Jonathan Edwards Quote

I read more from Jonathan Edwards' "The Religious Affections" on the way up to Rockford yesterday. This quote, particularly the last part, is good:

It is not God's design that men should obtain assurance in any other way than by mortifying corruption, and increasing in grace, and obtaining the lively excercise of it. And although self-examination be a duty of great use and importance, and by no means to be neglected, yet it is not th eprincipal means by which the saints do get satisfaction of their good estate. Assurance is not to be obtained so much by self-examination as by action.

I cannot tell you how practical this is to counseling.