N03467:640
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.
But, is it not enough to invite and encourage to free Access to a Friend so great and high, that he is one of infinite condescending Grace, and also has taken your own Nature, and is become Man? But would you further to embolden and win you, have him a Man of wonderful Meekness & Humility? Why such an one is Christ! He is not only become Man for you, but far the meekest and most humble of all Men, the greatest Instance of these sweet Virtues, that ever was, or will be. And besides these, he has all other human Excellencies, in the highest Perfection. These indeed are no proper Addition to his divine Excellencies. Christ has no more ⟨p. 281⟩Excellency in his Person, since his Incarnation, than he had before; for divine Excellency is infinite, and can't be added to: Yet his human Excellencies are additional Manifestations of his Glory and Excellency to us, and are additional Recommendations of him to our Esteem and Love, who are of finite Comprehension. Though his human Excellencies are but Communications and Reflections of his divine; and though this Light, as reflected, falls infinitely short of the divine Fountain of Light; in its immediate Glory; yet the Reflection shines not without its proper Advantages, as presented to our View and Affection. As the Glory of Christ appears in the Qualifications of his human Nature, it appears to us in Excellencies that are of our own Kind, and are exercised in our own Way and Manner, and so, in some Respects, are peculiarly fitted to invite our Acquaintance, and draw our Affection. The Glory of Christ as it appears in his Divinity, though it be far brighter, yet doth i• also more dazzle our Eyes, and exceeds the Strength o• Comprehension of our Sight: But as it shines in the human Excellencies of Christ, it is brought more to a Level with our Conceptions, and Suitableness to our Nature and Manner, yet retaining a Semblance of the same divine Beauty, and a Savour of the same divine Sweetness But as both divine and human Excellencies meet together in Christ, they set off and recommend each other to us. It is what tends to endear the divine and infinite Majesty and Holiness of Christ to us, that these are Attributes of a Person that is in our Nature, that is one of us, that is become our Brother, and is the meekest and humblest of Men;
But, is it not enough to invite and encourage to free Access to a Friend so great and high, that he is one of infinite condescending Grace, and also has taken your own Nature, and is become Man? But would you further to embolden and win you, have him a Man of wonderful Meekness & Humility? Why such an one is Christ! He is not only become Man for you, but far the meekest and most humble of all Men, the greatest Instance of these sweet Virtues, that ever was, or will be. And besides these, he has all other human Excellencies, in the highest Perfection. These indeed are no proper Addition to his divine Excellencies. Christ has no more