N13259:311
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.
III. TO the reasons, why this is the manner of hypocrites.
1. HYPOCRITES never had the spirit of prayer given them. They may have been stirred up to the external performance of this duty, and that with a great deal of earnestness and affection, and yet always have been destitute of the true spirit of prayer. The spirit of prayer is an holy spirit, a gracious spirit. We read of the spirit of grace and supplication; Zech. xii. 10. I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications.—Wherever there is a true spirit of supplication, there is the spirit of grace. The true spirit of prayer is no other than GOD'S own […] dwelling in the hearts of the saints. And as this spirit comes from GOD, so doth it naturally tend to GOD in holy breathings and pantings. It naturally leads to GOD, to converse with him by prayer. Therefore the spirit is said to make intercession for the saints, with groanings which cannot be uttered. Rom. viii. 26.
1. HYPOCRITES never had the spirit of prayer given them. They may have been stirred up to the external performance of this duty, and that with a great deal of earnestness and affection, and yet always have been destitute of the true spirit of prayer. The spirit of prayer is an holy spirit, a gracious spirit. We read of the spirit of grace and supplication; Zech. xii. 10. I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications.—Wherever there is a true spirit of supplication, there is the spirit of grace. The true spirit of prayer is no other than GOD'S own 〈…〉 dwelling in the hearts of the saints. And as this spirit comes from GOD, so doth it naturally tend to GOD in holy breathings and pantings. It naturally leads to GOD, to converse with him by prayer. Therefore the spirit is said to make intercession for the saints, with groanings which cannot be uttered.