N04004:76
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.
Tho' Censoriousness be a Thing that is very sinful, and is most commonly found in Hypocrites and Persons of a pharisaical Spirit, yet it is not so inconsistent with true Godliness as some imagine. We have remarkable Instances of it in those holy Men that we have an Account of in the Book of Job: Not only were Job's three Friends, that seem to have been eminently holy Men, guilty of it, in very unreasonably censuring the best Man on Earth, very positively determining that he was an unconverted Man; But Job himself, that was not only a Man of true Piety, but excelled all Men in Piety, and particularly excelled in a humble, meek and patient Spirit, was guilty of bitterly censuring his three Friends, as wicked, vile Hypocrites. Job 16. 9, 10. 11. He teareth me in his Wrath who hateth me, he gnasheth upon me with his Teeth; mine Enemy sharpeneth his Eyes upon me: They have gaped upon me with their Mouth.—GOD hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the Hands of the Wicked. So he is very positive in it that they are Hypocrites, and shall be miserably destroyed as such, in the next Chapter, v. 2, 3, 4. Are ⟨p. 48⟩there not Mockers with me? And doth not mine Eye continue in their Provocation? Lay down now, put me in Surety with thee; who is he that will strike Hands with me? For thou hast hid their Heart from Understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them. And again, v. 8, 9, 10. Upright Men shall be astonished at this, and the Innocent shall stir up himself against the Hypocrite: The Righteous also shall hold on his Way, and he that hath clean Hands shall be stronger and stronger. But as for you all, do you return and come now: for I cannot find one wise Man (i. e. one good Man) among you.
Thus I think the Errors and Irregularities that attend this Work, may be accounted for, from the Consideration of the Infirmity and Weakness and common Corruption of Mankind, together with the Circumstances of the Work, tho' we should suppose it to be the Work of GOD. And it would not be a just Objection in any to say, if these powerful Impressions and great Affections are from the Spirit of GOD, why don't the same Spirit give Strength of Understanding and Capacity in Proportion, to those Persons that are the Subjects of them; so that strong Affections may not, through their Error, drive them to an irregular and sinful Conduct? For I don't know that GOD has any where obliged himself to do it. The End of the Influences of GOD's Spirit is to make Men spiritually knowing, wise to Salvation, which is the most excellent Wisdom; and he has also appointed Means for our gaining such Degrees of other Knowledge as we need, to conduct our selves regularly, which Means should