Jonathan Edwards – A Humble Broken-Hearted Love

Christian affections are like Mary’s precious ointment that she poured on Christ’s head, that filled the whole house with a sweet odor. That was poured out of an alabaster box; so gracious affections flow out to Christ out of a pure heart. That was poured out of a broken box; until the box was broken, the ointment could not flow, nor diffuse its odor; so gracious affections flow out of a broken heart…All gracious affections that are a sweet odor to Christ, and that fill the soul of a Christian with a heavenly sweetness and fragrancy, are broken hearted affections. A truly Christian love, either to God or men, is a humble broken hearted love. The desires of the saints, however earnest, are humble desires. Their hope is a humble hope; and their joy, even when it is unspeakable, and full of glory, is a humble broken hearted joy, and leaves the Christian more poor in spirit; and more like a little child, and more disposed to a universal lowliness of behavior.

— Jonathan Edwards

Cited from A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections: In Three Parts, III.VI

Loving God and others is an effect of the bounty of grace and kindness that flows from the Father on account of Jesus Christ the Son of God. God gives to us His own Son so that sinners can receive everlasting life. Jonathan Edwards rightly notes that our response is a brokenhearted affection. We are broken in sin, but Christ redeems us from sin. He gives His own life that we can have everlasting life. It is God’s goodness towards us that spurs the true affections of being childlike, human, and lowly.

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was a Massachusetts Congregational minister, theologian, philosopher, and preacher. Edwards had a significant influence in the revival events of the First Great Awakening in North America. One of his more recognized sermons is “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Many Calvinists today have been profoundly influenced by Edwards’ writings and insights into original sin and freedom of the will (i.e., acting according to one’s greatest desires).