The Spring of All Holy Affections: God’s Moral Excellency | Jonathan Edwards

Deep Dive into Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards - Those Affections That Are Truly Holy, Are Primarily Founded on the Loveliness of the Moral Excellency of Divine Things. Or (to Express It Otherwise) A Love to Divine Things for the Beauty and Sweetness of Their Moral Excellency Is the First Beginning and Spring of All Holy AffectionsBased on the sources, a key distinction is made between moral and natural qualities.Moral evil is defined as the evil of sin, that which is against duty and contrary to what is right. Natural evil, on the other hand, is contrary to mere nature, like pain, suffering, or natural defects, and does not involve sin.Moral good is the opposite of sin, found in intelligent beings with will and choice who act as they ought to. When this moral excellency is true, it is holiness. Holiness comprehends all true moral excellency in intelligent beings and is primarily seated in their heart or will.The sources describe the image of God in man as twofold: the natural image (reason, understanding, ability, dominion) and the moral or spiritual image, which is man's holiness. This moral image, reflecting God's moral excellency, was lost by the fall.The true loveliness and beauty of all intelligent beings, including God, angels, and saints, consists primarily and most essentially in their moral excellency or holiness. Holiness is the beauty of natural perfections; without it, qualities like strength and knowledge make a being more hateful.Perceiving the beauty of holiness requires a new supernatural sense or divine spiritual taste, distinct from natural understanding. Natural men and even devils can perceive God's natural greatness and majesty, but they are blind to the intrinsic beauty of His moral perfections. True holy affections are founded on delight in this beauty of holiness itself, not merely self-interest or a sense of God's power.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianPatreon: patreon.com/edi_reformed