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Crossway Short Classics
The Expulsive Power of a New Affection
In this powerful sermon, Thomas Chalmers inspires Christians to remove the snares and tangles of sin―not through legalistic obedience but through the power of a new and greater affection for God. Chalmers reminds God’s saints that as sojourners living in this world, true power over the trials and sins of this life is found only in desiring Jesus Christ.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1815
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About the author
Thomas Chalmers
812 books15 followersThomas Chalmers FRSE was a Scottish presbyterian minister, professor of theology, political economist, and a leader of both the Church of Scotland and of the Free Church of Scotland. He has been called "Scotland's greatest nineteenth-century churchman".
Chalmers found himself at the head of the party in the Church of Scotland which stood for "non-intrusionism": the principle that no minister should be intruded into any parish contrary to the will of the congregation. Cases of conflict between the church and the civil power arose in Auchterarder, Dunkeld and Marnoch. The courts made it clear that the Church, in their opinion, held its temporalities on condition of rendering such obedience as the courts required. The Church then appealed to the government for relief. In January 1843 the government put a final negative on the church's claims for spiritual independence. The non-intrusionist movement ended in the Disruption: on 18 May 1843, 470 clergy withdrew from the general assembly and constituted themselves the Free Church of Scotland, with Chalmers as moderator.
In 1844, Chalmers announced a church extension campaign, for new building. In 1846 he became the first principal of the Divinity Hall of the Free Church of Scotland, as it was initially called.
Chalmers served as Vice-president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh from 1835 to 1842.
Chalmers found himself at the head of the party in the Church of Scotland which stood for "non-intrusionism": the principle that no minister should be intruded into any parish contrary to the will of the congregation. Cases of conflict between the church and the civil power arose in Auchterarder, Dunkeld and Marnoch. The courts made it clear that the Church, in their opinion, held its temporalities on condition of rendering such obedience as the courts required. The Church then appealed to the government for relief. In January 1843 the government put a final negative on the church's claims for spiritual independence. The non-intrusionist movement ended in the Disruption: on 18 May 1843, 470 clergy withdrew from the general assembly and constituted themselves the Free Church of Scotland, with Chalmers as moderator.
In 1844, Chalmers announced a church extension campaign, for new building. In 1846 he became the first principal of the Divinity Hall of the Free Church of Scotland, as it was initially called.
Chalmers served as Vice-president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh from 1835 to 1842.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
May 31, 2016
This has had a MASSIVE impact on my understanding and my prayers.
Main points: 1) our hearts were made to desire and they always will; 2) love & desire for the world will always leave us wanting; 3) merely seeing the vanity, worthlessness, and futility of these things is not enough to expunge our desires; 4) something greater must be presented to our hearts & our minds; 5) this greater affection is the only thing that can rightfully & effectively replace our love for the world.
This is a 30-page sermon chapbook from the 1800s, so what that should tell you is it's short enough to be read in one sitting but dense enough to need time & mental commitment. So so so so worth it.
Main points: 1) our hearts were made to desire and they always will; 2) love & desire for the world will always leave us wanting; 3) merely seeing the vanity, worthlessness, and futility of these things is not enough to expunge our desires; 4) something greater must be presented to our hearts & our minds; 5) this greater affection is the only thing that can rightfully & effectively replace our love for the world.
This is a 30-page sermon chapbook from the 1800s, so what that should tell you is it's short enough to be read in one sitting but dense enough to need time & mental commitment. So so so so worth it.
February 27, 2025
A good reminder that we are creatures who will always have our affections aimed at something because we were created to worship. Chalmers explains that in order to properly orient our affections away from the world (1 John 2:15) we have to put on Christ and a love for Him. It brought Ephesians 4:22-24 to mind. Not the smoothest or most dynamic read but it emphasizes a key truth.
January 12, 2023
1: (3/5/2020)
2: I cherished this little book even more than the first time I read it. The premise is simple but life-changing: you cannot convince someone to abandon worldliness if you only tell them of its emptiness; you must present to them a greater treasure, a more beautiful object for their affections. The title alone is impactful: new and greater affections have great power to drive out old and shallow affections. (8/27/2021)
2: I cherished this little book even more than the first time I read it. The premise is simple but life-changing: you cannot convince someone to abandon worldliness if you only tell them of its emptiness; you must present to them a greater treasure, a more beautiful object for their affections. The title alone is impactful: new and greater affections have great power to drive out old and shallow affections. (8/27/2021)
February 22, 2022
Charles Haddon Spurgeon teria declarado que este estava “entre os maiores sermões pregados desde os tempos do apóstolo Paulo”. Concordo!
