N03467:198
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.
3. It has been just now shown▪ how that Acts of evangelical Obedience are indeed concerned in our Justification it self, and are not excluded from that Condition that Justification depends upon, without the least Prejudice to that Doctrine of Justification by ⟨p. 86⟩Faith, without any Goodness of our own, that has been maintained, and therefore it can be no Objection against this Doctrine, that we have sometimes in Scripture, Promises of Pardon and Acceptance, made to such Acts of Obedience.
3. It has been just now shown▪ how that Acts of evangelical Obedience are indeed concern'd in our Justification it self, and are not excluded from that Condition that Justification depends upon, without the least Prejudice to that Doctrine of Justification by ⟨p. 86⟩Faith, without any Goodness of our own, that has been maintain'd, and therefore it can be no Objection against this Doctrine, that we have sometimes in Scripture, Promises of Pardon and Acceptance, made to such Acts of Obedience.
4. Promises of particular Benefits implied in Justification and Salvation, may especially be fitly made to such Expressions and Evidences of Faith, as they have a peculiar natural Likeness and Suitableness to: As forgiveness is promised to a forgiving Spirit in us; obtaining Mercy is fitly promised to mercifulness in us, and the like: And that upon several Accounts; they are the most natural Evidences of our Heart's closing with those Benefits by Faith; for they do especially show the sweet Accord and Consent that there is between the Heart and these Benefits; and by Reason of the natural Likeness that there is between the Virtue and the Benefit, the one has the greater Tendency to bring the other to mind; the Practice of the Virtue tends the more to renew the Sense, and refresh the Hope of the Blessing promised; and also to convince the Conscience of the justice of being denied the Benefit, if the Duty be neglected.