The 'rather thorny problem': Divine Grace and Human Integrity
In his discussion of Edwards' famous sermon A Divine and Supernatural Light Conrad Cherry highlights one of the most interesting areas in the early writings of Jonathan Edwards:
One is still left with the rather thorny problem, however, of how the Divine Light is related to the human seeing. This is the core of the question we raised at the outset. How is man involved in the affair of redemption when the Holy Spirit is communicated to him? When God's Spirit abides as Light in the human mind, how does it abide there and what is its relation to the human faculties? (p.27 of The Theology of Jonathan Edwards: A Reappraisal)
This fascinating question, ably introduced and partially addressed in Cherry's second chapter entitled 'The Internal Possibility of the Act', is the key to understanding several of JEs' most important texts - including A Divine and Supernatural Light, A Treatise on Grace, God Glorified in Man's Dependence, and Religious Affections.
More soon.
One is still left with the rather thorny problem, however, of how the Divine Light is related to the human seeing. This is the core of the question we raised at the outset. How is man involved in the affair of redemption when the Holy Spirit is communicated to him? When God's Spirit abides as Light in the human mind, how does it abide there and what is its relation to the human faculties? (p.27 of The Theology of Jonathan Edwards: A Reappraisal)
This fascinating question, ably introduced and partially addressed in Cherry's second chapter entitled 'The Internal Possibility of the Act', is the key to understanding several of JEs' most important texts - including A Divine and Supernatural Light, A Treatise on Grace, God Glorified in Man's Dependence, and Religious Affections.
More soon.
posted by Michael McClenahan at 8:09:00 pm
2 Comments:
Funny, I was just reading that sermon this morning! What an excellent resource for Edwards' thought.
Thanks for pointing out this issue in Cherry, Michael! This is one of the questions my dissertation must address. I look forward to your next post. Anna Svetlikova
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