“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.” -Resolution #4
“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.” -Resolution #11
“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.” -Resolution #21
“Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.” -Resolution #56
Jonathan Edwards is quickly becoming a favorite pastor of mine. Though he lived nearly 300 hundred years ago, the writings and thoughts of Edwards continue to carry some of the most provoking ideas of any Christian forefather. Most notably known to the masses for his hellfire and brimstone sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” Edwards was also a philosophical mind of great repute. Reading recently his work The End for Which God Created the World, I was struck by the balanced manner in which he considered reason and religion, arguing that apologetics based on reason should serve “to satisfy us that what the word of God says of the matter is not unreasonable.” (This being a line of thinking which many teachers today deny, considering philosophy to be the enemy of Christianity instead of a friend). He also composed many classics such as Religious Affections, which deals with the proper state of the heart in relation to God’s goodness, and The Freedom of the Will, a treatise on the nature of man’s will and God’s influence over it.
However, there is one writing of Edwards’ in particular which would I like to share with you. This piece is a list of 70 resolutions which Edwards composed in order that he may best live his life, as he says, “for Christ’s sake,” by constantly meditating on them and keeping them close at heart. So, in order that you may begin to look into the life of a man who lived, per Resolution #4, according to all that “tends to the glory of God,” I have attached his list of resolutions below. I have also listed some of my favorite resolutions above, and would like to include here a full list of the ones I found most interesting: #4, 6, 11, 17, 21, 24, 43, 56, 67, 69. Enjoy!
