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THE YALE STANDARD Volume XVII, No. 3 Fall 2000

The Long Difficult Birthing

In 1665 the solid foundation for the colony. was collapsing. Of all the New But by 1660, the outlook was bad England settlements, it had been the for Puritan New England. The Stuart most steadfastly Biblical. A company dynasty, whose oppressions the of Englishmen led by London min- had fled, was restored to ister John Davenport and London power in England. Charles II was merchant Theophilus Eaton had now on the throne, and the Bible com - established the colony in 1638/39, monwealth of New Haven hardly intending to Odrive things in the first ment, the planters Ocast [themselves] stood in his best graces. Then, in essay as near to the precept and pat - into several private meetings wherein 1662, neighboring tern of the Scripture as they could be they that dwelt nearest together gave Colony obtained a royal charter grant - driven.o their accounts to one another of Godœs ing it jurisdiction over the whole of The colony records show what gracious work upon them and prayed the New Haven Colony. John kind of plantation these New Haven together and conferred to their mutual Davenport and others resisted absorp - pioneers hoped to have. Before they edification . . .o With 14 months of tion by the larger colony, but by 1664, began either church or civil govern - such prayer and fellowship they laid a (See Birthing, page 4)

espite the oft-depicted caricature of a scowling preacher Dwho conjured up hellœs flames when he preached, Jonathan Edwards was a gentle man who through a lifelong labor of pastoral service quietly established himself as a towering giant in Christian history and Christian thought. There were preachers of his day more dynamic than he, and missionaries more daring, but through a life of undeterred prayer and study, this soft-spoken preacher and scholar drew, persuaded, and inspired a generation of men and women into a vital Inside: relationship with Jesus Christ. And indeed, his influence con - Test your Yale Savvy...p. 10 tinues. As the late great preach - Blast from the Past....p. 6 (See page 3) Three Centuries of Open Wells, Flowing Grace

This issue of the Yale Standardhas brought into focus a clear and, to us, thrilling pattern of determined handfuls of people daring Goliath-sized obstaclesoall to advance the knowledge of the Good News of Jesus Christ at and through Yale. Many on campus might be amazed to think of Yale as being a break- through for Jesus Christœs Gospel, asbeing a means of spreading that Good News across America and many nations, but that is the tercentennial record that can be traced, unbroken, from 1647 to this day . . . if you know where to look. In contrast to the multitudes, religious or irreligious, the bands of those who yearn to do what is on Godœs own heart have never been large. Their way has never been smooth. Their impact has been profound. The Bible records that the patriarch Abraham took many steps forward by faith, among them digging some wells in the Promised Land. Later, his The Yale Standard enemies registered spite by filling them in (Genesis 26). His son, Isaac, the next generation, went back and reopened those very wells, and Godœs pur - Bible Study pose in that famous family went on to Isaacœs son Jacob and the 12 tribes of Israel. Bible Studies: In this issue, read how Davenport and his friends labored to found New Wednesday and Saturday Haven for the Gospel. Then the next generation picked up, then the next. An Evenings at 7 PM unbroken skein of Davenport, both Abraham Piersons, Pierpont, Mather, Jonathan Edwards, Dwight, and many more kept advancing the Gospel at and through Yale. Locations: At great cost and despite many setbacks, they persisted, dug and redug WLH 211 (Wed) the spiritual wells of Gospel light and truth. The very Hebrew of their Yale WLH 210 (Sat) seal declared their devotion to the Scripture itself, not to religious tradition. They led in sending out missionaries, founding Christian schools, build- Contact Elizabeth at 777-6838 ing a nation, leavening it with the light and truth as it is in Jesus. This Yale Standardcalls your attention to three centuries of testimony to Godœs faithfulness, how He has encouraged each generation of believers and Come join us as we borne them fruitfully forward. Abraham Lincoln once remarked, OThe Almighty has His own purposes.o We discern that the God of the Scriptures gather to worship the has been moving those purposes in each generation, including this one. Lord! God has kept the wells of His refreshing grace open all this time, at Yale and elsewhere, and invites you today to dare pray that astounding request,

When the enemy shall come OYour kingdom come, Your will be done in like a flood, the Spirit of on earth as it is in heaven.o the Lord shall lift up a - Matthew 6:10 standard against him. Isaiah 59:19 Philip Chamberlain, BR Œ70

