N04004:111
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.
The Work is very glorious in the great Numbers that have to Appearance, been turned from Sin to GOD, and so delivered from a wretched Captivity to Sin and Satan, saved from everlasting Burnings, and made Heirs of eternal Glory. How high an Honour, and great Reward of their Labours, have some eminent Persons, of Note in the Church of GOD, signified that they should esteem it, if they should be made the Instruments of the Conversion and eternal Salvation of but one Soul? And no greater Event than that is thought worthy of great Notice in Heaven, among the Hosts of glorious Angels, who rejoice and sing on such an Occasion: and when there are many Thousands of Souls thus converted and saved, shall it be esteemed worth but little Notice, and be mentioned with Coldness and Indifference here on Earth, by those among whom such a Work is wrought?
The Work is very glorious in the great Numbers that have to Appearence, been turned from Sin to GOD, and so delivered from a wretched Captivity to Sin and Satan, saved from everlasting Burnings, and made Heirs of eternal Glory. How high an Honour, and great Reward of their Labours, have some eminent Persons, of Note in the Church of GOD, signified that they should esteem it, if they should be made the Instruments of the Conversion and eternal Salvation of but one Soul? And no greater Event than that is tho't worthy of great Notice in Heaven, among the Hosts of glorious Angels, who rejoice and sing on such an Occasion: and when there are many Thousands of Souls thus converted and saved, shall it be esteemed worth but little Notice, and be mentioned with Coldness and Indifference here on Earth, by those among whom such a Work is wrought?
The Work has been very glorious and wonderful in many Circumstances and Events of it, that have been extraordinary, wherein GOD has in an uncommon Manner made his Hand visible, ⟨p. 86⟩and his Power conspicuous; as in the extraordinary Degrees of Awakening, the Suddenness of Conversions in innumerable Instances, in whom tho' the Work was quick, yet the Thing wrought is manifestly durable. How common a Thing has it been for great Part of a Congregation to be at once moved, by a mighty invisible Power; and for fix, eight or ten Souls to be converted to GOD, (to all Appearance,) in an Exercise, in whom the visible Change still continues? How great an Alteration has been made in some Towns; yea, some populous Towns; the Change still abiding: And how many very vicious Persons have been wrought upon, so as to become visibly New-Creatures? GOD has also made his Hand very visible, and his Work glorious, in the Multitudes of little Children that have been wrought upon: I suppose there have been some Hundreds of Instances of this Nature of late, any one of which formerly would have been looked upon so remarkable, […] to be worthy to be recorded, and published through' the Land. The Work is very glorious in its Influences and Effects on many that have been very ignorant and barbarous, as I before observed of the Indians and Negroes.