I just finished reading Sam Storms wonderful interpretation of Jonathan Edwards' Religious Affections and Edwards' Personal Narrative titled Signs of the Spirit. I am so thankful for Storms' love for Edwards and his way of helping make Edwards understandable to modern ears and eyes. Edwards truly is one of the giants of understanding, piety, and devotion.
Here is a declaration of personal resolve that is found in the entry to his diary, recorded on Saturday, January 12, 1723. Read it closely, prayerfully, and make it your own (I myself have been praying it every day) :
In the morning. I have this day, solemnly renewed my baptismal covenant and self-dedication, which I renewed, when I was taken into the communion of the church. I have been before God, and have given myself, all that I am and have, to God; so that I am not, in any respect, my own.
I can challenge no right in this understanding, this will, these affections, which are in me. Neither have I any right to this body, or any of its members: no right to this tongue, these hands, these feet; no right to these senses, these eyes, these ears, this smell, or this taste. I have given myself clear away, and have not retained anything, as my own.
I gave myself to God, in my baptism, and I have been this morning to him, and told him, that I gave myself wholly to him. I have given every power to him, so that for the future, I'll challenge no right in myself, in no respect whatever. I have expressly promised him, and I do now promise Almighty God, that by his grace, I will not.
I have this morning told him, that I did take him for my whole portion and felicity (happiness and joy), looking on nothing else, as any part of my happiness, nor acting as if it were; and [I did take] his Law, for the constant rule of my obedience; and would fight, with all my might, against the world, the flesh and the devil, to the end of my life; and that I did believe in Jesus Christ, and did receive him as a Prince and Savior; and that I would adhere to the faith and obedience of the Gospel, however hazardous and difficult the confession and practice of it may be; and that I did receive the blessed Spirit, as my Teacher, Sanctifier, and only Comforter, and cherish all his motions to enlighten, purify, confirm, comfort and assist me.
This, I have done; and I pray God, for the sake of Christ, to look upon it as a self-dedication, and to receive me now, as entirely his own, and to deal with me, in all respects, as such, whether he afflicts me, or prospers me, or whatever he pleases to do with me, who am his.
Now, henceforth, I am not to act, in any respect, as my own. I shall act as my own if I ever make use of any of my powers to anything that is not to the glory of God, and do not make the glorifying of him my whole and entire business: [I shall act as my own] if I murmur in the least at affliction; if I grieve at the prosperity of others; if I am in any way uncharitable; if I am angry because of injuries; if I revenge them; if I do anything purely to please myself, or if I avoid any thing for the sake of my own ease; [I shall act as my own) if I omit anything, because it is great self-denial; if I trust myself. if I take any of this praise of any good that I do, or that God doth by me; or if I am in any way proud.”
Longing for this pray of consecration to be my own,
Pastor Bill
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