2 Jonathan Edwardsœ Life

(Continued from page 1) er Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones wrote in 1976, ONo man giate benefits the founders of the school had envi - is more relevant to the present condition of sioned and prayed for. It was after his conversion than Jonathan Edwards.o that he made his promise to God and himself: Edwards was born on October 5, 1703, to OResolved, To live with all my might while I do Timothy and Esther Edwards in a small town in the live.o After graduation, Edwards spent several It was Connecticut river valley called East Windsor. He years first as pastor of a small Presbyterian parish after his was the fifth child and only son among what would in New York City, then as a tutor at Yale where he become eleven children. Timothy, a Harvard was able to continue his studies in philosophy, the conversion graduate, was minister to the town of about 300 that he inhabitants. Jonathanœs mother was of the eminent made his Stoddard family who held among them various important civic and ministerial positions in famous Massachusetts. It was in his childhood, bathed in promise to the beauty of the valley, that a fondness for nature God and was instilledoan admiration which would later be expressed in a much-praised academic paper on himself: spiders. Two years before his birth, down the ÎResolved Connecticut River, was born (not yet named as such nor yet established in New Haven) , To live as a response to the growing intellectual infidelity with all of Harvard. Taking seriously Godœs command to Moses Oyou shall not add to the word I give you my might nor take from it,o Puritan ministers turned their while I do hopes to this new institution as a haven for unadulterated Biblical teaching. live.Ï The new schoolœs founding proved to be a crit - ical fact in Edwardsœs life for he would enter the Jonathan Edwards, 1703 - 1758 college thirteen years later a freshman. At Yale, Jonathan quickly showed himself a natural sciences (he wrote his paper on spiders gifted student. In his senior year, he was given the then) and theology. Yet growing increasingly unusual honor of being appointed the college but - unsatisfied with purely academic endeavors, and ler while still an undergraduate. At graduation, as desiring to occupy himself with concerns more the highest ranking student of his class, he was directly touching the spiritual welfare of people, he called on to deliver the farewell address. sought God for a break into a new situation. One principal concern had increased in The break came in the fall of 1726 when the Jonathanœs mind by the time he was a senior: his church in Northampton (also in the Connecticut desire to know God. Putting academic books aside river valley in central Massachusetts, where his one day, he picked up his Bible as he had done highly-regarded yet aging grandfather Solomon many times before. But this time the words made Stoddard was preaching) invited him to take up an impact as never before. He wrote of the residence as assistant pastor. Northampton would experience: be his home for the next 23 years, and the place OThe first instance that I remember of that with which his name would be indelibly connected. inward, sweet delight in God and divine things was Stoddard had ably led the people of on reading those words ŒNow unto the King eter - Northampton, who by then consisted of about 200 nal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be families, for the past 56 years, having overseen five honour and glory for ever and ever, Amen.œ As I special spiritual awakenings in the town. Of these read there came into my soul a sense of the glory times, Edwards recalled, OI have heard my grand - of the Divine Being.o father say, the greater part of the young people Jonathan Edwards would leave Yale having seemed to be mainly concerned for their eternal gained not just an education but a vibrant relation - salvation.o Unbeknownst to Jonathan as yet, his - ship with Jesus Christojust that balance of colle - (Continued on page 8)

