N03467:636
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.
III. Let what has been said, be improved to induce you to love the Lord Jesus Christ, and choose him for your Friend and Portion. As there is such an admirable Meeting of diverse Excellencies in Christ, so there is every Thing in him to render him worthy of your Love and Choice, and to win and engage it. Whatsoever there is, or can be, that is desirable to be in a Friend, is in Christ, and that to the highest Degree that can be desired.
III. Let what has been said, be improved to induce you to love the Lord Jesus Christ, and choose him for your Friend and Portion. As there is such an admirable Meeting of diverse Excellencies in Christ, so there is every Thing in him to render him worthy of your Love and Choice, and to win and engage it. Whatsoever there is, or can be, that is desireable to be in a Friend, is in Christ, and that to the highest Degree that can be desired.
Would you choose a Friend that is a Person of great Dignity?—It is a Thing taking with Men to have those for their Friends that are much above them; because they look upon themselves honoured by the Friendship of such. Thus how taking would it be with an inferior Maid, to be the Object of the dear Love of some great and excellent Prince. But Christ is infinitely above you, and above all the Princes of the Earth; for he is the King of Kings.—So honourable a Person as this offers himself to you, in the nearest and dearest Friendship.
And would you choose to have a Friend not only great but good?—In Christ infinite Greatness, and infinite Goodness meet together, and receive Lustre and Glory one from another. His Greatness is rendered lovely by his Goodness. The greater any one is without Goodness, so much the greater Evil; but when infinite Goodness is joined with Greatness, it renders it a glorious ⟨p. 279⟩