N04004:215
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.
Concerning this I would observe, in the first Place, That there are many Things, with Respect to Cryings out, Falling down &c. that are charged on Ministers, that they are not guilty of. Some would have it, that they speak of these Things as certain Evidences of a Work of the SPIRIT of GOD on the Hearts of their Hearers, or that they esteem these bodily Effects themselves to be the Work of GOD, as tho' the Spirit of GOD took hold of, and agitated the Bodies of Men; and some are charged with making these Things essential, and supposing that Persons can't be converted ⟨p. 172⟩without them; whereas I never yet could see the Person that held either of these Things.
But for speaking of such Effects as probable Tokens of GOD's Presence, and Arguments of the Success of Preaching, it seems to me they are not to be blamed; because I think they are so indeed: and therefore when I see them excited by preaching the important Truths of GOD's Word, urged and enforced by proper Arguments and Motives, or are consequent on other Means that are good, I don't scruple to speak of them, and to rejoice in them, and bless GOD for them as such; and that for this, (as I think) good Reason, viz. That from Time to Time, upon proper Inquiry and Examination, and Observation of the Consequence and Fruits, I have found that there are all Evidences that the Persons in whom these Effects appear, are under the Influences of GOD's Spirit, in such Cases. Cryings out, in such a Manner, and with such Circumstances, as I have seen them from Time to Time, is as much an Evidence to me, of the general Cause it proceeds from, as Language: I have learned the Meaning of it, the same Way that Persons learn the Meaning of Language, viz. by Use and Experience. I confess that when I see a great Crying out in a Congregation, in the Manner that I have seen it, when those Things are held forth to 'em that are worthy of their being greatly affected by, I rejoice in it, much more than merely in an Appearance of solemn Attention, and a Show of Affection by Weeping; and that because when there have been those Out-cries, I have found from Time to Time, ⟨p. 173⟩