THOUGHTS

 

CONCERNING

 

THE PRESENT REVIVAL OF RELIGION

 

IN

 

BY JONATHAN EDWARDS, A. M.

 

Pastor of the Church of Christ, at Northampton

 

PART 1:

 

 Showing that the Work that has of late been going on in this Land, is a glorious Work of GOD.

 

 THE error of those who have had ill thoughts of the great religious operation on the minds of men, that has been of late in New-England, seems fundamentally to lie in three things: First, In judging of this work a priori. Secondly, In not taking the Holy Scriptures as a whole rule whereby to judge of such operations. Thirdly, In not justly distinguishing the good from the bad.

 

 I. They have greatly erred in the way in which they have gone about to try this work, whether it be a work of the SPIRIT of GOD or not, namely, in judging of it a priori; from the way that it began, the instruments that have been employed, and the methods that have been taken in carrying it on. Whereas, if we duly consider, such a work is not to be judged of a priori, but a posteriori. We are to observe the effect wrought; and if upon examination, it be found agreeable to the word of GOD, we are bound, without more ado, to rest in it as GOD'S work; and shall be rebuked for our arrogance, if we refuse so to do till GOD shall explain to us how he has brought this effect to pass, or why he has made use of such and such means in doing it. Those texts are enough to cause us with trembling to forbear such a way of judging of a work of GOD'S SPIRIT,” Who has directed the SPIRIT of the LORD, or being his Counselor has taught him With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding” (Isaiah xl. 13, 14.)” The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof; but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth.” (John 3: 8.) We hear the sound, we perceive the effect, and from thence we judge that the wind does indeed blow; without waiting, first to be satisfied what should be the cause of its blowing from such a part of the heavens, and how it comes to pass that it should blow in such a manner, at such a time. To judge a priori, is a wrong way of judging of any of the works of GOD. We are not to resolve that we will first be satisfied how GOD brought this or the other effect to pass, and why he made it thus, or why it has pleased him to use such and such means, before we will acknowledge his work. This is too much for the clay to take upon it with respect to the potter.” GOD gives no account of his matters: His judgments are a great deep: He has his way in the sea, and his path in the great waters, and his footsteps are not known. And who shall teach GOD knowledge,” or enjoin him his way,” or say unto him, What doest thou We know not what is the way of the SPIRIT, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child; even so we know not the works of GOD who maketh all.” No wonder therefore if those that go this forbidden way, in judging of the present work, are perplexed and confounded.

 

 Indeed GOD has not taken that course, nor made use of those means, to begin and carry on this great work, which men in their wisdom would have thought most advisable, if he had asked their counsel. But the great GOD has wrought like himself; so as very much to show his own glory, and cast contempt on all that strength, wisdom, prudence and sufficiency that men have been wont to glory in; in Fulfillment of that,” The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.” (Isa. 2: 17.) GOD doth thus, intermingling so many stumbling-blocks with his work; in suffering so much of human weakness to appear; and in ordering so many things, that are mysterious to men's wisdom: In pouring out his SPIRIT chiefly on the common people, and admitting them nearer to himself than the great, the honorable, the rich, and the learned; agreeable to that prophecy,” The LORD also shall save the tents of JUDAH first, that the glory of the house of DAVID, and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, do not magnify themselves against JUDAH.” (Zech. 12: 7.) Those that dwelt in the tents of JUDAH were the people that dwelt in the country, and were of inferior rank; the inhabitants of Jerusalem were the citizens, the men of wealth and figure; and Jerusalem also was the habitation or resort of the Priests and Levites, and the Officers and Judges The house of DAVID were the highest rank of all, the royal family, and the great men that were round the King.—It is evident, by the context, that this prophecy has respect to something further than the saving the people out of the Babylonish captivity.

 

 GOD in this work has begun at the lower end, and has made use of the weak and foolish things of the world to carry it on. Of the Ministers that have been chiefly employed, some have been mere babes in age and standing, and some of them such as have not been so high in reputation among their fellows as many others. And GOD has suffered their infirmities to appear in the sight of others, so” as much to displease them; and at the same time it has pleased GOD greatly to succeed them, while he has not so succeeded others that are reputed vastly their superiors. Yea, there is reason to think that it has pleased GOD to make use of the infirmities of some that he has succeeded; as particularly their imprudent and rash zeal, to chastise the deadness, negligence, earthly mindednesss and vanity that have been found among Ministers in the late times, wherein Ministers and people have sunk into such a deep sleep. These things in Ministers of the Gospel, that go forth as the Ambassadors of CHRIST, and have the care of immortal souls, are extremely abominable to GOD; vastly more hateful in his sight than all the imprudence and intemperate heats, wildness and distraction (as some call it) of these zealous Preachers. A supine carelessness, or -worldly spirit in a Minister of the Gospel, is the worst distraction in the sight of GOD. GOD may also make use of the censoriousness of some Preachers, the more to humble and purify some of his own children that have been wrongfully censured, and to fit them for more eminent service.

 

 II. Another fundamental error of those that do not acknowledge the Divinity of this work is, not taking the Holy Scriptures as a -whole, and sufficient rule to judge of such things by. They that have one consistent rule to judge by, may come to some clear determination; but they that have half a dozen different rules to make the thing they would judge of agree to, instead of justly and clearly determining, do but perplex and darken themselves and others.

 

 They will indeed make some use of Scripture, so far at they think it serves their turn; but do not make use of it alone, as a rule sufficient by itself. They made as much or more use of other things, wide from it, to judge of this work by. As particularly,

 

1. Some make philosophy, instead of the Holy Scriptures, their rule of judging of this work; particularly the philosophical notions they entertain of the nature of the soul, its faculties and affections.’ There is but little sober solid religion,' say they,’ in this work; it is little else but flash and noise. Religion now-a-days all runs out into transports and high flights of the passions and affections. In their philosophy, the affections of the soul are something not appertaining to the noblest part of the soul, but the meanest principles that it has; that belong to man as partaking of animal nature, and what he has in common with the brute creation, rather than any thing whereby he is conformed to angels and pure spirits.

 

 But I cannot but think that these gentlemen labor under great mistakes, both in their philosophy and divinity. It is true, distinction must be made in the affections or passions. Some are much more solid than others. There are many exercises of the affections that are little to be depended on; and often there is a great deal that appertains to them, which is very much owing to the constitution and frame of the body; and that which more especially obtains the name of passion, is nothing solid or substantial. But it is false philosophy to suppose this is the case with all great and high affections; and false divinity to suppose that religious affections do not appertain to the substance and essence of Christianity. On the contrary, the very life and soul of all true religion consists in them.

 

All will allow that true holiness has its seat chiefly in the heart; not the head. It follows, that it consists chiefly in holy affections. For the things of religion take place in men's hearts, no further than they are affected with them The informing of the understanding is all vain, any further than it affects the heart, or, which is the same thing, has influence on the affections.

 

 Those gentlemen, that make light of these raised affections in religion, will doubtless allow that true religion or holiness, as it has its seat in the heart, is capable of very high degrees, and high exercises in the soul. As for instance, they will doubtless allow that the holiness of the heart is capable of being raised to an hundred times as great a degree of strength as it is in the most eminent saint on earth, or to be exerted in an hundred times so strong and vigorous exercises of the heart; and yet be true religion or holiness still. Now therefore I would ask, by what name they will call these high exercises of the heart Are they not high affections What can they consist in, but in high acts of love; strong and vigorous exercises of benevolence and complacence; strong desires after GOD, yea, those very same high and raised affections that before they made light of, as worthy of little regard

 

 I suppose further, that all allow there is nothing but solid religion in heaven; but that there, religion and holiness are raised to an exceeding great height, to strong, exalted exercises of heart. Now, what other kinds of such exceeding strong and high exercises of the heart, or of holiness as it has its seat in their hearts, can we devise for them, but only holy affections, high degrees of love to GOD, rejoicing in GOD, admiring of GOD—Therefore these things, in the angels in heaven, are not to be despised by the name of great heats and transports of the passions.

 

 And it will doubtless be yet farther allowed, that the more eminent the saints are on earth, the more they are like the saints in heaven, that is, (by what has been just now observed,) the more they have of high or raised affections.

 

 If we take the Scriptures, for our whole rule, then the greater and higher are the exercises. of love to GOD, long-nigh after GOD, delight in the children of GOD, love to mankind, brokenness of heart, abhorrence of sin, and self-abhorrence for sin; exulting and glorying in GOD; so much the higher is CHRIST'S religion, or that virtue which he and his Apostles taught, raised in the soul.

