Motives to love

 The work of redemption, which the gospel declares unto us, above all things affords motives to love; for that work was the most glorious and wonderful work of love ever seen or thought of. 

Love is the principal thing which the gospel reveals in God and Christ. The gospel brings to light the love between the Father and the Son, and declares how that love has been manifested in mercy; how that Christ is God's beloved Son in whom he is well pleased. 

And there we have the effects of God's love to his Son set before us in appointing him to the honor of a mediatorial kingdom, in appointing him to be the [Lord and Judge] of the world, in appointing that all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father.2 There is revealed the love which Christ has to the Father, and the wonderful fruits of that love, as particularly his doing such great things, and suffering such great things in obedience to the Father, and for the honor of the Father's justice, authority and law. 

There it is revealed how the Father and the Son are one in love, that we might be induced in like manner to be one with them, and with one another, agreeable to Christ's prayer, John 17:21–23, "That they all may be one; as thou Father art in me and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." 

The gospel teaches us the doctrine of the eternal electing love of God, and reveals how God loved those that are redeemed by Christ before the foundation of the world; and how he then gave them to the Son, and the Son loved them as his own. 

The gospel reveals the wonderful love of God the Father to poor sinful, miserable men, in giving Christ not only to love them while in the world, but to love them to the end. And all this love is spoken of as bestowed on us while we were wanderers, outcasts, worthless, guilty, and even enemies. The gospel reveals such love as nothing else reveals. John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this." Romans 5:7–8, "Scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 

But God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God and Christ in the gospel revelation appear as clothed with love, as being as it were on a throne of mercy and grace, a seat of love encompassed about with pleasant beams of love. 

Love is the light and glory which are about the throne on which God sits. 

This seems to be intended in that vision which the apostle John, that loving and beloved disciple, had of God in Revelation 4:3. He tells us that when he had a vision of God on his throne there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. That is, God as he sat on his throne was encompassed round with a circle of exceeding sweet and pleasant light, pleasant like the beautiful colors of the rainbow, like an emerald. 

An emerald is a precious stone of exceeding pleasant and beautiful color. This represents that the light and glory with which God appears surrounded in the gospel is especially the glory of his love and covenant grace. For the rainbow, you know, was given as a token of God's love and covenant grace to Noah. 

Therefore this spirit, even a spirit of love, is the spirit to which the gospel revelation does especially hold forth motives and incitements. And this is especially and eminently the Christian spirit, the right spirit of the gospel.

knowledge is excellent and desireable

 I. Hence we learn the excellency of godliness. Knowledge by all men is counted an excellent [thing]; those who are knowing and understanding persons are esteemed more worthy, more excellent and honorable than others. 'Tis what men very much seek after, that they may be accounted to know more than others, and to see further into things. 

Men generally esteem it one of the highest commendations that can be given them, to say they are knowing, understanding, seeing men; they highly value themselves upon this, and look down upon poor ignorant persons as beneath them and unworthy to stand in equality with them. And nothing is esteemed more ignominious and disgraceful through the world in general than to be a fool; nothing men seek more to avoid

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than to be counted fools. 'Tis a note of the highest disdain, to call "Fool!"; and so it be of ancient times. Matthew 5:22, "But whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

This is agreed upon amongst all nations, that knowledge is excellent and desireable, and folly and ignorance base and unworthy. Wicked, debauched and the most profligate persons agree in this: they will mock and deride those whom they account fools, and such have the highest place amongst them as are accounted most witty and sagacious—although their cunning and wit is the lowest kind of knowledge, and vastly inferior to this excellent divine knowledge.

'Tis the godly that are the wisest, most seeing and understanding of mankind. They have a degree of knowledge that is so high, that it's out of the reach of all natural men. 

Men highly esteem themselves when they have obtained the knowledge which is out of the reach [of others], and that other men cannot find out; but the godly, they have an high and an excellent knowledge that none of the princes of this world can attain to. 'Tis too high for natural men's sight; 'tis too bright for their eyes, too deep for their penetration, too great for their narrow comprehension, too noble for those that are so base.

Wicked men indeed have knowledge, but it's a low and narrow sort of knowledge. They have knowledge of the things of the earth, concerning the appurtenances of this clod of dirt; their knowledge is concerning the objects of their senses, what they see and taste and smell. They know of things that are under their feet. They know things that are present, and will presently vanish. Children know nothing but their toys and play. 

