Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards.
THAT I will do whatever 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. To do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good of mankind in general. Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can. Never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life. To be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality. Never to speak evil of any one so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less upon no account, except for some real good. To maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking. 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. 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 can not hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession which I can not hope God will except. Never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christain 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 any one, to bring it to, and try it strictly by, the test of this resolution. 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. 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. 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 so done. On the supposition that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time who was properly a complete Christain, in all respects, of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from what ever part and under what ever character viewed, to act just as I would do if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time.