Godliness is more easily feigned in words than in actions
Jonathan EdwardsRead
Truth is the agreement of our ideas with the ideas of God.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Truth is aligned with divine understanding and beliefs. It signifies that what we consider true should match with a higher moral or spiritual reality.
In this quote, Jonathan Edwards emphasizes that truth is not merely subjective or based on human perception; rather, it is the coherence between our thoughts and the divine ideas of God. This suggests that true understanding and wisdom stem from aligning our reason and beliefs with a greater spiritual authority, indicating that our grasp of truth should aspire to reflect divine insight.
Themes
TruthIdeasGodUnderstandingPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
During a public speech on ethics, one might use this quote to emphasize integrity.
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.
Jonathan EdwardsRead
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.
Jonathan EdwardsRead
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.
Jonathan EdwardsRead
Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected.
Jonathan EdwardsRead
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.
Jonathan EdwardsRead
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