 

 But it is a stumbling to some, that religious affections should be so violent (as they express it) in some persons: They are therefore ready to doubt whether it can be the SPIRIT of GOD, or whether this vehemence be not rather a sign of an evil spirit. But, what is represented in Scripture as more powerful in its effects, than the SPIHIT of GOD, which is therefore called” the power of the Highest.” (Luke \. 35.) And it is said to operate in the minds of men with the exceeding greatness of Divine power, and” according to the working of GOD'S mighty power.” (Eph. \. 19,) So in 2 Tim. \, 7, the SPIRIT of GOD is called” the SPIRIT of power, and love, and of a sound mind.” And the SPIRIT is represented by a mighty wind, and by fire; things most powerful in their operation.

 

 2. Many are guilty of not taking the Holy Scriptures as a sufficient and whole rule, whereby to judge of this work, whether it be the work of GOD; in that they judge by those things which the Scripture does not give as any signs or marks whereby to judge one way or the other, namely, The effects thaj: religious exercises and affections of mind have upon the body. Scripture rules respect the state of the mind, and persons' moral conduct, and voluntary behavior; and not the physical state of the body. The design of the Scripture is to teach us divinity, and not physic and anatomy. Ministers are made the watchmen of men's souls, and not their bodies; and therefore the great rule which GOD has committed into their hands, is to make them Divines, and not Physicians. CHRIST knew what instructions and rules his Church would stand in need of, better than we do; and, if he had seen it needful in order to the Church's safety, he doubtless would have given Ministers rules to judge of bodily effects: and would have told them how the pulse should beat under such and such exercises -of the mind; when men should look pale, and when they should shed tears; when they should tremble, and whether or no they should ever te faint or cry out; or whether the body should ever be put into convulsions: He would have put some book into their hands, to make them Anatomists and Physicians: But he has not done it, because be did not see it to be needful. He judged, that if Ministers did their duty as overseers of the state of men's souls, and of their voluntary conduct, according to the rules he had given, his Church would be well provided for. And therefore those Ministers of CHRIST, and overseers of souls, that busy themselves, and are full of concern, about the involuntary motions of the fluids and solids of men's bodies, when nothing appears but that the state of their minds, and their behavior-is good, and agreeable to GOD'S word; I say, such Ministers go out of the place that CHRIST has set them in, and leave their proper business, as much as if they should undertake to tell who are under the influence of the SPIRIT by their looks, or their gait. I cannot see how the Devil is like to get any advantage against us, if we do but thoroughly do our duty with respect to those two things, namely, the state of persons' minds, and their moral conduct, seeing that they be agreeable to the rules that CHRIST has given us. If things are but kept right in these respects, our fears and suspicions arising from extraordinary bodily effects seem wholly groundless.

 

 The most specious thing that is alleged against these, is, That the body is impaired, and health injured; and that it is hard to think that GOD, in the merciful influences of his SPIRIT on men, would wound their bodies, and impair their health. But if it were so commonly, (which I do not suppose it is,) that persons received a lasting wound to their health by extraordinary impressions made upon their minds; yet it is too much for us to determine that GOD shall never bring an outward calamity, in bestowing a vastly greater spiritual good. JACOB in wrestling with GOD, at the same time that he received the blessing from GOD, suffered a great outward calamity from his hand; GOD impaired his body, so that he never got over it as long as he lived: He gave him the blessing, but sent him away” halting on his thigh,” and he went lame all his life after. And yet this is not mentioned as if it were any diminution of the great mercv of GOD to him, when GOD blessed him, and he received his name ISRAEL, because” as a Prince he had power with GOD, and had prevailed.”

 

 But, say some, The operations of the SPIRIT of GOD are of a benign nature. True: Yet it has been a thing allowed, till now, that there is such a thing as being sick of love to CHRIST, or having the bodily strength weakened by strong and vigorous exercises of love to him. And however kind to human nature the influences of the SPIRIT of GOD are, yet no body doubts but that Divine and eternal things, as they may be discovered, would overpower the nature of man in its present state; and that therefore the body, in its present weakness, is not fitted for the views and pleasures of heaven: Yea, that if GOD did discover but a little of that which is seen by the angels in heaven, our frail natures would sink under it. Let us rationally consider what we profess to believe of the infinite greatness of the things of GOD, the Divine wrath, the Divine glory, the infinite love and grace in JESUS CHIIIST, and the vastness and infinite importance of the things of eternity. How reasonable then is it to suppose, that if it please GOD to withdraw the veil, and give a view of the great things, of another world in their transcendent and infinite greatness, human nature, that is as the grass, a shaking leaf, a weak withering flower, should totter under such a discovery Such a bubble is too weak to bear the weight of a view of things that are so vast. Alas! What is dust and ashes, that it should support itself under the view of the awful wrath or infinite glory of JEHOVAH! No wonder therefore that it is said, “No man can see me and live.” That external glory and majesty of CHRIST which DANIEL saw, when “there remained no strength in him, and his comeliness was turned in him into corruption C {Dan. \. 6, 7, 8;) and which the Apostle JOHN saw, when he “fell at his feet as dead;” was but a shadow of that spiritual glory and majesty of CHRIST, which will be manifested in another world, and which is sometimes, in some degree, manifested to “the soul in this world, by the influences of the SPIRIT of GOD. And, if the beholding the shadow of this majesty and glory did so overpower human nature, is it unreasonable to suppose that a sight of the glory itself, should have as powerful an effect The Prophet HABAKKUK, speaking of the awful manifestations GOD made of His majesty and wrath, at the Red Sea, and in the Wilderness, and at Mount Sinai, where He gave the law; and of the impression GOD caused it to have upon him, to the end that he might be saved from that wrath, and “rest in the day of trouble;” says,” When I heard, my belly trembled, my lips quivered at the voice, rottenness entered into my bones, I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble.” (Ifab. 3: 16.) Which is much such an effect as the discovery of the same majesty and wrath, has had on many in these days; and to the same purposes, namely, to give them” rest in the day of trouble,” and save them from that wrath. The Psalmist also speaks of such an effect as I have often seen on persons under religious affections: “ I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for thy commandments.” (Psalm cxix. 131.)

 

 GOD is pleased sometimes, in dealing spiritual blessings to his people, to exceed the capacity of the vessel in its present scantiness; so that he does not only fill it full, but he makes their” cup to run over;” and pours out a blessing, in such a manner and measure that there is not room to receive it. He gives them riches more than they can carry away; as he did to JEHOSHAPHAT and his people in a time of great favor, in answer to earnest prayer, when the people blessed the LOUD in the valley of Berachah. (Chron. 20: 25, 26.) It has been with the disciples of CHRIST, for a long time, a time of great emptiness upon spiritual accounts: They have gone hungry, and have been toiling in vain, during a dark season: A time of night with the church of GOD; as it was with the disciples of old, when they has toiled all night and caught nothing.”' But now, the morning being come, JESUS appears to his disciples, and takes a compassionate notice of their wants, and says to them,” Children, have ye any meat” and gives some of them such abundance, that they are not able to draw their net; yea, so that their net breaks, and their vessel is over-loaded, and begins to sink.

 

 We cannot determine that GOD never shall give persons such a discovery of Himself, as even to take away their lives. It is supposed by many Divines, that MOSES'S life was taken away after this manner; and this has also been supposed of some other saints. Yea, I see no sure grounds to determine, that GOD shall never make such strong impressions on the mind by his SPIRIT, as shall be an occasion of so impairing the frame of the body, and particularly that part of the body, the brain, that persons shall be deprived of the use of reason. As it is too much for us to. say, that GOD will not bring an outward calamity in bestowing spiritual blessings; so it is too much for us to determine how great an outward calamity he will bring. If GOD gives great discoveries of himself, and love to him, the benefit is infinitely greater than the calamity, though the life should presently be taken away; yea, though the soul should not immediately be taken, but lie some years in a deep sleep, and then be taken to heaven: Or, which is much the same thing, though i,t be deprived of the use of its faculties, and be unactive and unserviceable, as if it lay in a deep sleep for some years, and then should pass into glory. 

 

 We cannot determine how great a calamity distraction is, when considered with all its consequences, and all that might have been consequent if the distraction had not happened; nor indeed whether (thus considered) it be any calamity at all, or whether it be not a mercy, by preventing some great sin, or some more dreadful thing, if it had not been. It is a great fault in us to limit a sovereign, all-wise GOD, whose judgments are a great deep, and his” ways past finding out,” where he has not limited himself, and in things concerning which he has not told us what his way shall be. It is remarkable, considering iu what multitudes, and to how great a degree, the frame of the body has been overpowered of late, that persons' lives have notwithstanding been preserved, and that the instance of those that have been deprived of reason have been so very few.

