N03467:19
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.
It the Distinctions I have made use of in handling this Subject are found to be inconsistent, trivial, and unscriptural Niceties, tending only to cloud the Subject, I ought to be willing that they should be rejected; but if on due Examination they are found both scriptural & rational, I humbly conceive that it will be unjust to condemn them, merely because they are Distinctions, under a Notion that Niceness in Divinity never helps it, but always perplexes and darkens it. 'Tis to God's own Revelation that I make my Appeal, by which alone we can know in what Way he will be pleased again to receive into Favour, those that have offended him, and incurred his Displeasure. If there be any Part of the Scheme here laid down, or any Distinction here made use of, not warranted by Scripture, let it be rejected; and if any opposite Scheme can be found that is more easy and plain, having fewer and more rational Distinctions, and not demonstrably inconsistent with it self, and with the Word of God, let it be received. Let the Arminian Scheme of Justification by our own Virtue, he as plain and natural as it will, if at the same Time 'tis plainly contrary to the certain & demonstrable Doctrine ⟨p. v⟩of the Gospel, as contained in the Scriptures, we are bound to reject it, unless we reject the Scriptures themselves, as perplexed and absurd, and make our selves wiser than God, and pretend to know his Mind better than Himself.
It the Distinctions I have made use of in handling this Subject are found to be inconsistent, trivial, and unscriptural Niceties, tending only to cloud the Subject, I ought to be willing that they should be rejected; but if on due Examination they are found both scriptural & rational, I humbly conceive that it will be unjust to condemn them, meerly because they are Distinctions, under a Notion that Niceness in Divinity never helps it, but always perplexes and darkens it. 'Tis to God's own Revelation that I make my Appeal, by which alone we can know in what Way he will be pleased again to receive into Favour, those that have offended him, and incur'd his Displeasure. If there be any Part of the Scheme here laid down, or any Distinction here made use of, not warranted by Scripture, let it be rejected; and if any opposite Scheme can be found that is more easy and plain, having fewer and more rational Distinctions, and not demonstrably inconsistent with it self, and with the Word of God, let it be received. Let the Arminian Scheme of Justification by our own Vertue, he as plain and natural as it will, if at the same Time 'tis plainly contrary to the certain & demonstrable Doctrine