N13259:133
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
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.
EXAMINE yourselves therefore by this: Are not your hearts chiefly set upon the world and the things of it? Is it not more your concern, care and endeavour to further your outward interest, then to secure an interest in heaven? And is not this the very reason, that you have never seen the reality of eternal things.
SECONDLY, inquire, whether you have eve• yet come to a determination about religion with respect to the practice of it; whether you have chosen heaven with the way to it, viz. the way of obedience and self denial, before this world and the ways of sin; whether you have determined upon it as most eligible, to devote yourselves to the service of GOD.—Here I shall mention three or four things, which are signs that men halt between two opinions in this matter.
1. To put off duty till hereafter.—When persons love to keep their duty at a distance, engage not in it for the present, but choose to keep at a little distance from it; when they think of engaging in religion in better earnest in a little time, when they shall so and so be under better conveniences for it, but do it not now, do not make haste without delay; when they are very good intenders concerning what they will do to morrow, but very poor performers to day; when they say, as Felix, go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient season I will call for thee; when these things are so it is a sign that they halt between two opinions, and have never […] ⟨p. 53⟩yet come to a full determination with respect to the practice of religion. Those that have once fully determined that religion is necessary and eligible, will not desire to put it off, but will make it their present and immediate business.