Miscellaneous Discourses in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude 'Christian cautions'.
My summary
Today we finish the discourse on "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Ps. 139:23-24)
We are encouraged to examine ourselves regarding:
(iv) the Lord's day and the institutions of God's house;
(v) secret sins;
(vi) our temper of mind to our neighbours;
(vii) charity and conversation to our neighbours;
(viii) the families to which we belong;
(ix) the cause of differing states.
What grabbed me
I appreciated Edwards' counsel to those who feel a languishing in their souls:
'If grace have not been flourishing, but, on the contrary, in languishing circumstances in your souls, perhaps this is the cause. The way to grow in grace is to walk in the way of obedience to all the commands of God, to be very thorough in the practice of religion. Grace will flourish in the hearts of those who live in this manner; but if you live in some way of sin, that will be like some secret disease at your vitals, which will keep you poor, weak, and languishing.
One way of sin lived in will wonderfully keep you down in your spiritual prosperity, and in the growth and strength of grace in your hearts. It will grieve the Holy Spirit of God, and will in a great measure banish him from you: this will prevent the good influence of the word and ordinances of God to the causing of grace to flourish in you. It will be a great obstacle to their good effect. It will be like an ulcer within a man, which, while it remains, will keep him weak and lean, though you feed him with ever so wholesome food, or feast him ever so daintily.'
See sin as a disease and treat it accordingly!
Next week's reading
Read 'A warning to professors'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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