Jonathan Edwards (Spiritual Leaders and Thinkers)

Jonathan Edwards was at home in East Windsor during the summer of 1723. Although a few weeks shy of his twentieth birthday, he had been selected to give the graduation oration at Yale College that fall, and he anxiously prepared and honed his speech-making skills. At the same time, he made entries into his diary that suggest he was rapidly working to improve himself in other ways as well: Resolved, Whenever I hear any thing spoken in commendation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, that I will endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723. Resolved, To endeavor, to my utmost, so to act, as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of Heaven and Hell torments. July 8, 1723. Resolved, When I fear misfortunes and adversity, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it, and let the event be just as Providence orders it. I will, as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13, 1723. Resolved, Not only to refrain from an air of disdain, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.1 This diary was not a diary in the conventional sense. Edwards did not include in it the minutiae of his daily activites, rather he filled its pages with his spiritual developments. Though some entries were written and rewritten at different times, the private diary and its resolutions provide a better understanding of Jonathan Edwards than almost any of his sermons, which were written for the public.

!!!No Mirrors below, please! Follow Rules!