N18020:91
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.
Therefore, 'tis a sight or sense of this, that is the thing, wherein does fundamentally consist, the difference between those things in which the saving grace of GOD's spirit consists, and the experiences of Devils and damned souls. This is the foundation of every thing else that is distinguishing in true Christian experience. This is the foundation of the faith of GOD's elect. This gives the mind a saving belief of the truth of divine things. 'Tis a view of the excellency of the things exhibited in the gospel, or sense of the divine beauty, and amiableness of the scheme of doctrine there exhibited, that savingly convinces the mind, that it is indeed divine, or of GOD. This account of the matter is plainly implied: 2. Cor. iv. 3, 4. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the GOD of this world hath blinded the minds of them that BELIEVE NOT; lest the light of the glorious gospel of CHRIST, who is the image of GOD, should shine into them. And, v. 6. For GOD, who commandeth the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of GOD, in the face of JESUS CHRIST. 'Tis very evident that a saving belief of the gospel, is here spoken of by the Apostle, as arising from a view of the divine glory or beauty of the things it exhibits. 'Tis by this view, that the soul of a true convert is enabled savingly, to see the sufficiency of CHRIST for his salvation. He that has his eyes opened to behold the divine, superlative beauty and loveliness of JESUS CHRIST, is convinced of his sufficiency, to stand as a mediator between him, a guilty, Hell-deserving wretch, and an infinitely holy GOD, in an exceeding different manner than ever he can be convinced by all the arguments that are made use of, by the excellent authors or preachers.
Therefore, 'tis a sight or sense of this, that is the thing, wherein does fundamentally consist, the difference between those things in which the saving grace of GOD's spirit consists, and the experiences of Devils and damned souls. This is the foundation of every thing else that is distinguishing in true Christian experience. This is the foundation of the faith of GOD's elect. This gives the mind a saving belief of the truth of divine things. 'Tis a view of the excellency of the things exhibited in the gospel, or sense of the divine beauty, and amiableness of the scheme of doctrine there exhibited, that savingly convinces the mind, that it is indeed divine, or of GOD. This account of the matter is plainly implied: