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CHAPTER IX.
COMMENCEMENT OF A SECOND GREAT REVIVAL OF RELIGION, IN THE SPRING AND
SUMMER OF 1740--VISIT OF MR. WHITEFIELD AT
NORTHAMPTON--IMPULSES--JUDGING OF THE RELIGIOUS CHARACTER OF
OTHERS--LETTER TO MR. WHEELOCK--GREAT EFFECTS OF A PRIVATE LECTURE OF
MR. E.--LETTER TO HIS DAUGHTER--LETTER TO A YOUNG LADY IN
CONNECTICUT--LAY PREACHING--LETTER OF REV. G. TENNENT--SERMON AT
NEW-HAVEN--"DISTINGUISHING MARKS OF A WORK OF THE SPIRIT OF
GOD"--PREFACES BY MR. COOPER AND MR. WILLISON--MR. SAMUEL HOPKINS.
While Mr. Edwards was thus occasionally serving his Divine Master
abroad, he found, also, that his labours at home began to be attended
with similar success. A great reformation in morals, as well as
religion, had been the consequence of the preceding revival of
religion. Associations for prayer and social religion had been
regularly kept up, and a few instances of awakening and conversion had
all along been known, even at the season of the greatest stupidity. In
the spring of 1740, there was a perceptible alteration for the better;
and the influence of the Spirit of God was most obvious on the minds
of the people, particularly on those of the young, in causing greater
seriousness and solemnity, and in prompting them to make religion far
more generally the subject of conversation. Improprieties of conduct,
too often allowed, were more generally avoided; greater numbers
resorted to Mr. Edwards to converse with him respecting their
salvation; and, in particular individuals, there appeared satisfactory
evidence of an entire change of character. This state of things
continued through the summer and autumn.
On the evening of Thursday, the 16th of October, 1740, Mr. Whitefield
came to Northampton to see Mr. Edwards, and to converse with him
respecting the work of God in 1735, and remained there until the
morning of the 20th. In this interval he preached five sermons,
adapted to the circumstances of the town, reproving the backslidings
of some, the obstinate impenitence of others, and summoning all, by
the mercies with which the town had been distinguished, to return to
God. His visit was followed by an awakening among professors of
religion, and soon afterwards by a deep concern among the young, and
there were some instances of hopeful conversion. This increased during
the winter; and in the spring of 1741 religion became the object of
general attention.
On Monday, Mr. Edwards, with the Rev. Mr. Hopkins of West Springfield,
his brother-in-law, and several other gentlemen, accompanied Mr.
Whitefield on the east side of the river as far as East Windsor, to
the house of his father, the Rev. Timothy Edwards. While they were
thus together, he took an opportunity to converse with Mr. Whitefield
alone, at some length, on the subject of impulses, and assigned the
reasons which he had to think, that he gave too much heed to such
things. Mr. Whitefield received it kindly, but did not seem inclined
to have much conversation on the subject, and in the time of it, did
not appear convinced by any thing which he heard. He also took
occasion in the presence of others, to converse with Mr. Whitefield at
some length, about his too customary practice of judging other persons
to be unconverted; examined the scriptural warrant for such judgments,
and expressed his own decided disapprobation of the practice. Mr.
Whitefield, at the same time, mentioned to Mr. Edwards his design of
bringing over a number of young men from England, into New Jersey and
Pennsylvania, to be ordained by the two Mr. Tennents. Their whole
interview was an exceedingly kind and affectionate one; yet Mr.
Edwards supposed that Mr. Whitefield regarded him somewhat less as an
intimate and confidential friend, than he would have done, had he not
opposed him in two favourite points of his own practice, for which no
one can be at a loss to perceive that he could find no scriptural
justification. Each however regarded the other with great affection
and esteem, as a highly favoured servant of God; and Mr. Edwards, as
we shall soon see, speaks of Mr. Whitefield's visit to Northampton in
terms of the warmest approbation.