3 Birthing (Continued from page 1) Indian tribes. In a col - New Havenœs options were limited. It lege, it is clear, was either assimilate with Puritan Davenport and Pierson Connecticut or accept hostile takeover intended benefit for by Anglican New York. more than just their But even assimilation with immediate neighbors Connecticut (the course New Haven (see sidebar on page 5). Colony chose) meant the surrender of a New Haven Colony critical part of New Havenœs Biblical records show at least 21 stand. Connecticut favored the so- yearsœ effort on Daven- called OHalfway Covenanto by which portœs part toward the baptized, though unconverted, persons college. He attempted were allowed to present their children to found a grammar for baptism. Davenport rightly insist - school, as a kind of pre - A Sketch of the First Trusteesœ Meeting ed that this spelled destruction for the liminary step. (Grammar schools were church for which the New Haveners the college prep schools of the day, in ment, Davenport wrote to wealthy had aimed, the Scriptural church com - that they instructed students in the Edward Hopkins in London, hoping to posed of true believers. classics.) interest him in the work. Hopkins, Not everyone accepted the new Only ten years after the colonyœs who had served as governor in the order of things. By 1666, many New founding the legislative assembly Connecticut Colony, was New Haven Haven Colony stalwarts had left to formed a committee to consider what Governor Theophilus Eatonœs stepson- establish a new Biblical plantation in vacant lot to reserve for a college in-law, and looked on Davenport as a what was to become Newark, New Owhich they dissire maye bee sett up so father in Christ. He reported to Jersey. In 1668, John Davenport him - Davenport, OThat which the Lord hath self returned to Boston, where the New given mee [in New England], I ever Haven enterprise had been born. He designed the greatest part of it, for the could not have imagined, as historians furthering of the work of Christ in would later trace it, that his life was those ends of Earth.o He promised to inseparable from the founding of a col - provide support for a college once it lege that he never saw. was actually set up, and shaped his will Davenportœs Collegiate School accordingly. Upon Hopkinsœ death in 1657, A most painful consequence of Davenport became a trustee of his suppressing the New Haven Colony estate. Though the 1650s plans for the was the apparent destruction of John college imploded when the wife of the Davenportœs dream of seeing a college schoolœs prospective president object - founded there. Davenport had helped ed to his undertaking the task, New settle the infant Harvard College at Havenœs sturdy minister did not give Cambridge. He knew education was James Pierpont, Jonathan Edwardsœ up. In 1660, he delivered to the gover - critical to New Havenœs Gospel enter - father-in-law nor and magistrates of the colony a prise. If the colony were to prosper in soone as their abillite will reach copy of Hopkinsœ will and an invento - faithful service to God, a college was therunto.o The receptivity of the ry of his estate in New England. He needed, not simply to train ministers, colony to the college plan went up and urged them to begin a grammar school but, in Davenportœs own words, Oto fit down with the years, but Davenport at least, in order to qualify for youth . . . for the service of God in seized every opportunity to encourage Hopkinsœ legacy. Davenport pointed church and commonwealth.o a beginning. out that income from a town oyster Probably the New Haven minis - For a while, little more was done, shell field could defray the expenses of terœs closest confederate in the effort to but in 1654/55, at the urging of a grammar school and college, and begin a college was Abraham Pierson, Davenport and others, colony towns suggested they donate the lot the New Sr. (1613-1678), then a minister in the pledged considerable money to the Haven library now stands on as a site colony town of Branford. Pierson was effort, and the birth of a college for a college. also the first person in the colony to seemed certain. Happy at this move - He pled with the elders and magis - preach the Gospel among the local 4 intended for New Haven, was finally ground to this college initiative which awarded long after Davenportœs death tells us a great deal about the motives to Harvard. behind Yaleœs establishment. In 1665, when the New Haven Young Harvard graduate James Colony fell apart, Davenport had writ - Pierpont came to New Haven in 1685 ten to a friend in Boston that OChristœs and entered into John Davenportœs old interesto in New Haven was Omiser - pastorate. Not only this, but he board - ably lost.o As one scholar of the peri - ed at the home of Abigail Davenport, od notes, the widow of John suppression of A college was needed, not simply to Davenport, Jr., son the colony train ministers, but, as Davenport of New Havenœs (and, it might said, OTo fit youth...for the service of earliest minister. be added, the God in church and commonwealth.o Six years later, failure of the Pierpont married college plan) Orepresented the depth of Abigailœs daughter, also named human tragedyothe plans and efforts Abigail. The bride died of consump - of a lifetime came to naught.o At tion not long after the wedding, but the almost 70, Davenport felt too old to cords that tied Pierpontœs heart to the begin again, as others did, in New Davenport family were not severed Jersey; it was actually Abraham there. Pierson who led the Newark enter - We have no James Pierpont prise. diaries, no detailed record of how he The minutes from the first Trusteesœ Meeting But Davenport had long demon - arrived at the determination to begin a trates that they Onot suffer this strated faith in something besides his college. But around 1898, local histo - [Hopkinsœ] gift to be lost from the own efforts. On first hearing of the rian Henry Blake stumbled on a previ - Colony, but as it becometh Fathers of Stuart restoration, which boded so ously unknown entry in the New the Commonwealth, will use all good much trouble for New England, Haven town records for 1689oa win - endeavors to get it into their hands, and Davenport had written to Connecticut dow upon James Pierpontœs intentions. to assert their right in it for the com - Governor John Winthrop Jr., OOur The entry notes James Pierpontœs mon good, that posterity may reap the comfort is, that the Lord reigneth, and purchase of about 100 books, original - good fruit of their labours, and wis - his counsels shall stand.o And so it ly in the possession of John Davenport dom, and faithfulness.o proved: even Davenportœs failures (Continued on page 11) However, lose the gift the colony were not in vain. Thirty-one years after his death in almost did. The grammar school they Abraham Pierson, Sr., 1670, the college he had so long, so began in 1660 failed because neither Missionary students nor parents were serious dearly envisioned came to be. about the undertaking, and in 1662 the Rebirth: James Pierpont and the Others wanted to trade with the colony voted to abandon the project. A founders of Yale Indians, but Pierson, in his own series of abortive attempts to revive it words, wanted Oto treat with them followed. Finally, in 1667, after in New Haven concerning the things of their peace.o Connecticut had absorbed the New still stands as testament to John In visiting the tribes in this work, he Haven Colony, and Davenport had Davenportœs struggle for a college, yet is known to have traveled as much as again pointed out that the Hopkins it also speaks of his frustration. Still, 800 miles a month. He learned the bequest stood to be lost, the town of the rest of his larger plan, apparently language of the Quinnipiac Indians New Haven opened a grammar school moot, was destined to bear fruit at last. and gave them the only work printed with a self-perpetuating board of In 1701, a group of Connecticut in their language, a catechism called trustees to whom Davenport, as shoreline clergymen, led by New Some Helps for the Indians (1660). Hopkinsœ trustee, could assign New Havenœs James Pierpont, wrote a series He also undertook the education of Havenœs portion of his legacy. of letters to respected New England the son of the official native inter - Though this grammar school lawyers and ministers, asking advice preter, who had failed at Harvard. sometimes referred to itself as Othe on how best to go about forming a col - Some of the native converts of Collegiate Schoolo or Ocollege,o it lege. The story of Yaleœs founding as it Piersonœs ministry served as inter - never became one. The college por - is usually told begins here. But there is preters in the legislative assembly in tion of Hopkinsœ bequest, though a little-known and surprising back - New Haven.

