N05520:34
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.
TRUE GRACE, Distinguished from the EXPERIENCE OF DEVILS. › IMPROVEMENT.
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.
I. From what has been said, it may be inferred, by Parity of Reason, that Nothing that damned Men do, or ever will Experience, can be any sure Sign of Grace.
I. From what has been said, it may be infer'd, by Parity of Reason, that Nothing that damned Men do, or ever will Experience, can be any sure Sign of Grace.
Damned Men are like the Devils; are conformed to 'em in Nature and State. They have nothing better in them than the Devils; have no higher Principles in their Hearts; experience nothing, and do nothing of a more excellent Kind: As they are the Children and Servants of the Devil; and as such shall dwell with him, and be Partakers with him, of the same Misery. As CHRIST says, concerning the Saints, in their future State; Matt. xxii. 30. That they shall be as the Angels of GOD in Heaven: So it may be said concerning ungodly Men, in their future State; that they shall be as the fallen, wicked Angels in Hell.
Each of the forementioned Reasons, given to show the Truth of the Doctrine, with Respect to Devils, hold good with Respect to damned Men. Damned Men have no Degree of Holiness: And therefore, those Things, which are nothing beyond what they have, cannot be holy Experiences. So it is true, that the damned Men, are not only absolutely destitute of all true Holiness, but they have not so much as any common Grace. And lastly, 'tis unreasonable to suppose, that a Person's being in any Respect, as the damned in Hell are, should be a certain Sign, that they are very unlike and opposite to them, and hereafter, shall not have their Portion with them.
Each of the forementioned Reasons, given to shew the Truth of the Doctrine, with Respect to Devils, hold good with Respect to damned Men. Damned Men have no Degree of Holiness: And therefore, those Things, which are nothing beyond what they have, cannot be holy Experiences. So it is true, that the damned Men, are not only absolutely destitute of all true Holiness, but they have not so much as any common Grace. And lastly, 'tis unreasonable to suppose, that a Person's being in any Respect, as the damned in Hell are, should be a certain Sign, that they are very unlike and opposite to them, and hereafter, shall not have their Portion with them.