"Almost all that is said in the New Testament of men's watching, giving earnest heed to themselves, running the race that is set before them, striving and agonizing, wrestling not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers, fighting, putting on the whole armor of God, and standing, having done all, to stand, pressing forward, reaching forth, continuing instant in prayer, crying to God day and night; I say, almost all that is said in the New Testament of these things, is spoken of and directed to the saints. But, doubtless, there are some hypocrites that have only false affections; who will think they are able to stand this trial, and will readily say that they desire not to rest satisfied with past attainments, but to be pressing forward; that they do long after God and Christ, and desire more holiness, and do seek it. But the truth is, their desires are not properly the desires of appetite after holiness for its own sake, or for the moral excellency and holy sweetness that is in it, but only for mean and selfish ends. They long after clearer discoveries, that they may be better satisfied about the state of their souls, or because in great discoveries self is gratified in being made so much of by God, and so much exalted above others; they long to taste the love of God, (as they call it,) more than to have more love to God. Or, it may be, they have a kind of forced, fancied or made longings, because they think they must long for more grace, otherwise it will be a dark sign upon them. But such things as these are far different from the natural, and as it were necessary appetite and thirsting of the new man after God and holiness. There is an inward burning desire that a saint has after holiness; as natural to the new creature as vital heat is to the body."—Edwards on Affections.