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1734

A Divine and Supernatural Light, Immediately imparted to the Soul

by the Spirit of God, Shown to be both a Scriptural, and Rational
Doctrine
Jonathan Edwards
Northampton (Congregational) Church

Reiner Smolinski
Georgia State University, [email protected]

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 Jonathan Edwards

A Divine and Supernatural Light

(1734)

with an Afterword by Reiner Smolinski

[ Title page, first edition ]
 A

Divine and Supernatural

L I G H T,
Immediately imparted to the Soul by the

SPIRI T of GOD ,
Shown to be both a

Scriptural, and Rational D octrine ;

In a S E R M O N
Preach’d at Northampton,
And Publiſhed at the Desire of ſome of the Hearers.

By Jonathan Edwards, A. M.
Paſtor of the Church there.

Job. 28. 20. —— Whence then cometh wiſdom ? and where is

the place of underſttanding ?
Prov. 2. 6. The LORD giveth wiſdom.
Isa. 42. 18. Look ye blind that ye may ſee.
2 Pet. 1. 19. —— Until the day dawn and the day-ſtar ariſe
in your hearts.

B O S T O N :
Printed by S. Kneeland and T. Green.

M,DCC,XXXIV
 The P R E F A C E.
Am sensible that my consenting that the fol-
lowing Discourse of mine should be pub-
I lished, needs Excuse; but yet don’t think
it worth the while for me, here, to ex-
cuse my self, by declaring how backward I
was to it, and how much I was urged, and that I was
prevail’d with to do it, more to gratify others, and from
an Aim at promoting the Interest of Religion, and the
Good of Souls, than by any thought I had of any Honour
that I should get by it: for such things, I apprehend, or-
dinarily make less Impression upon the Readers, to alter
their thought of the Author, and his Design, than the Au-
thors generally think for. They at whose desire, and upon
whose Account chiefly, this Sermon is printed, are already
acquainted with the Circumstances of the Matter; and if
any others should happen to see it, and should think it worth
their while to read it, I shall only desire of them, that they
would put as favourable a Construction upon my herein ap-
pearing in Print, as they can; and that they would read the
following Discourse with Candour, and without Prejudice
against it, either from an Idea of the Author’s Forward-
ness and Ostentation, or the Unfashionableness of the Sub-
ject. As to you, that are the People of the Flock, of which
CHRIST hath called me to the Oversight, I have no Rea-
 the preface
son to be jealous that you will have any Prejudice against
this Discourse, upon either of those mention’d Accounts, to
stand in the way of your duly weighing, and considering,
and suitably entertaining the things treated of in it. I have
Reason to bless GOD, that here is a more happy Union be-
tween us, than that you should be prejudiced against any
thing of mine, because ’tis mine; And however the subject is
out of Mode in the World, ’tis doubtless your peculiar Hap-
piness, that you have been so thoroughly instructed in such
like Doctrine, even from your Beginning: and I rejoice in it,
that Providence, in this Day of Corruption and Confusion,
has cast my Lot where such Doctrines, that I look upon so
much the Life and Glory of the Gospel, are not only own’d,
but where there are so many, in whom the Truth of them is
so apparently manifest, in their Experience, that any one
who has had the Opportunity of Acquaintance with them
in such mattes, that I have had, must be very unreasonable
to doubt of it. It is pleasant to me to read discourses on such
Subjects, and to see such Doctrines well treated of in Books,
but much more pleasant, to see them clearly exemplified. If
what is here offered to you, shall be a means further to es-
tablish you in such Truths, and to make those among you,
that yet remain in spiritual Darkness and Blindness, sen-
sible of their Misery, and stir them up earnestly to seek af-
ter this spiritual and divine Illumination; and shall be for
the Comfort and Edification of those that have Experienced
it, I shall have great Reason to rejoice, and be thankful: and
I desire your earnest and continual Prayers for me, that I
may be the Instrument of much such Good to you, and Glory
to GOD therein.

J. E.
 [ 1 ]

THE

Reality of Spiritual Light.

RRRRRRRRRR;R;RRRRRRRRRRR
M at thew X V I. 17.

And J E S U S answered and said unto him,

blessed art thou Simon Barjona ; for Flesh
and Blood hath not revealed it unto thee,
but my Father which is in Heaven.

HRIST says these Words to Pe-

ter, upon Occasion of his profess-
C ing his Faith in him as the Son of
GOD. Our Lord was enquir-
ing of his Disciples, who Men said
he was; not that he needed to be
informed, but only to introduce and give Occa-
sion to what follows. They answer, that some said he
was John the Baptist, and some Elias, and others Jer-
emias or one of the Prophets. When they had thus
given an Account, who others said he was, CHRIST
asks them, who they said he was. Simon Peter, whom
2 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

we find always zealous and forward, was the first to

answer; he readily replied to the Question, Thou art
CHRIST the Son of the living GOD.
UPON this Occasion CHRIST says as he does to
him and of him in the Text : In which we may observe,
1. THAT Peter is pronounced blessed on this
Account. Blessed art thou ——“Thou art an happy
“ man, that thou art not ignorant of this, that I am
“ CHRIST the Son of the living G OD. Thou art dis-
“ tinguishingly happy. Others are blinded, and have
“ dark and deluded Apprehensions, as you have now
“ given an Account, some thinking that I am Elias,
“ and some that I am Jeremias, and some one thing,
“ and some another; but none of them thinking right,
“ all of them misled. Happy art thou, that art so dis-
“ tinguished as to know the Truth in this Matter.
2. THE Evidence of this his Happiness de-
clared; viz. That GOD and he only had revealed it to
him. This is an Evidence of his being blessed.
First, AS it shows how peculiarly favoured
he was of GOD, above others. q. d. “How highly
“ favoured art thou, that others that are wise and
“ great Men, the Scribes, Pharisees, and Rulers, and
“ the Nation in general, are left in Darkness, to fol-
“ low their own misguided Apprehensions, and that
“ thou should’st be singled out, as it were by Name,
“ that my heavenly Father should thus set his Love
“ on thee Simon Bar-jona. This argues thee blessed,
“ that thou should’st thus be the Object of G OD ’ s
“distinguishing Love.
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 3

