N04004:285
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.
There ought to be the utmost Watchfulness against all such Appearances of spiritual Pride, in all that profess to have been the Subjects of this Work, and especially in the Promoters of it, but above all in Itinerant Preachers: The most eminent ⟨p. 220⟩Gifts, and highest Tokens of GOD's Favour and Blessing, will not excuse them: Alas! What is Man at his best Estate! What is the most highly favoured Christian, or the most eminent and successful Minister, that he should now think he is sufficient for something, and some-body to be regarded, and that he should go forth, and act among his Fellow Creatures, as if he were wise and strong and good!
There ought to be the utmost Watchfulness against all such Appearances of spiritual Pride, in all that prosess to have been the Subjects of this Work, and especially in the Promoters of it, but above all in Itinerant Preachers: The most eminent ⟨p. 220⟩Gifts, and highest Tokens of GOD's Favour and Blessing, will not excuse them: Alas! What is Man at his best Estate! What is the most highly favoured Christian, or the most eminent and successful Minister, that he should now think he is sufficient for something, and some-body to be regarded, and that he should go forth, and act among his Fellow Creatures, as if he were wise and strong and good!
Ministers that have been the principal Instruments of carrying on this glorious Revival of Religion, and that GOD has made Use of, as it were to bring up his People out of Egypt, as he did of Moses, should take Heed that they don't provoke GOD as Moses did, by assuming too much to themselves, and by their intemperate Zeal, to shut them out from seeing the good Things that GOD is going to do for his Church in this World. The Fruits of Moses's Unbelief, which provoked GOD to shut him out of Canaan, and not to suffer him to partake of those great Things GOD was about to do for Israel on Earth, were chiefly these two Things; First, His mingling Bitterness with his Zeal: he had a great Zeal for GOD, and he could not bear to see the intolerable Stiff-neckedness of the People, that they did not acknowledge the Work of GOD, and were not convinced by all his Wonders that they had seen: But human Passion was mingled with his Zeal.