N03467:147
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.
Here possibly it may be objected, that this Text means only that we are justified by Christ's passive Obedience.
To this I answer, whether we call it active or passive, it alters not the Case as to the present Argument, as long as 'tis evident by the Words that 'tis not merely under the Notion of an Atonement for Disobedience, or a Satisfaction for Unrighteousness, but under the Notion of a positive Obedience, and a Righteousness, or moral Goodness, that it justifies us, or makes us righteous; because both the Words Righteousness, and Obedience are used, and used too as the Opposites to Sin and Disobedience, and an Offence. Therefore, as by the Offence of one, Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation; even so by the Righteousness of one, the free Gift came upon all Men to Justification of Life. For as by one Man's Disobedience▪ many were made Sinners; so by the Obedience of one, shall many be made Righteous. Now what can be meant by Righteousness, when spoken of as the Opposite to Sin, or moral Evil, but only moral Goodness? What is the Righteousness that is the Opposite of an Offence; but only the Behaviour that is well pleasing? and what can be meant by Obedience, when spoken o• as the Opposite of Disobedience, or going contrary to a Command, but a positive obeying and an actual complying with the Command? So that there is no Room for any invented Distinction of active and passive, •o hurt the Argument from this Scripture, as long as 'tis evident by it as any Thing can be, that Believers are justified by the Righteousness and Obedience of Christ under the Notion of his moral Goodness, and his pos••ive obeying, and actual complying with the Commands of God, and that Behaviour of his, that, because of it's Conformity to his Commands, was well-pleasing in his Sight. This is all that ever any need to desire to have granted in this Dispute.
To this I answer, whether we call it active or passive, it alters not the Case as to the present Argument, as long as 'tis evident by the Words that 'tis not meerly under the Notion of an Atonement for Disobedience, or a Satisfaction for Unrighteousness, but under the Notion of a positive Obedience, and a Righteousness, or moral Goodness, that it justifies us, or makes us righteous; because both the Words Righteousness, and Obedience are used, and used too as the Opposites to Sin and Disobedience, and an Offence. Therefore, as by the Offence of one, Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation; even so by the Righteousness of one, the free Gift came upon all Men to Justification of Life. For as by one Man's Disobedience many were made Sinners; so by the Obedience of one, shall many be made Righteous. Now what can be meant by Righteousness, when spoken of as the Opposite to Sin, or moral Evil, but only moral Goodness? What is the Righteousness that is the Opposite of an Offence; but only the Behaviour that is well pleasing? and what can be meant by Obedience, when spoken o as the Opposite of Disobedience, or going contrary to a Command, but a positive obeying and an actual complying with the Command? So that there is no Room for any invented Distinction of active and passive, o hurt the Argument from this Scripture, as long as 'tis evident by it as any Thing can be, that Believers are justified by the Righteousness and Obedience of Christ under the Notion of his moral Goodness, and his posive obeying, and actual complying with the Commands of God, and that Behaviour of his, that, because of it's Conformity to his Commands, was well-pleasing in his Sight. This is all that ever any need to desire to have granted in this Dispute.