N03467:752
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.
There have been some who have not had great Terrors, but have had a very quick Work. Some of those that han't had so deep a Conviction of these things before their Conversion, have, it may be, much more of it afterwards. God has appeared far from limiting himself to any certain Method in his Proceedings with Sinners under legal Convictions. In some Instances it seems easy for our reasoning Powers to discern the methods of divine Wisdom, in his Dealings with the Soul under awakenings: in others his Foot-steps can't be traced, and his Ways are past finding out: and some that are less distinctly wrought upon, in what is preparatory to Grace, appear no less eminent in gracious experiences afterwards.
There is in nothing a greater Difference, in different Persons, than with respect to the Time of their being under Trouble; some but a few Days, and others for Months or Years. There were many in this Town, that had been, before this Effusion of God's Spirit upon us, for Years, and some for many Years, concerned about their Salvation; tho' probably they were not thoroughly awakened, yet they were concerned to such a Degree as to be very uneasy, so as to live an uncomfortable disquieted Life, and so as to continue in a way of taking considerable Pains about their Salvation, but had never obtained any comfortable Evidence of a good Estate, who now in this extraordinary time have received Light; but many of them were some of the last: They first saw Multitudes of others rejoicing, and with Songs of Deliverance in their Mouths, who seemed wholly careless and at •ase, and in pursuit of Vanity, while they had been bowed down with solicitude about their Souls; yea some had lived licentiously, and so continued till a little before they were converted, and grew up to a holy Rejoicing in the infinite Blessings God had bestowed upon them.
There is in nothing a greater Difference, in different Persons, than with respect to the Time of their being under Trouble; some but a few Days, and others for Months or Years. There were many in this Town, that had been, before this Effusion of God's Spirit upon us, for Years, and some for many Years, concerned about their Salvation; tho' probably they were not thoroughly awaken'd, yet they were concern'd to such a Degree as to be very uneasy, so as to live an uncomfortable disquieted Life, and so as to continue in a way of taking considerable Pains about their Salvation, but had never obtained any comfortable Evidence of a good Estate, who now in this extraordinary time have received Light; but many of them were some of the last: They first saw Multitudes of others rejoicing, and with Songs of Deliverance in their Mouths, who seem'd wholly careless and at ase, and in pursuit of Vanity, while they had been bowed down with sollicitude about their Souls; yea some had lived licenciously, and so continued till a little before they were converted, and grew up to a holy Rejoicing in the infinite Blessings God had bestowed upon them.