Journal: Reformation and Revival
Volume: RAR 08:2 (Spring 1999)
Article: Dawn Deferred
Author: Michael F. Gleason

RAR 8:2 (Spring 1999) p. 65

Dawn Deferred

Michael F. Gleason

What era in history do you believe Increase Mather described when he stated that

... conversions are becoming rare in this age ... [I]n the days of our fathers, in other parts of the world, scarce a sermon preached but some evidently converted, and sometimes hundreds in a sermon. Which of us say we have seen the like? ... The body of the rising generation is a poor, perishing, unconverted, and (except the Lord pour down His Spirit) undone generation. Many that are profane, drunkards, swearers, lascivious (obscene), scoffers at the power of godliness, despisers of those that are good, disobedient. Others that are only civil, and outwardly conformed to good order, by reason of their education, but never knew what the new birth means.1

The era to which Dr. Mather referred was the late seventeenth century—1678 to be exact. From his perspective, all was hopeless unless “the Lord pour down His spirit,” and graciously choose to again powerfully walk among the nations. Some may suggest that “hopeless” is too strong a term to describe the prevailing state of faith and culture within both Europe and America in the decades that preceded the Great Awakening. Perhaps, however, the following brief analysis of the conditions within the English and surrounding European societies may lead the discerning reader to a similar conclusion.

RAR 8:2 (Spring 1999) p. 66

Faith

The Puritan movement began and was notably strengthened during the sixteenth century, as the biblical Reformation was evident within the believing community. Early in the seventeenth century, however, weeds began to grow among the wheat as throughout Europe Satan’s folly became evident. An illustration of this point can be seen as early as 1624 when the philosophy known as Deism found its way into contemporary culture. Although many of the early Deists diverged less radically from orthodox Christianity, the evolution of this philosophy, according to one historian, came to produce “a religion of reason which ruled out miracles, prayer, and the deity of Christ.”2 Possibly one of the best-known Deists, who was also an outspoken enemy of orthodox Christianity, was a Frenchman by the name of Francois-Marie Arouet (1694–1778), or, as he called himself, Voltaire. So influential was the rationalistic, philosophical ideals that he and others of similar mind espoused, that they found a firm anchor in the intellect of the general populace of England, as well as many of the political and religious elite.

While the development of Deistic thought was gradually eroding the Christian worldvie...