N03467:301
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.
5. By pressing into the Kingdom of God is denoted a breaking through Opposition and Difficulties. There is in the Expression a plain Intimation of Difficulty. If there were no Opposition, but the Way was all clear and open▪ there would be no Need of pressing to get along. They therefore that are pressing into the Kingdom of God, go on with such Engagedness, that they break through the Difficulties that are in their Way: They are so set for Salvation that those Things by which others are discouraged, and stopped, and turned back, don't stop them, but they press through them. Persons ought to be so resolved for Heaven, that if by any Means they can use they can obtain, they will obtain. Whether those Means be difficult or easy, cross or ⟨p. 139⟩agreeable, if they are requisite Means of Salvation, they should be complied with. When any Thing is presented to be done, the Question should not be, Is it easy, or hard? Is it agreeable to my carnal Inclinations or Interest, or against them? But is it a required Means of my obtaining an Interest in Jesus Christ, and eternal Salvation? Thus the Apostle, Philip 3. 11. If by any Means I might obtain the Resurrection of the Dead. He tells us there in the Context, what Difficulties he broke through, that he suffered the Loss of all Things, and was willingly made conformable even to Christ's Death, tho' that was attended with such extreme Torment and Ignominy.
5. By pressing into the Kingdom of God is denoted a breaking through Opposition and Difficulties. There is in the Expression a plain Intimation of Difficulty. If there were no Opposition, but the Way was all clear and open▪ there would be no Need of pressing to get along. They therefore that are pressing into the Kingdom of God, go on with such Engagedness, that they break through the Difficulties that are in their Way: They are so set for Salvation that those Things by which others are discouraged, and stop'd, and turn'd back, don't stop them, but they press through them. Persons ought to be so resolved for Heaven, that if by any Means they can use they can obtain, they will obtain. Whether those Means be difficult or easy, cross or ⟨p. 139⟩