N04004:71
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.
but yet so prone were they, through the Weakness and Corruption of human Nature, to get out of the Way, that Irregularity and Confusion rose in some Churches, where there was an extraordinary Out-pouring of the Spirit, to a very great Height, even in the Apostles Lifetime, and under their Eye. And tho' some of the Apostles lived long to settle the State of Things, yet presently after they were dead, the Christian Church ran into many Superstitions and childish Notions and Practices, and in some Respects into a great Severity in their Zeal. And let any wise Person that han't, in the midst of the Disputes of the present Day, got beyond the Calmness of Consideration, impartially consider to what Lengths, we may reasonably suppose, many of the primitive Christians, in their Heat of Zeal, and under their extraordinary Impressions, would soon have gone, if they had had no inspired Guides; and whether or no 'tis not probable that the Church of Corinth in particular, by an Increase of their Irregularities and Contentions, would not in a little Time have broke to Pieces, and dissolved in a State of the utmost Confusion? and yet this would have been no Evidence that ⟨p. 43⟩there had not been a most glorious and remarkable Out-pouring of the Spirit in that City. But as for us, we have no infallible Apostle to guide and direct us, to rectify Disorders, and reclaim us when we are wandering; but every one does what is right in his own Eyes; and they that err in Judgment, and are got into a wrong Path, continue to wander, till Experience of the mischievous Issue convinces them of their Error.
but yet so prone were they, through the Weakness and Corruption of human Nature, to get out of the Way, that Irregularity and Confusion rose in some Churches, where there was an extraordinary Out-pouring of the Spirit, to a very great Height, even in the Apostles Lifetime, and under their Eye. And tho' some of the Apostles liv'd long to settle the State of Things, yet presently after they were dead, the Christian Church ran into many Superstitions and childish Notions and Practices, and in some Respects into a great Severity in their Zeal. And let any wise Person that han't, in the midst of the Disputes of the present Day, got beyond the Calmness of Consideration, impartially consider to what Lengths, we may reasonably suppose, many of the primitive Christians, in their Heat of Zeal, and under their extraordinary Impressions, would soon have gone, if they had had no inspired Guides; and whether or no 'tis not probable that the Church of Corinth in particular, by an Increase of their Irregularities and Contentions, would not in a little Time have broke to Pieces, and dissolved in a State of the utmost Confusion? and yet this would have been no Evidence that