Secondly, IT evidences his Blessedness also, as it

intimates that this Knowlege is above any that Flesh
and Blood can reveal. “This is such Knowlege as my
“ Father which is in Heaven only “can give: It is too
“ high and excellent to be communicated by such Means
“ as other Knowlege is. Thou art blessed, that thou
“ knowest that which GOD alone can teach thee.
THE Original of this Knowlege is here de-
clared; both negatively and positively. Positively, as
GOD is here declared the Author of it. Negatively,
as ’tis declared that Flesh and Blood had not revealed it.
GOD is the Author of all Knowlege and Under-
standing whatsoever: He is the Author of the Know-
lege, that is obtained by human Learning: He is the
Author of all moral Prudence, and of the Knowl-
ege and Skill that Men have in their secular Business.
Thus it is said of all in Israel that were wise-hearted,
and skill’d in Embroidering, that G OD had fill’d
them with the spirit of Wisdom. Exod. 28. 3.
GOD is the Author of such Knowlege; but yet
not so but that Flesh and Blood reveals it. Mortal Men
are capable of imparting the Knowlege of human Arts
and Sciences, and Skill in temporal Affairs. G OD is
the Author of such Knowlege by those Means: Flesh
and Blood is made use of by GOD as the mediate or
second Cause of it; He conveys it by the Power and
Influence of natural Means. But this spiritual Know-
lege, spoken of in the Text, is what G OD is the Au-
thor of, and none else: He reveals it and Flesh and Blood
reveals it not. He imparts this Knowlege immediately,
4 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

not making use of any intermediate Causes, as he

does in other Knowlege.
WHAT had passed in the preceeding Dis-
course, naturally occasioned CH R I S T to observe
this; because the Disciples had been telling, how oth-
ers did not know him, but were generally mistaken
about him, and divided and confounded in their
Opinions of him: but Peter had declared his assured
Faith that he was the Son of GOD. Now it was nat-
ural to observe, how it was not Flesh and Blood, that
had revealed it to him, but GOD ; for if this knowl-
ege were dependent on natural Causes or Means,
how came it to pass that they, a Company of poor
Fishermen, illiterate Men, and Persons of low Edu-
cation, attain’d to the knowlege of the Truth; while
the Scribes and Pharisees, Men of vastly higher ad-
vantages, and greater knowlege and sagacity in other
matters, remain’d in Ignorance? This could be ow-
ing only to the gracious distinguishing Influence and
Revelation of the SPIRIT of G OD. Hence, what
I would make the Subject of my present Discourse
from these Words, is this

D O C T R I N E, viz.

That there is such a thing, as A SPIRITUAL and

DIVINE LIGHT, immediately imparted to the Soul
by GOD, of a different Nature from any that is obtain’d
by natural Means.
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 5

IN what I say on this Subject at this Time, I

would

I. SHOW what this divine Light is.

II. HOW it is given Immediately by GOD, and
not obtain’d by natural Means.

III. SHOW the Truth of the Doctrine.

AND then conclude with a brief Improve­

-
ment.

I. I would show what this spiritual and divine

Light is. And in order to it would shew,

First, IN a few things what it is not. And here,

1. THOSE Convictions that natural Men may have

of their Sin and Misery is not this spiritual and divine
Light. Men in a natural Condition may have Con-
victions of the Guilt that lies upon them, and of the
anger of GOD, and their Danger of divine Ven-
geance. Such Convictions are from Light or Sensi-
bleness of Truth: that some Sinners have a greater
Conviction of their Guilt and Misery than oth-
ers, is because some have more Light, or more of an
Apprehension of Truth, than others. And this Light
and Conviction may be from the Spirit of GOD; the
SPIRIT convinces Men of Sin: but yet nature is much
more concern’d in it than in the Communication of
that spiritual and divine Light, that is spoken of in the
Doctrine; ’tis from the Spirit of GOD only as assisting
natural Principles, and not as infusing any new Princi-
6 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

ples. Common Grace differs from special, in that it influ-

ences only by assisting of Nature; and not by impart-
ing Grace, or bestowing any thing above Nature. The
Light that is obtain’d, is wholly natural, or of no supe-
riour Kind to what meer Nature attains to; tho’ more
of that kind be obtained, than would be obtained if
Men were left wholly to themselves, Or in other Words,
Common Grace only assists the Faculties of the Soul to
do that more fully, which they do by Nature; as natu-
ral Conscience, or Reason, will by meer Nature make
a Man sensible of Guilt, and will accuse and condemn
him when he has done amiss. Conscience is a Principle
natural to Men; and the Work that it doth naturally,
or of it self, is to give an Apprehension, of right and
wrong; and to suggest to the Mind the Relation that
there is between right and wrong, and a Retribution.
The Spirit of GOD, in those Convictions which un-
regenerate Men sometimes have, assists Conscience
to do this Work in a further Degree, than it would
do if they were left to themselves: He helps it against
those Things that tend to stupify it, and obstruct its
Exercise. But in the renewing and sanctifying work of
the HOLY GHOST, those things are wrought in
the Soul that are above Nature; and of which there is
nothing of the like kind in the Soul by Nature; and
they are caused to exist in the Soul habitually, & ac-
cording to such a stated Constitution or Law, that
lays such a Foundation for Exercises in a continued
Course, as is called a Principle of nature. Not only are
remaining Principles assisted to do their work more
freely and fully, but those Principles are restored that
were utterly destroyed by the Fall; and the mind
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 7

thence-forward habitually exerts those acts that the

Dominion of Sin had made it as wholly destitute of,
as a dead Body is of vital Acts.
THE Spirit of GOD acts in a very different
manner in the one Case, from what he doth in the
other. He may indeed act upon the Mind of a natural
Man; but he acts in the Mind of a Saint as an indwell-
ing vital Principle. He acts upon the Mind of an unre-
generate Person as an extrinsick occasional Agent; for in
acting upon them he doth not unite himself to them;
for notwithstanding all his Influences that they may
be the Subjects of, they are still sensual having not the
Spirit. Jude 19. But he unites himself with the Mind of
a Saint, takes him for his Temple, actuates and influ-
ences him as a new, supernatural Principle of Life and
Action. There is this Difference; that the Spirit of
GOD in acting in the Soul of a Godly Man, exerts
and communicates himself there in his own proper
Nature. Holiness is the proper Nature of the Spirit of
GOD. The HOLY SPIRIT operates in the Minds
of the Godly, by uniting himself to them, and living
in them, and exerting his own Nature in the Exer-
cise of their Faculties. The Spirit of GOD may act
upon a Creature, and yet not, in acting communicate
himself. The Spirit of GOD may act upon inanimate
Creatures; as the Spirit moved upon the Face of the Wa-
ters, in the Beginning of the Creation: So the Spirit
of GOD may act upon the minds of Men, many ways,
and communicate himself no more than when he acts
upon an inanimate Creature. For Instance. He may ex-
cite Thoughts in them, may assist their natural Rea-
8 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

son and Understanding, or may assist other natural

Principles, and this without any Union with the Soul,
but may act, as it were, as upon an external Object.
But as he acts in his holy Influences, and spiritual
Operations, he acts in a way of peculiar Communica-
tion of himself; so that the Subject is thence denom-
inated Spiritual.
2. THIS spiritual and divine Light don’t con-
sist in any Impression made upon the Imagination. ’Tis no
Impression upon the Mind, as tho’ one saw any thing
with the bodily Eyes: ’Tis no Imagination or Idea of
an outward Light or Glory, or any Beauty of Form
or Countenance, or a visible Lustre or Brightness
of any Object. The Imagination may be strongly
impress’d with such things; but this is not spiritual
Light. Indeed when the Mind has a lively Discov-
ery of spiritual things, and is greatly affected by the
Power of divine Light, it may, and probably very
commonly doth, much affect the Imagination: So that
Impressions of an outward Beauty or Brightness, may
accompany those spiritual Discoveries. But spiritual
Light is not that Impression upon the Imagination, but
an exceeding different thing from it. Natural Men
may have lively Impressions on their Imaginations; and
we cant determine but that the Devil, who trans-
forms himself into an Angel of Light, may cause Imagi-
nations of an outward Beauty, or visible Glory, and
of Sounds and Speeches, and other such Things;
but these are Things of a vastly inferiour Nature to
Spiritual Light.
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 9

