N04004:328
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.
Another Error, that is of the Nature of an erroneous Principle, that some have gone upon, is a wrong Notion that they have of an Attestation of divine Providence to Persons or Things. We go too far when we look upon the Success that GOD gives to some Persons, in making them the Instruments of doing much Good, as a Testimony of GOD's Approbation of those Persons and all the Courses they take. It is a main Argument that has been made Use of to defend the Conduct of some of those Ministers, that have been blamed as imprudent & irregular, that GOD has smiled upon them and blessed them, and given them great Success, and that however Men charge them as guilty of many wrong Things, yet 'tis evident that GOD is with them, and then who can be against them? And probably some of those Ministers themselves, by this very Means, have had their Ears stopped against all that has been said to convince 'em of their Misconduct. But there are innumerable Ways that Persons may be misled, in forming a Judgment of the Mind and Will of GOD, from the Events of Providence. If a Person's Success be a Reward of something that GOD sees in him, that he approves of, yet 'tis no Argument that he approves of every Thing in him. Who can tell how far the divine Grace may go in greatly rewarding some small Good that he sees in a Person, a good Meaning, something good in his Disposition, while he at the same Time, in sovereign Mercy, hides his Eyes from a great deal that is bad, that 'tis his Pleasure to forgive, and not to mark against the Person, tho' in it self it be ⟨p. 257⟩very ill? GOD has not told us after what Manner he will proceed in this Matter, and we go upon most uncertain Grounds when we undertake to determine. It is an exceeding difficult Thing to know how far Love or Hatred are exercised towards Persons or Actions, by all that is before us. GOD was pleased in his Sovereignty to give such Success to Jacob in that, which from Beginning to End, was a deceitful, lying Contrivance and Proceeding of his, that in that Way, he obtained that Blessing that was worth infinitely more than the Fatness of the Earth, and the Dew of Heaven, that was given to Esau, in his Blessing, yea worth more than all that the World can afford. GOD was for a while with Judas, so that he by GOD's Power accompanying him, wrought Miracles and cast out Devils;
Another Error, that is of the Nature of an erroneous Principle, that some have gone upon, is a wrong Notion that they have of an Attestation of divine Providence to Persons or Things. We go too far when we look upon the Success that GOD gives to some Persons, in making them the Instruments of doing much Good, as a Testimony of GOD's Approbation of those Persons and all the Courses they take. It is a main Argument that has been made Use of to defend the Conduct of some of those Ministers, that have been blamed as imprudent & irregular, that GOD has smiled upon them and blessed them, and given them great Success, and that however Men charge them as guilty of many wrong Things, yet 'tis evident that GOD is with them, and then who can be against them? And probably some of those Ministers themselves, by this very Means, have had their Ears stopp'd against all that has been said to convince 'em of their Misconduct. But there are innumerable Ways that Persons may be misled, in forming a Judgment of the Mind and Will of GOD, from the Events of Providence. If a Person's Success be a Reward of something that GOD sees in him, that he approves of, yet 'tis no Argument that he approves of every Thing in him. Who can tell how far the divine Grace may go in greatly rewarding some small Good that he sees in a Person, a good Meaning, something good in his Disposition, while he at the same Time, in sovereign Mercy, hides his Eyes from a great deal that is bad, that 'tis his Pleasure to forgive, and not to mark against the Person, tho' in it self it be