N05520:24
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.
The Devil once was holy; but when he fell, he lost all his Holiness, and became perfectly wicked. He is the greatest Sinner, and in some Sense, the Father of all Sin. John viii. 44. Ye are of your Father the Devil, and the Lusts of your Father ye will do. He was a Murderer from the Beginning, ⟨p. 5⟩and abode not in the Truth; because there was no Truth in him: When he speaketh a Lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a Liar, and the Father of it. 1 John, iii. 8. He that committeth Sin is of the Devil; for the Devil sinneth from the Beginning. He is often spoken of, as by Way of Eminence, THE WICKED ONE. So, Matt. xiii. 19. Then cometh the wicked One, and catcheth away that which was sown in his Heart. V. 38. The Tares are the Children of the wicked One. 1 John, ii. 13. I write unto you young Men, because ye have overcome the wicked One. Chap. iii. 12. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked One. Chap. v. 18. Whosoever is born of GOD—keepeth himself, and that wicked One toucheth him not. So the Devils are called evil Spirits, unclean Spirits, Powers of Darkness, Rulers of the Darkness of this World, and Wickedness it self: Eph. vi. 12. For we wrestle not against Flesh and Blood; but against Principalities, against Powers, against the Rulers of the Darkness of this World, against spiritual Wickedness in high Places.
Therefore, surely those Things which the Minds of Devils are the Subjects of, can have Nothing of the Nature of true Holiness in 'em. The Knowledge and Understanding which they have of the Things of GOD and Religion, cannot •e of the Nature of divine and holy Light, nor any Knowledge that is merely of the same Kind. No such Impressions as are made on their Hearts, can be of a spiritual Nature. That Kind of Sense, which they have of divine Things, however great, cannot be an holy Sense. Such Affections as move their Hearts, however powerful, cannot be holy Affections. If there be no Holiness in them, as they are in the Devil, there can be no Holiness in them as they are in Man; unless something be added to them, beyond what is in them, or they are in the Devil. And if any Thing be added to 'em, then they are not the same Things; but are something beyond what Devils are the Subjects of; which is contrary to the Supposition; for the Proposition which I am upon, is, that those Things which are of the same Nature, and Nothing beyond what Devils are the Subjects of, cannot be holy Experiences. 'Tis not the Subject that makes the Affection, or Experience, or Quality holy; but 'tis the Quality that makes the Subject holy.