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No 9 VoL. VII.] i’RES DENT DWIGHT. From a Review of the Works of Dr. Dwight, lately published in the London Christian Ob server. Before we proceed with our review, we think it will prove interesting to our read ers to become better acquainted with the history of this truly eminent man ; we therefore need offer no apology for devot ing a few pages to a sketch of his interesting life. Timothy Dwight was born at Northamp ton, in the county of Hampshire in the State of Massachusetts, on the 14th day of M;w, A. D. 1752. The first ancestor ol hjfliiHther’s family in America, came from Dedham, in England, and settled at Ded ham, in Massachusetts, in 1637. The sub ject of this Memoir was able to look back on each individual in that line, including fivp generations, as spiritual members of the church of Christ. His father received his education at Yale Coliege, and was by protession a merchant. His mother was the third daughter of Jonathan Edwards,the celebrated President of Nassau Hall. She devyted herself to the instruction of this son {with the most assiduous attention, with out \.t.vever neglecting the several claims which her numerous rising family had upon her care. She began to instruct him ab most as soon as he was able to speak ; and such was his eagerness, as well as his ca pacity for improvement, that he is stated to have learned the alphabet at a single les son ; and before he was four years oid was. able, to read the Bible with ease and cor rectness. He continued the pupil of his mother, til! he arrived at the litre of six years. She al?o instilled into his opening understanding those principles of piety and virtue which, combined with the influence of his father’s example, under the blessings of Divine Providence, laid the foundation of his future eminence. At the age of six, he was sent to the grammar school, and pursued his studies with such alacrity, that at the age of eight, Be w ould have been prepared for admission into college, had not the discontinuance of the school interrupted his progress, arid placed him again under the faithful tuition This affectionate mother. This domestic fixation rendered him fond of home ; and ’ led him to feel a livelier interest than is usual with boys of the same age, in the conversation of those who were older thaD himself. His father’s hospitable house was the w. II known resort of men of intelli gence; ami even a! this very early period of Li- life, w bile listening to their conver sation on the character of the great men of the age, both in the colonies and in Europe, a deep and lasting impression was made upon his uund; and he then formed a reso lution, that he would make every eff rt in his power to equal those, whose talents and character he heard so highly extolled. in his twelfth year, he went to Middle town, to pursue his studies under the Rev. E. Huntington, a gentleman of high classi cal attainments. Not content with the time regularly allotted to study in the school, he sp -ni most of nis leisure hours at home in jy Vnse application. His conduct continued tofhe marked with the strictest propriety, andhis manners (vere amiable and affection ate. When he had just passed his thirteenth year, be was admitted as a member of Yale College. Here he had the misfortune to break his arm, and for several months he was prevented bv sickness from pursuing his-ladies; which circumstance, together with ihe irregularities which at that ti ne unhappily’ prevailed in the college, tended much to impede his advancement in knew ledge. He however gained considerable reputation for genius and acquirements; and his information and address rendered his society generally pleasing. In addition to his ordinary pursuits, he at tained such a degree of excellency in pen mliiship, that his writing was with difficult ■ Tjoisliegoished from engraving. He was ! also skilled in poetry and musick, particu larly in sacred mui-ick. White at college he formed a resolution to which he adhered during the remainder of his collegiate life, to employ fourteen hours each day in close application to his etudies. At (hat time college prayers be ; gan at half past five o’clock in the morning in the winter, aud at half past (bur in the summer; before which hour he regularly construed and parsed a hundred lines of Ho mer. This lesson, which formed no part of the regular college exercises, was, of •cout-e, acquired by candle light. As he advanced, it was gradually increased to a much larger quantity. By this incessant implication to study his eyes became seri ously affected, and a foundation was thus early laid for that weakness in them, which caused him so much distress during the re* maiuder of his life. He received the de gree of Bachelor of Arts in the year 1763, when he was a little past seventeen years of age. A short time after leaving college he was employed to take charge of a gram mar school at New Haven. ‘1 his was the commencement ot that course of life,which, with very little interruption, be pursued for nearly fifty years; a course of tile in winch Providence bad peculiarly qualified him to excel. THE MISS IO N Alt In 1771, at the age of nineteen, he was chosen a tutor in Yale College. In this sit uation he remained for six succeeding years, performing its duties with distin guished success and reputation. His asso ciates were men of eminent talents ; and by their united efforts, the institution soon acquired considerable celebrity. It was in the first year of his tutorship, that he com menced writing his Conquest of Canaan,” a regular epic poem. About this time he was inoculated for the small pox ; by which, and too early a return to study, his eyes were so seriously injured as to cause him, through life, a great degree of pain and embarrassment. In the year 1772, lie received the degree of Master of Arts. On that occasion he de livered, as an exercise, his “ Di-sertation on the History, Eloquence, and Poetry of the Bible,” which was afterwards publish ed, both in America and in Europe. It un folded, at that early age, the bolder fea tures ol the author’s mind; and evinced great maturity of judgement and taste. The field ot thought was new in that conn try'. The style is described as dignified and manly, arid formed by a standard truly classical. At a subsequent period, during bis residence in college as a tutor, he enga ged deeply, and with great success, in the study of the higher branches of the mathe maticks. During the second year of his tutorship, he attempted, by a very restricted and vegetable diet, to remove the ne cessity for bodily exercise, and vet to secure himself from the duloess incident to a full habit and inactive life ; but, his health rapidly declining, a physician whom he con sulted recommended to him, among other things, a daily course of vigorous bodily ex ercise, as the only means of restoring his constitution to its primitive vigour. He followed his advice; and, within tweive months, walked upwards of two thousand miles, and rode on horseback upwards of three thousand. To his perseverance in this system, rie was probably indebted for bis recovery, as well as lor the uninterrup ted health and vigour of constitution which he enjoyed for the ensuing forty years. In 1774, Mr. Dwight united himself to the college church. At this time it was his expectation to pursue the practice of law ; and his studies were directed towards that object. In March, 1777, he married Miss YVoolsey, on Long Island. They had eight sons, of whom six survived their fa ther. Mrs. Dwight is still living. In May of the above ye.ar, the college was broken up hv the war, and (he stu- Jents left New Haven and pursued their studies under their respective tutors, in places less exposed to the sudden incur sions of the enemy. Early in June he was licensed as a preacher in his native county of Hampshire, in the State of Massachusetts. Soon after he was appointed chaplain to General Parsons’ brigade, which was part of the Division of General Putnam, in the army of the United States. He joined the ar.ny at West Point, in October. The troops who composed the Brigade, were principally Connecticut farmers; men who had been piously educated, and who were willing to lifieD t* the truths of the Gospel, even in a camp. On the Sabbath, they heard him with profound attention. Dur ing the week, they saw him exerting him self, as far as lay’ in his power, to instruct them in morals and religion. Several of his discourses delivered to the whole army, owing partly to their intrinsick merit, and partly to the feelings of the times, gained him high reputation with the American pub lick. He also wrote several patriolick songs, which were universally popular among his countrymen. His connexion with the army enabled him to form an ex tensive acquaintance with many officers of distinction; and among others, General Washington, who honoured him with flat tering attentions. He remained in the army rather more than a year ; when the news of his father’s death rendered it necessary for him to re sign his office, in order to console his mo ther, and to a**ist her in the support and education of her numerous family. Mr. Dwight had left a widow and thirteen chil dren; ten of whom ware under twenty-one years of age. The subject of this memoir was the eldest; and on him devolved the care of the family, at a period when the circumstances of the country rendered the task peculiarly difficult, in this situation he passed live year” of the most interesting period ot his life ; performing in an exem plary manner ( he office of a son and a bro l (her. Tne government and education of the children, as well as the daily provision for their want* l , depended almost exclusive ly upon bis exertion*. To accomplish these objects he postponed his own estab lishment for life, and a provision for his fauivy. Though destitute of property,he re linquished hi own proportion of the family estate, in favour of his brothers and sisters. Hts mother was accustomed to acknowledge in language of eloquent affection and grati tude, his kindness, faithfulness, and genero sity to her and her children. The respect which she manifested towards him, though perhaps not hi* inferior in native powers of mind, resembled the affection of a dutiful Os 3 11 a■ i ye aU the world ’ and preach the Gotpel to every creature.