Concerning Religious Affections, Index – Booksellers notice
A TABLE of the Contents of the foregoing Treatise.
A.
AFFECTIONS, what they are, Page 4-6. Religion consists much in them 1-4, 7-24. This appears from their Nature 7, 8. From their being very much the Spring of Men's Actions …, 9. From Fact and Experience …, 1…. From the holy Scriptures 10-13. From Religion's being summarily comprehended in Love 13-15. From Instances of the most eminent Saints in Scripture 15-18. From the Example of Christ 18, 19. From the Religion of Heaven 19-21. From the Design of Ordinances 21, 22. From the Nature of Hardness of Heart 22-24
Affections religious, very high some Times from Impressions on the Imagination …, 106, 110, 111, 112, 145, 177. Such Means to be desired as tend to excite them 27. We have Reason to be ashamed that we have no more of them 27-29. Prejudices against them 24-26. How in the Saints in Heaven 19, 20. False, their pernicious Tendency 25, 2…, 178
'Tis no Sign that religious Affections are gracious or otherwise, that they are great 31, &c. That they have great bodily Effects 34, &c. That they cause Persons to abound in religious Talk 38, &c. That Persons did not make 'em themselves 40, &c. That they come with Texts of Scripture 44, &c. That there is an Appearance of Love in them 47, &c. That they come in a certain Order 52 &c. That they dispose Persons to abound in Duties of Worship 63, &c. That they dispose Persons to abound in external Praise 65, &c. That they make Persons exceeding confident 67 &c. That they beget great Charity in others 79, &c.
Affections gracious, arise from a spiritual Influence 92, &c. Are founded in the excellent Nature of divine Things as they are in themselves 134 &c. Primarily founded in the moral Excellency of divine Things 147, &c. Arise from spiritual Understanding 158, &c. From a spiritual Conviction of the Judgment 182, &c. Attended with evangelical Humiliation 199, &c. Attended with a Change of Nature 226, &c. Attended with the Lamb▪ like Dove▪like Temper of Christ 230 &c. Effect a Christian▪ Tenderness of Spirit 242, &c. In a beautiful Symmetry and Proportion 240, &c. Attended with spiritual Appetites & Longings 261, &c. Have their Exercise and Fruit in Christian Practice 268 &c.
Affections of Hypocrites, all from Self-Love 146. Disproportionate and monstrous 249, &c. Unstable 256-258. Flow most before Company 258-261. Why sometimes so high 57, 145. Leave Men dead 230
Appetites, see Longings.
Application particular, of Promises, what is, and what is not spiritual 118, 119
Assurance, is ordinarily attainable 67-69. A true one not enjoyed in corrupt Frames 73, 74, 77-79. 89-91. Can't be maintain'd only on old Experiences 77, 78. Not desirable in ill Frames 78, 79, 89. How to be obtain'd 90, 91. Goes not before a Faith of Dependance 115▪ 116▪ A true one, its Concomitants 249
Attainments in Religion, the higher not without the lower 254
Attributes of God, natural and moral, how distinguished 148
Awakenings, see Conviction….
B.
BACKSLIDING, what Kinds of it are Evidences of Hypocrisy 274-277.
Belief of the Truth of divine Things. See Conviction. From Education only, vain 18…. From History and ancient Monuments only▪ insufficient 192, 293. What may arise from Impressions on the Imagination 197, 198, What may arise from a false Hope 199
Ben…volence, the Character of all true Christians 239, 240
Bodily Effects through the Affections of the Soul 5, 6, 34. No Sign to distinguish Affections 34, &c.
Boldness for Christ, true and counterfeit 235-237. Holy, in Prayer, a false Notion of it corrected 246-248
C.
CALL of Christ inward, a false Notion of it refuted 115-117
Change of Nature, attends gracious Affections 226-230
Children, see Little.
