Defects and Decline of the Work

In the former part of this great work of God among u. till it got to its height, we seemed to be wonderfully smiled upon, and blest in edl respects. Satan (as has been already observed) seemed to be unusually restrained. Persons that before had been involved in melancholy, seemed to be as it were waked up out of it; and those that had been entangled with extraordinary temptations,, seemed wonderfully to be se’ lit liberty; aiitl not only so, but it was the most remarkable time of health that ever I knew since I have been in the town. We ordinarily have several bills put up every sabbath, for persons that are sick; but now we had not so much as one for many sabbaths together. But after this it seemed to be otherwise: when this work of God appeared to be at its greatest height, a poor weak man that belongs to the town, being in great spiritual trouble, was hurried with violent temptations to cut his own throat, and made an attempt, but did not do it effectually. He after this continued a considerable time exceedingly overwhelmed with melancholy; but has now of a long time been very greatly delivered by the light of God’s countenance lifted up upon him, and has expressed a great sense of his sin in so far yielding to temptation; and there are in him all hopeful evidences of his having been made a subject of saving mercy.

In the latter part of May it began to be very sensible that the Spirit of God was gradually withdrawing from us, and after this time Satan seemed to be more let loose, and raged in a dreadful manner. The first instance wherein it appeared, was a person’s putting an end to his own life, by cutting his throat. He was a gentleman of more than common understanding, of strict morals, religious in his behavioi”, and a useful, honorable person in the town; but was of a fomily that are much prone to the disease of melancholy, and his mother was killed with it. He had, from the beginning of this extraordinary time, been exceedingly concerned about the state of his soul, and there were some things in his experience that appeared very hopefully; but he durst entertain no hope concerning his own good state. Towards the latter part of his time he grew much discouraged, and melancholy grew amain upon him, till he was wholly overpowered by it, and was in great measure past, a capacity of receiving advice, or being reasoned with to any purpose: the devil took the advantage, and drove him into despairing thoughts. He was kept awake nights, meditating tenor; so that he had scarce any sleep at all, for a long” thiie together. And it was observed at last, that he was scarcely well capable of managing his ordinaiy business, and was judged delirious by the coroner’s inquest. The news of this extraordinarily affected the minds of the people here, and struck them as it were with astonishment. After this, multitudes in this and other towns seemed to have it strongly suggested to them, and pressed upon them, to do as this person had done. And many that seemed to be under no melancholy, some pious persons, that had no special darkness, or doubts about the goodness of theii* state, nor were under any special trouble or concern of mind about any thing spiritual or temporal, yet had it urged upon them, as if somebody had spoken to them. Cut your own throat, now is a good oyportunity. Noio, now! So that they were obliged to fight with all their might to resist it, and yet no reason suggested to them why they should do it.

About the same time there were two remarkable instances of persons led away with strange, enthusiastic delusions — one at Suffield, another at South Hadley. That which has made the greatest noise in the country was of the man at South Hadley, whose delusion was, that he thought himself divinely instructed to direct a poor man in melancholy and despairing circumstances, to say certain words in prayer to God, as recorded in Psal. cxvi. 4. for his own relief. The man is esteemed a pious mail. I have, since this error of hisj had a particular acquaintance with him; and I believe none would question his piety, that had such an acquaintance. He gave me a particular account of the manner how he was deluded, which is too long to be here inserted. But in short, he was exceedingly rejoiced and elevated with this extraordinary work, so carried on in this part of the country; and was’^ix)ssessed with an opinion that it was the beginning of the glorious times of the church spoken of in scripture: and had read it as the opinion of some divines, that there would be many in these times that should be endued with extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost, and had embraced the notion; though he had at fust no apprehensions that any besides ministers would have such gifts. But he since exceedingly laments the dishonor he has done to God, and the wound he has given religion in it, and has lain lowbefore God and man for it.

After these things, the instances of conversion were rare here in comparison of what the)^ had before been, (though that remarkable instance of the little child was after this,) and the Spirit of God not long after this time appeared very sensibly withdra^^ng from ail parts of the county; (though we have heard of its going on in some places of Connecticut, and that it conthiues to be carried on even to this day.) But icligion remained here, and I believe in some other places, the main subject of conversation for several months after this. And there were some turns, wherein God’s work seemed something to revive, and we were ready to hope that all was going to be renewed again: yet in the main there was a gradual decline of that general, engaged, lively spirit in religion, which had been before. Several things have happened since, that have diverted people’s minds, and turned their conversation more to others’ affairs, particularly his excellency, the governor, coming to this place, and the committee of general court, on the treaty with the Indians: and afterwards the Springfield controversy; and since that, our people in this town have been engaged in the building of a new meetinsr-house: and some other occurrences mischt l)e mentioned, that have seemed to have this eflfect. But as to those that have been thought to be converted among us, in this time, they generally seem to be persons that have had an abiding change wronglit on them. I have had particular acquaintance with many of them since, and they generally appear to be persons that have a new sense of things, new apprehensions and views of God, of the divine attributes, and Jesus Christ,’ and the o;reat things of the gospel: they have a new sense of the truih of them, and they alTecl them in a new manner; though it is very far from being always aUke with them, neither can they revive a sense of things when they please. Their hearts are often touched, and sometimes filled, with new sweetnesses and delights; there seems to be an inward ardor and burning of heart that they express, the like to which they never experienced before; sometimes, perhaps, occasioned only by the mention of Christ’s name, or some one of the divine perfections. There are new appetites, and a new kind of breathings and pantings of heart, and groanings that cannot be uttered. There is a new kind of inward labor and struggle of soul towards heaven and holiness.