5 ¨I am aware, blessed God, that my mind is dark and ignorant by nature; still, enough is ¨Awake . . . ªWhile it is called today; Arise; stand upon brought to light in nature and revelation your feet«; ply the work of your salvation; repent; believe; to justify our faith in escape for your lives; or the night will be upon you, in what we cannot now understand; and what which you will sleep, to wake no more.© we may know hereafter.© (Timothy Dwight, President of Yale 1795-1817)

President «s wish for Yale on her 150th Birthday:

¨Above and before all may God be present to give light and to leaven with his holy influence all study and disci - pline. But if,§which may he avert,§she should desert his ways, and give herself up to evil and to falsehood, I pray not for her prosperity:§I rather pray that she may fall.©

6 ¨[Jesus] has not grown old. His Gospel is not worn out: He is ªJesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.« Oh, it is a serious mistake that you have ever been led to think that your comfort can be drawn from any other quarter.©

¨Awake . . . ªWhile it is called today; Arise; stand upon ¨I am taught now the utter insuffiency of our own powers your feet«; ply the work of your salvation; repent; believe; to effect a change of heart, escape for your lives; or the night will be upon you, in and am persuaded, that a reliance on our talents and which you will sleep, to wake no more.© powers is a fatal error, spring - ing from natural pride and (Timothy Dwight, President of Yale 1795-1817) opposition to God.© (Noah Webster, Yale 1778)

¨Every student shall consider the end of his study to wit to know God in Jesus Christ and answerably to lead a Godly sober life.© (From ¨Orders and Appointments to be Observed in the Collegiate School in Connecticut,© 1726)

