N04004:83
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.
And now they are transformed into another for of People; their former vain, worldly and vicious Conversation and Dispositions seem to be forsaken, and they are as it were, gone over to a new World: Their Thoughts, and their Talk and their Concern, Affections and Enquiries are now about the Favour of GOD, an Interest in CHRIST, a renewed sanctified Heart, and a spiritual Blessedness, and Acceptance and Happiness in a future World. And through the greater Part of New-England, the Holy Bible is in much greater Esteem and Use than it used to be; The great Things that are contained in it are much more regarded, as Things of the greatest Consequence, and are much more the Subjects of Meditation and Conversation; and other Books of Piety that have long been of established Reputation, as the most excellent, and most tending to promote true Godliness, have been abundantly more in Use: The Lord's-Day is more religiously and strictly observed: And abundance has been lately done at making up Differences, and confessing Faults one to another, and making Restitution; probably more within this two ⟨p. 55⟩Years, than was done in Thirty Years before: It has been so undoubtedly in many Places. And surprising has been the Power of that Spirit that has been poured out on the Land, in many Instances, to destroy old Grudges, and make up long continued Breaches, and to bring those that seemed to be in a confirmed irreconcilable Alienation, to embrace each other in a sincere and entire Amity. Great Numbers under this Influence have been brought to a deep Sense of their own Sinfulness and Vileness; the Sinfulness of their Lives, the Heinousness of their Disregard of the Authority of the great GOD, and the Heinousness of their living in Contempt of a Saviour: they have lamented their former Negligence of their Souls, and neglecting and losing precious Time. Their Sins of Life have been extraordinarily set before them: and they have also had a great Sense of their Sins of Heart; their hardness of Heart, and Enmity against that which is Good, and Proneness to all Evil; and also of the Worthlessness of their own religious Performances, how unworthy their Prayers, Praises, and all that they did in Religion, was to be regarded of GOD:
And now they are transformed into another for of People; their former vain, worldly and vicious Conversation and Dispositions seem to be forsaken, and they are as it were, gone over to a new World: Their Thoughts, and their Talk and their Concern, Affections and Enquiries are now about the Favour of GOD, an Interest in CHRIST, a renewed sanctified Heart, and a spiritual Blessedness, and Acceptance and Happiness in a future World. And through the greater Part of New-England, the Holy Bible is in much greater Esteem and Use than it used to be; The great Things that are contained in it are much more regarded, as Things of the greatest Consequence, and are much more the Subjects of Meditation and Conversation; and other Books of Piety that have long been of established Reputation, as the most excellent, and most tending to promote true Godliness, have been abundantly more in Use: The Lord's-Day is more religiously and strictly observed: And abundance has been lately done at making up Differences, and confessing Faults one to another, and making Restitution; probably more within this two