February 6, 2017
I thought I had read this before because I have owned it for a while in print. I grabbed it quickly from Audible to help me on a drive home from Alabama.
It is very like an antique version of Desiring God only not quite as easy to read although much, much shorter.
Certainly, a booklet to remind us that we will love Christ more when we see him and know him better. We love him because he first loved us. His love will expel from our lives those things incompatible with that love. Our new affections will be for the ONE who deserves all of our affection.
It is very like an antique version of Desiring God only not quite as easy to read although much, much shorter.
Certainly, a booklet to remind us that we will love Christ more when we see him and know him better. We love him because he first loved us. His love will expel from our lives those things incompatible with that love. Our new affections will be for the ONE who deserves all of our affection.
September 22, 2024
Really great book about the affections of the human heart and the beauty of the Gospel! Super challenging read and admittedly used google to define at least 50% of the words haha
December 10, 2020
Fantastic. I first read this sermon by Chalmers as a PDF a few years ago and it was paradigm-shifting for me. I got my hands on this little paperback recently and I have to say the power of the central insight in the sermon is still as potent and illuminating as it was when I first read it. I loved the Crossway edition: an intro by John Piper, a short bio of Thomas Chalmers, and the sermon text. All beautifully formatted and bound. These are great little volumes to pass around.
This work is essentially an exploration of a key spiritual dynamic of the human heart, one that is critical for all ministry that aims at sanctification: preaching, counseling, discipleship, etc. In that sense, it is a key piece of a biblical anthropology (what is the human person and what are we like?).
Read and be edified.
This work is essentially an exploration of a key spiritual dynamic of the human heart, one that is critical for all ministry that aims at sanctification: preaching, counseling, discipleship, etc. In that sense, it is a key piece of a biblical anthropology (what is the human person and what are we like?).
Read and be edified.
June 10, 2024
“The best way of casting out an impure affection is to admit a pure one, and, by the love of what is good, to expel the love of what is evil.”
“…may (we) die to the present world and live to the lovelier world that stands in the distance away from it.”
“…may (we) die to the present world and live to the lovelier world that stands in the distance away from it.”
August 12, 2025
This was one of the best things I’ve read in a long time. I will probably need to read this every year.
September 28, 2022
Such a good reminder of the power of Christ, and the weight of our affections.
March 9, 2023
This was a freebie from the Crossway podcast.
Thomas Chalmers is an interesting figure. On the one hand he can write prayers that can move one to weep (see his Sabbath Scripture Readings). On the other hand his lectures on Romans was a slog of epic slogs (for me at least).
This read was something in between. The first half to 3/4 of it was pretty dry (especially for such good subject matter)- but then the last 25% or so was glorious.
The essay was very worth the read. Chalmers makes the case for regeneration - that after conversion God redirects our affections and desires toward him rather than things or sin. He goes on to make the case that sinful affections are only defeated by superior affections (typically for God). He also shows how the often held view that believes Christianity teaches that enjoyment of things is evil is not Christian at all - but rather a carry over from Kant or the stoics.
I got the sense that Lewis and Piper are/were probably very familiar with this essay.
Thomas Chalmers is an interesting figure. On the one hand he can write prayers that can move one to weep (see his Sabbath Scripture Readings). On the other hand his lectures on Romans was a slog of epic slogs (for me at least).
This read was something in between. The first half to 3/4 of it was pretty dry (especially for such good subject matter)- but then the last 25% or so was glorious.
The essay was very worth the read. Chalmers makes the case for regeneration - that after conversion God redirects our affections and desires toward him rather than things or sin. He goes on to make the case that sinful affections are only defeated by superior affections (typically for God). He also shows how the often held view that believes Christianity teaches that enjoyment of things is evil is not Christian at all - but rather a carry over from Kant or the stoics.
I got the sense that Lewis and Piper are/were probably very familiar with this essay.
January 28, 2021
Amazing book. Sinful desires are not merely removed. To spend your life trying to remove a desire is a loosing battle. The key to expelling sinful desires is to develop a love and affection for Christ. Only a true love for Christ will liberate the sinner from stubborn sinful desires.
February 4, 2022
I now understand why this is considered a classic. Exactly what I needed for a pastoral application and development of a paper on the beatific vision.
March 7, 2022
Que sermão bom!
