N04004:287
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.
for there is so much unreasonable Opposition made against this glorious Work of GOD, and so much Stiff-neckedness manifested in Multitudes of this Generation, notwithstanding all the great & wonderful Works in which GOD has passed before them, that it greatly tends to provoke the Spirits of such as have the Interest of this Work at Heart, so as to move 'em to speak unadvisedly with their Lips. And there is also great Temptation to an assuming Behaviour in some Persons: When a Minister is greatly succeeded, from Time to Time, ⟨p. 222⟩and so draws the Eyes of the Multitude upon him, and he sees himself flocked after, and resorted to as an Oracle, and People are ready to adore him, and to offer Sacrifice to him, as it was with Paul and Barnabas, at Lystra, it is almost impossible for a Man to avoid taking upon him the Airs of a Master, or some extraordinary Person; a Man had Need to have a great Stock of Humility, and much divine Assistance, to resist the Temptation. But the greater our Dangers are, the more ought to be our Watchfulness & Prayerfulness, and Diffidence of our selves, lest we bring our selves into Mischief. Fishermen that have been very successful, and have caught a great many Fish, had Need to be careful that they don't at Length begin to burn Incense to their Net. And we should take Warning by Gideon, who after GOD had highly favoured and exalted him, and made him the Instrument of working a wonderful Deliverance for his People, at Length made a God of the Spoils of his Enemies, which became a Snare to him and to his House, so as to prove the Ruin of his Family.
for there is so much unreasonable Opposition made against this glorious Work of GOD, and so much Stiff-neckedness manifested in Multitudes of this Generation, notwithstanding all the great & wonderful Works in which GOD has passed before them, that it greatly tends to provoke the Spirits of such as have the Interest of this Work at Heart, so as to move 'em to speak unadvisedly with their Lips. And there is also great Temptation to an assuming Behaviour in some Persons: When a Minister is greatly succeded, from Time to Time, ⟨p. 222⟩and so draws the Eyes of the Multitude upon him, and he sees himself flocked after, and resorted to as an Oracle, and People are ready to adore him, and to offer Sacrifice to him, as it was with Paul and Barnabas, at Lystra, it is almost impossible for a Man to avoid taking upon him the Airs of a Master, or some extraordinary Person; a Man had Need to have a great Stock of Humility, and much divine Assistance, to resist the Temptation. But the greater our Dangers are, the more ought to be our Watchfulness & Prayerfulness, and Diffidence of our selves, lest we bring our selves into Mischief. Fishermen that have been very successful, and have caught a great many Fish, had Need to be careful that they don't at Length begin to burn Incense to their Net. And we should take Warning by Gideon, who after GOD had highly favoured and exaited him, and made him the Instrument of working a wonderful Deliverance for his People, at Length made a God of the Spoils of his Enemies, which became a Snare to him and to his House, so as to prove the Ruin of his Family.