Nature & Importance of Affections
- Benefits of trials (based on 1 Pet 1:8)
- They have the characteristic of distinguishing between true religion and false, making evident the difference between them. They try the faith of those who profess to have true religion.
- They purify and increase "true religion," resulting in:
- Love for Christ.
- Joy in Christ (an inexpressible and glorious joy)
- From these expressions, which show themselves through trials, Edwards determines that "true religion, in great part, consists of holy affections."