Five discourses on the soul's eternal salvation in Vol I of the Works - Edwards - IX - Second discourse concluded

Required reading
Five discourses on the soul's eternal salvation in Vol I of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude the Second Discourse (Pressing into the Kingdom of God).

My summary.

Today we conclude Edward's second discourse which is on "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." (Luke 16:16)

Edwards now directs his applications to several sorts of persons:

(i) To those sinners who are in a measure awakened, and are concerned for their salvation - you have reason to be glad that you have such an opportunity, and to prize it above gold;

(ii) To such as yet remain unawakened - it is an awful thing that there should be any one person remaining secure amongst us at such a time as this; but yet it is to be feared that there are some of this sort;

(iii) To them who are grown considerably into years, and are yet in a natural condition - I would now take occasion earnestly to exhort you to improve this extraordinary opportunity, and press into the kingdom of God;

(iv) To those that are young, and now under their first special convictions - I would earnestly urge such to improve this opportunity, and press into the kingdom of God.

What grabbed me

I liked Edwards' piling up of interrogatives for the unbeliever:

'When do you expect that it will be more likely that you should be awakened and wrought upon than now? You are in a Christless condition; and yet without doubt intend to go to heaven; and therefore intend to be converted some time before you die; but this is not to be expected till you are first awakened, and deeply concerned about the welfare of your soul, and brought earnestly to seek God's converting grace. And when do you intend that this shall be? How do you lay things out in your own mind, or what projection have you about this matter? Is it ever so likely that a person will be awakened, as at such a time as this? How do we see many, who before were secure, now roused out of their sleep, and crying, What shall I do to be saved? But you are yet secure! Do you flatter yourself that it will be more likely you should be awakened when it is a dull and dead time? Do you lay matters out thus in your own mind, that though you are senseless when others are generally awakened, that yet you shall be awakened when others are generally senseless? Or do you hope to see another such time of the pouring out of God's Spirit hereafter? And do you think it will be more likely that you should be wrought upon then, than now? And why do you think so? Is it because then you shall be so much older than you are now, and so that your heart will be grown softer and more tender with age? or because you will then have stood out so much longer against the calls of the gospel, and all means of grace? Do you think it more likely that God will give you the needed influences of his Spirit then, than now, because then you will have provoked him so much more, and your sin and guilt will be so much greater? And do you think it will be any benefit to you, to stand it out through the present season of grace, as proof against the extraordinary means of awakening there are? Do you think that this will be a good preparation for a saving work of the Spirit hereafter? '

Only a truly hard heart could stand up to such searching questions.

Next week's reading

Read the Third Discourse (Ruth's resolution).

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