The 'Freedom of the Will' is, as Isaac Taylor said, "a classic in metaphysics"; and, whether or no we admit its thesis that human liberty must live and move and have its being within the sphere of a divine determinism, it throws its spell over us.
Introduction
The town, he wrote, was "never so full of love, never so full of joy, and yet so full of distress as it was then". Whenever men and women met, and it mattered nothing whether they were old or young, the talk turned on divine and eternal things. There were meetings and private houses as well as in the church.
Introduction
"Who saw the state of things in New England a few years ago," he asks, "would have thought that in so little a time there would be such a change?"
Introduction
We are told that, in his later life, Edwards regretted that he had paid such small attention to graces of diction, and expressed himself as well aware of the persuasive virtue which lies in words fitly chosen.
Introduction
There is an indubitable sadness in the tone of the book. The prevailing atmosphere is that of October rather than of May.
Introduction
...but he was cut to the quick when he remembered the variety of false experiences, the hypocrisies, the degenerations, which accompanied the Awakening.
Introduction
Again, the book leaves with us, as few books do, the sense of the arduousness of the Christian life. "The righteous scarcely are saved", we feel when we are in the company of Jonathan Edwards.
Introduction
May not gratitude to the God who has done great things for him be the earliest feeling of the young disciple, and delight in the stainlessness and grandeur of that God Himself only a subsequent experience, which comes after fellowship and intimacy with the Father and the Son and the Spirit?
Introduction
There is no question whatsoever that is of greater importance to mankind, and that it more concerns every individual person to be well resolved then than this: 'What are the distinguishing qualifications of those that are in favour with God and entitled to His eternal rewards?' Or, which comes to the same thing, 'What is the nature of true religion? And wherein do lie the distinguishing notes of that virtue and holiness that is acceptable in the sight of God?'
Author's Preface
It is no new thing, that much false religion should prevail, at a time of great reviving of true religion; and that at such a time multitudes of hypocrites should spring up among true saints.
Author's Preface
...but few [who heard and admired Christ] were true disciples...
Author's Preface
Of the whole heap that was gathered, great part was chaff, that the wind afterwards drove away; and the heap of wheat that was left was comparatively small; as appears abundantly by the history of the New Testament.
Author's Preface
[Satan] prevailed against our first parents, and cast them out of paradise, and suddenly brought all their happiness and glory to an end, by appearing to be a friend to their happy paradisaic state, and pretending to advance it to higher degrees. So the same cunning serpent, that beguiled Eve through his subtily, by perverting us from the simplicity that is in Christ, hath suddenly prevailed to deprive us of that fair prospect we had a little while ago, of a kind of paradisaic state of the church of God in New England.
Author's Preface
But what I aim at now, is to show the nature and signs of the gracious operations of God's spirit, by which they are to be distinguished from all things whatsoever that the minds of men are the subjects of, which are not of a saving nature.
Author's Preface
Hence they are called by the name of 'trials' in the verse immediately preceding the text [1 Pet. 1:8], and in innumerable other places; they try the faith and religion of professors, of what sort it is, as apparent gold is tried in the fire and manifested whether it be true, gold or no.
Part 1
Hence the proposition or doctrine, that I would raise from these words, is this: True religion, in great part, consists in Holy Affections.
Part 1
It may be inquired what the affections of the mind are. I answer the affections are no other than the more vigorous and sensible exercises of the inclination and will of the soul.
Part 1
...with regard to the exercises of this faculty, perhaps in all nations and ages, is called the 'heart'. And, it is to be noted that these more vigorous and sensible exercises of this faculty that are called the 'affections'.
Part 1
In every act of the will whatsoever, the soul either likes or dislikes, is either inclined or disinclined to what is in view: these are not essentially different from those affections of love and hatred. That liking or inclination of the soul to a thing, if it be in a high degree, and to be vigorous and lively, is the very same thing with the affection of love; and that disliking and disinclining if in a great degree, is the very same with hatred.
Part 1
As all the exercises of the inclination and will are either in approving and liking, or disapproving and rejecting; so the affections are of two sort; they are those by which the soul is carried out to what is in view, cleaving to it, or seeking it; or those by which it is averse from it, and opposes it.
