The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (Part 2)
Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake.
Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.
1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to
be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of
my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so
many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty, and
most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this,
whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.
2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to
find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the forementioned
things.
3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull,
so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can
remember, when I come to myself again.
4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing,
whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor
be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time;
but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I
do live.
7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should
be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both
speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had
committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and
that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in
myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to
God. Vid. July 30, [1723].
9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my
own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the
pains of martyrdom, and of hell.
11. Resolved, when I think of any1 theorem
in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if
circumstances don't hinder.
12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a
gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw
it by.
13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit
objects of charity and liberality.
14. Resolved, never to do anything out of
revenge.
15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions
of anger to irrational beings.
16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so
that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for
some real good.
17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish
I had done when I come to die.
18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think
is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the
gospel, and another world.
19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I
should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I
should hear the last trump.
20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest
temperance in eating and drinking.
21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I
should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to
think any way the more meanly of him.
22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself
(as much happiness, in the other world,) as I possibly can, with all the power,
might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself
to exert, in any way that can be thought of.
23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate
action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace
it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not
to be for God's glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.
24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously
evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both
carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might
against the original of it.
25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and
constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt
of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.
26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find
do abate my assurance.
27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything,
except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.
28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so
steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive
myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor
to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so
made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession,
which I cannot hope God will accept.
30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week
to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was
the week before.
31. Resolved, never to say anything at all
against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of
Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and
sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the Golden Rule; often,
when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by
the test of this Resolution.
32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful
to my trust, that that in Proverbs 20:6, "A faithful man who
can find?" may not be partly fulfilled in me.
33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards
making, maintaining and establishing2 peace,
when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. [[Dec. 26,
1722.]]
34. Resolved, in narrations never to speak
anything but the pure and simple verity.
35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether
I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it
down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.
36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except
I have some particular good call for it. [[Dec. 19, 1722.]]
37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am
going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein
I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. [[Dec. 22
and 26, 1722.]]
38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is
ridiculous,3 or
matter of laughter on the Lord's day. [[Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.]]
39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much
question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and
examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no: except I as much question the
lawfulness of the omission.
40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go
to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to
eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.
41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every
day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done
better. [[Jan. 11, 1723.]]
42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication
of myself to God,
which was made at my baptism;
which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church;
and which I have solemnly re-made this 12th day of January, 1722—23.
43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to
act as if I were anyway my own, but entirely and altogether God's, agreeable to
what is to be found in Saturday, Jan. 12. [[Jan. 12th, 1723.
44. Resolved, that no other end but religion,
shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall
be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry
it. Jan. 12, 1723.
45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or
grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection,
nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.
12 and 13, 1723.]]
46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of
any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects
of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eye: and
to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.
47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny
whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent,
quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek,
modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even,
patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such
a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so.
[[Sabbath morning, May 5, 1723.]]
48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost
niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the
state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or
no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to
repent of. [[May 26, 1723.
49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can
help it.]]
50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall
judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future
world. [[July 5, 1723.
51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every
respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be
damned. July 8, 1723.]]
52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how
they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: resolved, that I will
live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old
age. [[July 8, 1723.
53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when
I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the
Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to
him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide
in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.]]
54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in
commendation4 of
any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, resolved to endeavor to
imitate it. [[July 8, 1723.]]
55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as
I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and
hell torments. [[July 8, 1723.]]
56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the
least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and
adversities, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and
let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned
about nothing but my duty and my sin. [[June 9 and July 13, 1723.
58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of
dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love,
cheerfulness and benignity. May 27and July 13, 1723.
59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of
provocations to ill-nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act
good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think
that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be
imprudent at other times. May 12, July 11, and July 13.
60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to
appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness
within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the
strictest examination. July 4 and 13, 1723.
61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that
listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and
fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it–that what my
listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21 and July
13, 1723.]]
62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and
then according to Ephesians 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully
"as unto the Lord, and not to man; knowing that whatever good thing any
man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord." [[June 25 and July
13, 1723.
63. On the supposition, that there never was to
be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a
complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity
always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from
whatever part and under whatever character viewed: resolved, to act just as I
would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my
time. Jan. 14 and July 13, 1723.
64. Resolved, when I find those "groanings
which cannot be uttered," of which the Apostle speaks [Romans 8:26],
and those "breakings of soul for the longing it hath," of which the
Psalmist speaks, Psalms 119:20, that I will promote them to the
utmost of my power, and that I will not be weary of earnestly endeavoring to
vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July
23 and Aug. 10, 1723.]]
65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in
this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare
my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations,
difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and everything, and every
circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's 27th sermon on the 119th Psalm.5 [[July
26 and Aug. 10, 1723.
66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep
a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all
companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.
67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what
I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have
got by them.
68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all
that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what
concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed
help. July 23 and Aug. 10, 1723.
69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall
wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.
70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all
that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723.]]
Jonathan Edwards (October 5,
1703 – March 22, 1758) was a revivalist preacher, philosopher, and Congregationalist Protestant
theologian. Like most of the Puritans, he held to the Reformed
theology.
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