N03467:363
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.
III. I would direct my self to them that are grown considerably into Years, and are yet in a natural Condition. I would now take Occasion earnestly to exhort you, to improve this extraordinary Opportunity, and press into the Kingdom of God. You have lost many Advantages that once you had, and now have not the same Advantages that others have: The Case is very different with you from what it is with many of your Neighbours. You above all had need to improve such an Opportunity. Now is the Time for you to bestir your self, and take the Kingdom of Heaven!
Consider,
1. Now there seems to be a Door opened for old Sinners. Now God is dealing forth freely to all Sorts: His Hand is opened wide, and he don't pass by old ones so much as he used to do. You are not under such Advantages as others are that are younger; but yet, so wonderfully has God ordered it, that now you are not destitute of great Advantage: Tho' old in Sin, God has put a new and extraordinary Advantage into your Hands. O, improve this Price that you have to get Wisdom! ⟨p. 168⟩You that have been long seeking to enter in at the strait Gate, and yet remain without, now take your Opportunity and press in! You that have been long in the Wilderness, fighting with various Temptations, and have been labouring under Discouragements, and have been ready to give up the Case, have been often tempted to Despair, now, behold the Door that God opens for you! Don't give Way to Discouragements now; this is not a Time for it: Don't spend Time in thinking that you have done what you can already, and that you see Signs that you be not elected, and in giving Way to other perplexing, weakening, disheartening Temptations: Don't waste away this precious Opportunity in such a Manner: You have no Time to spare for such Things as these: God calls you now to something else: Improve this Time in seeking and striving for Salvation, and not in that which tends to hinder it. 'Tis no Time now for you to stand talking with the Devil; but hearken to God, and apply your self to that, which he does now so loudly call you to.