Christianity Quote by Jonathan Edwards
““Of his seventy Resolutions, all written before he was twenty, the following may be taken as a specimen: it is the language of a mind as truly original as religious, and is eminently characteristic. “On the supposition that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true lustre, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed, Resolved: To act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time.” And he did so act; these resolutions were not empty, they really determined his life. Edwards””
About This Quote
Source Sermon: The Great Awakening, 1741
A young man resolved to embody perfect Christian virtue, shaping his life through steadfast, original moral commitment.
In simple terms: He vowed to live as the ideal Christian, guiding his actions.
Key Takeaway
Commit fully to your highest moral ideal.
Themes
faith
originality
commitment
morality
Mood
determined
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal transformation
- spiritual practice
- leadership decisions
Key Concepts
Christian ethics
personal resolve
idealism
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you identify a personal ideal that drives you?
- How do you balance idealism with practical constraints?
A Different Perspective
His resolve may overlook human limitations and societal complexities.
![“[Jonathan] Edwards definitely shows up in the book [Saving Calvinism]. He appears as one of the interlocutors in the chapter on free will, the other being the Southern Presbyterian theologian John Girardeau.” quote by Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/37e/oliver-d-crisp-12863_book_jonathan-edwards-definitely-shows-up-in_710749.jpg)
![“But it is doubtless true, and evident from [the] Scriptures, that the essence of all true religion lies in holy love; and that in this divine affection, and an habitual disposition to it, and that light which is the foundation of it, and those things which are the fruits of it, consists the whole…” quote by Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2fd/jonathan-edwards-770_affection_but-it-is-doubtless-true-and-evident-fro_82879.jpg)
