N13259:165
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.
A NATURAL man hath no love of benevolence towards CHRIST. Notwithstanding all that is declared ⟨p. 64⟩to him of the excellency of CHRIST, he has no good will towards CHRIST. He rejoices not in his glory and happiness; he would not care what became of CHRIST, if he could but escape hell. If CHRIST should be dethroned, or made miserable, or should cease to be, he has not so much good will to CHRIST, as would make him concerned about it. And if the kingdom and interest of CHRIST in the world, should go to ruin, it would be no wise grievous to the unbeliever, provided his own interest could be secure.
SO also an unbeliever has no love of complacency in JESUS CHRIST for his excellency. He takes no delight in the view or consideration of any of that glory and excellency of CHRIST, of which he is told. He is told that it is exceedingly beautiful and glorious; but he sees nothing entertaining in it; he takes no pleasure in the view of any thing that he can see in CHRIST: the thoughts of the glory of CHRIST are no wise entertaining to him: he has no delight in the thoughts of it, or in any contemplations upon it.—He takes delight in thinking of these and those earthly objects; but when he comes to turn his mind upon JESUS CHRIST, if ever he so does, this is to him a dry and barren subject: he finds nothing there to feed and delight his soul; no beauty or loveliness to please or gratify him.
3. UNBELIEVERS have no desires after the enjoyment of CHRIST. If they did set any thing by the glory and excellency of CHRIST, they would have some desires after him on account of that excellency: especially when he is offered to them, and is from time to time set forth, as the proper object of their choice and desires. That which men prize, they are wont to desire, especially if it be represented to them as attainable, and as fit and suitable for them. But unbelievers have no desires after the enjoyment of CHRIST. They desire to be delivered from hell, but they desire