History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

ITJO.] MR. EDWARDS' SALARY— GREAT AWAKENING. 199
in tliis town in 1740. and its manifestations were very
greatly stimulated by the aid of George Wliitefield. who
visited Nortliampton in October of that year. ' From this
time forward the revival continued to increase till it spread
throughout tlie town, eml)racing both old and young. At
first it appeared among professors of religion, but soon
deep concern was manifested among the youth. This was
followed by an awakening among the very young, and be-
fore the uew year commenced religious subjects almost absorbed
tlie conversation in all classes. The fervor aug-
mented as the season progressed, and in the Autumn Mr.
Edwards writes — : ^
"The months of August and September, were the most remarkable
of any this year, for appearances of the conviction and conversion of
sinners, and great revivings, quickenings. and comforts of professors,
and for extraordinary external effects of these things. It was a very
frequent thing, to see an house full of out-cries, faintings, convulsions,
and such like, both with distress, and also with admiration and joy.
It was not the manner here, to hold meetings all night, as in some
places, nor was it common to continue them till very late in the night
but it was pretty often so, that there were some that were so affected,
and their bodies so overcome, that they could not go home, but were
obliged to stay all night where they were."
In the latter part of 1741, there was '' some abatement of
these extraordinary appearances, but they did not wholly
cease." Early in the following year Mr. Buell,^ an evangelist
of some note, came to Northampton, and during a
1 lu allndiug to the work of Mr. Whitefleld in Northampton, Mr. Edwards says: —
" He preached here four sermons in the meeting house (besides a private lecture at
my house) one on Friday, another on Saturday, and two upon the Sabbath. The
congregation was extraordinarily melted by every sermon : almost the whole assembly
being in tears for a gi'eat part of sermon time. Mr. Whitefield's sermons were
suitable to the circumstances of the town ; containing a just reproof of our back-
slidings. and in a most moving and affecting manner, making use of our great professions
and great mercies, as arguments with us to return to CTod, from whom we
had departed. —Dwighfs Life of Edwards, p. 160.
2 Dwighfs Life, pp. 162, 16:^.
3 Bev. Samuel Buell was born in Coventry, Ct., and was graduated from Tale College
in 1741. He proposed to study theology with Mr. Edwards, but owing to the
progress of the great revival obtained a license to preach and entered upon the
work of preaching as an itinerant. He was for several years an evangelist, and finally
settled at Easthampton, L. I. Of him Mr. Edwards writes :—" About the beginning
of February, 1743, Mr. Buell came to this town. I was then absent from home,
and continued so till about a fortnight after. Mr. Buell preached from day to day,
almost every day, in the meeting house. He spent almost the whole time in religious
exercises with the people, either in public or private, the people continually thronging
him."— Dwighfs Life of Edwards, p. 164.
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