N13259:567
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.
1. CHRIST'S peace is a reasonable peace and rest of soul; it is what has its foundation in light and knowledge in the proper exercises of reason, and a right view of things; whereas the peace of the world ⟨p. 214⟩is founded in blindness and delusion. The peace that the people of CHRIST have, arises from their having their eyes open and seeing things as they be. The more they consider, and the more they know of the truth and reality of things; the more they know what is true concerning themselves, the state and condition they are in; the more they know of GOD, and the more certain they are that there is a GOD, and the more they know what manner of being he is; the more certain they are of another world and future judgment, and of the truth of GOD'S threatenings and promises; the more their consciences are awakened and enlightened, and the brighter and the more searching the light is that they see things in; the more is their peace established. Whereas on the contrary the peace that the men of the world have in their worldly enjoyments, can subsist no otherwise, than by their being kept in ignorance. They must be blindfolded and deceived, otherwise, they can have no peace: do but let light in upon their consciences, so that they may look about them and see what they are, and what circumstances they are in, and it will at once destroy all their quietness and comfort. Their peace can live no where but in the dark. Light turns their ease into torment. The more they know what is true concerning GOD and concerning themselves, the more they are sensible of the truth concerning those enjoyments which they possess, and the more they are sensible what things now are, and what things are like to be hereafter; the more will their calm be turned into a storm. The worldly man's peace can't be maintained but by avoiding consideration and reflection. If he allows himself to think and properly to exercise his reason, it destroys his quietness and comfort. If he would establish his ⟨p. 215⟩carnal peace it concerns him to put out the light of his mind, and turn beast as fast as he can. The faculty of reason if at liberty, proves a mortal enemy to his peace. It concerns him, if he would keep alive his peace, to continue all ways that may be, to stupefy his mind and deceive himself, and to imagine things to be otherwise than they be.
1. CHRIST'S peace is a reasonable peace and rest of soul; it is what has its foundation in light and knowledge in the proper exercises of reason, and a right view of things; whereas the peace of the world