N05663:397
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.
According to this Doctrine, That Creature who is evidently set forth in Scripture as the First-born of every Creature, as having in all Things the Pre-eminence, and as the highest of all Creatures in Virtue, Honour, and Worthiness of Esteem, Praise and Glory, on the Account of his Virtue, is less worthy of Reward or Praise, than the very least of Saints; yea, no more worthy than a Clock or mere Machine, that is purely passive, and moved by natural Necessity.
According to this Doctrine, That Creature who is evidently set forth in Scripture as the First-born of every Creature, as having in all Things the Pre-eminence, and as the highest of all Creatures in Vertue, Honour, and Worthiness of Esteem, Praise and Glory, on the Account of his Vertue, is less worthy of Reward or Praise, than the very least of Saints; yea, no more worthy than a Clock or meer Machine, that is purely passive, and moved by natural Necessity.
If we judge by scriptural Representations of Things, we have Reason to suppose, that Christ took on him our Nature, and dwelt with us in this World, in a suffering State, not only to satisfy for our Sins; but that He, being in our Nature and Circumstances, and under our Trials, might be our most fit and proper Example, Leader and Captain, in the Exercise of glorious and victorious Virtue, and might be a visible Instance of the glorious End and Reward of it; That we might see in Him the Beauty, Amiableness, and true Honour and Glory, and exceeding Benefit of that Virtue, which it is proper for us human Beings to practise; and might thereby learn, and be animated, to seek the like Glory and Honour, and to obtain the like glorious Reward. See Heb. ii.9,— 14, with v.8, 9. and xii.1, 2, 3. Joh. xv.10. Rom. viii.17. 2 Tim. ii.11.12. 1 Pet. ii.19, 20. & iv.13. But if there was Nothing of any Virtue or Merit, or Worthiness of any Reward, Glory, Praise or Commendation at all, in all that He did, because it was all necessary, and He could not help it; then how is here any Thing so proper to animate and incite us, free Creatures, by patient Continuance in well-doing, to seek for Honour, Glory, and Virtue?