N03467:151
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.
'Tis true that of late, when a Man refuses to obey the Precept of an human Law, but patiently yields himself up to suffer the Penalty of the Law, it is called ⟨p. 67⟩passive Obedience; but this I suppose is only a modern Use of the Word Obedience; besure it is a Sense of the Word, that the Scripture is a perfect Stranger to; and it is improperly called Obedience, unless there be such a Precept in the Law, that he shall yield himself patiently to suffer, to which his so doing shall be an active voluntary Conformity. There may in some Sense be said to be a Conformity to the Law in a Person's Suffering the Penalty of the Law; but no other Conformity to the Law is properly called Obedience to it, but an active voluntary Conformity to the Precepts of it: The Word obey is often found in Scripture with Respect to the Law of God to Man, but never in any other Sense.
'Tis true that Christ's willingly undergoing those Sufferings which he endured, is a great Part of that Obedience o• Righteousness by which we are justified. The Sufferings of Christ are respected in Scripture under a twofold Consideration, either merely as his being substituted for us, or put into our stead, in suffering the Penalty of the Law; and so his Sufferings are considered as a Satisfaction and Propitiation for Sin: Or as he in Obedience to a Law, or Command of the Father, voluntarily submitted himself to those Sufferings, and actively yielded himself up to bear them; and so they are considered as his Righteousness, and a Part of his active Obedience. Christ underwent Death in Obedience to the Command of the Father, Psalm 40 6, 7, 8. Sacrifice and Offering thou didst not desire: mine Ears hast thou bored. Burnt Offering and Sin Offering thou hast not required: Then said I, so I come; in the Volume of the Book it is written of me: I delight to do thy Will, O my God, and thy Law is within my Heart. John 10. 17, 18. I lay down my Life that I may take it again: No Man taketh it from me; but I lay it down of my self: I have Power to lay it down, and I have Power to take it again: This Commandment have I received of my Father