Required reading
The Great Awakening: A history of the revival of religion in the time of Edwards & Whitefield by Joseph Tracy (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Chapter 20 (The results).
My summary
This week Tracy finishes his work by giving some salutary lessons which the great revival should teach the Christian world.
The revival should teach:
(i) that there is a proper sphere for the labors of itinerant evangelists, and where it may be found;
(ii) a lesson of admonition concerning the dangers that attend a revival;
(iii) a lesson of faith, of encouragement, of cheerful hope, even in the darkest times.
What grabbed me
I appreciated the warning Tracy gave to ministers caught up in revival: 'The proof is conclusive, that leaders in a revival are in special danger of becoming proud, arrogant, rash and unsafe men. Nothing but exemplary watchfulness over their own spirits, aided by faithful admonitions and rebukes from those who see their faults, and attended by the special grace of God, can prevent it. The proof is conclusive, too, that the itinerant revivalist is in peculiar danger. As he naturally soon leaves a place where he is unsuccessful, he spends most of his time where his own power over the minds of men is the most conspicuous object m his sight, and where he is delighted with the visible proofs of his own eminent usefulness ; and he is evermore surrounded by those who, either through design or indiscretion, act the part of flatterers, even otherwise than by their presence and interested attention to all he says. He has abundant reason to know, with Whitefield, "how difficult it is, to meet with success, and not be puffed up with it," and to say with him, "my corruptions are so strong, and my employ so dangerous, that I am sometimes afraid." '
Just because you are experiencing great fruit from your labours, does not mean you aren't in danger of sin.
Next week's reading
Commence 'The Letters of Samuel Rutherford (Available from Amazon or free here) by reading Letters 1 to 4.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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