N04004:417
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.
3. There should also be some Restraint on the abundance of Persons Talk, under strong Affections; for if Persons give themselves an unbounded Liberty, to talk just so much as they feel an Inclination to, they will increase and abound more and more in Talk, beyond the Proportion of their Sense or Affection; 'till at length it will become ineffectual on those that hear them, and by the Commonness of their abundant Talk, they will defeat their own End.
One Thing more I would take Notice of before I conclude this Part, is the Mismanagement that has been in some Places of the Duty of singing Praises to GOD. I believe it to have been one Fruit of the extraordinary Degrees of the sweet and joyful Influences of the Spirit of GOD that have been lately given, that there has appeared such a Disposition to abound in that Duty, & frequently to fall into this divine Exercise; not only in appointed solemn Meetings, but when Christians occasionally meet together at each other's Houses. But the Mismanagement I have Respect to, is the getting into a Way of performing it, without almost any Appearance of that Reverence and Solemnity with which all visible, open Acts of divine Worship ought to be attended; it may be two or three in a Room singing Hymns of Praise to GOD, others that are present talking at the same Time, others ⟨p. 317⟩about their Work, with little more Appearance of Regard to what is doing, than if some were only singing a common Song, for their Amusement and Diversion. There is Danger, if such Things are continued, of its coming to that by Degrees, that a mere Nothing be made of this Duty, to the great Violation of the third Commandment. Let Christians abound as much as they will in this holy, heavenly Exercise, in GOD's House and in their own Houses; but when it is performed, let it be performed as an holy Act, wherein they have immediately and visibly to do with GOD. When any social open Act of Devotion, or solemn Worship of GOD is performed, GOD should be reverenced as visibly present, by those that are present. As we would not have the Ark of GOD depart from us, nor provoke GOD to make a Breach upon us, we should take Heed that we handle the Ark with Reverence.