 

 3. Another thing that some make their rule to judge of this work by, instead of the Holy Scriptures, is history, or former observation. These err two ways: First, If there be any thing new and extraordinary in the circumstances of this work, that was not observed in former times, that is a rule with them to reject it. Herein they make that their rule, that GOD has not made so; and limit GOD, where he has not limited himself. And this is especially unreasonable in this case. For whosoever has well weighed the mysterious methods of Divine Wisdom, in the progress of the work of redemption, from the first promise of the seed of the woman to this time, may easily observe that it has all along been GOD'S manner to open new scenes, and to bring forth to view things new and wonderful, such as “eye has not seen, nor ear heard.” As the old creation was carried on through six days, and appeared all complete, settled in a state of rest on the seventh; so the new creation, which is immensely the greatest work, is carried on in a gradual progress, from the fall of man, to the consummation of all things. And as, in the progress of the old creation, there were still new things accomplished; new wonders appeared every day in the sight of the angels, the spectators of that work; new scenes were opened, things that they had not seen before, till the whole was finished; so it is in the progress of the new creation. So that that promise,” For since the beginning of the world, men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear; neither has the eye seen, O GOD, besides thee, what he has prepared for him that waiteth for him;” (Isaiah Ixiv. 4;) though it had a glorious Fulfillment in the days of CHRIST and the Apostles, as the words are applied, (1 Cor. ii, 9,) yet it always remains to be Fulfilled, in things that are yet behind, till the new creation is finished, at CHRIST'S delivering up the kingdom to his FATHER.

 

 And besides, those thing's in this work, that have been chiefly complained of as new, are not so new as has been generally imagined: Though they have been much more frequent lately, in proportion to the uncommon degree, extent and swiftness, and other extraordinary circumstances of the work, yet they are not new in their kind; but are things of the same nature as have been found in the church of GOB before, from time to time.

 

 We have a remarkable instance in Mr. BOLTON, that noted Minister of the Church of England, who being awakened by the preaching of the famous MR. PERKINS, in the University of Cambridge, was subject to such terrors as threw him to the ground, and caused him to roar with anguish; and the pangs of the new birth in him were such that he lay pale and without sense, like one dead. And we have another in the life of MR. GEORGE THOSSK, written by himself, of terrors occasioned by the awakenings of conscience, so overpowering the body, as to deprive him, for some time, of the use of reason.

 

 Yea, such extraordinary external effects of inward impressions have not only been found in here and there a single person, but there have also before now been times wherein they have appeared in congregations, in many at once. So in the year 1625, in the West of Scotland, it was a frequent thing for many to be so seized with terror in hearing of the word, by the SPIRIT of GOD convincing them of sin, that they fell down, and were carried out of the church. Many in France also were so wonderfully affected with the preaching of the Gospel, in the time of those famous Divines, FARREL and VIRET, that for a time they could not follow their secular business: And many in Ireland, in the year 1628, were so filled with Divine comforts, that they made but little use of either meat, drink, or sleep, and professed they did not feel the need thereof.

 

 Great outcries under awakenings were also frequently heard of, in former times, in this country, as some aged persons now living do testify: I think fit here to insert a testimony of my honored father, of what he remembers formerly to have heard.

 

 ' I well remember, that one MR. ALEXANDER ALLAN, a Scots gentleman of good credit, that dwelt formerly in this town, showed me a letter that came from Scotland, that gave an account of a sermon preached in the city of Edinburgh (as I remember) in the time of the sitting of the General Assembly of Divines in that kingdom, which so affected the people, that there was a great and loud cry made throughout the Assembly. I have also been credibly informed, that it was a common thing, when the famous MR. JOHN ROGERS, of Dedham in England, was preaching, for some of his hearers to cry out: And by what 1 have heard, I conclude that it was usual for many that heard that awakening Preacher of GOD'S word, to make a great cry in the congregation.

 

 There have been instances also before now, of persons crying out in transports of Divine joy in New-England.. We have an instance in Captain CLAP'S Memoirs, not of a silly woman or child, but a man of solid understanding, that, in a high transport of spiritual joy, was made to cry out aloud on his bed. His words (p. 9.) are,’ GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT did witness with my spirit, that I was a child of GOB; and did fill my heart and soul with such assurance that CHRIST was mine, as to make me cry out upon my bed, with a loud voice, He is come, he is come!'

 

 There has, before now, been both crying out and falling down, in this town, under awakenings of conscience, and also in some of the neighboring towns. In one of them, more than seven years ago, were a great number together that cried out and fell down under convictions. And the REV. MR. WILLIAMS, of Deerfield, gave me an account of an aged man in that town, many years before that, that being awakened by his preaching, cried out aloud in the congregation. There have been many instances in this and some neighboring town, before now, of persons fainting with joyful discoveries made to their souls; once several together in this town. And there also formerly have been several instances here of persons' flesh waxing cold and benumbed, and their hands clinched; yea, their bodies being set into convulsions, being overpowered with a strong sense of the astonishingly great and excellent things of GOD and the eternal world.

 

 Another way that some err, in making history and former observations their rule to judge of this work, instead of the Holy Scriptures, is in comparing some external accidental circumstances of this work, with what has appeared sometimes in enthusiasts; and as they find an agreement in these, so they reject the whole work, concluding it to be enthusiasm. So some external appearances that were found amongst the French Prophets, have been of late trumped up with great assurance and triumph.

 

 4. I would propose it to be considered, whether some, instead of making the Scriptures their only rule to judge of this work, do not make their own experience the rule, and reject such things, because they never felt them themselves. Are there not many that have entertained suspicions, if not peremptory condemnations, of those extreme terrors, and those great discoveries of the glorious perfections of GOD, and of the beauty and love of CHRIST; and such vehement affections, such high transports of love and joy, and exercises of mind, that have such great effects on persons' bodies, merely, or chiefly, because they knew nothing about them by experience Persons are very ready to be suspicious of what they have not felt them-1 selves. It is to be feared many good men have been guilty of this error; which yet does not make it the less unreasonable. And perhaps there are some that upon this ground do not only reject these extraordinary things, but all such conviction of sin, and such discoveries of the glory of GOD, and excellency of CHRIST, and inward conviction of the truth of the Gospel, by the immediate influence of the SPIRIT of GOD, as are necessary to salvation.

 

 III. Another fundamental error of those that reject this work is, their not duly distinguishing the good from the bad, and so rejecting the work in general, for the sake of some things, which are accidental to it, that are evil. They, look (for more in men that are subject to the operations of a good SPIRIT, than is justly to be expected from them, in this imperfect state and dark world, where so much blindness remains in the best. When any profess to have received light and comforts from heaven, and to have had communion with GOD, many are ready to expect that now they appear like angels, and not still like poor, feeble, blind and sinful worms. That so much corruption is left in the hearts of GOD'S own children, was always a stumbling-block to the world; but it will not be wondered at, by those that are duly mindful of two things: First, the word of GOD, which teaches us the state of Christians in this world: And, Secondly, their own heart, at least if they have any grace, and have experience of its conflicts with corruption. If all our conduct, both open and secret, should be known, and our hearts\laid open to the world; how should we be, even ready to flee from the light of the sun, and hide ourselves from the view of mankind And what great allowances should we need that others should make for us 

 

 Perhaps much greater than we are willing to make for others. The great weakness of the bigger part of mankind, in any affair that is new and uncommon, appears in not distinguishing, but either approving or condemning all in the lump. They that highly approve of the affair in general, cannot bear to have any thing at all found fault with: And, on the other hand, those that fasten their eyes upon some things that are amiss, at once reject the whole. But it is rash and unjust, when we proceed thus in judging either of a particular person, or a people, or of such an affair as the present influence on the minds of the people of this land. Yet so it is'. Many, if they see any thing ill in a particular person, will at once brand him as an hypocrite. And, if there bo two or three of a people or society, that behave themselves irregularly, the whole must bear the blame of it. If there be a few, though it may not be above one in an hundred, that had a show of being the happy partakers of the benefits of this work, who prove naught in the end, the whole work must be rejected on their account; and those in general, that make the like profession, must be condemned for their sakes.