7 Jonathan Edwardsœ Life (Continued from page 3) tory would prove that distress, others with joy and love.o these special occa - While pressing home the consequences of sin, and sions had only been shrinking in no way from the Scriptural fact of hell, primers for what Edwards and other preachers held out Jesusœ salvation would come under his through faith alone. As people wrestled with their eter - own pastorate. nal condition, they found relief in Christ. Edwards Before telling the wrote, OThe town seemed to be full of the presence of story of the North- God; it never was so full of love, nor joy, and yet so full ampton revival, it of distress, as it was then.o should be mentioned Within six years, this spiritual fire would catch that less than a year throughout all the colonies and also across the Atlantic after his arrival, through the preaching of George Whitefield and John Edwards married Wesley. Northampton in 1734 was lapping at the heels Sarah Pierpont, of a period that historians would later call OThe Great whom he probably Awakeningo for the generality and intensity of peopleœs first spied in a meet - concern for their eternal salvation. inghouse when he EdwardsœFaithful Narrative played a critical role in was a tutor at Yale. informing a largely ignorant wider public, both in the Though she was only Colonies and in England, of what was happening in Northampton Church thirteen when he first Northampton. The account helped inspire a new crop of saw her, he noted her as Oa rare example of early piety.o English revivalists, notably Wesley, towards effecting Four years later, they were married, and would contin - similar spiritual blessings in England. ue in their loving bond for thirty years until Edwardsœ By 1742, however, the revival had dissipated into, death. As one early biographer wrote, OPerhaps no as one eyewitness wrote, Ostrife and faction,o in large event of Mr. Edwardsœ life had a more close connection part because of the emotional excesses that had crept with his subsequent comfort and usefulness than this into congregations. Edwards recognized the danger of marriage.o substituting for the true conversion experience mere It was in the winter of 1734 that, as Edwards nar - Owildfireo and Oenthusiasm,o and labored to keep such rates, Othe Spirit of God began extraordinarily to set in, Oirregularitieso to a minimum. While recognizing the and wonderfully to work amongst us: and there were, profundity of Godœs work in a life, he maintained the very suddenly, one after another, five or six persons, need to keep a steady state of mind. who were to all appearances savingly converted.o With While enemies of the Awakening seized the excess - that opening salvo from God, a wide - spread concern among people for their [In] the winter of 1734, Othe Spirit of God own spiritual condition swept through Northampton. Similar events had been began extraordinarily to set in, and wonderfully transpiring in towns throughout the river to work amongst us . . .o valley and other parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut. The effect was immediate and deep. In his Faithful es to condemn the whole of what happened, Edwards Narrative of the Surprising Work of God , Edwards kept a measured assessment. He wrote, Othere may be writes, OWhen once the Spirit of God began to be so some mixtures of natural affection . . . some impru - wonderfully poured out in a general way through the dences and irregularities, as there always was, and town, people had soon done with their old quarrels, always will be in this imperfect state, yet as to the work backbitings, and intermeddling with other menœs mat - in general . . . they have all the clear and incontestable ters. The tavern was soon left empty and persons kept evidences of a true divine work.o very much at home.o In May of 1747, Edwards met a young veteran mis - Further, Oour public assemblies were then beautiful: sionary whose extraordinary work among the American the congregation was alive in Godœs service, everyone Indians he had been reading about. Although by this earnestly intent on the public worship . . . the assembly time David Brainerd was nearly overcome by tubercu - in general were, from time to time, in tears while the losis, his acquaintance with Edwards in the remaining Word was preached: some weeping with sorrow and five months of his life proved to be significant, if for no

