N13259:701
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.) LET it be considered that all our time is GOD'S, and therefore when he challenges of us one day in seven, he challenges his own; he doth not exceed ⟨p. 274⟩his right; he would not have exceeded it, if he had challenged a far greater proportion of our time to be spent in his immediate service. But he hath mercifully considered our state, and our necessities here; and, as he hath consulted the good of our souls, in appointing a seventh day for the immediate duties of religion; so he hath considered our outward necessities, and hath allowed us six days for attendance on our outward affairs.—What unworthy treatment therefore will it be of GOD, if we refuse to allow him even the seventh day!
(4.) As the sabbath is a day which is especially set apart for religious exercises, so it is a day wherein GOD especially confers his grace and blessing.—As GOD hath commanded us to set it apart to have converse with GOD, so GOD hath set it apart for himself to have converse with us. As GOD hath commanded us to observe the sabbath, so GOD observes the sabbath too. It is with respect to the sabbath, as Solomon prayed that it might be with respect to the temple, 2 Chron. vi. 20. His eyes are open upon it; he stands ready then especially to hear prayers, to accept of religious services, to meet his people, to manifest himself to them on this day, to give his holy spirit and blessing to those who diligently and conscientiously sanctify it.
THAT we should sanctify the sabbath, as we have observed, is according to GOD'S institution. GOD in a sense observes his own institutions; i. e. is wont to cause them to be attended with a blessing.—The institutions of GOD are his appointed means of grace, and with his institutions he hath promised his blessing;