N03467:749
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 when they reflect on these wicked Workings of Heart against God, if their Convictions are continued▪ and the Spirit of God, is not provoked utterly to forsake them, they have more distressing Apprehensions of the Anger of God towards those, whose Hearts work after such a sinful manner about him; and it may be have great Fears that they have committed the unpardonable Sin, or that God will surely never show Mercy to them that are such Vipers; and are often tempted to leave off in despair. But then perhaps by something they read or hear of the infinite Mercy of God, and All-sufficiency of Christ for the chief of Sinners; they have some Encouragement and Hope renewed; but think that as yet they are not fit to come to Christ; they are so wicked that Christ will never accept of them: and then it may be they set themselves upon a new Course of fruitless Endeavours in their own Strength to make themselves better, and still meet with new Disappointments: They are earnest to enquire what they shall do? They don't know but there is something else to be done, in order to their obtaining converting Grace, that they have never done yet. ⟨p. 26⟩It may be they hope that they are something better than they were; but then the pleasing Dream all vanishes again. If they are told, that they trust too much to their own Strength and Righteousness, they go about to strive to bring themselves off from it, and it may be, think they have done it, when they only do the same thing under a new disguise, and still find no appearance of any Good, but all looks as dark as Midnight to them. Thus they wander about from Mountain to Hill, seeking rest, and finding none: when they are beat out of one Refuge they fly to another, till they are as it were debilitated, broken, and subdued with legal Humblings; in which God gives them a Conviction of their own utter Helplessness and Insufficiency, and discovers the true Remedy.
But when they reflect on these wicked Workings of Heart against God, if their Convictions are continued▪ and the Spirit of God, is not provoked utterly to forsake them, they have more distressing Apprehensions of the Anger of God towards those, whose Hearts work after such a sinful manner about him; and it may be have great Fears that they have committed the unpardonable Sin, or that God will surely never shew Mercy to them that are such Vipers; and are often tempted to leave off in despair. But then perhaps by something they read or hear of the infinite Mercy of God, and All-sufficiency of Christ for the chief of Sinners; they have some Encouragement and Hope renewed; but think that as yet they are not fit to come to Christ; they are so wicked that Christ will never accept of them: and then it may be they set themselves upon a new Course of fruitless Endeavours in their own Strength to make themselves better, and still meet with new Disappointments: They are earnest to enquire what they shall do? They don't know but there is something else to be done, in order to their obtaining converting Grace, that they have never done yet.