N04004:485
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.
God's People, at such a Time as this, ought especially to abound in Deeds of Charity, or Alms-giving. We generally, in these Days, seem to fall far below the true Spirit & Practice of Christianity, with Regard to this Duty, and seem to have but little Notion of it, so far as I can understand the New-Testament.—At a Time when God is so liberal of spiritual Things, we ought not to be strait-handed towards him, & sparing of our temporal Things.—So far as I can judge by the Scripture, there is no external Duty whatsoever, by which Persons will be so much in the Way, not only of receiving temporal Benefits, but so spiritual Blessings, the Influences of God's […] Spirit in the Heart, in divine Discoveries and spiritual Consolations. I think it ⟨p. 371⟩would be unreasonable to understand those Promises, made to this Duty, in the 58 Chap. of Isaiah, in a Sense exclusive of spiritual Discoveries&Comforts. Isa. 58. 7th v. &c.—Is it not to deal thy Bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the Poor that are cast cut, to thy House? When thou seest the Naked that thou cover him & that thou hide not thy self from thine own Flesh? Then shall thy Light break forth as, the Morning, and thy Health shall spring forth speedily, and thy Righteousness shall go before thee, & the Glory of the Lord shall be thy Rear-ward; then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer, thou shalt cry, and he shalt say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee, the Yoke, the putting forth of the Finger, and speaking Vanity; and if thou draw out the Soul to the Hungry, and satisfy the afflicted Soul; then shall thy Light rise in Obscurity, and thy Darkness be as the Noon-day; and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy Soul in Drought, and make fat thy Bones; & thou shalt be like a watered Garden, and like a Spring of Water, whose Waters fail not. So, that giving to the Poor is the Way to receive spiritual Blessings, is manifest by Psal. 112. 4 Ver. &c. Unto the Upright, there ariseth Light in the Darkness; he is gracious, and full of Compassion, and righteous: A good Man showeth Favour and lendeth, he will guide his Affairs with Discretion; surely he shall not be moved for ever; the Righteous shall be in everlasting Remembrance; he shall not be afraid of evil Tidings, his Heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord;