Resolved

Here's my last post on Edwards' Resolutions (for now). I love this man's intensity. Oh Lord, give me some of that man's spirit!

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."

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.

—Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol. 16, pp. 753-759.

Resolved

Here are two more from Edwards' Resolutions, which devastate me, especially as I consider the way I dishonored my parents as a child and young man. And so I pray: "O God, remember not the sins of my youth, and instruct this sinner in the everlasting way, according to your steadfast love and for the sake of your goodness."

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 eye: 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, peaceable, 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 (Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol. 16, pp. 753-759).

"Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way!" (Ps. 25:7-8).

Resolved

I'm still enjoying Edwards' famous Resolutions. Here are two more I find stirring:

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.

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were anyway my own, but entirely and altogether God's. . .

—Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol. 16, pp. 753-759.

Resolved

Here are some of Edwards' resolutions on speech and self-control.

First, on speech:

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.
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.
34. Resolved, in narrations never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.
36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it.
70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.

And on self-control:

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.
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.
56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

(Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol. 16, pp. 753-759)

Resolved

Still more resolutions from Edwards' justly famous Resolutions, which he wrote at age nineteen:

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.
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.
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.

Oh that God might raise up more teenagers like this!

Resolved

More resolutions from Edwards' Resolutions:

9. Resolved, to think much on all occassions 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.
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.

In our day, we do the exact opposite of what Edwards was trying to do in resolutions nine and ten. We don't like bad feelings that attend such thoughts. And they seem rather morose to us. However, this was Puritan wisdom, and wisdom indeed (Ps. 90:10, 12). At least Moses would have agreed with Edwards (or maybe Moses informed Edwards' thinking; I'm taking an OT criticism class right now, and I'm a bit muddled on the direction of these things).

A side bar: Just think about what the psychologists and psychiatrists (the modern day religious intelligentsia) could say today of someone like Edwards. He was probably pathological from his birth, certainly from his "conversion" onwards.

Little Ones

If you were looking for a pride-flattening message for your swollen self, this O'Donnell sermon should help you become smaller (as I hope and pray is happening to me). Preached last Sunday, based on Matt. 18:1-14, called "Little Ones," this word is health-giving for those of us who, like Nebuchadnezzer, walk in pride. God is able to humble the proud. And God is able to restore our reason, delivering us from the madness of pride.

The word is also a good word about the seriousness of sin, corporately and individually. Sin is deadly and damaging. And these blood earnest words of Jesus are unpacked for faith to respond soberly, seriously, even violently, warring against rebellious hands, feet, eyes. Souls are at stake. Our souls. Baptized souls. Church-going souls. Outwardly tidy and clean, educated and sophisticated middle-American souls. Then following this word, a word which ought to make even the holiest saint tremble, words of comfort, words of joy, words of the Shepherd's never-ending, always pursuing love lift the heart to see the Father's heart, and leave it subdued. And surrounded by angels.

One word about the mechanics of the exposition. Pastor O'Donnell follows the text tightly (always helpful), betraying that he's done some serious homework, instructing most helpfully how the four pericopes hold together, relate, and mutually interpret one another. Enjoy.

Begrudge Not Your Sufferings O Child of God

The child of God ought not to begrudge the sufferings sent by his heavenly Father, nor should the child of God merely endure them. They are assigned and apportioned by grace for great and wise and holy purposes from the loving hand of a sovereign covenant God who reigns in pain and pleasure.

Here are some texts that have helped me over the years to think about trials and pain and suffering:

"Before I was afflicted I went astray,
     but now I keep your word" (Ps. 119:67).

"It is good for me that I was afflicted,
     that I might learn your statutes" (Ps. 119:71).

"I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous,
     and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me" (Ps. 119:75).

God afflicts us in faithfulness for holy ends. Such rock-solid truths ought to raise in our minds the great value and blessing of sufferings. And we also ought to remember that our sufferings are only sanctified as valuable and worthy of prizing on account of the purchase of the blood of the Son of God. His blood purchased that every thing coming the way of the believer works for his good.

So what sufferer who has tasted the goodness of the Lord in appointed pain will not praise him and thank him and honor him on account of it? The suffering of the child of God has been transformed by the cross and crown of Christ. And I bless and praise my Father whose rod is pleasant pain. I feel very loved of the Lord because I am a chastened son.

