PREFACE. IT has long been desired by the friends of Mr. EDWARDS that a number of his manuscripts should be published; but the disadvantage under which all posthumous publications must necessarily appear, and the difficulty of getting any considerable work printed in this infant country hitherto, have proved sufficient obstacles to the execution of such a proposal. The first of these obstacles made me doubt, for a considerable time after these manuscripts came into my hands, whether I could, consistently with that regard which I owe to the honor of so worthy a parent, suffer any of them to appear in the world. However, being diffident of my own sentiments, and doubtful whether I were not over jealous in this matter, I determined to submit to the opinion of gentlemen, who are friends both to the character of Mr. EDWARDS and to the cause of truth. The consequence was, that they gave their advice for publishing them. The other obstacle was removed by a gentleman in the church of Scotland, who was formally a correspondent of Mr. EDWARDS. He engaged a bookseller to undertake the work, and also signified his desire, that these following discourses in particular might be made public. Mr. EDWARDS had planned a body of divinity, in a new method, and in the form of a history; in which he was first to show, how the most remarkable events, in all ages from the fall to the present times, recorded in sacred and profane history, were adapted to promote the work of redemption; and then to trace, by the light of scripture prophecy, how the same work should be yet further carried on even to the end of the world. His heart was so much set on executing this plan, that he was considerably averse to accept the presidentship of Princeton college, lest the duties of that office should put it out of his power. The outlines of that work are now offered to the public, As to elegance of composition, which is now esteemed so That this volume may produce these happy effects in all Newhaven, Feb. 25, 1773. JONATHAN EDWARDS. *This is necessary to be remembered by the reader, in order to understand some chronological observations in the following work. SECT. 1. What is intended by Christ's purchasing redemption, PART II. How Christ accomplished this success, SECT. 1. How this success is accomplished by God's grace here, § 1. FIRST. In the suffering state of the Church, 256 266 1. From Christ's resurrection till the destruction of Jerusalem, II. From the destruction of Jerusalem to that of the Heathen empire, INFERENCE. Truth of Christianity argued from the success of the gospel, 277 III. Success from the time of Constantine till the fall of Antichrist, 3dly. From the reformation till the present time, 2. Of the opposition made to the Reformation, 3. What success the gospel has lately had, 4. Present state of things with regard to the success of the gospel, 1. Truth of Christianity argued from the events of this period, 2. The spirit of true Christians a spirit of suffering, 3. What reason we have to expect that events foretold in scripture, not yet fulfilled, shall be accomplished, 4thly. How the success of redemption shall be carried on till Antichrist's 328 1. Prosperity of the church through the greater part of this period, 347 II. The great apostacy that shall take place towards the end of this period, 354 SECT. II. The success of redemption in glory, 346 V. The scriptures the word of God, 383 VI. The majesty and power of God in the work of redemption, VII. The glorious wisdom of God in the work of redemption, VIII. Of sentiment as the foundation of Virtue, WORK of REDEMPTION. ISAIAH li. 8. FOR THE MOTH SHALL EAT THEM UP LIKE A GARMENT, AND THE WORM SHALL EAT THEM LIKE WOOL: BUT MY RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL BE FOREVER, AND MY SALVATION FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. THE design of this chapter is to comfort the church under her sufferings, and the persecutions of her enemies; and the argument of consolation insisted on, is, the constancy and perpe'tuity of God's mercy and faithfulness towards her, which shall be manifest in continuing to work salvation for her, protecting her against all assaults of her enemies, and carrying her safely through all the changes of the world, and finally crowning her with victory and deliverance. In the text, this happiness of the church of God is set forth by comparing it with the contrary fate of her enemies that op- press her. And therein we may observe, 1. How short lived the power and prosperity of the church's enemies is: The moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool; i.e. however great their prosperity is, and however great their present glory, they shall by degrees consume and vanish away by a secret curse of God, till they come to nothing; and all their power and glory, and so their persecutions, eternally cease, and they be finally and irrecoverably ruined: As the finest and most glorious apparel will in VOL. I. B |