PUBLIC LIBRARY

203631 ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

R 1900.

This inestimable work was written by President Edwards in 1739, in a series of sermons preached at Northampton, and left by him in man. ascript at his death, which occurred in 1758. In 1773, his son, the younger President Edwards, committed the manuscript to Rev. Dr. JOHN ERS KINE, of Edinburgh, who reduced it from the form of sermons to that of & continued treatise, and published it in 1774,

This edition is a reprint from the standard edition of Edwards' Works now generally circulated in Great Britain and the United States, and has been compared throughout with the first American edition, published at Worcester in 1808. Some additional improvements have been made in the language and form of the sub divisions, and a new table of contents prepared; with the omission (indicated by * *) of a few lines alluding to points on which evangelical christians differ.

*

CONTENTS.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION-prosperity of the enemies of

Christ short-happy portion of God's people-

work of redemption carried on from the fall to

the end of the world-explanation of the term

Redemption-in what sense the work is here

viewed-its design-divided into three periods,

11

PERIOD 1.-FROM THE FALL TO THE INCARNATION

CHAP. I. FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD-Christ en-

ters on his mediatorial work-first revelation of

the Gospel-institution of sacrifices-salvation of

individuals begun-first outpouring of the Spirit-

Enoch's holy life, prediction of Christ and trans-

lation-preservation of the church from the deluge, 28

CHAP. II. FROM THE FLOOD TO THE CALLING OF ABRA-

HAM—the flood itself-Noah's preservation-new

grant of the earth to Noah and his family-renew.

al of the covenant of grace-destruction of Babel-

dispersion of the nations-preservation of the

church from idolatry,

48

59

CAAP, III. FROM THE CALLING OF ABRAHAM TO MOSES

-call of Abraham-renewal of the covenant of

grace-preservation of the patriarchs-destruc-

tion of Sodom and Gomorrah-renewal of cove-

nant of grace to Isaac and Jacob-preservation

from famine by Joseph-Jacob's prophecy of

Christ-preservation of the church in Egypt,

CHAP. IV. From Moses To David-redemption of

tion forty years by miracle-further predictions of

Christ by Balaam and Moses-piety of the young.

er generation in the wilderness--establishment in

Canaan-stated worship of the tabernacle-the

land preserved while the males go up to worship

-the church preserved during their frequent apos-
tasies, and when subdued by enemies-Christ ap-

pears in the form of human nature-beginning of

a succession of prophets, and school of the prophets, 77

Chap. V. From David TO THE BABYLONISH CAPTIVITY-

David, the ancestor of Christ, anointed-his life
wonderfully preserved-canon of Scripture en-
larged by Samuel-David foreshows Christ in
songs—is exalted to the throne~city of Jerusalem
chosen, a type of Christ-covenant of grace re-
newed with David-whole promised land possesso
ed—Jewish worship perfected-canon enlarged
by Nathan and Gad--the kingdom preserved in
the line of Christ's legal ancestors-building of
the temple-Jewish church risen to its highest
glory-its decline till Christ came-additions to
canon of Scripture-true religion upheld, book of
the law kept, and tribe of Judah preserved, amid

great apostasies and convulsions—succession of

eminent prophets,

108

CHAP. VI. FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO Christ-a period

much the subject of prophecy, and one of great re-
volutions--captivity in Babylon-cures the Jews
of idolatry-glory of the Jewish dispensation lost-
effects of their dispersion-additions to canon of
Scripture by Ezekiel and Daniel-return of the
Jews—further additions to the canon the minis-
try of Ezra-copies of the law multiplied-canon

of Old Testament completed and sealed-destruc-

tion of the Persian empire and establishment of

the Grecian-the Septuagint-preservation of the

church--destruction of the Grecian, and establish-

ment of the Roman empire-prevalence of learn.

ing and philosophy-Roman empire settled in

peace,

149

Chap. VII. IMPROVEMENT OF THE FIRST PERIOD,

192