N04004:105
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.
Those that are waiting for the Fruits in order to determine whether this be the Work of GOD or no, would do well to consider two Things; 1. What they are waiting for: Whether it ben't this; To have this wonderful religious Influence that is on the Minds of People over and past, and then to see how they will behave themselves' That is, to have Grace subside, and the Acting of it in a great Measure to cease, and to have Persons grow cold and dead, and then to see whether after that, they will behave themselves with that Exactness and Brightness of Conversation, that is to be expected of lively Christians, or those that are in the vigorous Exercises of Grace. There are many that will not be satisfied with any Exactness or Laboriousness in Religion now, while Persons have their Minds much moved, and their Affections are high; for they lay it to their Flash of Affections, and Heat of Zeal, as they call it; they are waiting to see whether they will carry themselves as well when these Affections are over: That is, they are waiting to have Persons sicken and lose their Strength, that they may see whether ⟨p. 81⟩they will then behave themselves like healthy strong Men. I would desire that they would also consider whether they ben't waiting for more than is reasonably to be expected, supposing this to be really a great Work of GOD, and much more than has been found in former great Out-pourings of the Spirit of GOD, that have been universally acknowledged in the Christian Church? Don't they expect fewer Instances of Apostasy, and Evidences of Hypocrisy in Professors, and those that for the present seem to be under the Influences of the Spirit, than were after that great Out-pouring of the Spirit in the Apostles Days, or that which was in the Time of the Reformation? And don't they stand prepared to make a mighty Argument of it against this Work, if there should be half so many? And 2. They would do well to consider how long they will wait to see the good Fruit of this Work, before they will determine in Favour of it. Is not their Waiting unlimited? The visible Fruit that is to be expected of a pouring out of the Spirit of GOD on a Country, is a visible Reformation in that Country: What Reformation has lately been brought to pass in New-England, by this Work, has been before observed: And has it not continued long enough already, to give reasonable Satisfaction?
Those that are waiting for the Fruits in order to determine whether this be the Work of GOD or no, would do well to consider two Things; 1. What they are waiting for: Whether it ben't this; To have this wonderful religious Influence that is on the Minds of People over and past, and then to see how they will behave themselves' That is, to have Grace subside, and the Acting of it in a great Measure to cease, and to have Persons grow cold and dead, and then to see whether after that, they will behave themselves with that Exactness and Brightness of Conversation, that is to be expected of lively Christians, or those that are in the vigorous Exercises of Grace. There are many that will not be satisfied with any Exactness or Laboriousness in Religion now, while Persons have their Minds much moved, and their Affections are high; for they lay it to their Flash of Affections, and Heat of Zeal, as they call it; they are waiting to see whether they will carry themselves as well when these Affections are over: That is, they are waiting to have Persons sicken and lose their Strength, that they may see whether