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Jonathan Edwards was a very devout, Godly man from the 1700's. If you're not familiar with him, his biography is very worth checking out.
At the age of 19, he created a list of resolutions to live by. Not the same type of resolutions that we tend to make today, like losing weight, quitting smoking, becoming debt free, going to the gym more, etc., His were about living a life to please God in regards to relationships, physical temperance, attitude, behavior, spiritual living, etc.,
These are incredibly well-rounded and he reviewed them once a WEEK to see how he was doing. Jonathan Edwards governed his life and ministry by this "life code" and wanted to live as if he had "already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments."
Here they are, in the original language, for your own contemplation: His life and ministry are credited with The Great Awakening.
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"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." -- Jonathan Edwards
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 myriad's 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 and how great soever.
2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance 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.
9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own 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 don't 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 endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.
14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.
15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.
16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, 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 devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.
19. Resolved, never to do anything, 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 anything, 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 endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, 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 4th 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 endeavor 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 to direct all my forces against it.
26. Resolved, to east away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.
27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, 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 to my utmost 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 anything at all against anybody, but when it is
perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian 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 anyone, 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. 20:6, "A faithful man who can find?" may not be partly fulfilled in me.
33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects.
34. Resolved, in narration's never to speak anything 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.
36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it.
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.
38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord's day.
39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.
40. 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.
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.
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 twelfth day of January, 1722-23.
43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God's, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 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.
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.
46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting 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 eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.
47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peace_able, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning.
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 no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of.
49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.
50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world.
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.
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.
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.
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.
55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments.
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 adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin.
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.
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.
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.
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, etc.
62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; "knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord."
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 luster, 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.
64. Resolved, when I find those "groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those "breakings of soul for the longing it hath," of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear', of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness.
65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, 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 27th Sermon on Psalm 119.
66. Resolved, that I will endeavor 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.
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.
Edwards may have been a devout, Godly man, and he was obviously quite charismatic, and dramatic, but I don't think much of sermons such as his, ("Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"), that terrify people out of hell, and into heaven, whether they are his, or some present-day preacher's.
Frankly, I quit believing in an eternal hell a long time ago, (not God, mind you, or even necessarily punishment, just an eternal hell), and I got a belly-full of "fire-and-brimstone" sermons as a kid, and up through my thirties. That was more than enough! It doesn't do much for me, for someone to tell people that "God holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire..." Now, there's a picture to win you with the love of God!
I've read that he was a Calvinist, (and I noted this line from his sermon, which certainly lends credence to that idea: "And let every one that is yet out of Christ, and hanging over the pit of hell, whether they be old men and women, or middle-aged, or young people, or little children, now harken to the loud calls of God's word and providence."), so I wonder why he even bothered to preach such sermons. It seems as though that would have been a waste of time, since only the elect, the predestined, (by Calvinist thinking), are chosen by God, and will be admitted into heaven, in the first place, and there is nothing a non-elect person can do to avoid hell, in the second.
I hesitate to cast seeming aspersions on a dead man's character, but I can't help but wonder if he wasn't the "televangelist" of his time. His sermons certainly garnered a great deal of attention, and while many of his resolutions are good, and seemingly well-intentioned, I also believe that he was Puritanical and bleak, like many of his kind, (then and now), and that just doesn't impress me with God's love.
Yes, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” is definitely a convicting service. Every word he preached was backed-up with scriptures.
It’s true you don’t hear sermons like that in today’s churches, but that’s at the disgrace of the American Cultural Christianity and Seeker-Friendly messages that have prevailed for decades. The messages like Jonathon Edwards preached are biblical. Jesus spoke more about hell than almost any other topic – certainly more than He spoke about heaven.
Hell does exist. Just because we don’t like it, and say we don’t believe in it, doesn’t change the fact that the Bible is very clear throughout that it does, in fact, exist. And the punishment in hell is just as eternal as life in heaven with Jesus.
Here are just a few references:
Matthew 25:41 says hell is an everlasting fire.
Matthew 3:12 says hell is an unquenchable fire.
Daniel 12:2 says hell is “shame and everlasting contempt.”
Mark 9:44-49 says hell is a place where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.
Luke 16:23-24 – a place of torments and flame.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 – everlasting destruction.
