N03467:76
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.
Hence may be more clearly seen, the Force of that Expression in the Text, of believing on him that justifieth the ungodly; for tho' there is indeed something in Man that is really and spiritually Good, that is prior to Justification, yet there is nothing that is accepted as any godliness or excellency of the Person, till after Justification. Goodness or Loveliness of the Person in the Acceptance of God, in any Degree, is not to be considered as prior but posterior in the Order and Method of God's proceeding in this Affair: Tho' a Respect to the natural Suitableness between such a Qualification, and such a State, does go before Justification, yet the Acceptance even of Faith as any Goodness or Loveliness of the Believer, follows Justification: The Goodness is on the forementioned Account justly looked upon as nothing, until the Man is justified: And therefore the Man is respected in Justification, as in himself altogether hateful.—Thus the Nature of Things will not admit of a Man's having an Interest given him in the Merits or Benefits of a Saviour, on the Account of any Thing as a Righteousness, or Virtue, or Excellency in him.
Hence may be more clearly seen, the Force of that Expression in the Text, of believing on him that justifieth the ungodly; for tho' there is indeed something in Man that is really and spiritually Good, that is prior to Justification, yet there is nothing that is accepted as any godliness or excellency of the Person, till after Justification. Goodness or Loveliness of the Person in the Acceptance of God, in any Degree, is not to be consider'd as prior but posterior in the Order and Method of God's proceeding in this Affair: Tho' a Respect to the natural Suitableness between such a Qualification, and such a State, does go before Justification, yet the Acceptance even of Faith as any Goodness or Loveliness of the Believer, follows Justification: The Goodness is on the forementioned Account justly looked upon as nothing, until the Man is justified: And therefore the Man is respected in Justification, as in himself altogether hateful.—Thus the Nature of Things will not admit of a Man's having an Interest given him in the Merits or Benefits of a Saviour, on the Account of any Thing as a Righteousness, or Vertue, or Excellency in him.