RESOLUTIONS-JONATHAN
EDWARDS
Jonathan
Edwards, the 18th-century revivalist, sat down at age 17 and penned 21
resolutions by which he would live his life. He added to this list until, by
his death, he had 70 resolutions. He put at the top of his list: “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… Remember to
read over these resolutions once a week.”
Edwards didn't casually make New Year's resolutions with an expectation
of eventually breaking them. Each week he did a self-check. He regularly summed
up how he was doing and sought God's help in the process.
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 myriad's 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 aforementioned 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.
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 any 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.
(Resolutions 1 through 21 written in
on setting in New Haven in 1722)
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 east 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 Prov. 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, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be
without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.
34. Resolved, in narration's
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, sportive, 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 twelfth day of January, 1722-23.
43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I
die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God's,
agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 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
eve: 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
conversation 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 ~ 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 27, and 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 Eph. 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" (Rom. 8:26), of
which the Apostle speaks, and those "breakings of soul for the longing it
hath," of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote
them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear', of earnestly
endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness.
July 23, and August 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 every
thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's 27th Sermon on
Psalm 119. July 26, and August 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 August 10, 1723.
69. Resolved, always to do that, which I
shall wish I had done when I see others do it. August 11, 1723.
70. Let there be something of benevolence,
in all that I speak. August 17, 1723.