N03467:682
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.
Yea, we need look no higher than our own Times, to find abundant Occasion to celebrate the wonderful Works of God. Thus when God arose and shook the Earth. *his loud Call to us in that amazing Providence was followed, so far as Man can judge, with the still Voice of his Spirit, in which He was present to awaken many and bring them to say trembling, What must we do to be saved? Yea, as we hope. to turn not a few from Sin to God in a thorough Conversion. But when the Bitterness of Death was past, much the greater Part of those whom God's Terrors affrighted, gave sad Occasion to remember those Words, Psalm 78. 34.—36 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their Rock, and the high God their Redeemer. Nevertheless, they did flatter him with their Mouths, and they lied unto him with their Tongues. And there has since been great Reason to complain of our speedy Return to our former Sins, notwithstanding some Hopes given of a more general Reformation. Yea when more lately, it pleased God to visit many of our Towns with a very mortal Distemper, to that Time in a Manner unknown; whereby great Numbers of our hopeful Children and Youth have been cut off, many very suddenly, and with Circumstances exceedingly distressing and awful: Yet alas! We have not generally seen, nor duly considered God's Hand stretched out against us; but have given him Reason to complain, as of his ancient People, Why should ye be Stricken any more, ye will revolt more and more And accordingly His Anger is not turned away; but his Hand is stretched out still. ⟨p. iii⟩A plain Proof of this awful Truth, that the most awakening Dispensations can no farther humble and do us good, than as it pleaseth God to accompany them with his Spirit, and so command his Blessing upon them. But when the Almighty will work by such Means, or with u•• them, who can hinder him? He acts with sovereign Liberty and irresistible Power. John 3. 8. The Wind bloweth where it lifteth, and thou hearest the Sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Such was his wonderful Work at Northampton, and the neighbouring Towns in the County of Hampshire, and some other Places.