
vapced in lie At length tne movement spread TO per-
sons Of almost ovcry Gcc and condition Many femaleS
young people. and little children were included
Acr a ministry of twenty years which were marked uy
such proofs OF signal success, Dr. Woodbridge iouhd
that his arduous abors in the pulpit aud the study
had besuu 90 make inrOaGs bis constitution, ana
that remission from toll and a change OF scene had be-
come a necessity At this juncture tls3O he received
call TO the pastorate Of the Bovery Church. IN New
York which, after repeated solicitations. he decided 10
accent e remained this position for about six years,
and after similar term OF service IL Bridgep 1T and
NcHartford Connecticut. hc invited 10 return TO
Hadlev, as pastor of new church which had been
formed in consequence Of a disagreement about the
location OF the mectughousc. The effects OF
this remarkable, almost unprecedented experience
age yIyidy described n passage of the biography -
1T WAS with home feeling that DR.. Woodbridge r.
turned 20 Iacy, that feeling so pleasant 10 cnt OF his
advancing years. AMI varied, sometimes rourh' expo
rieucc He settled down with TIE apprehension that
here ne was 60 dwell, doing and suffering the Masters
will TIL upcucd Tor his heavenly home HIS
pcople were not only we'll known 20 nim, but
most Of them wer-ined friends lie had not many
new acquaiutauccs TO form except, perhaps, a. few
among the younger portion OF the congregations Oh
whose c0unicuances were enStampcd the images
Of their longloved parents, aud whose personal
acquaintance it was a pleasure 10 make. He be-
levcd tie church aud society had called hiiuwC under
standing his character the doctrines he proeSsed ana
his of presenting them; aud were consequently
prepared 20 bear both witt him and vita them. Indeed,
ne had too much confidence in the stability OF his Old
charge TO anticipate any sudden eyuon Of feeling To-
ward him. II was only return TO familiar scenes
but the revival Of the purcst and strongest friendship
friendships formed around the altar OF God, and con
hrmed by many grateful associations experienced
through long series Of years; binding tAem UciWo-
ca ay together with OF the sweetest amenities OF
tie human heart Familiar faces which had often been
sunused with smiles and tears in sympathy with his own
met his view IN the house OF God and by The way aud
glad voice, thl had greeted him thirty years before ana
welcomed him to afectioua;e homes for more tlan
twenty year, o pastoral ifevolces, not rarely heard in
PRAYER and cxhortatiou, were daily falling Is
awakening either sad or pleasing "reminiscences both re
fnng his sen,bes and drawing moro closely tie ties
Of lafOchal affection lie ups ug his
Old parsonage sitting In its longOved study, pacing its
fan and fl %
broad street stretching before it, boldored with
nearly the same dwellings which mad greeted his eyes
uAY-Gyc years before, when student at law IN the
oce of Esquire Porter; and here stood the lofty
elms only grown little taller and their graceful tops
VI little moro extended like OF sentncls guarding
them Around lay the same fertile meadows IN whose
retired paths he had often walked FOR meditation; and
beyond noa ed the grand Connecticut, lingering IN
its long sweeping curvature haf round the village IL
10th 10 quit q beautiful ltS way to the stormy
ocean A. the day declined, his love Of nature gTat
flied with tie same sweet which he lad loved
10 gaze and exut their beauty. both in his youthful
and manly prime and yondcr rose the proud range Of
HolyOac, from whose summit lac had bcon wont to
vcy one Of the lOyeliest landscapes with which the
Creator has adorned this beautiful world. On the one
hand was the furnishing gricgltur3 village Of Hatfield
hold ug the dust of the Ieyerd Lyman whom lie bad
treasured among his most cousecraled memories the
other The ancient and more pOpuIOus town OF NOrhamp
ton rich iu recoectous Of the great Edwards, Of the
miles distant another direction. Amherst Win
Its cole cdiGces and able corps OF professors with
whom he was 10 associate. lie indeed
rounded with towns and villages familiar 10 Lis gud
10 his walks. containing many friends and admirers who
rc0iccd in his To dwell among them IL whatever
direction he looked, old and wcll-kDOwn objects arose
before lin dear as household things only slightly
wrinEcd with the dcspOing touches Of time,
and gently uuged with shades Of sadness; ron
dering them in his view even more beautiful
Us changes forcshadOwing the great change the
ploriled state, nearer than when he believed"
Tho peculiar significance Of this biography. which is
unusually elaborate piece Of composition consists IN ITS
pOltIaiture 4 who living incarnation Of Cal
vinsm in the midst Of modern inn ivdtiors. DR..
Woodbridge lad no tolerance OF attempted improve
ncuis IN the orthodox creed He cherished profound
disgust the pgetcnons both Of Cambridge and OF New
Haven. The religious views Of Dr. Claiming and ol Dr.
Taylor. IN his opinion, equally at with the
purity OF the Gospel The latter years OF his e cspe-
c.aly. devoted vigorous polemcs against the
NewHayen theology. In this warfare his force Of char
acier was conspcuousy displayed. Seldom has the
church mlti presented more stavart champion
OF the faith TIC courage and energy with which lie
fought for his opinions would have done noble service on
the battc-h ld. lie soldier Uy nature, though
minister fpcace by his calling In tns respect charac-
ter affords interesting study. Iprosents specim Of
bold and virile humanity, such is rarely with
the oomIaon walks Of life. lie seems to have been "A
natural product Of the bleak and the granite hills
New-EnSand, and in an hereditary qualities to have
done full justice to his grim The author Of Als
biography has chosen the true position for
and hfekc p0rtraiturc His principal aim has been 10
Illustrate The influence OF Dr. WOOdbrdcO's creed on the
power Of bis ministry Though destitute Of impress
Eive sketches and agreeable narrative his volume is
taken up. 70 large extent with profound d,squsi,ous