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The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

(1722-1723)

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 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 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 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 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 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, establishing and preserving 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,
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 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. May27, 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, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord,
and not to man; “knowing that whatever good thing any man doeth, 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 ‘3’ 1723.

64.  Resolved, when I find those “groanings which
cannot be uttered” (Romans 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 everything, 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 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. Aug. 11, 1723.

1.
Let there be
something of benevolence, in all that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723

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