N03467:58
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.
I don't now pretend to define justifying Faith, or to determine precisely how much is contained in it, but only to determine thus much concerning it, viz. That it is that by which the Soul, that before was separate, and alienated from Christ, unites it self to him, or ceases to be any longer in that State of Alienation, and comes into that sore mentioned Union or Relation to him, or to use the Scripture Phrase, that 'tis that by which the Soul COMES TO Christ, and RECEIVES him: and this is evident by the Scriptures using these very Expressions to signify Faith. John 6▪ 35, 36, 37, 38, 39▪ He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you that ye also have seen me and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out; For I came down from Heaven, not to do mine own Will, but the Will of him that sent me ver. 40. And this is the Will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him, may have everlasting Life, and I will raise him up at the last Day. Chap. 5▪ 38, 39, 40.—Whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the Scriptures for—they are they which testify of me: And ye will not come unto me, that ye might have Life ver. 43, 44. I am come in my Fathers name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own Name him ye will receive How can ye believe which receive honour one of another—? Chap. 5▪ 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name. If it be said that these are obscure figures of Speech, that, however ⟨p. 16⟩they might be well understood of Old, among those that then commonly used such Metaphors, yet they are difficultly understood now. I allow that the Expressions of receiving Christ and coming to Christ, are metaphorical Expressions; and if I should allow 'em to be obscure Metaphors; yet so much at least, is certainly plain in 'em, viz. that Faith is that by which those that before were separated, and at a distance from Christ, (that is to say were not so related and united to him as his People are;) do cease to be any longer at such a Distance, and do come into that Relation and nearness; unless they are so unintelligible, that nothing at all can be understood by 'em.