From Jonathan Edwards, Treatise Concerning the Religious Affections

Submitted by David Reed

12 signs of true religious affections

1. The Holy Spirit is the only source of true affections toward God.
   
2. The basis of true religious affections is the divine excellency and glory of God in Jesus Christ, and not our own need of him.
3. Therefore, true religious affections are developed only through delighting in God's holiness or "beauty and moral excellence."
4. True religious affections are formed only through spiritual understanding or enlightening of the mind by the illumination of the Holy Spirit.
5. True religious affections are grounded in the conviction of the historical truth of the gospel, not subjective reasonings or imaginings.
6. A deep awareness of personal insufficiency as a result of sin, often called "evangelical humiliation," stimulates and sustains true religious affections.
7. True religious affections produce conversions that change one's character.
8. A Christlike gentleness signifies true religious affections.
9. True religious affections are marked by tenderness instead of hardheartedness.
10. True religious affections produce a balance in the life of the convert, balance in consistency and constancy, in temperament and development of Christian virtues.
11. As true religious affections increase, so will a longing for spiritual matters.
12. True religious affections are intensely practical in everyday life; they change lives practically and they produce practical results: "Christian practice is much more to be preferred as evidence of salvation than sudden conversion, mystical enlightenment, or the mere experience of emotional comfort that begins and ends with contemplation."

12 False Signs

1. Intensity of experience is of itself no sign.
2. Intense bodily reactions are not signs that the affections are truly of God.
3. Much fluent and fervent talk of itself is no sign.
4. Emotions that are aroused inexplicably are not necessarily true.
5. The experience of Scripture being brought to mind is no evidence of true religious affections.
6. The exhibition/show of love is no sign.
7. A variety of religious affections at the same time is no evidence of true affection (e.g., zeal, joy, godly sorrow); they may be produced as counterfeits within the "natural man."
8. The feelings of comfort and joy that follow conversion or a spiritual awakening are not necessarily authentic signs of true religious affections; test only by the fruits of the Spirit.
9. True religious affections are not to be measured by the amount of religious activities or practices engaged in.
10. Verbal worship - verbal praying, talking about God, etc. - is no sure sign.
11. Self-confidence/assurance of salvation is of itself not a sufficient sign (it may be the hypocrisy of self-confidence).
12. Outward evidences are not enough (many who have demonstrated outwardly their faith eventually fell away).