 

 2. So careful are some persons lest this work should be defended, that now they will hardly allow, that the influences of the SPIRIT of GOD on the heart can so much as indirectly, and accidentally, be the occasion of sin.—Thus far is true, that this influence will not be an occasion of the increase of the corruption of the heart in general, but of the weakening of it: Yet there is nothing unreasonable in supposing, that, at the same time it weakens corruption in general, it may be an occasion of the turning what is left into a new channel, and so of thure being more of some certain kinds of the exercise of corruption than there was before; as that which tends to hinder and stop the course of a stream, if it do not do it wholly, may give a new course to so much of the water as gets by the obstacle. The influences of the SPIRIT, for instance, may be an occasion of new ways of the exercise of pride. This was not doubted of, till now it is found to be needful to maintain the war against this work.

 

 But I suppose all will allow, that the influences of the SPIRIT of GOD, yea, and a high degree of love to GOD, is consistent with these two things, namely, a considerable degree of remaining corruption, and also many errors of judgment in matters of religion, and in matters of practice., And this is all that need to be allowed, in order to its being demonstratively evident, that even love to GOD may accidentally move a person to that which is contrary to the will of GOD. For a high degree of love to GOD will strongly move a person to do that which he believes to be agreeable to GOD'S will; and therefore, if he be mistaken, and be persuaded that is agreeable to the will of GOD, which indeed is contrary to it, then his love will accidentally, but strongly, incline him to that which is indeed contrary to the will of GOD.

 

 3. Farther: True disciples of CHRIST may have a great deal of- false zeal, such as the disciples had of old, when they would have fire called for from heaven to come down on the Samaritans, because they did not receive them. And even so great a saint as MOSES, who conversed with GOD, as a man with his friend, and concerning whom GOD wives his testimony, that he was very meek, above any man upon the face of the earth, yet may be rash and sinful in his zeal, so as to speak unadvisedly with his lips. Yea, men, in those very things wherein they are influenced by a pious principle, yet, through error and want of due consideration, may be very rash with their zeal. It was a truly good SPIRIT that animated that excellent generation of ISRAEL that was in JOSHUA'S time, in that affair that we have an account of in the 22d Chapter of Joshua; and yet they were rash and heady with their zeal, to go about to gather all Israel to go up furiously to war with their brethren of of opinion about smaller matters, unclean meats, holy days, and holy places, and their civil intercourse and communication with their heathen neighbors! And how much did vain jangling and disputing prevail, under the name of religious zeal! (2 Tim. 6: 4, 5; 2: 16; and Tit. 3: 9.) What a task had the Apostles to keep them within bounds, and maintain good order in the churches! How often are they mentioning their irregularities! The prevailing of such like disorders seems to have been the special occasion of writing many of their epistles. The church in that great effusion of the SPIRIT that was then, was under the care of infallible guides, that watched over them day and night; but yet so prone were they through the corruption of nature to get out of the way, that irregularity and confusion rose to a very great height, even in the Apostles1 life-time, and under their eye. And though some of the Apostles lived long to settle the state of things,' yet, presently after they were dead, the Christian church ran into many superstitions and childish notions and practices. 

 

 And let any wise person that has not, in the midst of dispute, got beyond the calmness of consideration, impartially consider to what lengths, we may reasonably suppose, many of the primitive Christians would have gone, if they had had no inspired guides; and whether it is not probable that the church of Corinth in particular, would in a little time have broken to pieces, and dissolved in a state of the utmost confusion! And yet this would have been no evidence that there had not been a glorious work of the SPIRIT in that city. But as for us, we have no infallible Apostle to rectify disorders, and reclaim us when we are wandering; but they that are got into a wrong path continue to wander, till experience of the mischievous issue convinces them of their error.

 

6. If-we look over this affair, and seriously weigh it in its circumstances, it may easily he accounted for, how many should run into great errors, and just such errors as they have. It is known, that some, that have been great instruments to promote this work, have been very young; and how natural is it for such as are themselves newly awakened out of sleep, and have a new and wonderful scene opened to them; who have in view the reality, the vastness, and infinite importance and nearness of spiritual and eternal things; and at the same time see the world asleep about them, who have not the advantage of age and experience, and have had but little opportunity to study divinity, or to converse with aged experienced Christians and Divines: I say, how natural is it for such to fall into many errors with respect to the state of mankind, and with respect to the methods of their relief Is it any wonder that they have not at once learned how to make all the allowances that are to be made, and that they do not at once find out that method of dealing with the world, that is adapted to the mysterious state and nature of mankind Is it any wonder that they cannot at once foresee what the consequences of things will be, what evils are to be guarded against, and what difficulties are like to arise, that are to be provided for

 

 We have long been in a strange stupor: The influences of the SPIRIT of GOD upon the heart have been but little felt, and the nature of them but little; so that they are in many respects new to great numbers of those that have lately fallen under them.. And is it any wonder if they that never before had experience of the supernatural influence of the Divine SPIRIT upon their souls, and never were instructed in the nature of these influences, do not so well know how to distinguish one impression from another, and so insensibly run into enthusiasm, taking every strong impression to be Divine How natural is it to suppose, that among the multitudes of illiterate people, (most of which are in their youth,) who find themselves so wonderfully changed, and brought into such new, and before (to them) almost unheard-of circumstances, many should pass wrong judgments of both persons and things that are about them; and that, now they behold them in such a new light, they should go further from the judgment they were wont to make of them than they ought, and pass from one extreme to another And why should it be thought strange, that those that scarce ever heard of any such thing as pouring out of the SPIRIT of SOD before; or, if they did, had no notion of it, do not know how to behave themselves in such a new and strange state of things

 

 When these persons are extraordinarily affected with a fresh discovery of the greatness of the Divine Being, the infinite importance of eternal things, and the dreadful danger and madness of mankind, together with a great sense of GOD'S kindness and love to them; no wonder that they know not how to sit still, and forbear speaking and acting with uncommon earnestness and vigor. And if they be not persons of more than common steadiness and discretion, or have not some person of wisdom to direct them, it is a wonder if they do not proceed without due caution, and do things that are irregular.

 

 7. Censuring others is the worst disease, with which this affair has been attended: But yet such a time is indeed a time of great temptation to it. When there has been such great and long-continued deadness, and many are brought out of a state of nature into a state of grace, in so extraordinary a manner, and filled with such uncommon degrees of light, it is natural for such to form their notions of a state of grace wholly from what they experience.

 

 Though censoriousness be a thing that is very sinful, yet it is not found in hypocrites only: JOB'S three friends seem to have been eminently holy men, who yet censured the best man on earth, very positively determining that he was an unconverted man; yea, JOB himself, that particularly excelled in a humble, meek, and patient spirit, was guilty of bitterly censuring his three friends, as wicked, vile hypocrites: “ He teareth me in his wrath who hateth me, he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me: They have gaped upon me with their mouth.—G-OD has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.” (Job 16: 9,10, 11.) And again,” Upright men shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite: The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that has clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. But as for you all, do you return and come now, for 1 cannot find one wise maa (that is, one good man) among you.” (Job 17: 8, 9, 10.).

 

 Thus, I think, the errors and irregularities that attend this work may be accounted for, from the consideration of the weakness and common corruption of mankind; together with the circumstances of the work, though we should suppose it to be the work of GOD. And it would not be a just objection in any to say, If these impressions are from GOD, why does not the same SPIRIT give strength of understanding and capacity in proportion, to those persons that are the subjects of them; so that strong affections may not, through their error, drive them to an irregular conduct For I do not know that GOD has any where obliged himself to do it. The end of the influences of GOD'S SPIRIT is, to make men wise to salvation; and he has also appointed means for our gaining such degrees of other knowledge, as we need, to conduct ourselves regularly, which means should be-carefully used; but the end of the influence of the SPIRIT & God is not to increase men's natural capacities, nor has GOD obliged himself immediately to increase civil prudence in proportion to the degree of spiritual light.

 

 8. If we consider the errors that attend this work, not enly as from man and his infirmity, but also as from GOD, and by his permission and disposal, they are not strange, though it be, as to the substance, a work of GOD. If GOD intends this great revival of religion to be the dawning of an happy state of his Church, it may be an instance of the Divine Wisdom, in the beginning of it, to suffer so many irregularities in conduct. For it will be very likely to be of excellent benefit to his Church,, in the continuance and progress of the work. Their experience, in the first setting out, of the mischievous consequences of these errors, may be a happy defense to them afterwards, for many generations. As when DAVID and all ISRAEL went about to bring back the Ark, after it had been long absent; they at first sought not the LORD after the due order, and they smarted for their error: But this put them upon more thoroughly acquainting themselves with the will of GOD, and seeking and serving him with greater circumspection: And the consequence was glorious, namely, their seeking GOD in such a manner as was accepted of him; and the Ark of GOD ascending into the heights of Zion, with those great and extraordinary rejoicings of the King and all the people, without any frown or rebuke from GOD intermixed; and GOD'S dwelling thenceforward in the midst of the people.

