N13259:49
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.
3. IT is a great undertaking, as it is an undertaking o• great expense.—We must therein •ell all: we must follow this business, at the expense of all our unlawful pleasures and […], at the expense of our carnal […], often at the expense of our substance, of our credit among men, the good will of our neighbours, at the expense of all our earthly friends, and even at the expense of life itself.—Herein it is like Noah's undertaking to build the ark, which as hath been shown was a costly undertaking: it was expensive to his reputation among men, exposing him to be the continual laughing stock of all his neighbours and of the whole world: and it was expensive to his estate, and probably cost him all that he had.
3. IT is a great undertaking, as it is an undertaking o• great expense.—We must therein •ell all: we must follow this business, at the expense of all our unlawful pleasures and 〈…〉, at the expense of our carnal 〈…〉, often at the expense of our substance, of our credit among men, the good will of our neighbours, at the expense of all our earthly friends, and even at the expense of life itself.—Herein it is like Noah's undertaking to build the ark, which as hath been shown was a costly undertaking: it was expensive to his reputation among men, exposing him to be the continual laughing stock of all his neighbours and of the whole world: and it was expensive to his estate, and probably cost him all that he had.
4. SOMETIMES the fear, trouble and exercise of mind, which are undergone respecting this business, and the salvation of the soul, are great and long continued, before any comfort is obtained. Sometimes persons in this situation labour long in the dark, and sometimes, as it were, in the very fire, they having great distress of conscience, great fears, and many perplexing temptations, before they obtain light and comfort to lighten their business, and make their care and labour more easy to them. They sometimes earnestly and for a long time seek comfort, but find it not, because