From the life of Edward Payson by Asa Cummings

ow, what is idolatry- What is an idol- The bringing or meeting together in the human heart of two opposite principles. These are in every human heart, and are seen in various shapes and lusts, and mixed with natural religion. Idolatry embodies two things that are quite distinct and opposite. Idolatry embodies a false notion of God- at the same time it deifies some lust or corruption. These heathen idolaters had their god of war, of love, of murder, of wine, and the god of death. Their idols were deified vices, lusts, passions, corruptions, and the wickedness of the human heart.

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. He regards him as little as if he had no being. He said in his heart, not with his tongue, nor in his head- he never firmly thought it, nor openly asserted it. Shame put a bar to the first, and natural reason to the second- yet, perhaps, he had sometimes some doubts whether there were a God or no. He wished there were not any, and sometimes hoped there were none at all.

An increase and growth in sanctification or holiness is frequently in the Scripture enjoined us, and frequently promised unto us. So speaks the apostle Peter in a way of command, 2 Pet. 3-17, 18, -Fall not,- be not cast down, -from your own steadfastness- but grow,- or increase, -in grace.- It is not enough that we decay not in our spiritual condition, that we be not diverted and carried off from a steady course in obedience by the power of temptations- but an endeavour after an improvement, an increase, a thriving in grace, that is, in holiness, is required of us.

The apostle manifests the power of the entanglements of sin in and upon apostates, in that it turns them off from the way of righteousness after they have known it, 2 Pet. 2-21. It will be found at the last day an evil thing and a bitter that men live all their days in the service of sin, self, and the world, refusing to make any trial of the ways of God, whereunto they are invited. Though they have no experience of their excellency, beauty, pleasantness, safety- yet, having evidence brought unto them from God himself that they are so, the refusal of them will, I say, be bitterness in the latter end. But their condition is yet far worse, who, as the apostle speaks, -having known the way of righteousness,- are by the power of indwelling sin -turned aside from the holy commandment.-

That which yet remaineth to be considered under this head of backsliding from the commands of the gospel and the obedience required of them is of a worse kind and of a more pernicious consequence- and this is that open apostasy into profaneness and sensuality of life which the generality of them who are called Christians are in most places of the world visibly fallen into.

-Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man- turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.- Greenhill's Ezekiel Commentary was originally released in 5 volumes. For awhile, the 5th volume was rare having had copies of it destroyed in the London fire of 1666

Two letters to Thomas Gillespie- TO MR. GILLESPIE. IN ANSWER TO OBJECTIONS. Northampton, Sept. 4, 1747. I received your letter of Nov. 24, 1746, though very long after it was written. I thank you for it, and for your offering me a correspondence with you. Such an offer I shall gladly embrace, and esteem it a great privilege, more especially from the character I have received of you from Mr. Abercrombie, who I perceive was intimately acquainted with you.

Taken from the book, The Redeemer's Tears Wept Over Lost Souls, -You will expect to be told what are the limits of this day of grace- It is indeed much more difficult punctually to assign those limits, than to ascertain to you there are such- but it is also less necessary. The wise and merciful God does in matters of this nature little mind to gratify our curiosity- much less is it to be expected from him that he should make known to us such things whereof it were better we were ignorant, or the knowledge whereof would be much more a prejudice to us than an advantage. And it were as bold and rash an undertaking, in this case, as it would be vain and insignificant, for any man to take upon him to say in it what God hath not said, or given him plain ground for.-