N04004:36
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.
2. Many are guilty of not taking the holy Scriptures as a sufficient and whole Rule, whereby to judge of this Work, whether it be the Work of GOD, in that they judge by those Things which the Scripture don't give as any Signs or Marks whereby to judge one Way or the other, and therefore do in no wise belong to the Scripture-Rule of judging, viz. The Effects ⟨p. 13⟩that religious Exercises and Affections of Mind have upon the Body. Scripture Rules respect the State of the Mind, and Persons moral Conduct, and voluntary Behaviour, and not the physical State of the Body. The Design of the Scripture is to teach us Divinity, and not Physic and Anatomy. Ministers are made the Watchmen of Men's Souls, and not their Bodies; and therefore the great Rule which GOD has committed into their Hands, is to make them Divines, and not Physicians. CHRIST knew what Instructions and Rules his Church would stand in Need of better than we do; and if he had seen it needful in order to the Churches Safety, he doubtless would have given Ministers Rules to judge of Bodily Effects, and would have told 'em how the Pulse should beat under such and such religious Exercises of Mind; when Men should look pale, and when they should shed Tears; when they should tremble, and whether or no they should ever be faint or cry out; or whether the Body should ever be put into Convulsions: He probably would have put some Book into their Hands, that should have tended to make them excellent Anatomists and Physicians: But he has not done it, because he did not see it to be needful. He judged, that if Ministers thoroughly did their Duty as Watchmen and Overseers of the State and Frame of Men's Souls, and of their voluntary Conduct, according to the Rules he had given, his Church would be well provided for, as to its Safety in these Matters. And therefore those Ministers of CHRIST and Overseers ⟨p. 14⟩of Souls, that busy themselves, and are full of Concern about the involuntary Motions of the Fluids and Solids of Men's Bodies, and from thence full of Doubts and Suspicions of the Cause, when nothing appears but that the State and Frame of their Minds, and their voluntary Behaviour is good, and agreeable to GOD's Word;
2. Many are guilty of not taking the holy Scriptures as a sufficient and whole Rule, whereby to judge of this Work, whether it be the Work of GOD, in that they judge by those Things which the Scripture don't give as any Signs or Marks whereby to judge one Way or the other, and therefore do in no wise belong to the Scripture-Rule of judging, viz. The Effects