N04004:92
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 began in a much higher Degree still, the last Winter, upon another Resignation and Acceptance of GOD, as the only Portion and Happiness of the ⟨p. 65⟩Soul, wherein the whole World, with the dearest Enjoyments in it, were renounced as Dirt and Dung, and all that is pleasant and glorious, and all that is terrible in this World, seemed perfectly to vanish into nothing, and nothing to be left but GOD, in whom the Soul was perfectly swallowed up, as in an infinite Ocean of Blessedness: Since which Time there have often been great Agitations of Body, and an unavoidable leaping for Joy; and the Soul as it were dwelling almost without Interruption, in a kind of Paradise; and very often, in high Transports, disposed to speak of those great and glorious Things of GOD and CHRIST, and the eternal World, that are in View, to others that are present, in a most earnest Manner, and with a loud Voice, so that it is next to impossible to avoid it: These Effects on the Body not arising from any bodily Distemper or Weakness, because the greatest of all have been in a good State of Health. This great Rejoicing has been a rejoicing with trembling, i. e. attended with a deep and lively Sense of the Greatness and Majesty of GOD, and the Person's own exceeding Littleness and Vileness: Spiritual Joys in this Person never were attended, either formerly or lately, with the least Appearance of any Laughter or Lightness of Countenance, or Manner of speaking; but with a peculiar Abhorrence of such Appearances in spiritual Rejoicings, especially since Joys have been greatest of all: These high Transports when they have been past, have had abiding Effects in the Increase of the Sweetness, Rest and Humility that they ⟨p. 66⟩have left upon the Soul; and a new Engagedness of Heart to live to GOD's Honour, and watch and fight against Sin. And these Things not in one that is in the giddy age of Youth, nor in a new Convert, and unexperienced Christian, but in one that was converted above Twenty-seven Years ago; and neither converted, nor educate in that enthusiastical Town of Northampton, (as some may be ready to call it,) but in a Town and Family that none that I know of suspected of Enthusiasm;