Deep Dive into Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards - Another Thing, wherein Gracious Affections Are Distinguished from Others, Is, That They Are Attended with a Change of Nature
Divine power profoundly changes nature by imparting a new, vital essence to the soul, a process uniquely initiated and sustained by God. This is not a mere external adjustment or fleeting emotional shift, but a supernatural transformation of a person's core being.
Only the power of a Creator can alter or give a new nature, and this divine power is peculiar to the Spirit of the Lord. The transformation begins with spiritual discoveries of divine glory, which possess a transforming power and energy that fundamentally alter the very nature of the soul. God accomplishes this by uniting His Spirit to the faculties of the soul, allowing His Spirit to dwell there as a principle of nature. This means Christ lives within the soul, communicating life so that the soul itself gains an inherent, vital nature.
As a result, the soul becomes a "luminous thing," akin to "little suns" partaking in the nature of light, and the "water of life" transforms into a "fountain of water within," continuously flowing. This new nature is like a "seed implanted" that takes root and becomes an abiding principle of life.
This leads to a great and universal change, turning the person from sin to God. Their "very heart and nature is turned from it unto holiness," making them an enemy to sin. This change is abiding, as nature is an enduring quality, and it powerfully corrects even "constitution sins"—deeply ingrained inclinations—so they no longer have dominion. This transformation is not a one-time event, but a continued conversion and renovation of nature, carried on by subsequent spiritual experiences until perfected in glory.
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