N04004:13
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 PREFACE.
IN the ensuing Treatise, I condemn Ministers assuming, or taking too much upon them, and appearing as tho' they supposed that they were the Persons, to whom it especially belonged to dictate, direct and determine; but perhaps shall be thought to be very guilty of it my self: And some when they read this Treatise, may be ready to say that I condemn this in others, that I may have the Monopoly of it.—I confess that I have taken a great deal of Liberty freely to express my Thoughts, concerning almost every Thing appertaining to the wonderful Work of GOD that has of late been carried on in the Land, and to declare what has appeared to me to be the Mind of GOD, concerning the Duty and Obligations of all Sorts of Persons, and even those that are my Superiors and Fathers, Ministers of the Gospel, and Civil Rulers: But yet I hope the Liberty I have taken is not greater than can be justified. In a free ⟨p. ii⟩Nation, such Liberty of the Press is allowed, that every Author takes Leave without Offence, freely to speak his Opinion concerning the Management of public Affairs, and the Duty of the Legislature, and those that are at the Head of the Administration, tho' vastly his Superiors. As now at this Day, private Subjects offer their Sentiments to the Public, from the Press, concerning the Management of the War with Spain; freely declaring what they think to be the Duty of the Parliament, and the principal Ministers of State, &c. We […] New-England are at this Day engaged in […] important War: And I'm sure, if we consider the sad Jangling and Confusion that has attended it, we shall confess that it is highly requisite that some Body should speak his Mind, concerning the Way in which it ought to be managed: And that not only a few of the many Particulars, that are the Matter of Strife in the Land, should be debated, on the one Side and the other, in Pamphlets; ( as has of late been done, with Heat and Fierceness enough;) which don't tend to bring the Contention in general to an End, but rather to inflame it, and increase the Uproar: But that something should be published, to bring the Affair in general, and the many Things that attend it, that are the Subjects ⟨p. iii⟩