Godliness is more easily feigned in words than in actions
Jonathan EdwardsRead
Grace is the seed of glory, the dawning of glory in the heart, and therefore grace is the earnest of the future inheritance.
Interpretation
Grace is the beginning of a glorious future and a profound inner transformation.
In this quote, Jonathan Edwards suggests that grace is not just a fleeting moment but a foundational element that leads to a greater glory within ourselves. It implies that experiencing grace leads to a transformation of the heart, which signifies a promise of future divine inheritance and personal exaltation. This perspective encourages individuals to recognize grace as a vital aspect of their spiritual journey and future potential.
In practice
In a sermon discussing spiritual growth, the pastor quoted this to emphasize the importance of grace.
Godliness is more easily feigned in words than in actions
Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
So that it must be only by the imagination that Satan has access to the soul, to tempt and delude it, or suggest anything to it. And this seems to be the reason why persons that are under the disease of melancholy are commonly so visibly and remarkably subject to the suggestions and temptations of Satan... Innumerable are the ways by which the mind may be led on to all kind of evil thoughts, by the exciting of external ideas in the imagination.
The deceitfulness of the heart of man appears in no one thing so much as this of spiritual pride and self-righteousness. The subtlety of Satan appears in its height, in his managing persons with respect to this sin. And perhaps one reason may be that here he has most experience; he knows the way of its coming in; he is acquainted with the secret springs of it: it was his own sin. Experience gives vast advantage in leading souls, either in good or evil.
Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected.
True virtue never appears so lovely as when it is most oppressed; and the divine excellency of real Christianity is never exhibited with such advantage as when under the greatest trials; then it is that true faith appears much more precious than gold, and upon this account is "found to praise and honour and glory.
You have certainly observed the curious fact that a given word which is perfectly clear when you hear it or use it in everyday language, and which does not give rise to any difficulty when it is engaged in the rapid movement of an ordinary sentence becomes magically embarrassing, introduces a strange resistance, frustrates any effort at definition as soon as you take it out of circulation to examine it separately and look for its meaning after taking away its instantaneous function.
The anguish of the neurotic individual is the same as that of the saint. The neurotic, the saint are engaged in the same battle. Their blood flows from similar wounds. But the first one gasps and the other one gives.
I came to believe in a power much higher than I
In the name of Hippocrates, doctors have invented the most exquisite form of torture ever known to man: survival.
I act because I can't seem to live with myself if I do not. I don't know any other way to be. It isn't something you can explain; it is just something that you do; it is something that you are.
The less people know about how sausages and laws are made, the better they'll sleep at night
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