Friday, February 11, 2011

Zeal according to knowledge

“The more you have a rational knowledge of divine things, the more opportunity will there be, when the Spirit shall be breathed into your heart, to see the Excellency of these things, and to taste the sweetness of them…the more knowledge you have of divine things, the better you will know your duty; your knowledge will be of great use to direct you as to your duty in particular cases. You will also be better furnished against the temptations of the devil. For the devil often takes advantage of persons’ ignorance to ply them with temptations which otherwise would have no hold of them.

"By having much knowledge, you will be under greater advantages to conduct yourselves with prudence and discretion in your Christian course, and so to live much more to the honor of God and religion. Many who mean well and are full of good spirit, yet for want of prudence, conduct themselves so as to wound religion. Many have zeal for God, which doth more hurt than good, because it is not according to knowledge (Romans 10:2).”

- Jonathan Edwards, Growing in God’s Spirit (Chapter 8, Christian Knowledge)

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