Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing 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. Jonathan Edwards.
Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.
1. Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, 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, so to do, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.
2. Resolved, To be continually endeavouring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the forementioned 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 possibly avoid it.
5. Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, To live with all my might, while I do live.
7. Resolved, Never to do any thing, 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. Vid. July 30.
9. Resolved, To think much, on all occasions, of my 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. xxi
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 endeavouring to find out fit objects of liberality and charity.
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 any one, so that it shall tend to his dishonour, 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 most devout frames, and when I have the clearest notions of the 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.
22. Resolved, To endeavour to obtain for myself as much happiness in the other world as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigour, 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 fourth 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 endeavour 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 so direct all my forces against it.
26. Resolved, To cast away such things as I find do abate my assurance.
27. Resolved, Never wilfully 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 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 honour, 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 any thing against any one, 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 Prov. xx. 6. ‘A faithful man, who can find?’ 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 an 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 to 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 utter any thing that is sportive, or matter of laughter, on a Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.
39. Resolved, Never to do any thing, of which I so much question the lawfulness, 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 12th day of January, 1723.
43. Resolved, Never, henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s; agreeably to what is to be found in Saturday, Jan. 12th. 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 or 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 endeavour, 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 xxii lead me to; and to examine strictly, at the end of every week, whether I have so done. 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, That 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. Resolved, Whenever I hear anything spoken in commendation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, that I will endeavour to imitate it. July 8, 1723.
55. Resolved, To endeavour, to my utmost, so 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 adversity, 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, &c. May 21, and July 13, 1723.
62. Resolved, Never to do any thing but my duty, and then, according to Eph. vi. 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 be 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 lustre, 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 13, 1723.
64. Resolved, When I find those "groanings which cannot be uttered," of which the apostle speaks, and those "breathings of soul for the longing it hath," of which the psalmist speaks, Psalm cxix. 20. that I will promote them to the utmost of my power; and that I will not be weary of earnestly endeavouring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and Aug. 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, 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 Sermon on the 119th Psalm,. July 26, and Aug. 10, 1723.
66. Resolved, That I will endeavour 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.
70. Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Birds, Black Presidents, and Babies
Birds, Black Presidents, and Babies
BIRDS
When King David contemplated how many were God’s “wondrous deeds,” he said, “I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told” (Psalm 40:5). That’s how I have been thinking about God’s display of His sovereignty these last few weeks. God is patient and slow to anger. The crash of Flight 1549 illustrates God’s right to judge, and the landing represents God’s mercy. In Matthew 10:29 we find that God governs the fall of every bird, and I would say the crash of flight 1549 was designed by God. It is both a display of His sovereignty and His mercy. It is a call back to a shift from an anthropocentric view of life to a theocentric view. Read Acts 4:23-31.
BLACK PRESIDENTS
As a nation we have just elected Barack Obama, the first African-American President of the United States. As much as I reject President Obama’s stance on many moral issues, I am thankful that an African-American can be President of United States. This is God’s doing. “He removes kings and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:21).
How do we be a pro-life Christian under a pro-choice president? I Peter 2:13-17Peter did not live in a Christian nation. He knew the depravity of man and that absolute power corrupts absolutely. And yet he wrote, “Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him.” And, "Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king."
Here is John Piper’s answer to the question, "How do pro-life Christians honor a pro-choice president?"
1. Humbling Ourselves We will honor you, Mr. President, by humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God (1 Peter 5:6) acknowledging that we are ourselves sinners in need of mercy and forgiveness from God.
2. Acknowledging God's Image We will honor you by acknowledging that you are created in the image of God, an utterly unique, human being created in the image and likeness of the living God with untold potential.
3. Acknowledging God's Institution We will honor you by acknowledging that government is God's institution. You are in power by God's appointment and we honor that. It grieves us that you will not protect the unborn, the most innocent, weak, and helpless group of Americans. But we honor your God appointed role.
4. Honoring Laws Not Conflicting with Christ's Lordship We will honor you by submitting to law wherever they do not conflict with our higher allegiance to Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords. 1 Peter 2:13 says that we are to submit not for your sake but for the Lord's sake.
