Jonathan Edwards and the Revival of 1735

I have been reading a little book titled "Jonathan Edwards on Revival" the past couple of days. It begins with a narrative account of the revival he pastored in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1735.

Prior to Good moving Edwards writes of Northampton, "Licentiousness for some years prevailed among the youth of the town; they were many of them very much addicted to night-walking, and frequenting the tavern, and lewd practices, wherein some by their example, exceedingly corrupted others. It was their manner very frequently to get together, in conventions of both sexes for mirth and jollity, which they called frolics; and they would often spend the greater part of the night in them, without regard to any order of the families they belonged to; and indeed family government did much fail in the town."

After a time God began to move on the town of 200 families. The young people began to change their ways and Edwards put them into small groups to discuss "religion" rather than staying out all night. Several people were converted to Christ (both young and old) and changed their lifestyles to reflect it.

Edward's says that people were so transformed that former worldly things seemed very unimportant. People became passionate about the bible and prayer. House church meetings began and "there were remarkable tokens of God's presence in almost every house."

The church services were filled with eager people hungry to learn the scriptures, weeping,  joy, a great love, and a concern for the unsaved.