Resolved to do Better This Year
James McAlister
This being the season for making New Year's resolutions, I thought we might be inspired in our own commitments by a few of the 70 resolutions made by a young man when he was about 20. His powerful resolves helped shape not only his own destiny, but also that of a nation.
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.
13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.
14. Resolved, never to do any thing out of revenge.
17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.
69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it.
70. Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak.
Jonathan Edwards (1703—1758) entered Yale University just shy of his 13th birthday and graduated at 17. One of the leading intellectual figures in colonial America, his sermons in the 1730's and 1740's led to a series of revival movements later known as the Great Awakening. Considered what he determined in youth, it's no wonder.
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Copyright © 2002 James McAlister
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