Quote: The Affections of Man by John Owen, From The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

The great contest of heaven and earth is about the affections of the poor worm which we call man. That the world should contend for them is no wonder; it is the best that it can pretend unto. All things here below are capable of no higher ambition than to be possessed of the affections of men; and, as they lie under the curse, it can do us no greater mischief than by prevailing in this design. But that the holy God should as it were engage in the contest and strive for the affections of man, is an effect of infinite condescension and grace. This he doth expressly: "My son," saith he, "give me thine heart," Prov. 23:26. It is our affections he asketh for, and comparatively nothing else. To be sure, he will accept of nothing from us without them; the most fat and costly sacrifice will not be accepted if it be without a heart. All the ways and methods of the dispensation of his will by his word, all the designs of his effectual grace, are suited unto and prepared for this end,-namely, to recover the affections of man unto himself. So he expresseth himself concerning his word: Deut. 10:12, "And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul?" And as unto the word of his grace, he declares it unto the same purpose: chap. 30:6, "And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul."

- John Owen, The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at His unspeakable love. - John Owen on the Puritan Hard Drive

The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded by John Owen (6 Free SWRB MP3s)

It is the perfection of holiness to do what God loves, and to love what God does. - William Bates on the Puritan Hard Drive

Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards (Digital Download, Enhanced SWRB PDF)

Considered Edwards' most important work in distinguishing between a true work of God and the extremes of emotionalism and sensationalism that are known to accompany "revivals." The book is divided into three parts: Concerning the nature of the Affections, and their importance in religion; Showing that there are no certain signs that religious affections are gracious, or that they are not; Showing what are distinguishing signs of truly gracious and holy affections

Neglect of private prayer and meditation comes from a weariness of God, as Isaiah complains (Isa. 43:22). But God alone is the fountain and spring of spiritual life. Any withdrawing from him must bring about a decline, for what we are in private duties, that we are, and no more. If this root fails, all fruit will quickly fail. Just as a tree must decay, wither and droop if the root fails, so must our souls. - John Owen on the Puritan Hard Drive

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards (18 Free SWRB MP3s)

Christ is the very essence of all delights and pleasures, the very soul and substance of them. As all the rivers are gathered into the ocean, which is the meeting-place of all the waters in the world, so Christ is that ocean in which all true delights and pleasures meet. - John Flavel on the Puritan Hard Drive

Killing Remaining Sin, Mortification, Holiness & Hell By Dr. Joel Beeke, John Owen, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards and Others (Free MP3s)

Let no man think to kill sin with few, easy, or gentle strokes. He who hath once smitten a serpent, if he follow not on his blow until it be slain, may repent that ever he began the quarrel. And so he who undertakes to deal with sin, and pursues it not constantly to the death. - John Owen on the Puritan Hard Drive

Fanning the Flame of Your First Love by Greg Price and Jeff Pollard (Free MP3s)