Discourses on Various Important Subjects, Preface 2
THE PREFACE▪
THE Friendly Correſpondence which we maintain with our Brethren of New England, gives us now and then the Pleaſure of hearing ſome remarkable Inſtances of divine Grace in the Converſion of Sinners, and ſome eminent Examples of Piety in that American Part of the World. But never did we hear or read, ſince the firſt Ages of Chriſtianity, any Event of this Kind ſo ſurprizing as the preſent Narrative hath ſet before us. The Revd and worthy Dr. Colman of Boſton had given us ſome ſhort Intimations of it in his Letters; and upon our Requeſt of a more large and particular Account, Mr. Edwards, the happy and ſucceſsful Miniſter of Northampton, which was one of the chief Scenes of theſe Wonders, drew up this Hiſtory in an Epiſtle to Dr Colman.
There were ſome uſeful Sermons of the Venerable and Aged Mr William Williams publiſh'd lately in New-England, which were Preached in that Part of the Country during this Seaſon of the glorious Work of God in the Converſion of Men; to which Dr. Colman … a moſt judicious and accurate Abridgement of this Epiſtl…: And a little after, he ſent the Original to our Hands, to be communicated to the World under our Care here in London.
We are abundantly ſatisfy'd of the Truth of this Narrative, not only from the pious Character of the Writer, but from the concurrent Teſtimony of many …her Perſons in New England; for this Thing was not … in a Corner. There is a Spo… of Ground, as we are … inform'd, wherein there are twelve or fourteen Towns and Villages, chiefly ſituate in the County of Hampſhire near the Banks of the River of Connecticut, within the Compaſs of Thirty Miles, wherein it pleaſed God two Years ago to diſplay his free and ſovereign Mercy in the Converſion of a great Multitude of Souls in a ſhort Space of Time, turning them from a formal, cold and careleſs Profeſſion of Chriſtianity to the lively Exerciſe of every Chriſtian Grace, and the powerful Practice of our holy Religion. The great God has ſeem'd to act over again the Miracle of Gideon's Fleece, which was plentifully water'd with the Dew of Heaven, while the reſt of the Earth round about it was dry, and had no ſuch remarkable Bleſſing.
There has been a great and juſt Complaint for many Years among the Miniſters and Churches in Old England, and in New, (except about the Time of the late Earthquake there) that the Work of Converſion goes on very ſlowly, that the Spirit of God in his ſaving Influences is much withdrawn from the Miniſtrations of his Word, and there are few that receive the Report of the Goſpel, with any eminent Succeſs upon their Hearts. But as the Goſpel is the ſame divine Inſtrument of Grace ſtill, as ever it was in the Days of the Apoſtles, ſo our aſcended Saviour now and then takes a ſpecial Occaſion to manifeſt the Divinity of this Goſpel by a plentiful Effuſion of his Spirit where it is preached: then Sinners are turned into Saints in Numbers, and there is a new Face of Things ſpread over a Town or Country: The Wilderneſs and the ſolitary Places are glad, the Deſert rejoyces and bloſſoms as the Roſe; and ſurely concerning this Inſtance we may add, that they have ſeen the Glory of the Lord there, and the Excellency of our God, they have ſeen the Out goings of God our Ki…g in his Sanctuary.
Certainly it becomes us, who profeſs the Religion of Chriſt, to take Notice of ſuch aſtoniſhing Exerciſes of his Power and Mercy, and give him the Glory which is due, when he begins to accompliſh any of his Promiſes concerning the latter Days: and it gives us further Encouragement to pray, and wait, and hope for the like Diſplay of his Power in the midſt of us. The Hand of God is not ſhorten'd that it cannot ſave, but we have Reaſon to fear that our Iniquities, our Coldneſs in Religion, and the general Carnality of our Spirits, have raiſed a Wall of Seperation between God and us: And we may add, the Pride and perverſe Humour of Infidelity, Degeneracy and Apoſtacy from the Chriſtian Faith, which have of late Years broken out amo…gſt us, ſeem to have provoked the Spirit of Chriſt to abſent himſelf much from our Nation. Return, O Lord, and viſit thy Churches, and revive thine own Work in the midſt of us.
