, 1880-09-12

JONATHAN EDWARDS ON TIE TRINITl
Jonathan Edwards has long since passe
away In the flesh, but the impress left by hit
on the theology Of the country has been ir
effaceab1e. He is still remembered and II
yered as the great apostle Of Calvinism, an
his published works are still the corner
stone of theology in all the CaIvinisti
schools of the country. OF late years ther
has been considerable discussion as t
| whether Jonathan Edwards was at all time
consistent in his views and Judgments. NOR
particularly upon questions concernin!
the Trinity. It has been asserted from
time to time that the great divine
had reduced his Views on. this subject tc
writing, and that the publishers of his works
had deemed his writing on this point so OBJ
| jectfonab1e that the paper was suppressed
| Of late it has been given out that this sup
pressed paper was still in existence, and thai
! it so challenged the orthodox teaching on
the Trinity that it might be styled as Uni.
tarian in its tendency.
Dr.. Oliver wendell Holmes, in recent
paper published in the attonal Reute,u,
referred to this matter, and to this writing,
supposed to have been suppressed by the
TItnitarlan publishers Of Edwards works,
and used the following language:
The writer Is informed on unquestiouabie au-
thortty that there is, or was Ia existence. man
to hare undergone great change in the direc-
ton Of Arinnism, or Ut SabelttAnism, which Is IN
old fashioned Unitarianism, or, at any rate.
show detection from bis former standard ct
orthodoxy, and which its custodians thinking It
best to be as wise rs serpents la order that they
might continue harmless as doves, have consd-
IN rk7Iy
If any OF our friends at Andover can inform us
what arc the facts about this manuscript, such
ay Who Gs VOID be- 9eoced to Faow ~
that so able and su good u man lived to be eman-
c'pated from The worse than heathen concep-
but crippled understanding.
This and other pu blications OF the sama
general character were intended perhaps to
prepare the religious world for the appear
ance Of the Edwards paper itself; at all
events Mr.. Egbert e. Smyth has published a
volume in which he gives the long SUD-
pressed observations concerning the Scrip
ture economy OF the Trinity and the cove
nant of redemption." In the volume he gives
a history Of the paper, and suggests the rea-
sons which have so far prevented its publica~
tion.
. The essay is long,--too long for a news-
paper. It is in the somewhat heavy and
turgid style of Jonathan Edwards aud Of
the general theological writings of his day. |
The essay is divided into many points and |
sub-points. we take, however, the conclu-
sion or final deduction Of the paper, from
which the reader may possibly discover how
far the great Calvinist departed, 1t at all,
from the orthodox teaching on the subject.
Here is the conclusion Of the paper:. !.
C$RoL:-From the things that have been OBJ
served, 1t appears to be unreasonable to sup
9osc, US some do. that the Sonshfp Of the second
= Set ip s1s m rat1y fopslsts ~ ony n
he Father as Son consists only il HIS being
ppolnted, constituted, and authorized Of the
5 20 other priority Of the Father to the Son but +
hat which Is voluntarily establtshed in the cove
unit OF redemption. For It appears by what
he Son is. in the order Of nature, before the
ovenant OF redemption. And 1t appears
yidently. to be SO. even, by the scheme
be contrary. For they suppose that It is
be Father who BY His power constitutes the
on iu His oliice OF Mediator, and so that the
lediator Is His Son--f;e:, is made a mediator by
rum Him. But II SO. that supposea the Father, |
! the Economy of the Trinity, to be before the !
on OF above Him (and SO to vest with authority |
erson % in the Trnity} before % that other M Fl Person
thus authorized. which Is by the covenant OF
sdemption, and consequently that this supe-
orlty Of the Father is antecedeut to that cove
ant And the whole tenor OF the Gospel ex-
bfts the same thing For that represents the / I
ondrous love aud grace nf God as appearingin t
appointing and constituting His own only be-
o eSsar sGf to 20
Il after he WINS appointed to be our Mediator. | 8