N04004:78
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.
If we consider the Errors that attend this Work, not only as from Man, and his Infirmity, but also as from GOD, and by his Permission and Disposal, they are not strange, upon the Supposition of its being, as to the Substance of it, a Work of GOD. If GOD intends this great Revival of Religion to be the dawning, or a Forerunner of an happy State of his Church on Earth, it may be an Instance of the divine Wisdom, in the beginning of it, to suffer so many Irregularities and Errors in Conduct, to which he knew Men, in their present weak State, were most exposed, under great religious Affections, and when animated with great Zeal. For it will be very likely to be of excellent Benefit to his Church, in the Continuance and Progress of the Work afterwards: Their Experience in the first setting out, of the mischievous Consequences of these Errors, and smarting for them in the Beginning, may be an happy Defence to them afterwards, for many Generations, from these Errors, which otherwise they might continually be exposed to. As when David and all Israel went about to bring back the Ark into the midst of the Land, after it had been long absent, first in the Land of the Philistines, and then in Kirjathjearim, in the utmost Borders of the Land; they at first sought not the LORD after the due Order, ⟨p. 50⟩and they smarted for their Error; but this put them upon studying the Law, and more thoroughly acquainting themselves with the Mind and Will of GOD, and seeking and serving him with greater Circumspection; and the Consequence was glorious, viz. their seeking GOD in such a Manner as was accepted of him; and the Ark of GOD's ascending into the […] of Zion, with those great and extraordinary Rejoicings of the King and all the People, without any Frown or Rebuke from GOD intermixed; and GOD's dwelling thenceforward in the midst of the People, to those glorious Purposes that are expressed in the 68th Psalm.
If we consider the Errors that attend this Work, not only as from Man, and his Infirmity, but also as from GOD, and by his Permission and Disposal, they are not strange, upon the Supposition of its being, as to the Substance of it, a Work of GOD. If GOD intends this great Revival of Religion to be the dawning, or a Forerunner of an happy State of his Church on Earth, it may be an Instance of the divine Wisdom, in the beginning of it, to suffer so many Irregularities and Errors in Conduct, to which he knew Men, in their present weak State, were most exposed, under great religious Affections, and when animated with great Zeal. For it will be very likely to be of excellent Benefit to his Church, in the Continuance and Progress of the Work afterwards: Their Experience in the first setting out, of the mischievous Consequences of these Errors, and smarting for them in the Beginning, may be an happy Defence to them afterwards, for many Generations, from these Errors, which otherwise they might continually be exposed to. As when David and all Israel went about to bring back the Ark into the midst of the Land, after it had been long absent, first in the Land of the Philistines, and then in Kirjathjearim, in the utmost Borders of the Land; they at first sought not the LORD after the due Order,