N03467:54
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.
1. It is certain that there is some Union or Relation that the People of Christ, stand in to him, that is expressed in Scripture, from time to time, by being in Christ, and is represented frequently by those Metaphors of being Members of Christ, or being united to him as Members to the Head, and Branches to the Stock,* ⟨p. 13⟩and is compared to a Marriage Union between Husband and Wife. I don't now pretend to determine of what Sort this Union is; nor is it necessary to my present Purpose to enter into any Manner of Disputes about it: if any are disgusted at the Word Union, as obscure and unintelligible, the Word Relation equally serves my Purpose; I don't now desire to determine any more about it, than all, of all Sorts, will readily allow, viz that there is a peculiar Relation between true Christians and Christ, or a certain Relation between him and them, that there is not between him and others; which is signified by those metaphorical Expressions in Scripture, of being in Christ, being Members of Christ, &c.
- *Our Saviour compares his mystical Body, that is his Church, to a Vine, which his Father, whom he compares to a Husbandman, hath planted, I am the true Vine, and my Father is the Husbandman. To represent to us the Union that is betwixt Christ and all true Christians, and the Influence of Grace and spiritual Life, which all that are United to him do derive and receive from him, he sets it forth to us by the Resemblance of a Vine and Branches. As there is a natural vital Union between the Vine and the Branches, so there is a spiritual Union between Christ and true Christians; and this Union is the Cause of our Fruitfulness, in the Works of Obedience and a good Life. There are some indeed that seem to be grafted into Christ by an outward Profession of Christianity, who yet derive no Influence from him, so as to bring forth Fruit, because they are not vitally united to him. Dr. Tillotson in his 3d. Vol. of Serm. p. 307. By this it appears that the vital Union between Christ and true Christians, which is much more of a Mystery than the relative Union, and necessarily implies it, was not thought an unreasonable Doctrine, by one of the greatest Divines, on the other side of the Question in Hand.