8 other reason than that it would lead to a biography that study of Scripture and much prayer, Edwards found would energize a slumbering missionary movement himself unable to accept this practice as Biblical, and both in the Colonies and abroad. proceeded to limit the communion table to only those Converted at the height of the Great Awakening who were expressly converted. while a student at Yale, Brainerd was the unfortunate This overturning of tradition caused a great stir in object of the ire of the college government after he crit - the town, and particular leading families who had icized the spiritual quality of one of his tutors. Though harbored other resentments against Edwards seized the at the top of his class, and despite his submission of an opportunity to try and dismiss him as their pastor. apology, he was denied his degree. (This widely per - Remaining calm and steady through the whole affair, ceived injustice became a significant Edwards reasoned with the motivation for the formation of Princeton people, but to no final effect. College.) By a majority vote of the ruling Without a degree, yet full of faith in council, Edwardsœ relationship God, he interviewed with members of the with the Northampton parish Society in Scotland for Propagating was dissolved. It was then that Christian Knowledge, who determined he Edwards answered a pastoral was the man of their choice to bring the call from an outpost town in Gospel to the American Indians. western Massachusetts called Working among the Kaunaumeek and Stockbridge. There he Delaware Indians in New Jersey, Brainerd preached to the white settlers persisted for years with no visible result and the Housatonic Indians, as from his preaching. But in the summer of well as set up schooling for 1745, when he was physically worn and both white and Indian children. discouraged to the point of quitting, an Whatever time he had left he awakening came among the New Jersey put into his writings. In this Indians that was, as one historian put it, way, Edwards spent the last Oone of the most remarkable in Christian years of his life. history.o In 1755, the trustees of the Deeply moved by Brainerdœs death, recently established College of Edwards felt it his duty to put his story on New Jersey (later Princeton paper. The biography soon gained an University) called upon international following and was the first Jonathan Edwards to take over American-printed biography to do so. the presidency. Hesitating at Over the next hundred years it would do first, he eventually acceded to more to raise Christian consciousness about missionary their pleas. However, illness would intervene at the out - work than any book of its era. set of his term as president. In 1758, after receiving a A New England minister who had an especially dif - smallpox vaccination that was too strong, he died at the ficult parish to shepherd told about the help he derived age of 54, having lived a full life of service to God. from The Life and Diary of the Rev. David Brainerd in Leaving a legacy of service, and writings that these terms: Oand when we shut the book we are not would become classics in Christian literature, Edwards praising Brainerd, but condemning ourselves, and plainly fulfilled his old college resolution to Olive with resolving that, by the grace of God, we will follow all my might.o One other resolution he formed back at Christ more closely in the future.o Yale was, OResolved, To strive every week to be Edwardsœ contact with Brainerd would prove to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of of more than personal interest, but preparatory for his grace, than I was the week before.o So he did, from day own missionary work among the Indians of to day and week to week, for the sake of his Savior, and Stockbridge, Massachusetts just a few years later. blessed us all. His move to Stockbridge in 1751 was, in fact, the Steve Ahn, JE Œ96 result of a sad conclusion to a doctrinal controversy in his parish. His grandfather had established the practice of allowing those who were not professedly Christians to take part in the church communion. After careful

9 Did you Know? . . . from the Yale Files

1) How much did the first Yale students pay for tuition per 6) This Yale professorœs scientific assessment of the possible academic year? Your best estimate. commercial uses of oil formed the basis of the petroleum indus - try for its first fifty years. He was: 2) How many of the following represent Yale firsts? a. Josiah Willard Gibbs, Jr. a. The first professor of Arabic & Sanskrit in the U.S. b. Abner Doubleday b. The first Chinese student to win a B.A. in the U.S. c. O. C. Marsh c. The first medical missionary. d. Albert Einstein d. The first Ph.D. degree program in the U.S. e. Benjamin Silliman, Jr.

3) How many of Yaleœs first twelve presidents were ordained 7) What prospective Yale President was asked by a Yale corpo - ministers of the gospel? ration search committee if he had Oa personal and . . . vital rela - tion to the essential and the historic Christ?o 4) Which two of Yaleœs Omost eminent sonso depicted on a. Timothy Dwight, the elder (Pres. 1795-1817) Harkness Tower did not graduate from Yale? b. (Pres. 1740-1766) a. Jonathan Edwards e. James Fenimore Cooper c. (Pres. 1817-1846) b. Nathan Hale f. John C. Calhoun d. (Pres. 1899-1921) c. Noah Webster g. Samuel F. B. Morse d. Elihu Yale h. Eli Whitney Answers: 1) 30 shillings; 2) All of the above; 3) All twelve 5) What Yale figure bottled and sold the first soda water in the (1701-1899) because it was unthinkable then to have it U.S.? otherwise; 4) d and e; 5) Benjamin Silliman, Jr.; 6) e; 7) d.

