N03831:39
The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God
The distinguishing marks of a work of the spirit of God. Applied to that uncommon operation that has lately appeared on the minds of many of the people of this land: : with a particular consideration of the extraordinary circumstances with which this work is attended. : A discourse delivered at New-Haven, September 10th 1741. Being the day after the commencement; : and now published at the earnest desire of many ministers and other gentlemen that heard it; : with great enlargements. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the Church of Christ at Northampton. ; With a preface by the Rev. Mr. Cooper of Boston. ; [Three lines from John]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland and T. Green, 1741
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.
The Marks of a Work of the true SPIRIT.
1 JOHN iv. 1. Beloved, believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits whether they are of GOD; because many false Prophets are gone out into the World.
THE apostolical Age, or the Age in which the Apostles lived and preached the Gospel, was an Age of the greatest out-pouring of the Spirit of God that ever was; and that both as to the extraordinary Influences and Gifts of the Spirit, in Inspiration and Miracles, and also as to his ordinary Operations, in convincing, converting, enlightening and sanctifying the Souls of Men. But as the ⟨p. 2⟩Influences of the true Spirit abounded, so Counterfeits did also then abound: The Devil was abundant in mimicking, both the ordinary and extraordinary Influences of the Spirit of God, as is manifest by innumerable Passages of the Apostles Writings. This made it very necessary that the Church of Christ should be furnished with some certain Rules, and distinguishing and clear Marks by which she might proceed safely in judging of Spirits, and distinguish the true from the false, without Danger of being imposed upon. The giving such Rules is the plain Design of this Chapter, where we have this Matter more expressly and fully treated of than any where else in the Bible. The Apostle here, of set Purpose, undertakes to supply the Church of God with such Marks of the true Spirit as may be plain, & safe, and surely distinguishing, and well accommodated to Use and Practice; and that the Subject might be clearly and sufficiently handled, he insists upon it throughout the Chapter: Which makes it wonderful that what is said in this Chapter, is no more taken notice of in this extraordinary Day, when that which is so remarkable appears; such an uncommon Operation on the Minds of People, that is so extensive; and there is such a Variety of Opinions concerning it, and so much Talk about the Work of the Spirit.