N03467:486
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.
The greater the Mercy of God is, the more should you be engaged to love him, and live to his Glory. But it has been contrariwise with you; the Consideration of the Mercies of God being so exceeding great, is the Thing where with you have encouraged your self in Sin. You have heard that the Mercy of God was without Bounds, that it was sufficient to pardon the greatest Sinner, and you have upon that very Account, ventured to be a very great Sinner: Though it was very offensive to God, though you heard that God infinitely hated Sin, and that such Practices as you went on in were exceeding contrary to his Nature, Will, and Glory, yet that did not make you uneasy; you heard that he was a very merciful God, and had Grace enough to pardon you & so cared not how offensive your Sins were to him. How long have some of you gone on in Sin, and what great Sins have some of you been guilty of, on that Presumption! Your own Conscience can give Testimony to it, that this has made you refuse God's Calls, and has made you Regardless of his repeated Commands. Now, how righteous would it be if God should swear in his Wrath, that you should never be the better for his being infinitely merciful!
The greater the Mercy of God is, the more should you be engaged to love him, and live to his Glory. But it has been contrarywise with you; the Consideration of the Mercies of God being so exceeding great, is the Thing where with you have encouraged your self in Sin. You have heard that the Mercy of God was without Bounds, that it was sufficient to pardon the greatest Sinner, and you have upon that very Account, ventured to be a very great Sinner: Though it was very offensive to God, though you heard that God infinitely hated Sin, and that such Practices as you went on in were exceeding contrary to his Nature, Will, and Glory, yet that did not make you uneasy; you heard that he was a very merciful God, and had Grace enough to pardon you & so cared not how offensive your Sins were to him. How long have some of you gone on in Sin, and what great Sins have some of you been guilty of, on that Presumption! Your own Conscience can give Testimony to it, that this has made you refuse God's Calls, and has made you Regardless of his repeated Commands. Now, how righteous would it be if God should swear in his Wrath, that you should never be the better for his being infinitely merciful!