N13259:677
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.
NOW, although this be not sufficient of itself, without a foundation in scripture; yet it may be a confirmation of it, because here is really matter of conviction in it to our reason. Reason may greatly confirm truths revealed in the scriptures. The universality of the custom throughout all christian countries, in all ages, by what account we have of them, is a good argument, that the church had it from the apostles; and it is difficult to conceive how all should come to agree, to set up such a custom through the world, of different sects and opinions, and we have no account of any such thing.
14. IT is no way weakening to these arguments, ⟨p. 267⟩that there is nothing more plainly said about it in the new testament, till John wrote his Revelation, because there is a sufficient reason to be given for it. In all probability it was purposely avoided by the Holy Spirit, in the first settling of christian churches in the world, both among the heathen, and among the Jews, but especially for the sake of the Jews and out of tenderness to the Jewish christians. For it is evident that CHRIST and the apostles declared one thing after another to them gradually as they could bear it.
THE Jews had a regard for their sabbath above almost any thing in the law of Moses, and there was that in the old testament which tended to uphold them in the observance of this, much more strongly, than any thing else that was Jewish. GOD had made so much of it, had so solemnly, frequently, and carefully commanded it, and had often so dreadfully punished the breach of it, that their was more colour for their retaining this custom, than almost any other.