N13259:278
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.
THUS they did from time to time rebel against the LORD, although they had seen so many miracles and ⟨p. 105⟩wonders in Egypt, at the red sea, and in the wilderness; although they continually saw the pillar of cloud and of fire going before them, were continually fed in a miraculous manner with manna; and in the same miraculous manner made to drink water out of the rock.
MEN are apt to think, that if they had lived in CHRIST'S time, and had seen and heard him, and had seen his miracles; that they would have effectually convinced and turned them from sin. But how was it in those times? How few were there brought to repentance, by all his discourses and miracles? How hard-hearted were they? Some were very much affected for a little while; but how few constant, steady followers had he! He was notwithstanding his miracles, rejected, despised and even murdered by the people, among whom he dwelt. And they were men of the same natures, of the same sort of hearts, as sinners in these days.
The scripture is full of instances, which are sufficient to convince us, that if the word of GOD will not awaken and convert sinners, nothing will.—And we see enough in these days to convince us of it. Men sometimes meet with those things, by which we should not imagine, if we did not see it, and were not used to it, but that they would be thoroughly awakened and reformed. They sometimes hear the warnings of dying men, men who are expecting to go to hell. One would think, this would be enough to awaken them; and it may be they are affected with it for the present: but it does but just touch them; vanishes away and is gone like a puff of wind.