N03467:839
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.
In the latter part of May, it began to be very sensible that the Spirit of God was gradually withdrawing from us, and after this Time Satan seemed to be more let loose, and raged in a dreadful manner. The first Instance wherein it appeared, was a Person's putting an end to his own Life, by cutting his Throat. He was a Gentleman of more than common Understanding, of strict Morals, religious in his Behaviour, and an useful honourable Person in the Town; but was of a Family that are exceeding prone to the Disease of Melancholy, and his Mother was killed with it. He had, from the beginning of this extraordinary Time, been exceedingly concerned about the State of his Soul, and there were some Things in his Experience, that appeared very hopefully; but he durst entertain no Hope concerning his own good Estate. Towards the latter part of his Time, he grew much discouraged, and Melancholy grew amain ⟨p. 74⟩upon him, till he was wholly overpowered by it, and was in great measure past a Capacity of receiving Advice, or being reasoned with to any purpose: The Devil took the advantage, and drove him into despairing Thoughts. He was kept awake a-nights, medi•ating Terror; so that he had scarce any Sleep at all, for a long time together. And it was observed at last, that he was scarcely well capable of managing his ordinary Business, and was judged delirious by the Coroner's Inquest. The News of this extraordinarily affected the Minds of People here, and struck them as it were with Astonishment. After this, Multitudes in this, and other Towns, seemed to have it strongly suggested to 'em, and pressed upon 'em, to do as this Person had done. And many that seemed to be under no Melancholy, some pious Persons, that had no special Darkness, or Doubts about the goodness of their State, nor were under any special Trouble or Concern of Mind about any thing Spiritual or Temporal, yet had it urged upon 'em, as if somebody had spoke to 'em, Cut your own Throat, now is a good Opportunity. Now; now! So that they were obliged to fight with all their might to resist it, and yet no Reason suggested to 'em why they should do it.
In the latter part of May, it began to be very sensible that the Spirit of God was gradually withdrawing from us, and after this Time Satan seemed to be more let loose, and raged in a dreadful manner. The first Instance wherein it appear'd, was a Person's putting an end to his own Life, by cutting his Throat. He was a Gentleman of more than common Understanding, of strict Morals, religious in his Behaviour, and an useful honourable Person in the Town; but was of a Family that are exceeding prone to the Disease of Melancholy, and his Mother was killed with it. He had, from the beginning of this extraordinary Time, been exceedingly concern'd about the State of his Soul, and there were some Things in his Experience, that appeared very hopefully; but he durst entertain no Hope concerning his own good Estate. Towards the latter part of his Time, he grew much discouraged, and Melancholy grew amain