MONDAY EDWARDS EXCERPT: The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards

Today was a good day. It was an Edwards day. I had the privilege of reading Dr. Steven J. Lawson's new book, The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards.

Dr. Lawson begins with a brief sketch of Edwards's life. Then he takes Edwards "Resolutions" as a basic framework from which to explore his piety. He summarizes and divides the seventy "Resolutions" into six major categories: (1) Pursuing the glory of God, (2) Forsaking sin, (3) Making proper use of God-allotted time, (4) Living with all his being for the Lord, (5) Pursuing humility and love, and (6) Making frequent self-examination. Dr. Lawson researches Edwards's personal diary, his personal narrative, Soreno Dwight's "Memoir," and a plethora of thoughts from contemporary Edwards scholars in order to trace out an account of Edwards lifelong endeavor to live out his "Resolutions."

Edwards wrote this preamble to his "Resolutions":

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.

Dr. Lawson remarks:

At the beginning of the Preamble Edwards acknowledged that he was unable to accomplish any spiritual good on his own. He wrote, "Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help . . ." The word sensible indicates awareness. Edwards knew he lacked the ability to "do anything" pleasing to God or to produce his own spiritual growth.

Thus, the preamble shows that Edwards knew he could not fulfill his "Resolutions" by simply resolving to do so. Composing these vows did not indicate that he presumed to possess the natural ability to keep them. Edwards "was too well acquainted with human weakness and frailty even where the intentions are most sincere, to enter on any resolutions rashly, or from a reliance on his own strength" [from Sereno Dwight's "Memoir"].

In his diary, Edwards bared his soul regarding his helplessness to achieve any spiritual advancement by his own strength:

Wednesday, Jan. 2, 1722-23. Dull. I find, by experience, that, let me make resolutions, and do what I will, with never so many inventions, it is all nothing, and to no purpose at all, without the motions of the Spirit of God; for if the Spirit of God should be as much withdrawn from me always, as for the week past, notwithstanding all I do, I should not grow, but should languish, and miserably fade away. I perceive, if God should withdraw His Spirit a little more, I should not hesitate to break my resolutions, and should soon arrive at my old state. There is no dependence on myself.

The book is easy to read and provides wonderful insight into the soul of a man widely regarded as one of the great divines of church history. Read it and be challenged to pursue God and godliness with renewed understanding and vigor.