N37435:116
The justice of God in the damnation of sinners. Illustrated in a sermon
The justice of God in the damnation of sinners. Illustrated in a sermon. : To which is added a farewell sermon; by Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Delivered at Northampton, June 22d, 1750. After the people's public rejection of him as their minister, and renouncing their relation to him as pastor of the church.
Northampton: printed by Daniel Wright & Co for Simeon Butler, 1797
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
2. Consider how you have promoted ⟨p. 68⟩other's damnation. Many of you, by the bad examples you have set, by corrupting the minds of others, by your sinful conversation, by leading them into sin, or strengthening them in sin, and by the mischief that you have done in human society other ways that might be mentioned, have been guilty of those things that have tended to others damnation. You have heretofore appeared on the side of sin and Satan, and have behaved yourself so as much to strengthen their interest, and have been many ways accessory to other's sins, have hardened other's hearts, and thereby have done what has tended to the ruin of their souls.
And without doubt there are those here present that have been in a great measure the means of other's damnation. Though it is true that it is determined of God who he will save, and who not, from all eternity, yet one man may really be a means of other's damnation as well as salvation. Christ charges the scribes and Pharisees with this, Matth. xxiii.13. "Ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering, to go in." We have no reason to think that this congregation has none in it that are cursed from day to day by poor souls that are roaring out in hell, whose damnation they have been a means of, or have greatly contributed to.
There are many that contribute to their own children's damnation, by neglecting their education, and setting them bad examples, and bringing them up in sinful ways: They take some care of their bodies, but take but little care of their poor souls; they provide for them bread to eat, but deny them the bread of life, that their famishing souls stand in need of. And are there no such parents here that have thus treated their children? If their children be not gone to hell, it is no thanks to them; it is not because they have not done what has tended to their destruction. Seeing therefore you have had no more regard to other's salvation, and have promoted their damnation how justly might God leave you to perish yourself?