Saving Grace or Common Grace? (Jonathan Edwards, 1703–1758)

There are many in this world who are wholly destitute of saving grace, who yet have common grace. They have no true holiness, but nevertheless have something of that which is called moral virtue. And they are the subjects of some degree of the common influences of the Spirit of God. But when any are damned, or cast into hell, as the devils are, God wholly withdraws his restraining grace and all merciful influences of his Spirit. They then have neither saving grace nor common grace; neither the grace of the Spirit, nor any of the common gifts of the Spirit; neither true holiness, nor moral virtue of any kind. Hence arises the vast increase of the exercise of wickedness in the hearts of men when they are damned. And herein is the chief difference between the damned in hell and unregenerate and graceless men in this world. Not that wicked men in this world have any more holiness or true virtue than the damned; or have wicked men, when they leave this world, any new principles of wickedness infused into them. But when men are cast into hell, God wholly takes away his Spirit from them, as to all his merciful common influences, and entirely withdraws from them all restraints of his Spirit and good providence. Damned men are like the devils, conformed to them in both nature and state. They have nothing better in them than the devils, have no higher principles in their hearts, experience nothing and do nothing of a more excellent kind, as they are the children and servants of the devil; and as such, shall dwell with him, and be partakers with him of the same misery. Ungodly men in their future state shall be as the fallen wicked angels in hell. Jonathan Edwards, "True Grace Distinguished from the Experience of Devils"  https://www.gracegems.org/