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CONTAINING

A FAITHFUL NARRATIVE

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OF THE

SURPRISING WORK OF GOD IN THE CONVERSION OF
MANY HUNDRED SOULS IN NORTHAMPTON,
MASSACHUSETTS, A. D. 1735.

ALSO,

THOUGHTS

ON THE

REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN NEW ENGLAND, 1742,

AND THE WAY IN WHICH IT OUGHT TO BE ACKNOW-
LEDGED AND PROMOTED.

BY JONATHAN EDWARDS, A. M.,

PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN NORTHAMPTON; AFTERWARDS PRESIDENT OF
NASSAU HALL COLLEGE, PRINCETON, N. J.

WITH

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, AND A FULL GENERAL INDEX,

PREPARED BY THE PRESENT EDITOR.

NEW YORK:

DUNNING & SPALDING.

M.L.

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"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.

PART III. Showing, in many instances, wherein the subjects, or zealous promoters of this work, have been injuriously blamed,

Sect. 1. The objection that ministers address themselves to the affections, rather than the understanding,

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Sect. 2. Ministers blamed for speaking terror to those who are already under great terrors,

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Sect. 3. The objection of having so frequent meetings, and spending so much time in religion,

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Sect. 4. Ministers blamed for making much of outcries, faintings, and bodily effects,

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Sect. 5. Ministers blamed for keeping persons together that are under great affections,

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Sect. 6. Objection against speaking much, and with great earnestness, by persons affected,

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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,

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PART IV. Showing what things are to be corrected or avoided in promoting this work, or in our behavior under it,

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Sect. 1. One cause of errors in a great revival, is spiritual pride,
Sect. 2. Errors in a revival arising from the adoption of wrong princi-
ples,

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Sect. 3. Errors from being unobservant of things by which the devil has a special advantage,

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Sect. 4. Some particular errors that have arisen from these causes,
Sect. 5. Of errors connected with lay exhorting,

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Sect. 6. Of errors connected with singing praises to God,

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PART V. Showing positively what ought to be done to promote this work,

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Sect. 1. Of removing hindrances to this work,

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Sect. 2. Of what must be done directly to promote the work,

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Sect. 3. Duties of ministers, and particular classes of persons,
Sect. 4. Of duties that concern all in general,

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Sect. 5. The work to be promoted by attention to moral duties,

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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.

Princeton, September 21, 1831.

SAMUEL MILLER,
A. ALEXANDER,
C. HODGE,

JAMES CARNAHAN.

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

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