N03467:348
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.
6. Consider, that 'tis very uncertain whether you will ever see such another Time as this is. If there should be such another Time, 'tis very uncertain whether you will live to see it. Many that are now concerned for their Salvation amongst us, will probably be in their Graves, and it may be in Hell before that Time; and if you should miss this Opportunity, it may be so with you. And what Good will that do you, to have the Spirit of God poured out upon Earth, in the Place where you once lived, while you are tormented in Hell? What will it avail you, that others are crying, What shall I do to be saved? while you are shut up for ever in the bottomless Pit, and are wailing and gnashing your Teeth in everlasting Burnings?
Wherefore improve this Opportunity, while God is pouring out his Spirit on Earth, & you are on Earth, & while you dwell in that Place where the Spirit of God is thus poured out, & you your self have the awakening Influences of it, that you may never wail and gnash your Teeth in Hell, but may sing in Heaven for ever, with others that are redeemed from amongst Men, and redeemed amongst us.
7. If you should see another such Time, it will be under far greater Disadvantages than you now see this Time. You will probably then be much older, and will have more hardened your Heart; and so will be under less Probability of receiving Good. Some Persons are so hardened in Sin, and so left of God, that they can live through such a Time as this, and not be much awakened or affected by it; they can stand their Ground, and be but Little moved. And so may it be with you, by another such Time, if there should be another amongst us, and you should live to see it. The Case in all Probability will be greatly altered with you by that Time. If you should continue Christless and Graceless till then, you will be much further from the Kingdom of God, and much deeper involved in Snares and Misery; and the Devil will probably have a vastly greater Advantage against you, to tempt and confound you.