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CHAPTER III.
EARLY RELIGIOUS PRODUCTIONS--"MISCELLANIES"--NOTES ON THE
SCRIPTURES--COMMENCEMENT OF HIS PREACHING--RESOLUTIONS.
A Conscientious regard to duty appeared greatly in the early as well
as in the latter days of Jonathan Edwards. As a child, the spirit of
love and obedience uniformly guided him; and as a pupil, he discovered
every disposition honourable to himself, encouraging to those who
anxiously watched over his progress, and which was justly considered
as the earnest of uncommon attainments. The child, the youth, the man,
all presented to view the same superior mind, in different degrees of
advancement, but still alike indicative of the same general
excellencies.
While at college, he paid a most assiduous and successful attention to
his assigned duties, and particularly to the study of mental and
physical philosophy; yet he still found time for pursuits of a more
elevated and spiritual character. His whole education from early
infancy, and the counsels of his parents, as well as his own feelings,
prompted him to these pursuits. "To read the Bible daily, and to read
it in connexion with other religious books, diligently and
attentively, on the sabbath, was made, in the earlier days of New
England, the habitual duty of every child; and his father's family,
though not inattentive to the due cultivation of mind and manners, had
lost none of the strictness, or conscientiousness, which characterized
the pilgrims. The books which he found in his father's house, the
conversation of ministers often resorting to the house, the custom of
the times, as well as the more immediate influence of parental
instruction and example, naturally prompted a mind like his to the
early contemplation and investigation of many of the truths and
principles of theology. He had also witnessed in his father's
congregation, before his admission to college, several extensive
revivals of religion; and in two of them the impressions made on his
own mind had been unusually deep and solemn. The name familiarly given
by the plain people of New England to these events--"A religious
attention," and " A general attention to religion"--indicates their
nature; and those personally acquainted with them need not be
informed, that during their progress, the great truths of religion, as
taught in the Scriptures, and as explained in the writings of
theologians, become the objects of general and intense interest, and
of close practical study; or that the knowledge, acquired by a whole
people at such a time, in a comparatively little period, often exceeds
the acquisitions of many previous years. With all these things in
view, it is not surprising, that, to these two kinds of reading, he
devoted himself early, with great diligence and with great success."
Two of his early "Resolutions" relate to this subject, in which he
proposes "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." He never lost sight of this resolution. On
the 8th of June, 1723, he also proposes, whenever he finds himself in
a dull, listless frame, to read over his own "Remarks and Reflections
of a Religious Nature," in order to quicken him in his duty. These
"Remarks and Reflections" were very numerous. The first manuscript of
his "Miscellanies" is in folio, and consists of forty-four sheets of
foolscap, written separately, and stitched together. When he began the
work, he had obviously no suspicion of the size to which it was to
grow, nor had he formed his ultimate plan of arrangement. He headed
his first article, "Of Holiness;" and having finished it, and drawn a
line of separation across the page, he commenced the second, "Of
Christ's mediation and satisfaction." The same is done with the third
and fourth. The fifth he writes, without a line of separation, in
larger letters, "Spiritual Happiness." After that the subject of each
new article is printed, or written, in larger letters. His first
article was written on the second page of a loose sheet of paper; and
having written over the second, third, and fourth pages, he went back
to the first. He began to number his articles by the letters of the
alphabet, a, b, c, and having gone through, he commenced with a double
alphabet, aa, bb, cc; when this was finished, finding his work
enlarge, he took the regular Num_1:1-54; Num_2:1-34; Num_3:1-51, &c. and this plan, both
as to subjects and numbers, is afterwards continued.
The beginning of the work is written in a remarkably small round hand,
nearly the same with that in which his earliest productions are
written. This extends through about the first 150 articles, and is
soon after perceptibly changed, into a hand somewhat more formed and
flowing. These appear obviously to have been written during the last
years of his college life, and the two years of his residence at
college as Bachelor of Arts. Large extracts from this work will be
found in the present edition of his Works, and a number of them from
the earlier articles. Such are the Miscellaneous Observations, and the
Miscellaneous Remarks, vol. ii. page 459. and the Miscellanies, page
525. In these will be found many of his most original and most
profound thoughts and discussions on theological subjects.
