N13259:462
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.
THERE ar• […] diverse opinions that I mean to oppose in this […]. One is, that the eternal death that wicked men are threatened with in scripture, signifies no more than eternal annihilation; that men will be the subjects of eternal death, as they will be slain, and their life finally and forever be extinguished by GOD'S anger; that GOD will punish their wickedness by eternally abolishing their being, and so that they shall suffer eternal death in this sense, that they shall be eternally dead, and never more come to life.
THERE ar• 〈…〉 diverse opinions that I mean to oppose in this 〈…〉. One is, that the eternal death that wicked men are threatened with in scripture, signifies no more than eternal annihilation; that men will be the subjects of eternal death, as they will be slain, and their life finally and forever be extinguished by GOD'S anger; that GOD will punish their wickedness by eternally abolishing their being, and so that they shall suffer eternal death in this sense, that they shall be eternally dead, and never more come to life.
THE other opinion which I mean to oppose is, that though the punishment of the wicked shall consist in sensible misery, yet it shall not be absolutely eternal; but only of a very long continuance.
THEREFORE to establish the doctrine in opposition to these different opinions, I shall undertake to show, I. THAT it is not contrary to the divine perfections, to inflict on wicked men, a punishment that is absolutely eternal. ⟨p. 172⟩II. THAT the eternal death which GOD threatens, is not annihilation, but an abiding, sensible punishment or misery. III. THAT this misery will not only continue for a very long time, but will be absolutely without end. IV. THAT various good ends will be obtained by the eternal punishment of the wicked.