Deep Dive into Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards - Truly Gracious Affections Differ from Those Affections That Are False and Delusive, in That They Tend to, and Are Attended with the...

True Christians are profoundly characterized by a "lamblike, dovelike spirit and temper of Jesus Christ," which is considered the "true, and distinguishing disposition" of their hearts. This spirit is not merely one virtue but the "most excellent and essential thing in Christianity," without which other religious expressions are considered "nothing."

This gentle and benevolent spirit manifests through several core virtues. Love, or charity, is paramount, encompassing long-suffering, kindness, humility, and a lack of envy or quick provocation. Christ explicitly identified love for one another as His "new commandment" and the primary mark by which His disciples would be known.

Meekness is another central quality, exemplified by Christ Himself, who is often called "the Lamb." True Christians are likened to "little children," signifying their innocence, harmlessness, simplicity, and a pliable, teachable nature.

Furthermore, a forgiving spirit and mercy are absolute necessities. Christians must be willing to overlook and forgive injuries, as Christ warned that lack of forgiveness would result in God's withholding of His own. A disposition to pity and relieve the afflicted is also essential, serving as a criterion for final judgment.

This Christian character also redefines traditional notions of fortitude and zeal. True Christian fortitude is not a "brutal fierceness" but a strength of mind that suppresses one's own unruly passions and steadfastly maintains a "holy calm, meekness, sweetness, and benevolence" amidst adversity, mirroring Christ's silent suffering. Similarly, genuine zeal is a "sweet flame" of divine love, primarily directed against one's own sins and "things," not "persons," ensuring it remains consistent with gentleness and love.

Ultimately, true conversion involves a "remarkable change" from a "wolf and serpent" disposition to this prevailing lamblike temper. The sources emphatically state that there is "no such thing as a morose, hard, close, high-spirited, spiteful, true Christian," emphasizing that a genuine transformation of spirit and temper is the undeniable mark of a true follower of Christ.

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