True and False Signs of Religious Affections

From Jonathan Edwards “Religious Affections”

Signs of NO certainty that religious affections are truly gracious.

1.  That Religious Affections are very great is NO Sign
2. Great effects on the Body are NO Sign
3. Fluency and Fervour are NO Sign
4. That they are not excited by us is NO sign
5. That they come with Texts of Scripture is NO Sign
6. That there is an APPEARANCE of love is NO Sign
7. That Religious Affections are of many kinds is NO Sign
8. Joys following in a certain Order are NO sign
9. Much time and much Zeal in Duty are NO sign
10. Much expressions of Praise is No sign
11. Great confidence is NO certain Sign
12. Moving Testimonies are NO sign

Showing what are Distinguishing signs of TRULY Gracious and Holy Affections

1.  Gracious affections are from Divine Influence
2. They arise from Divine Illumination
3. Their object is the excellence of Divine Things
4. They are founded on the Moral Excellency of Objects
5. They are attended with a conviction of Certainty
6. They are attended with Evangelical Humility
7. They are with a change of nature
8. They beget and promote the temper of Jesus
9. Gracious affections soften the heart
10. They have beautiful Symmetry and Proportion
11. False affections rest satisfied in themselves
12. Religious affections have their fruit in Christian Practice
    1. Christian Practice is the chief Sign to others
    2. Christian Practice is the chief Sign to ourselves

Signs from Francis Rous’s Book “Heavenly Marriage between her Soul and her Saviour” 1631