Christian Spirit wherein it especially consists 231, 232
Clear Work of Grace, what is, and what is not justly so called 62, 63
Common Illumination, how it differs from spiritual Understanding 167, 169
Communion with God, what the Phrase imports 97. A false Notion of it as tho' carried on by Impulses 117, 139
Confidence, strong, no Sign to distinguish Affections 67, &c. Why so great in Hypocrites 71, 72. False, its Boisterousness and Violence 70, 71, 73. Often arises from Impulses and supposed Revelations 72, 73, 117. Is maintain'd in Hypocrites in wicked Frames and Ways 73, 74
Conversion, why called a being born again, created anew, raised from the dead, &c. 99, 100, 166. How often renewed 229, 230
Convictions, preceed Comfort 52-56. Some are counterfeit and only from Imagination 56-58. And Terrors not the same 56, 5…. No certain Sign of Conversion 60. Increased by Grace 71, 72, 248. How from the Spirit of God 101. Why when great seem small 220, 221
Conviction spiritual of Truth, what it is 186-196. Attends gracious Affections 182-199. Its Counterfeits 184, 197-199
Corruption more than Grace in the best Saints 213
D.
DEVIL, his Subtilty in mingling his Works with God's 25
Difficulties of Religion the proper Trials of Sincerity 1, 2…4, 312-318.
Dis…rning certainly the State of others, none have such a Gift 80, &c. 342.
Discoveries, of God's Glory, when true, begin with a Sense of the Beauty of his moral Perfection 150. In what Respects natural Men may have great Discoveries of God 155-157. How common Discoveries of God may excite Joy and Praise 157. True, reveal the Corruption of the Heart 212, 215. False, hide Corruption 72, 214. Spiritual, all transforming 226, 229. And Illuminations, the ill Consequence of judging chiefly by them of others State 241
Divine, how gracious Qualities are so 97, 98
Divine Nature, how Saints are Partakers of it 96-98
Doubting of Saints concerning their State, what are often the Causes of it 71, 72. Not the same with the Sin of Unbelief 77. Profitable in ill Frames 78, 79
Duties of Worship, no Sign to distinguish Affections 63&c.
E.
EARNEST of the Spirit, what it is 130, 131
Earnestness in Religion necessary to Salvation 271, 272
Enthusiasm, wherein it consists in all its Varieties of Operation 176-181
Error may be the Occasion of a gracious Exercise 86
Evidence of the Truth of the Gospel, internal, what 187-196. External, its Use 195. That which is the Ground of a saving Belief is more than a meer Probability 193-195. And is as it were intuitive 188-192 And is chiefly internal 187-196
Excellency of divine Things as in themselves, the first Ground of gracious Affections 139-146
Exercises of Grace, immanent and practical 306-309
Experience Christian, not properly distinguished from Practice 332-335 How the best Evidence of a good Estate, ibid.
Experimental Religion, spiritual Practice most properly so called 334, 335
Extremes, how the Devil drives to them 25
F.
FAITH, is never without spiritual Light and Sight 74-76. And Sight, how they differ 74. Is not a believing our State to be good 76, 77. Is not a believing the Promises are made to us in particular 115. False, makes Christ the Minister of Sin 243 244
Fear of God, the Temper of true Christians 246-248. Attends a true Christian Hope 248-250
Fear Servile, and Love, one decays as the other prevails 78, 79, 132, 133
Feelings inward 40-44
Feeling others talk of their Experiences, no certain Sign of their Grace 82, 83
First Work, many Hypocrites live upon it and indulge their Sloth 264-267
Forgiving Spirit, the Spirit of all true Christians 238, 239
Fortitude Christian, the Nature of it 235-238
Frames, living upon them 75
Fruit, is that by which chiefly we must judge of others 83-85. See Practice.
G.
GOOD, See moral Grace, counterfeit, its great Resemblance of true 81, 82. Saving, differs from common in Nature and Kind 98, 99. In what Respects it does so 102, 103. True, the Nature of it to think it self comparatively small 211-218. Less than Corruption in the best 213. How an abiding Principle of Nature 228, 229
Graces all have their Counterfeits. 47-52. 81-84
Gratitude, sometimes meerly from natural Principles 137-140. Gracious, how it differs from common 140-142
H.
