N03467:764
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 is, often, in the Mind, some particular Text of Scripture, holding forth some evangelical ground of Consolation; sometimes a Multitude of Texts, gracious Invitations and Promises flowing in one after another, filling the Soul more and more, with Comfort and Satisfaction: and Comfort is first given to some, while reading some Portion of Scripture; but in some it is attended with no particular Scripture at all, either in Reading or Meditation. In some, many divine things seem to be discovered to the Soul as it were at once; others have their Minds especially fixing on some one thing at first, and afterwards a sense is given of others; in some with a swifter, and others a •lower Succession, and sometimes with Interruptions of much Darkness
There is, often, in the Mind, some particular Text of Scripture, holding forth some evangelical ground of Consolation; sometimes a Multitude of Texts, gracious Invitations and Promises flowing in one after another, filling the Soul more and more, with Comfort and Satisfaction: and Comfort is first given to some, while reading some Portion of Scripture; but in some it is attended with no particular Scripture at all, either in Reading or Meditation. In some, many divine things seem to be discover'd to the Soul as it were at once; others have their Minds especially fixing on some one thing at first, and afterwards a sense is given of others; in some with a swifter, and others a •lower Succession, and sometimes with Interruptions of much Darkness
The way that Grace seems sometimes first to appear after legal Humiliation, is in earnest Longings of Soul after God and Christ, to know God, to love him, to be humbled before him, to have Communion with Christ in his Benefits, which Longings, as they express them, seem evidently to be of such a nature as can arise from nothing but a sense of the superlative Excellency of divine things, with a spiritual Taste and Relish of 'em, and an Esteem of 'em as their highest Happiness and best Portion. Such Longings as I speak of, are commonly attended with firm Resolutions to pursue this Good for ever, together with a hoping, waiting Disposition. When Persons have begun in such Frames, commonly other Experiences and Discoveries have soon followed, which have yet more clearly manifested a change of Heart.