5. Not Withdrawing into Isolation We will honor you by not withdrawing and living in isolation from American culture. We will honor you by trying to do as much good as we possibly can, so that we will not be thought inconsistent in asking from you what we are not willing to do. See I Peter 2:15.
6. Opposing with Non-Violence We will honor you by opposing your position as long as we can with non-violence instead of violence, with reasoning instead of rocks, with rational passion instead of screaming, with honorable speech instead of obscenities, and with forthright clarity of language instead of dodging the tough realities and tough words.
7. Expecting Straightforward Answers And we will honor you by expecting from you straightforward answers to straightforward questions. You have immense power as President of the United States. To wield it against the protection of the unborn without giving a public accounting in view of moral and scientific reality would be dishonorable. We will honor you by expecting better.
8. Trusting the Sovereign, Loving Purpose of God Finally we will honor you by trusting that the purpose of our sovereign and loving God to defend the fatherless and contend for the defenseless and to exalt the meek will triumph through your presidency. And to that end we will pray for you as Christ our King commands us.
BABIES
What does the Scriptures say about this?
Psalm 139:13: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.”
Jeremiah 1:5:“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you….”
Job 31:13–15: “Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?”The key person at work in the fashioning of the fetus inside the womb is God. The status of Job’s mother or the servant’s mother is irrelevant because mothers are not the main nurturers and fashioners during the time of gestation—God is. Mothers and fathers can contribute an egg and Sperm, but only God creates a person. It is an arbitrary assault upon the prerogatives of God the Creator to assume that we can destroy this person at anytime within the womb based upon our definition of personhood.
James 4:2 offers and interesting perspective, “You desire and do not have; so you kill.” What desire? -- Any self-autonomous freedoms that we want that does not restrict our plans for future happiness. But then comes the pregnancy and we cannot have. And so we use abortion as a birth-control measure to preserve our own freedoms and desires. Christians, we are called to speak the truth in love and mercy.
Look at Ephesians 5:8b-11. God calls us to be the conscience of the culture. Many believers only have a passive avoidance ethic, "Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness.” That's half your duty. But the next phrase states: "Rather even expose them!" Don't just avoid the works of darkness, but expose them.
We are guilty of silence when it comes to justice. We are guilty of speaking the truth, but not in love and mercy. We are guilty of condemning without offering hope and prayer and solution. We have a biblical obligation to speak the truth in love. We have a responsibility to rescue the innocent. We must put feet to our faith and intercede for the helpless. We must compassionately reach out to the perishing. I am embarrassed when I read what some of us write on the internet.
The belligerent and disrespectful words directed toward the president and those who have had abortions and who are pro-choice make me cringe at times. We are intercessors and rescuers. We do so with logical arguments, a Scriptural foundation, patient interaction, loving and merciful engagement, faith with feet, and prayer.There are many who have had abortions who bought into a lie and did not realize exactly what they were doing, and are now suffering the horrific consequence of emotional, spiritual, psychological, and possible present or future physical trauma. Someone must tell them that there is forgiveness and healing in Christ Jesus.God has been merciful to us.
God does not owe America anything. We owe him everything. I pray that the President of the United States, passengers of flight 1549, pro-choice citizens, and everyone who does not know Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior would turn to Him.God is sovereign and merciful. He stands today as Savior, He will stand one day as Judge.
BIRDS
When King David contemplated how many were God’s “wondrous deeds,” he said, “I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told” (Psalm 40:5). That’s how I have been thinking about God’s display of His sovereignty these last few weeks. God is patient and slow to anger. The crash of Flight 1549 illustrates God’s right to judge, and the landing represents God’s mercy. In Matthew 10:29 we find that God governs the fall of every bird, and I would say the crash of flight 1549 was designed by God. It is both a display of His sovereignty and His mercy. It is a call back to a shift from an anthropocentric view of life to a theocentric view. Read Acts 4:23-31.
BLACK PRESIDENTS
As a nation we have just elected Barack Obama, the first African-American President of the United States. As much as I reject President Obama’s stance on many moral issues, I am thankful that an African-American can be President of United States. This is God’s doing. “He removes kings and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:21).
How do we be a pro-life Christian under a pro-choice president? I Peter 2:13-17Peter did not live in a Christian nation. He knew the depravity of man and that absolute power corrupts absolutely. And yet he wrote, “Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him.” And, "Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king."
Here is John Piper’s answer to the question, "How do pro-life Christians honor a pro-choice president?"
1. Humbling Ourselves We will honor you, Mr. President, by humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God (1 Peter 5:6) acknowledging that we are ourselves sinners in need of mercy and forgiveness from God.
2. Acknowledging God's Image We will honor you by acknowledging that you are created in the image of God, an utterly unique, human being created in the image and likeness of the living God with untold potential.
3. Acknowledging God's Institution We will honor you by acknowledging that government is God's institution. You are in power by God's appointment and we honor that. It grieves us that you will not protect the unborn, the most innocent, weak, and helpless group of Americans. But we honor your God appointed role.
4. Honoring Laws Not Conflicting with Christ's Lordship We will honor you by submitting to law wherever they do not conflict with our higher allegiance to Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords. 1 Peter 2:13 says that we are to submit not for your sake but for the Lord's sake.
5. Not Withdrawing into Isolation We will honor you by not withdrawing and living in isolation from American culture. We will honor you by trying to do as much good as we possibly can, so that we will not be thought inconsistent in asking from you what we are not willing to do. See I Peter 2:15.
6. Opposing with Non-Violence We will honor you by opposing your position as long as we can with non-violence instead of violence, with reasoning instead of rocks, with rational passion instead of screaming, with honorable speech instead of obscenities, and with forthright clarity of language instead of dodging the tough realities and tough words.
7. Expecting Straightforward Answers And we will honor you by expecting from you straightforward answers to straightforward questions. You have immense power as President of the United States. To wield it against the protection of the unborn without giving a public accounting in view of moral and scientific reality would be dishonorable. We will honor you by expecting better.
8. Trusting the Sovereign, Loving Purpose of God Finally we will honor you by trusting that the purpose of our sovereign and loving God to defend the fatherless and contend for the defenseless and to exalt the meek will triumph through your presidency. And to that end we will pray for you as Christ our King commands us.
BABIES
What does the Scriptures say about this?
Psalm 139:13: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.”
Jeremiah 1:5:“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you….”
Job 31:13–15: “Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?”The key person at work in the fashioning of the fetus inside the womb is God. The status of Job’s mother or the servant’s mother is irrelevant because mothers are not the main nurturers and fashioners during the time of gestation—God is. Mothers and fathers can contribute an egg and Sperm, but only God creates a person. It is an arbitrary assault upon the prerogatives of God the Creator to assume that we can destroy this person at anytime within the womb based upon our definition of personhood.
James 4:2 offers and interesting perspective, “You desire and do not have; so you kill.” What desire? -- Any self-autonomous freedoms that we want that does not restrict our plans for future happiness. But then comes the pregnancy and we cannot have. And so we use abortion as a birth-control measure to preserve our own freedoms and desires. Christians, we are called to speak the truth in love and mercy.
Look at Ephesians 5:8b-11. God calls us to be the conscience of the culture. Many believers only have a passive avoidance ethic, "Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness.” That's half your duty. But the next phrase states: "Rather even expose them!" Don't just avoid the works of darkness, but expose them.
We are guilty of silence when it comes to justice. We are guilty of speaking the truth, but not in love and mercy. We are guilty of condemning without offering hope and prayer and solution. We have a biblical obligation to speak the truth in love. We have a responsibility to rescue the innocent. We must put feet to our faith and intercede for the helpless. We must compassionately reach out to the perishing. I am embarrassed when I read what some of us write on the internet.
The belligerent and disrespectful words directed toward the president and those who have had abortions and who are pro-choice make me cringe at times. We are intercessors and rescuers. We do so with logical arguments, a Scriptural foundation, patient interaction, loving and merciful engagement, faith with feet, and prayer.There are many who have had abortions who bought into a lie and did not realize exactly what they were doing, and are now suffering the horrific consequence of emotional, spiritual, psychological, and possible present or future physical trauma. Someone must tell them that there is forgiveness and healing in Christ Jesus.God has been merciful to us.
God does not owe America anything. We owe him everything. I pray that the President of the United States, passengers of flight 1549, pro-choice citizens, and everyone who does not know Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior would turn to Him.God is sovereign and merciful. He stands today as Savior, He will stand one day as Judge.
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