HISTORY OF VERMONT. 457 



in useful knowledge and to supply their chur- 

 ches with well educated and learned ministers. 

 In 1700,the colon}- of Connecticut followed the 

 example of Massachusetts, and founded a sem- 

 inary now called Yale College. Both these so- 

 cieties received much assistance from the civil 

 government, and were warmly supported and 

 encouraged by the clergy. And it was from 

 them, that almost all the acquaintance which the: 

 country had with the arts and sciences, was de- 

 rived. To increase the influence and impor- 

 tance of these colleges, and to preserve a deco- 

 rum and uniformity in their churches, their 

 ministers wisely established a rule to discour- 

 jige the application of those to the ministry, 

 who had not received an education at their own 

 or at some other Colleg-e. 



Thus educated in the best manner the state? 

 of the country would admit, the order of cler- 

 gy appeared to advantage in the colonies. A- 

 mong the doctrines v.hich had divided the chris- 

 tian world, they had almost universally embra- 

 ced the opinions of Calvin ; but were not de- 

 ficient in inculcating the duties of morality, and 

 the maxims of practical virtue. In respect to 

 their learning, piety, gravity, and regularity of 

 conduct, this order of men were highly esteem- 

 ed by their country ; and several of them were 

 eminent as writers, and popular preachers. 

 With more strength and criginalit}' of genius 

 than any former metaphysician, Edwards had 

 gone further than any other man, to give deci- 

 sion and certaint}'- to metaphysiciil theory and 

 reasoning. In treating on the ancient contro^ 

 vcrsies respecting, f^tc and freewill, upne of the 



