N13259:71
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.
OBJECTION. But here possibly it may be objected by some, that though it be true, they have often been told of hell, yet they never saw any thing of it, and therefore they cannot realize it, that there is any such place. They have often heard of hell, and are told that wicked men, when they die, go to a most dreadful place of torment•; that hereafter there will be a day of judgment, and that the world will be consumed by fire. But how do they know that it is really so? How do they know what becomes of these wicked men that die? None of them come back to tell them. They have nothing to depend on, but the word which they hear. And how do they know that all is not a cunningly devised sable.
ANSW. The sinners of the old world had the very same objection against what Noah told them of a flood about to drown the world. Yet the bare word of GOD proved to be sufficient evidence that such a thing was coming. What was the reason that none of the many millions then upon earth, believed what Noah said, but this, that it was a strange thing, that no such thing had ever before been known? And what a strange story must that of Noah have appeared to them, wherein he told them of a deluge of waters above the tops of the mountains! Therefore it is said Heb. xi. 7. That Noah was warned of GOD of ⟨p. 30⟩things not seen as yet. It is probable, none could conceive how it could be that the whole world should be drowned in a flood of waters; and all were ready to ask, where there was water enough for it; and by what means it should be brought upon the earth. Noah did not tell them how it should be brought to pass: he only told them that GOD had said, that it should be: and that proved to be enough. The event showed their folly in not depending on the mere word of GOD, who was able, who kn•w how to bring it to pass, and who could not lie.
ANSW. The sinners of the old world had the very same objection against what Noah told them of a flood about to drown the world. Yet the bare word of GOD proved to be sufficient evidence that such a thing was coming. What was the reason that none of the many millions then upon earth, believed what Noah said, but this, that it was a strange thing, that no such thing had ever before been known? And what a strange story must that of Noah have appeared to them, wherein he told them of a deluge of waters above the tops of the mountains! Therefore it is said