Edward Polhill and the Beauty of Christ
Do you feel like your faith is more about rules than wonder? Discover how Edward Polhill’s vision of spiritual union can help you find true sweetness.
Best quote from Edward Polhill and the Beauty of Christ
Holiness was never meant to be managed; it was meant to be shared. It’s not about trying to 'get right' with a distant judge; it’s about responding to a heart that is already beating for you.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
Study a lesser known Puritan and focused on him alone his life is teachings and how Christ completely overwhelmed him and teach us how we can do this today in our world preached to us, teach us and overwhelm us with the gospel in a vivid and powerful way. Work in other Puritans that said similar things, but focus on this one Putin first and foremost central throughout all of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the Puritan theologian Thomas Goodwin, Christ’s human nature in heaven is endowed with heightened intellectual, emotional, and bodily powers. While on earth Jesus experienced the "imperfections" of human frailty and physical exhaustion, his glorified state in heaven has purified and amplified his capacity for sympathy. Goodwin argues that because Christ is the Head of the church, he remains in a state of "incomplete joy" as long as his "members" on earth are suffering, meaning his heart is more open and moved by our weaknesses now than ever before.
Being "chosen in Christ" is described not as a cold, legal transaction or a list of names, but as a relational union that existed before time began. Goodwin suggests that the Father gave a specific people to the Son in a "marriage contract" written before the foundation of the world. Because believers are "in him," God views them with the exact same delight and shared love that he has for his own Son. This perspective shifts election from an abstract decree to a "system of certainty" anchored in an unchangeable, mutual affection within the Trinity.
The script distinguishes between theology as "architecture" (precise logic and formulas) and theology as "participation" (a living relationship). While figures like John Owen built massive structures of doctrine to defend the faith, others like Polhill and Goodwin warned that "fire can become formula" if the heart isn't involved. They believed that while doctrinal precision is a necessary "servant" to protect the truth, the ultimate goal is a "practical acquaintance" with God where the sweetness of divine love actually overwhelms the soul.
The "blessed curse" refers to the theological tension where God the Father was simultaneously "never more angry with his Son" and "never more pleased with him" than at the cross. As a legal representative or "surety" for humanity, Jesus took on the full measure of God’s wrath against sin, which Goodwin describes as "drinking the ocean in one gulp." It is considered "blessed" because this act of perfect obedience satisfied divine justice, exhausting the wrath meant for others and leaving behind only "sweetness" and reconciliation for the believer.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
