N05520:74
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.
Therefore, however, true Godliness is now attended with a great Sense of the Importance of divine Things; and 'tis rare, that Men that have no Grace, do maintain such a Sense, in any steady and persevering Manner; yet 'tis manifest, those Things are no certain Evidences of Grace. Unregenerate Men may have a Sense of the Importance of the Things ⟨p. 26⟩of Eternity, and the Vanity of the Things of Time; the Work of immortal Souls; the Preciousness of Time and Means of Grace, and the Folly of the Ways of allowed Sin: And may have such a Sense of these Things, as may deeply affect them, and cause 'em to mourn for their own Sins, and be much concerned for others. Tho' it be true, they have not these Things in the same Manner, and in all Respects, from the same Principles and Views, as godly Men have them.
2. Devils and damned Men, have a strong and most affecting Sense of the awful Greatness and Majesty of GOD. The awful Majesty of GOD, are greatly made manifest in the Executions of divine Wrath, which they are the Subjects of. The making this known, is one Thing GOD has in Design, in his Vengeance on his Enemies. Rom. ix. 22. What, if GOD willing to show his Wrath, and to make his Power known, endured with much long suffering the Vessels of Wrath, fitted to Destruction? The Devils tremble before this great and terrible GOD, and under a strong Sense of his awful Majesty. 'Tis greatly manifested to them, and damned Souls now; but shall be manifested in a further Degree, in that Day, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven, in flaming Fire, to take Vengeance upon them; and when they shall earnestly desire to fly, and be hid from the Face of Him that sits on the Throne, (which shall be, because of the Glory of His Majesty. Isai. ii. 10.) and when they shall be punished with everlasting Destruction, from the Presence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his Power. When CHRIST comes, at the last Day, in the Glory of his Father, every Eye shall see him in that Glory, (in this Respect, that they shall see his terrible Majesty) and they also that pierced Him: