"Entered, according to act of congress, in the year 1832, by Charles Spalding, in the clerk's office of the southern district of New York." SLEIGHT AND ROBINSON, PRINTERS. FAITHFUL NARRATIVE of the Surprising Work, &c. xvii Chap. II. The manner of conversion various, yet bearing a great resemblance, 48 Chap. III. Of remarkable impressions on the imagination, THOUGHTS ON THE REVIVAL, &c. 113 115 PART I. Showing that the extraordinary work that has of late been 117 Sect. 1. We should not judge of this work à priori, but by its 117 Sect. 2. We should judge by the rule of scripture, 121 Sect. 3. We should not judge of the whole by a part, 140 Sect. 4. The nature of the work in general,* 154 -- Sect. 5. The nature of the work in a particular instance, 162 Sect. 6. This is a glorious work of God, 174. PART II. Showing the obligations that all are under to acknowledge, Sect. 1. The danger of lying still and keeping long silence respecting 183 Sect. 2. The latter day glory is probably to begin in America, 189 196 Sect. 4. Obligations of rulers, ministers, and all sorts, to promote this work, 211 PART III. Showing, in many instances, wherein the subjects, or zealous 229 Sect. 1. The objection that ministers address themselves to the affec- 231 Sect. 2, Ministers blamed for speaking terror to those who are already 236 Sect. 3. The objection of having so frequent meetings, and spending 243 Sect. 4. Ministers blamed for making much of outcries, faintings, 248 Sect. 5. Ministers blamed for keeping persons together that are under 250 Sect. 6. Objection against speaking much, and with great earnest- ness, by persons affected, 252 Sect. 7. Some find fault with so much singing in religious meetings, 257 259 PART IV. Showing what things are to be corrected or avoided in pro 263 Sect. 1. One cause of errors in a great revival, is spiritual pride, 270 ples, 292 Sect. 3. Errors from being unobservant of things by which the devil 324 Sect. 4. Some particular errors that have arisen from these causes, 343 361 Sect. 6. Of errors connected with singing praises to God, PART V. Showing positively what ought to be done to promote this work, Sect. 1. Of removing hindrances to this work, 371 371 Sect. 2. Of what must be done directly to promote the work, 378 383 394 Sect. 5. The work to be promoted by attention to moral duties, 402 RECOMMENDATIONS. The following recommendations have been politely furnished by gentlemen, whose opinions, we doubt not, are in unison with the body of evangelical clergy in the United States. From the President and Professors at Princeton, N. J. We know of no works on the subject of Revivals of Religion, at once so scriptural, discriminating, and instructive, as those of the late illustrious President EDWARDS. At the present day, when this subject so justly engages a large share of the attention of the religious public, we should be glad if a copy of the volume proposed to be republished by Dunning and Spalding, could be placed in every dwelling in the United States. It exhibits the nature of genuine revivals of religion, the best means of promoting them, the abuses and dangers to which they are liable, and the duty of guarding against these abuses and dangers, with a degree of spiritual discernment and practical wisdom, which have commanded the approbation of the friends of Zion for the greater part of a century. Princeton, September 21, 1831. SAMUEL MILLER, JAMES CARNAHAN. From the President and Professors at New Brunswick, N. J. Much conversation is had at the present day on the subject of revivals of religion in our country. That there is a difference of opinion among professing Christians, as to their reality, their nature, and the modes of action to be adopted in promoting and conducting them, is also very apparent. If by a revival of religion we understand that operation of the Spirit of "God, which, through the instrumentality of his word, produces conviction, agitation, and conversion, in hitherto careless and impenitent sinners-or excitement, connected with increase of faith, love, zeal, and holy action, in the people of God, whether it be exhibited on a smaller or larger scale-in the case of individuals, families, churches, districts of country, or whole nations-it is strange that the possibility or reality of such a work should be called in question by those who are familiar with their Bibles, are acquainted with church history, or have any correct knowledge whatever either of the ordinary or extraordinary operations of the Holy Spirit upon the souls of In such revivals it is true that there is in some instances only a temporary excitement of the passions, without a renewal of the heart, and in others a human co-operation which will neither bear the test of enlightened reason or of the word of God. These circumstances, however, are precisely what (from human weakness, and the artifice of Satan to bring the whole work into disrepute) we have a right to expect. Any judicious publication on revivals, and especially that written many years ago by the pious and discrimi men. nating Edwards, cannot fail, and especially at the present time, to be read with more than ordinary interest. Considering President Edwards as handling this subject with great propriety and discretion, I do hereby express my desire to see his work more extensively circulated through the churches. PHILIP MILLEDOLER. College, New Brunswick, Sept. 17th, 1831. The Works of President Edwards have acquired no ordinary reputation. His "Narrative of Surprising Conversions and Thoughts on Revivals of Religion," written after much research and close observation of the various effects produced on the minds of gospel-hearers, in a time of general awakening, cannot fail to profit those who read it in a serious temper. I am pleased to hear that this Narrative is soon to be published in a form that will render it accessible by all, and hope that it may have an extensive circulation. JAMES S. CANNON. Theological Seminary, New Brunswick. My own views of the "Narrative," &c., of President Edwards, are expressed in the above favorable notice of Dr. Cannon. JOSEPH H. JONES. I cannot but hope that the work, will receive an extensive and liberal patronage. It is the best body of practical theology within the compass of my knowledge. It is searching, instructive, edifying, scriptural. Let it be carefully read by every professor of religion, and studied and digested by every student of theology, and every young minister of the gospel. Let me just mention another desideratum: the republication of the same unrivaled author's work on Original Sin. The diffusion of these treatises in separate forms, would, with the divine blessing, greatly conduce to the increase of sound godliness, and check the progress of pernicious errors. New Brunswick, Sept. 1831. JOHN DE WITT. From Ministers in New York. To those who are acquainted with the writings of President Edwards, the highest recommendation of the present work is, that it is the best of them all. It is more than ten years since I first read it, and I well recollect my surprise that I had not read it before. I then thought it one of the richest volumes I ever perused. One impression I distinctly remember; and that is, that great injustice might be done the venerable and devout author, by viewing the work in detached parts. As a whole, it cannot be too highly valued, nor too extensively read, especially at the present time. New York, September 6, 1831. GARDINER SPRING. The importance of revivals of religion is literally infinite: because conversions are infinitely important; and the spread and jurisdiction of the gospel of God over the minds of men everywhere is properly the grand desideratum and the destined prospect of the world. The discrimination of theological parties (if these must be and have a name) in the Christian world, will soon be made extensively by this criterion of PRINCIPLES AND PERSONS—THEIR KNOWN RELATION TO REVIVALS OF RELIGION! At the present time, all denominations considered, there are many whose ignorance of the whole matter is their only prominent characteristic in regard to it; many, as much |