N04004:70
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.
The Weakness of human Nature has always appeared in Times of great Revival of Religion, by a Disposition to run to Extremes and get into Confusion; and especially in these three Things, Enthusiasm, Superstition, and intemperate ⟨p. 41⟩Zeal. So it appeared in the Time of the Reformation, very remarkably; and also in the Days of the Apostles; many were then exceedingly disposed to lay Weight on those Things that were very Notional and Chimerical, giving Heed to Fables and Whimsies, as appears by 1 Tim. 1. 4. and 4. 7. 2 Tim. 2. 10. and v. 23. and Tit. 1. 14. and 3. 9. Many, as Ecclesiastical History informs us, fell off into the most wild Enthusiasm, and extravagant Notions of Spirituality, and extraordinary Illumination from Heaven beyond others; and many were prone to Superstition, Will-Worship and a voluntary Humility, giving Heed to the Commandments of Men, being fond of an unprofitable bodily Exercise, as appears by many Passages in the Apostles Writings: And what a Proneness then appeared among Professors to swerve from the Path of Duty, and the Spirit of the Gospel, in the Exercises of a rash indiscreet Zeal, censuring and condemning Ministers and People; one saying, I am of Paul, another I of Apollos, another I of Cephas; judging one another for Differences of Opinion about smaller Matters, unclean Meats, holy Days and holy Places, and their different Opinions and Practices respecting civil Intercourse and Communication with their Heathen Neighbours? And how much did vain Jangling and Disputing and Confusion prevail through undue Heat of Spirit, under the Name of a religious Zeal? 2 Tim. 6. 4, 5. 2 Tim. 2. 16. and Tit. 3. 9. And what a Task had the Apostles to keep them within Bounds, and maintain good Order ⟨p. 42⟩in the Churches? How often are they mentioning their Irregularities? The prevailing of such like Disorders seems to have been the special Occasion of writing many of their Epistles. The Church in that great Effusion of the Spirit that was then, and the strong Impressions that GOD's People were then under, was under the Care of infallible Guides, that watched over them Day and Night;