Hebrews 12:10

Heb. 12:10. For they verily for a few days chastened (us) after their own pleasure; but he for (our) profit that (we) might be partakers of his holiness.

In his first published sermon, "God Glorified," Edwards shows the saints' holiness derives from God, Hebrews 12:10. The redeemed have all their inherent good in God. Inherent good is twofold; it is either excellency or pleasure. These the redeemed not only derive from God, as caused by him, but have them in him. They have spiritual excellency and joy by a kind of participation of God. They are made excellent as a communication of God's excellency: God puts his own beauty, i.e., his beautiful likeness, upon their souls: they are made partakers of the divine nature, or moral image of God, 2 Peter 1:4. They are holy by being made partakers of God's holiness, Hebrews 12:10. The saints are beautiful and blessed by a communication of God's holiness and joy, as the moon and planets are bright by the sun's light. The saint hath spiritual joy and pleasure by a kind of effusion of God on the soul. In these things the redeemed have communion with God; that is, they partake with him and of him.

This text also shows, according to Religious Affections, how the Holy Spirit "operates in saints" and how not:

Thus not only the manner of the relation of the Spirit, who is the operator, to the subject of his operations, is different; as the Spirit operates in the saints, as dwelling in them, as an abiding principle of action, whereas he doth not so operate upon sinners; but the influence and operation itself is different, and the effect wrought exceeding different. So that not only the persons are called spiritual, as having the Spirit of God dwelling in them; but those qualification, affections and experiences that are wrought in them by the Spirit, are also spiritual, and therein differ vastly in their nature and kind from all that a natural man is or can be the subject of, while he remains in a natural state; and also from all that men or devils can be the authors of: 'tis a spiritual work in this high sense; and therefore above all other works is peculiar to the Spirit of God. There is no work so high and excellent; for there is no work wherein God does so much communicate himself, and wherein the mere creature hath, in so high a sense, a participation of God; so that it is expressed in Scripture by the saints being made "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4), and having God dwelling in them, and they in God (1 John 4:12; 1 John 4:15-16, and chap. 1 John 3:21) and having Christ in them (John 17:21; Romans 8:10), being the temples of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16), living by Christ's life (Galatians 2:20), being made partakers of God's holiness (Hebrews 12:10), having Christ's love dwelling in them (John 17:26), having his joy fulfilled in them (John 17:13), seeing light in God's light, and being made to drink of the river of God's pleasures (Psalms 36:8-9), having fellowship with God, or communicating and partaking with him (as the word signifies) (1 John 1:3). Not that the saints are made partakers of the essence of God, and so are "Godded" with God, and "Christed" with Christ, according to the abominable and blasphemous language and notions of some heretics; but, to use the Scripture phrase, they are made partakers of God's fulness (Ephesians 3:17-19; John 1:16), that is, of God's spiritual beauty and happiness, according to the measure and capacity of a creature; for so it is evident the word "fulness" signifies in Scripture language. Grace in the hearts of the saints, being therefore the most glorious work of God, wherein he communicates of the goodness of his nature, it is doubtless his peculiar work, and in an eminent manner, above the power of all creatures.

In "True Grace" Edwards falls into adoration:

How excellent is that inward virtue and religion which consists in those! Herein consists the most excellent experiences of saints and angels in heaven. Herein consists the best experience of the man Christ Jesus, whether in his humbled or glorified state. Herein consists the image of God; yea, this is spoken of in Scripture, as a communication of something of God's own beauty and excellency - A participation of the divine nature, 2 Peter 1:4. A partaking of his holiness, Hebrews 12:10. A partaking of Christ's fulness, John 1:16. Hereby the saints are filled with all the fulness of God, Ephesians 3:18; Ephesians 3:19. Hereby they have fellowship with both the Father and the Son, 1 John 1:3; that is, they communicate with them in their happiness. Yea, by means of this divine virtue, there is a mutual indwelling of God and the saints: 1 John 4:16, "God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him."

Heb. 12:11-13