这一段讲道摘自Johnathan Edwards的著名讲道Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God。这段讲道是对着一个教会的受洗的会众而讲(every soul in this congregation), 不是对着不知道福音的外邦不信主的人讲的,所以你们知道,老苗的赎到教会,保守到永远说是何等的谎言!
Johnathan Edwards 本身是加尔文主义神学传道人,但是他传讲的是纯正的福音,不是郁金香教义。只有耶稣基督的福音才有大能带领人悔改得救: 悔改,信耶稣基督!
How dreadful is the state of those that are daily and hourly in the
danger of this great wrath and infinite misery! But this is the dismal
case of every soul in this congregation that has not been born again,
however moral and strict, sober and religious, they may otherwise be. Oh
that you would consider it, whether you be young or old! There is reason
to think, that there are many in this congregation now hearing this
discourse, that will actually be the subjects of this very misery to all
eternity. We know not who they are, or in what seats they sit, or what
thoughts they now have. It may be they are now at ease, and hear all
these things without much disturbance, and are now flattering themselves
that they are not the persons, promising themselves that they shall
escape. If we knew that there was one person, and but one, in the whole
congregation, that was to be the subject of this misery, what an awful
thing would it be to think of! If we knew who it was, what an awful
sight would it be to see such a person! How might all the rest of the
congregation lift up a lamentable and bitter cry over him! But, alas!
instead of one, how many is it likely will remember this discourse in
hell? And it would be a wonder, if some that are now present should not
be in hell in a very short time, even before this year is out. And it
would be no wonder if some persons, that now sit here, in some seats of
this meeting-house, in health, quiet and secure, should be there before
tomorrow morning. Those of you that finally continue in a natural
condition, that shall keep out of hell longest will be there in a little
time! your damnation does not slumber; it will come swiftly, and, in all
probability, very suddenly upon many of you. You have reason to wonder
that you are not already in hell. It is doubtless the case of some whom
you have seen and known, that never deserved hell more than you, and that
heretofore appeared as likely to have been now alive as you. Their case
is past all hope; they are crying in extreme misery and perfect despair;
but here you are in the land of the living and in the house of God, and
have an opportunity to obtain salvation. What would not those poor
damned hopeless souls give for one day's opportunity such as you now
enjoy!
And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has
thrown the door of mercy wide open, and stands in calling and crying with
a loud voice to poor sinners; a day wherein many are flocking to him, and
pressing into the kingdom of God. Many are daily coming from the east,
west, north and south; many that were very lately in the same miserable
condition that you are in, are now in a happy state, with their hearts
filled with love to him who has loved them, and washed them from their
sins in his own blood, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. How
awful is it to be left behind at such a day! To see so many others
feasting, while you are pining and perishing! To see so many rejoicing
and singing for joy of heart, while you have cause to mourn for sorrow of
heart, and howl for vexation of spirit! How can you rest one moment in
such a condition? Are not your souls as precious as the souls of the
people at Suffield, where they are flocking from day to day to Christ?
Are there not many here who have lived long in the world, and are not to
this day born again? and so are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,
and have done nothing ever since they have lived, but treasure up wrath
against the day of wrath? Oh, sirs, your case, in an especial manner, is
extremely dangerous. Your guilt and hardness of heart is extremely
great. Do you not see how generality persons of your years are passed
over and left, in the present remarkable and wonderful dispensation of
God's mercy? You had need to consider yourselves, and awake thoroughly
out of sleep. You cannot bear the fierceness and wrath of the infinite
God. -- And you, young men, and young women, will you neglect this
precious season which you now enjoy, when so many others of your age are
renouncing all youthful vanities, and flocking to Christ? You especially
have now an extraordinary opportunity; but if you neglect it, it will
soon be with you as with those persons who spent all the precious days of
youth in sin, and are now come to such a dreadful pass in blindness and
hardness. -- And you, children, who are unconverted, do not you know that
you are going down to hell, to bear the dreadful wrath of that God, who
is now angry with you every day and every night? Will you be content to
be the children of the devil, when so many other children in the land are
converted, and are become the holy and happy children of the King of
kings?
And let every one that is yet out of Christ, and hanging over the pit of
hell, whether they be old men and women, or middle aged, or young people,
or little children, now hearken to the loud calls of God's word and
providence. This acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favour
to some, will doubtless be a day of as remarkable vengeance to others.
Men's hearts harden, and their guilt increases apace at such a day as
this, if they neglect their souls; and never was there so great danger of
such persons being given up to hardness of heart and blindness of mind.
God seems now to be hastily gathering in his elect in all parts of the
land; and probably the greater part of adult persons that ever shall be
saved, will be brought in now in a little time, and that it will be as it
was on the great out-pouring of the Spirit upon the Jews in the apostles'
days; the election will obtain, and the rest will be blinded. If this
should be the case with you, you will eternally curse this day, and will
curse the day that ever you was born, to see such a season of the pouring
out of God's Spirit, and will wish that you had died and gone to hell
before you had seen it. Now undoubtedly it is, as it was in the days of
John the Baptist, the axe is in an extraordinary manner laid at the root
of the trees, that every tree which brings not forth good fruit, may be
hewn down and cast into the fire.
Therefore, let every one that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from
the wrath to come. The wrath of Almighty God is now undoubtedly hanging
over a great part of this congregation. Let every one fly out of Sodom:
"Haste and escape for your lives, look not behind you, escape to the
mountain, lest you be consumed."