N13259:591
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.
ALL these classes of men say, that there is no clear, revelation that it is the mind and will of GOD, that the first day of the week should be observed as a day to be set apart for religious exercises, in the room of the ancient sabbath; which there ought to be, in order to the observation of it by the christian church, as a divine institution. They say, that we ought not to go upon the tradition of past ages, or upon uncertain and far fetched inferences from some passages of the history of the new testament, or upon some obscure and uncertain hints in the apostles writings; but that we ought to expect a plain institution; which they say, we may conclude GOD would have give us, if he had designed that the whole christian church, in all ages, should observe another day of the week for an holy sabbath, than that which was appointed of old, by plain and positive institution.
ALL these classes of men say, that there is no clear, revelation that it is the mind and will of GOD, that the first day of the week should be observed as a day to be set apart for religious exercises, in the room of the antient sabbath; which there ought to be, in order to the observation of it by the christian church, as a divine institution. They say, that we ought not to go upon the tradition of past ages, or upon uncertain and far fetched inferences from some passages of the history of the new testament, or upon some obscure and uncertain hints in the apostles writings; but that we ought to expect a plain institution; which they say, we may conclude GOD would have give us, if he had designed that the whole christian church, in all ages, should observe another day of the week for an holy sabbath, than that which was appointed of old, by plain and positive institution.
SO far is undoubtedly true, that if this be the mind and will of GOD, he hath not left the matter to human tradition; but hath so revealed his mind about it, in his word, that there is there to be found good and substantial evidence that it is his mind: and doubtless, the revelation is plain enough for them that have ears to hear; that is, for them that will justly exercise their understandings about what GOD says to them. No christian, therefore, should rest till he has satisfactorily discovered the mind of GOD in this matter. If the christian sabbath be of divine institution, it is doubtless of great importance to religion, that it be well kept; and therefore, that every christian be well acquainted with the institution.