N03467:507
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.
And that Sinners be not convinced that Christ is sufficient for the Work he has undertaken, appears most manifestly when they are under great Convictions of their Sin, and Danger of God's Wrath. Though it may be before they thought they could allow Christ to be sufficient, (for it is easy to allow any one to be sufficient for our Defence, at a Time when we see no Danger,) yet when they come to be sensible of their Guilt, and God's Wrath, what discouraging Thoughts do they entertain! How are they ready to draw towards Despair, as if there no Hope or Help for such wicked Creatures as they! The Reason is, They have no Apprehension or Sense of any other Way that God's Majesty can be vindicated▪ but only in their Misery: To tell them of the Blood of Christ, signifies nothing, it don't relieve their sinking despairing Hearts. This makes it most evident that ⟨p. 226⟩they are not convinced that Christ is sufficient to be their Mediator.
And as long as they are unconvinced of this, 'tis impossible they should be willing to accept of him as their Mediator and Saviour. A Man in distressing Fear won't willingly betake himself to a Fort that he judges not sufficient to defend him from the Enemy: A Man won't willingly venture out into the Ocean, in a Ship that he suspects is leaky, and will sink before he gets through his Voyage.
3. 'Tis evident that you are not willing to have Christ son your Saviour, because you have so mean an Opinion of him, that you durst not trust his Faithfulness. One that undertakes to be the Saviour of Souls had need be faithful; for if he fails in such a Trust, how great is the Loss! But you are not convinced of Christ's Faithfulness; as is evident, because at such Times as when you are in a considerable Measure sensible of your Guilt and God's Anger, you can't be convinced that Christ is willing to accept of you, or that he stands ready to receive you if you should come to him, though Christ so much invites you to come to him, and has so fully declared that he won't reject you, if you do come; as particularly,