N03467:789
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 very often speak much of their Sense of the Excellency of the way of Salvation, by free and sovereign Grace, through the Righteousness of Christ alone; and how it is with delight that they renounce their own Righteousness, and rejoice in having no Account made of it Many have expressed themselves to this purpose, that it would lessen the Satisfaction they hope for in Heaven to have it by their own Righteousness, or in any other way than as bestowed by free Grace, and for Christ's sake alone. They speak much of the Inexpressibleness of what they experience, how their Words fail, so that they can in no wise declare it: and particularly speak with exceeding Admiration of the superlative Excellency of that pleasure and delight of Soul, which they sometimes, enjoy; how a little of it is sufficient to pay 'em for the Pains and Trouble they have gone through in seeking Salvation; and how far it exceeds all earthly Pleasures: And some express much of the Sense which these spiritual Views give 'em of the Vanity of earthly Enjoyments, how mean and worthless all these Things appear to 'em.
Many, while their Minds have been filled with spiritual Delights, have as it were forgot their Food; their bodily Appetite has failed, while their Minds have been entertained with Meat to eat that others knew not of. The Light and Comfort which some of them enjoy, gives a new relish to their common Blessings, and causes all Things about 'em to appear as it were beautiful, sweet and pleasant to them: All Things abroad, the Sun, Moon and Stars, the Clouds and Sky, the Heavens and Earth, appear as it were with a Cast of divine Glory and Sweetness upon them. The sweetest Joy that these good People amongst us express, is not that which consists in a Sense of the Safety of their own State, and that now they are out of danger of Hell; ⟨p. 47⟩frequently, in times of their highest spiritual Entertainment, this seems to be as it were forgotten. The supreme Attention of their Minds is to the glorious Excellencies of God and Christ, which they have in view; not but that there is very often a ravishing Sense of God's Love accompanying a Sense of his Excellency, and they rejoice in a Sense of the Faithfulness of God's Promises, as they respect the future eternal Enjoyment of God.