— T (S us Christ. dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable suj ports. Jj/khingtcn MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 'l 825. child towards a father, rather than the feel ings of a mother for her son. During this period, he laboured through the week upon the patrimonial farm, and [ preached on the Sunday to several desti-j lute congregations in the neighbouring; towns. He also established a school at I Northampton, for the instruction of youth j of both sexes; which was almost immedi-1 ately resorted to by- such a number of pu ! pils, that he was under the neces.-ity of em- j ploying two assistants. A part of one of! the classes in his college repaired to North ampton, and placed themselves under his care as their preceptor. The compensa tion which he received for preaching, as welL-as the protits of his school, were all expended in the support of the common family. A strong disposition was manifested by the inhabitants ot Northampton, to employ him in civil life. In the county conventions he repeatedly represented the town; and, in connexion with a lew individuals, met and resisted that spirit of disorganization and licentiousness which was then unhappi ly prevalent. Twice he consented to serve the town as their representative in the State Legislature. This was in the years 1781 and 1782, just before the close of the war ot Independence ; when subjects of an interesting and perplexing nature, growing out of the great controversy in which the country had so long been engaged, exten sively agitated the publick mind, and en grossed legislative attention. Every thing was unsettled. The war had sundered not only the cords which fastened the colonies to the mother country, but those also which bound them to each other. The old foun dations were destroyed; and new ones were to be established. In this situation, inexperienced as he was in the business of a politician or a legislator, he at once be came one of the most industrious and influ ential members of that body, and was great ly admired and distinguished for his talents and eloquence. Ail his exertions were on (he side ot good order and good morals ; and indicated a steady attachment to the principles of rational liberty, and a decided hostility to licentiousness. On one occasion he was enabled to prove his devotion to the interests of learning. A petition for a grant in favour of Harvard College was before the Legislature. At that time such grants wpre unpopular. Du ing his occasional absence from the House the petition had been called up ; and, after finding hut few, and those not very warm advocate*, had been generally negatived. On taking his seat, Mr. Dwight learned what had occurred, moved a re considera tion of the vote. In a speech of about aD hour in length, fraught, with wit, with ar gutneot, and with eloquence, and received with marked applause from the members and the spectators, he effectually changed the feelings of the House, and procured a nearly unanimous vote in favour of the grant. At this period, he was again earnestly so iiciled to quit the clerical profession, and devote himself to public life, and some tlat te.ring proposals were made him in the e vent of his so doing; but, nothing rould change his resolution. In May, 1783, he was ordained according to the rites of the community to which he belonged, to the pastoral charge the of parish of Greenfield ; hut the stipend, which consisted of five hun dred dollars, the use of six acres of parochi al land, and 20 cord of wood, did not aItWV will) the maoy claims on his purse, of his relinquishing tuition. During the twelve years of his residence at Greenfield, he in structed upwards of one thousand pupils Besides the instruction of his school, he [ireached twice every Sunday, and regu larly visited his people. He also cultivat ed with his own hands, a large garden.— Having numerous family connexions end friends, he entertained an almost uninter rupted succession of company ; greater, it is said, than any individual in the Stale. — Greenfield was the resort of learning, of talents, of refinement, and of piety ; and his own hospitable doors were ever open to welcome the stranger, as well as the friend. He was the centre of such exten sive attractions, as entirely to have altered the aspect of society in the regions around him. In May, 1795, the Presidency of Yale College becoming vacant, Dr. Dwight was appointed to fill that station. The people of his parish, with whom he had lived for twelve years, in uninterrupted harmony, heard ot’ his appointment with extreme re gret, and did not surrender him without gieat reluctance. We are now entering upon a very interesting period of his life. The state of Yale Coliege, at the time of bis accession to the office of Psesident, was most unhappy; aud one of the great est evils under which it was suffering, was an extensive prevalence of infidelity among the students. This pernicious spirit had been derived from the circumstances of the country, at the close of the [(receding war. As was natural, it found easy access to the minds of a collection of youths, who were fascinated with ideas of mental .'as well a* political independence, and who were easi ly induced to shake off what thry consider ed to be the shackles of habit and super stition. The degree to which it prevailed may he conjectured from the