History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1727.] JONATHAN EDWARDS AS COLLEAGUE PASTOR. 47
was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, and in-
stalled as colleague pastor with his grandfather, over the
church in Northampton. The sermon on that occasion
was preached by Rev. William Williams^ of Hatfield, from
II Cor. 4 : 7. No other record of the exercises on that occasion
has been found, and there is nothing but the following
letter to show who of the neighboring clergy were invited
to be present. This letter not only indicates the then pre-
vailing laconic style of such missives, but it also establishes
the date of the ordination. " This day three weeks" from
the 25^" of January, would be the 15^'' and not the 22^ of
February —
:
"January 2.5, 172«.
"Rev. Sir. Our church do desire your presence and attendance to
ordain Mr. Jonathan Edwards, this day three weeks.
Your Servant,
Solomon Stoddard.
To Rev. John Williams, Pastor at Deerfield."
He enters upon his
Mr. Edwards was iu the twenty-fourth year
Ministry under Qf J-^jg ggg^ ^qH kuOWU to the peOplc pcrthe
most favora- ,, , • n n t i f
bie Auspices. sonally, and came with the best ot recommendations,
the indorsement of his revered
grandfather. Whatever may have been the controversies,
contentions and divisions existing in the communitj^, there
was practical unanimity in the choice of the colleague pastor.
The sums voted for his settlement as well as the
amount named for his salary, were generous, and the votes
adopted from time to time were highly honorable to both
pastor and people.
Homestead Pur- One of the first subjccts that engaged the
chased f o r t h e attention of the assistant minister was that
of procuring a dwelling-place. Within a
month after his ordination, *'the Reverend Mr. Edwards
being about to purchase a Homestead " the town voted to
give him eighty pounds, " and that to be in full for His
Settlement," although £300 had already been appropriated
for that purpose. The place selected by him was situated
on King Street, at the corner of what has since been named
1 Mr. Williams married for his second wife, Christian, daughter of Rev. Solomon
Stoddard, Aug. 9">, 1699.