Forty-Six Sermons in Volume II of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon IX from the section entitled 'Seventeen Occasional Sermons'.
This week Edwards preaches a sermon from Matthew v. 8. 'Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.'
From these words Edwards derives two propositions.
Firstly Edwards explains that it is a truly blessed thing to the soul of man to see God. He shows us:
1. What is meant by seeing God;
2. The reasons why seeing God is that which will make the soul truly happy.
Secondly Edwards teaches us that to be pure in heart is the certain and only way to attain to this blessedness. He shows us:
1. What it is to be pure in heart;
2. That to be pure in heart, is the sure way to gain this blessedness;
3. That it is the only way.
What grabbed me
Edwards gave us a great description of what a pure heart thinks of sin: 'But he who has become pure in heart hates sin; he has antipathy to it; he does not love to be near it; if he sees any of it hanging about him, he abhors himself for it; he seems filthy to himself, he is a burden to himself, he abhors the very sight of it, and shuns the appearance of it. If he sees sin in others, it is a very unpleasant sight to him; as sin, and as committed against God, it is grievous and uncomfortable to him wherever he discovers it. It is because his heart is changed, and God has given him a pure nature.'
Sin is disgusting to the pure in heart.
Next week's reading
Read Sermon X from the section entitled 'Seventeen Occasional Sermons'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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