"His regular and diligent study of the sacred Scriptures, led him
early to discover, that they opened before him an almost boundless
field of investigation and inquiry. Some passages he found to be
incorrectly rendered; many were very obscure, and difficult in
explanation; in many there were apparent inconsistencies and
contradictions; many had been long employed, as proofs of doctrines
and principles, to which they had no possible reference; the words and
phrases, as well as the sentiments and narratives, on one part, he saw
illustrated, and interpreted those of another. The Old Testament, in
its language, history, doctrines, and worship, in its allusions to
manners and customs, in its prophecies, types, and images, he
perceived to be introductory and explanatory of the New; while the
New, by presenting the full completion of the whole plan and design of
their common Author, unfolded the real drift and bearing of every part
of the Old. Regarding the sacred volume with the highest veneration,
he appears to have resolved, while a member of college, that he would,
as far as possible, possess himself, in every part of it which he
read, of the true meaning of its Author. With this view he commenced
his "Notes on the Scriptures;" obviously making it his standing rule,
to study every passage which he read which presented the least
difficulty to his own mind, or which he had known to be regarded as
difficult by others, until such difficulty was satisfactorily removed.
The result of his investigations he regularly, and at the time,
committed to writing; at first in separate half-sheets, folded in 4to;
but having found the inconvenience of this in his other juvenile
writings, he soon formed small pamphlets of sheets, which were
ultimately made into volumes. A few of the articles, to the number of
about fifty, appear to have been written while he was in college; the
rest, while preparing for the ministry, and during his subsequent
life. That he had no suspicion when he began of the size to which the
work would grow, is plain, and whether he afterwards formed the design
of publishing it, as an illustration of the more difficult and obscure
passages of the Bible, perhaps cannot be determined with certainty. A
few of the articles of an historical or mythological nature, are
marked as quotations from the writings of others, and are omitted in
the present edition of his Works. The reader, after perusing the work,
will be satisfied that they are the fruit of his own investigations;
and that his mode of removing difficulties was,--not as it too often
is, by disguising or misstating them, but by giving them their full
force, and meeting them with fair argument. Perhaps no collection of
notes on the Scriptures so entirely original can be found. From the
number prefixed to each article, it will be found easy to select those
which were the result of his early labours. Such a plan of
investigating and explaining the difficulties of the sacred volume, at
so early a period of life, was probably never formed in any other
instance, and evinces a maturity of intellectual and moral
attainments, not often paralleled. Among the most interesting and able
of these investigations, will be found the discussion of the sacrifice
of the daughter of Jephtha, Judg. xi. 29- .; and that on the
principle advanced by Paul, in Romans viii. 28. That all things work
together for good to them that love God; which as being contained in
his letter to Mr. Gillespie, of Sept. 4, 1747, is omitted in the notes
on the Scriptures."
The class of which Edwards was a member, finished their regular
collegiate course, in Sept. 1720, before he was seventeen years of
age. At that period, and for a long time afterwards, the only
exercise, except the Latin Theses, given at the public commencement,
to the class of Bachelors, was the Salutatory, which was also a
Valedictory, Oration in Latin. This exercise was awarded to Edwards,
as sustaining the highest rank as a scholar among the members of the
class.
He resided at college nearly two years after he took his first degree,
preparing himself for the work of the ministry; after which, having
passed the customary trials, he received a licence to preach: this was
in the nineteenth year of his age. In consequence of an application
from a number of ministers in New England, who were intrusted to act
in behalf of the presbyterians in New York, he went to that city in
the beginning of August, 1722, and preached there with great
acceptance, about eight months. While there he found a most happy
residence in the house of a Mrs. Smith; whom, as well as her son Mr.
John Smith, he regarded as persons of uncommon piety and purity of
life, and with whom he formed an intimate christian friendship. There
also he found a considerable number of persons, among the members of
that church, exhibiting the same character; with whom he enjoyed, in a
high degree, all the pleasures and advantages of christian
intercourse. His personal attachment to them became strong; and their
interest in him as a man and a preacher was such, that they warmly
solicited him to remain with them for life. To decline their candid
invitation was most distressing to his feelings; but on account of the
smallness of that congregation, and some peculiar difficulties which
attended it, he did not think there was a rational prospect of
usefulness and comfort. After a most painful parting with the kind
friends, under whose hospitable roof he had so long and happily
resided, he left the city on Friday, the 26th of April, by water, and
reached his father's house on Wednesday, the 1st of May. Here he spent
the summer in close study, during which he was again earnestly
requested, by the congregation in New York, to return to that city,
and settle among them; but his former views were not altered; and
therefore, though strongly inclined from his own feelings to gratify
them, he could not comply with their wishes. Probably in no part of
his life had he higher advantage for spiritual contemplation and
enjoyment, than in the period first mentioned. He went to New York in
a delightful frame of mind. He found there a little flock of Christ,
constrained from a sense of their own weakness to "dwell together in
unity," and to feel a practical sense of their dependence on God. He
was in the midst of a family, whose daily influence served only to
refresh and to sanctify. He had also much leisure for religious
reading, meditation, and prayer. In these circumstances the presence
of the Comforter appears to have been a daily reality; the evidence of
which he found in that purity of heart which enables its possessor to
see God, in the peace which passeth all understanding, and the joy
with which a stranger intermeddleth not.
