N05272:106
A farewell-sermon preached at the first precinct in Northampton, after the people's public rejection…A farewel-sermon preached at the first precinct in Northampton, after the people's publick rejection…
A farewell-sermon preached at the first precinct in Northampton, after the people's public rejection of their minister, and renouncing their relation to him as pastor of the church there, on June 22, 1750. : Occasioned by difference of sentiments, concerning the requisite qualifications of members of the church, in complete standing. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. ; [Twelve lines of Scripture texts]A farewel-sermon preached at the first precinct in Northampton, after the people's publick rejection of their minister, and renouncing their relation to him as pastor of the church there, on June 22, 1750. : Occasion'd by difference of sentiments, concerning the requisite qualifications of members of the church, in compleat standing. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. ; [Twelve lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland over agianst the prison, 1751
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 have endeavoured, according to my best Ability, to search the Word of God, with Regard to the distinguishing Notes of true Piety, those by which Persons might best discover their State, and most surely and clearly judge of themselves. And these Rules and Marks I have from Time to Time applied to you, in the Preaching of the Word, to the utmost of my Skill, and in the most plain and searching Manner that I have been able; in Order to the detecting the deceived Hypocrite, and establishing the Hopes and Comforts of the Sincere. And yet 'tis to be feared, that after all that I have done, I now leave some of you in a deceived deluded State; for 'tis not to be supposed that among several Hundred Professors, none are deceived.
I have endeavoured, according to my best Ability, to search the Word of God, with Regard to the distinguishing Notes of true Piety, those by which Persons might best discover their State, and most surely and clearly judge of themselves. And these Rules and Marks I have from Time to Time applied to you, in the Preaching of the Word, to the utmost of my Skill, and in the most plain and searching Manner that I have been able; in Order to the detecting the deceived Hypocrite, and establishing the Hopes and Comforts of the Sincere. And yet 'tis to be fear'd, that after all that I have done, I now leave some of you in a deceived deluded State; for 'tis not to be supposed that among several Hundred Professors, none are deceived.
Henceforward I am like to have no more Opportunity to take the Care and Charge of your Souls, to examine and search them. But still I entreat you to remember and consider the Rules which I have often laid down to you, during my Ministry, with a solemn Regard to the future Day when you and I must meet together before our Judge; when the Uses of Examination you have have heard from me must be rehearsed again before you, and those Rules of Trial must be tried, and it will appear whether they have been good or not; and it will also appear whether you have impartially heard them & tried your-selves by them; and the Judge himself who is Infallible will try both you and me: And after this none will be deceived concerning the State of their Souls.