The Religious Affections

Look Inside Price $17.10

500 in stock

Weight 1.08 lbs
Dimensions 8.5 × 5.4 × 1 in
ISBN 9780851514857
Topic

Conversion, General Theology, Revival, Salvation

Banner Pub Date

Apr 1, 1961

Page Count

382

Original Pub Date

1746

ISBN

9780851514857

Binding

Paperback

Format

Book

Endorsement

‘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

Book 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’.

Table of Contents Expand ↓

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

 

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