Godliness is more easily feigned in words than in actions
Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Grace and glory are interconnected; grace is the beginning of glory while glory is the ultimate fulfillment of grace.
In this quote, Jonathan Edwards emphasizes the deep relationship between grace and glory. Grace can be seen as a state of favor or kindness that initiates a process, while glory represents the culmination or fulfillment of that process. The quote suggests that grace is the starting point of one's spiritual journey, leading to a state of ultimate glory, where one experiences the full realization of divine favor and goodness.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon about the importance of spiritual growth, one might quote this to illustrate the journey from grace to fulfillment.
More from Jonathan Edwards
All quotes βResolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
So that it must be only by the imagination that Satan has access to the soul, to tempt and delude it, or suggest anything to it. And this seems to be the reason why persons that are under the disease of melancholy are commonly so visibly and remarkably subject to the suggestions and temptations of Satan... Innumerable are the ways by which the mind may be led on to all kind of evil thoughts, by the exciting of external ideas in the imagination.
The deceitfulness of the heart of man appears in no one thing so much as this of spiritual pride and self-righteousness. The subtlety of Satan appears in its height, in his managing persons with respect to this sin. And perhaps one reason may be that here he has most experience; he knows the way of its coming in; he is acquainted with the secret springs of it: it was his own sin. Experience gives vast advantage in leading souls, either in good or evil.
True virtue never appears so lovely as when it is most oppressed; and the divine excellency of real Christianity is never exhibited with such advantage as when under the greatest trials; then it is that true faith appears much more precious than gold, and upon this account is "found to praise and honour and glory.
Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs.
Similar quotes
Whom can I ask what I came to make happen in this world? Why do I move without wanting to, why am I not able to sit still? Why do I go rolling without wheels, flying without wings or feathers, and why did I decide to migrate if my bones live in Chile?
The custom of speaking to God Almighty as freely as with a slave - caring nothing whether the words are suitable or not, but simply saying the first thing that comes to mind from being learnt by rote by frequent repetition - cannot be called prayer: God grant that no Christian may address Him in this manner.
Personalization is everywhere. We are constantly asked, directly or indirectly, to create Our Own Whatever - containing and limited to our 'favorite sources of information.' Republicans do that; Democrats do it; environmentalists do it; terrorists do it; science fiction enthusiasts do it. That's a real problem, I think.
I see that I've become a really bad correspondent. It's not that I don't think of you. You come into my thoughts often. But when you do it appears to me that I owe you a particularly grand letter. And so you end in the "warehouse of good intentions": "Can't do it now." "Then put it on hold." This is one's strategy for coping with old age, and with death--because one can't die with so many obligations in storage. Our clever species, so fertile and resourceful in denying its weaknesses.
We do not merely destroy our enemies; we change them.
When you say βyesβ to the βisnessβ of life, when you accept this moment as it is, you can feel a sense of spaciousness within you that is deeply peaceful.