3. THIS spiritual Light is not the suggesting of any

new Truths, or Propositions not contain’d in the Word of GOD.
This suggesting of new Truths or Doctrines to the
Mind, independent of any antecedent Revelation of
those Propositions, either in Word or Writing, is Inspi-
ration; such as the Prophets and Apostles had, and such
as some Enthusiasts pretend to. But this spiritual Light
that I am speaking of, is quite a different thing from
Inspiration: It reveals no new Doctrine, it suggests no
new Proposition to the Mind, it teaches no new thing
of GOD, or CHRIST, or another World, not taught
in the Bible; but only gives a due Apprehension of
those things that are taught in the word of GOD.
4. ’TIS not every affecting View that Men have of
the Things of Religion, that is this spiritual and divine
Light. Men by meer Principles of Nature are capable
of being affected with Things that have a special Rela-
tion to Religion, as well as other Things. A Person by
meer Nature, for Instance, may be liable to be affected
with the Story of JESUS CHRIST, and the suf-
ferings he underwent, as well as by any other tragical
Story: He may be the more affected with it from the
Interest he conceives Mankind to have in it: Yea he
may be affected with it without believing it; as well as a
Man may be affected with what he reads in a Romance,
or see’s acted in a Stage Play. He may be affected with
a lively and eloquent description of many pleasant
things that attend the state of the Blessed in Heaven;
as well as his Imagination be entertain’d by a roman-
tick description of the pleasantness of Fairy Land, or
the like. And that common belief of the truth of the
10 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

things of Religion, that Persons may have from Educa-

tion, or otherwise, may help forward their affection. We
read in Scripture of many that were greatly affected with
things of a religious nature, who yet are there repre-
sented as wholly graceless, and many of them very ill
Men. A Person therefore may have affecting views of the
things of Religion, and yet be very destitute of spiritual
Light. Flesh and Blood may be the Author of this: One
Man may give another an affecting view of divine things
with but common assistance; but GOD alone can give
a spiritual Discovery of them.
BUT I proceed to show,
Secondly, Positively, WHAT this spiritual and
divine Light is.
AND it may be thus described, A true sense of the
divine Excellency of the things revealed in the Word of GOD,
and a conviction of the truth and reality of them, thence
arising.
THIS spiritual Light primarily consists in the
former of these, viz. a real sense and apprehension of
the divine Excellency of things revealed in the Word
of GOD. A spiritual and saving Conviction of the
truth and reality of these things, arises from such a
sight of their divine Excellency and Glory; so that
this Conviction of their truth is an effect and natu-
ral consequence of this sight of their divine Glory.
There is therefore in this spiritual Light,
1. A true sense of the divine and superlative excellency
of the things of Religion; a real sense of the excellency
of GOD, and JESUS CHRIST, and of the work
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 11

of Redemption, and the ways and works of GOD re-

vealed in the Gospel. There is a divine and superla-
tive Glory in these things; and Excellency that is of
a vastly higher Kind, and more sublime Nature, than
in other thing; a Glory greatly distinguishing them
from all that is earthly and temporal. He that is spir-
itually enlightened truly apprehends and sees it, or has
a sense of it. He don’t meerly rationally believe that
GOD is Glorious, but he has a sense of the Glori-
ousness of GOD in his Heart. There is not only a ra-
tional belief that GOD is holy, and that Holiness is a
good thing; but there is a sense of the Loveliness of
GOD’s Holiness. There is not only a speculatively
judging that GOD is gracious, but a sense how ami-
able GOD is upon that Account; or a sense of the
Beauty of this divine Attribute.
THERE is a twofold Understanding of
Knowledge of Good, that GOD has made the Mind
of Man capable of. The First, that which is meerly
speculative or notional: As when a Person only specula-
tively judges, that any thing is, which by the Agree-
ment of Mankind, is called Good or Excellent, viz.
that which is most to general Advantage, and be-
tween which and a Reward there is a suitableness;
and the like. And the other is that which consists in the
sense of the Heart: As when there is a sense of the
Beauty, Amiableness, or Sweetness of a thing; so that
the Heart is sensible of Pleasure and Delight in the
presence of the Idea of it. In the former is exercised
meerly the speculative Faculty, or the Understanding
strictly so called, or as spoken of in Distinction from
12 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

the Will or Disposition of the Soul. In the latter the

Will, or Inclination, or Heart, are mainly concern’d.
THUS there is a Difference between having an
Opinion that GOD is holy and gracious, and having a
sense of the Loveliness and Beauty of that Holiness and
Grace. There is a Difference between having a rational
Judgment that Honey is sweet, and having a sense of its
sweetness. A Man may have the Former, that knows not
how Honey tasts; but a Man can’t have the Latter, un-
less he has an Idea of the tast of Honey in his Mind. So
there is a difference between believing that a Person is
Beautiful, and having a sense of his Beauty. The For-
mer may be obtain’d by hear-say, but the Latter only
by seeing the Countenance. There is a wide difference
between meer speculative, rational Judging any thing to
be excellent, and having a sense of its Sweetness, and
Beauty. The Former rests only in the Head, Specula-
tion only is concern’d in it; but the Heart is concern’d
in the Latter. When the Heart is sensible of the Beauty
and Amiableness of a Thing, it necessarily feels Plea-
sure in the Apprehension. It is implied in a Persons be-
ing heartily sensible of the Loveliness of a thing, that
the Idea of it is sweet and pleasant to his Soul; which
is a far different thing from having a rational Opinion
that it is excellent.
2. THERE arises from this sense of divine Ex-
cellency of Things contain’d in the Word of GOD, a
Conviction of the Truth and Reality of them: and that either
indirectly, or directly.
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 13

First, Indirectly, and that two ways.

1. AS the Prejudices that are in the Heart, against
the truth of divine things, are hereby removed; so that
the Mind becomes susceptive of the due Force of rational Ar-
guments for their Truth. The Mind of Man is naturally
full of Prejudice against the Truth of divine Things: It is
full of Enmity against the Doctrines of the Gospel;
which is a disadvantage to those Arguments that prove
their Truth, and causes them to lose their Force upon
the Mind. But when a Person has discovered to him
the divine excellency of Christian Doctrines, this de-
stroys the Enmity, removes those Prejudices, and sanc-
tifys the Reason, and causes it to lie open to the Force
of Arguments for their Truth.
HENCE was the different Effect that
CHRIST’s Miracles had to convince the Disci-
ples, from what they had to convince the Scribes and
Pharisees. Not that they had a stronger Reason, or
had their Reason more improved; but their Reason
was sanctified, and those blinding Prejudices, that the
Scribes and Pharisees were under, were removed by
the sense they had of the Excellency of CHRIST,
and his Doctrine.
2. IT not only removes the Hindrances of Reason,
but positively helps Reason. It makes even the specula-
tive Notions the more lively. It engages the atten-
tion of the Mind, with the more Fixedness and In-
tenseness to that Kind of Objects; which causes it
to have a clearer View of them, and enables it more
clearly to see their mutual Relations, and occasions
14 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