December 29, 2024
I enjoyed reading this book. kinda a hard read, lots of tricky words that I had never heard of before, but it was great. Thomas Chalmers has a lot to say in this book, and there is a lot to take away from it. The main point is that to remove the love of the world within our hearts, we must replace it with a higher better love, which is love for God. If we try and remove our love for the world without filling that place in our hearts with a new love, we will fall right back to the love of the world.
I think there is a lot more i can get out of this book and some stuff I don't quite understand, so I will hopefully be reading this book again in a few years.
I think there is a lot more i can get out of this book and some stuff I don't quite understand, so I will hopefully be reading this book again in a few years.
July 31, 2025
Refreshing reminder of how desperately we must not only turn from sin, but truly delight in the riches of his love and good work towards us.
October 26, 2019
Chalmers does a wonderful job of showing that the human heart is a slave to desire. While desire is not inherently evil, what man attaches this desire to will always prove idolatrous and ultimately, vain/insignificant. But it’s not enough to convince the sinner to flee from these vanities, because he/she needs a new object to fill the “ void or vacancy that would prove as painful to the mind as hunger is to the natural system.”
We need the “expulsive power” of a new affection to displace and replace the old one. Here is Chalmer’s description of the necessary exchange:
“It is God apprehended by the believer as God in Christ, who can dispose the heart from ascending pleasures. It is when He (God) stands dismantled of the terrors which belong to Him as an offended law giver and when we are enabled by faith, which is His own gift, to see glory in the face of Jesus Christ, and to hear His beseeching voice, as it protests goodwill to men, and entreats the return of all who will a full and gracious pardon accept, it is then, that a love paramount to the love of the world, and at length expulsive of it, first arises in the regenerated bosom.”
I don’t know how to put that one into layman’s terms without offending the the author. We need God to give us the gift of faith which beholds Jesus Christ as our greatest gift and most supreme pleasure, so that all other pursuits seem futile and dull by comparison, and will no longer rival the Object most worthy of our desire.
Author also includes great encouragement for those who fee they are good at pointing out the world’s worthlessness, but stink at applying Christ as the remedy.
We need the “expulsive power” of a new affection to displace and replace the old one. Here is Chalmer’s description of the necessary exchange:
“It is God apprehended by the believer as God in Christ, who can dispose the heart from ascending pleasures. It is when He (God) stands dismantled of the terrors which belong to Him as an offended law giver and when we are enabled by faith, which is His own gift, to see glory in the face of Jesus Christ, and to hear His beseeching voice, as it protests goodwill to men, and entreats the return of all who will a full and gracious pardon accept, it is then, that a love paramount to the love of the world, and at length expulsive of it, first arises in the regenerated bosom.”
I don’t know how to put that one into layman’s terms without offending the the author. We need God to give us the gift of faith which beholds Jesus Christ as our greatest gift and most supreme pleasure, so that all other pursuits seem futile and dull by comparison, and will no longer rival the Object most worthy of our desire.
Author also includes great encouragement for those who fee they are good at pointing out the world’s worthlessness, but stink at applying Christ as the remedy.
November 2, 2020
“The heart is not so constituted, and the only way to dispossess it of an old affection is by the expulsive power of a new one.” So says Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), professor of philosophy and theology at the University of St. Andrews and the University of Edinburgh.
The heart is the target of Chalmers in his short book, The Expulsive Power of a New Affection. Part of the Crossway Short Classics, this work shows the inner workings of Chalmers and the solution he proposes for sinners. The author uses 1 John 2:15 as a launching pad that will be of immense help for his readers:
Chalmers maintains that there are two approaches for Christians who seek to obey this first. They may either flee from the world or foster godly affections. The second approach is not only preferred; it is the approach that renders power to followers of Christ. Chalmers holds that the former approach is “altogether ineffectual” while “the latter method will alone suffice for the rescue and recovery of the heart for the wrong affection that domineers over it.”
The author develops this theme as prescribes the expulsive power of a new affection. In other words, only a heart that has been regenerated may move in the direction of obedience. And by definition, a regenerate heart is one that is being renewed day by day (2 Cor. 3:18). The regenerate heart is being sanctified by the Spirit.
The heart is the target of Chalmers in his short book, The Expulsive Power of a New Affection. Part of the Crossway Short Classics, this work shows the inner workings of Chalmers and the solution he proposes for sinners. The author uses 1 John 2:15 as a launching pad that will be of immense help for his readers:
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Chalmers maintains that there are two approaches for Christians who seek to obey this first. They may either flee from the world or foster godly affections. The second approach is not only preferred; it is the approach that renders power to followers of Christ. Chalmers holds that the former approach is “altogether ineffectual” while “the latter method will alone suffice for the rescue and recovery of the heart for the wrong affection that domineers over it.”
