THE Mighty Fortress

Confidence in God facing anything preserved in Luther's famous hymn...


"And though this world, with devils filled
Should threaten to undo us
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him."

Find your rest in wonder

by Joshua

This is what it looked like to have your mind blown away 1600 years ago. It still happens...

(Augustine here contemplates the unsearchable mysteries of God in predestination)

"You a man expect an answer from me: I also am a man. Wherefore, let us both listen to Him who says, 'O man, who are you?' Believing igorance is better than presumptuous knowledge. Seek merits; you will find naught but punishment.
O the height!
Peter denies,
a thief believes.
O the height!
Do you ask the reason?
I will tremble at the height; I cannot sound the depth. Paul found rest because he found wonder, He calls the judgements of God 'unsearchable;' and have you come to search them? He says that his ways are 'past finding out,' and do you seek to find them out?"
Augustine

Book Plan, Year Twenty-Ten

2010 Book Pile as it appears thus far

As promised several weeks back, here is my reading plan for the year. I am in all these books now except for Finally Alive which I finished about a month ago. s for the rest of these books, I plan to take them in slow and easy. Especially the Greek textbooks.

Finally Alive - John Piper

In this book Piper unpacks the resplendence of the new birth in a God exalting manner.

Valley of Vision

The valley of vision is a collection of prayers from the Puritans. It's so good, I could write a meaningful post on it every time I pick it up. There's a prayer for almost every season of the soul. Here's a few excerpts.

"Help me to see how good Your will is in all. And even when it crosses mine, teach me to be pleased with it. . ."

"... let me find Thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death,
Thy joy in my sorrow,
Thy grace in my sin,
Thy riches in my poverty,
Thy glory in my valley."

Communion With God - John Owen

Like Calvin before him, Owen is also known as the Theologian of the Holy Spirit. And he has a remarkable gift to the church in this book. In my life I have not came across many if any who point us towards fellowship with each person of the Trinity on the level Owen does. I intend to post a deal more on this later.

Lectures To My Students - CH Spurgeon>

Packed full of wisdom and instruction in ministry from the life of the prince of preachers Charles Haddon Spurgeon, this book is more than worth its weight in gold. The book starts out with a sturdy smack in the face and is fast moving. The first sentence is a direct quote from 1 Timothy 4:16. Right in there with the main tenants of this blog.

"Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine"

New Testament Greek For Beginners - J. Gresham Machen

Since I wrote a little about the Author of this book in my Greek Fire post a few weeks back, I will spare you any more details on it, for now.

Basics of Biblical Greek - William D. Mounce

William (Bill) Mounce's Basics of Biblical Greek is the standard for beginning Biblical Greek in our time. He really wants to take every difficulty and hindrance out of learning Biblical Greek that he can. Who knows, in a few decades he may even reach legendary status.

I am also in a few other books,

Newton's The Meaning of the Jewish Tabernacle
and CJ Mahaney and Robin Boisvert's This Great Salvation


Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh

Reform your life and doctrine, meet with God in the text

Ministry to Orphans (Part 1)

This video clip has been a long time in the works. In God's providence everything came together today, and I was able to finish up the work on it, and upload it.

In this video, my friend Shalem Raju answers two questions.

1.) What is life like for Indian pastor's children?

2.) Why would an Indian pastor's child need special care?



I added a few extra video clips, pictures, and best of all, subtitles for your convenience.



Soli Deo Gloria,



Josh

what is your portion?

By: Kwame

Can Christians be sick? Or should I say, are Christians supposed to be sick? Should Christians ever suffer, or is their "portion" the prosperity and the high life of "heaven on earth"? Is sickness a sign of you having little faith? Must we receive "it" more and more to move that mountain by our faith? Is your situation a result of your faith, your words of faith?

John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
John 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Please note: "but that the works of God should be made manifest in him"

Can God, through sickness glorify Himself or is he limited to using what pleases us to glorify Himself? Does man know all of God's ways...does the Omniscient God need instructions on what He is to do?

