sotzo
Puritan Board Sophomore
In reading Owens, Edwards, et al it is clear they has a very high view of holiness in the life of the believer...and rightly so as the Bible teaches the essential nature of holiness in the life of the believer.
While we know that faith without works is not saving faith (as James teaches). But, meditating upon whether our works are truly reflective of a saving faith can lead to grave doubt. Yet, in reading the Puritans, not only do they not shy away from the question...they actually use it as a benchmark to evaluate who is going to heaven. For example, Edwards in a sermon titled "Those Only who are Holy are on Their Way to Heaven" says:
"When the soul is molded and sanctified according to the image of God, the example of Christ, and the rule of the gospel, then it is holy and not else. Those who do not have this holiness are not in the way to heaven. Those who are not thus conformed to God, to Christ, and God's commands are not in the way to heaven and happiness...whatever hopes and expectations they may have they will never reach heaven to eternity except they alter their course, turn about and steer another course."
How do the Puritans square this with a doctrine of assurance?
Is there an exegesis of the Puritans that should be used to understand what they mean by this sort of language or are they simply not afraid to doubt their status before God? After all, can anybody be saved if measured against Edwards' statements above?
While we know that faith without works is not saving faith (as James teaches). But, meditating upon whether our works are truly reflective of a saving faith can lead to grave doubt. Yet, in reading the Puritans, not only do they not shy away from the question...they actually use it as a benchmark to evaluate who is going to heaven. For example, Edwards in a sermon titled "Those Only who are Holy are on Their Way to Heaven" says:
"When the soul is molded and sanctified according to the image of God, the example of Christ, and the rule of the gospel, then it is holy and not else. Those who do not have this holiness are not in the way to heaven. Those who are not thus conformed to God, to Christ, and God's commands are not in the way to heaven and happiness...whatever hopes and expectations they may have they will never reach heaven to eternity except they alter their course, turn about and steer another course."
How do the Puritans square this with a doctrine of assurance?
Is there an exegesis of the Puritans that should be used to understand what they mean by this sort of language or are they simply not afraid to doubt their status before God? After all, can anybody be saved if measured against Edwards' statements above?