N04004:223
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.
That a very great Sense, of the right Kind, of the Importance of the Things of Religion, and the Danger Sinners are in, should sometimes cause an almost insuperable Disposition to speak and warn others, is agreeable to Jer. 6. 10, 11. To whom shall I speak, and give Warning, that they may hear? Behold, their Ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold the Word of the Lord is unto them, a Reproach; they have no Delight in it. Therefore I am full of the Fury of the Lord; I am weary with holding in; I will pour it out upon the Children abroad, and upon the Assembly of the young Men together; for even the Husband with the Wise shall be taken, the aged, with him that is full of Days. And that true Christians, when they come to be as it were waked out of Sleep, and to be filled with a sweet and joyful Sense of the excellent Things of Religion, by the preaching of the Gospel, or by other Means of Grace, should be disposed to be much in speaking of divine Things, tho' before they were dumb, is agreeable to what CHRIST says to his Church, Cant. 7. 9. And the Roof of thy Mouth is like the best Wine, for my Beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the Lips of those that are asleep to speak. The Roof of the Churches Mouth, is the Officers in the Church, that preach the Gospel; their Word is to CHRIST's ⟨p. 178⟩Beloved, like the best Wine, that goes down sweetly; extraordinarily refreshing & enlivening the Saints, causing them to speak, tho' before they were mute and asleep. 'Tis said by some, that the People that are the Subjects of this Work, when they get together, talking loud and earnestly, in their pretended great Joys, several in a Room, talking at the same Time, make a Noise just like a Company of drunken Persons. On which I would observe, that it is foretold that GOD's People should do so, in that forementioned Place, Zech. 9. 15, 16, 17. which I shall now take more particular Notice of: the Words are as follows; The Lord of Hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour and subdue with sling Stones; and they shall drink, and make a Noise, as through Wine, and they shall be filled like Bowls, and as the Corners of the Altar: And the Lord their God shall save them in that Day, as the Flock of his People; for they shall be as the Stones of a Crown, lifted up, as an Ensign, upon his Land: For how great is his Goodness! and how great is his Beauty!