 

 And it is very analogous to the manner of GOD'S dealing with his people, to permit a great deal of infirmity to appear, in the beginning of a glorious work of his grace, to humble them, and fit them for that prosperity He is about to advance them to, and the more to secure to himself the honor of such a glorious work. For, by man's exceeding weakness, it is evident that GOD does not lay the foundation of it in man's strength or wisdom.

 

 And as we need not wonder at the errors that attend this work, if we look at the hand of men that are guilty of them, and the hand of GOD in permitting them; so neither, if we consider the hand that SATAN has in them. For as this work is much greater than any other that has ever been in New-England, so no wonder that the Devil is more alarmed and enraged, and exerts himself more vigorously against it, and does more powerfully endeavor to tempt and mislead those that are the subjects or promoters of it.

 

Whatever imprudences there have been, and whatever irregularities; whatever vehemence of the passions, and heats of the imagination; whatever error in judgment and indiscreet zeal; and whatever outcries, and faintings, and agitations of body; yet it is manifest and notoridus, that there has been of late a very uncommon influence upon the minds of very many people, that has been attended with the following effects; namely, a great increase of seriousness and sober consideration of the things of the eternal world; a disposition to hearken to any thing that is said of things of this nature, with attention and affection; a disposition to hear matters of religion with solemnity, and as matters of great importance; a disposition to make these things the subject of conversation; and a great disposition to hear the word of GOD preached, to take all opportunities in order to it; and to attend on the public worship of GOD, and all external duties of religion, in a more solemn 1 and decent manner. Multitudes of vain, thoughtless persons are quite changed, and become serious and considerate: There is a vast increase of concern for the salvation of the soul, and of that inquiry,” What shall I do to be saved” The hearts of multitudes have been greatly taken off from the things of the world, its profits, pleasures and honors; and have been made sensible of the pernicious consequences of sin, and what a dreadful thing it is to lie under the displeasure of GOD: They have also been awakened to a sense of the shortness and uncertainty of life, and the reality of another world: They are more afraid of sin, more careful to know what is contrary to the will of GOD, that they may avoid it; and what he requires of then that they may do it; more watchful over their own hearts, earnestly desirous of being informed what are the means for their salvation, and diligent in the use of those that GOD has appointed in order to it. Many very stupid, senseless sinners, have been greatly awakened. There is a strange alteration amongst young people-: By a powerful influence on their minds, they have been brought to forsake those things, as it were at once, that they were extremely fond of, and that they seemed to place the happiness of their lives in, and which nothing before could induce them to forsake; as their vain company, night walking, their mirth and jollity, their impure language and lewd songs: In vain did Ministers preach against those things before, and in vain were laws made to restrain them, and in vain was all the vigilance of Magistrates and civil officers; but now they have dropped them as it were of themselves. And there is a great alteration amongst old and young as to drinking, profane speaking, and extravagance in apparel. Many notoriously vicious persons have been reformed and become externally new creatures: Some that are wealthy, and of a fashionable, gay education, that seemed to have their minds swallowed up with the show and pleasures of the world, have relinquished these vanities, and become serious, mortified and humble in their conversation. It is astonishing to see the alteration that is in some places, where before was no appearance of religion: And now they are transformed into another sort of people; and are, as it were, gone to a new world: Their thoughts, and their talk, and their concern, affections and inquiries, are now about the favor of GOD, an interest in CHRIST, and a spiritual blessedness, and acceptance and happiness in a future world. And, through the greater part of New England, the Holy Bible is in much greater esteem and use than it used to be: The great things that are contained in it, are much more the subjects of meditation and conversation; and other books of piety have been abundantly more in use. The LORD's-day is more religiously observfid; And abundance has been lately done at making up differences, and confessing faults one to another, and making restitution; probably more within these two years, than was done in thirty years before. And surprising has been the power of that SPIRIT that has been poured out on the land, to destroy old grudges, and make up long-continued breaches, and to bring those that seemed to be irreconcilable, to embrace each other in a sincere and entire amity.

 

 Great numbers have been brought to a deep sense of their own sinfullness and vileness; the sinfullness of their lives, the heinousness of their disregard of the authority of the great GOD, and the heinousness of their living in contempt of a Savior: And many persons have had such a sense of their own sinfulness, that they thought themselves to be the worst of all, and that none ever was so vile as they. And so far as we are worthy to be credited one by another, in what we say, (and persons of good understanding and sound mind, and known and experienced probity, have a right to be believed by their neighbors, when they speak of things that fall under their observation and experience,) multitudes have lately been brought to an affiance and sweet rest of soul in CHRIST, as a glorious Savior, a strong Rock and high Tower; accompanied with a sensible, strong and sweet love to GOD, far surpassing all earthly pleasures; and a rest of soul in Him, as a Portion and the Fountain of all good; attended with an abhorrence of sin, and earnest longings after more holiness and conformity to GOD, with a sense of the great need of “ God's help in order to holiness of life; together with a most dear love to all that are supposed to be the children of GOD, and a love to mankind in general, and a most tender compassion for the souls of sinners, and earnest desires of the advancement of CHRIST'S kingdom.

 

 And many little children have “been remarkably enlightened, their hearts wonderfully affected and enlarged, and their mouths opened, in a manner far beyond their years, to the just astonishment of those that heard them: Some of these are still greatly affected with the glory of Divine things, and the excellence and love of the Redeemer, having their hearts filled with love to and joy in Him, and continuing serious and pious in their behavior.

 

 9. And now let us consider.—Is it not strange that, in a Christian country, there should be any at a loss whose work4hisis, whether the work of GOD or of the Devil Is it not a shame to New-England, that such a work should be doubted of here Need we look over the histories of all past times, to see if there be not some circumstances and external appearances that attend this work, that have been formerly found amongst enthusiasts Whether the Montanists had not great transports of joy, and whether the French Prophets had not agitations of body Blessed be GOD! He does not put us to the toil of such inquiries. We need not say,” Who shall ascend into heaven,” to bring us down something whereby to judge of this work Nor does GOD send us beyond the seas, nor into past ages, to obtain a rule that shall satisfy us: But we have a rule near at hand, a sacred book that GOD himself has put into our hands, with clear and infallible marks sufficient to resolve us; which book we must reject, not only in some particular passages, but in the substance of -it, if we reject such a work, as not being the work of GOD. The whole tenor of the Gospel proves it; all the notion of religion that the Scripture gives us confirms it.

 

 I suppose there is scarcely a Minister in this land, but has prayed that GOD would pour out his SPIRIT, work n reformation and revival of religion, and turn us from our intemperance, profaneness, uncleanness, worldliness and other sins; and we have kept, from year to year, days of public fasting and prayer to GOD, to humble ourselves for our sins, and to seek of GOD forgiveness and reformation: And now, when so great and extensive a reformation is so suddenly and wonderfully accomplished, in those very things that we have sought to GOD for, shall we not acknowledge it And that because (although indeed there be such a work, attended with all these glorious effects, yet) the work is attended with a mixture of error and imprudencies; because some persons are carried away with impressions, and are indiscreet, and too censorious with their zeal; and because there are high transports of religious affections; and because of some effects on persons' bodies that we do not understand

 

 10. Those that are waiting for the fruits, in order to determine whether this be the work of GOD or no, would do well to consider two things,; 1. What they are waiting for: Whether it be not this; To have this influence that is on the minds of people over, and then to see how they will behave themselves That is, to have grace subside, and persons grow cold and dead; and then to see whether they will behave themselves with that exactness and brightness of conversation, that is to be expected of lively Christians. There are many that will not be satisfied with any exactness now; for they lay it to their heat of zeal, as they call it; they are waiting to see whether they will carry themselves as well when these affections are over: That is, they are waiting to have persons sicken and lose their strength, that they may see whether they will then behave themselves like healthy strong men. I would desire that they would also consider whether they be not waiting for more than is reasonably to be expected, supposing this to be really a great work of GOD Do not they expect fewer instances of apostasy, and evidences of hypocrisy, in those that for the present seemed to be under the influences of the SPIRIT. than were after that great out-pouring of the SPIRIT in the Apostles' days And do not they stand prepared to make a mighty argument of it against this work, if there should be half so many And, 2. They would do well to consider how long they will wait to see the good fruit of this work, before they will determine in favor of it. Is not their waiting unlimited The visible fruit that is to be expected of a pouring out of the SPIRIT of GOD on a country, is a visible- reformation in that country: What reformation has lately been brought to pass by this work, has been before observed; and has it not continued long enough already, to give reasonable satisfaction Surely ft is unreasonable that our expectations and demands should be unlimited, and our waiting without any bounds.