it to take more Notice of them. The Ideas them-

selves that otherwise are dim, and obscure, are by this
Means impress’d with the greater Strength, and have
a Light cast upon them; so that the Mind can better
judge of them. As he that beholds the Objects on the
Face of the Earth, when the Light of the Sun is cast
upon them, is under greater Advantage to discern
them in their true Forms, and mutual Relations, than
he that sees them in a dim Star-light or Twilight.
The Mind having a sensibleness of the Excel-
lency of divine Objects, dwells upon them with De-
light; and the Powers of the Soul are more awaken’d,
and enliven’d to employ themselves in the Contem-
plation of them, and exert themselves more fully
and much more to Purpose. The Beauty and Sweet-
ness of the Objects draws on the Faculties, and draws
forth their Exercises: So that Reason it self is under
far greater Advantages for its proper and free Exer-
cises, and to attain its proper End, free of Darkness
and Delusion. But,
Secondly, A true sense of the divine Excellency
of the Things of GOD’s Word doth more directly and
immediately convince of the Truth of them; And that
because the Excellency of these Things is so super-
lative. There is a Beauty in them that is so divine and
Godlike, that is greatly and evidently distinguishing
of them from things meerly human, or that Men are
the Inventors and Authors of; a Glory that is so high
and great, that when clearly seen, commands Assent
to their Divinity, and Reality. When there is an ac-
tual and lively Discovery of this Beauty and Excel-
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 15

lency, it won’t allow of any such Thought as that it

is an human Work, or the Fruit of Mens Invention.
This Evidence, that they, that are spiritually enlight-
ened, have of the Truth of the things of Religion, is
a Kind of intuitive and immediate Evidence. They be-
lieve the Doctrines of GOD’s Word to be divine, be-
cause they see Divinity in them, i.e. They see a divine,
and transcendent, and most evidently distinguishing
Glory in them; such a Glory as, if clearly seen, don’t
leave Room to doubt of their being a GOD, and not
of Men.
SUCH a Conviction of the Truth of Religion
as this, arising, these Ways, from a sense of the divine
Excellency of them, is that true spiritual Conviction,
that there is in saving Faith. And this Original of it,
is that by which it is most essentially distinguished
from that common assent, which unregenerate Men
are capable of.
II. I Proceed now to the second Thing pro-
posed, viz. To show how this Light is Immediately given
by GOD, and not obtain’d by natural Means. And here,
1. ’TIS not intended that the natural Faculties are
not made Use of in it. The natural Faculties are the Sub-
ject of this Light: And they are the Subject in such a
Manner, that they are not meerly passive, but active
in it; the Acts and Exercises of Man’s Understand-
ing are concern’d and made use of in it. GOD in let-
ting in this Light into the Soul, deals with Man ac-
cording to his Nature, or as a rational Creature; and
makes Use of his human Faculties. But yet this Light is
16 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

not the less immediately from GOD for that; tho’ the
Faculties are made Use of, ’tis as the Subject and not as
the Cause; and that acting of the Faculties in it, is not
the Cause, but is either implied in the Thing it self,
(in the Light that is imparted) or is the Consequence
of it. As the Use that we make of our Eyes in behold-
ing various Objects, when the Sun arises, is not the
Cause of the Light that discovers those Objects to us.
2. ’TIS not intended that outward Means have no
Concern in this Affair. As I have observed already, ’tis
not in this Affair, as it is in Inspiration, where new
Truths are suggested: for here is by this Light only
given a due Apprehension of the same Truths that
are revealed in the Word of GOD; and therefore it
is not given without the Word. The Gospel is made
Use of in this Affair: This Light is the Light of the Glo-
rious Gospel of CHRIST 2. Cor. 4. 4. The Gospel is as a
Glass, by which this Light is conveyed to us. 1 Cor. 13.
12. Now we see through a Glass—. But,
3. WHEN it is said that this Light is given im-
mediately by GOD, and not obtained by natural
Means, hereby is intended, that ’tis given by GOD with-
out making Use of any Means that operate by their own
Power, or a natural Force. GOD makes Use of Means;
but ’tis not as mediate Causes to produce this Ef-
fect. There are not truly any second Causes of it; but
it is produced by GOD immediately. The Word of
GOD is no proper Cause of this Effect: It don’t op-
erate by any natural Force in it. The Word of GOD is
only made Use of to convey to the Mind the Sub-
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 17

ject matter of this saving Instruction: And this indeed

it doth convey to us by natural Force or Influence. It
conveys to our Minds these and those Doctrines; it
is the Cause of the Notion of them in our Heads, but
not of the sense of the divine Excellency of them in
our Hearts. Indeed a Person can’t have spiritual Light
without the Word. But that don’t argue, that the
Word properly causes that Light. The Mind can’t see
the Excellency of any Doctrine, unless that Doctrine
be first in the Mind; but the seeing the Excellency of
the Doctrine may be immediately from the Spirit of
GOD; tho’ the conveying of the Doctrine or Propo-
sition it self may be by the Word. So that the Notions
that are the Subject matter of this Light, are con-
veyed to the Mind by the Word of GOD; but that
due sense of the Heart, wherein this Light formally
consists, is immediately by the Spirit of GOD. As for
Instance, that Notion that there is a CHRIST, and
that CHRIST is holy and gracious, is conveyed to
the Mind by the Word of GOD: But the sense of the
Excellency of CHRIST by reason of that Holiness
and Grace, is nevertheless immediately the Work of
the HOLY SPIRIT. I come now,
III. TO show the Truth of the Doctrine; that is to
show that there is such a Thing as that spiritual Light that
has been described, thus immediately let into the Mind by
GOD. And here I would shew briefly, that this Doc-
trine is both scriptural, and rational.
First, ’TIS SCRIPTURAL. My Text is not
only full to the Purpose, but ’tis a Doctrine that the
18 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

Scripture abounds in. We are there abundantly taught,

that the Saints differ from the Ungodly in this, that
they have the Knowlege of GOD, and a sight of
GOD, and of JESUS CHRIST. I shall mention but
few Texts of many; 1 John 3. 6. Whosoever sinneth hath not
seen him, nor known him. 3 John 11. He that doth Good, is of
GOD; but he that doth Evil, hath not seen GOD. John 14. 19.
The world seeth me no more; but ye see me. John 17. 3. And
this is Eternal Life, that they might know thee, the only true
GOD, and JESUS CHRIST whom thou hast sent. This
Knowlege, or sight of GOD and CHRIST, can’t be
a meer speculative Knowlege; because it is spoken of
as a seeing and knowing, wherein they differ from the
Ungodly. And by these Scriptures it must not only be
a different Knowlege in Degree and circumstances,
and different in its Effects; but it must be entirely dif-
ferent in Nature and Kind.
AND this Light and Knowlege is always spo-
ken of as immediately given of GOD. Mat. 11. 25,
26, 27. At that time JESUS answered and said, I thank
thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth, because thou hast
hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed
them unto Babes; even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy
sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father; and no
Man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any
Man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the
Son will reveal him. Here this Effect is ascribed alone
to the arbitrary Operation, and Gift of GOD, be-
stowing this Knowlege on whom he will, and distin-
guishing those with it, that have the least natural Ad-
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 19

