Jan
11
Edwards’ diary-12 January
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I will likely be away from my computer on Friday, 12 January, so I’ll pass this along a day earlier–an 12 January entry in the diary of Jonathan Edwards:
“Saturday, Jan. 12. In the morning. I have this day, solemnly renewed my baptismal covenant and self-dedication, which I renewed, when I was taken into the communion of the church. I have been before God, and have given myself, all that I am and have, to God; so that I am not, in any respect, my own. I can challenge no right in this understanding, this will, these affections, which are in me. Neither have I any right to this body, or any of its members — no right to this tongue, these hands, these feet; no right to these senses, these eyes, these ears, this smell, or this taste. I have given myself clear away, and have not retained any thing, as my own. I gave myself to God, in my baptism, and I have been this morning to him, and told him, that I gave myself wholly to him….This, I have done; and I pray God, for the sake of Christ, to look upon it as a self-dedication, and to receive me now, as entirely his own, and to deal with me, in all respects, as such, whether he afflicts me, or prospers me, or whatever he pleases to do with me, who am his.
Dec
1
Most Influential Americans?
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The Atlantic released their list of the top 100 most influential Americans, compiled by a panel of their contributors. Though I applaud the progenitor of my university at numero tres, I notice Jonathan Edwards (90) was given the back seat over Margaret Sanger (51), Joseph Smith (52), Elvis Presley (66), PT Barnum (67), Brigham Young (74), and Mary Baker Eddy (86). At least the blurb on Edwards was decent: “Forget the fire and brimstone: his subtle eloquence made him the country’s most influential theologian.”
In the end, it is a good list when you consider their design was to give the most influential Americans and not the most magnificent Americans. Feel free to comment with any changes you would have made had you been on the panel.
We can discuss Robert E Lee (57) versus Ulysses S Grant (12) another time.
Nov
17
Affections
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A professor of classical literature told me about a conversation he had with a fellow Latin professor. The two were walking across campus, when my friend said, “You know, I was reading the most beautiful passage last night in Cicero….” “WHAT?” his colleague interrupted, “You don’t actually read that stuff at home, do you?” To one man, classical literature was the way he had chosen to make a living. To the other, it is a brilliant world in which he finds himself lost in wonder and excitement, even in his spare time. One man teaches a subject; the other bestows an infectious loveliness upon those who will listen. Which man would you rather have for a professor? Which would engage your attention and make you want to learn?
The best measure of the health of our souls is found in what we truly love. Right thinking is important, as is obedience, but of what value are these without our affections being captured with the majesty of God and the loveliness of Christ? That is what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength–all our deepest affections. Henry Scougal wrote some three hundred years ago: “The most ravishing pleasures, the most solid and substantial delights that human nature is capable of, are those which arise from the endearments of a well-placed and successful affection.”
Scripture describes godly religion as a matter of the affections and emotions: fear (Ps. 2:11; 19:9; 25:14; 33:8; 34:9; Lk. 12:5; Acts 9:31; Phi. 2:12; 1 Pt. 2:17; Rev. 14:7; 19:5), hope (1 Cor. 13:13; Ps. 146:5; 33:18; 147:11; Heb. 6:19; 1 Pt. 1:3) love (1 Tim. 1:5; Gal. 5:14; Rom. 8:8; Ps. 18:1; 31:23; 119:132), hatred (Pr. 8:13; Ps. 98:10; 101:2-3; 119:104), desire (Is. 26:8; Ps. 42:1-2; 63:1-2; 119:20; Mt. 5:6) joy (Ps. 28:7; 37:4; 33:1; Phi. 3:1; 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16),sorrow (Mt. 5:4; Ps. 51:17; 34:18), gratitude (1 Chron. 16:7-41; Neh. 12:31,40; Ps. 28:7; 100; 107; 118) compassion (Ps. 37:21; Pr. 14:31; Col. 3:12; Mt. 5:7; 23:23; Mic. 6:8; Hos. 6:6), zeal (Titus 2:14; Rev. 3:15-19).
Note that these affections are not merely warm, fuzzy emotions. A Hallmark greeting card is sufficient to produce those kinds of emotions. Feelings themselves are not adequate indicators of regeneration, for genuine affection leads to fruit: thoughts, words, deeds which reflect what the heart truly loves and desires. It’s like having a Southern accent. As hard as one might try to disguise it in front of others (Why would one want to do so in the fuhst place?), eventually a word or phrase will give it all away.
Inevitably we are transformed into the image of that which we love. If we love what is base and vulgar, we will be base and vulgar people. If we love what is honorable and righteous, we will be honorable and righteous people. We should not expect our children to love and honor that which elicits from us no demonstrable love and honor. We should not expect the world around us to be attracted to Jesus Christ when we show so little affection for him. We should face the facts: How often our complaints about the church arise from our boredom with God. How often dull sermons arise from boredom with God–on the part of the listener or of the preacher! How often private worship and family worship seem unbearable because we have so little fellowship with the Triune God to begin with, when the TV is a more familiar friend and companion.
How should we then live? We should seek those means which increase and stir our affections toward God, namely worship, prayer, meditation on the Scriptures. We should be ashamed of our cold, hard hearts toward God and the Gospel, especially in light of God’s creation of us as emotional beings. Jonathan Edwards observed, “God has given to mankind affections for the same purpose as that for which he has given all the faculties and principles of the human soul, that they might be subservient to man’s chief end, and the great business for which God has created him, that is, the business of religion. And yet how common is it among mankind, that their affections are much more exercised and engaged in other matters, than in religion.” What do you love? Or, more significantly, whom do you love?
Sep
21
Jonathan Edwards resources
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D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said,
“No man is more relevant to the present conditions of Christianity than Jonathan Edwards…He was a mighty theologian and a great evangelist at the same time. If you want to know anything about true revival, Edwards is the man to consult. My advice is, read Jonathan Edwards. Go back to something solid and deep and real.’
Lord willing, I’ll finish my Wednesday night sketch on Jonathan Edwards next week (9/27). The good attendance and discussions and conversations that have followed are not only encouraging, but they also confirm for me that Edwards’ life, ministry and legacy are truly compelling and, as Lloyd-Jones asserted a few decades back, relevant. Edwards was and is a great blessing to the Church. Moment of self-disclosure: I harbor a secret fear that no ‘normal’ person is really interested in the dead men with whom I converse on a daily basis. I do have friends who are alive–really, I do!
Sweet Dropper readers may appreciate another opportunity to check out some of the Edwards resources I have recommended:
- Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography by Iain Murray. If you want a serious, in-depth study of Edwards from a Reformed admirer, then this is the Edwards biography for you. If you read only one Edwards biography, read this one.
- Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George Marsden. Marsden, who teaches history at Notre Dame, won a number of literary awards after the 2003 release of this book. Marsden tells the story well, but also deals with Edwards as a figure in the context of his own time. Marsden is not afraid to present Edwards in a critical light, but he never attacks or dismisses Edwards, as many biographers have done.
- A God-Entranced Vision of All Things: The Legacy of Jonathan Edwards (ed. John Piper and Justin Taylor) is a collection of essays that grew out of a 2003 Conference in Minneapolis sponsored by Desiring God Ministries. Like most collections, the quality of the individual essays is rather uneven, but they do set forth the continuing relevance of Edwards to Christian living and ministry today. Sherard Burns’ ‘Trusting the Theology of a Slave-Holder’ is excellent, as are the short expositions of Edwards’ major theological works, Original Sin, Freedom of the Will and A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections. [NOTE: This book is available also as an on-line book from Desiring God Ministries.]
- A Jonathan Edwards Reader (ed. John E. Smith, Harry S. Stout, and Kenneth P. Minkema). Better than reading about Edwards is actually reading Edwards! The editors of the Yale collection of Edwards’ works have assembled a fine paperback anthology which includes the major theological works, some sermons, and autobiographical material.
Sep
13
Edwards and Spiders
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I just came across a funny, cartoon illustrated edition of Jonathan Edwards’s essay on spiders. If you aren’t familiar with the piece by Edwards, he was acutely interested in all areas of knowledge, including natural science. Around the age of 20, he did an in depth study of spiders, showing tremendous skill in scientific study for his time.
Aug
11
I’m so glad that Phillip decided to do a series on the life of Jonathan Edwards during the teaching portion of our Wednesday evening prayer meeting. I have, for some time now, been reading through Murray’s biography of Edwards. I have simply been enthralled by the life of Edwards. I grew up in public education, having only heard of Jonathan Edwards as the epitome of an angry preacher (ie Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God). It wasn’t until seminary, when I began to read him, that I discovered how antithetical my preconceived views were to the actual life, character, and ministry of Reverend Edwards. I look forward with baited breath to the next installments of Phillip’s series.
And now let me explain the title of this post. As I said, I have not finished the biography of Edwards, but yesterday I did finish Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards. It is a penetrating look into the very heart of what it means to be a Christian. Edwards had seen massive revival in and around his congregation. In the midst of this renewing work by the Holy Spirit, the powers of darkness were also at work creating false conversions and spiritual experiences. The question quickly arose as to how the true religious experience of a converted Christian was to be discerned. Edwards answers this question in Religious Affections in three parts, working primarily from 1 Peter 1:8. His main contention is that true Christian experience is shown in a believer’s affection for God for who He is in and of Himself and that these religious affections are shown most clearly in the holy practice of the believer. This book has been food for my soul as I’ve read it these past few months. If you’ve never read it, make sure you pick up a copy. It isn’t an easy read, but it is a rewarding read.
If you are looking for more information on Edwards you can find excellent resources at the Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University.