The Nature of True Virtue in Vol I of the Works - Edwards - III - Chapters 6, 7 and 8

Required reading
The Nature of True Virtue in Volume I of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapters 4 and 5 of 'Dissertation concerning the nature of true virtue'.

My summary.

Now, in Chapter 6, Edwards teaches us about particular instincts of nature that resemble virtue, such as

(i) natural affection towards family;

(ii) pity.

Then in Chapter 7 he gives reasons why these natural instincts have been mistaken as true virtue.

And in chapter 8 Edwards outlines how true virtue is immediately pleasant to the mind.

What grabbed me

I liked this comment on why people confuse natural affections with true virtue: 'The reason why men are so ready to take these private affections for true virtue, is the narrowness of their views; and above all, that they are so ready to leave the Divine Being out of their view, and to neglect him in their consideration, or to regard him in their thoughts, as though he did not properly belong to the system of real existence, but was a kind of shadowy, imaginary being. And though most men allow that there is a God, yet, in their ordinary view of things, his being is not apt to come into the account, and to have the influence and effect of real existence, as it is with other beings which they see, and are conversant with, by their external senses. In their views of beauty and deformity, and in their inward sensations of displicence and approbation, it is not natural to them to view the Deity as part of the system, and as the head of it, in comparison of whom all other things are to be viewed with corresponding impressions.'

If there is no reference to God for your behaviour, you are not behaving virtuously.

Next week's readingCommence 'The great Christian doctrine of original sin defended' by reading Sections I and II from Chapter 1 of Part I.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.