N05520:25
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.
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.
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 meerly 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.