“The more persons have of holy affections, the more they have of that spiritual taste whereby they perceive the excellency, and relish the divine sweetness, of holiness.
And the more grace they have, while in this state of imperfection, the more they see their imperfection and emptiness, and distance from what ought to be. And so the more do they see their need of grace…
Therefore the cry of every true grace is like that cry of true faith, ‘Lord, I believe. Help Thou my unbelief’ (Mark 9:24). And the greater spiritual discoveries and affections the true Christian has, the more does he become an earnest beggar for grace and spiritual food, that he may grow.
And the more earnestly does he pursue it by all proper means and endeavors, for true and gracious longings after holiness are no idle ineffectual desires.”
–Jonathan Edwards, A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections (1754), in The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 2, Ed. Paul Ramsey (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1957), 378.
