10-15.38 TREATISE CONCERNING RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS. IN THREE PARTS. PART I. Concerning the nature of the AFFECTIONS, and PART II. Shewing what are NO CERTAIN SIGNS that PART III. Shewing what ARE DISTINGUISHING SIGNS BY JONATHAN EDWARDS, A. M. And Paftor of the firft Church in Northampton. Lev. ix. ult. and x. 1.2. And there came a fire out from before the Lord, LONDON: PRINTED for the BOOKSELLERS M, DCC, XCVI, THE $1-21 PREFACE HERE is no queftion whatsoever, that is of greater more every individual perfon to be well refolved in, than this, "What are the diftinguishing qualifications of those "that are in favour with God, and intitled to his eternal "rewards?" Or, which comes to the fame thing, "What is the nature of true religion? and wherein "do lie the diftinguishing notes of that virtue and ❝holiness, that is acceptable in the fight of God?" But though it be of fuch importance, and though we have clear and abundant light in the word of God to direct us in this matter, yet there is no one point, wherein profeffing Chriftians do more differ one from another: It would be endless to reckon up the variety of opinions in this point that divide the Chriftian world; making manifeft the truth of that of our Saviour, "Strait is "the gate, and narrow is the way, that leads to life, ❝ and few there be that find it." The confideration of these things has long engaged me to attend to this matter, with the utmost diligence and care, and exactness of search and inquiry, that I have been capable of: it is a fubject on which my mind has been peculiarly intent, ever fince I first entered on the study of divinity.-But as to the success of my inquiries, it must be left to the judgement of the reader of the following treatise. I am fenfible it is much more difficult to judge impartially of that which is the fubject of this difcourfe, in 58 midst of the dust and smoke of fuch a state of 319 controverfy, as this land is now in, about things of this nature as it is more difficult to write impartially, fo it is more difficult to read impartially.-Many will probably be hurt in their fpirits, to find fo much that appertains to religious affection, here condemned: and perhaps indignation and contempt will be excited in others, by finding fo much here juftified and approved. And it may be, fome will be ready to charge me with inconfiftence with myself, in fo much approving fome things, and fo much condemning others; as I have found, this has always been objected to me by fome, ever since the beginning of our late controverfies about religion. It is a hard thing to be a hearty zealous friend of what has been good and glorious, in the late extraordinary appearances, and to rejoice much in it; and at the fame time, to fee the evil and pernicious tendency of what has been bad, and earnestly to oppofe that. But yet I am humbly, but fully perfuaded, we fhall never be in the way of truth, nor go on in a way acceptable to God, and tending to the advancement of Chrift's kingdom, till we do fo. There is indeed fomething very myfterious in it, that fo much good, and fo much bad, fhould be mixed together in the church of God: as it is a mysterious thing, and what has puzzled and amazed many a good Chriftian, that there fhould be that which is fo divine and precious, as the faving grace of God, and the new and divine nature dwelling in the fame heart, with fo much corruption, hypocrify, and iniquity, in a particular faint. Yet neither of these, is more mysterious than real. And neither of them is a new or rare thing It is no new thing, that much false religion should prevail, at a time of great reviving of true religion; and that at fuch a time, multitudes of hypocrites fhould fpring up among true faints. It was fo in that great reformation, and revival of religion, that was in Jofiah's time; as appears by Jer. iii. 10. and iv. 3. 4. and alfo by the great apoftacy that there was in the land fo foon after his reign. So it was in that great outpouring of the Spirit upon the Jews, that was in the days of John the Baptift; as appears by the great apoftafy of that people, fo foon after fo general an awakening, and the temporary religious comforts and joys of many; John v. 35. "Ye were willing for a feafon to rejoice in «his light." So it was in those great commotions that were among the multitude, occafioned by the preaching of Jesus Christ: " Of the many that were then called, "but few were chofen;" of the multitude that were roufed and affected by his preaching, and at one time or other appeared mightily engaged, full of admiration of Chrift, and elevated with joy, but few were true difciples, that stood the fhock of the great trials that came afterwards, and endured to the end: many were like the ftony ground, or thorny ground; and but few, comparatively, like the good ground. Of the whole heap that was gathered, great part was chaff, that the wind afterwards drove away; and the heap of wheat that was left, was comparatively fmall; as appears abundantly, by the hiftory of the New Teftament. So it was in that great out-pouring of the Spirit that was in the apoftles' days; as appears by Matth. xxiv. 10.-13. Gal. iii. 1. and iv. 11. 15. Phil. ii. 21. and iii. 18. 19.; and the two epiftles to the Corinthians, and many other parts of the New Teftament. And fo it was in the great reformation from Popery. It appears plainly to have been in the vifible church of God, in times of great revivings of religion, from time to time, as it is with the fruit-trees in the fpring; there are a multitude of bloffoms; all which appear fair and beautiful, and there is a promifing appearance of young fruits: but many of them are but of fhort continuance, they foon fall off, and never come to maturity. Not that it is to be fuppofed it will always be fo: for though there never will, in this world, be an entire purity; either in particular faints, in a perfect freedom from mixture of corruption; or in the church of God, without any mixture of hypocrites with faints, and counterfeit religion, and falfe appearances of grace, with true religion and real holinefs; yet, it is evident, that there will come a time of much greater purity in the church |