"A Sermon" or Self-Glorification?

In reading “A Sermon” by John Edwards, one cannot help but think that John Edwards is inferring that he himself has seen the light of God. This is made particularly clear when he comments near the end of his sermon: “Reason may determine that a countenance is beautiful to others, it may determine that honey is sweet to others; but it will never give me a perception of its sweetness.” In stating that “it will never give me a perception of its sweetness”, Edwards infers that he has personally experienced this perception of sweetness. And, as “tasting the sweetness” is compared to seeing the figurative light, it follows that Edwards believes that he himself has seen the light.
Consequently, in his clergy members taking Edwards’ word on the light as authority in the matter, it can be assumed that they also believe that he has seen the light. Whether this mutual belief originated from Edwards fulfilling his clergy members’ expectations, or from Edwards convincing his clergy members remains a mystery.
What does not remain a mystery, however, is Edwards’ discreet (and perhaps entirely unintentional) veneration of himself and of others who have seen the light. In glorifying the virtues of the light of God, Edwards inadvertently glorifies those who are bestowed with the sight of such a light: “Common grace differs from special, in that it influences only by assisting of nature; and not by imparting grace, or bestowing any thing above nature.” Those that the light of God is revealed to are exposed to a “special” grace, a word which in and of itself echoes elitism.
This elitism which Edwards subtly refers to in his sermon seems nearly impossible to achieve. On more than one occasion Edwards mentions the likelihood of individuals believing that they have seen the light when they are actually only delusional. This light, which Edwards describes as not tangible, something that can be obtained either naturally or divinely, and is only attainable if one’s heart is pure, seems practically impossible to pin down. Even if an individual has indeed seen the light of God which Edwards speaks of, how are they to know that is what they have experienced? Furthermore, how can people be expected to search for something which cannot concretely be defined?
Instead of reinforcing a search for purity and goodness through this ambiguous search for the light, Edwards has instead designed a model for the perpetuation of divisiveness in society. Those that believe they have seen the light will naturally feel superior to those who they believe have not. Similarly, those with the potential to see the light will feel superior to those who they believe have no chance of seeing the light (i.e. Jews). This standard of judging an individual’s spiritual awareness and proximity to God inevitably devolved into a tool for reinforcing social hierarchy, most likely with little to do with the reality of a person’s spiritual wellbeing. And who will be at the top of that hierarchy? John Edwards (the harbinger of the idea that certain people are able to see the light, while others are not).