June 13, 2020

Miscellaneous Discourses in Vol II of the Works - Edwards - XXIII - Man's natural blindness commenced

Required reading

Miscellaneous Discourses in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence 'Man's natural blindness' by reading Sections I, II and III.

My summary
Today's text is "Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity." (Psalm 94:8-11)

Edwards' doctrine from the text is 'that there is an extreme and brutish blindness in things of religion which naturally possesses the hearts of mankind.'

This week he shows
(i) how it is manifest that there is a sottish and brutish blindness in the hearts of men in the things of religion, by those things which appear in men’s open profession.

(ii) how this is manifest in those things that are found by inward experience, and are visible in men’s practices under the light of the gospel.

What grabbed me
I appreciated this point about the extent of the blindness of men: 'It appears, in that they are so blind in those same things in religious matters, which they are sufficiently sensible of in other matters. In temporal things they are very sensible that it is a point of prudence to improve the first opportunity in things of great importance. But in matters of religion, which are of infinitely the greatest importance, they have not this discernment. In temporal matters they are sensible that it is a great folly long to delay and put off, when life is in danger, and all depends upon it. But in the concerns of their souls, they are insensible of this truth. So in the concerns of this world, they are sensible it is prudence to improve times of special advantage, and to embrace a good offer when made them. They are sensible that things of long continuance are of greater importance, than those of short duration; yet in religious concerns, none of these things are sensibly discerned. In temporal things they are sufficiently sensible, that it is a point of prudence to lay up for hereafter, in summer to lay up for winter, and to lay up for their families, after they are dead; but men do not generally discern the prudence of making a proper provision for a future state.—In matters of importance in this world, they are sensible of the wisdom of taking thorough care to be on sure grounds; but in their soul’s concerns they see nothing of this. Our Saviour observed this to be the case with the Jews when he was upon earth. “Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, and of the earth: but how is it that ye do not discern this time?”'

Blindness. Utter blindness.

Next week's reading
Conclude 'Man's natural blindness'.

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

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