N05663:651
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.
by bringing this to pass in his sovereign Disposals, as the great Possessor and Governor of the Universe, that disposes all Things just as pleases him. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel; I have made the Earth, the Man and the Beast that are upon the Ground, by my great Power, and my stretched out Arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me: And now I have given all these Lands into the Hands of Nebuchadnezzar MY SERVANT, and the Beasts of the Field have I given also to serve him. And Nebuchadnezzar is spoken of as doing these Things, by having his Arms strengthened by God, and having God's Sword put into his Hands, for this End. Ezek. xxx.24, 25, 26. Yea, God speaks of his terribly ravaging and wasting the Nations, and cruelly destroying all Sorts, without Distinction of Sex or Age, as the Weapon in God's Hand, and the Instrument of his Indignation, which ⟨p. 257⟩God makes use of to fulfil his own Purposes, and execute his own Vengeance. Jer. li.20, &c. Thou art my Battle-A••, and Weapons of War. For with thee will I break in Pieces the Nations, and with thee I will destroy Kingdoms, and with thee I will break in Pieces the Horse and his Rider, and with thee I will break in Pieces the Chariot and his Rider; with thee also will I break in Pieces Man and Woman; and with thee will I break in Pieces Old and Young; and with thee will I break in Pieces the young Man and the Maid, &c. 'Tis represented, that the Designs of Nebuchadnezzar, and those that destroyed Jerusalem, never could have been accomplished, had not God determined them, as well as they; Lam. iii.37. Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, and the Lord commandeth it not? And yet the King of Babylon's thus destroying the Nations, and especially the Jews, is spoken of as his great Wickedness, for which God finally destroyed him. Isai. xiv.4, 5, 6, 12. Heb. ii.5,—12. and Jer. Chap. l. & li. 'Tis most manifest, that God, to serve his own Designs, providentially ordered Shimei's cursing David. 2 Sam. xvl.10, 11. The Lord hath said unto him, Curse David.— Let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him.