PREFACE CONTENTS. PAGE Introductory Remarks.. His Birth. First Ancestor in America. ... - .1-19 - Writes Political Essays.- Commended by Fisher Ames. - Not Analysis, Unconditional Submission. — Idea of Divine Sovereignty. His Zeal. Revival in Goshen. - Mr. W. enters actively into the Work. - His Begins his Life-work. - Prefers not to settle. - Preaches in several Towns.. Receives a Call at Woodbridge, Conn. A few Months of Home Missionary V Labor in the Black River Country. Journey to Philadelphia. Incidents and Acquaintances. Reaches Philadelphia. - Invitation to preach at "In- dependent Tabernacle."- Receives a Call.- - Declines. Character of Rev. John Hay. His Fall. - Warning to Churches. - Mr. W. preaches in Description of Hadley. - Historical Reminiscences. - Puritan Influence always strong in H.-The Church founded by Rev. J. Russell. - Degeneracy. - Half-way Covenant and Stoddardism.. Became prevalent. - Edwards, of Northampton, resists the Error. It still prevailed in Hadley. - Influence of the Pastors, Williams and Hopkins. The Latter described. Other Causes strengthening Stoddardism. - Causes near the Close of Dr. H.'s Min- istry weakening it. His five Sons-in-Law, all Hopkinsians. Revival... 43-53 The Grand Qualification for Ministerial Efficiency, Sympathy with God and His Truth. Mr. W.'s Love of God in Christ and His Truth. Not a Fault- less Man. Strong Intellect. - His Emotional Nature equal in Strength. - Perils and Advantages of such a Strong Emotional Nature. - More danger- ous when bent in Specific Directions. - His Frank Disposition. - Determina- tion to excel in his Profession. - An Independent Thinker. - The Equal Combination of his Father's and his Mother's Intellectual and Moral Characteristics. - Effects. His Theological Opinions. - Literary Culture. - Such Strong Natures furnish the Best Materials for Biography. - Mr. W. differed from his Predecessor. Difference between the Views entertained by the Stoddardean Churches and the Edwardean. The New Divinity not radically different from the Old, but better analyzed and put together. Opposition occasioned by the Edwardean Doctrines. - Edwards dismissed. - His Unpopularity. Difficulties cumbering Mr. W.'s Field. - Begins his The Wedding Occasion. -Mrs. W.'s Ancestors.- Her Father, the Seventh in Direct Line by the Name, Thomas Seymour. Character. -- Her Father appointed to escort Gen. Burgoyne, a Prisoner, to Boston; Won his Respect and received a Present from him. Thomas, Brother of Mrs. W. - Her Mother. An Incident in her Life.- - Insanity of Mrs. W.'s Father. Her Energy and Benevolence. - Anecdote of Mr. Gauladett. - Becomes a Teacher. Her Conversion. Her Success. Instances of Special Providence. The Work of the Ministry, on Mind. Many of its Influences never known in Time. - Causes of this. -Highest End of the Gospel. — This appreciated only by those who are eminently spiritual. These the Abiding Convictions of Mr. W.- Few Marked Results for the first five Years. Truth was working. Minds differently affected by New Views. - Revivals most genuine and powerful when the widest Circle of Scriptural Truths is received and felt. - Mr. W. presents Truth with great Distinctness. Variety of his Preaching. He gives Sinners no Rest in Impenitence, Christians no Rest in Supineness. - Different Minds differently influenced by his plain and pungent Preaching. - Effects. - The Self-questioning awakened. - Strong Opposition. -Various Causes. - Descent of the Spirit.. Glorious Revival.- Clearly the Work of God. - Opposition hushed by the Mighty Power of - .91-111 Position in which the Revival placed him. Exalted Dignity of the Ministerial The True Pleasure to be enjoyed in Ministerial Life. — Mr. W. engages in his Life-work with more Zeal. The Ties linking him to his People strengthened. - GREAT SUCCESS. General Causes. - Negative and Positive. Not by thoughtful Care to please his People. Some manage. - Wrong Ideas Mr. W. in his Study. - The Spirit with which he studied. and Gift in Prayer, the Type of his Piety, combined, exerted a Power- A Hard Student. His felt Necessity of Study. - Abstemiousness. - - - - Hebrew alone. - Masters it." Mighty in the Scriptures."- Studies the - . 124-170 SECTION III. Dr. W. as a Preacher. - The Subject Matter and Spirit of his Preaching - - - His Love of Sacred Truth. This gave Character to his Preaching. Makes - SECTION IV. - 170-221 His general Parochial Labors, combined with certain Personal Character- - Pastoral Work. Social Prayer.- - Labor with Individuals felt to be a Duty. - Measures. - - - - . 221-259 |