In the month of May, a private lecture of Mr. Edwards's was attended
with very powerful effects on the audience, and ultimately upon the
young of both sexes, and on children throughout the town; and during
the summer, and the early part of the autumn, there was a glorious
progress in the work of God on the hearts of sinners in conviction and
conversion, and great numbers appeared to become the real disciples of
Christ.
Among the ministers, who at this period occasionally left their own
congregations, and went forth as labourers into the common field to
gather in the harvest, one of those who were most distinguished for
their activity and success, was the Rev. Mr. Wheelock, of Lebanon,
afterwards the president of Dartmouth college. In the following letter
from Mr. Edwards to this gentleman, he urges him to visit Scantic, a
feeble settlement in the northern part of his father's parish: the
inhabitants of which were too remote to attend public worship
regularly at East Windsor, and yet too few and feeble to maintain it
themselves.
"Northampton, June 9, 1741.
"rev. and dear sir,
"The special occasion of my now writing to you, is a desire I have of
two things; one is, that you and your brother Pomeroy would go to
Scantic, in my father's parish, and preach there as often as the
people will be willing to hear you, and continue so doing as long as
the concerns of your own parishes will allow of your being absent. You
know the wretched circumstances of that society; and if ever they are
healed, I believe it must be by a reviving and prevailing of true
religion among them. By all that I can understand, they are wholly
dead, in this extraordinary day of God's gracious visitation. You have
lately been so remarkable blessed elsewhere, that I cannot but hope
you would have success there also. I have written to my father, to
inform him that I have desired this of you.
"Another thing that I desire of you is, that you would come up hither
and help us, both you and Mr. Pomeroy. There has been a reviving of
religion among us of late; but your labours have been much more
remarkably blessed than mine. Other ministers, I have heard, have shut
up their pulpits against you; but here I engage you shall find one
open. May God send you hither, with the like blessing as he has sent
you to some other places; and may your coming be a means to humble me,
for my barrenness and unprofitableness, and a means of my instruction
and enlivening. I want an opportunity to concert measures with you,
for the advancement of the kingdom and glory of our Redeemer. Please
to communicate what I write to Mr. Pomeroy, and give my service to
him. I desire the prayers of you both, that God will give me more of
that holy spirit, and happy success, with which you are replenished.
I am, Dear Sir, your unworthy brother
and fellow-labourer,
jonathan edwards."
As very few of Mr. Edwards's letters to his own family are preserved,
it is proper to give those few to the reader, even when they are not
otherwise interesting, in order to exhibit his true character, as an
affectionate and faithful christian father. The following was
addressed to his eldest daughter, in her thirteenth year, while
residing with her aunt, Mrs. Huntington, at Lebanon.
To Miss Sarah Edwards, Lebanon.
Northampton, June 25th, 1741.
my dear child,
Your mother has received two letters from you, since you went away. We
rejoice to hear of your welfare, and of the flourishing state of
religion in Lebanon. I hope you will well improve the great advantage
God is thereby putting into your hands, for the good of your own soul.
You have very weak and infirm health, and I am afraid are always like
to have; and it may be, are not to be long-lived; and while you do
live, are not like to enjoy so much of the comforts of this life as
others do, by reason of your want of health; and therefore, if you
have no better portion, will be miserable indeed. But, if your soul
prospers, you will be a happy, blessed person, whatever becomes of
your body. I wish you much of the presence of Christ, and of communion
with him, and that you might live so as to give him honour, in the
place where you are, by an amiable behaviour towards all.
Your mother would have you go on with your work, if you can, and she
would be glad if your aunt would set you to work something of hers,
though you do but little in a day. She would have you send word by Mr.
Wheelock, who I suppose will come up the next week, or the week after,
whether you are well enough to make lace: if you are, she will send
you a lace and bobbins.
The flourishing of religion in this town, and in these parts of the
country, has rather increased since you went away. Your mother joins
with me in giving her love to you, and to your uncle and aunt. Your
sisters give their love to you, and their duty to them. The whole
family is glad, when we hear from you. Recommending you to the
continual care and mercy of heaven, I remain your loving father,
Jonathan Edwards."
