N04004:37
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 say, such Ministers go out of the Place that CHRIST has set them in, and leave their proper Business, as much as if they should undertake to tell who are under the Influence of the Spirit by their Looks, or their Gate. I can't see which Way we are in Danger, or how the Devil is like to get any notable Advantage against us, if we do but thoroughly do our Duty with Respect to those two Things, viz. The State of Persons Minds, and their moral Conduct, seeing to it that they be maintained in an Agreeableness to the Rules that CHRIST has given us. If Things are but kept right in these Respects, our Fears and Suspicions arising from extraordinary bodily Effects seem wholly groundless.
I say, such Ministers go out of the Place that CHRIST has set them in, and leave their proper Business, as much as if they should undertake to tell who are under the Influence of the Spirit by their Looks, or their Gate. I can't see which Way we are in Danger, or how the Devil is like to get any notable Advantage against us, if we do but thoroughly do our Duty with Respect to those two Things, viz. The State of Persons Minds, and their moral Conduct, seeing to it that they be maintain'd in an Agreeableness to the Rules that CHRIST has given us. If Things are but kept right in these Respects, our Fears and Suspicions arising from extraordinary bodily Effects seem wholly groundless.
The most specious Thing that is alleged against these extraordinary Effects on the Body, is that the Body is impaired and Health wronged; and that it's hard to think that GOD, in the merciful Influences of his Spirit on Men, would wound their Bodies, and impair their Health. But if it were so pretty commonly or in multiplied Instances, (which I don't suppose it is,) that Persons received a lasting Wound to their Health by extraordinary religious Impressions made upon their Minds, yet 'tis too much for us to determine ⟨p. 15⟩that GOD shall never bring an outward Calamity, in bestowing a vastly greater spiritual and eternal Good. Jacob in doing his Duty in wrestling with GOD for the Blessing, and while GOD was striving with him, at the same Time that he received the Blessing from GOD, suffered a great outward Calamity from his Hand; GOD impaired his Body so that he never got over it as long as he lived: He gave him the Blessing, but sent him away halting on his Thigh, and he went lame all his Life after. And yet this is not mentioned as if it were any Diminution of the great Mercy of GOD to him, when GOD blessed him, and he received his Name Israel, because as a Prince he had Power with GOD, and had prevailed.