HARDNESS of Heart, Irreligion consists much in it 22-24. An Effect of false Affections 242, &c.
Holiness, the immediate Object of a spiritual Sense and Appetite 152, 153. The primary objective Ground of gracious Affections 147-158. The Beauty of all intelligent Beings 149, 150. The Beauty of all natural Perfections 150. The Beauty of all divine Things 150, 151. Of God, in Scripture comprehends all his moral Perfections 148-150
Hope true, assaulted by Satan 71, 72 Discovers Corruption 72. Increases Conviction of Sin 71, 248. Has greater Influence to make the Conscience tender than Fear of Hell 245 Attended with godly Fear 250. Prevails and decays with Love 78, 79
Hope of Hypocrites, not assaulted by Satan 71, 72. Hides the Corruption of the Heart, and puts an End to Convictions 71, 72. Not shaken by their Wickedness …, 74. Emboldens them in Sin 242-245. Often from Impulses 72, 73
Hum…ation legal, usually precedes the first Comfort 53-56. Its Nature, and how it diffe… from Evangelical 199. There are Counterfeits of it 58, 59. Why Persons under this Work seldom kno… ▪ it in the Time of it 220, 221
Humi…ation … see Humility▪ what it is▪ and how it differs from legal 19…, 200. Attends all gracious Affections 19…—226. The most difficult Part of Self denial 202▪ 203. Hypocrites make great Pretences to it, but make an awkward Show of it 204, 205
Humility, see Humiliation▪ The Note… of it 208-226. Disposes Persons to think their Grace small 207-218. Especially disposes Persons to think their Humility small 218-222. A humble Behaviour described 221-226.
Hypocrites, their great Resemblance of true Saints 49-52. 58-63. 81-85. Often very forward and positive in determining others State 84. Of two Sorts, by some called legal and evangelical 72. Why they talk much about themselves and their Experiences 145, 146. Their Religion disproportionate and monstrous, 249, &c. Their Instability 256-258 Deficient as to secret Religion 258-261. Their Earnestness in seeking Christ and Grace abates after their supposed Conversion 264-267
I.
IMAGINATION, what it is 104, 105. By this only Satan has Access to the Soul 178-181
Impressions on the Imagination, what they are 104, 105. They are nothing spiritual 104-108. Not above the Power of Satan 109, 110. Often mistaken for spiritual Discoveries and why 105, 106. Sometimes attend spiritual Experiences 110. Often cause great Affections 110-112. 145, 1…7. Cause Counterfeit Convictions of Sin 5…—58. Affections founded on them not gracious 110-112▪ 159 1…0. There is nothing of the Nature of spiritual Light in them 159, 160. All Kinds of Enthusiasm consist in them 17…—17…. By these mainly the Devil confounds happy Revivals of Religion 178. What Perswasion of the Truth may arise from them 197, 198
… ▪ … Re…elations▪ no spiritual Effects 120-122▪ 169-171 Often seem to reveal Things that Persons are most fondly desirous of …2, …3. The Ground of the Hope of many Hypocrites 72, 73, 115-118▪ 123-134. Occasion high and tumultuous Affections 117, 122, 133, 145, 1…. They that follow them▪ though coming with Texts of Scripture, add to the Word of God 119, 120. With Texts of Scripture, no more spiritual than others 122▪ 171. Affections founded on them not gracious 122
In…elling of the Spirit 95-97
Joy of the Hypocrite, in Himself and how 143-146. Without Reverence 250. Without mourning for Sin 250-252
Joy of a Saint, not primarily founded in an Apprehension of God's Love to him 143. Attended with godly Fear 250. Attended with godly Sorrow 250-252
Judging positively of others State, the best of Men insufficient for it 80 &c. 342
Justification by Faith alone, what Use of Works is, and what is not inconsistent with it 337-341
K.
