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CHAPTER X.
TEMPORARY ABATEMENT OF RELIGIOUS ATTENTION--LETTER TO MR.
BELLAMY--MISSIONARY TOUR--SUCCESS AT LEICESTER--MR. HOPKINS BECOMES A
MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY--MR. BUELL'S SUCCESSFUL LABOURS AT
NORTHAMPTON--MR. EDWARDS'S NARRATIVE OF THE REVIVAL AT NORTHAMPTON, IN
1740-1742--COVENANT ENTERED INTO BY THE CHURCH.
for about three months, or from November to January, there was an
obvious abatement in the attention to religion at Northampton; and
although there were instances of conversion from time to time through
the winter, yet they were less frequent than before. Mr. Edwards
alludes to this fact, in the following letter to Mr. Bellamy, of
Bethlehem.
"Northampton, Jan. 21, 1742.
rev. and dear sir,
I received yours of Jan. 11, for which I thank you. Religion, in this
and the neighbouring towns, has now of late been on the decaying hand.
I desire your prayers, that God would quicken and revive us again; and
particularly, that he would greatly humble, and pardon, and quicken
me, and fill me with his own fulness; and, if it may consist with his
will, improve me as an instrument to revive his work. There has been,
the year past, the most wonderful work among children here, by far,
that ever was. God has seemed almost wholly to take a new generation,
that are come on since the late great work, seven years ago.--Neither
earth nor hell can hinder his work, that is going on in the country.
Christ gloriously triumphs at this day. You have probably before now
heard of the great and wonderful things that have lately been wrought
at Portsmouth, the chief town in new Hampshire. There are also
appearing great things at Ipswich and Newbury, the two largest towns
in this province except Boston, and several other towns beyond Boston,
and some towns nearer. By what I can understand, the work of God is
greater at this day in the land, than it has been at any time. O what
cause have we, with exulting hearts, to agree to give glory to him,
who thus rides forth in the chariot of his salvation, conquering and
to conquer; and earnestly to pray, that now the Sun of righteousness
would come forth like a bridegroom, rejoicing as a giant, to run his
race from one end of the heavens to the other, that nothing may be hid
from the light and heat thereof.
It is not probable that I shall be able to attend your meeting at
Guilford. I have lately been so much gone from my people, and don't
know but I must be obliged to leave `em again next week about a
fortnight, being called to Leicester, a town about half way to Boston,
where a great work of grace has lately commenced; and probably soon
after that to another place; and having at this time some
extraordinary affairs to attend to at home. I pray that Christ, our
good Shepherd, will be with you, and direct you and greatly strengthen
and bless you.
Dear Sir, I have none of those books you speak of, to sell. I have
only a few, that I intend to send to some of my friends. I have
already sent you one of my New-Haven sermons, by Mr. ----.
Nevertheless, I have herewith sent another, which I desire you to give
to Mr. Mills, if he has none; but if he has, dispose of it where you
think it will do most good. I have also sent one of those sermons I
preached at Enfield; as to the other, I have but one of them in the
world.
I am, dear Sir, your affectionate and unworthy brother, and
fellow-labourer,
jonathan edwards."
The absence from his people, alluded to in the preceding letter,
occurred in consequence of a missionary tour of some length, in the
two preceding months; during which he visited various places, to which
he had been invited, in consequence of an unusual attention to
religion there, among the people. His own congregation, readily
admitting that, at such a time, there was a louder call for his
services in those places, than in Northampton, consented, in the true
spirit of christian benevolence, that he should listen to these calls
of Providence, and go forth into other fields of labour. In so doing,
they soon found a fulfilment of the promise, that he who watereth
shall be watered himself. On Monday the 25th of January, Mr. Edwards
set out for Leicester, and remained there several weeks, preaching
with remarkable success. The revival of religion almost immediately
pervaded the whole congregation, and great numbers were believed to be
the subjects of hopeful conversion. On Wednesday, January 27th, Mr.
