Tim Ellsworth

As many people contemplate resolutions they’ll make for 2006, I thought it would be fitting to point you to the resolutions of Jonathan Edwards. Among the 70 resolutions by which he tried to live his life:

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.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

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.

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.

His list is worth a few minutes of your time to read. Oh, that we would all live in such a way.