N04004:291
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 has been in some, that I believe are true Friends of Religion, too much of an Appearance of this Fruit of spiritual Pride, in their Treatment of those that they looked upon to be carnal Men; and particularly in refusing to enter into any Discourse or Reasoning with them. Indeed to spend a great deal of Time in Jangling and warm Debates about Religion, is not the Way to propagate Religion, but to hinder it; and some are so dreadfully set against this Work, that it is a dismal Task to dispute with them, all that one can say is utterly in vain, I have found it so by Experience; and to go to enter into Disputes about Religion, at some Times, is quite unseasonable, as particularly in Meetings for religious Conference, or Exercises of Worship. But yet we ought to be very careful that we don't refuse to discourse with Men, with any Appearance of a supercilious Neglect, as tho' we counted 'em not worthy to be regarded; on the contrary we should condescend to carnal Men, as CHRIST has condescended to us, to bear with our Unteachableness and Stupidity, and still to follow us with Instructions, Line upon ⟨p. 225⟩Line, and Precept upon Precept, saying, Come let us reason together; setting Light before us, and using all Manner of Arguments with us, and waiting upon such dull Scholars, as it were hoping that we should receive Light. We should be ready with Meekness and Calmness, without hot disputing, to give our Reasons, why we think this Work is the Work of GOD, to carnal Men when they ask us, and not turn them by as not worthy to be talked with; as the Apostle directed the primitive Christians to be ready to give a Reason of the Christian Faith and Hope to the Enemies of Christianity, 1 Pet. 3. 15. Be ready always to give an Answer to every Man that asketh you a Reason of the Hope that is in you, with Meekness and Fear. And we ought not to condemn all Reasoning about Things of Religion under the Name of carnal Reason. For my Part, I desire no better than that those that oppose this Work, should come fairly to submit to have the Cause betwixt us tried by strict Reasoning.
There has been in some, that I believe are true Friends of Religion, too much of an Appearance of this Fruit of spiritual Pride, in their Treatment of those that they looked upon to be carnal Men; and particularly in refusing to enter into any Discourse or Reasoning with them. Indeed to spend a great deal of Time in Jangling and warm Debates about Religion, is not the Way to propagate Religion, but to hinder it; and some are so dreadfully set against this Work, that it is a dismal Task to dispute with them, all that one can say is utterly in vain, I have found it so by Experience; and to go to enter into Disputes about Religion, at some Times, is quite unseasonable, as particularly in Meetings for religious Conference, or Exercises of Worship. But yet we ought to be very careful that we don't refuse to discourse with Men, with any Appearance of a supercilious Neglect, as tho' we counted 'em not worthy to be regarded; on the contrary we should condescend to carnal Men, as CHRIST has condescended to us, to bear with our Unteachableness and Stupidity, and still to follow us with Instructions, Line upon