N03467:759
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.
In many Persons, the first Conviction of the Justice of God in their Condemnation, which they take particular notice of, and probably the first distinct Conviction of it that they have, is of such a Nature, as seems to be above any thing merely legal; Tho' it be after legal Humblings, and much of the sense of their own Helplessness and of the Insufficiency of their own Duties; yet it does not appear to be forced by mere legal ⟨p. 31⟩Terrors and Convictions; but rather from an high Exercise of Grace, in saving Repentance, and evangelical Humiliation; for there is in it a sort of Complacency of Soul, in the Attribute of God's Justice, as displayed in his Threatenings of eternal Damnation to Sinners. Sometimes at the Discovery of it, they can scarcely forbear crying out, 'TIS JUST! 'TIS JUST! Some express themselves, that they see the Glory of God would shine bright in their own Condemnation; and they are ready to think that if they are damned, they could take part with God against themselves, and would glorify his Justice therein. And when it is thus, they commonly have some evident sense of free and all-sufficient Grace, tho' they give no distinct Account of it, but 'tis manifest, by that great degree of Hope and Encouragement that they then conceive, tho' they were never so sensible of their own Vileness and Ill-deservings as they are at that time.
In many Persons, the first Conviction of the Justice of God in their Condemnation, which they take particular notice of, and probably the first distinct Conviction of it that they have, is of such a Nature, as seems to be above any thing meerly legal; Tho' it be after legal Humblings, and much of the sense of their own Helplessness and of the Insufficiency of their own Duties; yet it does not appear to be forced by meer legal ⟨p. 31⟩Terrors and Convictions; but rather from an high Exercise of Grace, in saving Repentance, and evangelical Humiliation; for there is in it a sort of Complacency of Soul, in the Attribute of God's Justice, as display'd in his Threatnings of eternal Damnation to Sinners. Sometimes at the Discovery of it, they can scarcely forbear crying out, 'TIS JUST! 'TIS JUST! Some express themselves, that they see the Glory of God would shine bright in their own Condemnation; and they are ready to think that if they are damned, they could take part with God against themselves, and would glorify his Justice therein. And when it is thus, they commonly have some evident sense of free and all-sufficient Grace, tho' they give no distinct Account of it, but 'tis manifest, by that great degree of Hope and Encouragement that they then conceive, tho' they were never so sensible of their own Vileness and Illdeservings as they are at that time.