vantage or Means for Knowlege, even Babes, when it

is denied to the Wise and Prudent. And the impart-
ing the Knowlege of GOD is here appropriated to
the Son of GOD, as his sole Prerogative. And again,
2 Cor. 4. 6. For GOD who commanded the Light to shine
out of Darkness, hath shined in our Hearts, to give the Light
of Knowlege of the Glory of GOD in the Face of JESUS
CHRIST. This plainly shows, that there is such a
thing as a discovery of the divine superlative Glory
and Excellency of GOD and CHRIST; and that pe-
culiar to the Saints: and also that ’tis as immediately
from GOD, as Light from the Sun: and that ’tis the
immediate Effect of his Power and Will; for ’tis com-
pared to GOD’s creating the Light by his powerful
Word in the beginning of the Creation; and is said
to be by the Spirit of the LORD, in the eighteenth
verse of the preceeding Chapter. GOD is spoken
of as giving the Knowlege of CHRIST in Conver-
sion, as of what before was hidden and unseen in that
Gal. 1. 15, 16. But when it pleased GOD, who separated
me from my Mothers Womb, and called me by his Grace,
to reveal his Son in me———. The Scripture also speaks
plainly of such a Knowlege of the Word of GOD, as
has been described, as the immediate gift of GOD.
Psal. 119. 18. Open thou mine Eyes, that I may behold won-
drous things out of thy Law. What could the Psalm-
ist mean, when he begged of GOD to open his Eyes?
was he ever blind? might he not have Resort to the
Law and see every Word and Sentence in it when he
pleased? And what could he mean by those wondrous
Things? was it the wonderful Stories of the Creation,
20 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

and Deluge, and Israel’s passing thro’ the red Sea,

and the like? were not his Eyes open to read these
strange things when he would? Doubtless by wondrous
Things in GOD’s Law, he had Respect to those distin-
guishing and wonderful Excellencies, and marvellous
Manifestations of the divine Perfections, and Glory,
that there was in the Commands and Doctrines of
the Word, and those Works and Counsels of GOD
that were there revealed. So the Scripture speaks of
a Knowlege of GOD’s Dispensation, and Covenant
of Mercy, and Way of Grace towards his People, as
peculiar to the Saints, and given only by GOD, Psal.
25. 14. The Secret of the LORD is with them that fear him;
and he will shew them his Covenant.
AND that a true and saving Belief of the Truth
of Religion is that which arises from such a Discov-
ery, is also what the Scripture teaches. As John 6. 40.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one that
SEETH the Son, and BELIEVETH on him, may have
everlasting Life. Where it is plain that a true Faith is
what arises from a spiritual sight of CHRIST. And
John 17. 6, 7, 8. I have manifested thy Name unto the Men
which thou gavest me out of the World—. Now they have
known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me, are of
thee; for I have given unto them the words which thou gavest
me, and they have received them, and known surely that I
came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst
send me. Where CHRIST’s manifesting GOD’s Name
to the Disciples, or giving them the Knowlege of
God, was that whereby they knew that CHRIST’s
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 21

Doctrine was of GOD, and that CHRIST himself

was of him, proceeded from him, and was sent by him.
Again John 12. 44, 45, 46. J E S U S cried and said, he
that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that
sent me; and he that seeth me seeth him that sent me: I
am come a Light into the World, that whosoever Believeth
on me should not abide in Darkness. There Believing in
CHRIST and spiritually Seeing him, are spoken of
as running parallel.
CHRIST condemns the Jews, that they did
not know that he was the MESSIAH, and that his
Doctrine was true, from an inward distinguishing
Tast and Relish of what was divine, in Luke 12. 56, 57.
He having there blamed the Jews, that though they
could discern the Face of the Sky and of the Earth, and
Signs of the Weather, that yet they could not dis-
cern those Times; or as ’tis expressed in Matthew, the
Signs of those Times; He adds, yea and why even of your
own selves, judge ye not what is right ? i. e. without ex-
trinsick Signs. “ Why have ye not that sense of true
“ Excellency, whereby ye may distinguish that which
“ is holy and divine? Why have ye not that favour
“ of the things of GOD, by which you may see the
“ distinguishing Glory, and evident Divinity of me
“ and my Doctrine ?
THE Apostle Peter mentions it as what gave
them (the Apostles,) good and well grounded As-
surance of the Truth of the Gospel, that they had
seen the divine Glory of CHRIST. 2 Pet. 1. 16. For
we have not followed cunningly devised Fables, when we
22 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

made known unto you, the Power and Coming of our Lord
JESUS CHRIST, but were Eye-witnesses of his Maj-
esty. The Apostle has Respect to that visible Glory
of CHRIST which they saw in his Transfiguration:
That Glory was so divine having such an ineffable
Appearance and semblance of divine Holiness, Maj-
esty, and Grace, that it evidently denoted him to be a
divine Person. But if a sight of CHRIST’s outward
Glory might give a rational Assurance of his Divinity,
why may not an Apprehension of his spiritual Glory
do so too. Doubtless CHRIST’s spiritual Glory is in
itself as distinguishing, and as plainly shewing his Di-
vinity, as his outward Glory; and a great deal more:
for his spiritual Glory is that wherein his Divinity
consists; and the outward Glory of his Transfigu-
ration shew’d him to be divine, only as it was a Re-
markable Image or Representation of that spiritual
Glory. Doubtless therefore he that has had a clear
sight of the spiritual Glory of CHRIST, may say, I
have not followed cunningly devised Fables, but have been
an Eye-witness of his Majesty, upon as good Grounds
as the Apostle, when he had Respect to the outward
Glory of Christ, that he had seen. But this brings me
to what was proposed next viz. to show that,
Secondly, THIS Doctrine is RATIONAL.
1. ’TIS rational to suppose that there is really such
an Excellency in divine things, that is so transcendent and
exceedingly different from what is in other things, that if it
were seen would most evidently distinguish them. We can’t
rationally doubt but that Things that are divine, that
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 23

appertain to the supreme Being, are vastly different

from Things that are human; that there is that God-
like, high, and glorious Excellency in them, that does
most remarkably difference them from the things
that are of Men; insomuch that if the difference were
but seen, it would have a convincing, satisfying influ-
ence upon any one, that they are what they are, viz.
divine. What Reason can be offered against it? Unless
we would argue that GOD is not remarkably distin-
guished in Glory from Men.
IF CHRIST should now appear to any One,
as he did on the Mount at his Transfiguration; or if
he should appear to the World in the Glory that he
now appears in in Heaven, as he will do at the Day
of Judgment; without doubt, the Glory and Maj-
esty that he would appear in, would be such as would
satisfy every One, that he was a divine Person, and
that Religion was true: And it would be a most rea-
sonable, and well grounded Conviction too. And
why may there not be that Stamp of Divinity, or di-
vine Glory on the word of GOD, on the Scheme and
Doctrine of the Gospel, that may be in like manner
distinguishing and as rationally convincing, provided
it be but seen? ’Tis rational to suppose, that when
GOD speaks to the World, there should be some-
thing in his Word or Speech vastly different from
Men’s Word. Supposing that GOD never had spo-
ken to the World, but we had Notice that He was
about to do it; that he was about to Reveal him-
self from Heaven, and speak to us immediately him-
self, in divine Speeches or Discourses, as it were from
24 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

his own Mouth; or that he should give us a Book of

his own inditing; after what manner should we ex-
pect that he would speak? Would it not be rational to
suppose, that his Speech would be exceeding differ-
ent from Men’s Speech, that he should speak like a
GOD; that is, that there should be such an Excellency
and sublimity in his Speech or Word, such a Stamp of
Wisdom, Holiness, Majesty, and other divine Perfec-
tions, that the word of Men, yea of the wisest of Men,
should appear mean and base in Comparison of it?
Doubtless it would be thought rational to expect this,
and unreasonable to think otherwise. When a wise Man
speaks in the Exercise of his Wisdom, there is some-
thing in every thing he says, that is very distinguish-
able from the Talk of a little Child. So, without doubt,
and much more, is the Speech of GOD, (if there be
any such Thing as the Speech of GOD,) to be distin-
guished from that of the wisest of Men; agreable to
Jer. 23. 28, 29. GOD having there been reproving the
false Prophets that prophesied in his Name, and pre-
tended that what they spake was his Word, when in-
deed it was their own Word, says, The Prophet that hath
a Dream, let him tell a Dream; and he that hath my Word, let
him speak my Word faithfully: WHAT IS THE CHAFF
TO THE WHEAT ? Saith the LORD. Is not my Word
like as a Fire, saith the LORD, and like a Hammer that
breaketh the Rock in Pieces?
2. IF there be such a distinguishing Excellency in divine
things; ’tis rational to suppose that there may be such a thing
as seeing it. What should hinder but that it may be seen?
’Tis no Argument that there is no such Thing as such
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 25

a distinguishing Excellency, or that, if there be, that it

can’t be seen, that some don’t see it; tho’ they may be
discerning Men in temporal Matters. It is not rational
to suppose, if there be any such Excellency in divine
Things, that wicked Men should see it. ’Tis not rational
to suppose, that those whose Minds are full of spiritual
Pollution, and under the Power of filthy Lusts, should
have any Relish or Sense of divine Beauty, or Excel-
lency; or that their Minds should be susceptive of that
Light that is in its own Nature so pure and heavenly. It
need not seem at all strange, that Sin should so blind
the Mind, seeing that Mens particular natural Tem-
pers and Dispositions will so much blind them in sec-
ular Matters; as when Mens natural Temper is melan-
choly, jealous, fearful, proud, or the like.
3. ’TIS rational to suppose that this Knowlege should
be given immediately by GOD, and not be obtain’d by nat-
ural means. Upon what account should it seem unrea-
sonable, that there should be any immediate Communi-
cation between GOD and the Creature? ’Tis strange
that Men should make any matter of difficulty of it.
Why should not He that made all things, still have
something immediately to do with the Things that he
has made? Where lies the great difficulty, if we own
the Being of a GOD, and that he created all things
out of Nothing, of allowing some immediate Influ-
ence of GOD on the Creation still. And if it be rea-
sonable to suppose it with Respect to any Part of the
Creation, ’tis Especially so with Respect to reason-
able intelligent Creatures; who are next to GOD
in the Gradation of the different Orders of Beings,
26 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

and whose Business is most immediately with GOD;

who were made on Purpose for those Exercises that
do respect God, and wherein they have nextly to do
with God: for Reason teaches that Man was made to
serve and glorify his Creator. And if it be rational to
suppose that GOD immediately communicates him-
self to Man in any Affair, it is in this. ’Tis rational to
suppose that GOD would reserve that Knowlege and
Wisdom, that is of such a divine and excellent Na-
ture, to be bestowed immediately by himself, and that
it should not be left in the Power of second Causes.
Spiritual Wisdom and Grace is the highest and most
excellent Gift that ever GOD bestows on any Creature:
In this the highest Excellency and Perfection of a ra-
tional Creature consists. ’Tis also immensely the most
important of all divine Gifts: ’Tis that wherein Mans
Happiness consists, and on which his everlasting Wel-
fare depends. How rational is it to suppose that GOD,
however he has left meaner Goods and lower Gifts to
second Causes, and in some sort in their Power, yet
should reserve this most excellent, divine, and impor-
tant of all divine Communications, in his own Hands,
to be bestowed immediately by himself, as a thing too
great for second Causes to be concern’d in? ’Tis ra-
tional to suppose that his Blessing should be immedi-
ately from GOD; for there is no Gift or Benefit that
is in it self so nearly related to the divine Nature,
there is nothing the Creature receives that is so much
of GOD, of his Nature, so much a Participation of the
Deity: ’Tis a Kind of Emanation of GOD’s Beauty,
and is related to GOD as the Light is to the Sun. ’Tis
therefore congruous and fit, that when it is given of
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 27

GOD, it should be nextly from himself, and by him-

self, according to his own Sovereign Will.
’TIS rational to suppose, that it should be be-
yond a Man’s Power to obtain this Knowlege, and
Light, by the meer Strength of natural Reason; for
’tis not a Thing that belongs to Reason, to see the
Beauty and Loveliness of spiritual things; it is not a
speculative thing, but depends on the Sense of the
Heart. Reason indeed is necessary in order to it, as
’tis by Reason only that we are become the Subjects
of the means of it; which means I have already shown
to be necessary in order to it, though they have no
proper causal Influence in the Affair. ’Tis by Rea-
son, that we become possessed of a notion of those
Doctrines that are the Subject Matter of this divine
Light; and Reason may many ways be indirectly, and
remotely an Advantage to it. And Reason has also to
do in the Acts that are immediately consequent on
this Discovery: A seeing the Truth of Religion from
hence, is by Reason; though it be but by one step,
and the Inference be immediate. So Reason has to do
in that accepting of, and trusting in CHRIST, that
is consequent of it. But if we take Reason strictly, not
for the Faculty of mental Perception in general, but
for Ratiocination, or a Power of Inferring by Argu-
ments; I say if we take Reason thus, the perceiving
of spiritual Beauty and Excellency no more belongs
to Reason, than it belongs to the Sense of feeling to
perceive Colours, or to the Power of seeing to per-
ceive the Sweetness of Food. It is out of Reason’s
Province to perceive the Beauty or Loveliness of any
28 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

thing: Such a Perception don’t belong [28] to that

Faculty. Reason’s Work is to perceive Truth, and not
Excellency. ’Tis not Ratiocination that gives Men
the Perception of the Beauty and Amiableness of a
Countenance; tho’ it may be many ways indirectly an
advantage to it; yet ’tis no more Reason that immedi-
ately perceives it, than it is Reason that perceives the
Sweetness of Honey: It depends on the Sense of the
Heart. Reason may determine that a Countenance is
Beautiful to others, it may determine that Honey is
sweet to others; but it will never give me a Perception
of its Sweetness.
I will conclude with a very brief Improvement of
what has been said.
First, THIS Doctrine may lead us to reflect on
the Goodness of GOD, that has so ordered it, that
a saving Evidence of the Truth of the Gospel is such,
as is attainable by Persons of mean Capacities, and
Advantages, as well as those that are of the greatest
Parts and Learning. If the Evidence of the Gospel
depended only on History, and such Reasonings as
learned Men only are capable of, it would be above
the Reach of far the greatest part of Mankind. But
Persons, with but an ordinary Degree of Knowlege,
are capable without a long and subtil Train of Rea-
soning, to see the divine Excellency of the things of
Religion: They are capable of being taught by the
Spirit of GOD, as well as learned Men. The Evi-
dence that is this Way obtained, is vastly better and
more satisfying, than all that can be obtain’d by the
Arguings of those that are most Learned and great-
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 29

est Masters of Reason. And Babes are as capable of

knowing these things, as the wise and prudent; and
they are often hid from these, when they are revealed
to those. 1 Cor. 1. 26, 27. For ye see your Calling Breth-
ren, how that not many wise Men, after the Flesh, not many
mighty, not many noble are called. But GOD hath chosen the
foolish things of the World.—