The author develops this theme as prescribes the expulsive power of a new affection. In other words, only a heart that has been regenerated may move in the direction of obedience. And by definition, a regenerate heart is one that is being renewed day by day (2 Cor. 3:18). The regenerate heart is being sanctified by the Spirit.
November 19, 2014
Excellent.
The only effective way to fight sin and love of the world is with a greater love for a greater object: God Himself. Bare self-denial will not do it, since the heart naturally desires. As nature abhors a vacuum, the heart abhors nothing to desire and will grab lesser things if not enamored with the best things.
The older writing style - long sentences and less-known words - will keep many from reading it, sadly, I fear. Yet its shorter length (sermon) may help. I'm pretty sure this is online for free.
The only effective way to fight sin and love of the world is with a greater love for a greater object: God Himself. Bare self-denial will not do it, since the heart naturally desires. As nature abhors a vacuum, the heart abhors nothing to desire and will grab lesser things if not enamored with the best things.
The older writing style - long sentences and less-known words - will keep many from reading it, sadly, I fear. Yet its shorter length (sermon) may help. I'm pretty sure this is online for free.
March 3, 2018
A timeless jewel. This little book is full of truth and deserves careful reflection. For my first first reading, my takeaway is one quote:
"We know of no other way by which to keep the love of the world out of our heart, than to keep in our hearts the love of God - and no other way by which to keep our hearts in the love of God, than building ourselves up on our most holy faith. That denial of the world which is not possible to him that dissents from the Gospel testimony, is possible even as all things are possible, to him that believeth."
"We know of no other way by which to keep the love of the world out of our heart, than to keep in our hearts the love of God - and no other way by which to keep our hearts in the love of God, than building ourselves up on our most holy faith. That denial of the world which is not possible to him that dissents from the Gospel testimony, is possible even as all things are possible, to him that believeth."
January 3, 2018
In our hearts is the throne in which we put the object of our desires and worship. Chalmers helped me see that not only the setting of myself against sin could achieve that very goal but the valuing of Christ as supremely valuable above and beyond this perishing world that will change me. This sermon was eye opening and articulates God’s plan for us to see Him, through the gospel work of Christ, as the only lord worth sitting in the throne of the heart.
February 24, 2022
A tremendous sermon on how the love of the world may only be expelled from the heart of a sinner by being replaced with the love of God in Christ. It is an excellent example of rational and plain gospel preaching at its finest.
April 30, 2023
4 stars instead of 5, because the whole idea (which is hugely powerful and impactful!) is basically in the title 😅 If you’ve heard this phrase referred to in a sermon or elsewhere, you probably have the gist of it.
January 8, 2025
I enjoyed this book, and felt I agreed with the main idea, being that the only way to truly put off sin is to be overwhelmed by a love of Christ. The reason I gave it three stars is because I feel like a massive point was missing, and that the direction of affection was slightly incorrect.
To address the latter point first, it felt as if the primary stance was “replace your bad affection with Christ”. While this isn’t incorrect, I think I would’ve preferred the explanation of “Christ should be your affection, and you have replaced Him with idols and sin. Put Christ back where he belongs”.
To the first point, I believe the main idea that wasn’t mentioned has to do with our nature and how God created us. We were created in God’s image specifically to worship Him, and sin ruined this picture. Now, we worship anything and everything other than God, whether it be lifestyles, money, sins, or even ourselves. I feel like explaining this part of our nature is fundamental for explaining 1) the fact that we were created to worship is why we must always have a primary affection and 2) the result of the fall and sin is why we often misplace our affection away from Christ.
All of this said, I enjoyed the book and it was a quick read. I’m hoping my critiques are valid and I didn’t misunderstand any verbiage, so if I did feel free to point it out. Additionally, this book has been helpful in my habits of evaluating my own sin by reframing them as cherishing something else more than God.
To address the latter point first, it felt as if the primary stance was “replace your bad affection with Christ”. While this isn’t incorrect, I think I would’ve preferred the explanation of “Christ should be your affection, and you have replaced Him with idols and sin. Put Christ back where he belongs”.