Buell, a class-mate of Mr. Hopkins, who, though he left college in the
September preceding, had already been preaching some time, and had
gained the reputation of an uncommonly engaged and animated preacher,
came to Northampton, to preach during the absence of Mr. Edwards.
Immediately the work of grace, which had for a season declined, was
again carried on with even greater power than before. A high degree of
religious feeling was excited in the church; a solemn, anxious
attention to the salvation of the soul, was witnessed extensively
among the congregation; and, soon after the return of Mr. Edwards, the
work of conviction and conversion again went forward with renewed
success.
Mr. Hopkins alludes to these events, in his own narrative. "In the
month of December," he observes, "being furnished with a horse, I set
out for Northampton, with a view to live with Mr. Edwards, where I was
an utter stranger. When I arrived there, Mr. Edwards was not at home;
but I was received with great kindness by Mrs. Edwards and the family,
and had encouragement that I might live there during the winter. Mr.
Edwards was absent on a preaching tour, as people in general were
greatly attentive to religion and preaching, which was attended with
remarkable effects, in the conviction and supposed conversion of
multitudes. I was very gloomy, and was most of the time retired in my
chamber. After some days, Mrs. Edwards came into my chamber, and said,
"As I was now become a member of the family for a season, she felt
herself interested in my welfare; and, as she observed that I appeared
gloomy and dejected, she hoped I would not think she intruded, by her
desiring to know, and asking me what was the occasion of it, or to
that purpose. I told her the freedom she used was agreeable to me;
that the occasion of the appearance which she mentioned, was the state
in which I considered myself. I was in a Christless, graceless state,
and had been under a degree of conviction and concern for myself, for
a number of months; had got no relief, and my case, instead of growing
better, appeared to grow worse. Upon which we entered into a free
conversation; and on the whole she told me, that she had peculiar
exercises in prayer respecting me, since I had been in the family;
that she trusted I should receive light and comfort, and doubted not
that God intended yet to do great things by me.
"Religion was now at a lower ebb at Northampton than it had been of
late, and than it appeared to be in the neighbouring towns, and in New
England in general. In the month of January, Mr. Buell, my class-mate,
came to Northampton, having commenced a zealous preacher of the
gospel; and was the means of greatly reviving the people to zeal in
religion. He preached every day, and sometimes twice a day, publicly,
Mr. Edwards being out of town, preaching in distant towns. Professing
Christians appeared greatly revived and comforted; and a number were
under conviction; and I think there were some hopeful new converts.
After Mr. Buell had been in Northampton a week or two, he set out on a
tour towards Boston [23] ."
Having thus alluded to the religious state of Northampton at this
period, so far as was necessary to exhibit the order and connexion of
events; we now proceed to give Mr. Edwards's own account of the
revival of religion in that town, in 1740-1742, as communicated in a
letter to a minister of Boston.
"Northampton, Dec.12, 1743.
rev. and dear sir,
Ever since the great work of God, that was wrought here about nine
years ago, there has been a great and abiding alteration in this town,
in many respects. There has been vastly more religion kept up in the
town, among all sorts of persons, in religious exercises, and in
common conversation; there has been a great alteration among the youth
of the town, with respect to revelry, frolicking, profane and
licentious conversation, and lewd songs; and there has also been a
great alteration, amongst both old and young, with regard to
tavern-haunting. I suppose the town has been in no measure so free of
vice in these respects, for any long time together, for sixty years,
as it has been these nine years past. There has also been an evident
alteration, with respect to a charitable spirit to the poor; though I
think with regard to this, we in this town, as well as the land in
general, come far short of gospel rules. And though after that great
work nine years ago, there has been a very lamentable decay of
religious affections, and the engagedness of people's spirit in
religion; yet many societies for prayer and social worship were all
along kept up, and there were some few instances of awakening, and
deep concern about the things of another world, even in the most dead
time.
