N03467:184
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, 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.
And, that Perseverance in Faith is thus necessary to Salvation, not meerly as a sine qua•non, or as an universal Concomitant of it, but by Reason of such an Influence and Dependance, 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 Rejoycing of the Hope, firm unto the End. Verse 14. For we are made Partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our Confidence, stedfast 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.
And as the Congruity to a final Justification depends on Perseverance in Faith, as well as the first Act, so oftentimes the Manifestation of Justification in the Conscience, arises a great deal more from after Acts, than the first Act. And all the difference whereby the first Act of Faith has a Concern in this Affair that is peculiar, seems to be as it were only an accidental Difference, arising from the Circumstance of Time, or its being first in Order of Time; and not from any peculiar Respect that God has to it, or any Influence it has of a peculiar Nature, in the Affair of our Salvation.