Saturday, August 22, 2009

Walk the walk!

Though in this great evidence of sincerity that the Scripture gives us, what is inward is of greatest importance; yet what is outward is included and intended, as connected with the practical exertion of grace in the will, directing and commanding the actions of the body. And hereby are effectually cut off all pretensions that any man can have to evidences of godliness, who externally lives wickedly; because the great evidence lies in that inward exercise and practice of the soul, which consists in the acts of the will, commanding outward acts. But it is known, that these commanding acts of the will are not one way and the actions of the bodily organs another: for the unalterable law of nature is, that they should be united as long as soul and body are united, and the organs are not so destroyed as to be incapable of those motions that the soul commands. Thus it would be ridiculous for a man to plead, that the commanding act of his will was to go to the public worship, while his feet carry him to a tavern or brothel-house; or that the commanding act of his will was to give such a piece of money he had in his hand to a poor beggar, while his hand at the same instant kept it back, and held it fast.(A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, 274)

1 comment:

  1. "because the great evidence lies in that inward exercise and practice of the soul, which consists in the acts of the will, commanding outward acts"

    I recall others describing this as ...man following the greatest inclination of his will at any moment - usually in the context of the moment of temptation. The will's desire to sin overpowering the will's desire to please God.

    "And hereby are effectually cut off all pretensions that any man can have to evidences of godliness, who externally lives wickedly"
    Given, our inability to assess the state of others that Edwards makes earlier in RA, I'm taking this as a warning about having any personal pretensions about my own godliness or lack thereof.

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