Safety, Fullness, and Sweet Refreshment in Christ

There has been 3 previous posts on this sermon by Edwards. The introductory post was first, followed by posts on the first and second propositions. This post concerns itself with Edwards' third proposition. As well as online, this sermon can be found in Altogether Lovely (Jonathan, Edwards. Altogether Lovely Jonathan Edwards on the glory and excellency of Jesus Christ. Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997).

The third proposition is as follows:

There is quiet rest and full refreshment in Christ for sinners that are weary and heavy laden with sin.

Sinners, according to Edwards, fall into two categories in terms of weariness and sin; those who are wearied with sin and those who are weary of sin. The first group, wearied with sin, are "are not wearied with sin from any dislike to it, or dislike of it. There is no sinner that is burdened with sin in the sense in which a godly man carries his indwelling sin ... The unregenerate man has nothing of this nature, for sin is yet his delight, he dearly loves it. If he be under convictions, his love to sin in general is not mortified, he loves it as well as ever, he hides it still as a sweet morsel under his tongue." Rather, those weary with sin are 'awakened sinners'. "Awakened sinners are weary with sin, but not properly weary of it. Therefore, they are only weary of the guilt of sin, the guilt that cleaves to their consciences is that great burden. God has put the sense of feeling into their consciences, that were before as seared flesh, and it is guilt that pains them. The filthiness of sin and its evil nature, as it is an offence to a holy, gracious, and glorious God, is not a burden to them. But it is the connexion between sin and punishment, between sin and God's wrath, that makes it a burden." Or to put it bluntly, as Edwards can do with the best of them, the awakened sinners are "burdened with their sins, not because there is any odiousness in them, but because there is hell in them."

For Edwards, not unexpectedly, Christ is the answer to that burden. First, "He takes away the guilt of sin, from which the soul before saw no way how it was possible to be freed, and which, if it was not removed, led to eternal destruction. When the sinner comes to Christ, it is all at once taken away, and the soul is left free, it is lightened of its burden, it is delivered from its bondage, and is like a bird escaped from the snare of the fowler." And secondly, "Christ puts strength and a principle of new life into the weary soul that comes to him." Finally, Edwards pronounces that "Christ gives to those who come to him such comfort and pleasure as are enough to make them forget all their former labour and travail."

Edwards asks the sinner to consider a few things. Firstly, that "there is no remedy but in Jesus Christ." Second, "that Christ is a remedy at hand." His final consideration for the sinner is great news. "Christ is not only a remedy for your weariness and trouble, but he will give you an abundance of the contrary, joy and delight."

I will stop there, though Edwards goes on to admonish the saint in similar fashion to the sinners. He declares that "There are quiet rest and sweet refreshment in Christ for God's people that are weary. The saints themselves, while they remain in this imperfect state, and have so much remains of sin in their hearts, are liable still to many troubles and sorrows, and much weariness, and have often need to resort anew unto Jesus Christ for rest." He goes on with three specific cases in which Edwards proclaims the rest and refreshment in Christ applies; those under afflictions, those under persecutions, and those under buffetings of Satan. Okay, I'm done ... really.

Safety, Fullness, and Sweet Refreshment in Christ

Moving through the sermon Safety, Fullness, and Sweet Refreshment in Christ, we look into Proposition 2. The introductory post and the post on Proposition 1 can be seen at through corresponding links.

Proposition 2 states, There is provision in Christ for the satisfaction and full contentment of the needy and thirsty soul.This, remember, comes from the Scripture in Isaiah that compared Christ to a river: Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.

Edwards describes 2 ways in which Christ is like a river. First, "It is said that Christ is a river of water, because there is such a fulness in him, so plentiful a provision for the satisfaction of the needy and longing soul. When one is extremely thirsty, though it is not a small draught of water will satisfy him, yet when he comes to a river, he finds a fulness, there he may drink full draughts. Christ is like a river, in that he has a sufficiency not only for one thirsty soul, but by supplying him the fountain is not lessened; there is not the less afforded to those who come afterwards. A thirsty man does not sensibly lessen a river by quenching his thirst."

Second, Christ is like a river in that a river " ... is continually flowing, there are fresh supplies of water coming from the fountain-head continually, so that a man may live by it, and be supplied with water all his life. So Christ is an ever-flowing fountain; he is continually supplying his people, and the fountain is not spent. They who live upon Christ, may have fresh supplies from him to all eternity; they may have an increase of blessedness that is new, and new still, and which never will come to an end."

Edwards continues his sermon by illustrating that men crave certain things. "The soul of every man necessarily craves happiness. This is an universal appetite of human nature, that is alike in the good and the bad; it is as universal as the very essence of the soul, because it necessarily and immediately flows from that essence." Edwards indicates another craving; "The soul of every man craves a happiness that is equal to the capacity of his nature. The soul of man is like a vessel; the capacity of the soul is as the largeness or contents of the vessel."

Edwards concludes this proposition by showing that Christ is the full provision for the full satisfaction and contentment of men.

