N04004:31
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.
I suppose furthermore that all will allow that there is nothing but solid Religion in Heaven: But that there, Religion and Holiness of Heart is raised to an exceeding great Height, to strong, high, exalted Exercises of Heart. Now what other Kinds of such exceeding strong and high Exercises of the Heart, or of Holiness as it has its Seat in their Hearts, can we devise for them, but only holy Affections, high Degrees of Actings of Love to GOD, rejoicing in GOD, admiring of GOD, &c.—? Therefore these Things in the Saints and Angels in Heaven, are not to be despised and cashiered by the Name of great Heats and Transports of the Passions.
I suppose furthermore that all will allow that there is nothing but solid Religion in Heaven: But that there, Religion and Holiness of Heart is raised to an exceeding great Height, to strong, high, exalted Exercises of Heart. Now what other Kinds of such exceeding strong and high Exercises of the Heart, or of Holiness as it has its Seat in their Hearts, can we devise for them, but only holy Affections, high Degrees of Actings of Love to GOD, rejoicing in GOD, admiring of GOD, &c.—? Therefore these Things in the Saints and Angels in Heaven, are not to be despised and cashier'd by the Name of great Heats and Transports of the Passions.
And it will doubtless be yet further allowed, that the more eminent the Saints are on Earth, and the stronger their Grace is, and the higher its Exercises are, the more they are like the Saints in Heaven. i. e. (by what has been just now observed,) the more they have of high or raised Affections in Religion.
Tho' there are false Affections in Religion, and Affections that in some Respects are raised high, that are flashy, yet undoubtedly there are also true, holy and solid Affections; and the higher these are raised, the better: and if they are raised to an exceeding great Height, they are not to be thought meanly of or suspected, merely because