N04004:88
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 let us consider—; Is it not strange that in a Christian, orthodox Country, and such a Land of Light as this is, there should be many at a Loss whose Work this is, whether the Work of GOD or the Work of the Devil? Is it not a Shame to New-England that such a Work should be much doubted of here? Need we look over the Histories of all past Times, to see if there ben't some Circumstances and external Appearances that attend this Work, that have been formerly found amongst Enthusiasts? Whether the Montanists had not great Transports of Joy, and whether the French Prophets had not Agitations of Body? Blessed be GOD! He don't put us to the Toil of such Inquiries. We need not say, Who shall ascend into Heaven, to bring us down something whereby to judge of this Work? Nor does GOD send us beyond the Seas, nor into past Ages, to obtain a Rule that shall determine and satisfy us. But we have a Rule near at Hand, a sacred Book that GOD himself has put into our Hands, with clear and infallible Marks, sufficient to resolve us in Things of this Nature; which Book I think we must reject, not only in some particular Passages, but in the Substance ⟨p. 61⟩of it, if we reject such a Work as has now been described, as not being the Work of GOD. The whole Tenor of the Gospel proves it; all the Notion of Religion that the Scripture gives us confirms it.
I suppose there is scarcely a Minister in this Land, but from Sabbath to Sabbath used to pray that GOD would pour out his Spirit, and work a Reformation and Revival of Religion in the Country, and turn us from our Intemperance, Profaneness, Uncleanness, Worldliness and other Sins; and we have kept from Year to Year Days of public Fasting and Prayer to GOD, to acknowledge our Backslidings, and humble our selves for our Sins, and to seek of GOD Forgiveness & Reformation: and now when so great and extensive a Reformation is so suddenly and wonderfully accomplished, in those very Things that we have sought to GOD for, shall we not acknowledge it? Or when we do, do it, with great Coldness, Caution and Reserve, and scarcely take any Notice of it in our public Prayers & Praises, or mention it but slightly and cursorily, and in such a Manner as carries an Appearance as tho' we would contrive to say as little of it as ever we could, and were glad to pass from it? And that because, (although' indeed there be such a Work attended with all these glorious Effects, yet) The Work is attended with a Mixture of Error, Imprudences, Darkness and Sin; because some Persons are carried away with Impressions, and are indiscreet, and too censorious with their Zeal; and because there are high Transports of religious