In the year 1740, in the spring before Mr. Whitefield came to this
town, there was a visible alteration: there was more seriousness and
religious conversation, especially among young people; those things
that were of ill tendency among them, were forborne; and it was a very
frequent thing for persons to consult their minister upon the
salvation of their souls; and in some particular persons there
appeared a great attention, about that time. And thus it continued,
until Mr. Whitefield came to town, which was about the middle of
October following: he preached here four sermons in the meeting-house,
(besides a private lecture at my house,) one on Friday, another on
Saturday, and two upon the sabbath. The congregation was
extraordinarily melted by every sermon; almost the whole assembly
being in tears for a great part of sermon time. Mr. Whitefield's
sermons were suitable to the circumstances of the town; containing a
just reproof of our backslidings, and in a most moving and affecting
manner, making use of our great professions, and great mercies, as
arguments with us to return to God, from whom we had departed.
Immediately after this, the minds of the people in general appeared
more engaged in religion, showing a greater forwardness to make
religion the subject of their conversation, and to meet frequently for
religious purposes, and to embrace all opportunities to hear the word
preached. The revival at first appeared chiefly among professors, and
those that had entertained hope that they were in a state of
salvation, to whom Mr. Whitefield chiefly addressed himself; but in a
very short time, there appeared an awakening and deep concern among
some young persons, that looked upon themselves in a Christless state;
and there were some hopeful appearances of conversion, and some
professors were greatly revived. In about a month or six weeks, there
was a great attention in the town, both as to the revival of
professors and the awakening of others. By the middle of December, a
considerable work of God appeared among those that were very young;
and the revival of religion continued to increase, so that in the
spring an engagedness of spirit, about the things of religion, was
become very general amongst young people and children, and religious
subjects almost wholly took up their conversation when they were
together.
In the month of May, 1741, a sermon was preached to a company, at a
private house. Near the conclusion of the discourse, one or two
persons, that were professors, were so greatly affected with a sense
of the greatness and glory of divine things, and the infinite
importance of the things of eternity, that they were not able to
conceal it--the affection of their minds overcoming their strength,
and having a very visible effect upon their bodies. When the exercises
were over, the young people that were present removed into the other
room for religious conference; and particularly that they might have
opportunity to inquire of those, that were thus affected, what
apprehensions they had, and what things they were that thus deeply
impressed their minds; and there soon appeared a very great effect of
their conversation; the affection was quickly propagated throughout
the room; many of the young people and children, that were professors,
appeared to be overcome with a sense of the greatness and glory of
divine things, and with admiration, love, joy, and praise, and
compassion to others, that looked upon themselves as in a state of
nature; and many others at the same time were overcome with distress,
about their sinful and miserable estate and condition; so that the
whole room was full of nothing but outcries, faintings, and the like.
Others soon heard of it in several parts of the town, and came to
them; and what they saw and heard there, was greatly affecting to
them, so that many of them were overpowered in like manner, and it
continued thus for some hours; the time being spent in prayer,
singing, counselling, and conferring. There seemed to be a consequent
happy effect of that meeting, to several particular persons, and on
the state of religion in the town in general. After this, were
meetings from time to time, attended with like appearances. But a
little after it, at the conclusion of the public exercises on the
sabbath, I appointed the children that were under seventeen years of
age, to go from the meeting-house to a neighbouring house, that I
might there further enforce what they had heard in public, and might
give in some counsels proper for their age. The children were there
very generally and greatly affected with the warnings and counsels
that were given them, and many exceedingly overcome; and the room was
filled with cries; and when they were dismissed, they almost all of
them went home crying aloud through the streets, to all parts of the
town. The like appearances attended several such meetings of children,
that were appointed. But their affections appeared by what followed,
to be of a very different nature: in many, they appeared indeed but
childish affections, and in a day or two would leave them as they were
before; others were deeply impressed; their convictions took fast hold
of them, and abode by them: and there were some that, from one meeting
to another, seemed extraordinarily affected for some time, to but
little purpose, their affections presently vanishing from time to
time; but yet afterwards, were seized with abiding convictions, and
their affections became durable.