Secondly. THIS Doctrine may well put us upon

examining our selves, whether we have ever had his di-
vine Light, that has been described, let into our Souls.
If there be such a thing indeed, and it ben’t only a
Notion, or Whimsy of Persons of weak and distem-
pered Brains, then doubtless ’tis a thing of great Im-
portance, whether we have thus been taught by the
Spirit of GOD; whether the Light of the Glorious Gospel
of CHRIST, who is the Image of GOD hath shined into us,
giving us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of GOD,
in the Face of JESUS CHRIST; whether we have seen
the Son, and believed on him, or have that Faith of Gos-
pel Doctrines that arises from a spiritual Sight of
CHRIST.

Thirdly. ALL may hence be exhorted, earnestly

to seek this spiritual Light. To influence and move to it,
the following things may be consider’d.

1. THIS is the most excellent and divine Wisdom,

that any Creature is capable of. ’Tis more excel-
lent than any human Learning; ’Tis far more excel-
lent, than all the Knowlege of the greatest Philos-
ophers, or States-men. Yea the least Glimpse of the
Glory of GOD in the Face of CHRIST doth more ex-
30 The Reality of Spiritual Light.

alt and enable the Soul, than all the Knowlege of

those that have the greatest speculative Understand-
ing in Divinity, without Grace. This Knowlege has
the most noble Object that is, or can be, viz. the di-
vine Glory, and Excellency of GOD, and CHRIST.
The Knowlege of these Objects is that wherein con-
sists the most excellent Knowlege of the Angels, yea,
of GOD himself,
2. THIS Knowlege is that which is above all
others Sweet and Joyful. Men have a great deal of Plea-
sure in human Knowlege, in Studies of natural things;
but this is nothing to that Joy which arises from this
divine Light shining into the Soul. This Light gives
a View of those things that are immensely the most
exquisitely Beautiful, and capable of delighting the
Eye of the Understanding. This spiritual Light is the
dawning of the Light of Glory in the Heart. There is
nothing so powerful as this to support Persons in Af-
fliction, and to give the Mind Peace and Brightness,
in this stormy and dark World.
3. THIS Light is such as effectually influences the
Inclination, and changes the Nature of the Soul. It assim-
ilates the Nature to the divine Nature, and changes
the Soul into an Image of the same Glory that is be-
held. 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all open Face beholding as in a
Glass the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the same Image,
from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. This
Knowlege will wean from the World, and raise the
Inclination to heavenly things. It will turn the Heart
to GOD as the Fountain of Good, and to choose
him for the only Portion. This Light, and this only,
 The Reality of Spiritual Light. 31

will bring the Soul to a saving Close with CHRIST.

It conforms the Heart to the Gospel, mortifies its
Enmity and Opposition against the Scheme of Sal-
vation therein revealed: It causes the Heart to em-
brace the joyful Tidings, and entirely to adhere to,
and acquiesce in the Revelation of CHRIST as our
Saviour: It causes the whole Soul to accord and Sym-
phonize with it, admitting it with entire Credit and
Respect, cleaving to it with full Inclination and Af-
fection. And it effectually disposes the Soul to give
up it self entirely to CHRIST.
4. THIS Light and this only has its Fruit in an
universal Holiness of Life. No merely notional or spec-
ulative Understanding of the Doctrines of Religion,
will ever bring to this. But this Light as it reaches the
bottom of the Heart, and changes the Nature, so it
will effectually dispose to an universal Obedience. It
shews GOD’s worthiness to be obeyed and served.
It draws forth the Heart in a sincere Love to GOD,
which is the only Principle of a true, gracious and
universal Obedience. And it convinces of the Reality
of those glorious Rewards that GOD has promised
to them that obey him.

F I N I S.
[Taken from the Excellent Dr. Watts’s Hymns.]

The Humble enlightened, and Carnal Reason

humbled : Or, The Sovereignty of Grace,
Luke 10. 21, 22.

T
here was an Hour when Christ rejoyc’d,
And spoke his Joy in Words of Praise ;
Father, I thank thee, mighty God,
Lord of the Earth and Heavens and Seas.
I thank thy Sov’reign Pow’r and Love,
That crowns my Doctrine with Success ;
And makes the Babes in Knowlege learn
The Heights, and Breadths, and Lengths of Grace.
But all this Glory lies conceal’d
From Men of Prudence and of Wit :
The Prince of Darkness blinds their Eyes,
And their own Pride resists the Light.
Father, ’tis thus, because thy Will
Chose and ordain’d it should be so ;
’Tis thy Delight t’ abase the Proud,
And lay the haughty Scorner low.
There’s none can know the Father right,
But those who learn it from the Son ;
Nor can the Son be well receiv’d,
But where the Father makes him known.
Then let our Souls adore our God,
That deals his Graces as he please ;
Nor gives to Mortals an Account
Or of his Actions, or Decrees.
 Afterword
by Reiner Smolinski

J onathan Edwards (1703-1758), colonial America’s greatest thinker,

theologian of the first order, and congregational clergyman, was born
in Northampton, Massachusetts. Not quite 13, Jonathan Edwards entered
Yale in 1716, graduated four years later, and continued his study of theol-
ogy until he received a call to a Presbyterian church in New York in 1722.
Two years later, Edwards was appointed as tutor at Yale, but poor health
forced him to resign from his position there. In 1726, he returned to his
place of birth to become an assistant to his grandfather Solomon Stoddard.
Edwards married Sarah Pierpont in 1727 and after Stoddard’s death in 1729
became teacher at his Northampton congregation.
Among Edwards’ published works of the period is the tract God Glo-
rified in the Work of Redemption by the Greatness of Man’s Dependence (1731). As
if to rekindle the Preparationist debate of a century earlier, Edwards tried
to undo what his maternal grandfather Solomon Stoddard had long estab-
lished as a received practice in the Connecticut Valley: church member-
ship based on “moral uprightness” rather than conversion process and test
of faith. God Glorified stresses man’s passivity in the process of regenera-
tion, the certainty of which could only be measured in spiritual joy arising
from the soul’s overwhelming attraction to God’s holiness and beauty. His
sermons during the 1730s stressed the process of regeneration and struck
a responsive cord among his parishioners, many of whom spontaneously
assembled in prayer meetings. These early stirrings of the Great Awaken-
ing were intensified by Edwards’ famous sermon A Divine and Supernatu-
ral Light, Immediately Imparted to the Soul by the Spirit of God (1734). Through
a fascinating process of canceling out his opponents’ positions, Edwards
clearly defines the workings of God’s grace in the human soul. He distin-
guishes between “Common Grace” (intrinsic to virtually all unregenerate),
which acts upon the mind of natural man and assists the faculties of the soul
in their natural course; and “Special Grace” (intrinsic to true saints only),
which acts in the human heart and unites with the mind of the saint as a new

