I have a friend who is a Jonathan Edwards scholar, and in a particular seminar
class, he assigned Edwards’ sermon, “The Excellency of Christ,” where a student remarked, “I thought he [Edwards] was a Calvinist.” The student was surprised at the language Edwards used to beckon people to conversion – that is, “to choose Christ.” This is good Reformed preaching! We plead with people to choose Jesus as their savior. Here are some snippets from the sermon.
B) Let the consideration of this wonderful meeting of diverse excellencies in Christ induce you to accept of him, and close with him as your Savior. As all manner of excellencies meet in him, so there are concurring in him all manner of arguments and motives, to move you to choose him for your Savior, and every thing that tends to encourage poor sinners to come and put their trust in him: his fullness and all-sufficiency as a Savior gloriously appear in that variety of excellencies that has been spoken of. . . .
Let what has been said be improved to induce you to love the Lord Jesus Christ, and choose him for your friend and portion. As there is such an admirable meeting of diverse excellencies in Christ, so there is every thing in him to render him worthy of your love and choice, and to win and engage it. Whatsoever there is or can be desirable in a friend, is in Christ, and that to the highest degree that can be desired. . . .
Would you choose for a friend a person of great dignity?
And would you choose to have a friend not only great but good?
By your choosing Christ for your friend and portion, you will obtain these two infinite benefits. . .
I have not read all of Edwards’ sermons, but have read many, and I think this, along with “Divine and Supernatural Light,” is one of the finest ever preached in the English language. For more reasons than what I have stated above, “The Excellency of Christ” should be read; it will make you want to run after Christ!
