N13259:340
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.
HOWEVER hypocrites may continue for a season in the duty of prayer, yet it is their manner after a while, in a great measure to leave it off.
THIS doctrine was our subject in the preceding discourse, in which, after having shown—how hypocrites often continue for a season to call upon GOD—how it is their manner after a while, in a great measure, to leave it off—and having given the reasons why this is their manner; I came at length to make application, which I proposed to do in an use of exhortation in two branches; and first to exhort those who entertain an hope of their good estate and yet live in the neglect of secret prayer, to reject their hope. One particular consideration I have already laid before men of this character, to the end just mentioned; and I now proceed to say to them.
THIS doctrine was our subject in the preceeding discourse, in which, after having shown—how hypocrites often continue for a season to call upon GOD—how it is their manner after a while, in a great measure, to leave it off—and having given the reasons why this is their manner; I came at length to make application, which I proposed to do in an use of exhortation in two branches; and first to exhort those who entertain an hope of their good estate and yet live in the neglect of secret prayer, to reject their hope. One particular consideration I have already laid before men of this character, to the end just mentioned; and I now proceed to say to them.
2. HOW is your doing, as you do, consistent with loving GOD above all. If you have not a spirit to love GOD above your dearest earthly friends, and your most pleasant earthly enjoyments; the scriptures are very plain and full in it, that you are not true christians. But if you had indeed such a spirit, would you thus grow weary of the practice of drawing near to him, and become habitually so averse to it, as in a great measure to cast off so plain a duty, which is so much the life of a child of GOD? It is the nature of love to be averse to absence, and to love a near access to those whom we love. We love to be with them; we delight to come often to them, and to have much conversation with them. But when a person, who hath heretofore been wont to converse freely with another, by degrees forsakes him, grows strange, and converses with him but little, and that although the other be importunate with him for the continuance of their former intimacy; this plainly shows the coldness of his heart towards him.