N04004:101
Some thoughts concerning the present revival of religion in New-England, and the way in…
Some thoughts concerning the present revival of religion in New-England, and the way in which it ought to be acknowledged and promoted, humbly offered to the public, in a treatise on that subject. : In five parts; Part I. Showing that the work that has of late been going on in this land, is a glorious work of God. Part II. Showing the obligations that all are under, to acknowledge [sic], rejoice in and promote this work, and the great danger of the contrary. Part III. Showing in many instances, wherein the subjects, or zealous promoters, of this work have been injuriously blamed. Part IV. Showing what things are to be corrected or avoided, in promoting this work, or in our behaviour under it. Part V. showing positively what ought to be done to promote this work. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the Church of Christ at Northampton. ; [Two lines from Isaiah]Some thoughts concerning the present revival of religion in New-England, and the way in which it ought to be acknowledged and promoted, humbly offered to the publick, in a treatise on that subject. : In five parts; Part I. Shewing that the work that has of late been going on in this land, is a glorious work of God. Part II. Shewing the obligations that all are under, to acknowlege [sic], rejoice in and promote this work, and the great danger of the contrary. Part III. Shewing in many instances, wherein the subjects, or zealous promoters, of this work have been injuriously blamed. Part IV. Shewing what things are to be corrected or avoided, in promoting this work, or in our behaviour under it. Part V. shewing positively what ought to be done to promote this work. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the Church of Christ at Northampton. ; [Two lines from Isaiah]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland and T. Green, 1742
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.
a daily sensible doing and suffering every Thing for GOD, for a long Time past, eating for GOD, and working for GOD, and sleeping for GOD, and bearing Pain and Trouble for GOD, and doing all as the Service of Love, and so doing it with a continual, uninterrupted Cheerfulness, Peace and Joy. Oh how good, find the Person once, is it ⟨p. 77⟩to work for GOD in the Day-time, and at Night to lie down under his Smiles! High Experiences and religious Affections in this Person have not been attended with any Disposition at all to neglect the necessary Business of a secular Calling, to spend the Time in Reading and Prayer, and other Exercises of Devotion: but worldly Business has been attended with great Alacrity, as Part of the Service of GOD: The Person declaring that it being done thus, 'tis found to be as good as Prayer. These Things have been accompanied with an exceeding Concern and Zeal for moral Duties, and that all Professors may with them adorn the Doctrine of GOD their Saviour; and an uncommon Care to perform relative and social Duties, and a noted Eminence in them; a great Inoffensiveness of Life and Conversation in the Sight of others; a great Meekness, Gentleness and Benevolence of Spirit and Behaviour; and a great Alteration in those Things that formerly used to be the Person's Failings; seeming to be much overcome and swallowed up by the late great Increase of Grace, to the Observation of those that are most conversant and most intimately acquainted: In Times of the brightest Light and highest Flights of Love and Joy, finding no Disposition to any Opinion of being now perfectly free from Sin, (agreeable to the Notion of the Wesleys and their Followers, and some other high Pretenders to Spirituality in these Days;) but exceedingly the contrary: at such Times especially, seeing how loathsome and polluted the Soul is, Soul and Body and every Act and Word appearing like Rottenness ⟨p. 78⟩and Corruption in that pure and holy Light of GOD's Glory: not slighting Instruction or Means of Grace any more for having had great Discoveries; on the contrary, never more sensible of the Need of Instruction than now. And one Thing more may be added, viz.
a daily sensible doing and suffering every Thing for GOD, for a long Time past, eating for GOD, and working for GOD, and sleeping for GOD, and bearing Pain and Trouble for GOD, and doing all as the Service of Love, and so doing it with a continual, uninterrupted Cheerfulness, Peace and Joy. Oh how good, find the Person once, is it