The Great Awakening by Joseph Tracey
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Has anyone read one of the earlier reprints of this work?
Alan D. Strange
Puritan Board Senior
Yes, in the summer of 1981.
It's a pre-critical assessment of what happened a century prior, establishing the nomenclature (of "Great Awakening") and telling the basic story from a sympathetic, supportive standpoint.
It, together with Edwards's sermons/writings, set the plate for me for more critical research in this area. It's not a bad place to start to get a basic friendly "lay of the land." It's hardly the last word, or most objective word, on the subject matter, but, again, worth reading, even if primarily for its place in the historiography of the Awakening.
Peace,
Alan
It's a pre-critical assessment of what happened a century prior, establishing the nomenclature (of "Great Awakening") and telling the basic story from a sympathetic, supportive standpoint.
It, together with Edwards's sermons/writings, set the plate for me for more critical research in this area. It's not a bad place to start to get a basic friendly "lay of the land." It's hardly the last word, or most objective word, on the subject matter, but, again, worth reading, even if primarily for its place in the historiography of the Awakening.
Peace,
Alan
TheInquirer
Puritan Board Junior
Dr. Strange, what other works might you recommend on this era?
Alan D. Strange
Puritan Board Senior
Well, I'll decline here to give an extended bibliography, other than to say that the original sources (Edwards, Davies, Whitfield and others) should be consulted, of course, along with some of the better secondary ones. With respect to just one of the latter, George Marsden's biography on Edwards is outstanding, in my view, and I would recommend it as a model of a sympathetic-critical work in that respect.
Peace,
Alan
TheInquirer
Puritan Board Junior
I was hoping for "the last word, or most objective word" options you refer to but maybe you did in your follow up.
Rev. Strange's recommendation of George Marsden's work on Jonathan Edwards is likely your best secondary source. It really gives a keen insight into the theological, political, and sociological (for a lack of a better word) setting for the great awakening in New England. For a primary, or contemporary source, Jonathan Edward's work on Religious Affections is a good resource as he looked back on the awakening.
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I had two reasons for an interest in this work. Firstly, I am writing an essay on Edwards "Religious Affections" so obviously a relevant work for this topic. Secondly, I am concerned with the 'struggling' spiritual life in a number of Reformed churches in my country. Some solve this by a watering down of the Regulative Principle of Worship (a rapidly growing danger in my country). The argument is that it is the RPW that makes our worship 'dull'. The problem is the church does not address the deeper issue of spiritual life. One thing that has influenced me is reading good works on revival. They remind me that the work of the Spirit is essential in the life of the church. It is the Spirit who gives true life to the church. Martyn Lloyd-Jones greatly influenced me on this issue as well. His two Puritan lectures on revival are excellent In my humble opinion. Further he continually emphasised in his ministry a balance of doctrine/theology and spiritual life. I get a little nervous when I see ordained ministers preach very academically but demonstrate little spiritual power in their ministry. Iain Murray made some very perceptive comments on this at a recent Banner of Truth conference
You have a very good memory
John MacArthur made a comment atone of his conferences that Iain Murray's biography on Edwards was better than Marsden. I did not agree with him, but I think Iain Murray's biography is very spiritually perceptive. His chapters on 'undertanding Edwards' his religious affections, his pastoral comments on the communion contrversy and his overall comments on revival were especially helpful to me. If you read Marsden but not Murray you do miss out on some helpful insights In my humble opinion.
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