Character Quote by Jonathan Edwards
““True Christian fortitude consists in strength of mind, through grace, exerted in two things; in ruling and suppressing the evil and unruly passions and affections of the mind; and in steadfastly and freely exerting and following good affections and dispositions, without being hindered by sinful fear or the opposition of enemies... Though Christian fortitude appears in withstanding and counteracting the enemies that are without us; yet it much more appears in resisting and suppressing the enemies that are within us; because they are our worst and strongest enemies and have greatest advantage against us. The strength of the good soldier of Jesus Christ appears in nothing more than in steadfastly maintaining the holy calm, meekness, sweetness, and benevolence of his mind, amidst all the storms, injuries, strange behaviour, and surprising acts and events of this evil and unreasonable world.””
About This Quote
Source Sermon: “The Christian Soldier,” 1741
True Christian fortitude is mental strength given by grace, used to control inner passions and resist external threats while maintaining calm and benevolence.
In simple terms: Mental strength through grace controls inner and outer challenges.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate inner calm and moral resolve.
Themes
faith
virtue
self‑control
resilience
spirituality
Mood
reflective
determined
hopeful
Type
theological
inspirational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- ethical decision‑making
- conflict resolution
- leadership under pressure
- spiritual counseling
Key Concepts
grace
fortitude
inner conflict
moral courage
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you identify and tame your inner passions?
- What practices help you stay calm amid external chaos?
A Different Perspective
Inner struggles can be deeper than external obstacles, making self‑discipline essential.
![“But it is doubtless true, and evident from [the] Scriptures, that the essence of all true religion lies in holy love; and that in this divine affection, and an habitual disposition to it, and that light which is the foundation of it, and those things which are the fruits of it, consists the whole…” quote by Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2fd/jonathan-edwards-770_affection_but-it-is-doubtless-true-and-evident-fro_82879.jpg)
