N04004:171
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.
If Ministers preach never so good Doctrine, and are never so painful and laborious in their Work, yet, if at such a Day as this, they show to their People, that they are not well affected to this Work, but are very doubtful and suspicious of it, they will be very likely to do their People a great deal more Hurt than Good: For the very Fame of such a great and extraordinary Work of GOD, if their People were suffered to believe it to be his Work, and the Example of other Towns, together with what Preaching they might hear occasionally, would be likely to have a much greater ⟨p. 134⟩Influence upon the Minds of their People, to awaken them and animate them in Religion, than all their Labours with them: And besides their Ministers Opinion won't only beget in them a Suspicion of the Work they hear of abroad, whereby the mighty Hand of GOD that appears in it, loses its Influence upon their Minds, but it will also tend to create a Suspicion of every Thing of the like Nature, that shall appear among themselves, as being something of the same Distemper that is become so Epidemical in the Land; and that is, in Effect, to create a Suspicion of all vital Religion, and to put the People upon talking against it, and discouraging it, where-ever it appears, and knocking it in the Head, as fast as it rises. And we that are Ministers, by looking on this Work, from Year to Year, with a displeased Countenance, shall effectually keep the Sheep from their Pasture, instead of doing the Part of Shepherds to them, by feeding them; and our People had a great deal better be without any settled Minister at all, at such a Day as this.
If Ministers preach never so good Doctrine, and are never so painful and laborious in their Work, yet, if at such a Day as this, they shew to their People, that they are not well affected to this Work, but are very doubtful and suspicious of it, they will be very likely to do their People a great deal more Hurt than Good: For the very Fame of such a great and extraordinary Work of GOD, if their People were suffered to believe it to be his Work, and the Example of other Towns, together with what Preaching they might hear occasionally, would be likely to have a much greater ⟨p. 134⟩Influence upon the Minds of their People, to awaken them and animate them in Religion, than all their Labours with them: And besides their Ministers Opinion won't only beget in them a Suspicion of the Work they hear of abroad, whereby the mighty Hand of GOD that appears in it, loses its Influence upon their Minds, but it will also tend to create a Suspicion of every Thing of the like Nature, that shall appear among themselves, as being something of the same Distemper that is become so Epidemical in the Land; and that is, in Effect, to create a Suspicion of all vital Religion, and to put the People upon talking against it, and discouraging it, where-ever it appears, and knocking it in the Head, as fast as it rises. And we that are Ministers, by looking on this Work, from Year to Year, with a displeased Countenance, shall effectually keep the Sheep from their Pasture, instead of doing the Part of Shepherds to them, by feeding them; and our People had a great deal better be without any settled Minister at all, at such a Day as this.