against it, and hinder the propagation of it. I also ask your. prayers for this town, and would particularly beg an interest in them for him, who is, Honored sir, With humble respect, Your obedient son and servant, JONATHAN EDWARDS. Northampton, THOUGHTS ON THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN NEW ENGLAND, AND THE WAY IN WHICH IT OUGHT TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND PROMOTED. IN FIVE PARTS. BY JONATHAN EDWARDS, A. M. PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, AT NORTHAMPTON. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for PREFACE. In the ensuing treatise, I condemn ministers assuming, or taking too much upon them, and appearing as though they supposed that they were the persons to whom it especially belonged to dictate, direct, and determine; but perhaps shall be thought to be very guilty of it myself: and some, when they read this treatise, may be ready to say that I condemn this in others, that I may have the monopoly of it. I confess that I have taken a great deal of liberty freely to express my thoughts concerning almost every thing appertaining to the wonderful work of God that has of late been carried on in the land, and to declare what has appeared to me to be the mind of God, concerning the duty and obligations of all sorts of persons, and even those that are my superiors and fathers, ministers of the gospel and civil rulers: but yet I hope the liberty I have taken is not greater than can be justified. In a free nation, such liberty of the press is allowed, that every author takes leave without offense, freely to speak his opinion concerning the management of public affairs, and the duty of the legislature, and those that are at the head of the administration, though vastly his superiors as now at this day, private subjects offer their sentiments to the public, from the press, concerning the management of the war with Spain; freely declaring what they think to be the duty of parliament, and the principal ministers of state, &c. We in New England are at this day engaged in a more important war: and I am sure if we consider the sad jangling and confusion that has attended it, we shall confess that it is highly requisite that somebody should speak his mind concerning the way in which it ought to be managed: and that not only a few of the many particulars, that are the matter of strife in the land, should be debated on the one side and the other in pamphlets; (as has of late been done with heat and fierceness enough;) which does not tend to bring the contention in general to : |