N04004:24
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.
II. Another Foundation-Error of those that don't acknowledge the Divinity of this Work, is not taking the Holy Scriptures as an whole, and in it self a sufficient Rule to judge of such Things by. They that have one certain consistent Rule to judge by, are like to come to some clear Determination; but they that have half a Dozen different Rules to make the Thing they would judge of agree to, no Wonder that instead of justly and clearly determining, they do but perplex and darken themselves and others. They that would learn the true Measure of any Thing, and will have many different Measures to try it by, and find in it a Conformity to, have a Task that they will not accomplish.
Those that I am speaking of, will indeed make some Use of Scripture, so far as they think it serves their Turn; but don't make Use of it ⟨p. 7⟩alone, as a Rule sufficient by it self, but make as much, and a great deal more Use of other Things, diverse and wide from it, to judge of this Work by. As particularly,
1. Some make Philosophy instead of the Holy Scriptures, their Rule of judging of this Work; particularly the Philosophical Notions they entertain of the Nature of the Soul, its Faculties and Affections. Some are ready to say, There is but little sober solid Religion in this Work: it is little else but Flash and Noise. Religion now-a-Days all runs out into Transports and high Flights of the Passions and Affections. In their Philosophy, the Affections of the Soul are something diverse from the Will, and not appertaining to the noblest Part of the Soul, but the meanest Principles that it has, that belong to Men as partaking of animal Nature, and what he has in common with the Brute Creation, rather than any Thing whereby he is conformed to Angels and pure Spirits. And tho' they acknowledge that there is a good Use may be made of the Affections in Religion, yet they suppose that the substantial Part of Religion don't consist in them, but that they are rather to be looked upon as something adventitious and accidental in Christianity.