Eatonœs household, but spent much of the rest of his life vin - Two Mathers of Yale Fact dictively trying to destroy the civil and ecclesiastical struc - When Yaleœs founding ministers wrote letters to New tures of New England. As an Anglican, Elihu Yale was not England elders asking advice on how to start a college, they all that favorably inclined to an Oacademy of dissenters.o naturally wrote to godly Massachusetts divines Increase and But one wonders if God wasnœt moving in Matherœs faithful Cotton Mather. If anyone knew how to proceed, the initiative. Mathers did, having nurtured and watched over Harvard for Mather later wrote Gurdon Saltonstall, Governor of years. Increase had been the collegeœs President since 1685. Connecticut and one of the original movers for the college, However, in June 1701, Harvardœs overseers took that it was to him Oan unspeakable pleasure . . . that I have advantage of a technicality to sack Mather from the been in any measure capable of serving so precious a thing Presidency. Unitarianism and rationalism had laid hold of as your College at New Haven.o many of those in control of the school, and they were look - ing for a way to get rid of their Gospel-minded President. Birthing (Continued from page 11) Mather left office September 6, 1701; nine days later he was writing a letter of advice to some Connecticut ministers very foundersœ hearts. The previous generation had labored that determined to start a college which would hold to Biblical the Gospel take root in this continent; Yaleœs founders took truth. up that labor, and their missionary vision, too. The Gospel Years after, Cotton Mather aided Yale when trustee must reach beyond their own children, to all for whom strife over its location and a desperate lack of funds had Christ died. almost sunk it. In 1718 he wrote to Elihu Yale, the wealthy In view of both generationsœ history, what shines ex-governor of Fort St. George in Madras, encouraging him through is not so much the faithfulness of men, but that of to give a sizeable gift to the college that he might have a the God they served. He did not, as the Scriptures say He memorial to his name Obetter than a name of sons and will not, forget the Owork and labor of loveo which they had daughterso and also better than Oan Egyptian pyramid.o Oshown toward His nameo (Hebrews 6:10). Yaleœs founders Elihu Yale gave much less than his wealth permitted, but his experienced in their own lives the meaning of Jesusœ words timely donation probably saved the school from collapse. It Oother men labored, and ye are entered into their laborso certainly put his name on it in perpetuity. (John 4:38). We benefit today from the labor of love under - It is interesting to note that Elihu Yale was a descendant taken by both generations. (by her first marriage) of Anne Eaton, Theophilus Eatonœs Marena Fisher, Graduate Œ91 wife. His father, David Yale, had been raised in Theophilus

10 Pierson family. His new mother-in- tions in the books themselves, we can Birthing (Continued from page 5) law Abigail was Abraham Pierson, say Yale today has at least 13 volumes and given to him by Theophilus Eaton, Sr.œs Ochoice and precious daughter,o from James Pierpont, 11 from Israel specifically for the planned New [Piersonœs words] so Pierpont had Chauncy, between 17 and 21 from Haven college. The books came from married Abraham Pierson, Sr.œs grand - Abraham Pierson, Jr., and a handful the library of Samuel Eaton, daughter and Abraham Pierson, Jr.œs from the other founders. Not only this, Theophilusœ brother, and were passed niece. there are almost certainly 45 to 50 vol - to Davenport in 1656, when the Abraham Pierson, Jr. was not sim - umes from Eaton and Davenport them - establishment of a college looked like ply a founding minister, but as hardly selves, a remnant of the library James a virtual certainty. bears mentioning at Yale, the collegeœs Pierpont recovered from New Haven Because they were intended for a first rector. When asked to be Rector, for 72 bushels of grain. Some of the college, the books were left by books are even inscribed Ogiven to the Davenport to the town, but were stored J.D. [John Davenport] Collegiate at Abigail Davenportœs house, just School.o where Pierpont boarded when he first The second testimony that the came to New Haven. Pierpont bought founders were their fathersœ spiritual Davenportœs beginning of a college children is in Yaleœs founding docu - library, for O40 bushell Rye and 32 ments, in the charter granted by the bush. indian corn,o apparently to res - General Assembly in October 1701, cue it for the purpose for which it was and the proceedings of the first originally intended. He had caught the trusteesœ meeting in November 1701. vision Davenport had carried, the The first Yale Trustees donate books to the college. The charter states that liberty to vision of a college designed to equip erect a Ocollegiate schoolo is given to youth for service to God in every he said he Odurst not refuse this service trustees that OYouth may be instructed sphere of life. to God and his generation.o in the Arts & Sciences who thorough Besides Pierpont, several other The closeness of the founders and the blessing of Almighty God may be ministers who helped realize the vision their partnership together in the fitted for Publick employment both in for the college had direct links to John Gospel is reflected in their family rela - Church & Civil State.o The charter Davenport and his collegiate school. tionships. Not only did many of them echoes Davenportœs own stated pur - Noadiah Russel, classmate of Pierpont marry into each otherœs families, but pose for founding a college. at Harvard, was a student pledged to many of their children intermarried. More poignantly, the trustees or matriculate at the New Haven The Gospel must reach beyond their own founding ministers noted in grammar school in 1667, when their proceedings of Davenport got it started again children, to all for whom Christ died. November 1, 1701, that it was after its lapse in 1662. Samuel Othe glorious publick design Russel was a classmate and friend of By now it should be plain that of [our] now blessed fathers Oboth to Pierpont at college, and his father had Yaleœs founders remembered and cher- plant, and under the Divine Blessing to been an associate of John Davenport. ished the spiritual vision and burden propagateo in America the pure wor - Samuel himself had been master of a their fathers bore. More critically, they ship of God, not only to their posterity, school started by a portion of Hopkinsœ were determined to bring this Gospel but also to Americaœs native peoples. bequest. Israel Chauncy, the oldest of vision to reality. The first generationœs The trustees specify their desire to Yaleœs founders, had been a religious labors had not been in vain, for a seed share in this Gospel purpose: OWe their ally and protcgc of Davenport. was planted in the hearts of their phys - unworthy posterity lamenting our past Chauncy had been invited in 1664 to ical and spiritual children. neglects of this grand errand & sensi - conduct the Hopkins Grammar Two concrete witnesses to these ble of our equal obligations better to School, but funds had been too low to facts still remain in Yaleœs libraries and prosecute the same end, are desirous in support a master. archives. First, the books bear wit - our generation to be serviceable there - The founding ministers were ness, both the books the founders untoowhereunto the liberal, & reli - linked not only to Davenport, but also themselves gave, and the books which gious education of suitable youth is to Davenportœs partner, Puritan mis - Eaton and Davenport gave long under the blessing of God a chief & sionary Abraham Pierson. When before. Each costly volume represents most probable expedient.o Pierpont married Abigail Davenport a sacrifice little understood by our Archaisms aside, their statement the younger, he married not only into generation. Going by the list of known of purpose lets us see into the the Davenport family, but also into the titles, and by autographs and inscrip - (Continued on page 10)

