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entitled, Sinners in the hands of an angry GoD. V. A Sermon on the distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of GOD, preached at New-Haven, Sept. 10, 1741, from 1 John iv. 1. VI. Some Thoughts concerning the present Revival of Religion in New England, and the Way in which it ought to be acknowledged and promoted, humbly offered to the Public, in a Treatise on that subject, in five Parts. Published in the year 1742. VII. A Treatise concerning Religious Affections. Published in the year 1746. VIII. A Treatise, entitled, An humble Attempt to promote explicit Agreement, and visible Union of GoD's People in extraordinary Prayer, for the Revival of Religion, &c. Recommended by five of the principal Ministers in Boston. Published in 1747. IX. An Account of the Life of the Reverend Mr. David Brainerd, Minister of the Gospel and Missionary to the Indians, &c. with Reflections and Observations thereon. Published in the year 1749. X. An Inquiry into the Qualifications for full Communion in the visible Church. Published in the year 1749: Intended as an explanation and vindication of his principles in the matter which occasioned his dismission from Northampton. XI. A Reply to the Reverend Mr. Williams's Answer to the forementioned Inquiry. Published in the year 1752. XII. A Sermon preached at Newark, before the Synod, Sept. 28, 1752, from Jam. ii. 19. entitled, True Grace distinguished from the experience of Devils. XIII. A careful and strict Inquiry into the modern prevailing Notion of that Freedom of Will, which is supposed to be essential to moral Agency, &c. Published in the year 1754. XIV. The great Christian Doctrine of original Sin defended; Evidences of its Truth produced, and Arguments to the contrary answered. Containing, in particular, a Reply to the Objections and Arguings of Dr. John Taylor, &c. published in 1758. This was in the press when he died. XV. An History of Redemption. A very excellent posthumous publication." Besides these, several Sermons have been separately published on various occa

sions:

stant sense of the absolute sovereignty of God, and a delight in that sovereignty, and have had more of a sense of the glory of Christ as a mediator, as revealed in the Gospel. On one Saturday night in particular, had a particular discovery of the excellency of the Gospel of Christ above all other doctrines; so that I could not but say to myself, “This is my chosen light, my chosen doctrine:" And of Christ, "This is my chosen prophet." It appeared to me to be sweet beyond all expression, to follow Christ, and to be taught and enlightened and instructed by him; to learn of him, and live to him.

YORK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTÓR, LENOX AND TILEEN FOUNDATIONS

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sions: But I know not, at present, of any large work unpublished of this admirable Author.

JAMES HERVEY, A. M.

THIS amiable Christian and excellent Minister was born on Friday the 26th of February 1713-14, at Hard*ingstone, a country village one mile from Northampton, his father being then minister of the parish of Collingtree, within two miles of Hardingstone. His first instruction was from his mother, who taught him his letters, and to read. Under her tuition he continued till he was seven years of age; when he was sent, as a day-scholar, to the free grammar school at Northampton, of which the Reverend Mr. Clarke, vicar of St. Sepulchre's in the said town, was at that time master.

At this school he remained till he was seventeen years old, and learned the Latin and Greek languages, in which his genius and memory would have enabled him to have made a much earlier progress, if it had not been prevented by his schoolmaster, who would not suffer him, or any other of his scholars, to learn faster than his own son. Whilst Mr. Hervey was at school, though he shewed a remarkable dexterity at all the innocent games usual among children, yet he had an indifference, uncommon among boys, for the acquisitions he made by them, which he pursued only for exercise and amusement.

In the year 1731, at the age of seventeen, he was sent by his father to Oxford, and was entered of Lincoln College, under the tuition of the Rev. Mr. Hutchins. He resided in the university seven years, yet only took the degree of bachelor of arts. The first two or three years he spent with some degree of indolence, or rather less application to his studies than he afterwards used. But in 1733, about his nineteenth year, becoming acquainted with some persons who began to distinguish themselves by their serious impressions of religion, and their zeal for the promotion of it, he was engaged, by their influence, in a stricter attachment both to piety and learning; of the former there are conspicuous marks in his letters written to his sister in the years 1733, 1734, and 1735: And of the latter, in the course of his labours.

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He made himself master of Dr. James Keill's Anatomy, Dr. Derham's Physico-theology and Astro-theology, the Spectacle de la Nature, as translated by Humphreys, which last work he read with a peculiar satisfaction. Nor was he less delighted by the Essay on Pope's Odyssey,' written by the Rev. Mr. Spence, prebendary of Durham; to which elegant and judicious discourse Mr. Hervey often acknowledged that he owed more of his improvement in style and composition, than to any other which he had ever read.

In 1734, at the persuasion of a much-valued friend, he began to learn the Hebrew language without any teacher, by the Westminster Grammar, but soon found that Grammar too concise and difficult for the instruction of a learner; and therefore he then despaired of ever attaining a tolerable knowledge of what he afterwards made himself a complete master.

It appears from his letters to his sister in 1733, 1734, and 1735, that though he then shewed a pious and serious turn, yet these letters speak a language very different from those truths, for which we find he was afterwards so powerful an advocate, or at most they treat very confusedly of them. The truth is, he was then a stranger to, and had strong prepossessions against the doctrine of justification by faith in the imputed righteousness of Christ. And he acknowledges, in a note on his "Descant upon Creation," that Mr. Jenks's excellent treatise, entitled, • Submission to the righteousness of GoD,' was the instrument of removing his prejudices, and reducing him to a better judgment.

He entered into holy orders as soon as his age and the canons of the church would allow. Whilst he was at Oxford, he had a small exhibition of about twenty pounds a-year; and when he was ordained, his father pressed him very much to take some curacy in or near Oxford, and to hold his exhibition; but this he would by no means comply with, it being in his opinion unjust to detain it, after he was in orders, from another person, who might more want the benefit of that provision than himself.

In 1736, he left Oxford, and became his father's curate. He afterwards went to London; and, after staying some time there, he accepted the curacy of Dummer in Hampshire. Here he continued about twelve months, when he was invited to Stoke Abbey, in Devonshire, the seat of his worthy friend the late Paul Orchard, Esq. who valued him much for his piety, and with whom he lived upwards of two years in great esteem and friendship. That gentleman

shewed

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