N05272:120
A farewell-sermon preached at the first precinct in Northampton, after the people's public rejection…A farewel-sermon preached at the first precinct in Northampton, after the people's publick rejection…
A farewell-sermon preached at the first precinct in Northampton, after the people's public rejection of their minister, and renouncing their relation to him as pastor of the church there, on June 22, 1750. : Occasioned by difference of sentiments, concerning the requisite qualifications of members of the church, in complete standing. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. ; [Twelve lines of Scripture texts]A farewel-sermon preached at the first precinct in Northampton, after the people's publick rejection of their minister, and renouncing their relation to him as pastor of the church there, on June 22, 1750. : Occasion'd by difference of sentiments, concerning the requisite qualifications of members of the church, in compleat standing. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. ; [Twelve lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland over agianst the prison, 1751
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Whoever may hereafter stand related to you as your spiritual Guide, my Desire and Prayer is, that the great Shepherd of the Sheep would have a special Respect to you, and be your Guide (for there is none teacheth like him) and that he who is the infinite Fountain of Light, would open your Eyes, and turn you from Darkness unto Light, and from the Power of Satan unto God; that you may receive Forgiveness of Sins, and Inheritance among ⟨p. 28⟩them that are sanctified, through Faith that is in Christ; that so, in that great Day, when I shall meet you again before your Judge and mine, we may meet in joyful and glorious Circumstances, never to be separated any more.
IV. I would apply my self to the young People of the Congregation.
Since I have been settled in the Work of the Ministry in this Place, I have ever had a peculiar Concern for the Souls of the young People, and a Desire that Religion might flourish among them; and have especially exerted my self in Order to it; because I knew the special Opportunity they had beyond others, and that ordinarily those whom God intended Mercy for were brought to fear and love him in their Youth. And it has ever appeared to me a peculiarly amiable Thing to see young People walking in the Ways of Virtue and Christian Piety, having their Hearts purified & sweetened with a Principle of divine Love. And it has appeared a Thing exceeding beautiful, and what would be much to the Adorning and Happiness of the Town, if the young People could be persuaded, when they meet together, to converse as Christians, & as the Children of God; avoiding Impurity, Levity & Extravagance; keeping strictly to Rules of Virtue, and conversing together of the Things of God and Christ and Heaven. This is what I have longed for: And it has been exceeding grievous to me when I have heard of Vice, Vanity and Disorder among our Youth. And so far as I know my Heart, it was from hence that I formerly led this Church to some Measures, for the suppressing Vice among our young People, which gave so great Offence, and by which I became so obnoxious. I have sought the Good and not the Hurt of our young People. I have desired their truest Honour and Happiness, and not their Reproach; knowing that true Virtue and Religion tended, not only to the Glory and Felicity of young People in another World, but their greatest Peace and Prosperity, and highest Dignity and