11 imothy Dwight was President of Yale College two to awake, and turn to Christ. He encouraged them, OChrist Tcenturies ago, among the greatest figures in her his - is still now present at Yale. On this very design he came. tory. He loved Yale and he loved the students placed under His great business here is to call one and another from the his responsibility. Love moved him to risk straight, candid dead. There is still room to hope that among you there may talk with the undergraduates: over and over again, he lev - in the end be found some who, though now dead, and in eled with them about the biggest issue in their livesowhere human eye lost and gone forever, may yet be restored to they stood with God. life!o Speaking during a time when the rationalistic OFrench Dwight noted to the students, OAll the measures [you infidelityo was sweeping across college campuses, he have so far taken in your life] have not advanced you a sin - warned the students against being like the church of gle step towards eternal life.o And it is the same for many Laodicea in the Book of Revelation, who thought, OI am Yale students now. So many care so much about how to get rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing,o somewhere in this temporal life, yet how many take the but actually was Owretched, and miserable, and poor, and time to seek the truth about eternal life? blind and naked.o God wants to turn that all around, and that is why He Dwight held nothing back, telling his students frankly sent Jesus to this world. Jesus Christ is who He says He is that Yale was spiritually dead, dead toward God. He said, in the Bible: the Son of God, the Savior of the world. He OAlmost all of you are mere children of this world. Instead lived as a man but, without sin, died a shameful criminalœs of being seriously concerned for your salvation, you are not death on a cross, and rose from the dead. Because he did even thoughtful; instead of repenting, you sin with new the impossible, anyone who will believe in Him can have eagerness; instead of believing in Christ, you treat Him with His victorious, eternal life. contempt; instead of Œloving God with all the heart, and Repent and believe, as Timothy Dwight pleaded. Seek soul, and strength, and mind,œ you say to Him daily, ŒDepart God with all your heart; He has promised that you will find from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways.œo Him. You will be born into Godœs family, and find the The situation Dwight sketched is not unlike Yaleœs situ - power and wonder of His regeneration. You will find Godœs ation today. Not many Yalies are willing to acknowledge high calling and the rich inheritance of a genuinely new their need of God. Few know the Bible, much less believe lifeoin Christ. it and live by it as Godœs own word. This year we celebrate In Dwightœs words, OChrist is the only, the true, the liv - Yaleœs tercentennial anniversary, but how many realize it ing way of access to God. Give up yourselves therefore to was for the knowledge of God and training for service to the Him, with a cordial confidence, and the great work of life is world as believers in Jesus, that this college was founded in done.o 1701? Helen Sun, CC Œ95 Dwightœs students were in a stupor, but he called them

ÎWe are God’s remembrancers: we will take no rest and we will give Him no rest until He establish and make Yale a praise in the earth.Ï (H.B. Wright, Yale Professor of Classics and Divinity)