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) - Commence Chapter 12 (The revival in New England) by reading up to the paragraph with the heading ''Portsmouth, N. H.'.
My summary
Today we learn about the revival in:
(i) Plymouth;
(ii) Sutton;
(iii) Taunton;
(iv) Middleborough;
(v) Halifax.
Some of the revival comes through local pastors, but Tennent and Whitefield still make an appearance.
We see major changes in the behaviour of non-Christians and also Christians right across the board.
The pastors themselves change and experience a strengthening in their work.
What grabbed me
I love reading about a change in whole towns: 'After this, for some months together, you should scarcely see any body at the taverns, unless they were strangers, travellers, or some come there upon necessary business. The children forsook their plays in the streets, and persons of all denominations, except a few, gave themselves to reading the word of God, and other books of devotion, to meditation, prayer, conference, and other religious exercises, and refrained from their customary vices. And many that lived at a distance, being acquainted with this town in its former state, coming hither, beheld us now with admiration, saying, Surely the fear of God is in this place. '
When the Holy Spirit descends on a town, everything changes!
Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 12 (The revival in New England) but don't read the Appendix to Chapter 12.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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