Perfect Justification and Incomplete Sanctification in this Life

Have you ever asked why God doesn't make us completely holy immediately after saving us?  I mean, why leave us with indwelling sin, slogging it out day after day with this beast within?

Could it be that one of the reasons God has been pleased not to fully sanctify his people immediately when he justifies them (or at any point in this life while we enjoy full justification) is to fully persuade us that we are never justified by our personal, inherent righteousness--even that produced by the Spirit?  For even the Holy-Spirit-wrought righteousness within us cannot function as the basis or ground of our acceptance, since it is always tainted by our sin.  So all our days, even as we percieve the Spirit's work in ourselves as we grow in grace and holiness, we are ever and always aware of our utter dependence upon an alien righteousness from God, if we are ever to pass muster at that awful judgment seat.

What does this do to the Christian in his or her daily walk with God?  The constant awareness of indwelling sin even as we make progress (for we must, or we're not saved or going to be saved) moves us again and again to depend upon the righteousness of Another.  Psychologically and existentially this is powerful.  Deeply conscious of daily dependence upon the Righteous One, He gets all the glory.  If we were daily considering our Spirit-produced works as securing a standing at the last, who would our eyes be fixed upon?  Who would get less honor and glory?  The sovereign Lord will have none of that.  All praise be to Jesus, the LORD our righteousness!

Lion-like Boldness, Lamb-like Gentleness

All of us are imbalanced people.  None of us stays on the horse.  I believe it was Luther who pictured man as a drunk who is always falling off the horse.  Some fall to the right, some to the left.  But no one stays on the horse.  Except one.

The Lord Jesus combines in his person diverse excellencies.  He is the Lion from the tribe of Judah, with supreme royal majesty and power and dignity.  He is also the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  Only in Christ Jesus do we meet such diverse excellencies, as Edwards pointed out in a famous sermon on Rev. 5:5-6.  We see this almost paradoxical conjunction of excellencies in the Lord Jesus in the Gospels.  There we see a man tough and tender, bold and meek, mighty and merciful, lofty and lowly.  And it is only by beholding this one in faith that we begin to reflect according to our capacities something of the beautiful balance, proportion, and symmetry that do meet in the lovely Lord Jesus.  Beholding him we are being transformed from one level of glory to another, a glory that reflects the glory of the one after whose image all of redeemed humanity is being refashioned (2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:9-10). 

I sometimes almost totally despair of becoming a balanced Christian.  I long to be tough when I should be tough, tender when I should be tender.  My soul pants after boldness and gentleness in the proper proportion, deployed in the right places and at the right times.  And my only hope is beholding Christ--steadfastly.  Gazing at the brightness of his radiant excellencies, his glory and majesty, alone can transfrom a piece of work like me.  So I am persuaded that seeking lion-like boldness and lamb-like gentleness, therefore, should be undertaken not by holding up a list of rules or commandments (at least not mainly).  Such transformation ought to be pursued by sitting at Jesus' feet, beholding him steadfastly by faith, following the Lamb faithfully wherever he goes, listening to his voice intently at all times and in all places. 

Oh to see more and reflect more of him!  Oh to be lion-like and lamb-like!  Do the supernatural work, O sovereign Lord, for it is to you that I pray, in Jesus' strong name and for Jesus' great name's sake.

Free Will or Necessity?

Is the man Messiah Jesus free?  Does he experience perfect liberty in his choices or not?  And is he capable of doing something sinful?  Is it necessary that he always do what is good and right and true?

These questions (and their answers) have a bearing on the relation between free will and necessity in man.  If we are truly free, what necessarily follows?  Is perfect liberty inconsistent with the idea of things necessarily flowing from that liberty?

Jonathan Ewards writes this in miscellany 116a:

Although it be said that 'tis most absurd that there [should] be liberty and yet necessity, that these are most inconsistent; that is, that there should be liberty, when yet 'tis impossible in nature but that the things will be: yet 'tis not worth the while to dispute it, as if liberty and necessity were contraries, for they are not; and 'tis most certain, that that which in any proper sense is called liberty is certainly consistent with absolute necessity.  Thus the glorified [saints], or at least the glorified man Jesus, has as much liberty as any man; but yet 'tis absolutely impossible that he should sin.

Are you free?  That is to say, Are you unable to sin?