Revelation 14:10-11 - a place of torment with "fire and brimstone" where "the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever.”
Revelation 20:10 - a "lake of fire and brimstone" where the wicked are "tormented day and night forever and ever."
Jesus Himself said the punishment in hell is everlasting - not just the smoke and flames (Matthew 25:46).
The wicked (unrepentant) are subject to God’s wrath and fury, in hell, forever. They’ll be suffering shame and torment and their conscious’ are forever being accused.
Psalm 76:10 says that even those in hell will acknowledge God’s perfect justice. They’ll know their punishment is just and that they alone are to blame. It says so in Deuteronomy 32:3-5.
Hell is a very real place of eternal torment for those who do not repent of their sins, accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and turn to His word in obedience.
Knowing what awaits people like that, would you expect a preacher to not be dramatic about it? If your child were playing in the park and ran out into the street in front of an oncoming car, would you expect someone to politely and lovingly explain that that’s not a good idea and they that the car might hurt them? No, of course not. You’d be extremely angry if the person didn’t yell their warning at the top of their lungs and rush to action.
That’s why the message of hell is preached so “dramatically.” People are heading into an eternal fiery pit of never-ending torment! That certainly warrants some urgency.
Many people are quick to accept God’s message of love and forgiveness, but when it comes to dealing with their sins and the price they’re destined to pay for them (an eternity in hell) it’s not a feel-good message and so they reject it because we, in America, are used to the namby-pamby Jesus, meek and mild flower child message whose full of love and forgiveness (except to those we don’t want to forgive, because they don’t deserve it).
His love and mercy and forgiveness are very real, yes. But, God is also holy and just. If He weren’t, He would not – and could not - be God.
Last edited by Simple Living; 05-19-2008 at 11:11 AM..
Reason: Edited to fix font type: I typed this out in Word before pasting it here.
Edwards may have been a devout, Godly man, and he was obviously quite charismatic, and dramatic, but I don't think much of sermons such as his, ("Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"), that terrify people out of hell, and into heaven, whether they are his, or some present-day preacher's.
Frankly, I quit believing in an eternal hell a long time ago, (not God, mind you, or even necessarily punishment, just an eternal hell), and I got a belly-full of "fire-and-brimstone" sermons as a kid, and up through my thirties. That was more than enough! It doesn't do much for me, for someone to tell people that "God holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire..." Now, there's a picture to win you with the love of God!
I've read that he was a Calvinist, (and I noted this line from his sermon, which certainly lends credence to that idea: "And let every one that is yet out of Christ, and hanging over the pit of hell, whether they be old men and women, or middle-aged, or young people, or little children, now harken to the loud calls of God's word and providence."), so I wonder why he even bothered to preach such sermons. It seems as though that would have been a waste of time, since only the elect, the predestined, (by Calvinist thinking), are chosen by God, and will be admitted into heaven, in the first place, and there is nothing a non-elect person can do to avoid hell, in the second.
I hesitate to cast seeming aspersions on a dead man's character, but I can't help but wonder if he wasn't the "televangelist" of his time. His sermons certainly garnered a great deal of attention, and while many of his resolutions are good, and seemingly well-intentioned, I also believe that he was Puritanical and bleak, like many of his kind, (then and now), and that just doesn't impress me with God's love.
I also disagree with the message that he preached on eternal hell, CelticLady, and the fear/terror that it evidently instilled in some people. Many committed suicide from what I understand, as a result. I don't believe that many of the things that he taught accurately portrayed the love, justice, power, and goodness of God, although he may have had good intentions. God bless.
As Simple Living said, we can't get around the issue of hell.
I believe that many will experience hell, but not in the way that Jonathan Edwards describes it, that God hates and abhors those who are lost. God is described as love, not hate. If He did hate or abhor us, He would not have sent His Son to die for us. We would not have been taught to love our enemies and we believers were once His enemies... We were all lost at one time and Jesus gave His life for us because God loves us. This is not hate. I believe that many will experience hell, but I don't believe that it is an eternal condition. God bless.
Last edited by ShanaBrown; 05-19-2008 at 02:50 PM..
