"They seemed to follow their worldly business, more as a part of their duty, than from any disposition they had to it; the temptation now seemed to lie on that hand, to neglect worldly affairs too much, and to spend too much time in the immediate exercise of religion. This was exceedingly misrepresented by reports that were spread in distant parts of the land, as though the people here had wholly thrown by all worldly business, and betook themselves entirely to reading and praying, and such like religious exercises."
Reflecting on a season when the locals seemed to return devoutly to their religion, Edwards observes a disparity between his own opinion of the time and that which was circulated in the region. People became suspicious of Edwards' congregation for abandoning their practical duties in favor of prayer, but Edwards did not notice this sort of neglect. Instead he believes the people piously observed those duties in service of their religion.
". . .You find you are kept out of hell, but do not see the hand of God in it; but look at other things, as the good state of your bodily constitution, your care of your own life, and the means you use for your own preservation. But indeed these things are nothing; if God should withdraw his band, they would avail no more to keep you from falling, than the thin air to hold up a person that is suspended in it."
Edwards urges his congregants to convert if they have not already because they may be enjoying the benefits of free will without appropriately crediting their situation. He warns that these people may be cast into hell at any moment for their arrogance. Although his doctrine is based upon a fear of God's sovereignty, Edwards attempts to instill this fear in his congregation through his own teaching rather than remaining content to allow God to teach these people to fear him in his own time.
"It would have been a disparagement to the holiness of God's nature, if he had made an intelligent creature unholy. But now when fallen man is made holy, it is from mere and arbitrary grace; God may for ever deny holiness to fallen creature if he pleases, without any disparagement to any of his perfections."
In Edwards' estimation, God is an arbitrary judge. Since God retains all power, he cannot be held to any standard of judgement. This belief, however, reflects a profound adherence to powerlessness, which in turn reflects Edwards' own relationship to God.
"I was taken ill at New Haven, and while endeavouring to go home to Windsor, was so ill at the North Village, that I could go no farther, where I lay sick, for about a quarter of a year. In this sickness, God was pleased to visit me again, with the sweet influences of his Spirit. My mind was greatly engaged there, on divine and pleasant contemplations, and longings of soul."
Edwards recalls several periods in his life, of which this illness is exemplary, when he observed God very close to him. He links these events to seasons of great personal suffering, such as illness. He turns to God most readily and most emphatically when he experiences personal suffering.