KNOWLEDGE, see Understanding Knops and Flowers in the Golden Candlestick 285, 286
L.
LAMB-like Dovelike Spirit attends gracious Affections 230-234
Law▪ a Work of it precedes Comfort 52-56
Leading of the Spirit, the Nature of it 170-176
Legal Doctrine, a wrong Notion of it corrected 33…—341
Legal Spirit▪ some that exclaim most against it are the most guilty of it 205-207. What it is 203. A subtil Thing, … ▪
Little … ▪ in what Respects the Saints are as such 210, 225, 234, 235, 245, 24…, 251▪
Lively … ▪ what are the proper Evidences of such 343
Living by … ▪ … 74-79
Living …n … ▪ …nd not on Christ▪ a false and mischievous Notion of it 74-79. When Persons may truly be said to do so 7…, 144, 145, 20…, 20….
… religious▪ strangely disproportionate in Hypocrites 255. Affections of Hypocrite… extinguish them 264. In Saints are higher as their Attainments are higher 261, &c. Gracious, how distinguished 267
…, the Sum of all Religion 1…—1…. How all other religious Affections flow from it 14, 15, 50-52. Is the Spirit of Adoption …8, 132. Appearances of it without Grace 47, 48. All is not from Self-Love 134, 135. And Fear cast out one another 78, 79▪ 132▪ 133. Drawn out to another as a Saint, no certain Sign he is so 85-87
Love to God, true, not originally from Self-Love 134-146. How natural Men have some kind of it 137-140. In the Saints, not first founded on a Perswasion that God loves them 138-140. 142-144. True, is primarily for God's Holiness 147-158. Attended with Love to Men 252. Is more powerful to promote earnest seeking of God and Grace than legal Fear 265, 266
Love to Men, the Temper of all true Christians 239, 240. Attends Love to God 252. In Hypocrites partial and confined 252, 253. True, is to both Soul and Body 253, 254
M.
MAJESTY and Greatness of God, there may be a great Sight of it and nothing spiritual 155-157
M…kness, the Temper of every Christian 230-242
… Persons, why remarkably subject to Satanick Suggestions 180
… ▪ the Temper of all true Christian… 240, 241. Gracious, is exercised both to Men's Souls and Bodies 2… ▪ 254
… of Experiences▪ see …
… of God, How Hypocrites are guilty of it 312
… Good and Evil, how distinguished from natural 147, 148. Excellency, see Holiness
N.
NATURAL▪ see …
Natural and moral Perfection… of God, how distinguis…d 147, 148
Natural Good and Evil▪ all that is seen in common Illuminations and Convictions 16…—169, 197
Natural Men, who are so called in Scripture 92, 93. How they may experience that which is new and surprizing 103. How they may love Vertue and hate Vice 168, 169
Natural Perfections of God, there may be a great Sight of them without Grace 155-157. Saints see them in a better Manner than natural Men 158. A Sight of them causes legal Humiliation 199, 200
O.
OBEDIENCE of the Saints, universal 268-272, 279. Of Hypocrites, not universal and persevering 287-292. See Practice.
Order of Experiences, no Sign that distinguishes them 52, &c. Want of sensible Distinctness in it no certain Sign that Persons are not converted 61-63, 300-30… ▪
P.
