N03467:182
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.
If Remission of Sins, committed after Conversion, in the order of Nature, follows that Faith and Repentance that is after them, then it follows that future Sins are respected in the first Justification, no otherwise than as future Faith and Repentance are respected in it. And ⟨p. 82⟩future Repentance and Faith are looked upon by him that justifies, as virtually implied in the first Repentance and Faith, in the same Manner as Justification from future Sins, is virtually implied in the first Justification; which is the Thing that was to be proved.
On the whole, it appears that the Perseverance of Faith is necessary, even to the Congruity of Justification, and that not the less, because a Sinner is justified, and Perseverance promised on the first Act of Faith, but God in that Justification has Respect not only to the past Act of Faith, but to his own Promise of future Acts, and to the fitness of a Qualification beheld as yet only in his own Promise.
And, that Perseverance in Faith is thus necessary to Salvation, not merely as a sine qua•non, or as an universal Concomitant of it, but by Reason of such an Influence and Dependence, seems manifest by many Scriptures; I would mention two or three; Heb. 3. 6. Whose House are we, if we hold fast the Confidence, and the Rejoicing of the Hope, firm unto the End. Verse 14. For we are made Partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our Confidence, steadfast unto the End. Chap. 5 12. Be ye followers of them, who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises. Rom 11. 20. Well, because of Unbelief they were broken off, but thou standest by Faith: Be not highminded, but fear.