N04004:262
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.
In a Contrariety to this, it has been the Manner in some Places, or at least the Manner of some Persons, to speak of almost every Thing that they see amiss in others, in the most harsh, severe and terrible Language. 'Tis frequent with them to say of others Opinions or Conduct or Advice, or of their Coldness, their Silence, their Caution, their Moderation, and their Prudence, and many other Things that appear in them, that they are from the Devil, or from Hell; that such a Thing is devilish or hellish or cursed, and that such Persons are serving the Devil or the Devil is in them, that they are Soul-Murderers and the like; so that the Words Devil and Hell are almost continually in their Mouths. And such Kind of Language they will commonly use, not only towards wicked Men, but towards them that they themselves allow to be the true Children of GOD, and also towards Ministers of the Gospel and others that are very much their Superiors. And they look upon it a Virtue and high Attainment thus to behave themselves. Oh, say they, we must be plain hearted and bold for Christ, we must declare War against Sin wherever we see it, we must not mince the Matter in the Cause of God and when speaking for Christ. And to make any Distinction in Persons, or to speak the more tenderly, because that which is amiss is seen in a Superior, they look upon as very mean for a Follower of CHRIST when speaking in the Cause of his Master.
In a Contrariety to this, it has been the Manner in some Places, or at least the Manner of some Persons, to speak of almost every Thing that they see amiss in others, in the most harsh, severe and terrible Languge. 'Tis frequent with them to say of others Opinions or Conduct or Advice, or of their Coldness, their Silence, their Caution, their Moderation, and their Prudence, and many other Things that appear in them, that they are from the Devil, or from Hell; that such a Thing is devilish or hellish or cursed, and that such Persons are serving the Devil or the Devil is in them, that they are Soul-Murtherers and the like; so that the Words Devil and Hell are almost continually in their Mouths. And such Kind of Language they will commonly use, not only towards wicked Men, but towards them that they themselves allow to be the true Children of GOD, and also towards Ministers of the Gospel and others that are very much their Superiours. And they look upon it a Vertue and high Attainment thus to behave themselves. Oh, say they, we must be plain hearted and bold for Christ, we must declare War against Sin wherever we see it, we must not mince the Matter in the Cause of God and when speaking for Christ. And to make any Distinction in Persons, or to speak the more tenderly, because that which is amiss is seen in a Superiour, they look upon as very mean for a Follower of CHRIST when speaking in the Cause of his Master.