PERSEVERANCE in Christian Practice, in all true Saints 273-277, 279. All natural Men …ail of 280, 281, 287-292
Phar…o…, his Behaviour like that of Hypocrites 290, 291
Poverty of Spirit, the Nature of it 223, 224
Power of Godliness, wherein it appears 7, 8, 278
Practice, is that chiefly by which we must judge of others 84, 85
Practice Christian, the Nature of it 268-277, 303. A Sign of gracious Affections 268, &c. Consists not only in Negatives 271, 272. The Work a Christian is devoted to 272, 273. Saints persevere in it 273-277, 279. Closely connected with Grace 283-286. Found only in true Saints 287-291. The chief Sign of Grace to others 83-8… ▪ 292-304. Arguments to prove it the chief Sign of Grace to others 292-296. How it is to be taken as the chief Sign of Grace to others 297-304. How far it may be visible to others 302-304, Can be no infallible Sign of Grace to others 304. A sure Evidence of Grace to Men's own Consciences 304, 305. In what Sense it is so 305-309, 326. The chief Evidence of Grace to the Conscience 309-332. External and internal 306-309. Grace made perfect in it 318, 319, 328, 329. An Evidence of Grace chiefly insisted on in Scripture 319-321. Spoken of as the greatest Evidence in Scripture 321-324. The chief Evidence made Use of at the Day of Judgment 324-326. The chief Sign of each particular Grace 327-332. The best Evidence of the Degree of Grace 332. How Christian Experience does especially consist in it 332-337. The great Consequence of insisting much upon it as a Sign of Grace 341-343. See Works. Obedience.
Praising God with the Mouth being much in it no Sign to distinguish Affections 65, &c.
Preaching pathetical, profitable 27
Pride spiritual, how hard to be mortified 202-204. The same with a legal Spirit …03. Commonly attended with a great Conceit of, and Pretensions to Humility and Selfemptiness 207, 218-222. How secret and subtil 207, 223. How it may be discover'd 207,—222. Makes Persons apt to think highly of their Attainments in Religion 207-210, 214. Many Hypocrites take it up in Exchange for Profaneness and Sensuality 203, 227
Principles spiritual and natural, what intended thereby 100
Profession of Christianity, what belongs to it 298-300. How far to be made Use of in our judging of others Goodness 297, 298, 301, 302
Professors bright, often come to nothing 81
Promises, the Manner of their coming to the Mind, not the Ground of true Faith 115. Absolute, made to a particular Person not the Ground of the first Act of Faith 115. How spoken to particular Saints 118
Q.
QUINTESSENCE of spiritual Affections entirely diverse from all that natural Men can conceive of 102, 103
R.
RELATION of Experiences, no certain Manifestation of another's State 79, &c. 293-296, 304. How far requisite in order to others Charity 300-302
Religion false, its bad Consequences 25, 26, 178
Revelations, see Impulses
Reverence, see Fear
S.
SANCTIFICATION progressive, how a continued Work of Conversion 229, 230
Satisfying Nature of spiritual Enjoyments explain'd 263
Scripture, don't reveal to particular Persons their good Estate, except by Consequence 76, 119, 160. A confused Notion about its spiritual Meaning co…uted 169, 170. How strictly to be regarded as our Rule with Respect to Signs of Grace 321, 341, 342. See Word of God.
Seal of the Spirit▪ what it is 125, 126. See Witness.
Secret Religion, the Delight of all true Saints 258-261
Seeking and striving after Christ and Grace abates in Hypocrites after supposed Conversion, but increases after true Conversion 26…—267
Self▪denial▪ wherein it consists 202, 2…. Sincere Godliness very much consists in it 282
Self-Examination, not the chief Means of Assurance 90, 91
Self-Love, not the Foundation of all other Love 134, 135. Not the first Ground of gracious Affections 134-146. The Way in which it may be the Ground of a Sort of Love to God 134, 135, 137-140. How it may have a Hand in true Love to God 140,—142. How it may have a hand in the Joy of true Saints 143, 144
Sense a … spiritnal one, in the regenerate 99, 100, 162. The Beauty of Holiness its immediate Object 152, 153
Sense of Heart, how it differs from speculative Knowledge 163, 164
Shibboleth, what is the true one to distinguish Saints from Hypocrites 84, 85
Signs of Grace, what is and what is not to be expected from them 88, &c. None will satisfy Saints that are low in Grace, and in ill Frames 77-79, 89-91
Sin, its infinite Evil 213
Sorrow for Sin, attends the Comforts of true Saints 250-252 When true is chiefly for Men's own Sins 254
Spirit and Temper Persons are of, we should judge more by it of the State Persons are in than by Illuminations and Discoveries 241
Spirit of Bondage and Adoption, what they are 78, 132. How they cast out one another 78, 79, 132, 133
Spirit of God, how it influences the Minds of natural Men 95-97, 100, 101, 168. Is the Sum of the Inheritance Christ has purchased 130, 131
Spiritual, what the ordinary Meaning of the Epithet in Scripture 92, &c. How the Saints and their peculiar Qualities are so called 92-98
Spiritual Meaning, see Scripture
Spiritual, supernatural and divine Influences distinguish gracious Affections 92, &c.
