|
Resolutions 1 through 21 were
written by in one sitting in New Haven in 1722.
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.
11. 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.
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.
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 that in
Prov. 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
narration's 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 ~
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 ii,
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 Eph.
6:6-8, 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." 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" (Rom.
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 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 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 |