On Original Sin in Vol I of the Works - Edwards - II - Chapter 1 of Part I continued

Required readingThe great Christian doctrine of original sin defended in Volume I of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sections III and VI from Chapter 1 of Part I.

My summary.

This week Edwards looks at humanity's propensity to sin due to original sin.

Firstly, in Section III, Edwards demonstrates we have a propensity to moral evil instead of good.

This propensity to sin is:

(i) immediate, continual and progressive (Section IV);

(ii) great in matter and quantity (Section V);

(iii) extremely foolish in matters of religion (Section VI).

What grabbed me

I appreciated Edwards' discussion of love for God: 'They may love God more than other things, and yet there may not be so much love, as there is want of due love; or in other words, they may love God more than the world, and therefore the love of God may be predominant, and yet may not love God near half so much as they ought to do. This need not be esteemed a paradox: A person may love a father, or some great friend and benefactor, of a very excellent character, more than some other object, a thousand times less worthy of his esteem and affection, and yet love him ten times less than he ought; and so be chargeable, all things considered, with a deficiency in respect and gratitude, that is very unbecoming and hateful. If love to God prevails above the love of other things, then virtue will prevail above evil affections, or positive principles of sin; by which principles it is, that sin has a positive power and influence. For evil affections radically consist in inordinate love to other things besides God: and therefore, virtue prevailing beyond these, will have the governing influence. The predominance of the love of God in the hearts of good men, is more from the nature of the object loved, and the nature of the principle of true love, than the degree of the principle. The object is one of supreme loveliness; immensely above all other objects in worthiness of regard; and it is by such a transcendent excellency, that he is God, and worthy to be regarded and adored as God: and he that truly loves God, loves him as God. True love acknowledges him to be divinely and supremely excellent; and must arise from some knowledge, sense, and conviction of his worthiness of supreme respect: and though the sense and view of it may be very imperfect, and the love that arises from it in like manner imperfect; yet if there be any realizing view of such divine excellency, it must cause the heart to respect God above all.'

How far we fall short of the love we owe our Lord!

Next week's reading

Read Sections VII, VIII and IX from Chapter 1 of Part I.

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