N05663:395
A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of…
A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of will, which is supposed to be essential to moral agency, virtue and vice, reward and punishment, praise and blame. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the church in Stockbridge. ; [One line from Romans]A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of will, which is supposed to be essential to moral agency, vertue and vice, reward and punishment, praise and blame. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the church in Stockbridge. ; [One line from Romans]
printed by S. Kneeland, 1754
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 forementioned Writer represents Promises offered as Motives to Persons to do their Duty, or a being moved and induced by Promises, as utterly inconsistent with a State wherein Persons have not a Liberty ad utrumlibet, but are necessarily determined to one. (See particularly, P. 298. & 311.) But the Thing which this Writer asserts, is demonstrably false, if the Christian Religion be true. If there be any Truth in Christianity or the holy Scriptures, the Man Christ Jesus had his Will infallibly, unalterably and unfrustrab•y determined to Good, and that alone; but yet he had Promises of glorious Rewards made to Him, on Condition of his persevering in, and perfecting the Work which God had appointed Him; Isai. liii.10, 11, 12. Psal. ii. & cx. Isai. xlix.7, 8, 9.— In Luke xxii.28, 29. Christ says to his Disciples, Ye are They which have continued with me in my Temptations; and I appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me. The Word most properly signifies to appoint by Covenant, or Promise. The plain Meaning of Christ's Words is this: As you have partook of my Temptations and Trials, and have been steadfast, & have overcome; I promise to make you Partakers of my Reward, and to give you a Kingdom; as the Father has promised me a Kingdom for continuing steadfast, and overcoming in those Trials. And the Words are well explained by those in Rev. iii.21. To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me in my Throne; even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his Throne. And Christ had not only Promises of glorious Success and Rewards made to his Obedience and Sufferings, but the Scriptures plainly represent Him as using these Promises for Motives and Inducements to obey and suffer; and ⟨p. 149⟩particularly that Promise of a Kingdom which the Father had appointed Him, or sitting with the Father on his Throne; as in Heb. xii.1, 2· Let us lay aside every Weight, and the Sin which doth easily beset us, and let us run with Patience the Race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith; who for the Joy that was set before Him, endured the Cross, despising the Shame, and is set down on the right Hand of the Throne of God.