About the middle of the summer, I called together the young people
that were communicants, from sixteen to twenty-six years of age, to my
house; which proved to be a most happy meeting: many seemed to be very
greatly and most agreeably affected with those views, which excited
humility, self-condemnation, self-abhorrence, love, and joy: many
fainted under these affections. We had several meetings that summer,
of young people, attended with like appearances. It was about that
time, that there first began to be cryings out in the meeting-house;
which several times occasioned many of the congregation to stay in the
house after the public exercises were over, to confer with those who
seemed to be overcome with religious convictions and affections, which
was found to tend much to the propagation of their impressions, with
lasting effect upon many; conference being, at these times, commonly
joined with prayer and singing. In the summer and autumn, the children
in various parts of the town had religious meetings by themselves, for
prayer, sometimes joined with fasting; wherein many of them seemed to
be greatly and properly affected, and I hope some them savingly
wrought upon.
The months of August and September were the most remarkable of any
this year, for appearances of the conviction and conversion of
sinners, and great revivings, quickenings, and comforts of professors,
and for extraordinary external effects of these things. It was a very
frequent thing, to see a house full of outcries, faintings,
convulsions, and such like, both with distress, and also with
admiration and joy. It was not the manner here, to hold meetings all
night, as in some places, nor was it common to continue them till very
late in the night; but it was pretty often so, that there were some
that were so affected, and their bodies so overcome, that they could
not go home, but were obliged to stay all night where they were. There
was no difference, that I know of here, with regard to these
extraordinary effects, in meetings in the night and in the day time:
the meetings in which these effects appeared in the evening, being
commonly begun, and their extraordinary effects, in the day, and
continued in the evening; and some meetings have been very remarkable
for such extraordinary effects, that were both begun and finished in
the day time. There was an appearance of a glorious progress of the
work of God upon the hearts of sinners, in conviction, and conversion,
this summer and autumn, and great numbers, I think we have reason to
hope, were brought savingly home to Christ. But this was remarkable:
the work of Good in his influences of this nature, seemed to be almost
wholly upon a new generation--those that were not come to years of
discretion in that wonderful season, nine years ago; children, or
those that were then children: others, who had enjoyed that former
glorious opportunity, without any appearance of saving benefit, seemed
now to be almost wholly passed over and let alone. But now we had the
most wonderful work among children, that ever was in Northampton. The
former outpouring of the Spirit was remarkable for influences upon the
minds of children, beyond all that had ever been before; but this far
exceeded that. Indeed, as to influences on the minds of professors,
this work was by no means confined to a new generation. Many, of all
ages, partook of it; but yet, in this respect, it was more general on
those that were of the young sort. Many, who had been formerly wrought
upon, and in the time of our declension had fallen into decays, and
had in a great measure left God, and gone after the world, now passed
under a very remarkable new work of the Spirit of God, as if they had
been the subjects of a second conversion. They were first led into the
wilderness, and had a work of conviction; having much deeper
convictions of the sins of both nature and practice, than ever before;
though with some new circumstances, and something new in the kind of
conviction in some, with great distress, beyond what they had felt
before their first conversion. Under these convictions, they were
excited to strive for salvation, and the kingdom of heaven suffered
violence from some of them, in a far more remarkable manner than
before; and after great convictions and humblings, and agonizing with
God, they had Christ discovered to them anew, as an all-sufficient
Saviour, and in the glories of his grace, and in a far more clear
manner than before; and with greater humility, self-emptiness, and
brokenness of heart, and a purer, a higher joy, and greater desires
after holiness of life; but with greater self-diffidence and distrust
of their treacherous hearts. One circumstance, wherein this work
differed from that, which had been in the towns five or six years
before, was, that conversions were frequently wrought more sensibly
and visibly; the impressions stronger, and more manifest by their
external effects; the progress of the Spirit of God in conviction,
from step to step, more apparent; and the transition from one state to
another, more sensible and plain; so that it might, in many instances,
be as it were seen by bystanders. The preceding season had been very
remarkable on this account, beyond what had been before; but this more
remarkable than that. And in this season, these apparent or visible
conversions, (if I may so call them,) were more frequently in the
presence of others, at religious meetings, where the appearances of
what was wrought on the heart fell under public observation.
After September, 1741, there seemed to be some abatement of these
extraordinary appearances, yet they did not wholly cease, but there
was something of them, from time to time, all winter. About the
beginning of February, 1742, Mr. Buell came to this town. I was then
absent from home, and continued so till about a fortnight after. Mr.
Buell preached from day to day, almost every day, in the
meeting-house.--I had left him the free use of my pulpit, having heard
of his designed visit, before I went from home. He spent almost the
whole time religious exercises with the people, either in public or
private, the people continually thronging him. When he first came,
there came with him a number of the zealous people from Suffield, who
continued here for some time. There were very extraordinary effects of
Mr. Buell's labours; the people were exceedingly moved, crying out in
great numbers in the meeting-house, and a great part of the
congregation commonly staying in the house of God, for hours after the
public service. Many also were exceedingly moved in private meetings,
where Mr. Buell was: almost the whole town seemed to be in a great and
continual commotion, day and night, and there was indeed a very great
revival of religion. But it was principally among professors; the
appearances of a work of conversion were in no measure as great, as
they had been the summer before. When I came home, I found the town in
very extraordinary circumstances, such as, in some respects, I never
saw it in before. Mr. Buell continued here a fortnight or three weeks
after I returned: there being still great appearances attending his
labours; many in their religious affections being raised far beyond
what they had ever been before: and there were some instances of
persons lying in a sort of trance, remaining perhaps for a whole
twenty-four hours motionless, and with their senses locked up; but in
the mean time under strong imaginations, as though they went to
heaven, and had there a vision of glorious and delightful objects. But
when the people were raised to this height, Satan took the advantage,
and his interposition, in many instances, soon became very apparent:
and a great deal of caution and pains were found necessary, to keep
the people, many of them, from running wild.
In the month of March, I led the people into a solemn public renewal
of their covenant with God. To that end, having made a draft of a
covenant, I first proposed it to some of the principal men in the
church; then to the people, in their several religious associations in
various parts of the town; then to the whole congregation in public;
and then I deposited a copy of it in the hands of each of the four
deacons, that all who desired it might resort to them, and have
opportunity to view and consider it. Then the people in general, that
were above fourteen years of age, first subscribed the covenant with
their hands; and then, on a day of fasting and prayer, all together
presented themselves before the Lord in his house, and stood up, and
solemnly manifested their consent to it, as their vow to God. The
covenant was as follows:
COPY OF A COVENANT,
Entered into and subscribed, by the people of God at Northampton, and
owned before God in his house as their vow to the Lord, and made a
solemn act of public worship, by the congregation in general that were
above fourteen years of age, on a day of fasting and prayer for the
continuance and increase of the gracious presence of God in that
place.
March 16th, 1742. Acknowledging God's great goodness to us, a sinful,
unworthy, people, in the blessed manifestations and fruits of his
gracious presence in this town, both formerly and lately, and
particularly in the very late spiritual revival; and adoring the
glorious majesty, power, and grace of God, manifested in the present
wonderful outpouring of his Spirit, in many parts of this land, in
this place; and lamenting our past backslidings and ungrateful
departings from God, and humbly begging of God that he would not mark
our iniquities, but, for Christ's sake, come over the mountains of our
sins, and visit us with his salvation, and continue the tokens of his
presence with us, and yet more gloriously pour out his blessed Spirit
upon us, and make us all partakers of the divine blessings he is, at
this day, bestowing here, and in many parts of this land; we do this
day present ourselves before the Lord, to renounce our evil ways, we
put away our abominations from before God's eyes, and with one accord,
to renew our engagements to seek and serve God: and particularly do
now solemnly promise and vow to the Lord as follows:--
In all our conversation, concerns, and dealings with our neighbour, we
will have a strict regard to rules of honesty, justice, and
uprightness, that we don't overreach or defraud our neighbour in any
matter, and either wilfully, or through want of care, injure him in
any of his honest possessions or rights; and in all our communication
will have a tender respect, not only to our own interest, but also to
the interest of our neighbour; and will carefully endeavour, in every
thing, to do to others as we should expect, or think reasonable, that
they should do to us, if we were in their case, and they in ours.
