N13259:233
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 5: The Folly of looking back, in fleeing out of Sodom.
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.
5. It may well stir you up to flee for your lives, and not to look behind you, when you consider, how many have lately fled to the mountain, while you yet remain in Sodom. To what multitudes hath GOD given the wisdom to flee to CHRIST the mountain of safety! They have fled to the little city Zoar, which GOD will spare and never destroy. How many have you seen of all sorts resorting out of Sodom thither, as believing the word of GOD by the angels, that God would surely destroy that place. They are in a safe condition; they are got out of the reach of the storm▪ the fire and brimstone can do them no hurt there.
BUT you yet remain in that cursed city among the ⟨p. 89⟩accursed company. You are yet in Sodom, which GOD is about so terribly to destroy, where you are in danger every minute of having snares, fire and brimstone come down on your head.—Though so many have obtained, yet you have not obtained deliverance. Good has come, but you have seen none of it. Others are happy, but no one knows what will become of you: you have no part nor lot in that glorious salvation of souls, which has lately been among us.—The consideration of this should stir you up effectually to escape, and in your escape to press forward, still to press forward, and to resolve to press forward for ever, let what will be in the way, to hearken to no temptation, and never to look back, or in any wise slacken or abate your endeavours as long as you live, but if possible to increase in them more and more
6. BACKSLIDING after such a time as this,* will have a vastly greater tendency to seal a man's damnation, than at another time. The greater means men have, the louder calls and the greater advantages they are under, the more dangerous is backsliding, the more it has a tendency to enhance guilt, to provoke GOD and to harden the heart.