Religious Affections, Edwards 4

Last installment of notes. I continue to be taught difficult lessons from these words which are hard to hear.

Saints tend also to emphasize their sinfulness as over any goodness they have. They see the least sin against an infinite God as an infinite perversion. They feel that the highest degree of their holiness does not have infinite loveliness. Therefore its loveliness is nothing in comparison with the ugliness of the least sin. The more spiritual light a person has, the more this attitude is intensified.” -133, 134

-The truly humble are the most freed of self.

-“They actually trust in Christ to allow them to quietly enjoy their sins and to defend them from God’s displeasure.” -153

-concerning a true saint…”His uneasiness concerning his lack of love for God will increase. The more he hates sin, the more he will want to hate it. He will regret that he still has so much remaining love for it. The more his heart is broken, the more he will want it to be broken further. The more he thirsts and longs after God and His holiness, the more he will long and breathe out his very soul in more longings after God. Like a kindled flame that rises higher, the more ardently it burns, the more it will continue to burn.” -163

-… “he places holy living above everything else. This is his main preoccupation; he is devoted to it with the greatest diligence and earnestness. It can be said he makes his practice of true religion eminently his work and business…he persists in it to the end of his life. He never takes a holiday from it, nor does he practice it only at certain times. It is the constant business of his life and he perseveres through all vicissitudes and under all the trials as long as he lives. The necessity of each of these traits in all true Christians is clearly and fully taught in the Word of God.” -167

-“But a man’s actions are the proper test of his heart. If, for example, when God and other things, whether worldly interests or pleasures, are in competition with each other, a man’s behavior will be tested by what he actually prefers and cleaves to, and what he forsakes. Sincerity consists then in forsaking all for Christ in the heart, and in forsaking all for Christ when called on. Doing this is the test. So godliness consists not merely in having a heart intent on doing the will of God, but having a heart that actually does it.” -180

-“It is absurd then to pretend to have a good heart while living a wicked life.” -180

-“This great evidence of holy practice will be used before the judgment seat of God.” -183

-In the Day of Judgment practice will be the evidence.

-Practice is the evidence of repentance, saving faith, and Christ’s presence.

-Is it legalism to emphasize need of outward practice?

-Practice and works do not exalt self-effort, or subtract or take away the attention which should be given to free grace, rather it points to it because it is God’s enabling power and free grace which only made it possible for the practice of faith and works to take place.