Jonathan Edwards on Holiness

If we be not in good earnest in religion, and our wills and inclinations be not strongly exercised, we are nothing.

If we would learn what true religion is, we must go where there is true religion, and nothing but true religion, and in its highest perfection, without any defect or mixture.

The true beauty and loveliness of all intelligent beings does primarily and most essentially consist in their moral excellency or holiness.

Herein consists the beauty of the saints, that they are saints, or holy ones; it is the moral image of God in them, which is their beauty; and that is their holiness.

The saints desire the sincere milk of the word, not so much to testify God's love to them, as that they may grow thereby in holiness.

Godliness consists not in a heart to intend to do the will of God, but in a heart to do it.

The reason why it is not dishonorable to be necessarily most holy, is, because holiness in itself is an excellent and honourable thing.

Holiness and happiness are in the fruit, here and hereafter, because God dwells in them, and they in God.

There is not only a rational belief that God is holy and that holiness is a good thing, but there is a sense of the loveliness of God’s holiness.