N03467:396
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. Happiness is no where else to be had, but in their God, and with their People. There are that are called gods many, and lords many. Some make gods of their Pleasures; some choose Mammon for their god; some make gods of their own supposed Excellencies, or the outward Advantages they have above their Neighbours; some choose one Thing for their god, and others another: But Men can be happy in no other God, but the God of Israel. He is the only Fountain of Happiness. Other gods can't help in Calamity; nor can any of them afford what the poor empty Soul stands in need of. Let Men adore those other gods never so much, and call upon them never so earnestly, and serve ⟨p. 180⟩them never so diligently, they will never the less remain poor, wretched, unsatisfied, undone Creatures. All other People are miserable, but that People whose God is the Lord.—The World is divided into two Societies: There are the People of God, the little Flock of Jesus Christ, that Company that we read of, Rev. 14. 4. These are they, which were not defiled with Women; for they are Virgins: These are they, which follow the Lamb whithersoever he g•eth: These were redeemed from among Men, being the first Fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. And there are those that belong to the Kingdom of Darkness; that are without Christ, being Aliens from the Common-Wealth of Israel, Strangers from the Covenants of Promise, having no Hope, and without God in the World. All that are of this latter Company, are wretched and undone; they are the Enemies of God, and under his Wrath and Condemnation: They are the Devil's Slaves, that serve him blindfold, and are befooled, and ensnared by him, and hurried along in the broad Way to eternal Perdition.
III. Happiness is no where else to be had, but in their God, and with their People. There are that are called gods many, and lords many. Some make gods of their Pleasures; some choose Mammon for their god; some make gods of their own supposed Excellencies, or the outward Advantages they have above their Neighbours; some choose one Thing for their god, and others another: But Men can be happy in no other God, but the God of Israel. He is the only Fountain of Happiness. Other gods can't help in Calamity; nor can any of them afford what the poor empty Soul stands in need of. Let Men adore those other gods never so much, and call upon them never so earnestly, and serve