To the first point, I believe the main idea that wasn’t mentioned has to do with our nature and how God created us. We were created in God’s image specifically to worship Him, and sin ruined this picture. Now, we worship anything and everything other than God, whether it be lifestyles, money, sins, or even ourselves. I feel like explaining this part of our nature is fundamental for explaining 1) the fact that we were created to worship is why we must always have a primary affection and 2) the result of the fall and sin is why we often misplace our affection away from Christ.
All of this said, I enjoyed the book and it was a quick read. I’m hoping my critiques are valid and I didn’t misunderstand any verbiage, so if I did feel free to point it out. Additionally, this book has been helpful in my habits of evaluating my own sin by reframing them as cherishing something else more than God.
May 14, 2025
Chalmers argues that we all desire something, and naturally we are bent to desire worldly things. We may wish, wholeheartedly even, to not desire these things. But simply willing not to desire these is not powerful enough to displace these things. An affection for God however, is strong enough to help us overcome our earthly desires.
“The love of the world cannot be expunged by the mere demonstration of the worlds worthlessness. But may it not be supplanted by the love of that which is more worthy than itself? The heart cannot be prevailed upon to part with the world by a simple act of resignation. But may not the heart be prevailed upon to admit into its preference another who shall subordinate the world and bring it down from its wanted ascendency?”
I appreciate how short this book was and agree with Piper that the length of a book is not indicative of the quality contained. Short books such as this can pack a meaty punch. But I did find this incredibly dull and hard to focus on despite its short length. Which may in part be due to the guy reading the audiobook I listened to.
“The love of the world cannot be expunged by the mere demonstration of the worlds worthlessness. But may it not be supplanted by the love of that which is more worthy than itself? The heart cannot be prevailed upon to part with the world by a simple act of resignation. But may not the heart be prevailed upon to admit into its preference another who shall subordinate the world and bring it down from its wanted ascendency?”
I appreciate how short this book was and agree with Piper that the length of a book is not indicative of the quality contained. Short books such as this can pack a meaty punch. But I did find this incredibly dull and hard to focus on despite its short length. Which may in part be due to the guy reading the audiobook I listened to.
October 31, 2022
All of us have things we love. And to get rid of an unwanted love, we can try all sorts of logic and stopping and starving those loves... But the only way to truly get rid of it is for it to be conquered by a greater love. And here, the love of the world is conquered by the love of God in Christ, given to us for our free salvation, accepted in our regeneration. Because it is so free, it evokes such love in us that it frees us from all other loves and gives us eyes to behold the lovelier world to which we are going.
One thing I love about this essay is how beautifully the title summarizes the whole essay. It's thus easy to remember and apply, because it comes to mind so simply. Why do I desire this? What do I do with that negative or sinful desire? Remember the New Affection, the free, lavish grace of our God, and his beauty.
One thing I love about this essay is how beautifully the title summarizes the whole essay. It's thus easy to remember and apply, because it comes to mind so simply. Why do I desire this? What do I do with that negative or sinful desire? Remember the New Affection, the free, lavish grace of our God, and his beauty.
August 18, 2025
“It is when released from the spirit of bondage with which love cannot dwell, and when admitted into the number of God's children through the faith that is in Christ Jesus, the spirit of adoption is poured upon us—it is then that the heart, brought under the mastery of one great and predominant affection, is delivered from the tyranny of its former desires in the only way in which deliverance is possible.”
I need a new heart. I need an old affection replaced with a new and far better affection.
I need a new heart. I need an old affection replaced with a new and far better affection.
December 6, 2021
I'd been wanting to read this for a long time, and had bookmarked a nonprofessional audio version on YouTube, but then Crossway was kind enough to post this professional production for freesies, so I listened tonight. It wasn't what I expected. It appears to have been a message to preachers and other exhorters than to average believers. That doesn't mean it doesn't contain what I was hoping for, just that I wasn't prepared to have to get at it by a roundabout way. So I'll give it a middling rating for now, because that's how it hit me, and likely bump it up upon a relisten when I am more awake and can work a little harder at it.
Reader was fine in that Crossway niceness sort of way.
Reader was fine in that Crossway niceness sort of way.
April 7, 2025
“We know of no other way by which to keep the love of the world out of our hearts than to keep in our hearts the love of God- and no other way by which to keep our hearts in the love of God than building ourselves up on our most holy faith.” (Chalmers, 68)
Absolutely fire read. Would recommend
Absolutely fire read. Would recommend
September 30, 2021
listened to the audiobook on the crossway podcast, would like to someday read a paper copy to annotate! good thoughts and encouragements on 1 john 2:15
Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews