N13259:414
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.
III. To show that as impenitent sinners cannot shun the threatened punishment; so neither can they do any thing to deliver themselves from it, or to relieve themselves under it. This is implied in those words of the text, Can thine hands be strong? It is with our hands that we make and accomplish things for ourselves. But the wicked in hell will have no strength of hand to accomplish any thing at all for themselves, or to bring to pass any deliverance, or any degree of relief.
1. THEY will not be able in that conflict to overcome their enemy, and so to deliver themselves. GOD, who will then undertake to deal with them, and will gird himself with might to execute wrath, will be their enemy, and will act the part of an enemy with a witness; and they will have no strength to •ppose him. Those, who live negligent of their soul under the light of the gospel, act as if they supposed that they should be able hereafter to make their part good with GOD. 1 Cor. x. 22. Do we provoke the LORD to jealousy? are we stronger than he?—But they will have no power, no might to resist that omnipotence, which will be engaged against them.
2. THEY will have no strength in their hands to ⟨p. 154⟩do any thing to appease GOD, or in the least to abate the fierceness of his wrath. They will not be able to offer any satisfaction: they will not be able to procure GOD'S pity. Though they cry, GOD will not hear them. They will find no price to offer to GOD, in order to purchase any favour, or to pay any part of their debt.