Religious Affections in Vol I of the Works - Edwards - I - Preface

Required reading
Religious affections in Volume I of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the Preface.

My summary.

This week we begin Edwards' religious affections.

Initially Edwards states the importance of the answering the following question: 'What are the distinguishing qualifications of those that are in favour with God, and entitled to his eternal rewards?'

Yet, Edwards is also honest about the difficulty of answering the question, particularly because the ongoing mixture of unbelievers in with believers in the local church.

What grabbed me

I was helped by Edwards' identifying reasons Satan produces counterfeit experiences:  'By this means, the devil gratifies himself, that multitudes should offer to God, under the notion of acceptable service, what is indeed above all things abominable to him. By this means, he deceives great multitudes about the state of their souls; making them think they are something, when they are nothing; and so eternally undoes them: and not only so, but establishes many in a strong confidence of their eminent holiness, who, in God's sight, are some of the vilest hypocrites.'

Many are blind to their lost state because they are relying on Satan's false assurance of salvation.

Next week's reading

Read Part 1.

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