N03467:796
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 a great Difference among those that are converted as to the Degree of Hope and Satisfaction that they have concerning their own State. Some have a high degree of Satisfaction in this Matter almost constantly: And yet it is rare that any do enjoy so full an Assurance of their Interest in Christ, that Self-Examination should seem needless to them; unless it be at particular Seasons, while in the actual enjoyment of some great Discovery, that God gives of his Glory and rich Grace in Christ, to the drawing forth of extraordinary ⟨p. 50⟩acts of Grace. But the greater part, as they sometimes fall into dead Frames of Spirit, are frequently exercised with Scruples and Fears concerning their Condition.
They generally have an awful Apprehension of the Dreadfulness and undoing Nature of a false Hope; and there has been observable in most a great Caution, left in giving an account of their Experiences, they should say too much, and use too strong Terms: And many after they have related their Experiences, have been greatly afflicted with Fears, left they have played the Hypocrite, and used stronger Terms than their Case would fairly allow of; and yet could not find how they could correct themselves.
They generally have an awful Apprehension of the Dreadfulness and undoing Nature of a false Hope; and there has been observable in most a great Caution, left in giving an account of their Experiences, they should say too much, and use too strong Terms: And many after they have related their Experiences, have been greatly afflicted with Fears, left they have play'd the Hypocrite, and used stronger Terms than their Case would fairly allow of; and yet could not find how they could correct themselves.
I think that the main ground of the Doubts and Fears that Persons, after their Conversion, have been exercised with about their own State, has been that they have found so much Corruption remaining in their Hearts. At first their Souls seem to be all alive, their Hearts are fixed, and their Affections flowing; they seem to live quite above the World, and meet with but little Difficulty in religious Exercises; and they are ready to think it will always be so: Tho' they are truly abased under a Sense of their Vileness by reason of former Acts of Sin, yet they are not then sufficiently sensible what Corruption still remains in their Hearts; and therefore are surprised when they find that they begin to be in dull and dead Frames, to be troubled with wandering Thoughts in the time of public and private Worship, and to be utterly unable to keep themselves from 'em; also when they find themselves unaffected at Seasons in which, they think there is the greatest Occasion to be affected; and when they feel worldly Dispositions working in them, and it may be Pride, and Envy, and stirrings of Revenge, or some ill Spirit towards some Person, that has injured […], as well as other workings of indwelling Sin: Their Hearts are almost sunk with the Disappointment, and they are ready presently to think that all this they have met with is nothing, and that they are mee Hypocrites.