N13259:464
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.
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.
I. I AM to show that it is not contrary to the divine perfections, to inflict on wicked men a punishment that is absolutely eternal.
THIS is the sum of the objections usually made against this doctrine, that it is inconsistent with the justice, and especially with the mercy of GOD. And some say, If it be strictly just, yet how can we suppose that a merciful GOD can bear eternally to torment his creatures.
1. THEN I shall briefly show that it is not inconsistent with the justice of GOD to inflict an eternal punishment. To evince this, I shall use only one argument, viz. that sin is heinous enough to deserve such a punishment, and such a punishment is no more than proportionable to the evil or demerit of sin. If the evil of sin be infinite, as the punishment is, then it is manifest that the punishment is no more than proportionable to the sin punished, and is no more than sin deserves. And if the obligation to love, honour and obey GOD be infinite, then sin which is the violation of this obligation, is a violation of infinite obligation, and so is an infinite evil. Again, if GOD be infinitely worthy of love, honour and obedience, then our obligation to love and honour and obey him is infinitely great.—So that GOD being infinitely glorious, or infinitely worthy of our love, honour and obedience; our obligation to love, honour and obey