Miscellaneous Discourses in Vol II of the Works - Edwards - XV - The end of the wicked

Required reading

Miscellaneous Discourses in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read 'End of the wicked'.

My summary

Today's text is 'Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you an her.' (Revelation 18:20)

We learn:

(i) When the saints in glory shall see the wrath of God executed on ungodly men, it will be no occasion of grief to them, but of rejoicing.;
(ii) Why the sufferings of the wicked will not be cause of grief to the righteous, but the contrary.

And after an objection is answered, Edwards warns the ungodly to flee to Christ.

What grabbed me

I enjoyed the description of Christ's desire for salvation of the wicked: 'Christ himself is now seeking your salvation. He seeks it by the fore-mentioned means, by appointing men to make it their business to seek it; he seeks it by them; they are his instruments, and they beseech you in Christ’s stead, to be reconciled to God. He seeks it, in commanding your neighbours to seek it. Christ is represented in Scripture, as wooing the souls of sinners. He uses means to persuade them to choose and accept of their own salvation. He often invites them to come to him that they may have life, that they may find rest to their souls; to come and take of the water of life freely. He stands at the door and knocks; and ceases not, though sinners for a long time refuse him. He bears repeated repulses from them, and yet mercifully continues knocking, saying. “Open to me, that I may come in and sup with you, and you with me.” At the doors of many sinners he stands thus knocking for many years together. Christ is become a most importunate suitor to sinners, that he may become their sovereign. He is often setting before them the need they have of him, the miserable condition in which they are, and the great provision that is made for the good of their souls; and he invites them to accept of this provision, and promises it shall be theirs upon their mere acceptance.

The love of Christ!

Next week's reading

Read 'Christ exalted'.

Now it's your turn

Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.