Your second post, SimpleLiving, makes this "Hellfire and Brimstone" Sermon #2,370 for me, at the rate of four Sundays per month, twice each Sunday, for a minimum of 35 years, (I stopped attending church, on a regular basis, around this age, and altogether a few years later), discounting fifth Sundays, Wednesdays, revivals, youth camps, Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, and the like, (whew, I'm tired just thinking about all that!). In other words, I've heard this all before, countless times, and I'm simply no longer impressed, (and I'm 46 now, so I've had a few years to contemplate the arguments, both pro and con, concerning the church's teaching on hell and damnation).
Attributing such "hellish" behaviour, (particularly on an eternal basis), to our Creator is misguided, at best, but, if some choose to believe that God operates in such a manner, more power to them. But, actions such as this would not be tolerated in civilized human society, nor should it be, (I seem to recall a man named Hitler, who used some pretty nasty methods against his so-called enemies, and he was rightfully condemned for his behaviour). Yet most Christians seem to have no problem with thinking of their God employing the same tactics with his creation. Strange, indeed!
This has been said many times before on this forum, and by better educated people than myself, (both on the Bible, and on church history), so I'm not going to go into a long narrative, but suffice it to say, that I believe that there was, and continues to be, mistranslations and misinterpretations of the Bible, and a whole lot of misunderstanding of our Creator.
I totally agree with you that God is love and He is not a hateful God.
His desire is that "none should perish, but that all would come to repentance."
But, the bible is clear on eternal torment awaiting for those who choose to deny God and the salvation provided through Jesus Christ.
Hi UNT Eagle, I disagree with you on this (that the Bible is clear on eternal torment waiting those who choose to deny God) but I will not talk about it on this thread, reminded of the original topic. Again, I disagree on how Jonathan Edwards presented hell and the character of God in his sermons on hell. I think that his intentions were good, but I believe that it did a lot of damage. God bless.
Your second post, SimpleLiving, makes this "Hellfire and Brimstone" Sermon #2,370 for me, at the rate of four Sundays per month, twice each Sunday, for a minimum of 35 years, (I stopped attending church, on a regular basis, around this age, and altogether a few years later), discounting fifth Sundays, Wednesdays, revivals, youth camps, Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, and the like, (whew, I'm tired just thinking about all that!). In other words, I've heard this all before, countless times, and I'm simply no longer impressed, (and I'm 46 now, so I've had a few years to contemplate the arguments, both pro and con, concerning the church's teaching on hell and damnation).
Attributing such "hellish" behaviour, (particularly on an eternal basis), to our Creator is misguided, at best, but, if some choose to believe that God operates in such a manner, more power to them. But, actions such as this would not be tolerated in civilized human society, nor should it be, (I seem to recall a man named Hitler, who used some pretty nasty methods against his so-called enemies, and he was rightfully condemned for his behaviour). Yet most Christians seem to have no problem with thinking of their God employing the same tactics with his creation. Strange, indeed!
This has been said many times before on this forum, and by better educated people than myself, (both on the Bible, and on church history), so I'm not going to go into a long narrative, but suffice it to say, that I believe that there was, and continues to be, mistranslations and misinterpretations of the Bible, and a whole lot of misunderstanding of our Creator.
I understand your frustration. That much I can tell you! I feel the exact same way when people from the Word of Faith movement come calling. Nevertheless, we are all responsible for our own decisions.
I'm certainly not one whose going to force an opinion on you. My views come from the scriptures themselves and I've chosen to believe it's the inerrent Word of God due to study, MUCH prayer and the experience of years of scripture ringing true in every area of my life. Christians aren't called to convert anyone, so I don't try. That's the Holy Spirit's job. We are called to proclaim the gospel, share our faith and prayer. That's what I do.
This is why I placed this thread in the Christian section and not the Philosophy and Religion Forums. These resolutions are profitable for a Christians spiritual growth. If more people, me included, lived by just 10 of the 70 resolutions here, we would be a much more loving church.
I will end this with a quote from St. Augustine that I find very insightful:
"If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself."
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at the rate of four Sundays per month, twice each Sunday, for a minimum of 35 years, (I stopped attending church, on a regular basis, around this age, and altogether a few years later), discounting fifth Sundays, Wednesdays, revivals, youth camps, Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, and the like, (whew, I'm tired just thinking about all that!
). In other words, I've heard this all before, countless times, and I'm simply no longer impressed, (and I'm 46 now, so I've had a few years to contemplate the arguments, both pro and con, concerning the church's teaching on hell and damnation). 
