THE RESOLUTIONS
of
Jonathan Edwards
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.
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 soever, and
how great soever.
2. Resolved, to be continually
endeavoring to find out some new contrivance and invention 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. July 30.
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 do not 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 any
thing out of revenge.
15. Resolved, never to suffer the
least motions 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 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 any
thing, 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 any
thing, 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 one 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 cast away such
things, as I find do abate my assurance.
27. Resolved, never willfully to
omit any thing, 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 any
thing at all against any body, 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?Š may not be partly fulfilled in me.
33. Resolved, to do always, what
I can towards making, maintaining, and preserving peace, when it can be done
without overbalancing detriment in other respects. Dec. 26, 1722.
34. Resolved, in narrations never
to speak any thing 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 any
thing of which 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 not;
unless 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,
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. January 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 and easy, compassionate and
generous, humble and meek, submissive and obliging, diligent and industrious,
charitable and even, patient, moderate, forgiving and sincere temper; and to do
at all times, what such a temper would lead me to; and to examine strictly, at
the end of 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 not; 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 I have done my duty, and
resolve to do it, and let the event 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 Ephesians 6:6-8, to 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.Š 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. January 14 and July 13, 1723.
64. Resolved, when I find those
‹groanings which cannot be utteredŠ (Romans 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks,
and those‹breakings of soul for the longing it hath,Š 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 weary 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, of
which 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 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 am I the better for 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.