The Religious Affections (Jonathan Edwards)

Description

Jonathan Edwards was one of the few truly great theologians of the English-speaking world, an intellectual and spiritual giant. When he began his ministry at Northampton, Massachusetts, New England had drifted from the Puritanism of its founders. Resisting the current trend, Edwards preached the whole counsel of God, and God plainly honoured his testimony. Yet to all appearances his life ended in tragedy; voted out of his pastorate by the people of Northampton, he died of fever at Princeton, only two months after taking over as President of the College. Edwards is perhaps best known as the theologian of revival, a subject on which he was uniquely qualified to write, by reason of his theological grasp and a first-hand experience of awakenings. Of his several treatises in this field, The Religious Affections ranks as the ‘magnum opus’.

The author’s object in this book is to distinguish between true and false religion by showing the marks of a saving work of the Holy Spirit in men. In his Preface, Edwards stresses the importance of using ‘our utmost endeavours clearly to discern…wherein true religion does consist’. For ’till this be done, it may be expected that great revivings of religion will be but of short continuance’.

Endorsements

‘This is an uncomfortable book. Edwards wrote this book against the backcloth of the awakenings in the 1730s-40s. He’s aware of the extremes that the mighty work of God had produced; where God is at work, Satan will be at work, and Edwards very honestly acknowledges the excesses. But what he does here is to open up the Scriptures and to highlight evidences that appear to be gracious evidences, but are actually not gracious evidences – and then he looks at evidences that truly are gracious evidences. Now, he is not seeking to crush people with little faith that is yet saving faith, but he wants people to understand that where the Gospel of grace takes root in someone’s life, it always produces Godly affections. So he begins his treatise with this; “True religion in great part consists in godly affections.” It’s a remarkable read.’ — IAN HAMILTON

Table of Contents

Publishers’ Note    5

Introduction by Alexander Smellie, D.D.    9

The Author’s Preface    15

1.    Part I    

CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THE AFFECTIONS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN RELIGION    21

Section I. True Religion largely consists in Holy Affections    23

II. Evidence that True Religion lies much in the Affections    27

III. Inferences from the Doctrine    48

2.    Part II    

SHOWING WHAT ARE NO CERTAIN SIGNS THAT RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS ARE TRULY GRACIOUS, OR THAT THEY ARE NOT    54

Section I. That Religious Affections are very great is no Sign    54

II. Great effects on the Body are no Sign    59

III. Fluency and Fervour are no Sign    62

IV. That they are not excited by us is no Sign    65

V. That they come with Texts of Scripture is no Sign    70

VI. That there is an appearance of Love is no Sign    73

VII. That Religious Affections are of many kinds is no Sign    75

VIII. Joys following in a certain Order are no Sign    79

IX. Much Time and much Zeal in Duty are no Sign    91

X. Much expression of Praise is no Sign    93

XI. Great Confidence is no certain Sign    95

XII. Moving Testimonies are no Sign    110

 3.    Part III    

SHOWING WHAT ARE DISTINGUISHING SIGNS OF TRULY GRACIOUS AND HOLY AFFECTIONS    120

Introductory Remarks    120

Section I. Gracious Affections are from Divine Influence    124

II. Their Object is the Excellence of Divine Things    165

III. They are founded on the moral Excellency of Objects    179

IV. They arise from Divine Illumination    192

V. They are attended with a Conviction of Certainty    217

VI. They are attended with Evangelical Humiliation    237

VII. They are attended with a Change of Nature    266

VIII. They beget and promote the Temper of Jesus    272

IX. Gracious Affections soften the Heart    285

X. They have beautiful Symmetry and Proportion    292

XI. False Affections rest satisfied in Themselves    303

XII. Religious Affections have their fruit in Christian Practice    308

(1) Christian Practice is the chief Sign to Others    327

(2) Christian Practice is the chief Sign to Ourselves    347

Product Details

Title: The Religious Affections 

Author: Jonathan Edwards

Publisher: Banner of Truth

Pages: 382

Binding: Paperback

Size: 21.5 x 13.7 x 2.5 cm

ISBN: 9780851514857