N04004:26
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.
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.
But I can't but think that these Gentlemen labour under great Mistakes, both in their Philosophy and Divinity. 'Tis true, Distinction must be made in the Affections or Passions. There's a great deal of Difference in high and raised Affections, which must be distinguished by the Skill of the ⟨p. 8⟩Observer. Some are much more solid than others. There are many Exercises of the Affections that are very flashy, and little to be depended on; and oftentimes there is a great deal that appertains to them, or rather that is the Effect of them, that has its Seat in animal Nature, and is very much owing to the Constitution and Frame of the Body; and that which sometimes more especially obtains the Name of Passion, is nothing solid or substantial. But it is false Philosophy to suppose this to be the Case with all Exercises of Affection in the Soul, or with all great and high Affections; and false Divinity to suppose that religious Affections don't appertain to the Substance and Essence of Christianity: On the contrary, it seems to me that the very Life and Soul of all true Religion consists in them.