From ſuch bleſſed Inſtances of the Succeſs of the Goſpel, as appear in this Narrative, we may learn much of the Way of the Spirit of God in his Dealing with the Souls of Men, in order to Convince Sinners, and reſtore them to his Favour and his Image by Jeſus Chriſt, his Son. We acknowledge that ſome particular Appearances in the Work of Converſion among Men may be occaſion'd by the Miniſtry which they ſit under, whether it be of a more or leſs Evangelical Strain, whether it be more ſevere and affrighting, or more gentle and Perſuaſive. But whereſoever God works with Power for Salvation upon the Minds of Men, there will be ſome Diſcoveries of a Senſe of Sin, of the Danger of the Wrath of God, of the All ſufficiency of his Son Jeſus, to …elieve us under all our Spiritual Wants and Diſtreſſes, and a hearty Conſent of Soul to receive him in the various Offices of Grace, wherein he is ſet forth in the holy Scriptures. And if our Readers had Opportunity (as we have had) to peruſe ſeveral of the Sermons which were Preached during this glorious Seaſon, we ſhould find that it is the common plain Proteſtant Doctrine of the Reformation, without ſtretching towards the Antinomians on the one Side, or the Arminians on the other, that the Spirit of God has been pleaſed to honour with ſuch illuſtrious Succeſs.
We are taught alſo by this happy Event how eaſy it will be for our bleſſed Lord to make a full Accompliſhment of all his Predictions concerning his Kingdom, and to ſpread his Dominion from Sea to Sea, thro' all the Nations of the Earth. We ſee how eaſy it is for him with one Turn of his Hand, with one Word of his Mouth, to awaken whole Countries of ſtupid and ſleeping Sinners, and kindle divine Life in their Souls. The heavenly Influence ſhall run from door to door, filling the Hearts and Lips of every Inhabitant with importunate Inquiries, What ſhall we do to be ſaved? And …ow ſhall we eſcape the Wrath to come? And the Name of Chriſt the Saviour ſhall diffuſe it ſelf like a rich and vi…al Perfume to Multitudes that were ready to ſink and periſh under the painful Senſe of their own Guilt and Danger. Salvation ſhall ſpread thro' all the Tribes and Ranks of Mankind, as the Lightning from Heaven in a few Moments would communicate a living Flame thro' ten thouſand Lamps or Torches placed in a proper Situation and Neighbourhood. Thus a Nation ſhall be born in a Day when our Redeemer pi…aſes, and his faithful and obedient Subjects ſhall become as numerous as the Spires of Graſs in a Meadow newly mown, and refreſh'd with the Showers of Heaven. But the Pleaſure of this agreeable Hint bears the Mind away from our Theme.
Let us return to the preſent Narrative. 'Tis worthy of our Obſervation, that this great and ſurprizing Work does not ſeem to have taken i… Riſe from any ſudden and diſtre…ng Calamity or publick Terror that might univerſally impreſs the Minds of a People: Here was no Storm, no Earthquake, no Inundation of Water, no Deſolation by Fire, no Peſtilence or any other ſweeping Diſtemper, nor any cruel Invaſion by their Indian Neighbours, that might force the Inhabitants into a ſerious Thoughtfulneſs, and a religious Temper by the Fears of approaching Death and Judgment. Such Scenes as theſe have ſometimes been made happily effectual to awaken Sinners in Zion, and the formal Profeſſor and the Hypocrite have been terrify'd with the Thoughts of divine Wrath breaking in upon them, Who ſhall dwell with everlaſting Burrings? But in the preſent Caſe the immediate Hand of God in the Work of his Spirit appears much more evident, becauſe cauſe there is no ſuch awful and threat'ning Providence attending it.
