N03467:342
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. How much more easily converting Grace is obtained at such a Time, than at other Times. The Work is equally easy with GOD at all Times; but there is far less Difficulty in the Way, as to Men, at such a Time, than at other Times. It is, as I said before, a Day of God's gracious Visitation, a Day that he has as it were set apart for the more liberally and bountifully dispensing his Grace; a Day wherein God's Hand is opened wide: Experience shows it. God seems to be more ready to help, to give proper Convictions, to help against Temptations, and let in divine Light: He seems to carry on his Work, with a more glorious Discovery of his Power, and Satan is more chained up▪ than at other Times: Those Difficulties & Temptations that Persons before stuck at, from Year to Year, they are soon helped over: The Work of God is carried on with greater Speed and Swiftness, and there are often Instances of sudden Conversion at such a Time. So it was in the Apostle's Days, when there was a Time of the most extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit that ever was: How quick and sudden were Conversion• in those Days! Such ⟨p. 158⟩Instances as that of the Jailer abounded then, in Fulfilment of that Prophecy, Isai. 66 7, 8. Before she travailed she brought forth; before her Pain came she was delivered of a Man child. Who hath heard such a Thing? Who hath seen such Things? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her Children. So it is in some Degree, whenever there is an extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit of God; more or less so, in Proportion to the Greatness of that Effusion. There is seldom such quick Work made of it at other Times: Persons are not so soon delivered from their various Temptations, and Entanglements; but are much longer wandering in a Wilderness, and groping in Darkness, And yet,
3. How much more easily converting Grace is obtained at such a Time, than at other Times. The Work is equally easy with GOD at all Times; but there is far less Difficulty in the Way, as to Men, at such a Time, than at other Times. It is, as I said before, a Day of God's gracious Visitation, a Day that he has as it were set apart for the more liberally and bountifully dispensing his Grace; a Day wherein God's Hand is opened wide: Experience shews it. God seems to be more ready to help, to give proper Convictions, to help against Temptations, and let in divine Light: He seems to carry on his Work, with a more glorious Discovery of his Power, and Satan is more chain'd up than at other Times: Those Difficulties & Temptations that Persons before stuck at, from Year to Year, they are soon helped over: The Work of God is carried on with greater Speed and Swiftness, and there are often Instances of sudden Conversion at such a Time. So it was in the Apostle's Days, when there was a Time of the most extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit that ever was: How quick and sudden were Conversion in those Days! Such