The Portion of the Righteous E-Book

Jonathan Edwards

• Herausgeber: Larry Slawson
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

Jonathan Edwards was an American preacher, philosopher, and theologian born on 5 October 1703 to Timothy and Esther Edwards of East Windsor, Connecticut.  Edwards was well-known throughout the American colonies for his books, sermons, and broad theological views.  He also played a crucial role in shaping the First Great Awakening before he died in 1758 of smallpox.  To this day, Edwards continues to influence and inspire millions of individuals around the world.
This book contains Jonathan Edward’s famous sermon, “The Portion of the Righteous,” in its original, unedited form. A brief introduction and commentary pertaining to the sermon is provided by the editor.

Leseprobe

“THE PORTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS”

JONATHAN EDWARDS

EDITED BY: LARRY SLAWSON

MAY 2019

INTRODUCTION

Birth Name: Jonathan Edwards

Date of Birth: 5 October 1703

Place of Birth: East Windsor, Connecticut (British Colonial America)

Date of Death: 22 March 1758 (54 Years of Age)

Place of Death: Princeton, Province of New Jersey

Cause of Death: Smallpox

Place of Burial: Princeton Cemetery, Province of New Jersey

Nationality: American

Occupation: Pastor; Missionary; Theologian

Spouse(s): Sarah Pierpont

Children: Sarah, Jerusha, Esther, Mary, Lucy, Timothy, Susannah, Eunice, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Pierpont

Father: Timothy Edwards

Mother: Esther Stoddard

Siblings: Esther; Hannah; Jerusha; Eunice; Abigail; Lucy; Martha; Elisabeth; Mary; Ann

Religious Views: Puritan (Reformed); Calvinism

Best Known For: Regarded as one of Colonial America’s most important and influential theologians.

Jonathan Edwards was an American preacher, philosopher, and theologian born on 5 October 1703 to Timothy and Esther Edwards of East Windsor, Connecticut. Edwards was well-known throughout the American colonies for his books, sermons, and broad theological views. He also played a crucial role in shaping the First Great Awakening before he died in 1758 of smallpox. To this day, Edwards’ work continues to influence and inspire millions of individuals around the world.

This work, along with planned books for the future, seeks to provide its readers with a basic understanding of Edwards’ beliefs and ideas. What follows is the complete text of Edwards’ work, “The Portion of the Righteous.” It is this author’s hope that this work will be a blessing to its readers as they explore one of the most fascinating individuals to have arose from the Eighteenth Century.

--Larry Slawson (16 May 2019)

“THE PORTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS”

FIRST PUBLISHED BY JONATHAN EDWARDS: December 1740

“But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good.” (Romans 2:10)

The apostle in the preceding verses declared what is the portion of wicked men; viz. indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish; in this verse declares what is the portion assigned to good men. In the words of the text we should observe,

I. The description of a good man; viz. the man that worketh good. Such men are here described by the fruit which they bring forth. Christ has taught us that the tree is known by its fruit. Paul here describes them by that which most distinguishes them; not by the external privileges which they enjoy, or the light under which they live; but by the fruits which they bring forth. For as the apostle says, in verse 13, “Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of it shall be justified.” That which distinguishes good men from bad, is not that they hear good, or that they profess good, or that they intend good; but that they do good. They are workers of good.

II. The reward of such a man; viz. “glory, honor, and peace;” in which are mentioned three sorts of good that are assigned to them as their portion. 1. Their moral good, expressed by the word glory. Glory shall be given them; i.e. they shall be made excellent and glorious. They shall be endued with those excellent and glorious qualifications, which will render them beautiful and lovely. They shall have the image of God, and be partakers of his holiness. Thus the word glory is used by St. Paul, 2 Cor. 3:18. We are changed into the same image from glory to glory. 2. Their relative good; Honor. They shall be in most honorable circumstances. They shall be advanced to great dignity, receive a relation to God, and Christ, and the heavenly inhabitants, and God shall put honor upon them. 3. Their natural good; Peace: which, as it is used in the Scriptures, signifies happiness; and includes all comfort, joy, and pleasure.

I shall endeavor to show from the text, that glory, honor, and peace are the portion which God has given to all good men. In describing their happiness, I shall consider the successive parts of it; both here and hereafter.

First, I propose to treat of their happiness in this world. Those who are truly good men have been the subjects of a real thorough work of conversion, and have had their hearts turned from sin to God. Of such persons it may be said, that they are truly blessed. They are often pronounced blessed by God. He is infinitely wise, and sees and knows all things. He perfectly knows who are blessed, and who are miserable. He hath said, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.” — “Blessed is he whose sins are forgiven.” — “Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust.” — “Blessed are the poor in spirit” — “the meek” — “the merciful” — “the pure in heart.”

In considering the happiness of the righteous in this world, I shall pursue the method which the text obviously points out, and shall consider, I. The excellency; II. The honor; and , III. The peace and pleasure, which God bestows upon them in the present life.

I. The excellency or glory. The sum of this consists in their having the image of God upon them. When a person is converted, he has the image of God enstamped on him. Col. 3:10, “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him who created him.” and Eph. 4:23, 24, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness.” They have their eyes opened, and are led into such a sight of God and thorough acquaintance with him, as changes the soul into the image of God’s glory.

What can render a creature more excellent than to have the very image of the Creator? and how blessed a change is that which is wrought in conversion, which brings a man thus to be in the image of God! For though the image of God in Christians in this world is very imperfect, yet it is real. The real image of God is most excellent, though it be imperfect.

Hence, “the righteous is more excellent than his neighbour,” and “the saints are the excellent of the earth.” The image of God is their glory, and it may well be called glory, for imperfect as it is, it renders them glorious in the eyes of the angels of heaven. The image of God is a greater beauty in their eyes, than the brightness and glory of the sun in the firmament.