Religious Affections Part 1 Section 1
from Joy on SermonAudio Hosted by Jonathan Edwards
The text of this edition of the Religious Affections has been modernized to assist the listener. In Section 1 of A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, Jonathan Edwards draws from 1 Peter 1:8 to argue that genuine Christianity consists largely in holy affections—specifically the vigorous, lively exercises of the soul's will and inclination, such as love and joy. Examining how early Christians endured fiery persecutions, Edwards explains that trials serve to reveal, display, and purify true faith, stripping away empty pretense and dross. He distinguishes between the soul's two primary faculties—the understanding (which perceives and judges) and the inclination or heart (which actively approves or rejects)—and clarifies that affections are not separate from the will, but are simply its most intense and felt operations. Ultimately, while strong affections often produce physical sensations, Edwards emphasizes that the mind alone is their true seat, and that genuine religious vitality manifests through deep, supernatural devotion to an unseen Christ rather than superficial emotional surges.
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