N03467:841
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.
After these things the Instances of Conversion were rare here in comparison of what they had before been, (tho' that remarkable Instance of the little Child was after this,) and the Spirit of God not long after this time, appeared very sensibly withdrawing from all parts of the County; (tho' we have heard of its going on in some Places of Connecticut, and that it continues to be carried on even to this Day.) But Religion remained here, and I believe in some other Places, the main Subject of Conversation, for several Months after this. And there were some Turns, wherein God's Work seemed something to revive, and we were ready to hope that all was going to be renewed again: yet in the main there was a gradual Decline of that general, engaged, lively Spirit in Religion, which had been before. Several things have happened since, that have diverted Peoples Minds, and turned their Conversation more to others Affairs, particularly his Excellency the Governor's coming up, and the Committee of General Court, on the Treaty with the Indians; and afterwards the Springfield Controversy; and since that, our People in this Town have been engaged in the building of a new Meeting-house: and some other Occurrences might be mentioned, that have seemed to have this Effect. But as to those that have been thought to be converted among us, in this time, they generally seem to be Persons, that have had an abiding Change wrought on them: I have had particular acquaintance ⟨p. 76⟩with many of them since, and they generally appear to be Persons that have a new Sense of Things, new Apprehensions and Views of God, of the divine Attributes, and Jesus Christ, and the great Things of the Gospel: They have a new Sense of the Truth of them, and they affect them in a new manner; tho' it is very far from being always alike with them, neither can they revive a Sense of things when they please. Their Hearts are often touched, and sometimes filled, with new Sweetnesses and Delights; there seems to be an inward Ardour and burning of Heart that they express, the like to which they never experienced before; sometimes, perhaps, occasioned only by the Mention of Christ's Name, or some one of the Divine Perfections: There are new Appetites, and a new kind of Breathings and Pantings of Heart, and Groanings that cannot be uttered.
After these things the Instances of Conversion were rare here in comparison of what they had before been, (tho' that remarkable Instance of the little Child was after this,) and the Spirit of God not long after this time, appear'd very sensibly withdrawing from all parts of the County; (tho' we have heard of its going on in some Places of Connecticut, and that it continues to be carried on even to this Day.) But Religion remain'd here, and I believe in some other Places, the main Subject of Conversation, for several Months after this. And there were some Turns, wherein God's Work seem'd something to revive, and we were ready to hope that all was going to be renewed again: yet in the main there was a gradual Decline of that general, engaged, lively Spirit in Religion, which had been before. Several things have happen'd since, that have diverted Peoples Minds, and turn'd their Conversation more to others Affairs, particularly his Excellency the Governour's coming up, and the Committee of General Court, on the Treaty with the Indians; and afterwards the Springfield Controversy; and since that, our People in this Town have been engaged in the building of a new Meetting-house: and some other Occurrences might be mentioned, that have seem'd to have this Effect. But as to those that have been thought to be converted among us, in this time, they generally seem to be Persons, that have had an abiding Change wrought on them: I have had particular acquaintance