N13259:40
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.
2. AFFIRMATIVELY; this is the way to salvation which GOD hath appointed. Though it be not needful that we do any thing to merit salvation, which CHRIST hath fully merited for all who believe in him; or that we should do any thing, for which, or on the account of the goodness of which we may be saved; yet GOD for wise and holy ends hath appointed, that we should come to salvation in no other way, but that of good works done by us.
GOD did not save Noah on account of the labour and expense he was at in building the ark. Noah's salvation from the flood was an instance of the free and distinguishing mercy of GOD. Nor did GOD stand in need of Noah's care, or cost, or labour to build an ark. The same power, which created the world, and which brought the flood o• waters upon the earth, could have made the ark […] an instant, without any care or cost of Noah, or any of the labour of those many workmen, who were employed for so long a time. Yet GOD was pleased to appoint, that Noah should be saved in this way.—So GOD hath appointed that man should not be saved, without his undertaking and doing this work, of which I have been speaking; and therefore we are commanded to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, Philip. ii. 12.
GOD did not save Noah on account of the labour and expence he was at in building the ark. Noah's salvation from the flood was an instance of the free and distinguishing mercy of GOD. Nor did GOD stand in need of Noah's care, or cost, or labour to build an ark. The same power, which created the world, and which brought the flood o• waters upon the earth, could have made the ark 〈…〉 an instant, without any care or cost of Noah, or any of the labour of those many workmen, who were employed for so long a time. Yet GOD was pleased to appoint, that Noah should be saved in this way.—So GOD hath appointed that man should not be saved, withou• his undertaking and doing this work, of which I have been speaking; and therefore we are commanded to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling,