N03467:803
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 do not suppose that they themselves imagined that they saw any thing with their bodily Eyes; but only have had within them Ideas strongly impressed, and as it were, lively Pictures in their Minds: As for instance, some when in great Terrors, through fear of Hell, have had lively Ideas of a dreadful Furnace. Some, when their Hearts have been strongly impressed, and their Affections greatly moved with a sense of the Beauty and Excellency of Christ, it has wrought on their Imaginations so, that together with a sense of his glorious spiritual Perfections, there has arisen in the Mind an Idea of one of glorious Majesty, and of a sweet and a gracious Aspect: So some when they have been greatly affected with Christ's Death, have at the same time a lively Idea of Christ hanging upon the Cross, and of his Blood running from his Wounds; which things won't be wondered at by them that have observed how strong Affections about temporal Matters will excite lively Ideas and Pictures of different things in the Mind.
I do not suppose that they themselves imagined that they saw any thing with their bodily Eyes; but only have had within them Ideas strongly impress'd, and as it were, livel• Pictures in their Minds: As for instance, some when in great Terrors, through fear of Hell, have had lively Ideas of a dreadful Furnace. Some, when their Hearts have been strongly impress'd, and their Affections greatly moved with a sens• of the Beauty and Excellency of Christ, it has wrought on their Imaginations so, that together with a sense of his gloriou• spiritual Perfections, there has arisen in the Mind an Idea of one of glorious Majesty, and of a sweet and a gracious Aspect: So some when they have been greatly affected with Christ's Death, have at the same time a lively Idea of Christ hanging upon the Cross, and of his Blood running from his Wounds; which things won't be wondred at by them that have observed how strong Affections about temporal Matters will excite lively Ideas and Pictures of different things in the Mind.
But yet the vigorous Exercise of the Mind, does doubtless more strongly impress it with imaginary Ideas, in some than others, which probably may arise from the difference of Constitution, and seems, evidently in some, partly to arise from their peculiar Circumstances: When Persons have been exercised with extreme Terrors, and there is a sudden change to Light and Joy, the Imagination seems more susceptive of strong Ideas, and the inferior Powers, and even the Frame of the Body, is much more affected and wrought upon, than when the same Persons have as great spiritual Light and Joy afterwards; of which it might, perhaps, be easy to give a Reason. The forementioned Rev. Messi Lord and Owen, who I believe, are esteemed Persons of Learning and Discretion where they are best known, declared that they found these Impressions on Persons Imaginations, quite different things from what Fame had before represented to them, and that they were what none need to wonder at, or be stumbled by, or to that purpose.