N13259:103
Sermons, on the following subjects
Sermons, on the following subjects; The manner in which salvation is to be sought. The unreasonableness of indetermination in religion. Unbelievers contemn the glory of Christ. The folly of looking back in fleeing out of Sodom. The warnings of Scripture in the best manner adapted to the awakening and conversion of sinners. Hypocrites deficient in the duty of prayer. The future punishment of the wicked unavoidable and intolerable. The eternity of hell-torments. The peace which Christ gives his true followers. The perpetuity & change of the Sabbath. / By the late Reverend Mr. Jonathan Edwards, president of the College of New-Jersey.
Hartford: printed by Hudson and Goodwin, 1780
Sermon 2: The unreasonableness of Indetermination in Religion.
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.
S• it seems to have been with many of the Jews in CHRIST'S time; they were always at a loss what to make of him, whether he were indeed the CHRIST, or whether he were Elijah, or one of the old prophets, ⟨p. 41⟩or a mere impostor. Joh. x. 24. 25. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, how long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the CHRIST, tell us plainly. JESUS answered them, I told you, and ye believed not.—Some have never so much as come to a resolution in their own minds, whether there be a GOD or not. They know not that there is, and oftentimes very much doubt of it.
S• it seems to have been with many of the Jews in CHRIST'S time; they were always at a loss what to make of him, whether he were indeed the CHRIST, or whether he were Elias, or one of the old prophets, ⟨p. 41⟩or a mere impostor. Joh. x. 24. 25. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, how long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the CHRIST, tell us plainly. JESUS answered them, I told you, and ye believed not.—Some have never so much as come to a resolution in their own minds, whether there be a GOD or not. They know not that there is, and oftentimes very much doubt of it.
2. THERE are some who never have come to any determination in their own minds, whether to embrace religion in the practice of it. Religion consists not merely, or chiefly in theory or speculation, but in practice. It is a practical thing; the end of it is to guide and influence us in our practice: and considered in this view, there are multitudes who never have come to a conclusion whether to embrace religion or not.—It is probably pretty general for men to design to be religious sometime or other, before they die: For none intend to go to hell. But they still keep it at a distance; they put it off from time to time, and never come to any conclusion which determines them in their present practice. And some never so much as fix upon any time. They design to be religious sometime before they die, but they know not when.