 

 11. As there is the clearest evidence, from those things that have been observed, that this is the work of GOD; so it is evident that it is a very great and wonderful, and exceeding glorious work of GOD. This is certain, that it is a great and wonderful event, a strange revolution, an unexpected, surprising' overturning of things, suddenly brought to pass; such as never has been seen in New-England, and scarce ever has been heard of in any land. Who that saw the state of things in New-England a few years ago, the state that it was settled in, and the way that we had been so long going on in, would have thought that in so Ettle a time there would be such a change

 

 Such a work is, in its nature, the most glorious of any work of GOD whatsoever, and is always so spoken of in Scripture. It is the work of redemption (the great end of all other works of GOD, and of which the work of creation was but a shadow) in the event, success and end of it: It is the work of new creation, that is infinitely more glorious than the old. I am bold to say, that the work of GOD in the conversion of one soul, is a more glorious work of GOD than the creation of the whole material universe. It is the most glorious of GOD'S works, as it above all others manifests the glory of GOD; as it shows “the exceeding greatness of GOD'S power, and the glory and riches of his grace;” wherein CHRIST has the most glorious triumph over his enemies, and wherein GOD is most exalted: And it is a work above all others glorious, as it concerns the happiness of mankind; more happiness and a greater benefit to man, is the fruit of each single drop of such a* shower, than all the temporal good of the most happy revolution in a land or nation amounts to, or all that a people could gain by the conquest of the world.

 

And as this work is very glorious in its nature, so it is in the extent of it; being in this respect vastly beyond any that ever was known in New England. There has formerly sometimes been a remarkable awakening, in some particular congregation: But now GOB has brought to pass a new thing, he has wrought a great work of this nature, that has extended from one end of the land to the other, besides what has been wrought in other British Colonies in. America.

 

 The work is very glorious in the great numbers that have been turned from sin to GOD. How high, in honor, and great reward of their labors, have some eminent persons signified that they should esteem it, if they should be made the instruments of the conversion of but one soul No greater event than that is thought worthy of great notice in heaven, amongst the hosts of glorious angels, who rejoice and sing on such an occasion: And when there are many thousands converted, shall it be esteemed worth but little notice, and be mentioned with coldness and indifference here on earth, by those among whom such a work is. wrought

 

 The work has been very glorious and wonderful in many circumstances of it, wherein GOD has in an uncommon manner made his power conspicuous; as in the extraordinary degrees of awakening, the suddenness of conversions in innumerable instances, in whom though the work was quick, yet the thing wrought is manifestly durable. How common a thing has it been for great part of a congregation to be at once moved by a mighty invisible power; and for six, eight or ten souls to be converted to GOD at once, in whom the visible change still continues How great an alteration has been made in some populous towns, the change still abiding And how many very vicious persons have been wrought upon, so as to become visibly new creatures GOD has, also made his hand very visible, and his work glorious, in the many little children that have been wrought upon, any one of which formerly would have been though, so remarkable, as to be worthy to be recorded, and published through the land work is exceeding glorious in the high attain of Christians, in the extraordinary degrees of light, love and Spiritual joy, that GOD has bestowed upon great multitudes, In. this respect too, the land in all parts has abandoned with, such instances, any one of which, if they had happened formerly, would have been thought worthy to be taken notice of throughout the British dominions. The New Jerusalem in this respect has begun to come down from heaven, and perhaps never were more of the prelibations of heaven's glory given upon earth,

 

 There being a great many errors and irregularities mixed with this work of GOD, arising from our weakness, dark-n*ss and corruption, does not hinder it from being very glorious. Our follies and sins that we mix, do in some respects manifest the glory of it: The glory of Divine power and grace is set off with the greater lustre, by what appears at the same time of the weakness of the earthen vessel. It is GOD'S pleasure that there should be something remarkably to manifest the weakness and unworthiness of the subject, at the same time that he displays the excellency of his power and riches of his grace. And I doubt not but some of those things that make us here to look on this work with a displeased countenance, do heighten the songs of the angels, when they praise GOD and the Lamb for the glory of GOD'S all-sufficiency, and the efficacy of CHRIST'S redemption.

 

PART 2:

 

Showing the Obligation that all are under to acknowledge, rejoice in. and promote this Work.

 

 1. THERE are many things in the Word of GOD, which show that when GOD remarkably appears for his church, and against his enemies, it is a most dangerous thing to be slow and backward to acknowledge GOD in the work. CHRIST'S people are in Scripture represented as his army; he is the LORD of hosts, or armies; he is the Captain of the host of the LORD, the Captain of his people's salvation: And therefore it may well be highly resented, if they do not resort to him when he orders his banner to be displayed; if they refuse to follow him when he blows the trumpet, and gloriously appears going fortfy against his enemies. GOD expects that every living soul should have his attention roused on such an occasion, should cheerfully yield to the call, and needfully and diligently obey it: “ All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth the trumpet, hear ye.” (Isa. Ixviii. 3 J How severe is the martial law in such a case, when any of an army refuses to obey the sound of the trumpet, and follow his General to the battle.' GOD at such a time appears in peculiar manifestations of his glory; and therefore to lie still, and refuse to follow GOD, will be resented as a high contempt of him.

 

 At a time when GOD manifests himself in such a work for his church, there is no such thing as being neuters; there is a necessity of being either for or against the King that then gloriously appears. So it was when CHRIST came down from heaven in his incarnation, and appeared on earth in his human presence; there was no such thing as being neither on his side nor against him: Those that sat still and said nothing, and did not declare for him, and come and join with him, after he, by his word and works, bad given sufficient evidence who he was, were justly looked upon as his enemies; as CHRIST says,” He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattered abroad.” (Matt. 12: 30.) So it is in a time when CHRIST is remarkably spiritually present, as well ad when hens bodily present; and when he comes to carry on the work of redemption in the application of it, as well again the revelation and purchase. If a King should come into one of his provinces that had been oppressed by its foes, where some of his subjects had fallen off to the enemy, and joined with them against their lawful Sovereign; I say, the lawful Sovereign himself should come into the province, and should ride forth there against his enemies, and should call upon all that were on his side to come and gather themselves to him; there would be no such thing in such a case, as standing neuter • They that lay still and stayed at a distance, would undoubtedly be looked upon and treated as rebels. So in the day of battle, when two armies jiain, there is not such thing for any present as being of Neither party: All must be on one side or the other; and they, that are not found with the Conqueror in such a case^ must expect to fall with tbe rest of his enemies.

 

 2. When GOD manifests himself with such glorious power, he appears especially determined to put honor upon his SON, and to Fulfill his oath, that he would” make every knee to bow, and every tongue to confess him.” Such a day is a day of his power, wherein he shall rule in the midst of his enemies; these especially are the times wherein GOD declares his firm decree, that his SON shall” reign on his holy hill of Zion: “ And therefore those that at such a time do not” kiss the SON,” as he then appears in the glory of his Majesty, expose themselves to” perish from the way,” and to be” dashed in pieces with a rod of iron.”

 

 It always is so, that when CHRIST is in a peculiar manner manifested by a glorious work of GOD in his church, as a foundation and a sanctuary for some, he is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to others. They that; continue long to be offended at such a work of CHRIST, stumble at CHRIST, and are offended in him. But how dangerous is it to continue always stumbling at such a work, for ever doubting of it, and forbearing fully to acknowledge it, and give GOB the glory of it! Such persons are in danger to go and fall backward, and be broken, and snared and taken, and to have CHRIST” a stone of stumbling” to them that shall be an occasion of their ruin.

 

 The Prophet ISAIAH (Chap. 29: 14) speaks of GOB'S proceeding to do a marvelous work, that which should stumble and confound the wise and prudent, which the Apostle, in Acts 13: 41, applies to the glorious work of salvation wrought in those days by the redemption of CHRIST. The Prophet in the context of that place, (Isa. xxix,) speaking of the same thing, and of the Prophets and Rulers and Seers, those wise and prudent, whose eyes GOD had closed, says to them, Verse 9,” Stay yourselves and wonder.” I leave it to others to consider whether it be not natural to interpret it thus,’ Wonder at this, marvelous work; let it be a. strange thing, a great mystery that you know not what to make of, and that you are very slow and backward to acknowledge, long delaying to come to a determination concerning it.' And what persons are in danger of, that are thus slow to acknowledge GOD in such a work, we learn by that of the Apostle,” Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in nowise believe, though a man declare it unto you.”

 

 3. The church is called upon greatly to rejoice, when at any time CHRIST remarkably appears, to enlarge his own kingdoms and to deliver poor souls out of the pit wherein there is no water.” Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation.” (Zech. 9: 9,10, 11.) CHRIST was pleased to give a typical representation of such an event, in his solemn entry into Jerusalem, which was a type of the church or daughter of Zion, there spoken of, probably intending it as a figure of that great actual Fulfillment of this prophecy, that was to be. After his ascension. When he made this his solemn entry into Jerusalem, and the whole multitude of the disciples were rejoicing and praising GOD with loud voices, for all the mighty works that they had seen, the Pharisees said, *', Master, rebuke thy disciples;” but we are told, “He answered and said unto them, I tell you, that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry oat” (Lidte xix. 39, 40.) Signifying that if CHRIST'S disciples should be unaffected on such an occasion, and 8h,puld not appear openly to acknowledge and rejoice in the glory of God, it would manifest such a fearful hardness of heart, $hat die very stones would condemn them. Should not this make those consider who have held their peace so long, since CHRIST has so wonderfully manifested his glory $n., this, mighty work of his SPIRIT, and so many of his disciples have been rejoicing and praising GOD with loud voices!

 

 4. The great danger of not joining with GOD'S people at the, glorious day is also represented, Isa. xl. 12: “ For the nation wild kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.”. 

 

 Most of the great temporal deliverances that were wrought for ISRAEL of old, as expositors observe, were typical of the great spiritual works of GOD for the salvation of men's souls, and he prosperity of his Church, in the days of the Gospel; and especially did they represent that greatest of all GOD'S •works of actual salvation, that shall be in the latter days; which is, above all others, the appointed time, and proper season of actual redemption of men's souls. But it may be observed, that if any appeared to oppose GOD'S work in those great temporal deliverances; or if there were any of his people, that on such occasions lay still, and stood at a distance, and did not arise and acknowledge GOD in his work, and appear to promote it, it was what in a remarkable manner incensed GOD'S anger, and brought his curse upon such persons.

 

 So, when GOD wrought that great work of bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt, (which was a type of GOD'S delivering his Church out of the spiritual Egypt,) how highly did GOD resent it, when the Israelites appeared as opposers in that affair And how dreadfully did he curse them for it’• And the LORD said unto MOSES, write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of JOSHUA; for I will utterly put out the remembrance of AMALEK from under heaven. And MOSES built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-Nissi. For he said, Because the LORD will have war with AMALEK from generation to generation.” (Exod. 17: 14, 15, 16.) And how highly did GOD resent it in the Moabites and Ammonites, that they did not lend an helping hand” An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation, shall they not enter into the congregation of the LOUD for ever: Because they met you not with bread and water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt.11 (Dent xxiu. 3, 4.)

 

 5. That was a glorious work of Goi> that he wrought for Israel, when he delivered them from the Canaamtes, by the hand of DEBOKAH and BARAK: Which makes DEBORAH exultingly to say,” O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength!” (Judges 5: 31.) CHRIST with his heavenly host was engaged in that battle; and therefore it is said, (verse 20,)” They fought from heaven, the stars in their courses fought against SISEHA.” The work of GOD therefore, in this victory and deliverance wrought for Israel, was a type of that victory and deliverance which he will accomplish for his Church in that great battle, that last conflict that the Church shall have with her open enemies, as appears by Rev. 16: ifj, speaking of that great battle.” And” he gathered them together into a place, called in the Hebrew tongue, Armageddon,” that is, the mountain of Megiddo; alluding to the place where the battle was fought with the host of SISERA;” The Kings came and fought, the Kings of Canaan in Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo.” (Judges 5: 19.) Which can signify nothing else than that this battle, which CHRIST and his Church shall have with their enemies, is the anti-type of the battle that was fought there But what a dreadful curse did some of Israel bring upon them-* selves, by lying still at that time, and not putting to an helping hand” Curse ye MEROZ, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof: Because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.” (Judges 5: 28.) It seems the inhabitants t f Meroz were unbelieving concerning this great work, nor would they hearken to DEBORAH'S pretences, nor did it enter into them that such a poor defenceless company • should ever prevail against those that were so mighty; they did not-acknowledge the hand of GOD, and therefore stood at a distance, and did nothing to promote the work: But what a bitter curse did they bring upon themselves by it!

 

 It is very probable that one great reason why the inhabitants of Meroz were so unbelieving concerning this work, was, that they argued a priori; they did not like the beginning of it, it being a woman that first led the way, and had the chief conduct in the affair; nor could they believe that such despicable instruments, as a company of unarmed slaves were ever like to effect so great a thing; and pride and unbelief wrought together, in not being willing to follow DEBORAH to the battle.

 

 6. It was another glorious work of GOD that he wrought in the victory obtained by GIDEON over the Midianites and Amalekites, and the children of the East, when they came up like grasshoppers, a multitude that could not be numbered. This also was a remarkable type of the victory of CHRIST and his Church over his enemies; as is evident by the manner of it, which was not by human sword or bow, but only by blowing of trumpets, and by lights in earthen vessels. We read that, on this occasion, GIDEON called the people together to help in this great affair; and that accordingly great numbers resorted to him, and came to the help of the LORD. (Judges 7: 23, 24.) But there were some that were unbelieving, and would not acknowledge the hand of GOD in that work. They were the inhabitants of Succoth and Penuel. GIDEON desired their help, when he was pursuing after ZEBA and ZALMUNNA; but they despised his preten ces, and his confidence of the Loan's being on his side, to deliver those two great Princes into the hands of such a despicable company as he and his three hundred men. God proceeded in this work in a way that was exceeding cross to their pride. And they also refused to own the work, because they argued, a priori; they could not believe that God would do such great things by such a despicable instrument, one of such a poor, mean family in MANASSEH, and he the least in his father's house; and the company that was with him appeared very wretched, being but three hundred men, and they weak and faint. But we see how they suffered for their folly. “GIDEON,” when he returned from the victory,” took them, and taught them with the briers and thorns of the wilderness, and beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.” (Judges viii.) This in all probability GIDEON did, as directed by the Angel of the Loin, that is, CHRIST, that first called him, and sent him forth in this battle, and instructed and directed him in the whole affair.

 

 At the return of the Ark of God to dwell in Zion, in the midst of the land of Israel, after it had been long absent, first in the land of the Philistines, and then in Kirjath jearim, we have an account that all the people from Shihor, of Egypt, even unto the entering in of Hemath, gathered together, to assist in that great affair; and that all Israel” brought up the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, with shouting and with sound of cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.” (1 Chron. 13: 2, 5, and 15: 28.) And not only the men, but the women of Israel, the daughters of Zion, appeared as publicly joining in the praises and rejoicings that were on that occasion. (2 Sam. 6: 19.) But we read of one of DAVID'S wives, even MICHAL, SAUL's daughter, who did not appear with others to rejoice and praise GOD, but kept away, and stood at a distance, as disaffected, and disliking the management; she despised and ridiculed the transports and extraordinary manifestations of joy that then were; and curse that she brought upon herself by it was that of -being” barren to the day of her death.” Let this be a warning to us: Let us take heed, in this day of the bringing up of the Ark of God, we do not show ourselves to be the children of rebellious SAUL, by our standing aloof, not joining, in praise, and disliking and despising the joys and affections, of God's people, because they are to so high a. degree;- and'iso bring the curse of perpetual barrenness upon-our souls.

 

 And that we may be warned not to continue doubting and unbelieving concerning this work, because of the extraordinary degree of it, and the suddenness and swiftness of the accomplishment of the great things that pertain to it; let us consider the example of the unbelieving LORD in Samaria, The Prophet ELISHA foretold that the great famine in Samaria should, in one day, be turned into an extraordinary plenty; but the work was too great: and too sudden for him, to believe: Says he,” If the LORD should make windows in heaven, might this thing be” And the curse that he brought upon himself by it was, that be” saw it with bweyes; and. did not eat thereof;” but miserably perished,

 

trodden doyen as the mire of the streets, when others were feasting and rejoicing. (2 Kings 7:)

 

 When GOD redeemed his people from their Babylonish captivity, and they rebuilt Jerusalem, it was, as is universally owned, a remarkable type of the spiritual redemption of GOD's Church;. and particularly, of the Christian Church from spiritual Jerusalem, in the latter days. But we read of some that opposed the Jews in that affair, that weakened their hands, and despised their hope: “ What do these feeble Jews” say they,”will they fortify themselves will they make an end in a day will they receive the stones out, out. of the heaps of the rubbish which are burnt Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone-wall.” Let not us be in any measure like them, lest it be said to us, as NEHEMIAH said to them,” We his servants will arise and build; but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem.”