33
34 Af terword  

supernatural principle of life and action that restores human faculties to

their proper place. God’s spiritual light therefore does not consist of mak-
ing impressions on the Imagination nor does it teach any new dogmas; it
only gives a due apprehension of God’s beauty. Hence a saint with indwell-
ing grace does not merely believe rationally that God is glorious, but has
a due sense of God’s glory in his own heart. Whereas the head can merely
sustain a speculative or notional knowledge of beauty, the heart delights
in the idea of it, and the will prompted by the affections for the highest
good embraces the virtuous act. In Edwards’ illustration, the unregenerate
can rationally attain a sense of God’s beauty, but only the sanctified can at-
tain full conviction and immediate evidence of God’s grace: one can have
a rational sense of the sweetness of honey, but the true sense of its taste
can only be attained through experience. Edwards’ distinction is echoed in
what Samuel Taylor Coleridge would call primary and secondary beauty.
The surprising awakenings of 1730s brought large numbers of new
members to the communion table. Edwards describes the events in his
Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God (1737), which helped pave the
way for George Whitefield’s revival, the Great Awakening of 1740-1745. In
1739 Edwards preached a long series of sermons on redemption, laying the
foundation for his posthumous publication A History of the Work of Redemp-
tion (Edinburgh, 1774). This millenarian work outlines God’s providential-
ism in the history of the church from Old Testament times to the Second
Coming. Edwards’ preaching of the redemption cycle contributed to mas-
sive awakenings and so drew biting criticism from his Old Light colleagues.
In his Distinguishing Marks of the Work of the Spirit of God (1741), Some Thoughts
Concerning the Present Revival of Religion in New England (1743), and his Treatise
Concerning Religious Affections (1746), Edwards defends the Awakening against
those who objected that these mass conversions were little more than en-
thusiasm—dangerous delusions of the senses—rather than a true outpouring
of God’s grace. Among Edwards’ millenarian works is his Humble Attempt
to Promote Visible Union of God’s People in Extraordinary Prayer for the Revival
of Religion (1747)—a concerted effort between Edwards and his Scottish col-
leagues William McCulloch and John Erskine to unite all Christians the
world over to usher in the Second Coming.
If Edwards’ fervent belief in the imminence of the millennium gov-
erned the writing of An Humble Attempt, his Treatise Concerning Religious Af-
fections (1746) tried to combat the inroads of Arminianism in New England.
 by Reiner Smolinski  35

Several earlier defections from the orthodox cause, including that of Tim-
othy Cutler, president of Yale, and of members of Edwards’ own family,
called for an all-out attack on Jacob Arminius. In many respects, Solo-
mon Stoddard, had inadvertently contributed to the rise of Arminianism
in Northampton. In further relaxing the Half-Way Covenant (1662), which
admitted to the Lord’s Supper the unconverted offspring of full mem-
bers, Stoddard had seemingly flung open the church doors for anyone will-
ing to abide by his minimalist principles of sincere moral conduct. Thus he
had reduced the Lord’s Supper to little more than a means of regenera-
tion, where it had once stood as as a seal of God’s covenant and symbol of
His union with all true saints. Hence Edwards’ Treatise Concerning Religious
Affections (1746) and his later opus Freedom of the Will (1754) tried to undo his
grandfather’s liberal admissions policy by distinguished between the true
and saving principles of religious affections, and mere enthusiasm or feel-
ings of momentary elevation. His subsequent Account of the Life of the Late
Reverend Mr. David Brainerd (1749) in a sense is an elucidation of these prin-
ciples embedded in the exemplary history of a true saint.
Because of the divisiveness of the Great Awakening coupled with his
return to admission tests, Edwards faced considerable resistance from a
congregation long used to Stoddard’s open-door policy. When the strug-
gle for supremacy came to a climax, Edwards was summarily dismissed
from his Northampton pulpit in 1750. His Farewell Sermon (1750) is a testi-
mony to his convictions and a reprimand of his three principal opponents
whose namesakes (Peter, John, and James) were similarly reproached by
Christ for their spiritual sleep. Ousted from his pulpit, Edwards moved to
the hamlet of Stockbridge (1751), an Indian mission in western Massachu-
setts. In 1757, he was offered the presidency of Princeton, vacated by the
sudden death of Aaron Burr, Edwards’ son-in-law. Edwards assumed his
duties at Princeton, in January of 1758. Within three months, he died of a
botched smallpox inoculation. His wife, Esther, met with a similar fate in
October of the same year.
During his time in Stockbridge, Edwards wrote two of his great-
est philosophical works against the spread of Arminianism, demonstrating
the adaptability of Calvinism to the needs of a new age: Freedom of the Will
(1754) and The Great Christian Doctrine of Original Sin Defended (1758). Both
works employ Ramist logic in the context of Lockean faculty psychology
to demonstrate that the faculty of human will is not totally free but con-
36 Af terword  

ditioned by existing inclinations or circumstances. Prelapsarian Adam, ac-

cording to Jonathan Edwards, was endowed with the two principles: Self-
Love and Disinterested Benevolence. Together they maintained Adam’s
freedom to choose the highest Good. Yet when Adam deliberately resisted
the divine injunction, God removed the principle of benevolence and so
the balancing element in Adam’s nature. Henceforth principally controlled
by self-love, Adam’s faculty of volition was governed by his fall from grace.
Forever after, his memory, imagination, understanding, affection, and vo-
lition, were incapable of loving God unconditionally. Ruled by self-love,
Adam’s affections necessarily inclined toward inferior ends, and his will
and actions were thus determined by his inability to choose absolute Good.
Through imputation of Adam’s sin in his offspring, choice and culpabil-
ity were thus conditioned by human inclination toward selfish ends. In sin-
gling out the Episcopalian John Taylor, Edwards argued that his Arminian
colleague failed to realize that man’s a priori condition inevitable limited
his choices to the parameters of his fallen nature. Free will was therefore an
illusion. Edwards’ posthumous work Nature of True Virtue (1765) can be seen
as an amplification of his Divine and Supernatural Light (1734) and as his final
word on Arminianism. True love of God and union with the deity can only
be achieved through grace.
The work reprinted above (courtesy of the American Antiquarian So-
ciety) is a representative example of Edwards’ incisive logic employed in
the work of salvation. A Divine and Supernatural Light, Immediately Imparted
to the Soul by the Spirit of God (1734) defines the work of grace in the process
of regeneration.

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The text of this edition is based upon the first edition, printed in Boston in
1734 by Kneeland and Green. Emendations made to the text for this edi-
tion include the following:
Page 3, line 4: which in ☞ which is in
YYYYYYYYYYY
Set in IM Fell English, a typeface originally cut by
Christoffel van Dijck and Robert Granjon in the late seventeenth century,
and digitized and furnished by Igino Marini
http://www.iginomarini.com/fell.html
Page design and ornamentation
adapted from the Boston
first edition of 1734.
Composition by
Paul Royster.