N05520:143
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.
But the foolish Children of Men do miserably delude themselves in their own Schemes, and in their Confidence in their own Strength and Wisdom; they trust to nothing but a Shadow. The bigger Part of those that heretofore have lived under the same Means of Grace, and are now dead, are undoubtedly gone to Hell; and it was not because they were not as wise as those that are now alive; it was not because they did not lay out Matters as well for themselves to ⟨p. 51⟩secure their own Escape. If it were so, that we could come to speak with them, and could enquire of them, one by one, whether they expected when alive, and when they used to hear about Hell, ever to be the Subjects of that Misery, we doubtless should hear one and another reply, No, I never intended to come here; I had laid out Matters otherwise in my Mind; I thought I should contrive well for my self; I thought my Scheme good; I intended to take effectual Care; but it came upon me unexpected; I did not look for it at that Time, and in that Manner; it came as a Thief; Death outwitted me; GOD's Wrath was too quick for me; O my cursed Foolishness! I was flattering myself, and pleasing myself with vain Dreams of what I would do hereafter, and when I was saying Peace and Safety, then sudden Destruction came upon me.
10. GOD has laid himself under no Obligation, by any Promise, to keep any natural Man out of Hell one Moment. GOD certainly has made no Promises either of eternal Life, or of any Deliverance or Preservation from eternal Death, but what are contained in the Covenant of Grace, the Promises that are given in CHRIST, in whom all the Promises are Yea and Amen. But surely they have no Interest in the Promises of the Covenant of Grace, that are not the Children of the Covenant, and that don't believe in any of the Promises of the Covenant, and have no Interest in the Mediator of the Covenant.