During his preparation for the ministry, his residence in New York,
and his subsequent residence in his father's house, he formed a series
of resolutions, to the number of seventy, intended obviously for
himself alone, to regulate his own heart and life, but fitted also,
from their christian simplicity and spiritual-mindedness, to be
eminently useful to others. Of these the first thirty-four [6] were
written before Dec. 18, 1722, the time in which his Diary, as it now
exists, commences. The particular time and occasion of making many of
the rest, will be found in that most interesting narrative, in which
also are many other rules and resolutions, intended for the regulation
of his own affections, of perhaps equal excellence. It should be
remembered they were all written before he was twenty years of age. As
he was wholly averse to all profession and ostentation; and as these
resolutions themselves were plainly intended for no other eye than his
own, except the eye that is omniscient; they may be justly considered
as the basis of his conduct and character, the plan by which he
governed the secret as well as the publick actions of his life. As
such they will deeply interest the reader, not only as they unfold the
inmost mind of their author, but as they also show, in a manner most
striking and convincing to the conscience, what is the true foundation
of great and distinguished excellence.
He was too well acquainted with human weakness and frailty, even where
the intentions are most sincere, to enter on any resolutions rashly,
or from a reliance on his own strength. He therefore in the outset
looked to God for aid, who alone can afford success in the use of the
best means, and in the intended accomplishment of the best purposes.
This he places at the head of all his other important rules, that his
whole dependence was on the grace of God, while he still proposes to
recur to a frequent and serious perusal of them, in order that they
might become the habitual directory of his life.
RESOLUTIONS
"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.
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 Son_6:1-13. 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.
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.
. 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 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."
Such were the excellent Resolutions formed by Jonathan Edwards at an
early period of life, and which in succeeding years were regarded by
him, not as unimportant records, but as containing the great
principles of the spiritual life. A deep and extensive knowledge of
the heart is manifest in these Resolutions, a conviction of its
defects, a lively apprehension of its dangers, and an intense concern
that all its tendencies should be towards God, and towards every thing
required by his holy will. There is a remarkable tenderness of
conscience discovered in every particular which has been stated. The
man who could thus write, was not one who could easily trifle with
sin, or who could enter any of its paths without the immediate
reproofs of an offended conscience. This holy man trembled even at the
distant view of sin; he could not willingly come near and survey its
enticements. Accustomed to breathe in a holy atmosphere, the least
taint of corruption immediately affected his spiritual frame. He knew
no happiness except that connected with a conscience void of offence.
All these rules were the suggestions of a conscience of a highly
enlightened character.--They also indicate a constant sense of the
presence and exact observations of the Searcher of all hearts. The
writer lived as seeing him who is invisible; he set the Lord always
before him; encouraging upon all occasions an earnest concern for the
glory of God, the grand object for which he desired to live both upon
earth and in heaven, an object compared with which all other things
seemed in his view but trifles. If this were attained, all his desires
were satisfied; but if this were lost or imperfectly gained, his soul
was filled with anguish. These Resolutions afford ample testimony how
much the author had entered into the spirit of 1 Cor. x. 31. Whether
therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory
of God. They also illustrate his views of the importance of
consistency of character. He was not content with accurate views of
truth, or any kind of outward profession, apart from holy consistency
of character. He studied, he admired, and he exhibited the influence
of the gospel; a walk "worthy of the vocation wherewith he was called"
was the elevated object at which he ardently aimed. He well knew that
the followers of Christ are required "to hold forth the word of life,"
to shine as lights in the world, to instruct by their examples as well
as by their words; and he desired to honour God by presenting to the
view of the members of the spiritual kingdom, and also of the world,
an example which might declare the reality and the beauty of religion.
It is further manifest from these Resolutions, that his mind was most
anxious for daily advancement in every branch of holiness. An active
spiritual principle existed in him, which caused him to press forward,
whatever might be the obstacles in his way. He could not be contented
while one sin remained in him, while one grace was defective, or a
single duty engaged in but imperfectly. He longed for the holy
perfection of the heavenly world, and anticipated with joy that day
when he should awake with the Divine likeness. It cannot be a matter
of surprise, that with these sentiments and feelings he attained an
exaltation of character seldom equalled and perhaps never surpassed.
The Resolutions which have given rise to these reflections are
probably, "to persons of every age, but especially to the young, the
best uninspired summary of christian duty, the best directory to high
attainment in evangelical virtue, which the mind of man has hitherto
been able to form." They disclose the writer's own character, and they
are admirably calculated to improve the character of every reader who
fears to sin, and rejoices in the purity of the Divine will.
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[6] The first twenty-one were written at once; as were the next ten,
at a subsequent sitting. The rest were written occasionally. They are
all on two detached pieces of paper.