N07809:127
Two dissertations, I. Concerning the end for which God created the world. II. The…
Two dissertations, I. Concerning the end for which God created the world. II. The nature of true virtue. / by the late Reverend, learned and pious Jonathan Edwards, A.M. president of the College in New-Jersey.
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland, 1765
Concerning the END for which GOD created the WORLD. › Chapter 1 › Sect 4
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.
2. IN answer to the objection we are upon; as to God's creatures whose esteem and love he seeks, being infinitely inferior to God as nothing and vanity.—I would observe that it is not unworthy of God to take pleasure in that which in itself is fit and amiable, even in those that are infinitely below him. If there be infinite grace and condescension in it, yet these are not unworthy of God; but infinitely to his honour and glory.
2. IN answer to the objection we are upon; as to God's creatures whose esteem and love he seeks, being infinitely inferior to God as nothing and vanity.—I would observe that it is not unworthy of God to take pleasure in that which in itself is fit and amiable, even in those that are infinitely below him. If there be infinite grace and condescention in it, yet these are not unworthy of God; but infinitely to his honour and glory.
THEY who insist that God's own glory was not an ultimate end of his creation of the world; but that all that he had any ultimate regard to wa• the happiness ⟨p. 44⟩of his creatures; and suppose that he made his creatures, and not himself his last end; do it under a colour of exalting and magnifying God's benevolence and love to his creatures.—But if his love to them be so great, and he so highly values them as to look upon them worthy to be his end in all his great works as they suppose; they are not consistent with themselves, in supposing that God has so little value for their love and esteem. For as the nature of love, especially great love causes him that loves to value the esteem of the person beloved: so that God should take pleasure in the creatures just love and esteem will follow both from God's love to himself and his love to his creatures. If he esteem and love himself, he must approve of esteem and love to himself; and disapprove the contrary. And if he loves and values the creature, he must value and take delight in their mutual love and esteem: because he loves not because he needs them.