And besides his knowledge of things belonging to his particular calling as a ruler, he had also a great degree of understanding in things belonging to his general calling as a Christian. He was no inconsiderable divine. He was a wise casuist, as I know by the great help I have found from time to time by his judgment and advice in cases of conscience wherein I have consulted him: and indeed I scarce knew the divine that I ever found more able to help and enlighten the mind in such cases than he. And he had no small degree of knowledge in things pertaining to experimental religion; but was wont to discourse on such subjects, not only with accurate doctrinal distinctions but as one intimately and feelingly acquainted with these things.
He was not only great in speculative knowledge, but his knowledge was practical; such as tended to wise conduct in the affairs, business, and duties of life; so as properly to have the denomination of wisdom, and so as properly and eminently to invest him with the character of a wise man. And he was not only eminently wise and prudent in his own conduct, but was one of the ablest and wisest counselors of others in any difficult affair.
The greatness and honorableness of his disposition were answerable to the largeness of his understanding. He was naturally of a great mind. In this respect, he was truly the son of nobles. He greatly abhorred things that were mean and sordid and seemed to be incapable of compliance with them. How far was he from trifling and impertinence in his conversation! How far from a busy, meddling disposition! How far from any sly and clandestine management to fill his pockets with what was fraudulently withheld or violently squeezed from the laborer, soldier or inferior officer! How far from taking advantage from his commission or authority or any superior power he had in his hands, or the ignorance, dependence or necessities of others, to add to his own gains with what property belonged to them, and with what they might justly expect as a proper reward for any of their services! How far was he from secretly taking bribes offered to induce him to favor any man in his cause, or by his power or interest to promote his being advanced to any place of public trust, honor or profit! How greatly did he abhor lying and prevaricating! And how immovably steadfast was he to exact truth! His hatred of those things that were mean and sordid was so apparent and well-known, that it was evident that men dreaded to appear in anything of that nature in his presence.
He was a man remarkably of a public spirit, a true lover of his country, and greatly abhorred sacrificing the public welfare for private interest.
He was very eminently endowed with a spirit of government. The God of nature seemed to have formed him for government, as though he had been made on purpose and cast into a mold by which he should be in every way fitted for the business of a man in public authority. Such behavior and conduct were natural to him as tended to maintain his authority and possess others with awe and reverence and to enforce and render effectual what he said and did in the exercise of his authority. He did not bear the sword in vain: he was truly a terror to evildoers. What I saw in him often put me in mind of that saying of the wise man, Prov. xx. 8, “The king that sited on the throne of judgment scattered away all evil with his eyes.” He was one that was not afraid of the faces of men; and every one knew that it was in vain to attempt to deter him from doing what, on mature consideration, he had determined he ought to do. Everything in him was great and becoming a man in his public station. Perhaps never was there a man that appeared in New England to whom the denomination of a great man did more properly belong.
But though
he was one that was great among men, exalted above others in abilities and
greatness of mind and in place of rule, and feared not the faces of men, yet he
feared God. He was strictly conscientious in his conduct, both in public and
private. I never knew the man that seemed more steadfastly and immovably to act
by principle and according to rules and maxims, established and settled in his
mind by the dictates of his judgment and conscience. He was a man of strict
justice and fidelity. Faithfulness was eminently his character. Some of his
greatest opponents have been of the contrary party to him in
public affairs, yet have openly acknowledged this of him, that he was a
faithful man. He was remarkably faithful in his public trusts: he would not
basely betray his trust, from fear or favor. It was in vain to expect it,
however, men might oppose him or neglect him, and how great soever they were.
Nor would he neglect the public interest, wherein committed to him, for the
sake of his own ease, but diligently and laboriously watched and labored for it
night and day. And he was faithful in private affairs as well as public: he was
a most faithful friend, faithful to anyone that in any case asked his counsel;
and his fidelity might be depended on in whatever affair he undertook for any
of his neighbors.
