N13259:282
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.
PERHAPS some may yet be ready to think, that if sinners should see hell, and hear the cries of the damned, that would be effectual, though nothing else would. But if we duly consider the matter, we shall see reason to think, that that would not have so great a tendency to turn men from sin to GOD, as the word of GOD. Such a thing would doubtless be effectual to terrify and affright men, and probably to affright them to death.—Such a mean is not at all suitable to our nature and state in the world. If it should not fright men to death, it would not have so great a tendency to make them diligently use means for their salvation, as the warnings of scripture. It would probably drive them to despair; it would so take away all their spirits, that they would have no heart to seek GOD. Instead of driving them to GOD, it would probably make them hate GOD the more. It would make them more like devils; and set them a blaspheming as the damned do. For while the hearts of men are filled with natural darkness, they cannot see the glory of the divine justice, appearing in such extreme torments.
THEREFORE GOD'S means, the means which he hath instituted for us, are doubtless the best, and most conducive to lead men to repentance and salvation. They are doubtless far better than any other, which we can devise.
2. HENCE we learn the dreadful hardness of men's hearts, as the word of GOD hath no more influence upon them, and as they are no more moved and wrought upon by those best means, which infinite wisdom hath provided. The warnings of the word of GOD are, as you have heard, better and more powerful means, than if one should rise from the dead to warn us, and tell us our danger, and the dreadfulness of the wrath of GOD. You have also heard that if these means will not answer the end of awakening and leading sinners to repentance, no other will, neither the working of miracles, nor the hearing of GOD speak with an audible voice from heaven, nor any thing else.—Yet how few are there, who are effectually wrought upon by the word of GOD! They are very thinly sown; there is but here and there one.