N04004:208
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.
And as to the grand Objection, of six Days shalt thou Labour, all that can be understood by it, and all that the very Objectors themselves understand by it, is that we may follow our secular Labours in those six Days, that are not the Sabbath, and ought to be diligent in them: Not but that sometimes, we may turn from them, even within those six Days, to keep a Day of Fasting, or Thanksgiving, or to attend a Lecture; and that more frequently or rarely, as GOD's Providence, and the State of Things, shall call us, according to the best Judgment of our Discretion.
And as to the grand Objection, of six Days shalt thou Labour, all that can be understood by it, and all that the very Objectors themselves understand by it, is that we may follow our secular Labours in those six Days, that are not the Sabbath, and ought to be diligont in them: Not but that sometimes, we may turn from them, even within those six Days, to keep a Day of Fasting, or Thanksgiving, or to attend a Lecture; and that more frequently or rarely, as GOD's Providence, and the State of Things, shall call us, according to the best Judgment of our Discretion.
Tho' secular Business, as I said before, ought not to be neglected, yet I can't see how it can be maintained, that Religion ought not to be attended, so as in the least to injure our temporal Affairs, on any other Principles than those of Infidelity. None objects against injuring one temporal Affair for the Sake of another temporal Affair of much greater Importance; and therefore, if eternal ⟨p. 167⟩Things are as real as temporal Things, and are indeed of infinitely greater Importance; then why may we not voluntarily suffer, in some Measure, in our temporal Concerns, while we are seeking eternal Riches, and immortal Glory? 'Tis looked upon no Way improper for a whole Nation, to spend considerable Time, and much of their outward Substance, on some extraordinary temporal Occasions, for the Sake only of the Ceremonies of a public Rejoicing; and it would be thought dishonourable to be very exact, about what we spend, or careful lest we injure our Estates, on such an Occasion: and why should we be exact only with Almighty GOD, so that it should be a Crime to be otherwise than scrupulously careful, lest we injure ourselves in our temporal Interest, to put Honour upon Him, and seek our own eternal Happiness? We should take Heed that none of us be in any wise like Judas, who greatly complained of needless Expense, and Waste of outward Substance, to put Honour upon Christ, when Mary broke her Box, and poured the precious Ointment on his Head: He had Indignation within himself on that Account, and cries out, Why was this Waste of the Ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three Hundred Pence, and have been given to the Poor.