tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615787.post6178342485447646526..comments2023-08-26T09:34:18.163-05:00Comments on Dead Theologians: Edwards and Newton: Battling DoubtJared Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18445783451815077626noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615787.post-24306184713833709742007-09-28T09:27:00.000-05:002007-09-28T09:27:00.000-05:00The classic treatment from Edwards on practical Ch...The classic treatment from Edwards on practical Christian living is his letter to Deborah Hatheway.<BR/><BR/>There he writes on doubt and fear:<BR/><BR/>"10. If at any time you fall into doubts about the state of your soul under darkness and dull frames of mind, 'tis proper to look over past experiences, but yet don't consume too much of your time and strength in poring and puzzling thoughts about old experiences, that in dull frames appear dim and are very much out of sight, at least as to that which is the cream and life and sweetness of them: but rather apply yourself with all your might, to do 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, a whole year.<BR/><BR/>11. When the exercise of grace is at a low ebb, and corruption prevails, and by that means fear prevails, don't desire to have fear cast out any other way, than by the reviving and prevailing of love, for 'tis not agreeable to the method of God's wise dispensations that it should be cast out any other way; for when love is asleep, the saints need fear to restrain them from sin and therefore it is so ordered that at such times fear comes upon them, and that more or less as love sinks. But when love is in lively exercise, persons don't need fear, and the prevailing of love in the heart, naturally tends to cast out fear, as darkness in a room vanishes away as you let more and more of the perfect beams of the sun into it, 1 John 4:18."M. Jay Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14196144533530725736noreply@blogger.com