N05520:130
True grace, distinguished from the experience of devils; in a sermon, preached before the…
True grace, distinguished from the experience of devils; in a sermon, preached before the Synod of New-York, convened at New-Ark, in New-Jersey, on September 28. N.S. 1752. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the Church of Christ in Stockbridge in New-England. ; (Printed by the desire of the synod.) : [Four lines from II. Corinthians]
New-York: printed by James Parker, 1753
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.
By the mere Pleasure of GOD, I mean his sovereign Pleasure, his arbitrary Will, restrained by no Obligation, hindered by no Manner of Difficulty, any more than if nothing else but GOD's mere Will had in the least Degree, or in any Respect whatsoever, any Hand in the Preservation of wicked Men one Moment.
By the meer Pleasure of GOD, I mean his sovereign Pleasure, his arbitrary Will, restrained by no Obligation, hinder'd by no Manner of Difficulty, any more than if nothing else but GOD's meer Will had in the least Degree, or in any Respect whatsoever, any Hand in the Preservation of wicked Men one Moment.
The Truth of this Observation may appear by the following Considerations.
1. There is no Want of Power in GOD to cast wicked Men into Hell at any Moment. Men's Hands can't be strong when GOD rises up: The strongest have no Power to resist him, nor can any deliver out of his Hands.
He is not only able to cast wicked Men into Hell, but he can most easily do it. Sometimes an earthly Prince meets with a great deal of Difficulty to subdue a Rebel, that has found Means to fortify himself, and has made himself strong by the Numbers of his Followers. But it is not so with GOD. There is no Fortress that is any Defence from the Power of GOD. Tho' Hand join in Hand, and vast Multitudes of GOD's Enemies combine and associate themselves, they are easily broken in Pieces: They are as great Heaps of light