It is worthy alſo of our further Notice, that when many profane Sinners, and formal Profeſſors of Religion have been affrighted out of their preſent Careleſneſs and Stupidity by ſome aſtoniſhing Terrors approaching them, thoſe religious Appearances have not been ſo durable, nor the real Change of Heart ſo thoroughly effected: Many of theſe ſort of ſudden Converts have dropt their religious Concerns in a great Meaſure when their Fears of the threat'ning Calamity are vaniſh'd. But it is a bleſſed Confirmation of the Truth of this preſent Work of Grace, that the Perſons who were divinely wrought upon in this Seaſon continue ſtill to profeſs ſerious Religion, and to practice it without returning to their former Follies.
It may not be amiſs in this Place to take Notice, that a very ſurprizing and threat'ning Providence has this laſt Year attended the People of Northampton, among whom this Work of divine Grace was ſo remarkable: Which Providence at firſt might have been conſtrued by the unthinking World to be a ſignal Token of God's Diſpleaſure againſt that Town, or a Judgment from Heaven upon the People; but ſoon afterwards, like Paul's ſhaking the Viper off from his Hand, it diſcovered the aſtoniſhing Care and Goodneſs of God expreſs'd towards a Place where ſuch a Multitude of his young Converts were aſſembled: Nor can we give a better Account of it than in the Language of this very Gentleman, the Revd Mr. Edwards, Miniſter of that Town, wh… wrote the following Letter, which was publiſh'd in New-England.
Northampton, March 19th. 1737.
WE in this Town, were the laſt Lord's Day the Spectators, and many of us the Subjects, of one of the moſt amazing Inſtances of divine Preſervation, that perhaps was ever known in the Land: Our Meeting-Houſe is old and deca…'d, ſo that we have been for ſome time building a new one, which …s yet▪ unfiniſh'd: It has been obſerved of late, that the Houſe that we have hitherto met in has gradually ſpread at bottom, the Cells and Walls giving way, eſpecially in the Foreſide, by reaſon of the Weight of Timber at top, preſſing on the Braces that are inſerted into the Poſts and Beams of the Houſe. It has ſo done more than ordinarily this Spring; which ſeems to have been occaſion'd by the heaving of the Ground by the extream Froſts of the Winter paſt, and its now ſettling again on that ſide which is next the Sun, by the Thaws of the Spring: By this means the under-pinning has been conſiderably diſorder'd, which People were not ſenſible of, till the ends of the Joyſts which bore up the front Gallery, by the Walls giving way, were drawn off from the Girts on which they reſted; ſo that in the midſt of the publick Exerciſe in the Forenoon, ſoon after the beginning of Sermon, the whole Gallery full of People, with all the Seats and Timber ſuddenly and without any Warning ſunk, and fell down, with moſt amazing noiſe upon the Heads of thoſe that ſat under, to the aſtoniſhment of the Congregation, the Houſe being fill'd with dolorous, Shrieking and Crying; and nothing elſe was expected than to find many People dead, and daſhed to pieces.
The Gallery in falling ſeem'd to break and ſink firſt in the middle; ſo that thoſe who were upon it were thrown together in heaps before the front Door: But the whole was ſo ſudden, that many of them that felt knew nothing in the time of it what it was that had befallen them; and others in the Congregation knew not what it was that had happen'd with ſo great a Noiſe … many thought it had been an amazing Clap of Thunder: The falling Gallery ſeem'd to be broken all to pieces before it got down; ſo that ſome that fell with it, as well as thoſe that were under, were buried in the Ruins, and were found preſs'd under heavy Loads of Timber, and could do nothing to help themſelves.
But ſo myſteriouſly and wonderfully did it come to paſs, that every Life was preſerved; and tho' many were greatly bruiſed, and their Fleſh torn, yet there is not▪ as I can underſtand, one …one broke, or ſo much as put out of Joint among them all: Some that were thought to be almoſt dead at firſt, are greatly recover'd; and but one young Woman ſeems yet to remain in dangerous Circumſtances, by an inward Hurt in her Breaſt: but of late there appears more Hope of her Recovery.
