TheResolutions of Jonathan Edwards

New years are, for many of us, a time ofmaking resolutions. A young believer may resolve to read through the Biblewithin the year. One who is ill-disciplined in his use of time may resolve toredeem his time. Someone who has a shelf full of unread books may resolve toread several of the books during the year. Someone else may resolve to be moreconsistent in prayer and to attend prayer meetings. A father may resolve tobegin and sustain family worship. A mother may resolve to always speak kindlyto her children. A teenager may resolve to cut off television altogether so asto concentrate on his studies and on seeking the Lord. A prospective husbandmay resolve to memorise the entire Westminster Shorter Catechism in preparationto be the covenant head of household. These are all wise and noble resolutions,which I hope we will make and sustain as we are led to see where we fall shortin our Christian walk. However, let us bear in mind, that many of suchresolutions if made at the beginning of a new year are in actual fact made toolate. Such resolutions as pertain to godliness ought to be made when we aremade aware of our proneness to fail in any particular area or whenever, we aremade aware of our sins. It was to this effect that Jonathan Edwards(1703-1758), wrote a series of resolutions between the years 1722 and 1723 whenhe was barely 20 years old. These excellent resolutions became the greatprinciples of spiritual life throughout Edwards’ life. It has been rightly notedthat they reveal a deep and extensive knowledge of the heart, a conviction ofits defects, a lively apprehension of its dangers and an intense concern thatall its tendencies should be towards God, and towards every thing required byHis holy will. The resolutions are here reproduced in full, minus the dates ofinsertions. I trust that you will find in them useful guidelines on how yourChristian life should be principled. Perhaps you may even want to mark some ofthem out or copy them into your bible as life-long resolutions for yourself. Ihave no doubt that if each of us will appropriate these resolutions and live bythem, the spiritual benefits that we will derive will be incalculable. Andshould several in our church begin to live by these principles, the impact willsurely be felt deeply within the church and far wide outside the church.

—J.J. Lim
2 January, 2000

BEING SENSIBLE THAT I AM UNABLE TO DOANYTHING WITHOUT GOD’S HELP, I DO HUMBLY ENTREAT HIM BY HIS GRACE TO ENABLE METO KEEP THESE RESOLUTIONS, SO FAR AS THEY ARE AGREEABLE TO HIS WILL, FORCHRIST’S SAKE.

Remember to read over these Resolutionsonce 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 ofthe time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to dowhatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankindin general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how manysoever, and how great soever.

2.    Resolved,to be continually endeavoring to find out some new contrivance and invention topromote the aforementioned things.

3.    Resolved,if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of theseResolutions, 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, butwhat 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 Ipossibly 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 hourof my life.

8.    Resolved,to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vileas I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities orfailings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promotenothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my ownsins and misery to God.

9.    Resolved,to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstanceswhich attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think ofthe pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem indivinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, ifcircumstances do not hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as agratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throwit by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find outfit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do any thing out ofrevenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the leastmotions of anger towards 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 forsome real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so, as I shallwish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so, at all times, as Ithink is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of thingsof the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do any thing, which Ishould be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before Ishould hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictesttemperance, in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, never to do any thing, which ifI should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, orto think any way the more meanly of him.

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myselfas 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 myselfto exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take somedeliberate 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 Ifind it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4thResolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuouslyevil 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 mymight against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, andconstantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubtof the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as Ifind do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examinemy omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures sosteadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceivemyself 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 isso 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 everyweek to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, thanI was the week before.

31. Resolved, never to say any thing at allagainst any body, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree ofChristian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, andsense 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 strictlyby the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmlyfaithful to my trust, that that, in Prov 20:6, "A faithful man who canfind?" may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, to do always, what I can towardsmaking, maintaining, and preserving peace, when it can be done withoutoverbalancing detriment in other respects.

34. Resolved, in narrations never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much questionwhether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, toset it down, and also how the question was resolved.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any,except I have some particular good call for it.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I amgoing to bed, wherein I have been negligent,- what sin I have committed,—andwherein I have denied myself;—also at the end of every week, month and year.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that isridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord’s day.

39. Resolved, never to do any thing of which Iso much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, toconsider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or not; unless I as muchquestion the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before Igo to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possi-bly could, with respectto eating and drinking.

41. Resolved, to ask myself, at the end ofevery day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, havedone better.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew thededication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnlyrenewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I havesolemnly re-made this day.

43. Resolved, never, henceforward, till I die,to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s .

44. Resolved, that no other end but religion,shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shallbe, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carryit.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure orgrief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection,nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measureof any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer noeffects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of myeye: and to be especially careful of it with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor, to my utmost, todeny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet andbenevolent, quiet, peace-able, contented and easy, compassionate and generous,humble and meek, submissive and obliging, diligent and industrious, charitableand even, patient, moderate, forgiving and sincere temper; and to do at alltimes, what such a temper would lead me to; and to examine strictly, at the endof every week, whether I have done so.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmostniceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into thestate of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ ornot; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this torepent of.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if Ican help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shalljudge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the futureworld.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in everyrespect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age, sayhow 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 Ilive to old age.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity,when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soulon the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself whollyto him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that Iconfide in my Redeemer.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken inconversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolvedto endeavor to imitate it.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to actas I can think I should do, if, I had already seen the happiness of heaven, andhell torments.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in theleast to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes andadversities, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it, andlet the event be just as providence orders it. I will as far as I can, beconcerned about nothing but my duty, and my sin.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an airof dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air oflove, cheerfulness and benignity.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious ofprovoca-tions to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and actgood-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I thinkthat in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would beimprudent at other times.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin toappear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasinesswithin, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to thestrictest examination.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to thatlistlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully andfixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it—that what mylistlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty,and then according to Eph 6:6-8, to do it willingly and cheerfully as unto theLord, and not to man: "knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, thesame shall he receive of the Lord."

63. On the supposition, that there never wasto be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly acomplete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianityalways shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, fromwhatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as Iwould do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in mytime.

64. Resolved, when I find those"groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom 8:26), of which the Apostlespeaks, and those "breakings of soul for the longing it hath," ofwhich the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmostof my power, and that I will not be weary of earnestly endeavoring to vent mydesires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself inthis, all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness, of which I am capableof, 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, andevery circumstance; according to Dr Manton’s 27^th Sermon on Ps 119.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always tokeep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in allcompanies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire,what I am the better for them, what am I the better for them, and what I might havegot by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself allthat which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be whatconcerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore neededhelp.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shallwish I had done when I see others do it.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, inall that I speak.

JonathanEdwards