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We are now meeting
at the Kootenai School Gym
for our Adult Sunday School and Morning Worship services.
Adult Sunday School
begins at 9:15 AM. The Worship Service starts at 10:45 AM.
Children's Sunday School
meets in the church building across the street starting at 9:15
AM.
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Resolutions For A New Year
January 2008
Are you searching for some ideas for a New
Year’s Resolution? Allow Puritan pastor/theologian/philosopher/preacher
Jonathan Edwards to lend a hand. If you have never read his Seventy
Resolutions, you are in for a treat!1
Jonathan Edwards became a believer in Christ at
the age of 18 in the summer of 1721. In his first 12 months of being a
Christian, Edwards sat down in New Haven, Connecticut, and penned the
first 21 of his resolutions in one sitting. By December 18, 1722,
Edwards had written a total of 34. He continued making additions to his
list until he wrote the final resolution on August 17, 1723, two
months before his twentieth birthday.
As you read, observe the profundity of
Edwards’s mind, spirit, and insight at such a young age. For those who
think you can’t learn anything from a teenager, you have never read
this teenager!
If you are the type who enjoys making
resolutions or setting goals, then try something new this year. Try
reading these over in one sitting, and then choose 12 for the coming
year. Focus on one resolution a month. You will find resolutions
appropriate to your reading, dieting, and how you spend your leisure
time.
One final note: the dates at the
end of certain resolutions are Edwards’s notations of the dates that
each resolution was added to his list. I now offer the Seventy
Resolutions to you in full. Enjoy!
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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 soever, and how great soever.
2. Resolved, to be continually
endeavoring to find out some new contrivance and invention 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. July 30.
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 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
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 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 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
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 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 any thing at
all against any body, 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 Proverbs 20:6, “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 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 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 any thing of
which 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
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 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,
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. January 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 eye: 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 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 lead me
to; and to examine strictly, at the end of 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 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, 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 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, 1723.
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, 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 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. January 14 and July 13,
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 weary 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, of
which 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 2 and August 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 am I the better for 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. August 11, 1723.
70. Let there be something of benevolence, in
all that I speak. August 17, 1723.2
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Well, there you go. I see plenty of things in
that list I can adopt for my own sanctification! Happy New Year and
happy resolving!
Without Wax-
Jim Osman
Pastor/Teacher
Footnotes:
1. There one resolution in this
list which I would not adopt as being either biblical or profitable:
number 38. I certainly don’t think that smiling or
laughing on the Lord’s Day is a sin!
2. This list taken from
http://www.reformed.org/documents/Edwards/index.html?mainframe=/documents/Edwards/j_edwards_resolutions.html
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