Discourses on various important subjects, nearly concerning the great affair of the soul's eternal…

Name: Discourses on various important subjects, nearly concerning the great affair of the soul's eternal…
Author: Jonathan Edwards

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]

Jonathan Edwards 1703–1758Boston: printed by S. Kneeland and T. Green, 1738

[2], vi, 286, [2] p. ; 18 cm. (8vo) · 142k words · Evans 4239

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Discourse 3: Ruth's Resolution.

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.

[ Earlier:383–398 of 847

:383p. 176

When those that we have formerly been conversant with, are turning to God, and joining themselves to his People, it ought to be our firm Resolution, that we will not leave them; but that their People shall be our People, and their God, our God.

:384p. 176

It is sometimes so, that of those that have been conversant one with another, that have dwelt together as Neighbours, and have been often together as Companions, or have been united in near Relation, and have been together in Darkness, Bondage, and Misery, in the Service of Satan, some are enlightened and have their Minds changed, are made to see the great Evil of Sin, and have their Hearts turned to God, and are influenced by the Holy Spirit of God, to leave their Company that are on Satan's Side, to go and join themselves with that blessed Company that are with Jesus Christ; they are made willing to forsake the Tents of Wickedness, to dwell in the Land of Uprightness, with the People of God.

It is sometimes so, that of those that have been conversant one with another, that have dwelt together as Neighbours, and have been often together as Companions, or have been united in near Relation, and have been together in Darkness, Bondage, and Misery, in the Service of Satan, some are inlighten'd and have their Minds changed, are made to see the great Evil of Sin, and have their Hearts turned to God, and are influenced by the Holy Spirit of God, to leave their Company that are on Satan's Side, to go and join themselves with that blessed Company that are with Jesus Christ; they are made willing to forsake the Tents of Wickedness, to dwell in the Land of Uprightness, with the People of God.

:385p. 176–177

And sometimes this proves a final Parting or Separation between them, and those that they have been formerly conversant with. Though it may be no Parting in outward Respects, they may still dwell together, and may converse one with another, yet in other Respects it sets them at a great Distance one from another: one is a Child of God, and the other the Enemy of God; one is in a miserable, and the other in a happy Condition; one is a Citizen of the heavenly Zion, the other is under Condemnation to Hel. They are no longer together in those Respects, wherein they used to be together: They used to be of one Mind to serve Sin, and

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