N13259:109
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.
So they have never yet determined which shall be their master, whether GOD or mammon. There are but few who have undertaken the service of GOD, and are come to a resolution and preparedness of mind to serve GOD and follow CHRIST, at all times, and to whatever difficulties it may expose them. Yet at the same time neither are they determined that they will continue to serve satan: they are afraid to draw up such a conclusion.—Thus many spend away their lives without making their choice, putting that off, though they do in the mean time practically choose the service of satan. These are the persons of whom the apostle James speaks in chap. i. 8. The double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
So they have never yet determined which shall be their master, whether GOD or mammon. There are but few who have undertaken the service of GOD, and are come to a resolution and preparedness of mind to serve GOD and follow CHRIST, at all times, and to whatever difficulties it may expose them. Yet at the same time neither are they determined that they will continue to serve satan: they are afraid to draw up such a conclusion.—Thus many spend away their lives without making their choice, putting that off, though they do in the mean time practically choose the service of satan. These are the persons of whom the apostle James speaks in chap. i. 8. The doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways.
II. To continue thus undetermined and unresolved in the things of religion, is very unreasonable, and that upon the following accounts.
1. THE things of religion are things wherein we are to the highest degree interested. The truth or falsehood of the doctrines of religion concerns us to the highest degree possible. It is no matter of indifference to us whether there be a GOD or not; or whether the scriptures be the word of GOD; or whether CHRIST be the son of GOD; or whether there be any such thing as conversion. It makes infinite odds to us, whether these things be so or not. Therefore we are under the greatest obligation in point of interest to resolve in our minds whether they be true or false. They who are undetermined whether there be any truth in religion, and are contented to be so, not inquiring nor thoroughly using the means to be determined; act very unreasonably. They remain in doubt whether there be any such thing as an heaven or hell; are quiet and easy to continue ignorant in this matter; are not engaged in their minds to come to a determination; do not search and inquire what arguments there are to prove any such things; nor diligently weigh and consider the force of them; but busy their minds about other things of infinitely less importance; and act as if they thought it did not much concern them, whether there be a future and eternal state.