Miscellaneous Discourses in Vol II of the Works - Edwards - XXIV - Man's natural blindness concluded

Required reading

Miscellaneous Discourses in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude 'Man's natural blindness'.

My summary

Today we finish the sermon on "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 was 'that there is an extreme and brutish blindness in things of religion which naturally possesses the hearts of mankind.'

Now Edwards makes some practical inferences and application of the subject:

I. By this we may see how manifest are the ruins of the fall of man.

II. From what has been said, plainly appears the necessity of divine revelation.

III. This doctrine should make us sensible, how great a mercy it is to mankind, that God has sent his own Son into the world, to be the light of the world.

IV. Hence we may learn, what must be the thing which will bring to pass those glorious days of light, which are spoken of in God’s word.

V. Hence we may learn the misery of all such persons, as are under the power of that darkness which naturally possesses their hearts.

Then he addresses sinners and asks them to consider:

I. that they are blinded by the god of this world.

II. how God in his word manifests his abhorrence and wrath towards those who remain so sottishly blind and ignorant, in the midst of light.

III. how much wilfulness there is in your ignorance.

IV. what is the course that God will take to teach those who will not be taught by the instructions of his word.

What grabbed me

I liked the encouragement to find wisdom in God: 'If we are so blind in ourselves, then knowledge is not to be sought for out of our own stock, but must be sought from some other source. And we have no where else to go for it, but to the fountain of light and wisdom. True wisdom is a precious jewel; and none of our fellow-creatures can give it us, nor can we buy it with any price we have to give. It is the sovereign gift of God. The way to obtain it, is to go to him, sensible of our weakness, and blindness, and misery on that account. ” If any lack wisdom, let him ask of God.”'

There is no other way to be wise.

Next week's reading

The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the Preface.

Now it's your turn

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