N13259:360
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.
PERSEVERANCE is not only a necessary concomitant and evidence of a title to salvation, but also a necessary prerequisite to the actual possession of eternal life. It is the only way to heaven, the narrow way that leadeth to life. Hence CHRIST exhorts the church of Philadelphia to persevere in holiness from this consideration, that it was necessary in order to her obtaining the crown. Rev. iii. 11. Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. It is necessary not only that persons should once have been walking in the way of duty; but that they should be found so doing, when CHRIST cometh. Luke xii. 43. Blessed is that servant, whom is LORD, when he cometh, shall find so doing.—Holding out to the end is often made the condition of actual salvation. Mat. x. 22. He that endureth to the end the same shall be saved: and Rev. ii. 10. Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
2. IN order to your own perseverance in the way of duty, your own care and watchfulness is necessary. For though it be promised that true saints shall persevere, yet that is no argument that their care and watchfulness is not necessary in order to it; because their care to keep the commands of GOD, is the thing promised. If the saints should fail of care, watchfulness ⟨p. 136⟩and diligence to persevere in holiness, that failure of their care and diligence would itself be a failure of holiness. They who persevere hot in watchfulness and diligence, persevere not in holiness of life, for holiness of life very much consists in watchfulness and diligence to keep the commands of GOD. It is one promise of the covenant of grace, that the saints shall keep GOD'S commandments.