N03467:222
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.
With Respect to the second Part of the Objection, that relates to the different Degrees of Glory, and the seeming Inconsistence there is in it, that the Degrees of Glory in different Saints should be greater or lesser according to their inherent Holiness and good Works, and yet that every ones Glory should be purchased with the Price of the very same imputed Righteousness.
I answer, That Christ by his Righteousness purchased for every one, complete and perfect Happiness, according to his Capacity: But this don't hinder but that the Saints being of various Capacities, may have various ⟨p. 99⟩Degrees of Happiness, and yet all their Happiness be the Fruit of Christ's Purchase. Indeed it can't be properly said that Christ purchased any particular Degree of Happiness, so that the Value of Christ's Righteousness in the Sight of God, is sufficient to raise a Believer so high, in Happiness, and no higher; and so that if the Believer were made happier, it would exceed the Value of Christ's Righteousness: But in general, Christ purchased eternal Life, or perfect Happiness for all, according to their several Capacities. The Saints are as so many Vessels, of different Sizes, cast into a Sea of Happiness, where every Vessel is full; this Christ purchased for all: But after all 'tis left to God's sovereign Pleasure to determine the Largeness of the Vessel; Christ's Righteousness meddles not with this Matter. Eph. 4. 4. 5, 6, 7. There is one Body, and one Spirit; even as ye are called in one Hope of your Calling; one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, &c.—But unto every one of us, is given Grace according to the Measure of the Gift of Christ. God may dispense in this Matter according to what Rule he pleases, not the less for what Christ has done: He may dispense either without Condition, or upon what Condition he pleases to fix. 'Tis evident that Christ's Righteousness meddles not with this Matter; for what Christ did, was to fulfil the Covenant of Works; but the Covenant of Works did not meddle at all with this: If Adam had persevered in perfect Obedience, he and his Posterity would have had perfect and full Happiness; every ones Happiness would have so answered his Capacity, that he would have been completely blessed; but God would have been at Liberty to have made some of one Capacity, and others of another as he pleased. The Angels have obtained eternal Life, or a State of confirmed Glory by a Covenant of Works, whose Condition was perfect Obedience; but yet some are higher in Glory than others, according to the several Capacity that God, according to his sovereign Pleasure, hath given them.