N04004:60
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.
These Persons that thus make their own Experiences their Rule of Judgment, instead of bowing to the Wisdom of GOD, and yielding to his Word as an infallible Rule, are guilty of casting a great Reflection upon the Understanding of the most High.
III. Another Foundation-Error of those that reject this Work, is their not duly distinguishing ⟨p. 33⟩the Good from the Bad, and very unjustly judging of the Whole by a Part; and so rejecting the Work in general, or in the main Substance of it, for the sake of some Things that are accidental to it, that are evil. They look for more in Men that are divinely influenced, because subject to the Operations of a good Spirit, than is justly to be expected from them for that Reason, in this imperfect State, and dark World, where so much Blindness and Corruption remains in the best. When any profess to have received Light and Influence and Comforts from Heaven, and to have had sensible Communion with GOD, many are ready to expect that now they appear like Angels, and not still like poor, feeble, blind and sinful Worms of the Dust. There being so much Corruption left in the Hearts of GOD's own Children, and its prevailing as it sometimes does, is indeed a mysterious Thing, and always was a Stumbling-Block to the World; but won't be so much wondered at by those that are well versed in, and duly mindful of, two Things, viz. First, the Word of GOD, which teaches us the State of true Christians in this World, and Secondly, their own Hearts, at least if they have any Grace, and have Experience of its Conflicts with Corruption. They that are true Saints are most inexcusable in making a great Difficulty of a great deal of Blindness, and many sinful Errors in those that profess Godliness. If all our Conduct, both open and secret, should be known, and our Hearts laid open to the World, how should we be even ready to fly from the Light of the Sun, and hide our ⟨p. 34⟩selves from the View of Mankind! And what great Allowances would it be found that we should need, that others should make for us? perhaps much greater than we are willing to make for others.