N03467:625
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.
Fallen Man is in a State of exceeding great Misery, & is helpless in it; he is a poor weak Creature, like an Infant cast out in it's Blood, in the Day that it is born: But Christ is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah; he is strong, though we are weak; he hath prevailed to do that for us, which no Creature else could do. Fallen Man is a mean despicable Creature, a contemptible Worm; but Christ, who has undertaken for us, is infinitely honourable and worthy. Fallen Man is polluted, but Christ is infinitely holy: Fallen Man is hateful, but Christ is infinitely lovely: Fallen Man is the Object of God's Indignation, but Christ is infinitely dear to him: W• have dreadfully provoked God, but Christ has performed that Righteousness that is infinitely precious in God's Eyes.
And here is not only infinite Strength and infinite Worthiness, but infinite Conde•cersion; and Love and Mercy, as great as Power and Dignity. If you are a poor distressed Sinner, whose Heart is ready to sink for Fear that God never will have Mercy on you, you need not be afraid to go to Christ, for Fear that he is either unable or unwilling to help you: Here is a strong Foundation, and an inexhaustible Treasure, to answer the Necessities of your poor Soul; and here is infinite Grace and Gentleness to invite and embolden a poor unworthy fearful Soul to […] to it. If Christ accepts of you, you need not fear but that you will be safe; for he is a strong Lion for your Defence: And if you come, you need not fear but that you shall be accepted▪ […] he is like a Lamb to all that come to him▪ and receives them with infinite Grace and Tenderness. 'Tis true he has awful Majesty; he is th• great God, and is infinitely high above you; but there is this to encourage and embolden the poor Sinner, that Christ is Man as well as God; he is a Creature, as well as the Creator; and he is the most humble and lowly in Heart of any Creature in Heaven or Earth. This may well make the ⟨p. 273⟩