N03467:59
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.
God don't give those that believe, an Union with, or an interest in the Saviour, in reward for Faith, but only because Faith is the Soul's active uniting with Christ, or is it self the very act of Unition, on their Part. God sees it fit, that in order to an Union's being established between two intelligent active Beings or Persons, so as that they should be looked upon as one, there should be the mutual Act of both, that each should receive other, as actively joining themselves one to another. God in requiring this in order to an union with Christ as one of his People, treats Men as reasonable Creatures, capable of Act, and Choice; and hence sees it fit that they only, that are one with Christ by their own Act, should be looked upon as one in Law: what is real in the Union between Christ and his People, is the Foundation of what is legal; that is, it is something that is really in them, & between them, uniting them, that is the Ground of the Suitableness of their being accounted as one by the Judge: And if there be any Act, or Qualification in Believers, that is of that uniting Nature, that it is meet on that Account that the Judge should look upon 'em, and accept 'em as one, no wonder that upon the Account of the same Act or Qualification, he should accept the Satisfaction and Merits of the one, for the other, as if it were their Satisfaction and Merits: It necessarily follows, or rather is implied.
God don't give those that believe, an Union with, or an interest in the Saviour, in reward for Faith, but only because Faith is the Soul's active uniting with Christ, or is it self the very act of Unition, on their Part. God sees it fit, that in order to an Union's being established between two intelligent active Beings or Persons, so as that they should be looked upon as one, there should be the mutual Act of both, that each should receive other, as actively joining themselves one to another. God in requiring this in order to an union with Christ as one of his People, treats Men as reasonable Creatures, capable of Act, and Choice; and hence sees it fit that they only, that are one with Christ by their own Act, should be looked upon as one in Law: what is real in the Union betwen Christ and his People, is the Foundation of what is legal; that is, it is something that is really in them, & between them, uniting them, that is the Ground of the Suitableness of their being accounted as one by the Judge: And if there be any Act, or Qualification in Believers, that is of that uniting Nature, that it is meet on that Account that the Judge should look upon 'em, and accept 'em as one, no wonder that upon the Account of the same Act or Qualification, he should accept the Satisfaction and Merits of the one, for the other, as if it were their Satisfaction and Merits: It necessarily follows, or rather is implied.