N13259:96
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
Sermon 2: The unreasonableness of Indetermination in Religion.
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.
BUT the rest of the people halted between two opinions. They saw that some were for one, and some for the other, and they did not know which to choose; and as is commonly the case, when difference of opinions prevails, there were many who had no religion at all; they were not settled in any thing; the different opinions prevalent in Israel distracted and confounded them.—Many who professed to believe in the true GOD, were yet very cold and indifferent, and many very wavering and unsettled. They saw that the king and queen were for Baal; and Baal's party was the prevailing party; but their forefathers had been for the LORD; and they knew not which were right. Thus they halted between two opinions.
(2.) IN this expostulation is implied the unreasonableness of their thus halting between two opinions.—How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be GOD, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him—Which implies that they ought to determine one way or the other.
2. WE may observe their silence on this occasion;—"And the people answered him not a word" as being convicted in their own consciences of the unreasonableness of their being for so long a time wavering and unresolved: they had nothing to reply in excuse for themselves.