1. The excellency of Christ is such, that the discovery of it is exceedingly contenting and satisfying to the soul.
2. The manifestation of the love of Christ gives the soul abundant contentment.
3. There is provision for the satisfaction and contentment of the thirsty longing soul in Christ, as he is the way to the Father; not only from the fulness of excellency and grace which he has in his own person, but as by him we may come to God, may be reconciled to him, and may be made happy in his favour and love.

Safety, Fullness, and Sweet Refreshment in Christ

From Altogether Lovely (Jonathan, Edwards. Altogether Lovely Jonathan Edwards on the glory and excellency of Jesus Christ. Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997. 81-114)

Having given a general idea of the aims Edwards has is this sermon here, I'll move on to his first proposition. The first proposition is stated, "There is in Christ Jesus abundant foundation of peace and safety for those who are in fear and danger" (84). Edwards contends that there are two kinds of fears which men can be afflicted with; temporal and eternal. Temporal evils, of which men are afraid, can be dealt with: "But Christ is a refuge in all trouble; there is a foundation for rational support and peace in him, whatever threatens us. He, whose heart is fixed, trusting in Christ, need not be afraid of any evil tidings. "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so Christ is round about them that fear him" (84). Though these fears are real and significant, Edwards definitely emphasizes the spiritual fears over the temporal ones.

He writes, "But it is the other kind of fear and danger to which we have a principal respect; the fear and danger of God's wrath. The fears of a terrified conscience, the fearful expectation of the dire fruits of sin, and the resentment of an angry God, these are infinitely the most dreadful. If men are in danger of those things, and are not asleep, they will be more terrified than with the fears of any outward evil. Men are in a most deplorable condition, as they are by nature exposed to God's wrath; and if they are sensible how dismal their case is, will be in dreadful fears and dismal expectations" (84) It is key to note that men who do not know Christ may not fear God's wrath, but that is only because they are 'asleep' and not 'sensible' to their condition.

Regardless of the fear, temporal or spiritual, Edwards is confident that "there is abundant foundation for peace and safety in Jesus Christ". (85) He preaches several things in which Christ's provision for peace and safety can be seen:

1. Christ has undertaken to save all such from what they fear, if they come to him.
2. He is chosen and appointed of the Father to this work.
3. If we are in Christ Jesus, justice and the law have its course with respect to our sins, without our hurt.
4. Those who come to Christ, need not be afraid of God's wrath for their sins; for God's honour will not suffer by their escaping punishment and being made happy.
5. Christ is a person so dear to the Father, that those who are in Christ need not be at all jealous of being accepted upon his account.
6. God has given an open testimony that Christ has done and suffered enough, and that he is satisfied with it, by his raising him from the dead.
7. Christ has the dispensation of safety and deliverance in his own hands, so that we need not fear but that, if we are united to him, we may be safe.
8. Christ's love, and compassion, and gracious disposition, are such that we may be sure he is inclined to receive all who come to him. (85-91)

In the next post we will look into how Edwards reflects on the above points.

Blogging through Altogether Lovely Sermon #3

The third sermon in Altogether Lovely (Jonathan, Edwards. Altogether Lovely Jonathan Edwards on the glory and excellency of Jesus Christ. Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997. 81-114) is entitled Safety, Fullness, and Sweet Refreshment in Christ. It takes for its Scripture reference Isaiah 32:2.

Each will be like a hiding place from the wind,
a shelter from the storm,
like streams of water in a dry place,
like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.

From this verse, Edwards observes 2 things:

1. The person who is here prophesied of and commended: the Lord Jesus Christ, the King spoken of in the preceding verse, who shall reign in righteousness.

2. The things here foretold of him, and the commendations given him.

Edwards, in his first observation, determines that the verse under consideration was indeed a prophecy about Christ. "This King is abundantly prophesied of in the Old Testament, and especially in this prophecy of Isaiah. Glorious predictions were from time to time uttered by the prophets concerning that great King who was to come: there is no subject which is spoken of in so magnificent and exalted a style by the prophets of the Old Testament, as the Messiah. They saw his day and rejoiced, and searched diligently, together with the angels, into those things." (81-2) In his second observation, Edwards expounds briefly what exactly this verse predicts about Jesus. " "He shall be a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest:" that is, he shall be the safety and defence of his people, to which they shall flee for protection in the time of their danger and trouble ... He shall be as "rivers of water in a dry place." ... Christ was typified by the river of water that issued out of the rock for the children of Israel in this desert: he is compared to a river, because there is such a plenty and fulness in him ...He is the "shadow of a great rock in a weary land." Allusion is still made to the desert of Arabia ... They who come to Christ find such rest and refreshment as the weary traveller in that hot and desolate country finds under the shadow of a great rock."(82-3)

After this introduction, Edwards clarifies the three propositions he intends to make in this address:

I. There is in Christ Jesus abundant foundation of peace and safety for those who are in fear and danger. "A man shall be a hiding-place from the wind, a covert from the tempest."

II. There is in Christ provision for the satisfaction, and full contentment, of the needy and thirsty soul. He shall be "as rivers of water in a dry place."

III. There are quiet rest and sweet refreshment in Christ Jesus for him who is weary. He shall be "as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." (83)