N05520:47
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.
Tho' 'tis probably a very rare Thing, for unregenerate Men, to have a strong Persuasion of the Truth of the Doctrines of Religion, especially, such of 'em as are very mysterious, and much above the Comprehension of Reason: Yea, 'tis manifest, that we have no Warrant to determine, that it can never be so, or to look upon such a Persuasion, as an infallible Evidence of Grace; and that no Person can safely determine his State to be good from such an Evidence. Yet if He, not only Himself, seems to be very confident of the Truth of Christianity and its Doctrines, but is able to argue most strongly for the Proof of them; yet in this, he goes nothing beyond the Devil; who, doubtless, has a great Knowledge of the rational Arguments, by which the Truth of the Christian Religion, and its several Principles are evinced.
Tho' 'tis probably a very rare Thing, for unregenerate Men, to have a strong Persuasion of the Truth of the Doctrines of Religion, especially, such of 'em as are very mysterious, and much above the Comprehension of Reason: Yea, 'tis manifest, that we have no Warrant to determine, that it can never be so, or to look upon such a Persuasion, as an infalliable Evidence of Grace; and that no Person can safely determine his State to be good from such an Evidence. Yet if He, not only Himself, seems to be very confident of the Truth of Christianity and its Doctrines, but is able to argue most strongly for the Proof of them; yet in this, he goes nothing beyond the Devil; who, doubtless, has a great Knowledge of the rational Arguments, by which the Truth of the Christian Religion, and its several Principles are evinced.
And therefore, when the Scripture speaks of believing that Jesus is the Son of GOD, as a sure Evidence of Grace, as in 1. John v. 1. and other Places, it must be understood, not of a mere speculative Assent, but of another Kind and Manner of Believing, which is called the Faith of GOD's Elect. Tit. i. 1. There is a spiritual Conviction of the Truth, which is, a believing with the whole Heart, peculiar to true Saints; of which I would speak particularly by and by.