fact, that a ‘ a considerable portion of the class which Dr. D. fir“t taught had assumed the names j ot the principal English and French infidels ; and were more familiarly known by them than by their own. To extirpate a spirit so fatal, he availed himself of an early and de cisive opportunity. Forensic disputation was an important exercise of the senior class. For this purpose they were formed into a convenient number of divisions; and it was the practice for each division to agree upon several questions, and then refer them to the President toselect which he thought proper. Hitherto the students had not been allowed to discuss any question which involved thej inspiration ol the Scriptures; from an ! apprehension that the examination of these j points would expose them to the contagion ! of scepticism. As infidelity was extensive-j ly prevalent in the State, and in the coun- j try, the effect of this course upon the minds j ol the students had been unhappy. It had I led them to believe that their instructors | were afraid to meet the question fairly ; and j that Christianity was supported by authori ty, and not by argument. One of the ques tions presented by the first division was: — “ Jhe the Scriptures of the Old and JVevj Tcs lament the word of God To their sur prise, the President selected it for discus sion; tojd them to write on which side they pleased, as he should not impute to them any sentiments which they advanced as their own; and requested those who should write ont’ e ntgative side of tho question, to collect all the facts and aguuients which they could produce; enjoining it on them, however, to treat the subject with becom ing respect and reverence. Most, if not all the members of the division, came forward as the champions of infidelity. When they bad finished the discussion, he first examin ed die ground they had taken; triumphant ; ly refuted their arguments; proved to them that their statement of facts was mistaken, or irrelevant; and to their astonishment, convinced them, that their acquaintance with the subject was wholly superficial.— After this, he entered into a direct defence ol the Dtvine origin of Christianity, in a strain of powerful argument, and animated eloquence, which nothing could resist. The effect upon the students was electrical. From that moment infidelity was not only without a stroDg-hold, but without a lurk ing-place. To espouse her cause was now as unpopular, as before it had been to pro fess a belief in Christianity. Unable to en dure the exposure of argument, she lied Irom Ibe retreats of learning, ashamed and disgraced. Dr. Dwight’s system of discipline was peculiarly his own, and commanded univer sal approbation. His long experience in this employment had made him thoroughly acquainted with the youthful character, and enabled him to teach as well as to govern young men with extraordinary success. In the year 1795, when he entered upon the duties of his office, the whole number of students was one hundred and ten. Almost immediately after his accession, they began to increase, and in the course of his presi dency amounted to three hundred aud ihir teen ; an increase unexampled in any simi lar institution m the United Slates. It was never any par! of his plan merely to dis charge his duty : and thought nothing ade quately done, till all was done that the case admitted ot. “The public,” says Profes sor Siilimao, “ have been little aware of the extent and diversity of the labours of President Dwight, in this institution. He has in tact, discharged the duties of four offices, either of which is, ordinarily, con sidered as sufficient to engross the time and talents of one man.” “ i iis object was not only to instruct the young men under his care, in the particular sciencea which came before them, but to fit them, by repeated couusels, and by information, pressed upon them with parental solicitude, for the vari ous scenes into which they were to pass in life.” He encouraged the students, es pecially those of the senior class, in n't their difficulties and troubles to come to him ior advice and assistance. In every such case, the instructor was forgotten ia the friend and the tattler. Hi’s pupils familiarly spoke of him as “the young ir.ii’s friend.” At the commencement of his presidency the Professorship ol Theology was vacant. The Corporation proposed to appoint him in torui to the office; but for the first ten years tie would consent only to an annual appointment. In 1805, it was made perms nenl; when, as we have stated, he was al lowed an amanuensis. None but his intimate friends knew how great, at ihi* period, were his snffeiirigs from weakness of sight. For years it was with extreme difficulty that he could read; or write even a sentence. He wa gieatly alarmed, for a long p'-riod, with the *yn-.p. toms of an approaching gutta screna. Re [tealedly the pressure on the brain whs so i great as to produce momentary blindness, and apparently to threaten apoplexy. Or. casionally, lor weeks together, the angm-li of his eyes was so intense, that it required powerful exertion to draw off bis min I to any other object; and often, attempting in vain to sleep, he has risen from his lied, j aud, to promote a free perspiration, ha* I walked for miles in the middle of the j night In the year 1766, he commenced jour neying on horseback,or in a vehicle called a “sulky,” during the college vacations.