N03467:17
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.
Our discovering the Absurdity of the impertinent and abstruse Distinctions of the School Divines, may justly give us a Distaste of such Distinctions as have a S•ew of Learning in obscure Words, but convey no Light to the Mind; but I can see no Reason why we should also discard those that are clear and rational, and can be made out to have their Foundation in Truth; and that although' they may be such as require some Diligence & Attention of Mind clearly to apprehended them. So much of the Scripture Scheme of Justification as is absolutely necessary to Salvation, may be very plain and level with the Understandings of the weakest Christians; but it does not therefore follow that the Scripture teaches us no more about it, that it would be exceeding profitable for us to know, and by gaining the Knowledge of which, we may obtain a more full a•• clear understanding of this Doctrine, and be better able to solve Doubts that may arise concerning it, and to defend it from the Sophistry & Cavils of subtle Opposers.
Our discovering the Absurdity of the impertinent and abstruse Distinctions of the School Divines, may justly give us a Distaste of such Distinctions as have a S•ew of Learning in obscure Words, but convey no Light to the Mind; but I can see no Reason why we should also discard those that are clear and rational, and can be made out to have their Foundation in Truth; and that altho' they may be such as require some Diligence & Attention of Mind clearly to apprehended them. So much of the Scripture Scheme of Justification as is absolutely necessary to Salvation, may be very plain and level with the Understandings of the weakest Christians; but it does not therefore follow that the Scripture teaches us no more about it, that it would be exceeding profitable for us to know, and by gaining the Knowledge of which, we may obtain a more full a•• clear understanding of this Doctrine, and be better able to solve Doubts that may arise concerning it, and to defend it from the Sophistry & Cavils of subtil Opposers.