N05520:159
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.
2. 'Tis the Fierceness of his Wrath that you are exposed to. We often read of the Fury of GOD; as in Isai. lix. 18. According to their Deeds, accordingly he will repay Fury to his Adversaries. So Isai. lxvi, 15. For behold, the Lord will come with Fire, and with Chariots, like a Whirlwind, to render his Anger with Fury, and his Rebukes with Flames of Fire. And so in many other Places. So we read of GOD's Fierceness. Rev. xix. 15. There we read of the Wine-Press of the Fierceness and Wrath of Almighty GOD. The Words are exceeding terrible. If it had only been said, the Wrath of GOD, the Words would have implied that which is infinitely dreadful: But 'tis not only said so, but the Fierceness and Wrath of GOD: The Fury of GOD! the Fierceness of Jehovah! Oh how dreadful must that be! Who can utter or conceive what such Expressions carry in them! But it is not only said so, but the Fierceness and Wrath of ALMIGHTY GOD. As tho' there would be a very great Manifestation of his almighty Power, in what the Fierceness of his Wrath should inflict, as tho' Omnipotence should be as it were enraged, and exerted, as Men were wont to exert their Strength in the Fierceness of their Wrath. Oh! then what will be the Consequence! What will become of the poor Worm that shall suffer it! Whose Hands can be strong? And whose Heart endure? To what a dreadful, inexpressible, inconceivable ⟨p. 57⟩Depth of Misery must the poor Creature be sunk who shall be the Subject of this!
Consider this, you that are here present, that yet remain in an unregenerate State. That GOD will execute the Fierceness of his Anger, implies, that he will inflict Wrath without any Pity: When GOD beholds the ineffable Extremity of your Case, and sees your Torment to be so vastly disproportioned to your Strength, and sees how your poor Soul is crushed and sinks down, as it were into an infinite Gloom; he will have no Compassion upon you, he will not forbear the Executions of his Wrath, or in the least lighten his Hand; there shall be no Moderation or Mercy, nor will GOD then at all stay his rough Wind; he will have no Regard to your Welfare, nor be at all careful lest you should suffer too much, in any other Sense, than only that you shall not suffer beyond what strict Justice requires: Nothing shall be with-held, because it's so hard for you to bear.