Religious Affections

by Jonathan Edwards

the gracious operations

of God’s Spirit

How are they distinguished?

His ThesisTrue religion, in great part,

consists in holy affections.

Affections?Where’s the Proof?

1. Vigorous Inclinations of the Heart

Do not be slothful in zeal,be fervent in spirit,serving the Lord.

(Romans 12:11)

In nothing is vigor in the actings of our inclinations so requisite, as in

religion; and in nothing is lukewarmness so odious.

~ Edwards

Affections?Where’s the Proof?

1. Vigorous Inclinations of the Heart

2. Human Actions Springing from Affections

Affections?Where’s the Proof?

1. Vigorous Inclinations of the Heart

2. Human Actions Springing from Affections

3. Affected Souls

There never was anything considerable brought to pass in the heart or life of any man living, by the things of religion, that

had not his heart deeply affected by those things.

~ Edwards

Affections?Where’s the Proof?

4. Scripture Proves It

Godly Fear

Hope in God

Love

Longing

Hatred

Hungering

Thirsting

Holy Joy

Sorrow

Mourning

Brokenness of Heart

Gratitude

Compassion Mercy

Zeal

Affections?Where’s the Proof?

4. Scripture Proves It

5. Love: The Chief of Affections

You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all

your soul and with all your mind.You shall love your neighbor as

yourself.(Matthew 22:37, 39)

From a vigorous, affectionate, and fervent love to God ... will arise an intense hatred and

abhorrence of sin, fear of sin, and a dread of God’s displeasure, gratitude to God for his

goodness, complacence and joy in God, when God is graciously and sensibly present, and

grief when he is absent, and a joyful hope when a future enjoyment of God is expected, and

fervent zeal for the glory of God.~ Edwards

Affections?Where’s the Proof?

4. Scripture Proves It

5. Love: The Chief of Affections

6. The Affections of Saints

David“man after God’s own

heart”Consider the affections expressed in his psalms

Paul“inflamed, actuated, and entirely swallowed up, by a most ardent love to

his glorious Lord”~Edwards

Johnthe Beloved Disciple

who wrote with tender love toward his readers

Affections?Where’s the Proof?

7. The Affections of Christ

• Zeal (John 2:17)

• Anger (Mark 3:5)

• Desire (Luke 22:15)

• Pity & Compassion (Matt. 9:36; 15:32)

• Grief (John 11)

Affections?Where’s the Proof?

7. The Affections of Christ

8. Heaven’s Example

The love and joy of the saints on earth, is the beginning and dawning of the light,

life, and blessedness of heaven, and is like their love and joy there; or rather, the same in nature, though not the same with it, or

like to it, in degree and circumstances.~ Edwards

Affections?Where’s the Proof?

7. The Affections of Christ

8. Heaven’s Example

9. What the Church Does

Prayer that inclines the heart to God

Singing Praises to excite

affections

Affections stirred by presentation of the Gospel in the

Ordinances

Preaching that stirs the mind and quickens

the affections

Affections?Where’s the Proof?

10. Holiness of Heart vs. Hardness of Heart

I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the

heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

(Ezekiel 36:26)

... an unaffected heart, or a heart not easy to be moved with virtuous

affections, like a stone, insensible, stupid, unmoved, and hard to be impressed.

~ Edwards

What is a hard heart?

... a heart of flesh, that has feeling, and is sensibly touched and moved. ...But what is a tender heart, but a heart

which is easily impressed with what ought to affect it?

~ Edwards

What is a Tender Heart?

the degree of religion is rather to be judged of by the fixedness and strength

of the habit that is exercised in affection, whereby holy affection is habitual, than by the degree of the present exercise.

~ Edwards