A Review of Dr. A.v.g. Allen's Biography of Jonathan Edwards - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890. Excerpt: ... ' ' v " A NEW BIOGRAPHY OF JONATHAN EDWARDS.1 The publishing house of Houghton, Mifflin and Company has generously planned to issue three series of biographies. One series gives account of American Men of Letters, another of American Statesmen, and yet another of American Religious Leaders. So far as this plan shall prove to have been judiciously executed, these publishers will again have made the reading public largely their debtors. This announcement is made of the third series:--It will include biographies of eminent men who represent the theology and methods of the various religious denominations of America, yet the object of the Series does not contemplate emphasizing personal character and history except as these are related to the development of religious thought or the quickening of religious life. The success of this series, however it may be with the other two, will depend almost entirely upon the ability of the publishers to select and procure writers who shall be, not only able and scholarly, but also happily fitted to present justly the beliefs and labors of the religious leaders assigned to them. It is indispensable that the biographer of a great theologian should have some sympathy with the religious beliefs which he is to define and set in order for the information of the public. Biography is not criticism. It deals with facts, with actual personal life, faith, and achievements. Few men are stronger than their prejudices, especially their theological prejudices. No one, perhaps, has the moral ability to write with exact truthfulness of theological beliefs which he abominates. The religious world would be startled to hear that Robert Ingersoll had written The Life of Moses Stuart, or that Dr. Herrick Johnson had written The Life of Theodor...