"Holy affections are not heat without light; but evermore arise from some information of the understanding, some spiritual instruction that the mind receives, some light or actual knowledge. The child of God is graciously affected, because he sees and understands something more of divine things than he did before, more of God or Christ and of the glorious things exhibited in the gospel; he has some clearer and better view than he had before, when he was not affected: either he receives some understanding of divine things that is new to him; or has his former knowledge renewed after the view was decayed...Knowledge is the key that first opens the hard heart and enlarges the affections, and so opens the way for men into the kingdom of heaven" (Religious Affections, Jonathan Edwards).

What Edwards is discussing here is foundational for the life of the believer. God, Jesus, and the gospel are all inherently glorious, magnificient, and awe-inspiring. What fuels our worship, obedience, prayer-life, etc. is gazing upon them intently. The foundation of a vibrant spiritual life is continually setting before our soul's eyes the glory of God expressed in Jesus Christ revealed in the gospel.