China Call Jul 18, 2008 8:00 PM

Jonathan Edwards' Top 10

Jonathan Edwards has been hailed by some as the greatest American-born theologian ever, although many have been put off by his famous sermon, "Si...

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Jonathan Edwards has been hailed by some as the greatest American-born theologian ever, although many have been put off by his famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God". If you have never read or listened (listen to Mark Dever preach this sermon here) to this sermon, then I encourage you to do so!

What I am about to share with you, however, is quite a bit different from the sermon mentioned about. I first discovered Jonathan Edwards' "Resolutions" many years ago, just after becoming a Christian when I was 16 or 17 years old. These are the first 10 of what ended up being over a hundred that he made. Note, he recorded these in 1722, which means he would have only been 19 years old at the time:

 

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1722)

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.

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