N03467:119
Discourses on various important subjects, nearly concerning the great affair of the soul's eternal…
Discourses on various important subjects, nearly concerning the great affair of the soul's eternal salvation, viz. I. Justification by faith alone. II. Pressing into the Kingdom of God. III. Ruth's resolution. IV. The justice of God in the damnation of sinners. V. The excellency of Jesus Christ. : Delivered at Northampton, chiefly at the time of the late wonderful pouring out of the spirit of God there. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the Church of Christ in Northampton. ; [Three lines from Deuteronomy]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland and T. Green, 1738
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Third Argument, viz That to suppose that we are justified by our own sincere Obedience, or any of our own Virtue or Goodness, derogates from Gospel Grace.
That Scheme of Justification that manifestly takes from, or diminishes the Grace of God, is undoubtedly to be rejected; for 'tis the declared Design of God in the Gospel to exalt the Freedom and Riches of his Grace, in that Method of Justification of Sinners, and Way of admitting them to his Favour, and the blessed Fruits of it, which it declares. The Scripture teaches that the Way of Justification that is appointed in the Gospel Covenant, is appointed, as it is, for that end, that free Grace might be expressed, and glorified; Rom. 4. 16▪ Therefore it is of Faith, that it might be by Grace. The exercising, and magnifying the free Grace of God in the Gospel contrivance for the Justification and Salvation of Sinners, is evidently the chief Design of it: And this Freedom and Riches of the Grace of the Gospel is every where spoken of in Scripture as the chief Glory of it. Therefore that Doctrine that derogates from the free Grace of God in justifying Sinners, as it is most opposite to God's Design, so it must be exceeding offensive to him.
That Scheme of Justification that manifestly takes from, or diminishes the Grace of God, is undoubtedly to be rejected; for 'tis the declared Design of God in the Gospel to exalt the Freedom and Riches of his Grace, in that Method of Justification of Sinners, and Way of admitting them to his Favour, and the blessed Fruits of it, which it declares. The Scripture teaches that the Way of Justification that is appointed in the Gospel Covenant, is appointed, as it is, for that end, that free Grace might be express'd, and glorified; Rom. 4. 16▪ Therefore it is of Faith, that it might be by Grace. The exercising, and magnifying the free Grace of God in the Gospel contrivance for the Justification and Salvation of Sinners, is evidently the chief Design of it: And this Freedom and Riches of the Grace of the Gospel is every where spoken of in Scripture as the chief Glory of it. Therefore that Doctrine that derogates from the free Grace of God in justifying Sinners, as it is most opposite to God's Design, so it must be exceeding offensive to him.