إما لأن ا CONTAINING A FAITHFUL NARRATIVE OF THE SURPRISING WORK OF GOD IN THE CONVERSION OF ALSO, THOUGHTS ON THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN NEW ENGLAND, 1742, AND THE WAY IN WHICH IT OUGHT TO BE ACKNOW- BY JONATHAN EDWARDS, A. M., PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN NORTHAMPTON; AFTERWARDS PRESIDENT OF WITH INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, AND A FULL GENERAL INDEX, PREPARED BY THE PRESENT EDITOR. NEW YORK: DUNNING & SPALDING. " M.L. "Entered, according to act of congress, in the year 1832, by Charles Spalding, in the clerk's office of the southern district of New York." SLEIGHT AND ROBINSON, PRINTERS. FAITHFUL NARRATIVE of the Surprising Work, &c. Preface by Dr. Watts and Dr. Guyse, Chap. III. Of remarkable impressions on the imagination, Chap. IV. The work farther illustrated in particular instances, PART I. Showing that the extraordinary work that has of late been going on in this land, is a glorious work of God, Sect. 1. We should not judge of this work à priori, but by its Sect. 2. We should judge by the rule of scripture, Sect. 3. We should not judge of the whole by a part, Sect. 4. The nature of the work in general, PART II. Showing the obligations that all are under to acknowledge, Sect. 1. The danger of lying still and keeping long silence respecting Sect. 2. The latter day glory is probably to begin in America, Sect. 3. The danger of not acknowledging, and encouraging, and especially of deriding, this work, Sect. 4. Obligations of rulers, ministers, and all sorts, to promote this PART III. Showing, in many instances, wherein the subjects, or zealous Sect. 2. Ministers blamed for speaking terror to those who are already Sect. 3. The objection of having so frequent meetings, and spending Sect. 5. Ministers blamed for keeping persons together that are under great affections, Sect. 6. Objection against speaking much, and with great earnestness, by persons affected, Sect. 7. Some find fault with so much singing in religious meetings, Sect. 8. Many dislike the religious meetings of children, to read and pray together, PART IV. Showing what things are to be corrected or avoided in promoting this work, or in our behavior under it, Sect. 1. One cause of errors in a great revival, is spiritual pride, Sect. 4. Some particular errors that have arisen from these causes, ples, Sect. 3. Errors from being unobservant of things by which the devil has a special advantage, Sect. 1. Of removing hindrances to this work, Sect. 2. Of what must be done directly to promote the work, Sect. 5. The work to be promoted by attention to moral duties, PART V. Showing positively what ought to be done to promote this work, 229 231 236 243 248 250 252 257 259 263 270 292 324 343 354 361 371 371 378 383 394 402 RECOMMENDATIONS. The following recommendations have been politely furnished by gentlemen, whose opinions, we doubt not, are in unison with the body of evangelical clergy in the United States. From the President and Professors at Princeton, N. J. We know of no works on the subject of Revivals of Religion, at once so scriptural, discriminating, and instructive, as those of the late illustrious President EDWARDS. At the present day, when this subject so justly engages a large share of the attention of the religious public, we should be glad if a copy of the volume proposed to be republished by Dunning and Spalding, could be placed in every dwelling in the United States. It exhibits the nature of genuine revivals of religion, the best means of promoting them, the abuses and dangers to which they are liable, and the duty of guarding against these abuses and dangers, with a degree of spiritual discernment and practical wisdom, which have commanded the approbation of the friends of Zion for the greater part of a century. SAMUEL MILLER, Princeton, September 21, 1831. From the President and Professors at New Brunswick, N. J. Much conversation is had at the present day on the subject of revivals of religion in our country. That there is a difference of opinion among professing Christians, as to their reality, their nature, and the modes of action to be adopted in promoting and conducting them, is also very apparent. If by a revival of religion we understand that operation of the Spirit of God, which, through the instrumentality of his word, produces conviction, agitation, and conversion, in hitherto careless and impenitent sinners-or excitement, connected with increase of faith, love, zeal, and holy action, in the people of God, whether it be exhibited on a smaller or larger scale-in the case of individuals, families, churches, districts of country, or whole nations it is strange that the possibility or reality of such a work should be called in question by those who are familiar with their Bibles, are acquainted with church history, or have any correct knowledge whatever either of the ordinary or extraordinary operations of the Holy Spirit upon the souls of men. In such revivals it is true that there is in some instances only a temporary excitement of the passions, without a renewal of the heart, and in others a human co-operation which will neither bear the test of enlightened reason or of the word of God. These circumstances, however, are precisely what (from human weakness, and the artifice of Satan to bring the whole work into disrepute) we have a right to expect. Any judicious publication on revivals, and especially that written many years ago by the pious and discrimi |