N13259:348
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.
6. How can you expect to dwell with GOD forever if you so neglect and forsake him here? This your practice shows, that you place not your happiness in GOD, in nearness to him, and communion with him. He who refuses to come and visit, and converse with a friend, and who in a great measure forsake him, when he is abundantly invited and importuned to come; plainly shows that he places not his happiness in the company and conversation of that friend. Now if this be the case with you respecting GOD, then how can you expect to have it for your happiness to all eternity, to be with GOD, and to enjoy holy communion with him?
LET those persons who hope they are converted, and yet have in a great measure left off the duty of secret prayer, and whose manner it is ordinarily to neglect it, for their own sake seriously consider these ⟨p. 131⟩things. For what will profit them to please themselves with that, while they live, which will fail them at last, and leave them in fearful and amazing disappointment?
IT is probable that some of you, who have entertained a good opinion of your state, and have looked upon yourselves as converts; but have of late in a great measure left off the duty of secret prayer; will this evening attend secret prayer; and so may continue to do, for a little while after your hearing this sermon, to the end, that you may solve the difficulty and the objection which is made against the truth of your hope. But this will not hold. As it hath been in former instances of the like nature, so what you now hear, will have such effect upon you, but a little while. When the business and cares of the world shall again begin to crowd a little upon you, or the next time you shall go out into young company, it is probable you will again neglect this duty. The next time a frolic shall be appointed, to which it is proposed to you to go, it is highly probable you will neglect not only secret prayer, but also family-prayer. Or at east, after a while you will come to the same pass again, as before, in casting off fear and refraining prayer before GOD.