In 1741, Jonathan Edwards received a request from one of the young ladies in his congregation for some advice, he wrote a letter which includes 19 separate points of advice that he deemed important to convey to her. In their entirety, they are certainly worth reading, but several jumped out at me.
3. When you hear sermons, hear them for yourself, even though what is spoken in them may be more especially directed to the unconverted or to those that in other respects are in different circumstances from yourself. Let the chief intent of your mind be to consider what ways you can apply the things that you are hearing in the sermon. You should ask, “What improvement should I make, based on these things, for my own soul’s good?”
4. Though God has forgiven and forgotten your past sins, yet don’t forget them yourself. Often remember what a wretched bond slave you were in the land of Egypt…
5. …Look upon the faithfulness of Christ in unchangeably continuing his loving favor, and the unspeakable and saving fruits of his everlasting love. Despite all your great unworthiness since your conversion, his grace remains as great or as wonderful as it was in converting you.
7. …Come to Christ as Mary Magdelene did…Just like her, come and cast yourself down at his feet and kiss them, and pour forth upon him the sweet perfumed ointment of divine love, out of a pure and broken heart, as she poured out her precious ointment out of her pure, alabaster, broken box.
10. …Apply yourself with all your might to an earnest pursuit after renewed experiences, new light, and new, lively acts of faith and love. One new discovery of the glory of Christ’s face, and the fountain of His sweet grace and love will do more towards scattering clouds of darkness and doubting in one minute than examining old experiences by the best mark that can be given for a whole year.
More to come in the near future…