 

 If Ministers preach never so God doctrine, and are never so painful and laborious in their work, yet if, at such a time as this, they show their people that they are not well affected to this work, they will do their people a great deal more hurt than God: For the very fame of such a work of GOD, if their people were suffered to believe it to be his work, would be likely to have a greater influence upon their minds, to animate them in religion, than all their labors: And besides, their Ministers' opinion will not only beget in them a suspicion of the work they hear of abroad, whereby the mighty hand of God), that appears in it, does its influence upon their minds; but it will also tend to create suspicion; of everything of the like nature, that shall appear among themselves, as being something of the same distemper that is become so epidemical in the land; and that is, in effect, to create a suspicion of all vital religion, and to put the people upon talking against it, and discouraging it, wherever it appears, and knocking it in the head as fast as it rises. And we that are Ministers, by looking on this work from year to year with a displeased countenance, keep the sheep from their pasture, instead of doing the part of shepherds to them, by feeding them; and our people had a great deal better be without any

 

settled Minister at all, at such a time as this.

 

 We that are in this sacred office had need to take heed what we do, and how we behave ourselves at this time. If we hinder and stand in the Sway of the work of GOD, whose business above all others it is to promote it, how can we expect to partake of the glorious benefits of it Those awful words of CHRIST to the Jewish teachers, should be considered by us: “ Woe unto you, for you shut up the kingdoms of heaven; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering, to go in.” (Matt. 23: 13.) If we keep the sheep from their pasture, how shall we answer to the great Shepherd, that has bought the flock with his precious blood, and has committed the care of then to us I would humbly desire of every Minister that has thus long remained disaffected to this work, and- has had contemptible thoughts of it, to consider whether he has not hitherto beer, like MICHAEL, without any child, or at least in a great measure barren and unsuccessful in his work I pray GOD it may not be a perpetual barrenness, as hers was.

 

Ministers should especially take heed of a spirit of envy towards other Ministers, whom GOD is pleased to make more use of to carry on his work than they; and that they, o not, from such a spirit, reproach some preachers, that have the true spirit, as though they were influenced by a false spirit, or were bereft of reason, and were mad, or were proud, false pretenders, and deserved to be put in prison, or the stocks, as disturbers of the peace; lest they expose themselves to the curse of SHEMAIAH the Nehelamite, who envied the Prophet JEREMIAH, and in this manner reviled him, in his letter to ZEPHANIAH the Priest, 41 The LORD has made thee Priest in the stead of JEHOIDA the Priest, that ye should be Officers in the house of the LORD, for every. man that is mad, and niaketh himself a Prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks. Now therefore, why bast thou not reproved JEREMIAS of Anathoth, which maketh himself a Prophet to you” (Jer. 29: 26, 27.) His curse is denounced in the 32d verse, G0 Therefore, thus says the LORD, Behold, I Will punish SHEYIAIAH the Nehelamite, and his seed He shall not have a man to dwell among his people, neither shall he behold the God that I will do for my people, says the Loan, because he has taught rebellion against

 

the LORD.”

 

 It is our wisest way, fully, and without reluctance, to bow to the great GOD in this work, and to be entirely resigned to him, with respect to the manner in which he carries it on, and the instruments he is pleased to make us of; not sullenly to refuse to acknowledge the work, in the full glory of it, because we have not had so great a hand in promoting it, or shared so largely in the blessings of it as some others; and not to refuse to give all that honor, that belongs to others as instruments, because they are young, or are upon other accounts much inferior to ourselves and many others, and may appear to us very unworthy that GOD should put so much honor upon, them. If God has a design of carrying on this work, every one, whether he be great or small, must either bow to it, or be broken before it. It may be expected that God's hand will be upon every thing that is high, and stiff, and strong in opposition; as in Isaiah 2: 12, 13, 14, 15: “ For the day of the LORD of Hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low; and upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, and upon all the high mountains, and upon all the frills that are lifted tip, and upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall.”

 

 But not only Ministers, but every living soul, is now obliged to arise and acknowledge GOD in his, work-,. and put to his hand to promote it, as they would not expose themselves to GOD's curse. All sorts of persons through out the whole congregation of Israel, great and small, rich and poor, men and women, helped to build the tabernacle in the wilderness; some in one way, others in another, each one according to his capacity: “Every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing.” All sorts contributed, and all sorts were employed in that affair, both men and women. And thus it ought to be in this day of building the tabernacle of GOD; with such a willing and cheerful heart ought every man, woman, and child, to do something to promote this work: Those that have not onyx-stones, or are not able to bring gold or silver, yet may bring goat's hair.

 

 We have an account, how that all sorts assisted in the rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, not only the proper inhabitants of Jerusalem, but those that dwelt in other parts of the land. And we have an account of one and another, that he repaired, over against his house,” and of one that repaired “over against his chamber.” So now, at this time of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, every one ought to promote the work of God within his own sphere, and by doing what belongs to him, in the place GOD has set him. Men in a private capacity may repair over against their houses; and even those that have not the government of, families, and have but a part of a house belonging to them, should repair each one over against his chamber And every one should be engaged to do the utmost that lies_ in his power, laboring with the utmost watchfulness, care and diligence, with united hearts, and united strength, and the greatest readiness, to assist one another in this work; as GOD's people rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem, who were so diligent in the work, that they wrought” from break of day till the stars appeared,” and did not so much as put of their clothes in the night; and wrought with that care and watchfullness, that “with one hand they wrought in the work, and with the other held a weapon;” and were so well united in it, that they took care that one should stand ready with a- trumpet in his hand, that, if any were assaulted in one part, those in the other parts, at the sound of the trumpet, might resort to them, and help them.

 

 We should take heed that at this day we be not like the Gadarenes, who, when CHRIST came into their country, in the exercise of his glorious power, triumphing over a legion of Devils, were all alarmed, because they lost their swine by it; and “a whole multitude of the country came, and besought him to depart out of their coasts.” They loved their swine better than JESUS CHRIST; and had rather have a legion of Devils in their country with their herd of swine, than JESUS CHRIST without them.

 

 Instead of coming to the help of the LORD, we shall actually fight against Him, if we are abundant in insisting on the blemishes of the work, so as to manifest that we are more forward to take notice of what is amiss; than what is God and glorious in the work. Not but that the errors that are committed ought to be observed and lamented, and the most probable means used to have them amended; but an insisting much upon them, as though it were a pleasing theme, or speaking of them with heat of spirit, or with ridicule, or an air of contempt, rather than grief for them, has no tendency to correct the errors; but to darken the glory of GOD's power and grace, and to beget jealousies and ill thoughts in the minds of others. Whatever errors many zealous persons have run into, yet if the work, in the substance of it, be the work of God, then it is a joyful day indeed; it is so in heaven, and ought to be so among GOD'S people on earth. It is a day of great rejoicing with CHRIST himself, the God Shepherd, when lie finds his sheep that was lost. If we therefore are Fart, offfends, it should he a day of great rejoicing with us. If,re viewed things in a just light, so great an event as the conversion of such a multitude of sinners, would engage our attention much more than all the imprudencies and irregularities that have been; our hearts would be swallowed up with the the glory of this event, and we should have no great disposition to attend to any thing else. The imprudences and errors of poor feeble worms do not hinder great rejoicing, in the angels of GOD, over so many poor sinners that have repented; and it will be an argument of something very ill, if they prevent our rejoicing.

 

 GOD doubtless now expects, that all sorts of persons in New-England, Ministers and people, high and low, rich and poor, old and young, should take great notice of his hand in this mighty work of his grace, and should appear to acknowledge his glory in it, and greatly to rejoice in it, every one doing his utmost, in the place that GOD has set them in, to promote it. And God, according to his wonderful patience, seems to be still waiting, to give us opportunity thus to acknowledge and honor him: But, if we funnily. refuse, there is not the least reason to expect any other: than that' his awful curse will pursue us, and that the pourings out of his wrath will be proportionable to the pourings out of his grace, which we have despised.