N03467:162
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 perhaps it may be said, that a Title to Salvation is not directly given as the Reward of our Obedience; for that is not by any Thing of ours; but only by Christ's Satisfaction and Righteousness; but yet an Interest in that Satisfaction and Righteousness is given as a Reward of our Obedience.
But this don't at all help the Case; for this is to ascribe as much to our Obedience, as if we ascribed Salvation to it directly, without the Intervention of Christ's Righteousness: For it would be as great a Thing for God to give us Christ, and his Satisfaction and Righteousness, in Reward for our Obedience, as to give us Heaven immediately; it would be as great a Reward, and as great a Testimony of respect to our Obedience. And if God gives as great a Thing as Salvation, for our Obedience, why could he not as well give Salvation it self directly? And then there would have been no need of Christ's Righteousness. And indeed if God gives us Christ, or an Interest in him, properly in reward of our Obedience, he does really give us Salvation in reward for our Obedience; for the former implies the latter; yea it implies it as the greater implies the less. So that indeed it exalts our Virtue and Obedience more, to suppose that God gives us Christ in reward of that Virtue and Obedience, than if he should give Salvation without Christ.
But this don't at all help the Case; for this is to ascribe as much to our Obedience, as if we ascribed Salvation to it directly, without the Intervention of Christ's Righteousness: For it would be as great a Thing for God to give us Christ, and his Satisfaction and Righteousness, in Reward for our Obedience, as to give us Heaven immediately; it would be as great a Reward, and as great a Testimony of respect to our Obedience. And if God gives as great a Thing as Salvation, for our Obedience, why could he not as well give Salvation it self directly? And then there would have been no need of Christ's Righteousness. And indeed if God gives us Christ, or an Interest in him, properly in reward of our Obedience, he does really give us Salvation in reward for our Obedience; for the former implies the latter; yea it implies it as the greater implies the less. So that indeed it exalts our Vertue and Obedience more, to suppose that God gives us Christ in reward of that Vertue and Obedience, than if he should give Salvation without Christ.