Forty-Six Sermons in Vol II of the Works - Edwards - XXIII - 'The sole consideration'

-->Required reading
Forty-Six Sermons in Volume II of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the Sermon entitled 'The sole consideration, that God is God, sufficient to still all objections to his sovereignty'.

My summary
Today we read a sermon from the text, Psalm xlvi. 10.' Be still, and know that I am God.'

Thus Edwards teaches us that we must fulfil the duty of being still before God by understanding his divinity.  As he is God he is:
(i) an absolutely and infinitely perfect being; and it is impossible that he should do amiss;
(ii) so great, that he is infinitely above all comprehension; and therefore it is unreasonable in us to quarrel with his dispensations, because they are mysterious;
(iii) owner of all things and he hath a right to dispose of them according to his own pleasure;
(iv) worthy to be sovereign over all things;
(v) sovereign, and will act as such;
(vi) able to avenge himself on those who oppose his sovereignty.

Then Edwards makes the following applications.  It is from mean thoughts of God that you:
(i) are not convinced that you have by your sins deserved his eternal wrath and curse;
(ii) quarrel against his justice in the condemnation of sinners, from the doctrine of original sin;
(iii) trust in your own righteousness, and think that God ought to respect you for it;
(iv) contend with him, because he bestows grace on some, and not on others.

What grabbed me
A great sermon that really got to the heart of why we sin: 'In objecting and quarrelling about the righteousness of God’s laws and threatenings, and his sovereign dispensations towards you and others, you oppose his divinity, you show your ignorance of his divine greatness and excellency, and that you cannot bear that he should have divine honour. It is from low, mean thoughts of God, that you do in your minds oppose his sovereignty, that you are not sensible how dangerous your conduct is; and what an audacious thing it is for such a creature as man to strive with his Maker. '

It is our extraordinarily low view of God that results in our sin.

Next week's reading
Read the Sermon entitled 'Great guilt no obstacle to the pardon of the returning sinner'.

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