N03467:774
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.
I have been much blamed and censured by many, that I should make it my Practice, when I have been satisfied concerning Persons good Estate, to signify it to them: Which Thing has been greatly misrepresented abroad, as innumerable other Things concerning us, to prejudice the Country against the whole Affair But let it be noted, that what I have undertaken to judge of, has rather been Qualifications, and declared Experiences, ⟨p. 38⟩than Persons: Not but that I have thought […] Duty as a Pastor to assist and instruct Persons in applying Scripture Rules and Characters to their own Case, (in doing of which, I think many greatly need a Guide,) and have, where I thought the Case plain, used Freedom in signifying my Hope of them, to others: but have been far from doing this concerning all that I have had some hopes of; and I believe have used much more Caution than many have supposed. Yet I should account it a great Calamity to be deprived of the Com•ort of Rejoicing with those of my Flock, that have been in great Distress, whose Circumstances I have been acquainted with, when there seems to be good Evidence that those that were dead are alive, and those that were lost are found. I am sensible the Practice would have been safer in the hands of one of a riper Judgment and greater Experience; but yet there has seemed to be an absolute Necessi•• of it on the forementioned Accounts; and it has ••en found to be that which God has most remarkably owned and blessed amongst us, both to the Persons themselves and others.
I have been much blamed and censured by many, that I should make it my Practice, when I have been satisfied concerning Persons good Estate, to signify it to them: Which Thing has been greatly misrepresented abroad, as innumerable other Things concerning us, to prejudice the Country against the whole Affair But let it be noted, that what I have undertaken to judge of, has rather been Qualifications, and declared Experiences, ⟨p. 38⟩than Persons: Not but that I have thought 〈…〉 Duty as a Pastor to assist and instruct Persons in applying Scripture Rules and Characters to their own Case, (in doing of which, I think many greatly need a Guide,) and have, where I thought the Case plain, used Freedom in signifying my Hope of them, to others: but have been far from doing this concerning all that I have had some hopes of; and I believe have used much more Cauion than many have supposed. Yet I should account it a great Calamity to be deprived of the Comort of Rejoicing with those of my Flock, that have been in great Distress, whose Circumstances I have been acquainted with, when there seems to be good Evidence that those that were dead are alive, and those that were lost are found. I am sensible the Practice would have been safer in the hands of one of a riper Judgment and greater Experience; but yet there has seemed to be an absolute Necessi of it on the forementioned Accounts; and it has en found to be that which God has most remarkably owned and blessed amongst us, both to the Persons themselves and others.