And particularly we will endeavour to render every one his due, and
will take heed to ourselves, that we don't injure our neighbour, and
give him just cause of offence, by wilfully or negligently forbearing
to pay our honest debts.
And wherein any of us, upon strict examination of our past behaviour,
may be conscious to ourselves, that we have by any means wronged any
of our neighbours in their outward estate, we will not rest, till we
have made that restitution, or given that satisfaction, which the
rules of moral equity require; or if we are, on a strict and impartial
search, conscious to ourselves, that we have in any other respect
considerably injured our neighbour, we will truly endeavour to do
that, which we in our consciences suppose christian rules require, in
order to a reparation of the injury, and removing the offence given
thereby.
And furthermore we promise, that we will not allow ourselves in
backbiting; and that we will take great heed to ourselves to avoid all
violations of those christian rules, Tit. iii. 2. `Speak evil of no
man;' Jam. iv. 11. `Speak not evil one of another, brethren;' and 2
Cor. xii. 20. `Let there be no strifes, backbitings, whisperings;' and
that we will not only not slander our neighbour, but also will not
feed a spirit of bitterness, ill will, or secret grudge against our
neighbour, insist on his real faults needlessly, and when not called
to it, or from such a spirit, speak of his failings and blemishes with
ridicule, or an air of contempt.
And we promise, that we will be very careful to avoid doing any thing
to our neighbour from a spirit of revenge. And that we will take great
care that we do not, for private interest or our own honour, or to
maintain ourselves against those of a contrary party, or to get our
wills, or to promote any design in opposition to others, do those
things which we, on the most impartial consideration are capable of,
can think in our consciences will tend to wound religion, and the
interests of Christ's kingdom.
And particularly, that so far as any of us, by Divine Providence, have
any special influence upon others, to lead them in the management of
public affairs, we will not make our own worldly gain, or honour, or
interest in the affections of others, or getting the better of any of
a contrary party, that are in any respect our competitors, or the
bringing or keeping them down, our governing aim, to the prejudice of
the interest of religion, and the honour of Christ.
And in the management of any public affair, wherever there is a
difference of opinions, concerning any outward possessions,
privileges, rights, or properties, we will not willingly violate
justice for private interest: and with the greatest strictness and
watchfulness, will avoid all unchristian bitterness, vehemence, and
heat of spirit; yea, though we should think ourselves injured by a
contrary party; and in the time of the management of such affairs,
will especially watch over ourselves, our spirits, and our tongues, to
avoid all unchristian inveighings, reproachings, bitter reflecting,
judging and ridiculing others, either in public meetings or in private
conversation, either to men's faces, or behind their backs; but will
greatly endeavour, so far as we are concerned, that all should be
managed with christian humility, gentleness, quietness, and love.
And furthermore we promise, that we will not tolerate the exercise of
enmity and ill will, or revenge in our hearts, against any of our
neighbours; and we will often be strictly searching and examining our
own hearts with respect to that matter.
And if any of us find that we have an old secret grudge against any of
our neighbours, we will not gratify it, but cross it, and endeavour to
our utmost to root it out, crying to God for his help; and that we
will make it our true and faithful endeavour, in our places, that a
party spirit may not be kept up amongst us, but that it may utterly
cease; that for the future, we may all be one, united in undisturbed
peace and unfeigned love.
