N13259:407
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.
II. To show that therefore impenitent sinners shall not avoid their due punishment.—GOD hath undertaken to inflict it; he hath engaged to do it; he takes it as his work, as what properly belongs to him, and we may expect it of him. If he hath sworn by his life, that he will do it; and if he hath power sufficient, if he is the living GOD, doubtless we shall see it done. And that GOD hath declared that he will punish impenitent sinners, is manifest from many scriptures; as, Deut. xxxii. 41. I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. Deut. vii. 10. He will not be •lack to him that hateth him: he will repay him to his face. Exod. xxxiv. 7. That will by no means clear the guilty. Nahum i. 3. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.
GOD saith in the text, I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it; which leaves no room to doubt of the actual fulfilment of the threatening in its utmost extent.—Some wicked men have flattered themselves, that although GOD hath threatened very dreadful things to wicked men for their sins, yet in his heart he never intends to fulfil his threatenings, but only to terrify them, and make them afraid, while they live. But would the infinitely holy GOD, who is not a man that he should lie, and who speaketh no vain words, utter himself in this manner, I the Lord have spoken it, and will do it; I have not only threatened, but I will also fulfil my threatenings; when at the same time these words did not agree with his heart, but he secretly knew that though he had spoken, yet he intended not to do it? Who is he that dares to entertain such horrid blasphemy in his heart?