When Edwards wrote this letter-his earliest
surviving one after he preached Sinners--
New England was being shaken by revivals. Although he disagreed with
"enthusiasts" who claimed direct
revelations from God, or who condemned all the established churches and their
ministers, Edwards was not about to disown the movement he had done so much to
foster. From this brief reply to a former resident of Northampton who had moved
to Goshen, Connecticut, Edwards would expand and refine his views over the next
five years, beginning with Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of
God (1741), preached the next month at
Yale College, and continuing through Some Thoughts Concerning the Revival (1743) and A Treatise Concerning Religious
Affections (1746). These lengthy essays
would establish Edwards as the most astute observer of revival phenomena of his
time, formulating a middle way between pro-revival and anti-revival extremists.
(Source: MS, Andover Newton Theological School; WJE 16:97-98.)
Northampton,
August 31, 1741
Dear
Friend,
In my prodigious fullness of business
and great infirmity of body, I have time to write but very briefly concerning
those things you mention. Concerning the great stir that is in the land, and
those extraordinary circumstances and events that it is attended with, such as
persons crying out, and being set into great agonies, with a sense of sin and
wrath, and having their strength taken away, and their minds extraordinarily
transported with light, love and comfort, I have been abundantly amongst such
things, and have had great opportunity to observe them, here and elsewhere, in
their beginning, progress, issue and consequences, and however there may be
some mixtures of natural affection, and sometimes of temptation, and some
imprudences and irregularities, as there always was, and always will be in this
imperfect state; yet as to the work in general, and the main of what is to be
observed in these extraordinary things, they have all the clear and
incontestable evidences of a true divine work. If this ben't the work of God, I
have all my religion to learn over again, and know not what use to make of the
Bible.
As to any absolute promises made to
natural men, the matter is exceeding plain. God makes no promises of any future
eternal good to fallen man in any other covenant but the covenant of grace; but
how can they have any interest in the promises of the covenant of grace, that
have no interest in the Mediator of that covenant, and never have performed the
condition of that covenant, which is faith in the Mediator? The Scripture is
ignorant of any other way of coming to a title to any promises of God, but only
laying hold of the promises by faith, which surely men that have no faith don't
do.
As to the ministers that go about the country to preach, I
believe most of the clamor that is made against them must needs be from some
other principle than a regard to the interest of religion; because I observe
now there is vastly a greater outcry against ministers riding about to preach
the gospel, than used to be heretofore when ministers rode about on the
business of a physician, though that be so much more alien from their proper
work and though they were gone from their own people five times as much. But I
observe that nowadays, no irregularities are so much cried out against as
exceeding in religion. As to ministers that ride about the country, I can't say
how the case is circumstanced with all of ‘em; but I believe they are
exceedingly misrepresented. Mr. [Benjamin] Pomeroy* and Mr. [Eleazar] Wheelock*
have been cried out of as much as most; and by particular opportunity I have
had to know how it has been with them: they scarcely ever are absent from their
people on the sabbath, and are very careful not to leave them destitute, and
are not wont to go abroad but only where they are invited, and not to go into
other ministers' pulpits without their consent, and rarely without being
desired of them, and at the same time are more abundant in labors among their
own people than ever.
I rejoice to hear of the flourishing of
the work of God in your parts: I hope God will cause it to prevail against all
opposition. Let us look to God to plead his own cause, and to get to himself
the victory. Seek to him to direct you and give you wisdom, humility and zeal.
I desire your prayers for me.
I am your sincere
and entire friend,
Jonathan Edwards.
