Religious Affections By Jonathan Edwards

A TREATISE CONCERNING RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS

by
Jonathan Edwards

PART 1
CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THE AFFECTIONS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN RELIGION

SECTION I - Introductory remarks respecting the affections

SECTION II - True religion, in great part, consists in the affections

SECTION III - Some inferences deduced from the doctrine

PART 2
SHOWING WHAT ARE NO CERTAIN SIGNS THAT RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS ARE GRACIOUS, OR THAT THEY ARE NOT

SECTION I - It is no sign one way or the other, that religious affections are very great, or raised very high.

SECTION II - It is no sign that affections have the nature of true religion, or that they have not, that they have great effects on the body.

SECTION III - It is no sign that affections are truly gracious affections, or that they are not, that they cause those who have them to be fluent, fervent, and abundant, in talking of the things of religion.

SECTION IV - It is no sign that affections are gracious, or that they are otherwise, that persons did not make them themselves, or excite them of their own contrivance and by their own strength.

SECTION V - It is no sign that religious affections are truly holy and spiritual, or that they are not, that they come with texts of Scripture, remarkably brought to the mind.

SECTION VI - It is no evidence that religious affections are saving, or that they are otherwise, that there is an appearance of love in them.

SECTION VII - Persons having religious affections of many kinds, accompanying one another, is not sufficient to determine whether they have any gracious affections or no.

SECTION VIII - Nothing can certainly be determined concerning the nature of the affections, by this, that comforts and joys seem to follow awakenings and convictions of conscience, in a certain order.

SECTION IX - It is no certain sign that the religious affections which persons have are such as have in them the nature of true religion, or that they have not, that they dispose persons to spend much time in religion, and to be zealously engaged in the external duties of worship.

SECTION X - Nothing can be certainly known of the nature of religious affections by this, that they much dispose persons with their mouths to praise and glorify God.

SECTION XI - It is no sign that affections are right, or that they are wrong, that they make persons that have them exceeding confident.

SECTION XII - Nothing can be certainly concluded concerning the nature of religious affections, that the relation persons give of them, are very affecting and pleasing to the truly godly.

PART 3
SHOWING WHAT ARE DISTINGUISHING SIGNS OF TRULY GRACIOUS AND HOLY AFFECTIONS

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS ON PART 3

SECTION I - Affections that are truly spiritual and gracious, do arise from those influences and
operations on the heart, which are spiritual, supernatural and divine.

SECTION II - The first objective ground of gracious affections, is the transcendently excellent and amiable nature of divine things as they are themselves; and not any conceived relation they bear to self, or self-interest.

SECTION III - Those affections that are truly holy, are primarily founded on the loveliness of the moral excellency of divine things. Or a love to divine things for the beauty and sweetness of their moral excellency is the first beginning and spring of all holy affections.

SECTION IV - Gracious affections do arise from the mind’s being enlightened, richly and spiritually to understand or apprehend divine things.

SECTION V - Truly gracious affections are attended with a reasonable and spiritual conviction of the judgment, of the reality and certainty of divine things.

SECTION VI - Gracious affections are attended with evangelical humiliation.

SECTION VII - Another thing, wherein gracious affections are distinguished from others, is, that they are attended with a change of nature.

SECTION VIII - Truly gracious affections differ from those affections that are false and delusive, in that they tend to, and are attended with the lamb-like, dove-like spirit and temper of Jesus Christ; or in other words, they naturally beget and promote such a spirit of love, meekness, quietness, forgiveness and mercy, as appears in Christ.

SECTION IX - Gracious affections soften the heart, and are attended and followed with a Christian tenderness of spirit.

SECTION X - Another thing wherein those affections that are truly gracious and holy, differ from those that are false, is beautiful symmetry and proportion.

SECTION XI - Another great and very distinguishing difference between gracious affections and others is, that gracious affections, the higher they are raised, the more is a spiritual appetite and longing of soul after spiritual attainments increased. On the contrary, false affections rest satisfied in themselves.

SECTION XII - Gracious and holy affections have their exercise and fruit in Christian practice

SECTION XIII - Christian practice and holy life, is a manifestation and sign of the sincerity of a professing Christian, to the eye of his neighbors and brethren.

SECTION XIV - Christian practice is a distinguishing and sure evidence of grace to persons’ own
consciences.