There is none can give any Account, or conceive by what Means it ſhould come to paſs, that Peoples Lives and Limbs ſhould be thus preſerv'd, when ſo great a Multitude were thus imminently expoſed: It looked as tho' it was impoſſible it ſhould be otherwiſe, thanthat great Numbers ſhould inſtantly he cr…ſh…d to death or daſhed in pieces: It ſeems unreaſonable to aſcribe it to any thing elſe, but the Care of Providence in diſpoſing the Motions of every Stick of Timber, & the preciſe Place of Safety where every one ſhould ſit, & fall, when none were in any Capacity to take care for their own Preſervation. The Preſervation ſeems to be moſt wonderful, with Reſpect to the Women, and Children that were in the middle Alley, under the Gallery, where it came down firſt, and with greateſt Force, and where was nothing to break the Force of the falling Weight.
Such an Event may be a ſufficient Argument of a Divine Providence over the Lives of Men. We thought ourſelves called to ſet apart a Day to be ſpent in the ſolemn Worſhip of God, ſo humble ourſelves under ſuch a Rebuke of God upon us in the Time of publick Service in God's Houſe by ſo dangro…s and ſurprizing an Accident; and to praiſe his Name for ſo wonderful, and as it were Miraculous a Preſervation; and the laſt Wedneſday was kept by us to that End: And a Mercy in which the Hand of God is ſo remarkably evident, may be well worthy to effect the Hearts of all that hear it.
Thus far the Letter.
But it is time to conclude our Preface. If there ſhould be any thing found in this Narrative of the ſurprizing Converſion of ſuch Numbers of Souls, where the Sentiments or the Style of the Relater, or his Inferences from Matters of Fact, do not appear ſo agreeable to every Reader, we hope it will have no unhappy influence to diſcourage the Belief of this glorious Event. We muſt allow every Writer his own Way; and muſt allow him to chuſe what particular Inſtances he would ſelect, from the numerous Caſes which came before him. And tho' he might have choſen others perhaps, of more ſignificancy in the eye of the World, th…n the Woman and the Child, whoſe Experiences he relates at large; yet 'tis evident he choſe that of the Woman, becauſe ſhe was dead, and ſhe is thereby uncapable of knowing any Honours or Reproaches on this Account. And as for the Child, thoſe who were preſent, and ſaw and heard ſuch a remarkable and laſting Change, on one ſo every young, muſt neceſſarily receive a ſtronger Impreſſion from it, and a more agreeable Surprize than the meer Narration of it can communicate to others at a diſtance. Childrens Language always loſes its ſtriking Beauties at ſecond-hand.
Upon the whole, we declare our Opinion, that this Account of ſuch an extraordinary and illuſtrious Appearance of divine Grace in the Converſion of Sinners, is very like by the Bleſſing of God to have a happy Effect, towards the Honour and Enlargement of the Kingdom of Chriſt.
May the worthy Writer, of this Epiſtle, and all thoſe his Revd Brethren in the Miniſtry, who have been honour'd in this excellent & important Service, go on to ſee their Labours crown'd with daily and perſevering Succeſs! May the numerous Subjects of this ſurprizing Work hold faſt what they have received, and increaſe in every Chriſtian Grace and Bleſſing! May a plentiful Effuſion of the bleſſed Spirit, alſo, deſcend on the Britiſh Iſles, and all their American Plantations, to renew the Face of Religion there! And we intreat our Readers in both Englands, to join with us in our hearty Addreſſes to the Throne of Grace, that this wonderful Diſcovery of the hand of God in ſaving Sinners, may incourage our Faith and Hope of the Accompliſhment of all his Words of Grace, which are written in the Old Teſtament and in the New, concerning the large Extent of this Salvation in the Latter Days of the World. Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly, and ſpread thy Dominion thro' all the Ends of the Earth, Amen.
London, October 12, 1737.
ISAAC WATTS.
JOHN GUYSE.