November 10, 2017

Religious Affections in Vol I of the Works - Edwards - III - Part 2 commenced

Required readingReligious affections in Volume I of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Part 2 by reading Sections I to VII.


My summary.
Now Edwards begin to show us some things which are not signs that affections are gracious or not gracious.

Thus it is no sign, one way or other, if religious affections:
(i) are very great;
(ii) have great effects on the body;
(iii) have fluency and fervour;
(iv) are excited by us;
(v) come with texts of Scripture;
(vi) have appearance of love;
(vii) are of many kinds.

What grabbed me
I appreciated the point that just because someone knows the Scriptures, doesn't mean he is saved:

'What evidence is there that the devil cannot bring texts of Scripture to the mind, and misapply them, to deceive persons? There seems to be nothing in this which exceeds the power of Satan. It is no work of such mighty power, to bring sounds or letters to persons' minds. If Satan has power to bring any words or sounds at all to persons' minds, he may have power to bring words contained in the Bible. There is no higher sort of power required in men, to make the sounds which express the words of a text of Scripture, than to make the sounds which express the words of an idle story or song. And so the same power in Satan which is sufficient to renew one of those in the mind, is sufficient to renew the other: the different signification, which depends wholly on custom, alters not the case, as to ability to make or revive the sounds or letters. Or will any suppose, that texts of Scripture are such sacred things, that the devil durst not abuse them, nor touch them? In this also they are mistaken. He who was bold enough to lay hold on Christ himself, and carry him hither and thither, into the wilderness, into a high mountain, and to a pinnacle of the temple, is not afraid to touch the Scripture, and abuse that for his own purposes. For, at the same time that he was so bold with Christ, he brought one scripture and another to deceive and tempt him. And if Satan did presume, and was permitted to put Christ himself in mind of texts of Scripture to tempt him, what reason have we to determine, that he dare not, or will not be permitted, to put wicked men in mind of texts of Scripture, to tempt and deceive them? And if Satan may thus abuse one text of Scripture, so he may another. Its being a very excellent place of Scripture, a comfortable and precious promise, alters not the case, as to his courage or ability. And if he can bring one comfortable text to the mind, so he may a thousand; and may choose out such scriptures as tend most to serve his purpose. He may heap up scripture promise.'

If Satan can quote Scripture, so can unbelievers.


Next week's reading
Conclude Part 2.


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

No comments: