Age-Old Wisdom for a Brand New Year

Thirteen Resolutions to Live By by Jonathan Edwards

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.

I will remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

• 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, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.
• Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
• Resolved, Never to do anything, which I would be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
• Resolved, Never to do anything out of revenge.
• 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.
• 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.
• Resolved, Never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of 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.
• Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect have done better.
• Resolved, Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
• 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.
• Resolved, Always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it.
• Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak.