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The Personal Narrative of Jonathan Edwards and His 70 Resolutions
Jonathan Edward's short spiritual autobiography.
Audio CD
First published July 1, 2011
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About the author
Jonathan Edwards
1,589 books522 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database named Jonathan Edwards.
Jonathan Edwards was the most eminent American philosopher-theologian of his time, and a key figure in what has come to be called the First Great Awakening of the 1730s and 1740s.
The only son in a family of eleven children, he entered Yale in September, 1716 when he was not yet thirteen and graduated four years later (1720) as valedictorian. He received his Masters three years later. As a youth, Edwards was unable to accept the Calvinist sovereignty of God. However, in 1721 he came to what he called a "delightful conviction" though meditation on 1 Timothy 1:17. From that point on, Edwards delighted in the sovereignty of God. Edwards later recognized this as his conversion to Christ.
In 1727 he was ordained minister at Northampton and assistant to his maternal grandfather, Solomon Stoddard. He was a student minister, not a visiting pastor, his rule being thirteen hours of study a day. In the same year, he married Sarah Pierpont, then age seventeen, daughter of Yale founder James Pierpont (1659–1714). In total, Jonathan and Sarah had eleven children.
Stoddard died on February 11th, 1729, leaving to his grandson the difficult task of the sole ministerial charge of one of the largest and wealthiest congregations in the colony. Throughout his time in Northampton his preaching brought remarkable religious revivals.
Yet, tensions flamed as Edwards would not continue his grandfather's practice of open communion. Stoddard believed that communion was a "converting ordinance." Surrounding congregations had been convinced of this, and as Edwards became more convinced that this was harmful, his public disagreement with the idea caused his dismissal in 1750.
Edwards then moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, then a frontier settlement, where he ministered to a small congregation and served as missionary to the Housatonic Indians. There, having more time for study and writing, he completed his celebrated work, The Freedom of the Will (1754).
Edwards was elected president of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) in early 1758. He was a popular choice, for he had been a friend of the College since its inception. He died of fever at the age of fifty-four following experimental inoculation for smallpox and was buried in the President's Lot in the Princeton cemetery beside his son-in-law, Aaron Burr.
Jonathan Edwards was the most eminent American philosopher-theologian of his time, and a key figure in what has come to be called the First Great Awakening of the 1730s and 1740s.
The only son in a family of eleven children, he entered Yale in September, 1716 when he was not yet thirteen and graduated four years later (1720) as valedictorian. He received his Masters three years later. As a youth, Edwards was unable to accept the Calvinist sovereignty of God. However, in 1721 he came to what he called a "delightful conviction" though meditation on 1 Timothy 1:17. From that point on, Edwards delighted in the sovereignty of God. Edwards later recognized this as his conversion to Christ.
In 1727 he was ordained minister at Northampton and assistant to his maternal grandfather, Solomon Stoddard. He was a student minister, not a visiting pastor, his rule being thirteen hours of study a day. In the same year, he married Sarah Pierpont, then age seventeen, daughter of Yale founder James Pierpont (1659–1714). In total, Jonathan and Sarah had eleven children.
Stoddard died on February 11th, 1729, leaving to his grandson the difficult task of the sole ministerial charge of one of the largest and wealthiest congregations in the colony. Throughout his time in Northampton his preaching brought remarkable religious revivals.
Yet, tensions flamed as Edwards would not continue his grandfather's practice of open communion. Stoddard believed that communion was a "converting ordinance." Surrounding congregations had been convinced of this, and as Edwards became more convinced that this was harmful, his public disagreement with the idea caused his dismissal in 1750.
Edwards then moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, then a frontier settlement, where he ministered to a small congregation and served as missionary to the Housatonic Indians. There, having more time for study and writing, he completed his celebrated work, The Freedom of the Will (1754).
Edwards was elected president of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) in early 1758. He was a popular choice, for he had been a friend of the College since its inception. He died of fever at the age of fifty-four following experimental inoculation for smallpox and was buried in the President's Lot in the Princeton cemetery beside his son-in-law, Aaron Burr.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 3, 2020
The edition of this that I read didn't include Jonathan Edward's Seventy Resolutions. I read those separately. This is a short book, I'm not sure whether you could call it an autobiography. It's more like a spiritual autobiography, tracing his spiritual journey through life, which I found extremely relatable encouraging.
His encounters with God's sovereignty and the realization that works without affection are worthless are a couple of the things he talks about. I highly recommend it.
He's well on his way to becoming one of my heroes.
His encounters with God's sovereignty and the realization that works without affection are worthless are a couple of the things he talks about. I highly recommend it.
He's well on his way to becoming one of my heroes.
June 14, 2025
For any family members that might see this review, you would have to put yourself in the proper frame of mind to read this book. Edwards was a deeply emotional and supremely introspective individual. At times his emotion and self flagellation can be probably off putting for the modern reader. However, he also has probably had a greater theological impact than any American ever, and his kindness in combination with his commitment to the kingdom is surpassed by none.
I found the second chapter that listed his 70 resolutions to be intro and probably good standards to try to emulate in our lives.
