N04004:298
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.
It seems to me that That Scripture, Zech. 13. 5. is a Prophecy concerning Ministers of the Gospel, in the latter, & glorious Day of the Christian Church, which is evidently spoken of in this and the foregoing Chapters; The Words are, I am no Prophet; I am an Husbandman: For Man taught me to keep Cattle from my Youth. The Words, I apprehend, are to be interpreted in a spiritual Sense; I am an Husbandman: The Work of Ministers is very often in the New-Testament, compared to the Business of the Husbandman, that take Care of GOD's Husbandry, to whom he lets out his Vineyard, and sends 'em forth to labour in his Field, where one plants and another waters, one sows and another reaps; so Ministers are called Labourers in GOD's Harvest. And as it ⟨p. 229⟩is added, Man taught me to keep Cattle from my Youth. So the Work of a Minister is very often in Scripture represented by the Business of a Shepherd or Pastor. And whereas it is said, I am no Prophet; but Man taught me from my Youth. 'Tis as much as to say, I don't pretend to have received my Skill, whereby I am fitted for the Business of a Pastor or Shepherd in the Church of GOD, by immediate Inspiration, but by Education, by being trained up to the Business by human Learning, and Instructions I have received from my Youth or Childhood, by ordinary Means.
It seems to me that That Scripture, Zech. 13. 5. is a Prophecy concerning Ministers of the Gospel, in the latter, & glorious Day of the Christian Church, which is evidently spoken of in this and the foregoing Chapters; The Words are, I am no Prophet; I am an Husbandman: For Man taught me to keep Cattle from my Youth. The Words, I apprehend, are to be interpreted in a spiritual Sense; I am an Husbandman: The Work of Ministers is very often in the New-Testament, compared to the Business of the Husbandman, that take Care of GOD's Husbandry, to whom he lets out his Vineyard, and sends 'em forth to labour in his Field, where one plants and another waters, one sows and another reaps; so Ministers are called Labourers in GOD's Harvest. And as it ⟨p. 229⟩is added, Man taught me to keep Cattle from my Youth. So the Work of a Minister is very often in Scripture represented by the Business of a Shepherd or Pastor. And whereas it is said, I am no Prophet; but Man taught me from my Youth. 'Tis as much as to say, I don't pretend to have received my Skill, whereby I am fitted for the Business of a Pastor or Shepherd in the Church of GOD, by immediate Inspiration, but by Education, by being train'd up to the Business by human Learning, and Instructions I have received from my Youth or Childhood, by ordinary Means.