Some time in the course of the year, a young lady, residing at S ----,
in Connecticut, who had lately made a public profession of religion,
requested Mr. Edwards to give her some advice, as to the best manner
of maintaining a religious life. In reply, he addressed to her the
following letter; which will be found eminently useful to all persons
just entering on the christian course.
Letter addressed to a Young Lady at S --, Conn.
in the year 1741.
"my dear young friend,
As you desired me to send you, in writing, some directions how to
conduct yourself in your christian course, I would now answer your
request. The sweet remembrance of the great things I have lately seen
at S ----, inclines me to do any thing in my power, to contribute to
the spiritual joy and prosperity of God's people there.
1. I would advise you to keep up as great a strife and earnestness in
religion, as if you knew yourself to be in a state of nature, and were
seeking conversion. We advise persons under conviction, to be earnest
and violent for the kingdom of heaven; but when they have attained to
conversion, they ought not to be the less watchful, laborious, and
earnest, in the whole work of religion, but the more so; for they are
under infinitely greater obligations. For want of this, many persons,
in a few months after their conversion, have begun to lose their sweet
and lively sense of spiritual things, and to grow cold and dark, and
have `pierced themselves through with many sorrows;' whereas, if they
had done as the apostle did, (Phil. iii. 12-14.) their path would have
been `as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect
day.'
2. Do not leave off seeking, striving, and praying for the very same
things that we exhort unconverted persons to strive for, and a degree
of which you have had already in conversion. Pray that your eyes may
be opened, that you may receive sight, that you may know yourself, and
be brought to God's footstool; and that you may see the glory of God
and Christ, and may be raised from the dead, and have the love of
Christ shed abroad in your heart. Those who have most of these things,
have need still to pray for them; for there is so much blindness and
hardness, pride and death remaining, that they still need to have that
work of God wrought upon them, further to enlighten and enliven them,
that shall be bringing them out of darkness into God's marvellous
light, and be a kind of new conversion and resurrection from the dead.
There are very few requests that are proper for an impenitent man,
that are not also, in some sense, proper for the godly.
3. When you hear a sermon, hear for yourself. Though what is spoken
may be more especially directed to the unconverted, or to those that,
in other respects, are in different circumstances from yourself; yet,
let the chief intent of your mind be to consider, `In what respect is
this applicable to me? and what improvement ought I to make of this,
for my own soul's good?'
4. Though God has forgiven and forgotten your past sins, yet do not
forget them yourself: often remember, what a wretched bond-slave you
were in the land of Egypt. Often bring to mind your particular acts of
sin before conversion; as the blessed apostle Paul is often mentioning
his old blaspheming, persecuting spirit, and his injuriousness to the
renewed; humbling his heart, and acknowledging that he was `the least
of the apostles,' and not worthy `to be called an apostle,' and the
`least of all saints,' and the `chief of sinners;' and be often
confessing your old sins to God, and let that text be often in your
mind, (Ezek. xvi. 63.) `that thou mayest remember and be confounded,
and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, when I am
pacified toward thee for all that thou has done, saith the Lord God.'
5. Remember, that you have more cause, on some accounts, a thousand
times, to lament and humble yourself for sins that have been committed
since conversion, than before, because of the infinitely greater
obligations that are upon you to live to God, and to look upon the
faithfulness of Christ, in unchangeably continuing his
loving-kindness, notwithstanding all your great unworthiness since
your conversion.
6. Be always greatly abased for your remaining sin, and never think
that you lie low enough for it; but yet be not discouraged or
disheartened by it; for, though we are exceeding sinful, yet we have
an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; the
preciousness of whose blood, the merit of whose righteousness, and the
greatness of whose love and faithfulness, infinitely overtop the
highest mountains of our sins.
7. When you engage in the duty of prayer, or come to the Lord's
supper, or attend any other duty of divine worship, come to Christ as
Mary Magdalen [20] did; (Luke vii. 37, 38.) come, and cast yourself at
his feet, and kiss them, and pour forth upon him the sweet perfumed
ointment of divine love, out of a pure and broken heart, as she poured
the precious ointment out of her pure broken alabaster box.
