Religious Affections and Saving Faith

I just finished Jonathan Edwards’ Religious Affections a few weeks ago and have been let it simmer in my mind for a while. I have written a sermon that summarizes it main parts, but do not know how to put it up for downloading. If you would like it before I figure out how to do this, send me an e-mail. Here are some juicy quotes that are related to the topic at hand: “For although to true religion there must indeed be something else besides affection; yet true religion consists so much in the affections, that there can be no true religion without them” (p. 243). This is to say, emotions must be a part of true, saving faith. However, emotions are not the ground of our right-standing before God. Just because we feel warm and fuzzy when we’re at church does not mean that we are saved. True saving faith consists of knowing with your mind and having your heart burn within you because of its truth. Like the sun. There is no light without heat and no heat without light. Both realities must be present. There are many who feel good or acquiesce to religion. However, their minds do not grasp the realities of God’s Word - they do not read the Bible which is the magnificent revelation of God for our benefit and his glory. Others have much knowledge, but it merely puffs them up like a bull frog. They know many things, but their hearts are far from God. They have not grasped Proverbs 1.7: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. I will spend some more time on this phrase later. Suffice it to say, God must be the fountain and goal of a true, saving faith. {If anyone knows how to put a .pdf file on the net, please let me know.}