N04004:118
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.
At a Time when GOD manifests himself in such a great Work for his Church, there is no such Thing as being Neuters; there is a Necessity of being either for or against the King that then gloriously appears: As when a King is crowned, and there are public Manifestations of Joy on that Occasion, there is no such Thing as standing by as ⟨p. 90⟩an indifferent Spectator; all must appear as loyal Subjects, and express their Joy on that Occasion, or be accounted Enemies: So it always is when GOD, in any great Dispensation of his Providence, does remarkably set his King on his holy Hill of Zion, and Christ in an extraordinary Man comes down from Heaven to the Earth, and appears in his visible Church in a great Work of Salvation for his People: So it was when Christ came down from Heaven in his Incarnation, and appeared on Earth in his human Presence; there was no such Thing as being Neuters, neither on his Side nor against him: those that sat still and said nothing, and did not declare for him, and come and join with him, after he, by his Word and Works, had given sufficient Evidence who he was, were justly looked upon as his Enemies; as CHRIST says, Math. 12. 30. He that is […] with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad. So it is in a time when CHRIST is remarkably spiritually present, as well as when he is bodily present; and when he comes to carry on the Work of Redemption in the Application of it, as well as in the Revelation and Purchase. If a King should come into one of his Provinces, that had been oppressed by it's Foes, where some of his Subjects had fallen off to the Enemy, and joined with them against their lawful Sovereign and his loyal Subjects; I say, if the lawful Sovereign himself should come into the Province, and should ride forth there against his Enemies, and should call upon all that were on his Side to come and gather themselves to him; ⟨p. 91⟩there would be no such Thing, in such a Case, as standing neuter: they that lay still and staid at a Distance would undoubtedly be looked upon and treated as Rebels. So in the Day of Battle, when two Armies join, there is no such Thing for any present as being of neither Party, all must be on one Side or the other; and they that ben't found with the Conqueror in such a Case, must expect to have his Weapons turned against them, and to fall with the rest of his Enemies.