N03467:68
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.
First Such is our Case, and the State of Things, that neither Faith, nor any other Qualification, or Act, or Course of Acts does, or can render it suitable or fit that Person should have an Interest in the Saviour, and so a Title to his Benefits, on Account of any excellency therein, or any other way than only as something in him may unite him to the Saviour. It is not suitable that God should give fallen Man an Interest in Christ and his Merits, as a Testimony of his respect to any Thing whatsoever as a loveliness in him; and that because 'tis not meet till a Sinner is actually justified, that any Thing in him should be accepted of God, as any excellency or amiableness of his Person; or that God by any Act, should in any manner or degree testify any pleasedness with him, or favour towards him, on the account of any Thing inherent in him; and that for two Reasons, 1. Because the nature of Things will not admit of it. 2. Because an antecedent divine Constitution stands in the way of it.
1. The Nature of Things will not admit of it. And this appears from the infinite Guilt that the Sinner 'till justified is under; which arises from the infinite evil or heinousness of Sin. But because this is what some deny, I would therefore first establish that Point, and show that ⟨p. 21⟩Sin is a Thing that is indeed properly of infinite Heinousness; and then show the Consequence, and show that it being so, and so the Sinner under infinite Guilt in God's Sight, it cannot be suitable, 'till the Sinner is actually justified, that God should by any Act testify any pleasedness with, or acceptance of, any Thing as any excellency or amiableness of his Person, or indeed have any acceptance of him, or pleasedness with him to testify.
1. The Nature of Things will not admit of it. And this appears from the infinite Guilt that the Sinner 'till justified is under; which arises from the infinite evil or heinousness of Sin. But because this is what some deny, I would therefore first establish that Point, and shew that ⟨p. 21⟩