— This practice he continued through the re mainder of his life, except the last year; and in these various journeys it is compu- that he rode about twenty thousand miles. To enumerate the various literary, char itable, and pious institutions which Dr Dwight was active in foundering or assist ing, would be a laborious employment.— He was particularly interested in the Con necticut Academy of Arts and ‘sciences; — the Missionary Society of Connecticut, to whose funds he was a liberal contributor of upwards of one thousand dollars; the So ciety for Foreign Mi*ions, established in the year 1809, at Boston, Massachusetts ; the Theological Seminary, at Andover, <n that State ; and above all, the British and Foreign Bible Society. From the time of the establishment of that most illustrious and sublime charity which has ever engag ed the attention, or drawn forth the exer tions and the wealth of the pious and bene volent, it was the ardent wish of President Dwight to see a similar institution establish ed in the United States; and it was a consol ing consideration to him, that he lived to see it accomplished. In addition to ih*se institutions, a long list of more ci. lined hut active societies had the bench’ < ns influence and patronage. At the age ol sixty-three, owing to his regularity, temperance, and exercise, he had become more active and energetic than most men of forty. No apparent declen sion was discernable in the powei* cither of his body or his mind. About ihi* time, however, he was seized with the. tir=t at tack of a disease to winch he finally became a victim. That attack was most -evere, and it made .fearful ravages on a constitu tion which had increased m strength aud firmness for more than sixty years. A midst his extreme suffering*, not a murmur, not a repining expression escaped from ins lips. His mind was perfectly clear, and his reason unclouded. Patience under suf fering, and resignation to the will of God, were exhibited by him in the most striking and exemplary manner. His com rt*;r nui wa the conversation of the Chi.-u ..... ; t only free from complaint, but ..i times cheerful and animated: i.m prayers w<-re fervent, but lull of humility, üba>i -ion, and hope. At the end of twelve week*, his disease assumed a more favorable appearace, so that lie was able, through the sun.o r, to preach in the chapel, to hear recitation*, and to attend to a class of theological stu dents, who were pursuing their stu ‘i * un der his direction. Me also wrote, miring ihi* season, several Essays on ibe Eviden ces nf Divine Revelation, and on other • ob jects ; the whole forming matter for a enn siderable volume. The last of these Es says was finished only three days I.eLue his itea'.h. He also wrote the latter i .o’ of a Poem, of about fifteen hundred line*, on “Geriiu* and Common Sense” Other works also were, beg-un or projected , but be was now drawing fast towards the close of his eaiihty labours. He met hi3 senior class for ihe last lime on Wednesday, Nov. 27*when hr took cold, was worse, from tbe exeition, and did not go out again. He still continued howe ver, to hear the. theological class at bis house. Their last recitation was only a week before, his death ; Ins suffering* at the time were extreme, and hts debility scarcely permitted him to speak ui all; hut Lis mind abstracted itself from its sym pathy with an agonized frame; and in a dis cern se for one hour and a half, on Ihe doc trine ot the Trinity, he reasoned upon and illustrated it, in the mosi cogent aqd inter esting manner, and left an indelible impres sion on tne minds of tiis pupils He continued in a stale of great suffering till Tuesday the 7th of January, 181 7, when his disorder assumed a most alarming as pect, ar.d terminated Ins tile on the Satur day following. On the Tuesday ot that week tie got out of his bed, was dressed, and at in his chair till evening, lie an sweied questions put to him, with deal ness and promptitude; inquired with affection respecting his triends arid neighbours; and in the evening attempted to conduct family prayer, and proceeded for a tew minutes with clearness and propriety, but a parox ysm f pain rendered him incapable of ut terance, and he desisted. On Friday, it be ing apprehended by his family li st tie was not aware 61 tus approaching dissolution, the fact was announced to him.—He recei veu the intelligence with gieat calmness, and at short intervals through the day, when his sufferings permitted, he convert |ed on various topics, in the usual manner. | Subjects connected with the great objects i u| nis labours, his desires, and his prayers, , through life—the effusion of the Spud of j (jod, revival* ot religion, the propagation • ol Christianity, and the dissemination ot .he : scriptures, were not only near hi* heart, but, when mentioned, kindled tus feelings j and awakened his devotion. In the course of the evening, at his request, the eigSih chapter ol the Epistle to he Romans .vas read to him. He listened to ii with gi*-at | attention, r*m. iked npoi . mistranslation 1 in one or two places; spoke with much ter