N03467:785
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.
They are so greatly taken with their new Discovery, and Things appear so plain, and so rational to 'em, that they are often at first ready to think they can convince others; and are apt to engage in talk with every one they meet with,almost to this End; and when they are disappointed, are ready to wonder that their Reasonings seem to make no more Impression.
Many fall under such a Mistake as to be ready to doubt of their good Estate, because there was so much use made of their own Reason in the Convictions they have received; they are afraid that they have no Illumination above the natural Force of their own Faculties: ⟨p. 44⟩And many make that an Objection against the Spirituality of their Convictions, that 'tis so easy to see Things as they now see them. They have often heard that Conversion is a work of mighty Power, manifesting to the Soul what no Man nor Angel can give such a Conviction of; but it seems to them that the Things that they see are so plain, and easy, and rational, that any body can see them: And if they are enquired of, why they never saw so before; they say, it seems to them it was because they never thought of it. But very often these Difficulties are soon removed by those of another nature; for when God withdraws, they find themselves as it were blind again, they for the present lose their realizing Sense of those Things that looked so plain to 'em, and by all that they can do they can't recover it, till God renews the Influences of his Spirit.
Many fall under such a Mistake as to be ready to doubt of their good Estate, because there was so much use made of their own Reason in the Convictions they have receiv'd; they are afraid that they have no Illumination above the natural Force of their own Faculties: ⟨p. 44⟩And many make that an Objection against the Spirituality of their Convictions, that 'tis so easy to see Things as they now see them. They have often heard that Conversion is a work of mighty Power, manifesting to the Soul what no Man nor Angel can give such a Conviction of; but it seems to them that the Things that they see are so plain, and easy, and rational, that any body can see them: And if they are enquired of, why they never saw so before; they say, it seems to them it was because they never thought of it. But very often these Difficulties are soon removed by those of another nature; for when God withdraws, they find themselves as it were blind again, they for the present lose their realizing Sense of those Things that looked so plain to 'em, and by all that they can do they can't recover it, till God renews the Influences of his Spirit.