N04004:272
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.
Pure Christian Humility has no such Thing as Roughness, or Contempt, or Fierceness, or Bitterness in its Nature; it makes a Person like a little Child, harmless and innocent, and that none need to be afraid of; or like a Lamb, destitute of all Bitterness, Wrath, Anger and Clamour, agreeable to Eph. 4. 31.
With such a Spirit as this ought especially zealous Ministers of the Gospel to be clothed, and those that GOD is pleased to improve as Instruments in his Hands of promoting his Work: they ought indeed to be thorough in preaching the Word of GOD, without mincing the Matter at all; in handling the Sword of the SPIRIT, as the Ministers of the Lord of Hosts, they ought not to be mild and gentle; they are not to be gentle and ⟨p. 211⟩moderate in searching & awakening the Conscience but should be Sons of Thunder: The Word of GOD, which is in it self sharper than any two-edged Sword, ought not to be sheathed by its Ministers, but so used that its sharp Edges may have their full Effect, even to the dividing asunder Soul and Spirit, Joints and Marrow; (provided they do it without judging particular Persons, leaving it to Conscience and the Spirit of GOD to make the particular Application;) But all their Conversation should savour of nothing but Lowliness and good Will, Love and Pity to all Mankind; so that such a Spirit should be like a sweet Odour diffused around 'em wherever they go, or like a Light shining about 'em, their Faces should as it were shine with it; they should be like Lions to guilty Consciences, but like Lambs to Men's Persons. This would have no Tendency to prevent the Awakening of Men's Consciences, but on the contrary would have a very great Tendency to awaken them; it would make Way for the sharp Sword to enter; it would remove the Obstacles, and make a naked Breast for the Arrow. Yea the amiable, Christ-like Conversation of such Ministers, in it self would terrify the Consciences of Men, as well as their terrible Preaching; both would co-operate one with another, to subdue the hard, and bring down the proud Heart. If there had been, constantly and universally observable such a Behaviour as this in Itinerant Preachers, it would have terrified the Consciences of Sinners, ten Times as much as all the Invectives, and the censorious Talk there has been concerning particular