N18020:39
A sermon preached at New-Ark, in New-Jersey, before the Synod of New-York and Philadelphia,…
A sermon preached at New-Ark, in New-Jersey, before the Synod of New-York and Philadelphia, by the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, late president of the college in New-Jersey: ; entitled, True grace, distinguished from the experience of devils. ; [Two lines from James]
printed by Loring Andrews, 1791
Title page typeset from the transcription.
TRUE GRACE, Distinguished from the EXPERIENCE OF DEVILS. › IMPROVEMENT.
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.
III. It may also be inferred from what has been observed, ⟨p. 16⟩that for persons merely to yield a speculative assent to the doctrines of Religion as true, is no certain evidence of a state of grace. My text tells us, that the Devils believe, and as they believe that there is one GOD, so they believe the truth of the doctrines of Religion in general. The devil is orthodox in his faith—he believes the true scheme of Doctrine—he is no Deist, Socinian, Arian, Pelagian or Antinomian—the articles of his faith are all sound, and what he is thoroughly established in.
III. It may also be inferr'd from what has been observ'd, ⟨p. 16⟩that for persons meerly to yield a speculative assent to the doctrines of Religion as true, is no certain evidence of a state of grace. My text tells us, that the Devils belive, and as they believe that there is one GOD, so they believe the truth of the doctrines of Religion in general. The devil is orthodox in his faith—he believes the true scheme of Doctrine—he is no Deist, Socinian, Arian, Pelagian or Antinomian—the articles of his faith are all sound, and what he is thoroughly established in.
Therefore, for a person to believe the doctrines of Christianity, merely from the influence of things speculative, or from the force of arguments, as discerned only by speculation, is no evidence of grace.
Tho' 'tis probably a very rare thing, for unregenerate men, to have a strong persuasion of the truth of the doctrines of Religion, especially, such of 'em as are very mysterious, and much above the comprehension of reason: Yet 'tis manifest, that we have no warrant to determine, that it can never be so, or to look upon such a persuasion, as an infallible evidence of grace—and that no person can safely determine his state to be good from such an evidence. Yet if he, not only himself, seems to be very confident of the truth of Christianity and its doctrines, but is able to argue most strongly for the proof of them—yet in this, he goes nothing beyond the Devil— who, doubtless, has a great knowledge of the rational arguments, by which the truth of the Christian Religion, and its several principles are evinced.