The higher gracious affections become, the more a spiritual appetite increases. False affections are satisfied with themselves.

The more a true saint loves God with a gracious love, the more he desires to love Him, and he is more uneasy at his lack of love. The more he hates sin, the more he desires to hate it. The more his heart is broken, the more he desires it should be broken. The more he thirsts and longs after God and holiness, the more he longs to long. Gracious affections are like kindling wood to a fire—the higher it is raised, the more ardent it is and the more it burns. A healthy baby has the greatest appetite. Peter encourages us, Like new born babes, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. The most that the saints have in this world is but a taste. The most eminent saints are never satisfied with their spiritual life. They always want more. The more of God’s grace they have, the more they see their imperfection and emptiness. They know how far they are from where they should be. Grace is a growing thing that needs to feed. The cry of true grace is like that cry of true faith, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” The greater spiritual discoveries and affections the true Christian has, the more he becomes a earnest beggar for grace, and spiritual food, that he may grow.

—Jonathan Edwards