N03467:794
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.
It is worthy to be remarked, that some Persons by their Conversion seem to be greatly helped as to their doctrinal Notions of Religion; it was particularly remarkable in one, who having been taken captive in his Childhood, was trained up in Canada, in the Popish Religion; and some Years since returned to this his native Place, and was in a measure brought off from Popery: but seemed very awkward and dull of receiving any true and clear Notion of the Protestant Scheme, till he was converted; and then he was remarkably altered in this respect.
It is worthy to be remarked, that some Persons by their Conversion seem to be greatly helped as to their doctrinal Notions of Religion; it was particulary remarkable in one, who having been taken captive in his Childhood, was train'd up in Canada, in the Popish Religion; and some Years since returned to this his native Place, and was in a measure brought off from Popery: but seem'd very awkward and dull of receiving any true and clear Notion of the Protestant Scheme, till he was converted; and then he was remarkably altered in this respect.
There is a vast difference, as has been observed in the Degree, and also in the particular Manner of Persons Experiences, both at, and after Conversion; some have Grace working more sensibly in one way, others in another. Some speak more fully of a Conviction of ⟨p. 49⟩the Justice of God in their Condemnation; others more of their consenting to the way of Salvation by Christ; some more of the Actings of Love to God and Christ: Some more of Acts of Affiance, in a sweet and assured Conviction of the Truth and Faithfulness of God in his Promises; others more of their choosing and resting in God as their whole and everlasting Portion, and of their ardent and longing Desires after God, to have Communion with him; others more of their abhorrence of themselves for their past Sins, and earnest Longings to live to God's Glory for the time to come: Some have their Mind fixed more on God; others on Christ, as I have observed before, but it seems evidently to be the same Work, the same Thing done, the same habitual Change wrought in the Heart; it all tends the same way, and to the same End: and 'tis plainly the same Spirit that breathes and acts in various Persons. There is an endless Variety in the particular manner and circumstances in which Persons a wrought on, and an opportunity of seeing so much of such a Work of God, will show that God is further from confining himself to certain Steps, and a particular Method, in his Work on Souls, than it may be some do imagine. I believe it has occasioned some good People amongst us, that were before too ready to make their own Experiences a Rule to others, to be less censorious and more extended in their Charity. The Work of God has been glorious in its Variety, it has the more displayed the manifoldness and unsearchableness of the Wisdom of God, and wrought more Charity among his People.