Thoughts Concerning the Present Revival of Religion in New England, Title page – Preface
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, 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 … 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.
Isai. 40. 3.
Prepare ye the Way of the Lord, make strait in the Desart a high-Way for our God.
BOSTON: Printed and Sold by S. Kneeland, and T. Green in Queen-Street, 1742.
THE PREFACE.
IN the ensuing Treatise, I condemn Ministers assuming, or taking too much upon them, and appearing as tho' they supposed that they were the Persons, to whom it especially belonged to dictate, direct and determine; but perhaps shall be thought to be very guilty of it my self: And some when they read this Treatise, may be ready to say that I condemn this in others, that I may have the Monopoly of it.—I confess that I have taken a great deal of Liberty freely to express my Thoughts, concerning almost every Thing appertaining to the wonderful Work of GOD that has of late been carried on in the Land, and to declare what has appeared to me to be the Mind of GOD, concerning the Duty and Obligations of all Sorts of Persons, and even those that are my Superiours and Fathers, Ministers of the Gospel, and Civil Rulers: But yet I hope the Liberty I have taken is not greater than can be justified. In a free Nation, such Liberty of the Press is allowed, that every Author takes Leave without Offence, freely to speak his Opinion concerning the Management of publick Affairs, and the Duty of the Legislature, and those that are at the Head of the Administration, tho' vastly his Superiours. As now at this Day, private Subjects offer their Sentiments to the Publick, from the Press, concerning the Management of the War with Spain; freely declaring what they think to be the Duty of the Parliament, and the principal Ministers of State, &c. We … New-England are at this Day engaged in … important War: And I'm sure, if we consider the sad Jangling and Confusion that has attended it, we shall confess that it is highly requisite that some Body should speak his Mind, concerning the Way in which it ought to be managed: And that not only a few of the many Particulars, that are the Matter of Strife in the Land, should be debated, on the one Side and the other, in Pamphlets; ( as has of late been done, with Heat and Fierceness enough;) which don't tend to bring the Contention in general to an End, but rather to inflame it, and increase the Uproar: But that something should be published, to bring the Affair in general, and the many Things that attend it, that are the Subjects of Debate, under a particular Consideration. And certainly it is high Time that this was done. If private Persons may speak their Minds without Arrogance; much more may a Minister of the Kingdom of CHRIST speak freely about Things of this Nature, which do so nearly concern the Interest of the Kingdom of his Lord and Master, at so important a Juncture. If some elder Minister had undertaken this, I acknowledge it would have been more proper; but I have heard of no such Thing a doing, or like to be done. I hope therefore I shall be excused for undertaking such a Piece of Work. I think that nothing that I have said can justly be interpreted, as tho' I would impose my Thoughts upon any, or did not suppose that others have equal Right to think for themselves, with my self. We are not accountable one to another for our Thoughts; but we must all give an Account to him who searches our Hearts, and has doubtless his Eye especially upon us at such an extraordinary Season as this. If I have well confirmed my Opinion concerning this Work, and the Way in which it should be acknowledged and promoted, with Scripture and Reason, I hope others that read it will receive it, as a Manifestation of the Mind and Will of GOD. If others would hold forth further Light to me in any of these Particulars, I hope I should thankfully receive it. I think I have been made in some Measure sensible, and much more of late than formerly, of my Need of more Wisdom than I have. I make it my Rule to lay hold of Light and embrace it, where-ever I see it, tho' held forth by a Child or an Enemy. If I have assumed too much in the following Discourse, and have spoken in a Manner that savours of a Spirit of Pride, no Wonder that others can better discern it than I my self. If it be so I ask Pordon, and beg the Prayers of every Christian Reader, that I may have more Light, Humility and Zeal; and that I may be favoured with such Measures of the Divine Spirit, as a Minister of the Gospel stands in Need of, at such an extraordinary Season