And those of us that are in youth, do promise, never to allow
ourselves in any diversions or pastimes, in meetings, or companies of
young people, that we, in our consciences, upon sober consideration,
judge not well to consist with, or would sinfully tend to hinder, the
devoutest and most engaged spirit in religion, or indispose the mind
for that devout and profitable attendance on the duties of the closet,
which is most agreeable to God's will, or that we, in our most
impartial judgment, can think tends to rob God of that honour which he
expects, by our orderly serious attendance on family worship.
And furthermore we promise, that we will strictly avoid all freedoms
and familiarities in company, so tending either to stir up or gratify
a lust of lasciviousness, that we cannot in our consciences think will
be approved by the infinitely pure and holy eye of God, or that we can
think, on serious and impartial consideration, we should be afraid to
practise, if we expected in a few hours to appear before that holy
God, to give an account of ourselves to him, as fearing they would be
condemned by him as unlawful and impure.
We also promise, with great watchfulness, to perform relative duties,
required by christian rules, in the families we belong to, as we stand
related respectively, towards parents and children, husbands and
wives, brothers and sisters, masters or mistresses, and servants.
And we now appear before God, depending on Divine grace and
assistance, solemnly to devote our whole lives, to be laboriously
spent in the business of religion; ever making it our greatest
business, without backsliding from such a way of living, not
hearkening to the solicitations of our sloth, and other corrupt
inclinations, or the temptations of the world, that tend to draw us
off from it; and particularly, that we will not abuse a hope or
opinion that any of us may have, of our being interested in Christ, to
indulge ourselves in sloth, or the more easily to yield to the
solicitations of any sinful inclinations; but will run with
perseverance the race that is set before us, and work out our own
salvation with fear and trembling.
And because we are sensible that the keeping these solemn vows may
hereafter, in many cases, be very contrary to our corrupt inclinations
and carnal interests, we do now therefore appear before God to make a
surrender of all to him, and to make a sacrifice of every carnal
inclination and interest, to the great business of religion and the
interest of our souls.
And being sensible of our weakness, and the deceitfulness of our own
hearts, and our proneness to forget our most solemn vows, and lose our
resolutions, we promise to be often strictly examining ourselves by
these promises, especially before the sacrament of the Lord's supper;
and beg of God that he would, for Christ's sake, keep us from wickedly
dissembling in these our solemn vows; and that he who searches our
hearts, and ponders the path of our feet, would, from time to time,
help us in trying ourselves by this covenant, and help us to keep
covenant with him, and not leave us to our own foolish, wicked, and
treacherous hearts.
In the beginning of the summer of 1742, there seemed to be an
abatement of the liveliness of people's affections in religion; but
yet many were often in a great height of them. And in the fall and
winter following, there were at times extraordinary appearances. But
in the general, people's engagedness in religion, and the liveliness
of their affections, have been on the decline; and some of the young
people especially, have shamefully lost their liveliness and vigour in
religion, and much of the seriousness and solemnity of their spirits.
But there are many that walk as becometh saints; and to this day there
are a considerable number in town that seem to be near to God, and
maintain much of the life of religion, and enjoy many of the sensible
tokens and fruits of his gracious presence.
With respect to the late season of revival of religion amongst us for
three or four years past, it has been observable, that in the former
part of it, in the years 1740 and 1741, the work seemed to be much
more pure, having less of a corrupt mixture than in the former great
outpouring of the Spirit, in 1735 and 1736. Persons seemed to be
sensible of their former errors, and had learned more of their own
hearts, and experience had taught them more of the tendency and
consequences of things. They were now better guarded, and their
affections were not only stronger, but attended with greater
solemnity, and greater humility and self-distrust, and greater
engagedness after holy living and perseverance: and there were fewer
errors in conduct. But in the latter part of it, in the year 1742, it
was otherwise: the work continued more pure till we were infected from
abroad: our people hearing of, and some of them seeing, the work in
other places, where there was greater visible commotion than here, and
the outward appearances were more extraordinary, were ready to think
that the work in those places far excelled what was amongst us, and
their eyes were dazzled with the high profession and great show that
some made, who came hither from other places.