8. Remember, that pride is the worst viper that is in the heart, the
greatest disturber of the soul's peace, and of sweet communion with
Christ: it was the first sin committed, and lies lowest in the
foundation of Satan's whole building, and is with the greatest
difficulty rooted out, and is the most hidden, secret, and deceitful
of all lusts, and often creeps insensibly into the midst of religion,
even, sometimes, under the disguise of humility itself.
9. That you may pass a correct judgment concerning yourself, always
look upon those as the best discoveries, and the best comforts, that
have most of these two effects: those that make you least and lowest,
and most like a child; and those that most engage and fix your heart,
in a full and firm disposition to deny yourself for God, and to spend
and be spent for him.
10. If at any time you fall into doubts about the state of your soul,
in dark and dull frames of mind, it is proper to review your past
experience; but do not consume too much time and strength in this way:
rather apply yourself, with all your might, to an earnest pursuit
after renewed experience, new light, and new lively acts of faith and
love. One new discovery of the glory of Christ's face, will do more
toward scattering clouds of darkness in one minute, than examining old
experience, by the best marks that can be given, through a whole year.
11. When the exercise of grace is low, and corruption prevails, and by
that means fear prevails; do not desire to have fear cast out any
other way, than by the reviving and prevailing of love in the heart:
by this, fear will be effectually expelled, as darkness in a room
vanishes away, when the pleasant beams of the sun are let into it.
12. When you counsel and warn others, do it earnestly, and
affectionately, and thoroughly; and when you are speaking to your
equals, let your warnings be intermixed with expressions of your sense
of your own unworthiness, and of the sovereign grace that makes you
differ.
13. If you would set up religious meetings of young women by
yourselves, to be attended once in a while, besides the other meetings
that you attend, I should think it would be very proper and
profitable.
14. Under special difficulties, or when in great need of, or great
longings after, any particular mercy, for yourself or others, set
apart a day for secret prayer and fasting by yourself alone; and let
the day be spent, not only in petitions for the mercies you desire,
but in searching your heart, and in looking over your past life, and
confessing your sins before God, not as is wont to be done in public
prayer, but by a very particular rehearsal before God of the sins of
your past life, from your childhood hitherto, before and after
conversion, with the circumstances and aggravations attending them,
and spreading all the abominations of your heart very particularly,
and fully as possible, before him.
15. Do not let the adversaries of the cross have occasion to reproach
religion on your account. How holily should the children of God, the
redeemed and the beloved of the Son of God, behave themselves.
Therefore, `walk as children of the light, and of the day,' and `adorn
the doctrine of God your Saviour;' and especially, abound in what are
called the christian virtues, and make you like the Lamb of God: be
meek and lowly of heart, and full of pure, heavenly, and humble love
to all; abound in deeds of love to others, and self-denial for others;
and let there be in you a disposition to account others better than
yourself.
16. In all your course, walk with God, and follow Christ, as a little,
poor, helpless child, taking hold of Christ's hand, keeping your eye
on the marks of the wounds in his hands and side, whence came the
blood that cleanses you from sin, and hiding your nakedness under the
skirt of the white shining robes of his righteousness.
17. Pray much for the ministers and the church of God; especially,
that he would carry on his glorious work which he has now begun, till
the world shall be full of his glory."
About this period, a considerable number of lay members of the church
began, in various parts of New England, to hold religious meetings,
and to preach and exhort in the manner of ministers. They were usually
men of worth, and desirous of doing good; but having much zeal, and
little knowledge, and often but little discretion, the church, at that
period, had certainly very little reason to rejoice in their labours.
