175. FUTURE STATE.

God, if he made the world, he undoubtedly ordered all things wisely in it. But he has made man and placed him in such circumstances, that he has made [it] his prudence with all his might and with all possible vigor to be providing for a future state. For he has made him so, and placed him in such circumstances that, let him exercise his reason never so much, he cannot be sure that there is no future state; but the more rational and most virtuous men are most apt to believe it—we find that by experience. God has given us no proofs that there is no future state, and he has placed man in such circumstances that, let him exercise his reason never so well, he will see many arguments for a future state which he cannot get over; and it can be proved by mathematical demonstration, that a probability or possibility of eternal happiness on one hand and misery on the other, is more to be regarded than the certainty of anything that has an end. But if God has made it our prudence to spend our lives in providing for a future state when there is none, he has not ordered things wisely.

Works of Jonathan Edwards, Volume 13, The “Miscellanies:” Entry Nos. a–z, aa–zz, 1–500, ed. Thomas A. Schafer (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1994), 325-326.

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