Important Theological Controversies - Edwards - III - Conclude Chapter II

Required reading

Remarks on Important Theological Controversies in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Chapter II.

My summary

Today Edwards continues to argue that the punishment of the wicked is endless because:

(i) the means of grace are not available;

(ii) the punishment is not purifying;

(iii) they are not encouraged to repent;

(iv) the degree of misery shows it is not a chastening of grace;

(v) the devil and his ministers are not shown mercy;

(v) their wickedness continues.

What grabbed me

I appreciated Edwards fearlessness in asserting that there is no call for the wicked to repent whilst suffering in hell: 'We have no account of any invitations to accept of mercy; any counsels to repent, that they may speedily be delivered from this misery. But it is represented that then they shall be made his footstool. He shall triumph over them. He will trample upon them as men are wont to tread grapes in a wine-press, when they trample with all their might, to that very end that they may effectually crush them in pieces. He will tread them in his anger, and trample them in his fury, and, as he says, their blood shall be sprinkled on his garments, and he will stain all his raiment, Isaiah lxiii. at the beginning; Rev. xiv. 19, 20. and chap. xix. 15. in which last place it is said, he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. These things do not savour of chastening with compassion and benevolence, and as still prosecuting a design of love toward them, that he may in the end actually be their Saviour, and the means of their eternal glory. There is nothing in the account of the day of judgment, that looks as though saints had any love or pity for the wicked, on account of the terrible long-continued torments which they must suffer. Nor indeed will the accounts that are given admit of supposing any such thing. We have an account of their judging them, and being with Christ in condemning them, concurring in the sentence, wherein he bids them begone from him as cursed with devils into eternal fire; but no account of their praying for them, nor of their exhorting them to consider and repent.'

Now is the day of salvation. Tomorrow may not be.

Next week's reading

Commence Chapter III of 'Remarks on Important Theological Controversies' by reading up to the paragraph beginning '19. It may be argued from the infinite power and wisdom of God, that nothing can come to pass....'

Now it's your turn

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