N04004:50
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.
Yea, such extraordinary external Effects of inward Impressions have not only been to be found in here and there a single Person, but there have also before now been Times wherein many have been thus affected, in some particular Parts of ⟨p. 26⟩the Church of GOD, & such Effects have appeared in Congregations, in many at once. So it was in the Year 1625, in the West of Scotland, in a Time of great Out-pouring of the Spirit of GOD. It was then a frequent Thing for many to be so extraordinarily seized with Terror in the hearing of the Word, by the Spirit of GOD convincing them of Sin, that they fell down, and were carried out of the Church, who afterwards proved most solid and lively Christians; as the Author of the Fulfilling of the Scripture informs us, p. 185. The same Author in the preceding Page, informs of many in France that were so wonderfully affected with the Preaching of the Gospel, in the Time of those famous Divines Farel and Viret, that for a Time, they could not follow their secular Business. And p. 186. of many in Ireland, in a Time of great Outpouring of the Spirit there, in the Year 1628, that were so filled with Divine Comforts, and a Sense of GOD, that they made but little Use of either Meat, Drink or Sleep, and professed that they did not feel the Need thereof. The same Author gives an Account of very much such Things in Mrs. Catherine Brettergh of Lancashire in England, (p. 391. 392.) as have been cried out of, here amongst us, as wild and distracted: how that after great Distress, which very much affected her Body, the Sweat sometimes bursting out upon her, GOD did so break in upon her Mind with Light and Discoveries of himself, that she was forced to burst out, crying, O the Joys, the Joys, the Joys, that I feel in my ⟨p. 27⟩Soul! O they be wonderful, they be wonderful! The Place where I now am is sweet and pleasant! How comfortable is the Sweetness I feel, that delights my Soul! The Taste is precious; do you not feel it? Oh so sweet as it is! And at other Times, O my sweet Saviour, shall I be one with thee, as thou art one with the Father? And dost thou so love me that am but Dust, to make me Partaker of Glory with CHRIST? O how wonderful is thy Love! And Oh that my Tongue and Heart were able to sound forth thy Praises as I ought. At another Time she burst forth thus; Yea Lord, I feel thy Mercy, and I am assured of thy Love!