It's On To Boston!

Tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, I take the Amtrak train to Boston where Banner will be exhibiting at "Vision New England" and reaching out to members of the church who perhaps haven't yet connected with the likes of Owen, Sibbes, Baxter and more. I may not sell lots of books, but our mission isn't necessarily to do that anyway. Instead, it's about impacting the church for the glory of God. I can't tell you how many people have come up to me and shared how their faith first went deep after reading a book like Owen's "Mortification of Sin," or Baxter's "Reformed Pastor." But there are still so many who haven't discovered that yet; many living on milk and swimming the shallow end when the time for meat and deep dives are long overdue. So, if you're in Boston, I'm staying at the Sheraton downtown. Look me up.

Grace & Peace, Steve

Today's Email That Captured My Attention!

I know there are several things that differentiate Banner of Truth from other publishers. But in addition to the obvious, there is also a relational component that is so unique, as in real relationships between us and you. I mean, how many publishers do you really feel personally connected with? And if you know me, you'll understand that I fit right in with that. Case in point ... today's email that captured my attention. It came from Mark, a guy I met last November at the ETS Conference in DC. While new to me, he wasn't new to Banner. We had a great, although brief conversation, and have kept in touch since, even to the point where today, Mark sent me ultrasound pictures of his first little child, only 9 weeks past conception, as a way of announcing to me that they're going to have a baby! I was so excited. No joke - I printed off the pictures and took them downstairs at our Banner office to show all the ladies.
"Now, tell me again ... who is this from?" they asked.
"A guy I met at the ETS conference last November," I replied.
"And he's sending YOU his ultrasound pictures?!?!?!" they exclaimed.
Why do you think they responded like that? I mean, why wouldn't he? Mark's a solid guy who is strong in his faith, AND he's one of many who feel a strong connection with The Banner and, I'm happy to say, a brother in Christ who works here. I of course called Mark right away; such news is just too exciting to keep confined to an email!
Congratulations, Mark & Ruth. We at The Banner really are excited for you both!
Grace & Peace, Steve
ADDENDUM: Since posting the above, I've learned that Mark & Ruth aren't the only ones having a baby. Tony Reinke (Shepherd's Scrapbook blog) emailed me their ultrasound picture today, plus I learned that two RTS guys in Charlotte, Tyler & Jake and their wives, are expecting their firsts, too. Congratulations from all of us here!
ADDENDUM #2: I was very sad to learn that Mark's wife had a miscarriage on Valentine's Day. They would appreciate our prayers.

"Mortification of Sin" Is On Its Way

You certainly wiped us out of this Puritan Paperback over the past month, but I am happy to report that the truck arrives Tuesday, Jan. 30th, with plenty for the foreseeable future. If you have it on backorder, trust me, we'll get it to you a.s.a.p. If not, or if you're not familiar with it, order it now. I realize we have several titles that we consider "must reads" around here, and this is definitely one of them! Back on our shelves soon!
ADDENDUM - THEY'VE ARRIVED; ALL 8,000+ COPIES ... Let the ordering begin! :-)

Hunter Street Baptist Church Celebrates 100 Years

We at Banner of Truth are, of course, well acquainted with the Bookstore at Hunter Street Baptist Church outside Birmingham, Alabama (2600 John Hawkins Parkway, Hoover, AL). If you live in, or are visiting the Birmingham area, I know you'd be able to find some Banner books on the shelves there and, from what I hear, enjoy some of the best coffee in the area, too. But I didn't know until just recently that this past Sunday, the church celebrated its centennial milestone - 100 years! May the Lord continue His richest blessings upon His work in that area.

The Banner of Truth 2007 Annual Ministers' Conference

Some of you either are a pastor or seminarian, or know of either one, who really ought to be at the annual Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference. In my mind, there are several things that differentiate this event from most any other conference.
(1) The Audience - Men who are engaged in or preparing for Christian ministry - that would include pastors, elders, deacons, missionaries, seminary students.
(2) The Goal - To provide ministering servants with rich spiritiual food in the form of the solid preaching of God's Word. No "How to Make Your Bulletin Prettier" seminars or "Sure Fire Steps to Grow Your Church" sessions. We are out to feed the ones who have been doing the feeding for the past 51 weeks (or preparing to feed the flock of God in the near future).
(3) The Fellowship - I hear time and time again what an incredible time of fellowship it is because we basically all live and eat and worship together during that week. We don't disperse to hotels and restaurants throughout the area for meals and nights; we stay together. It's something that really creates one of the hallmarks of this event.
(4) The Worship - Just stand in the middle of hundreds of men who are singing some of the great hymns of the faith with little or no accompaniment. The first time I heard this last year, I just stopped in my tracks. It was incredible.
Check your calendars and help get the word out. It's going to be a great time together.
THE DETAILS:
Dates: May 29-31, 2007
Location: The campus of Messiah College, Grantham (near Harrisburg), PA.
What Will You Get?
- Solid, reformed preaching and like-minded fellowship
- Two nights lodging and a 6-meal plan
- A gift copy of three new titles from Banner of Truth
- Access to the Banner of Truth Conference Book Room where everything is discounted
- A $30 gift certificate for use in the Banner of Truth Conference Book Room
- Close proximity to our Banner of Truth office and the "slightly damaged," 50% off book section
- A free Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference polo shirt
- One year's electronic subscription to the Banner of Truth magazine.
What's the cost for all of that? Just $220 if you register before 5/1/07 (just $120 for seminary students)
If interested in a brochure, send me an email - steve@banneroftruth.org - and I'll get it to you as soon as we get them from the printer.

There's Still No Place Like Home!

No matter where you go, there really still is no place like home - although I must tell you that that's an older picture of our U.S. office that you see here; the tree that you can barely see to the right has gotten alot bigger! But anyway, I got home last night (Thursday) with the help of two planes, two trains and a car, and was warmly greeted by my wife, three daughters and two dogs (one's just visiting!). Many thanks to you who took time to get together with me; it was good to meet you all, really, and to see you in your world instead of at some conference somewhere. Good to spend time with family, too. Coming up next, info on Banner of Truth's annual Ministers' Conference.

Ice Hits America

I'm praying for you who are coping with that incredible ice storm from the mid-west to northeast - I've read reports from places in Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire. I know other states have been hit, also. Good to get some emails from a few of you in some of those states. Stay warm.
Praying!
Steve

Portland, OR / Seattle, WA Update #2

I keep getting assured that real winter weather rarely hits Seattle. Then my visit must have come at a rare time! With a good amount of ice on the ground, we awoke Tuesday to several inches of snow. You can tell everyone, including my extended family pictured here in Portland, is enjoying it! It is a great side benefit to connect with family and friends across the country when I travel. We had a good weekend together!

Yesterday's prayer that I read from my "Valley of Vision" is still before me. Whoever was the original pray-er said to the Lord, "My God, I feel it is heaven to please thee, and to be what thou wouldst have me be. O that I were holy as thou art holy, pure as Christ is pure, perfect as thy Spirit is perfect!" Have you ever had the sense that, the further along you get in this spiritual pilgrimage, the distance between where you are and the genuine holiness and righteousness in your life that you desire is still very great? In the midst of everything else today, I'd like to find a quiet place in full view of Mt. Ranier or some other majestic work of God's creative hand, and just marvel in the One who created all things. Is there any possibility that you could do likewise, even though in a different location? His creative power is evidenced all about us, is it not? Grace and peace to you this day. Steve

Portland, OR / Seattle, WA Update #1

Greetings from the beautiful Northwest! I flew into Seattle on Friday and promptly drove to Portland, OR for a great weekend with family, plus a visit to Pilgrim Discount Book and Bible Supply Store at 9003 SE Stark Street in Portland where you're sure to find a good selection of Banner of Truth books. "Thank you Bobbi, Jonas and the rest of the staff for a great visit and for providing that area with solid Christian literature." Today I enjoyed a face-to-face meeting (lunch, too) with a new friend and dear brother in the Lord, John Hendryx at Monergism. If you haven't yet discovered www.monergism.com, I encourage you to get there and bookmark that site. It should be a regular stopping place for its great online reading plus access to great books for sale from Banner as well as other solid publishers. "Thanks, John. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed our time together." I also got to connect with Scott, Pastor of New Life Church, at a Borders in the Portland area. Interestingly enough, Scott is a blogger like the rest of us who read online that I was coming to Portland and asked if we could get together; and so we did. "Good to meet you, brother!"
After a few hours in the rental car, I am now in a hotel back in Seattle tonight with a few more customer visits ahead of me during the next few days. This is the kind of a trip that I find to be exciting, meeting and spending some time building relationships with some great people. Thanks to you who have written or even called, assuring me of your prayers as I travel. Know that I'm praying for you as well, seriously. Grace & peace! Steve

Go West, Young Man!

OK, so the word "young" isn't exactly appropriate here, but as of Friday, it is indeed west that I go, to the Portland and Seattle areas into next week. I obviously have an agenda, but if you know of places or people I should hook up with while in these areas, please let me know. In the meantime ...
Grace & peace.
Steve

Today's Words: "Sad" and "Happy"

I came away from the Christian Product Expo in Hershey once again with concern and sad feelings about the state of the church. The attendees were bookstore managers and owners from up and down the east coast. But the ones who were there, anyway, were after the trinkets instead of the books. Instead of "Mortification of Sin" by Owen, or "Prayer" by Bunyan, they were after little placques for your car's dashboard that said, "Be ye reminded not to drive faster than your guardian angel can fly." And the t-shirts with the Staples office store's "Easy button" on the front, but with "Jesus" on the button and words beneath that read something like, "That was easy!" Easy? Easy?!?! Ugh.
On the positive side, however, I met Wally who works in banquet services at the Hershey Lodge. He can't remember the last time he'd been to church but was interested in our books, so I gave him one, "The Promise." It's a GREAT evangelistic tool! When I mentioned him to our friends at Crossway, they gave me a New Testament to give to him, too, since he said he didn't have a Bible. He asked if he could call me some Friday night to get together and talk. I said, "Sure!" Interesting. Pray with me for Wally, ok? Maybe it wasn't for bookstore owners that God took me to Hershey afterall.
Grace & peace. Steve

Helloooooo, from Chocolate World!

Well, I'm not exactly at Chocolate WORLD today, but we have taken Banner of Truth to Chocolate TOWN, which of course would be Hershey, Pennsylvania, the home of that wonderful Hershey chocolate bar (and Reeses' Peanut Butter Cups, and Hershey Kisses, and ...). I live just about 20 minutes from Hershey so I can testify that, on certain days, the whole town really does bear the smell of chocolate. And if you don't know you're in Hershey by the smell, then just drive through downtown and check out the street lights as pictured here on the right >>>
But we are actually at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center both today and tomorrow for the Christian Product Expo (CPE), meeting with bookstore managers who do, or might, choose to carry some, or more, Banner of Truth books. Come Friday, however, I'll blog from Seattle and Portland. I also need to give some details on the upcoming annual 2007 Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference (did you even know we do this?).
Grace & peace, Steve

Happy 150th Wedding Anniversary!

I am certain that you already new this, but TODAY, JANUARY 8th is the 150th wedding anniversary of Charles & Susannah Spurgeon. What a day that must have been! Here's an excerpt from the Banner of Truth book, "Susannah Spurgeon: Free Grace & Dying Love," that actually contains two titles, Morning Devotions written by Mrs. Spurgeon and a short biography of her life.
"The wedding of Susannah Thompson and Charles Haddon Spurgeon took place at New Park Street Chapel on January 8th, 1856, Dr. Alexander Fletcher of Finsbury Chapel officiating. As may be imagined in the case of a man whose name was in everybody's mouth, and whose remarkable work was the topic of discussion up and down the country, it was quite impossible for the wedding to be a quiet one. At a very early hour in the morning people began to gather outside the Chapel, ladies being among the first arrivals, and soon after eight o'clock the crowd had swelled to such proportions, that New Park Street and some adjoining thoroughfares were blocked with people, and traffic was practically at a standstill. A special body of police had to be summoned to prevent accidents. When the chapel doors were at last opened, there was a rush for seats, and in less than half an hour the building was filled to its utmost extent. Large numbers who had tickets of admission but arrived late were unable to gain entrance. Many went home when they found that there was no chance of their being able to get inside the chapel, but some thousands still remained in the streets to see the bride and bridegroom enter and leave.
"It must have been a trying ordeal for the modest and retiring girl. She had risen early and spent much time in her bedroom in private prayer. Although awed with a sense of the responsibilities which she was about to assume, she was 'happy beyond expression' that the Lord had so favoured her, and on her knees, with no one else near, she earnestly sought strength and blessing and guidance in the new life opening before her."
The book continues with the wedding itself, their honeymoon (Ten days in Paris! Way to go, Charles!), and beyond. It's a good read. Personally, I loved Mrs. Spurgeon's words of what she first thought of Charles when she met him. He had preached at the Tabernacle for the first time that morning; Susannah was not there, but due to the uproar, she attended the evening service and heard him preach then, afterwhich she wrote, "Ah how little I then thought that my eyes looked on him who was to be my life's beloved; how little I dreamed of the honour God was preparing for me in the near future! It is a mercy that our lives are not left for us to plan, but that our Father chooses for us; else might we sometimes turn away from our best blessings, and put from us the choicesst and loveliest gifts of his providence. For, if the whole truth be told, I was not at all fascinated by the young orator's eloquence!" Isn't that great?
Grace & peace, and Happy Anniversary, Charles & Susannah!
Steve

From Solitary Confinement ...

We receive a number of letters here at Banner of Truth from people who have been impacted by some Banner book. Here is one that came in right around Christmas from a prison "somewhere" in New York.
"To whom it may be concerned:
In the month of October, I wrote a brief letter to the Banner of Truth Trust inquiring in particular about the price(s) of 'The Christian in Complete Armour' along with other publications. Then, after not receiving a reply for quite some time, I had simply come to the conclusion (albeit erroneously) that, perhaps the company was shut down long ago since in all actuality, the books I was inquiring about were 'outdated' (although reprinted).
Then to my utter surprise, while housed in solitary confinement, the entire volumes of 'The Christian in Complete Armour' (Vols. 1, 2, & 3) were delivered to my solitary confinement cell door! I was truly astonished, astounded, and ecstatic because never, ever does an inmate receive books (or any other outside material) delivered directly to their cell door while in solitary confinement. It just never happens. And in my way of thinking, I'm opined to believe the LORD sent these lovely, glorious books, via you, directly to my cell door. And within one (1) day of returning to society! (I am to be released tomorrow).
However, your charitable deed is not to go unnoticed, nor be in vain. For you already know you are truly a worthy vessel of the LORD delivering much-needed (godly) information to those in dire need of it, and who choose to obeise. Truth be known, other than the Bible, never before have I (partially) read a book so informative and expressive that can save a man's soul, and which expounds in detail 'the mindset' of the Lord and what He attempts to convey to us. And what's expected of us. Season's Greetings to you and yours, and to all personnel at The Banner of Truth Trust!
With my deepest heartfelt appreciation and utmost gratitude.
[Name withheld - a former prisoner in New York]
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God is at work, my friends. God is at work! Each year, Banner sends so many books to prisoners, soldiers, etc. thanks to many of you who donate money to the Banner of Truth Book Fund. And letters like this boost all of us here to continue packing, and shipping and praying for every book that leaves this warehouse!
Grace & peace be yours this day.
Steve

Hershey? Portland? Seattle?

Sure enough, I'm taking to the highway early in 2007. Next Monday - Wednesday, I'll be in Chocolate Town - Hershey, PA, USA - for the CPE Conference. Then Friday, 1/12, I fly to the northwestern USA. I'll be in the Portland and Seattle areas through Thursday, 1/18. If you live in that area and want to get together, let me know. I'll be visiting several accounts for Banner of Truth (bookstores, distributors, churches, etc.) in that area. I've never been to that part of the country before, so am very much looking forward to it. Grace & peace!
Steve

Wishing You A Joy & Peace-Filled 2007

After a week away, we have reopened the Banner of Truth's North America office here in Carlisle, PA. Based on how busy we were the last two months, I assume you received some good books this Christmas. Although they look good on a shelf, they'll look better shining from your heart and through your life, so be sure to read them! I know the following resolutions by Jonathan Edwards are all over the Net, but it still seemed fitting to post them here. I look forward to getting to know more of you during this coming year. If there is anything that we/I might do to be of encouragement to you, please let us/me know.
Grace & peace for 2007!
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The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1722-1723)

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake.
Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.
1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.
2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.
3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.
4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.
9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions 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.
11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don't hinder.
12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.
13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.
14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.
15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.
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.
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.
19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.
20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.
21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.
22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.
23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God's glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.
24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.
25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.
26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.
27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.
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.
29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.
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.
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.
32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, "A faithful man who can find?" may not be partly fulfilled in me.
33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.
34. Resolved, in narration's never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.
35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.
36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.
37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722.
38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord's day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.
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.
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. Jan. 7, 1723.
41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.
42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.
43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God's, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.
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. Jan.12, 1723.
45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723.
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 eve: 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. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.
48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.
49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.
50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.
51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.
52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.
53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.
54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.
55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.
56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it 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.
58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723.
59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13.
60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.
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. May 21, and July 13, 1723.
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." June 25 and July 13, 1723.
63. 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 luster, 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. Jan.14' and July '3' 1723.
64. Resolved, when I find those "groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those "breakings of soul for the longing it hath," of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear', of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.
66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.
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.
68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.
70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.
Aug. 17, 1723