Narrative of Surprising Conversions in Vol I of the Works - Edwards - III - Section II

Required reading
Narrative of Surprising Conversions in Volume I of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Section II.

My summary.

Now Edwards gives the manner of various conversions.  

He speaks about the converts and their:

(i) experience of misery over sin;

(ii) experience of grace;

(iii) affections being moved;

(iv) experience of light, particular from Scripture;

(v) joy;

(vi) sense of the majesty of God;

(vii) ideas in their minds.

Edwards also mentions his reluctance to declare people converted.

What grabbed me

I was interested to read about which discourses were greatly used by God to awaken men:

'I think I have found that no discourses have been more remarkably blessed, than those in which the doctrine of God's absolute sovereignty, with regard to the salvation of sinners, and his just liberty, with regard to answering the prayers, or succeeding the pains, of natural men, continuing such, have been insisted on. I never found so much immediate saving fruit, in any measure, of any discourses I have offered to my congregation, as some from these words, "That every mouth may be stopped;" endeavouring to show from thence, that it would be just with God for ever to reject and cast off mere natural men.

As to those in whom awakenings seem to have a saving issue, commonly the first thing that appears after their legal troubles, is a conviction of the justice of God in their condemnation, appearing in a sense of their own exceeding sinfulness, and the vileness of all their performances. In giving an account of this, they expressed themselves very variously; some, that they saw God was sovereign, and might receive others and reject them; some, that they were convinced, God might justly bestow mercy on every person in the town, in the world, and damn themselves to all eternity; some, that they see God may justly have no regard to all the pains they have taken, and all the prayers they have made; some, that if they should seek, and take the utmost pains all their lives, God might justly cast them into hell at last, because all their labours, prayers, and tears cannot make an atonement for the least sin, nor merit any blessing at the hands of God. Some have declared themselves to be in the hands of God, that he may dispose of them just as he pleases; some, that God may glorify himself in their damnation, and they wonder that God has suffered them to live so long, and has not cast them into hell long ago.'

The sovereignty of God is a most humbling doctrine!

Next week's reading

Read Section III.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.