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christian-spirituality-mysticismfeatured in 5 works

The Spiritual Senses

An inner sight, hearing, and taste by which the soul perceives divine things

The doctrine of the spiritual senses, developed by Origen and later by Bonaventure, describes interior faculties that parallel the bodily senses: a way of seeing, hearing, tasting, and touching divine realities. As the soul is purified, these inner senses awaken, allowing it to perceive and delight in God. The idea offers a rich language for prayer and contemplation across the Christian spiritual tradition.

How it traveled

  1. Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  2. A Treatise on the Soul and its Origin
    Hippo Regius · 430
    explains
  3. A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts
    Northampton, Massachusetts · 1758
    explains
  4. Narrative of Surprising Conversions
    Northampton, Massachusetts · 1758
    applies
  5. Five Sermons. On Different Occasions
    Northampton, Massachusetts · 1758
    explains

Key passages(20)

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts — PART III. Showing what are distinguishing Signs of truly gracious and holy Affections. — SECTION III. They are founded on the moral excellency of objects. — part 4↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards

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A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts — PART III. Showing what are distinguishing Signs of truly gracious and holy Affections. — SECTION IV. They arise from divine Illumination. — part 4↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards

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A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts — PART III. Showing what are distinguishing Signs of truly gracious and holy Affections. — SECTION I. Gracious affections are from divine influence. — part 5↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards

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Very high
A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts — PART II. Showing what are no certain Signs that Religious Affections are truly gracious, or that they are not. — SECTION XI. Great confidence, is no certain sign. — part 4↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts — PART III. Showing what are distinguishing Signs of truly gracious and holy Affections. — SECTION I. Gracious affections are from divine influence. — part 11↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts — PART III. Showing what are distinguishing Signs of truly gracious and holy Affections. — SECTION V. They are attended with a conviction of certainty. — part 3↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
Inquiry Concerning Qualification for Communion — PART II. Reasons for the Negative of the Question. — SECTION IX. Qualifications for the Lord's supper. — part 4↗explains

Inquiry Concerning Qualification for Communion · Jonathan Edwards

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Very high
A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts — PART III. Showing what are distinguishing Signs of truly gracious and holy Affections. — SECTION III. They are founded on the moral excellency of objects. — part 5↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts — PART III. Showing what are distinguishing Signs of truly gracious and holy Affections. — SECTION IV. They arise from divine Illumination. — part 3↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
A Treatise on the Soul and its Origin — Book II — The Difference Between the Senses of the Body and Soul.↗explains

A Treatise on the Soul and its Origin · Augustine of Hippo

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Very high
Five Sermons. On Different Occasions — Sermon I. A Divine and Supernatural Light — part 3↗explains

Five Sermons. On Different Occasions · Jonathan Edwards

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Very high
A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts — PART III. Showing what are distinguishing Signs of truly gracious and holy Affections. — Introductory remarks.↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards

Read in Sefaria →
High
A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts — PART III. Showing what are distinguishing Signs of truly gracious and holy Affections. — SECTION I. Gracious affections are from divine influence. — part 7↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards

Read in Sefaria →
High
1 Corinthians 2:14↗explains

1 Corinthians · Paul the Apostle

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High
A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles — Homily LII on Acts xxv. 23. — part 6↗explains

A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom

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High
A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts — PART III. Showing what are distinguishing Signs of truly gracious and holy Affections. — SECTION IV. They arise from divine Illumination. — part 6↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards

Read in Sefaria →
High
Five Sermons. On Different Occasions — Sermon I. A Divine and Supernatural Light — part 6↗explains

Five Sermons. On Different Occasions · Jonathan Edwards

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High
Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John — Chapter IV. 1–42. — part 3↗explains

Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John · Augustine of Hippo

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High
A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts — PART III. Showing what are distinguishing Signs of truly gracious and holy Affections. — SECTION IV. They arise from divine Illumination. — part 8↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards

Read in Sefaria →
High
A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts — PART III. Showing what are distinguishing Signs of truly gracious and holy Affections. — SECTION V. They are attended with a conviction of certainty. — part 8↗explains

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards

Read in Sefaria →
High