N03467:196
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.
2. Promises may rationally •e made to Signs and Evidences of Faith, and yet the Thing promised not be upon the Account of the Sign, but the Thing signified. Thus for Instance, human Government may rationally make Promises of such and such Privileges, to those that can show such Evidences of their being free of such a City, or Members of such a Corporation, or descended of such a Family; when it is not at all for the sake of that which is the Evidence or Sign, in it self considered, that they are admitted to such a Privilege, but only, and purely, for the sake of that which it is an evidence of.
2. Promises may rationally •e made to Signs and Evidences of Faith, and yet the Thing promised not be upon the Account of the Sign, but the Thing signified. Thus for Instance, human Government may rationally make Promises of such and such Priviledges, to those that can shew such Evidences of their being free of such a City, or Members of such a Corporation, or descended of such a Family; when it is not at all for the sake of that which is the Evidence or Sign, in it self consider'd, that they are admitted to such a Priviledge, but only, and purely, for the sake of that which it is an evidence of.
And tho' God don't stand in need of Signs to know whether we have true Faith or not, yet our own Consciences do; so that 'tis much for our Comfort that Promises are made to Signs of Faith. A finding in our selves a forgiving Temper and Disposition, may be a most proper and natural Evidence to our Consciences that our Hearts have, in a Sense of our own utter unworthiness, truly closed▪ and fallen in, with the way of free, and infinitely gracious forgiveness of our Sins, by Jesus Christ; whence we may be enabled, with the greater Comfort to apply to our selves the Promises of forgiveness by Christ.