The following letter of the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, written probably in
the autumn of 1741, explains his own views on this subject. [21]
"rev. And dear sir,
I rejoice to hear that my poor labours have been of any service to any
in New England. All glory be to the great and glorious God, when out
of the mouths of babes and sucklings, he is pleased sometimes to
ordain praise. I rejoice to hear the progress of God's work among you,
this last summer and that there are any appearances of its
continuance: Blessed be God, dear brother! As to the subject you
mention of laymen being sent out to exhort and to teach, supposing
them to be real converts, I cannot but think, if it be encouraged and
continued, it will be of dreadful consequence to the church's peace
and soundness in the faith. I will not gainsay but that private
persons may be of service to the church of God by private, humble,
fraternal reproof, and exhortations; and no doubt it is their duty to
be faithful in these things. But in the mean time if christian
prudence and humility do not attend their essays, they are like to be
prejudicial to the church's real well-being. But for ignorant young
converts to take upon them authoritatively to instruct and exhort
publicly, tends to introduce the greatest errors and the grossest
anarchy and confusion. The ministers of Christ should be apt to teach
and able to convince gainsayers, and it is dangerous to the pure
church of God, when those are novices, whose lips should preserve
knowledge. It is base presumption, whatever zeal be pretended to,
notwithstanding, for any persons to take this honour to themselves,
unless they be called of God, as Aaron. I know most young zealots are
apt, through ignorance, inconsideration, and pride of heart, to
undertake what they have no proper qualifications for: and, through
their imprudences and enthusiasm, the church of God suffers. I think
all that fear God, should rise up and crush the enthusiastic creature
in the egg. Dear brother, the times we live in are dangerous. The
churches in America and elsewhere are in great hazard of enthusiasm:
we have need to think of the maxim, principiis obsta. May Zion's King
protect his church! I add no more, but love, and beg a remembrance in
your prayers.
Gilbert Tennent."
In the September following, Mr. Edwards attended the public
commencement at New-Haven, and on the 10th of that month preached his
celebrated sermon entitled, "Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the
Spirit of God," which, in consequence of a general request from the
clergy, and other gentlemen attending the commencement, was published
soon after at Boston, accompanied with a Preface from the Rev. Mr.
Cooper; and in Scotland the ensuing year, with a preface from the Rev.
Mr. Willison. This sermon, by exhibiting the distinguishing marks
between an imaginary and a real work of the Spirit of God, and by
applying those marks to the work of grace then begun, and rapidly
spreading throughout the northern and middle colonies, became an
unanswerable defence, not only of that, but of all genuine revivals of
religion. It was indeed the object of immediate and reiterated attacks
from the press; but being built on the foundation of the apostles and
the prophets, it stands sure, while those attacks and their authors
are forgotten. It exhibits the scriptural evidences of a genuine
revival of religion, in much the same manner, as his subsequent
treatise on "Religious Affections," does those of a genuine
conversion. Mr. Cooper thus introduces it to the Christians of New
England:
"If any are disposed to receive conviction, have mind open to light,
and are really willing to know of the present work, whether it be of
God; it is with great satisfaction and pleasure I can recommend to
them the following sheets, in which they will find the "distinguishing
marks" of such a work, as they are to be found in the Holy Scriptures,
applied to the uncommon operation that has been on the minds of many
in this land. Here the matter is tried by the infallible touchstone of
the Holy Scriptures, and is weighed in the balance of the sanctuary
with great judgment and impartiality.
"A performance of this kind is seasonable and necessary; and I desire
heartily to bless God, who inclined this, his servant, to undertake
it, and has greatly assisted him in it. The reverend author is known
to be `a scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven;' the place
where he has been called to exercise his ministry has been famous for
experimental religion; and he has had opportunities to observe this
work in many places where it has powerfully appeared, and to converse
with numbers that have been the subjects of it. These things qualify
him for this undertaking, above most. His arguments in favour of the
work, are strongly drawn from Scripture, reason, and experience: and I
shall believe every candid, judicious reader will say, he writes very
free from an enthusiastic or a party spirit. The use of human learning
is asserted; a methodical way of preaching, the fruit of study as well
as prayer, is recommended; and the exercise of charity, in judging
others, pressed and urged: and those things, which are esteemed the
blemished, are like to be the hinderances, of the work, are with great
faithfulness cautioned and warned against.--Many, I believe, will be
thankful for this publication. Those who have already entertained
favourable thoughts of this work, will be confirmed by it; and the
doubting may be convinced and satisfied. But if there be any, after
all, who cannot see the signatures of a Divine hand on the work, it is
to be hoped they will be prevailed on to spare their censures, and
stop their oppositions, lest `haply they should be found to fight
against God.'--I will only add my prayer, That the worthy author of
this discourse may long be continued a burning and a shining light, in
the golden candlestick where Christ has placed him, and from thence
diffuse his light throughout these provinces! That the Divine Spirit,
whose cause is here espoused, would accompany this, and the other
valuable publications of his servant, with his powerful influences;
that they may promote the Redeemer's interests, serve the ends of
vital religion, and so add to the author's present joy and future
crown!"
