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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.
And if there was no Merit in Christ's Obedience unto Death, if it was not worthy of Praise, and of the most ⟨p. 151⟩glorious Rewards, the heavenly Hosts were exceedingly mistaken, by the Account that is given of them, in Rev. v.8,—12.—The four Beasts and the four and twenty Elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them Harps, and golden Vials full of Odours;— And they sung a new Song, saying, Thou art WORTHY to take the Book, and to open the Seals thereof; for Thou wast slain, — And I beheld, and I heard the Voice of many Angels round about the Throne, and the Beasts, and the Elders, and the Number of them was ten Thousand Times ten Thousand, and Thousands of Thousands, saying with a loud Voice, WORTHY is the Lamb that was slain, to receive Power, and Riches, and Wisdom, and Strength, and Honour, and Glory, and Blessing.
Christ speaks of the eternal Life which He was to receive, as the Reward of his Obedience to the Father's Commandments. Joh. xii.49, 50. I have not spoken of my self; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a Commandment what I should say, and what I should speak: And I know that his Commandment is Life everlasting: Whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.—God promises to divide Him a Portion with the great &c. for his being his righteous Servant, for his glorious Virtue under such great Trials & Sufferings. Isai. liii.11, 12. He shall see of the Travel of his Soul and be satisfied: By his Knowledge shall my righteous Servant justify many; for he shall bear their Iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a Portion with the Great, and he shall divide the Spoil with the Strong, because He hath poured out his Soul unto Death.— The Scriptures represent God as rewarding Him far above all his other Servants. Phil. ii.7, 8, 9