Spiritual Pride, see Pride
Supernatural, how gracious Qualities are so 99
… ▪ and Proportion in gracious Affections 249, &c.
T.
TALK, much and earnest, no Sign to distinguish Affections 38, &c. Of Experiences, there is an Excess in it 39, 40, 343. Of Hypocrites, why so much about themselves and their own Experiences 145, 146
Taste of the Mind, spiritual, its immediate Object is the Beauty of Holiness 152, 153. Of Actions 172-176. Natural, what it is 173, 174
Tasting the Love of Christ, what is falsly so called 105, 117, 123, 176
Temper natural, the Effect of Grace with Respect to it, and what Allowances must be made for it 228, 241, 242, 332
Tenderness of Heart, how much true Religion consists in it 23, 24. How a Sign of gracious Affection 242, &c.
Terrors, not the same with Convictions, of Conscience 56, 57. Great, no Sign of true Comfort following 56-58
Texts of Scripture coming suddenly and remarkably to the Mind, no Sign to distinguish Affections 44, &c. This no spiritual Effect 112, 113. Affections founded on this Effect not gracious 113-115, 160. Affections founded on this Way of the coming of Texts not properly excited by the Word of God 119, 120. High Affections sometime arising hence 113, 114. The Manner in which many are deluded by this 115,—119, 160. This is no immediate Testimony from God, ibid.
Travailing for Souls, when to be suspected 253. In true Saints is chiefly in secret Places 259
Trials, what they are 274. Why the Difficulties of Religion are so called 1, 312-315. Professors in general meet with them 274, 312-314. The main Proof of the State of Professors 312,—318
Trusting God in the dark 74, &c. In Christ for Salvation, the true Notion of it 329, 330
U.
UNDERSTANDING spiritual, There is such a Thing 162. Wherein it consists 162-166. Difference between it and common Illumination 167-169. Don't consist in a Revelation of new Propositions 169. Don't consist in opening the mystical Meaning of the Parables and Allegories of Scripture 169, 170. Don't consist in immediate Revelation of Duties required 170, 171. The Foundation of all gracious Affections and Exercises of Mind 74-76. 158-182. The various Counterfeits of it 176, 177. How it differs from speculative Knowledge 163, 164. Causes a Person to think he knows but little 71, 211, 212, 217▪ 218. The Importance and Extent of it 165, 166. Of the Scripture, its Nature 171, 172
Union vital, between Christ and Believers, its Nature 95-97
W.
WITNESS of the Spirit that we are the Children of God, falsly supposed to be of the Nature of a Revelation 72, 73, 120-134. What it is, ibid. Vain Affections from a false Notion of it 122, 133. What is said of it Rom.8. 16. explain'd 131-133. Especially given in spiritual Practice 336, 337
Witness Immediate of God's Love to a particular Person, not the Ground of first Faith 115, 116
Witnesses of the Truth of the Gospel, how the Saints are so 194, 195
Word of God, added to by those that follow Impulses, though with Texts of Scripture 119, 120, 172. See Scripture
Works. See Practice. What Improvement of them is inconsistent with Grace, and what is not 337-341
Worship. See Duti…
Z.
ZEAL, Christian, the Nature of it 238. Chiefly against Men's own Sins 238, 254, 255. False, not against Sin in general 255
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End of the text · Jonathan Edwards, Concerning Religious Affections (1746)