N03467:403
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.
APPLICATION.
The USE that I shall make of what has been said, is to move Sinners to this Resolution, with Respect to those amongst us, that have lately turned to God, and joined themselves to the Flock of Christ. It is so, thro' the abundant Mercy and Grace of God to us in this Place, that it may be said of many of you, that are in a Christless Condition, that you have lately been left by those that were formerly with you in such a State. There are those that you have formerly been conversant with, that have lately forsaken a Life of Sin and the Service of Satan, and have turned to God, and fled to Christ, and joined themselves to that blessed Company that are with him. They formerly were with you in Sin and in Misery, but now they are with you no more, in that State or Manner of Life: They are changed, and have fled from the Wrath to come: They have chosen a Life of Holiness here, and the Enjoyment of God hereafter. They were formerly your Associates in Bondage, and were with you in Satan's Business; but now you have their Company no longer, in these Things. Many of you have seen those that you live with under the same Roof, turning from being any longer with you in Sin, to be with the People of Jesus Christ. Some of you that are Husbands, have had your Wives; and some of you that are Wives, have had you Husbands; some of you that are Children, have had your Parents; and Parents have had ⟨p. 184⟩your Children; many of you have had your Brothers and Sisters; and many your near Neighbours, and Acquaintance, and special Friends; many of you that are young have had your Companions: I say, many of you have had those that you have been thus concerned with, leaving you, forsaking that doleful Life, and wretched State that you still continue in. God of his good Pleasure, and wonderful Grace, hath lately caused it to be so, in this Place, that Multitudes have been forsaking their old Abodes in the Land of Moab, and under the gods of Moab, and going into the Land of Israel, to put their Trust under the Wings of the Lord God of Israel. Though you and they have been nearly related, and have dwelt together, or have been often together, and intimately acquainted one with another, they have been taken, and you hitherto left! O let it not be the Foundation of a final Parting! But earnestly follow them; be firm in your Resolution in this Matter.