N05663:649
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.
That it is most certainly so, that God is in such a Manner the Disposer and Orderer of Sin, is evident, if any Credit is to be given to the Scripture; as well as because it is impossible in the Nature of Things to be otherwise. In such a Manner God ordered the Obstinacy of Pharaoh, in his refusing to obey God's Commands, to let the People go. Exod. iv.21. I will harden his Heart, and he shall not let the People go. Chap. vii.2—5. Aaron thy Brother shall spe•k unto Pharaoh, that he send the Children of Israel out of his Land. And I will harden Pharaoh's Heart, and multiply my Signs and my Wonders in the Land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that I may lay mine Hand upon Egypt, by great Judgments, &c. Chap. ix.12. And the Lord hardened the Heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them, as the Lord had spoken unto Moses. Chap. x.1, 2. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh; for I have hardened his Heart, and the Heart of his Servants, that I might show th•se my Signs before Him, and that thou mayst t•ll it in the Ears of thy Son, and thy Son's Son, what Things I have wrought in Egypt, and my Sign• which I have done amongst them, that ye may know that I am the Lord. Chap. xiv.4. And I will harden Pharaoh's Heart, that he shall follow after them: and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his Host. V. 8. And the Lord hardened the Heart of Pharaoh King of Egypt, and he pursued after the Children of Israel. And it is certain that in such a Manner, God for wise and good End•, ordered that Event, Joseph's being sold into Egypt by his Brethren. Gen. xlv. 5. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve Life. Ver. 7, 8. God did send me before you to preserve a Posterity in the Earth, and to save your Lives by a great Deliverance: so that now it was not you, that sent me hither, but God. Psal. cvii.17. He sent a Man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a Servant. 'Tis certain, that thus God ordered the Sin and Folly of Sihon King of the Amorites, in refusing to let the People of Israel pass by him peaceably.