The following is the testimony of the Rev. Mr. Willison, to the
churches of Scotland. "The ensuing treatise, by the Rev. Mr. Edwards,
of Northampton, in New England, concerning the work and operation of
the Holy Spirit on men's consciences, is, in my humble opinion, a most
excellent, solid, judicious, and scriptural performance; which I hope,
through the Divine blessing, will prove most useful to the church, for
discerning a true and real work of the Spirit of God, and for guarding
against delusions and mistakes. It is certainly a great mercy to the
church, that this subject hath been undertaken and handled by such an
experienced, well furnished scribe, that hath been long acquainted
with the Spirit of God's dealings with the souls of men, in his own
congregation, and the country where he lives. And seeing the
extraordinary work there at present, though several thousand miles
distant from Scotland, is of the same kind with that at Cambuslang and
other places about, and meets with the same opposition; the author
doth, with great judgment, answer the common objections which are made
against the work, both here and there, so that scarce any thing
further needs be added. He warns people very warmly against opposing
or reproaching the work of the Holy Spirit. He being the Third Person
of the glorious Trinity, and God equal with the Father and the Son,
and the great applier of the redemption purchased for us; it becomes
all men highly to honour him and his work, and to look upon it as
highly dangerous to speak a word against him, according to Matt. xii.
32.--I shall add no more, but my fervent prayers to God, to bless both
the author and his discourse, and that he would pour out his Spirit
yet more abundantly, both on America and all the British dominions;
and that he would hasten the glory of the latter days, when the Jews
shall be brought in with the fulness of the Gentiles, and that all the
kingdoms of the world may become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his
Christ, that he may reign for ever and ever! Amen and Amen."
It was during this visit to New-Haven, that Mr. Hopkins [22] , then
about to receive the degree of A.B. at Yale college, first saw Mr.
Edwards. He soon after became his pupil, and continued his intimate
friend through life, and was ultimately his biographer. The impression
made on his mind, may be gathered from the following account of the
subject, in the Memoirs of his own life. "When I heard Mr. Tennent,"
(the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, who had preached often at New-Haven in the
preceding March.) "I thought he was the greatest and best man, and the
best preacher, that I had ever seen or heard. His words were to me
`like apples of gold in pictures of silver.' And I thought that, when
I should leave the college, as I was then in my last year, I would go
and live with him, wherever I should find him. But just before the
commencement in September, when I was to take my degree, on the
seventeenth day of which month I was twenty years old, Mr. Edwards, of
Northampton, came to New-Haven, and preached. He then preached the
sermon on The Trial of the Spirits, which was afterwards printed. I
had before read his sermons on Justification, &c., and his Narrative
of Remarkable Conversions at Northampton, which took place about seven
years before this. Though I then did not obtain any personal
acquaintance with him, any further than by hearing him preach; yet I
conceived such an esteem of him, and was so pleased with his
preaching, that I altered my former determination with respect to Mr.
Tennent, and concluded to go and live with Mr. Edwards, as soon as I
should have opportunity, though he lived about eighty miles from my
father's house."
_________________________________________________________________
[20] This is a very common mistake. The woman here mentioned was not
Mary Magdalen.
[21] The superscription and date are gone from the MS. but having Mr.
Edwards's hand-writing on the back, I suppose the letter to have been
written to him.
[22] Afterwards the Rev. Samuel Hopkins, D. D. of Newport, author of
the System of Divinity