Some ignorant persons' knowledge reaches but a very little way, no further than they have seen with their eyes; others have a more extensive knowledge, who see in[to] the nature and reason of things. 

But the most excellent of all is that which views the great Creator, the first and the last, takes in the highest heavens and looks to the end of eternity. This is the greatest, best, most excellent and noble knowledge. This is far better than that knowledge which other men have knowledge of, gross matter and terrestrial things. 2 Peter 1:9, "He that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see far off." This is called "wisdom," καιξοκην, by way of eminency in Scripture, and is there represented as above all things excellent. Proverbs 3:13–15, "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom; and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain therof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her."

Sinners inquiring the way to Zion

 From the Life of David Brainerd:

Wednesday, November 30. Pursued my study of Indian: But was very weak and disordered in body, and was troubled in mind at the barrenness of the day, that I had done so little for God. 

I had some enlargement in prayer at night. Oh, a barn, or stable, hedge, or any other place, is truly desirable if God is there! 

Sometimes, of late, my hopes of Zion's prosperity are more raised than they were in the summer past. My soul seems to confide in God, that he will yet "show forth his salvation" Psalms 96:2 to his people, and make Zion the "joy of the whole earth" Psalms 48:2. 

Oh, "how excellent is the loving kindness of the Lord"  Psalms 36:7! My soul sometimes inwardly exults at the lively thoughts of what God has already done for his Church, and what "mine eyes have seen of the salvation of God" Isaiah 52:10. 

'Tis sweet to hear nothing but spiritual discourse from God's children; and sinners inquiring the way to Zion, saying, "what shall we do?" Acts 2:37, etc. Oh, that I may see more of this blessed work!

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Note:

In the KJV, "loving kindness" is spelled as one word, "lovingkindness." Here Brainerd/Edwards wrote it as two words, the way it appears in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.

hopes of Zion's prosperity

 From the Life of David Brainerd:

Monday, October 17. Had some rising hopes sometimes, that "God would arise and have mercy on Zion speedily." My heart is indeed refreshed when I have any prevailing hopes of Zion's prosperity. 

Oh, that I may see the glorious day when Zion shall become the "joy of the whole earth"! Truly there is nothing that I greatly value in this lower world.

Full purpose of heart

On September 10, 1741, Edwards delivered the Yale commencement address titled "The Distinguishing Marks." The address was published in The Great Awakening with William Cooper's 1741 preface, which follows:

I say, it seems reasonable to suppose, there may be some particular appearances in the work of conversion, which are not common at other times, when yet there are true conversions wrought; or some circumstances attending the work may be carried to an unusual degree and height. 

If it were not thus, the work of the Lord would not be so much regarded and spoken of; and so God would not have so much of the glory of it: nor would the work itself be like to spread so fast; for God has evidently made use of example and discourse in the carrying of it on.

And as to the fruits of this work (which we have been bid so often to wait for), blessed be God!

—so far as there has been time for observation they appear to be abiding. I don't mean that none have lost their impressions, or that there are no instances of hypocrisy and apostasy. Scripture and experience lead us to expect these at such a season. It is to me matter of surprise and thankfulness that as yet there have been no more. 

But I mean that a great number of those who have been awakened are still seeking and striving to enter in at the strait gate [Matthew 7:13]. The most of those who have been thought to be converted, continue to give evidences of their being new creatures, and seem to cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart. 

To be sure, a new face of things continues in this town; though many circumstances concur to render such a work not so observable here, as in smaller and distant places. Many things not becoming the profession of the Gospel are in a measure reformed. Taverns, dancing schools, and such meetings as have been called assemblies, which have always proved unfriendly to serious godliness, are much less frequented. Many have reduced their dress and apparel, so as to make them look more like the followers of the humble Jesus. 

And it has been both surprising and pleasant to see how some younger people, and of that sex too which is most fond of such vanities, have put off the bravery of their ornaments, as the effect and indication of their seeking the inward glories of the King's daughter. Religion is now much more the subject of conversation at friends' houses, than ever I knew it. The doctrines of grace are espoused and relished. Private religious meetings are greatly multiplied. The public assemblies (especially lectures) are much better attended, and our auditories were never so attentive and serious. 

There is indeed an extraordinary appetite after the sincere milk of the Word.

Note: the nonbiblical phrase "full purpose of heart" appears 6 times in the Book of Mormon and 3 times in the Doctrine and Covenants. It appears in Joseph's journal and Oliver Cowdery's charge to the original Twelve Apostles.