Some, that before were very rough in their temper and manners, seem to be remarkably softened and sweetened. And some have had their souls exceedingly filled, and overwhelmed with light, love, and comfort, long since the work of God has ceased to be so remarkably carried on in a general way: and some have had much greater experiences of this nature than they had before. And there is still a great deal of religious conversation continued in the town, among young and old; a religious disposition appears to be still maintained among our people, by their upholding frequent private religious meetings; and all sorts are generally worshiping God at such meetings, on sabbath-nights, and in the evening after our public lecture. Many children in the town do still keep up such meetings among themselves. I know of no one young person in the town that has returned to former ways, or looseness and extravagancy in any respect; but we still remain a reformed people, and God has evidently made us a new people.

I cannot say that there has been no instance of any one person that has carried himself so that others should justly be stumbled concerning his profession; nor am I so vain as to imagine that we have not been mistaken concerning any that we have entertained a good opinion of, or that there are none pass among us for sheep, that are indeed wolves in sheep’s clothiug, who probably ma)^ some time or other dis- * cover themselves by their fruit. We are not so pure but that we have great cause to be humbled and ashamed that we are so impure, nor so religious but that those that watch for our halting may see things in us whence they may take occasion to reproach us and religion: but in the main there has been a great and marvelous work of conversion and sanctification among the people here; and they have paid all due respect to those who have been blest of God to be the instruments of it. Both old and young have shown a forwardness to hearken not only to my counsels, but even to my reproofs from the pulpit.

A great part of the country have not received the most favorable thoughts of this affair; and to this day many retain a jealousy concerning it, and prejudice against it. I have reason to think that the meanness and weakness of the instrument that has been made use of in this town, has prejudiced many against it; it does not appear to me strange that it should be so: but yet this circumst’ance of this great work of God is analogous to other circumstances of it. God has so ordered the manner of the work in many respects, as very signally and remarkably to show it to be his own peculiar and immediate work, and to secure the glory of it wholly to his own almighty power and sovereign grace. And whatever the circumstances and means have been, and though we are so unworthy, yet so hath it pleased God to work! And we are evidently a people blessed of the Lord! And here, in this corner of the world, God dwells, and manifests his glory

Thus, Rev. Sir, I have given a large and particular account of this remarkable affair; and yet, considering how manifold God’s works have been among us, that are worthy to be written, it is but a brief one. I should have sent it much sooner, had I not been greatly hindered by illness in my family, and also in myself It is, probably, much larger than you expected, and it may be than you would have chosen. I thought that the extraordinariness of the thing, and the innumerable misrepresentations which have gone abroad of it, many of which have, doubtless, reached your ears, made it necessary that I should be particular. But I would leave it entirely to your wisdom to make what use of it you think best, to send a part of it to England, or all, or none, if you think it not worthy; or otherwise to dispose of it as you may think most for God’s glory, and the interest of religion. If you are pleased to send any thing to the Rev. Dr. Guyse, I should be glad to have it signified to him as my humble desire, that since he, and the congregation to which he preached, have been pleased to take so much notice of us as they have — that they would also think of us at the throne of grace, and seek there for us, that God would not forsake us, but enable us to bring forth fruit answerable to our profession and our mercies, and that our light may shine before men, that others seeing our good works, may glorify our Father who is in heaven.

When I first heard of the notice the Rev. Dr. Watts and Dr. Guyse took of God’s mercies to us, I took occasion to inform our congregation of it in a discourse from these words: “A city that is set upon a hill cannot be hid.” And having since seen a particular account of the notice the Rev. Dr. Guyse, and the congregation he preached to, took of it, in a letter you wrote to my honored uncle Williams, I read that part of your letter to the congregation, and labored as much as in me lay to enforce their duty from it. The congregation were very sensibly moved and affected at both times.

I humbly request of you. Rev. Sir, your prayers for this county, in its present melancholy circumstances, into which it is brought by the Springfield quarrel, which, doubtless, above all things that have happened, has tended to put a stop to the glorious work here, and to prejndice this country

DEFECTS AND DECLINE OF THE WORK. Ill

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.
Northainpton
Nov. 6, 1736.

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