, just a few days ago, October 5th was the birthday of Jonathan Edwards, a great pastor and Puritan. Some people say one of the five best minds that America has ever produced. And he had. In 1758 had been invited to be the new president.
Of what would become Princeton University and had moved to Princeton. His wife had not yet been able to move from Massachusetts and while there, he got a smallpox inoculation, the newest technology. but then died. Of of that smallpox inoculation.
And, but as he was dying, here's some of the words that he said to his daughter Lucy. It seems to me to be the will of God that I must shortly leave you. Therefore, give my kindest love to my dear wife and tell her that the uncommon union which has so long subsisted between us has been of such a nature as I trust is spiritual and therefore will continue forever, and I hope she will be supported under so great a trial and submit cheerfully to the will of God. And then he gave some instructions about his burial and his love to his daughter and other children.
but the doctor William Shipman, who gave him the inoculation also tended to him before his death and spoke of, of just the, the joy and the cheerfulness that Jonathan Edwards had in his death, even dying at the hands of this, then a new technology. and then he also gave a wonderful love and, and expressions to his children. One of the things that people would note about Edward's death is that he acknowledged that while this was tragic, it was completely within the will of God. In his mind at the end of his life....