Jonathan Edwards

In the wake of the Toronto Blessing and other revival movements, Christians need this book more than ever. Edwards, the central figure in New England's first Great Awakening, offers his most detailed description of the signs--false and true--of religious revival, while high-lighting the role truly balanced emotions play within the Christian life.

The Religious Affections

Sean Wilson

“Indeed the saints rejoice in their interest in God, and that Christ is theirs: and so they have great reason, but this is not the first spring of their joy. They first rejoice in God as glorious and excellent in himself, and then secondarily rejoice in it, that so glorious a God is theirs. […] But that which is the true saint's superstructure is the hypocrite's foundation.”

A good resource for going through your own hypocrisies and brittle affections with a fine-toothed comb. One point I really appreciated was Edwards’ articulating a distinction between the ordinary operations of the Spirit and those belonging to salvation (a la Hebrews 6:4, 9): put another way, there will be plenty of miracle-workers in hell, which is sobering to say the very least.

And I greatly appreciated that Puritan hope poking through from time to time: “yet it is evident, that there will come a time of much greater purity in the church of God, than has been in ages past”; “It is foretold, that all nations shall be brought publicly to make this profession”. Mmmm.

Listened through this on Audiobook, which was a bit tough. Had to slow down the reading pace to take more in. I think this is a fundamental read, particularly for our current context that seems to ebb and flow with the topic at hand of religious experience and what is true evidence of saving conversion. I think many of his illustrations are helpful and pastoral. Since this is a dense read that would be aided by seeing his points and tracking sub-points, I would recommend this as an actual read with a pen/highlighter ready rather than an audiobook 