N03467:171
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.
And it seems manifest that Justification is by the first Act of Faith, in some Respects, in a Peculiar Manner, because a Sinner is actually and finally justified as soon as he has performed one Act of Faith; and Faith in its first Act does, virtually at least, depend on God for Perseverance, and entitles to this among other Benefits. But yet the Perseverance of Faith is not excluded in this Affair; it is not only certainly connected with Justification, but it is not to be excluded from that on which the Justification of a Sinner has a Dependence, or that by which he is justified.
And it seems manifest that Justification is by the first Act of Faith, in some Respects, in a Peculiar Manner, because a Sinner is actually and finally justified as soon as he has performed one Act of Faith; and Faith in its first Act does, virtually at least, depend on God for Perseverance, and intitles to this among other Benefits. But yet the Perseverance of Faith is not excluded in this Affair; it is not only certainly connected with Justification, but it is not to be excluded from that on which the Justification of a Sinner has a Dependance, or that by which he is justified.
I have shown that the Way in which Justification has a Dependence on Faith, is that it is the Qualification on which the Congruity of an Interest in the Righteousness of Christ depends, or wherein such a Fitness consists. But the Consideration of the Perseverance of Faith, can't be excluded out of this Congruity or Fitness, for it is congruous that he that believes in Christ should have an Interest in Christ's Righteousness, and so in the eternal Benefits purchased by it, because Faith is that by which the Soul hath Union or Oneness with Christ, and there is a natural Congruity in it, that they that are one with Christ, should have a joint Interest with him in his eternal Benefits; but yet this Congruity depends on its being an abiding Union. As it is needful that the Branch should abide in the Vine, in order to its receiving the lasting Benefits of the Root, so it is necessary that the Soul should abide in Christ, in order to its receiving those lasting Benefits of God's final Acceptance and Favour.