Preach abroad. … It is the cooping yourselves up in rooms that has dampened the work of God, which never was and never will be carried out to any purpose without going into the highways and hedges and compelling men and women to come in.
– Jonathan Edwards –
God is the highest good of the reasonable creature. The enjoyment of him is our proper; and is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Better than fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of any, or all earthly friends. These are but shadows; but the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean.
– Jonathan Edwards –
(I am) resolved, never to do anything which I would be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
– Jonathan Edwards –
John 4:14 states, “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” Compare this with John 7:38-39: “‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive.” It is by partaking of the Holy Spirit that the saints have communion with Christ in His fullness.
– Jonathan Edwards –
from The Best of Jonathan Edwards
From love to God springs love to man, as says the apostle “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.” (1 John 5:1) Have we this love to all who are the children of God?
– Jonathan Edwards –
from Charity and its Fruits
[The] resurrection of Christ is the most joyful event that ever came to pass; because hereby Christ rested from the great and difficult work of purchasing redemption, and received God’s testimony, that it was finished. The death of Christ was the greatest and most wonderful event that ever came to pass; but that has a great deal in it that is sorrowful. But by the resurrection of Christ, that sorrow is turned into joy. The Head of the church, in that great event, enters on the possession of eternal life; and the whole church is, as it were, begotten again to a lively hope, 1 Peter 1:3. Weeping had continued for a night, but now joy cometh in the morning.
– Jonathan Edwards –
As a principle of love is the main principle in the heart of a real Christian, so the labour of love is the main business in the Christian life.
– Jonathan Edwards –
from Charity and Its Fruits
Love to God disposes us meekly to bear injuries from others, because it sets us very much above the injuries of men. … It sets above the reach of injuries from others, because nothing can ever really hurt those that are the true friends of God. Their life is hid with Christ in God; and he, as their protector and friend, will carry them on high as on the wings of eagles ; and all things shall work together for their good (Rom. 8:28); and none shall be permitted really to harm them, while they are followers of that which is good (1 Pet. 3:13).
– Jonathan Edwards –
taken from the book Charity and its Fruits
Pride is God’s most stubborn enemy! There is no sin so much like the devil as pride. It is a secret and subtle sin, and appears in a great many shapes which are undetected and unsuspected.
– Jonathan Edwards –