N03467:453
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.
In the Improvement of this Doctrine, I would first direct my self to Sinners that are afraid of Damnation, in a Use of Conviction.—This may be Matter of Conviction to you, that it would be just and righteous with God eternally to reject and destroy you. This is what you are in Danger of: You that are a Christless Sinner, are a poor condemned Creature: God's Wrath still ab••es upon you; and the Sentence of Condemnation lies upon you: You are in God's Hands, and 'tis uncertain what he will do with you. You are afraid what will become of you: You are afraid that it will be your Portion to suffer eternal Burnings; and your Fears are not without Grounds; you have Reason to tremble every Moment. But let you be never so much afraid of it, let eternal Damnation be never so dreadful, yet 'tis just: God may nevertheless do it, and be righteous, and ⟨p. 205⟩holy, and glorious in it. Tho' eternal Damnation be what you can't bear; and how much soever your Heart shrinks at the Thoughts of it, yet God's Justice may be glorious in it. The Dreadfulness of the Thing on your Part, and the Greatness of your Dread of it, don't render it the less righteous on God's Part. If you think otherwise, 'tis a Sign that you don't see your self, that you are not sensible what Sin is, nor how much of it you have been guilty of. Therefore for your Conviction, be directed,
First. To look over your past Life: Inquire at the Mouth of Conscience, and hear what that has to testify concerning it. Consider what […] you are, what Light you have had, and what Means you have lived under:—And yet how have you behaved your self! What have those many Days and Nights, that you have lived, been filled up with? How have those Years, that have rolled over your Heads, one after another been spent? What has the Sun shone upon you for, from Day to Day, while you have improved his Light to serve Satan by it? What has God kept your Breath in your Nostrils for, and given you Meat and Drink, from Day to Day for, that you have spent that Life and Strength that have been supported by them, in opposing God, and Rebellion against him?