N03467:808
Discourses on various important subjects, nearly concerning the great affair of the soul's eternal…
Discourses on various important subjects, nearly concerning the great affair of the soul's eternal salvation, viz. I. Justification by faith alone. II. Pressing into the Kingdom of God. III. Ruth's resolution. IV. The justice of God in the damnation of sinners. V. The excellency of Jesus Christ. : Delivered at Northampton, chiefly at the time of the late wonderful pouring out of the spirit of God there. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the Church of Christ in Northampton. ; [Three lines from Deuteronomy]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland and T. Green, 1738
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
'Tis easily perceived by the foregoing Account that 'tis very much the Practice of the People here, to converse freely one with another of their spiritual Experiences, which is a thing that many have been disgusted at. But however our People may have, in some respects, gone to extremes in it, yet 'tis doubtless a Practice that the Circumstances of this Town, and neighbouring Towns, has naturally led them into. Whatsoever People are in such Circumstances, where all have their Minds engaged to such a Degree, in the same Affair, that 'tis ever uppermost in their Thoughts; they will naturally make it the Subject of Conversation one with another when they get together, in which they will grow more and more free: Restraints will soon vanish; and they will not conceal ⟨p. 56⟩from one another what they meet with. And it has been a Practice which, in the general, has been attended with many good Effects, and what God has greatly blessed amongst us: But it must be contest, there may have been some ill Consequences of it; which yet are rather to be laid to the indiscreet Management of it, than to the Practice it self; and none can wonder, if among such a multitude some sail of exercising so much Prudence in choosing the time, manner, and occasion of such Discourse, as is desirable.
'Tis easily perceived by the foregoing Account that 'tis very much the Practice of the People here, to converse freely one with another of their spiritual Experiences, which is a thing that many have been disgusted at. But however our People may have, in some respects, gone to extremes in it, yet 'tis doubtless a Practice that the Circumstances of this Town, and neighbouring Towns, has naturally led them into. Whatsoever People are in such Circumstances, where all have their Minds engaged to such a Degree, in the same Affair, that 'tis ever uppermost in their Thoughts; they will naturally make it the Subject of Conversation one with another when they get together, in which they will grow more and more free: Restraints will soon vanish; and they will not conceal ⟨p. 56⟩from one another what they meet with. And it has been a Practice which, in the general, has been attended with many good Effects, and what God has greatly blessed amongst us: But it must be contest, there may have been some ill Consequences of it; which yet are rather to be laid to the indiscreet Management of it, than to the Practice it self; and none can wonder, if among such a multitude some sail of exercising so much Prudence in choosing the time, manner, and occasion of such Discourse, as is desireable.