Only read it if you can put yourself in the shoes of an 18th century pastor. And read it with an understanding that you are trying to get into the mind of a theological heavyweight.
I found the second chapter that listed his 70 resolutions to be intro and probably good standards to try to emulate in our lives.
Only read it if you can put yourself in the shoes of an 18th century pastor. And read it with an understanding that you are trying to get into the mind of a theological heavyweight.
March 10, 2018
Oh my goodness. Want to hear how a genuine Christian ought to think and live? Want to be overwhelmed by your own spiritual immaturity? The spirituality of Jonathan Edwards is on a whole different plane from almost everyone else in history. He was not a perfect man. He was flawed like all of us. But he thought and lived in a way different from almost all of us. His unique "God entranced vision" is on full display in this work.
May 18, 2014
This is the place to begin if you have never read Edwards.
March 28, 2020
Personal reflections of Jonathan Edwards and his 70 resolutions.
A great book for reflection.
A great book for reflection.
May 3, 2021
read this for uni hehe
September 28, 2023
What I wouldn't give to have this man's view of his own sin and the sweet excellencies of God.
'It has often appeared to me delightful, to be united to Christ; to have him for my Head, and to be a member of his body; also to have Christ for my Teacher and Prophet. I very often think with sweetness, and longings, and pantings of soul, of being a little child, taking hold of Christ, to be led by him through the wilderness of this world. '
'My wickedness, as I am in myself, has long appeared to me perfectly ineffable, and swallowing up all thought and imagination; like an infinite deluge, or mountains over my head. I know not how to express better what my sins appear to me to be, than by heaping infinite upon infinite, and multiplying infinite by infinite. Very often, for these many years, these expressions are in my mind and in my mouth, “Infinite upon infinite — Infinite upon infinite!” When I look into my heart, and take a view of my wickedness, it looks like an abyss, infinitely deeper than hell. And it appears to me, that were it not for free grace, exalted and raised up to the infinite height of all the fullness and glory of the great Jehovah, and the arm of his power and grace stretched forth in all the majesty of his power, and in all the glory of his sovereignty, I should appear sunk down in my sins below hell itself; far beyond the sight of every thing, but the eye of sovereign grace, that can pierce even down to such a depth. '
'It has often appeared to me delightful, to be united to Christ; to have him for my Head, and to be a member of his body; also to have Christ for my Teacher and Prophet. I very often think with sweetness, and longings, and pantings of soul, of being a little child, taking hold of Christ, to be led by him through the wilderness of this world. '
'My wickedness, as I am in myself, has long appeared to me perfectly ineffable, and swallowing up all thought and imagination; like an infinite deluge, or mountains over my head. I know not how to express better what my sins appear to me to be, than by heaping infinite upon infinite, and multiplying infinite by infinite. Very often, for these many years, these expressions are in my mind and in my mouth, “Infinite upon infinite — Infinite upon infinite!” When I look into my heart, and take a view of my wickedness, it looks like an abyss, infinitely deeper than hell. And it appears to me, that were it not for free grace, exalted and raised up to the infinite height of all the fullness and glory of the great Jehovah, and the arm of his power and grace stretched forth in all the majesty of his power, and in all the glory of his sovereignty, I should appear sunk down in my sins below hell itself; far beyond the sight of every thing, but the eye of sovereign grace, that can pierce even down to such a depth. '
April 4, 2023
Possibly idealistic at times and a few Resolutions are somewhat repetitive. Although a great ideal, it'd be nice to know how closely he held to them and if there was anything he'd add or change later in life. I also am uncertain whether I am letting the world and times get to me when I view some of them as impractical, irrelevant, or impossible, or if some of them are of his time and less applicable today. Nonetheless, most are relevant and convicting. Johnathan Edwards, a flawed human, is still a pretty good example.
June 12, 2018
A much more pleasant read than "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", Edwards's self-portrayal in this makes him sound less deranged although still obsessed with religion, self-deprecating, etc. I felt a little sad for the guy with all this oppression and self-hatred he carried.
February 5, 2022
(I listened to this on audiobook.)
September 11, 2023
The most personally moving work of Edwards work that I have read so far
September 20, 2023
surveyed
October 22, 2023
he’s as delulu for god as i’m for mingyu
December 29, 2024
great start to the year ;)
February 2, 2025
I have a headache….. reading this twice in the past 3 months gave me forehead wrinkles. I don’t care for Jonathan Edward’s…. John Marrant soloed.
October 26, 2025
never in my 21 years of living on this planet have i read something *this* rooted in delusion
March 13, 2012
Glorious. Beautifully written but brief.
July 1, 2013
A very short little look at Jonathon Edward's younger years. The resolutions were convicting. Listened on my iPod.
October 30, 2018
It never gets old, and it always will convict you. I need to read this more than I do.
January 8, 2019
Read this book in one sitting. His resolutions are unmatched and so very humbling. This is a great book to read at the beginning of the year and prayerfully/thoughtfully consider which resolutions to adopt as your own for the coming year. I took a few that I’ll be praying through and applying myself!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews