N13259:313
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.
THE spirit of GOD makes intercession for them, as it is that spirit which in some respect indites their prayers, and leads them so and so to pour out their souls before GOD. Therefore the saints are said to worship GOD in the spirit; Phil. iii. 3. We are the circumcision who worship GOD in the spirit. And Joh. iv. 23. The true worshippers worship the father in spirit and in truth. The truly godly have the spirit of adoption, the spirit of a child, to which it is natural to go to GOD and call upon him, crying to him as to a father.
BUT hypocrites have nothing of this spirit of adoption: ⟨p. 118⟩They have not the spirit of children; for this is a gracious and holy spirit, only given in a real work of regeneration. Therefore it is often mentioned as a part of the distinguishing character of the godly, that they call upon GOD. Psal. cxlv. 18, 19. The LORD is nigh to them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; he will also hear their cry; and will save them. Joel ii. 32. It shall come to pass that whosoever calleth on the name of the LORD shall be delivered.
IT is natural to one who is truly born from above to pray to GOD, and to pour out his soul in holy supplications before his heavenly father. This is as natural to the new nature and life as breathing is to the nature and life of the body. But hypocrites have not this new nature. Those illuminations and affections which they had, went away and left no change of nature. Therefore prayer naturally dies away in them, having no foundation for the keeping of it up, laid in the nature of the soul. It is maintained, while it is maintained, only by a certain force put upon nature But force is not constant; and as that declines, nature will take place again.