The Works of President Edwards, Vol. 5 of 10 (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Works of President Edwards, Vol. 5 of 10

Christian, that there should be that which is so divine and precious, as the saving grace of God, dwelling in the same heart with so much cor ruption, hypocrisy, and iniquity, in a particular saint. Yet neither of these is more mysterious than real. And neither of them is a new thing. It is no new thing, that much false religion should prevail at a time of great revival; and that, at such a time, multitudes of hype crites should spring up among true saints. It was so in that great re formation, and revival of religion, in J osiah's time, as appears by Jer. Iii. 10, and iv. 3, 4; and also by the great apostacy there was in the land so soon after his reign. SO it was in that great out-pouring of the Spi rit upon the Jews, in the days of john the baptist, as appears by the great apostacy of that people, so soon after so general an awakening, and the temporary religious comforts and joys of many; John v. 35. Ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. So it was in those great commotions among the multitude, occasioned by the preaching of Jesus Christ. Of the many that were then called, but few were chosen; of the multitude that were roused and affected by his preaching - and at one time or other appeared mightily engaged, full of admiration of Christ, and elevated with joy - but few were true disciples, that stood the shock of trials, and endured to the end. Many were like the stony or thorny ground and but few, comparatively, like the good ground. Of the whole heap that was gathered, great part was chaff, that the wind af terwards drove away; and the heap of wheat that was left, was compa ratively small, as appears abundantly by the history of the New Testa ment. So it was in that great outupouriug of the Spirit in the Apes tles' days; as appears by Matth. Xxiv. 10 - 13, Gal. Iii. 1. And iv. 11, 15. Phil. Ii. 21. And iii. 18, 19; the two epistles to the Corinthians, and many other parts of the New Testament. And so it was in the great reformation from Popery. It appears plainly to have been in the visible church of God, in times of great revivals as it is with the fruit trees in the spring; there are multitudes of blossoms, which appear fair and beautiful, and there is a promising appearance of young fruits but many of them are of short continuance they soon fall off, and ne ver come to maturity.

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