N04004:207
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.
Another Thing, that a great deal has been said against, is having so frequent religious Meetings, and spending so much Time in Religion. And ⟨p. 165⟩indeed, there are none of the Externals of Religion, but what are capable of Excess: And I believe it is true, that there has not been a due Proportion observed in Religion of late. We have placed Religion too much in the external Duties of the first Table; we have abounded in religious Meetings, and in praying, reading, hearing, singing, and religious Conference; and there has not been a proportionable Increase of Zeal for Deeds of Charity, and other Duties of the second Table; (tho' it must be acknowledged that they are also much increased.) But yet it appears to me, that this Objection of Persons spending too much Time in Religion, has been in the general groundless. Tho' worldly Business must be done, and Persons ought not to neglect the Business of their particular Callings, yet 'tis to the Honour of GOD, that a People should be so much in outward Acts of Religion, as to carry in it, a visible, public Appearance, of a great Engagedness of Mind in it, as the main Business of Life: And especially is it fit, that at such an extraordinary Time, when GOD appears unusually present with a People, in wonderful Works of Power and Mercy, that they should spend more Time than usual in religious Exercises, to put Honour upon that GOD that is then extraordinarily present, and to seek his Face; as it was with the Christian Church in Jerusalem, on Occasion of that extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit, soon after CHRIST's Ascension. Act. 2. 46. And they continued daily, with one Accord, in the Temple, and breaking Bread, from House to House. And so it was at Ephesus, at a Time of ⟨p. 166⟩great Out-pouring of the Spirit there; the Christians there attended public religious Exercises, every Day, for two Years together, Act. 19. 8, 9, 10. And he went into the Synagogue, and spake boldly, for the Space of three Months, disputing and persuading the Things concerning the Kingdom of God: But when divers were hardened, and believed not; but spake Evil of that Way, before the Multitude, he departed from them, and separated the Disciples, disputing daily, in the School of one Tyrannus; and this continued, by the Space of two Years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia, heard the Word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.