Mike
Reeves took us finally to that towering figure Jonathan Edwards.
After a passing reference to Edwards History
of the work of redemption he
focused on two books by Edwards The
Religious Affections and
The
End for which the world was created. This
paper was again full of rich nuggets. I especially liked his
reference to God's grace, which too often is thought as a thing (as
when Romanists think of Mary as Full
of grace in
the sense that she is topped up with it and can dispense it rather
than as the recipient of God's love and favour). He also recommended
skipping over the first part of The
End for which and
going straight to the second part. The whole presentation was again
marked by a mastery of the subject, infectious enthusiasm and
attractive presentation.
Some
sample quotations from Edwards
“The
Devil once seemed to be religious from fear of torment: Luke 8:28 -
"When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and
with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son
of God most high? I beseech Thee, torment me not." Here is
external worship. The Devil is religious; he prays - he prays in a
humble posture; he falls down before Christ, he lies prostrate; he
prays earnestly, he cries with a loud voice; he uses humble
expressions - "I beseech Thee, torment me not;" he uses
respectful, honourable, adoring expressions - "Jesus, Thou Son
of God most high." Nothing was wanting but LOVE.”
“True
religion, in great part, consists in holy affections, love for Christ
and joy in him.”
“He
that is once brought to see, or rather to taste, the superlative
loveliness of the Divine Being, will need no more to make him long
after the enjoyment of God, to make him rejoice in the happiness of
God, and to desire that this supremely excellent Being may be pleased
and glorified And if this be true, then the main ground of true love
to God is the excellency of His own nature, and not any benefit we
have received, or hope to receive, by His goodness to us.”
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