That those people went so far beyond them in raptures and violent
emotions of the affections, and a vehement zeal, and what they call
boldness for Christ, our people were ready to think was owing to far
greater attainments in grace, and intimacy with heaven: they looked
little in their own eyes in comparison with them, and were ready to
submit themselves to them, and yield themselves up to their conduct,
taking it for granted, that every thing was right that they said and
did. These things had a strange influence on the people, and gave many
of them a deep and unhappy tincture, from which it was a hard and long
labour to deliver them, and from which some of them are not fully
delivered to this day.
The effects and consequences of things among us plainly show the
following things, viz. That the degree of grace is by no means to be
judged of by the degree of joy, or the degree of zeal; and that indeed
we cannot at all determine by these things, who are gracious and who
are not; and that it is not the degree of religious affections, but
the nature of them, that is chiefly to be looked at. Some that have
had very great raptures of joy, and have been extraordinarily filled,
(as the vulgar phrase is,) and have had their bodies overcome, and
that very often, have manifested far less of the temper of Christians
in their conduct since, than some others that have been still, and
have made no great outward show. But then again, there are many
others, that have had extraordinary joys and emotions of mind, with
frequent great effects upon their bodies, that behave themselves
stedfastly, as humble, amiable, eminent Christians.
'Tis evident that there may be great religious affections in
individuals, which may in show and appearance resemble gracious
affections, and have the same effects upon their bodies, but are far
from having the same effect on the temper of their minds and the
course of their lives. And likewise there is nothing more manifest, by
what appears amongst us, than that the good estate of individuals is
not chiefly to be judged of by any exactness of steps, and method of
experiences, in what is supposed to be the first conversion; but that
we must judge by the spirit that breathes, the effect wrought upon the
temper of the soul in the time of the work and remaining afterwards.
Though there have been very few instances among professors, amongst
us, of what is ordinarily called scandalous sins, known to me; yet the
temper that some of them show, and the behaviour they have been of,
together with some things in the nature and circumstances of their
experiences, make me much afraid lest there be a considerable number
that have woefully deceived themselves. Though, on the other hand,
there is a great number whose temper and conversation is such, as
justly confirms the charity others towards them; and not a few, in
whose disposition and walk there are amiable appearances of eminent
grace. And notwithstanding all the corrupt mixtures that have been in
the late work here, there are not only many blessed fruits of it, in
particular persons that yet remain, but some good effects of it upon
the town in general. A spirit of party has more extensively subsided.
I suppose there has been less appearance these three or four years
past, of that division of the town into two parties, which has long
been our bane, than has been at any time during the preceding thirty
years; and the people have apparently had much more caution, and a
greater guard on their spirit and their tongues, to avoid contention
and unchristian heats, in town-meetings, and on other occasions. And
`tis a thing greatly to be rejoiced in, that the people very lately
came to an agreement and final issue, with respect to their grand
controversy relating to their common lands; which has been, above any
other particular thing, a source of mutual prejudices, jealousies, and
debates, for fifteen or sixteen years past. The people also seem to be
much more sensible of the danger of resting in old experiences, or
what they were subjects of at their supposed first conversion; and to
be more fully convinced of the necessity of forgetting the things that
are behind, and pressing forward and maintaining earnest labour,
watchfulness, and prayerfulness, as long as they live.
I am, Rev. Sir,
Your friend and brother,
jonathan edwards"
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[23] Mr. Hopkins continued to pursue his studies with Mr. Edwards,
until the next autumn, and again for a short period in the spring,
after which he was settled at Housatonnuck, then a part of
Stockbridge, now called Great Barrington.