Joh 11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
Joh 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Jesus loved Lazarus but he tarried for two days (John 11:6), Lazarus died and ultimately God was glorified in the end! Is God's glory of utmost importance? Is God able to choose different paths for His children with the goal of glorifying His name?

Jas 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
Jas 4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Please note: "For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."

Do we have power to say let there be light and for light to appear? Are we self-sufficient and all-knowing like God? Isn't God the Almighty one who has no beginning and reigns for ever more?

Why is God to be worshiped? Are we worshiping God because He is able to make "this year our year of promotion" ? our year of health? our year of heaven on earth? No, Jehovah is to be worshiped because He commands it and it glorifies Him.

I believe with all my heart that health and prosperity are gifts of God, however I ask these questions even as I think of what may/should be of first importance. Could we be neglecting the thing of first importance as we focus entirely on physical comforts? These comforts are very very important (as we all know) but is there still something which is/should be of first importance?

Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Of first importance is that God may be glorified. After one has a relationship with the God who is in heaven (which in of itself is a hallowing of His name), we are to pray that His name may be hallowed...that His name may be venerated and that He may be worshiped by all whom He foreknew.

The propagation of His kingdom follows because this furthers glorifies Him...we are to share the gospel with ourselves and with others. In all this, praying and desiring that His will be done, not ours so that His name may be glorified. To be able to continue in these things, God lovingly meets our needs day in day out: He gives us bread, forgives us, allows us to love others, enables us to fight indwelling sin, keeps us safe....all for His glory and honor.

Are we not free to ask "anything" of God, to reason with Him (Isaiah 1:18)? He calls us to come boldly to the throne. Is God able to decide what comes our way? Are we to order God around? Can we expect much tribulation (Acts 14:22) in this pilgrimage, for His glory? Please let's ask for bread and clothes and peace and many more that we need and want but let's pray most importantly that His will may be done in our lives because He is El-Shaddai!! Through His providence, all things work together for the good of those who love Him.

Speak it and Receive it tries to put the power in man's hands. Yet we can see that all that happens, is by His Grace, and for His Glory. Power belongs only to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Let's not be like the folks who followed Jesus because of the bread and fish.

John 6:25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

Fellowship with God (not promotion, mercedes benz, children, education, houses etc) should be the ultimate source of our joy.

1John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Let's rejoice in Jesus and when other things are added, we will also rejoice gladly because our Lord and our God bestowed them upon us.

Having Jesus' righteousness imputed to us and being physically poor and sick and weak and seemingly insignificant and lowly is a joy because we have Jesus, and this is certainly better than the promotions of this world. Being justified before God because Jesus' work on the cross paid the price on our behalf and satisfied the wrath of God, and having many riches in this world is also a joy and this is certainly a gracious blessing that is due to the grace of our Lord and not because of the amount of faith we have. Man-centered thinking removes Jesus from the center.

I pray for grace and the diligence to know Him more this year. This year, like any other should be our year of more and more of Jesus. He is all that we need to seek like we would silver and gold, and all other things, by His grace, may be added unto us, for His glory.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Kwame

All Things are Better in Koine

Okay now, at the risk of going overboard and making too much of Greek, here is a video made by four year Bible Greek students on why we should learn Koine Greek. It's way better done, and far more funny than one would expect. Watch it and enjoy!

Thanks to my fellow Greek students Mike for the link!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh

First Week of Greek

Good times in Greek Class

Okay, here's the low-down on Saturdays' Greek class:

We gathered at the kitchen table around seven-thirty am, prayed, covered chapter one of Machen's New Testament Greek For Beginners, and got a slight head start on verbs in chapter 3. Great discussion, as well as helpful q&a.

I am hoping to get the audio of the session on-line. If anyone has an idea of how to upload 2+ hours of mp3 to the web and link to it for free please let me know. Gcast is no longer allowing uploads, and it will be missed.

Homework for the next Greek class gathering is as follows,

For Session 2:

1. Write at least two rows of each letter
2. Learn the Alphabet in order and be able to say the sounds.
3. Be able to say all the sounds.
4. Learn vocabulary on page 20 very, very well.

Greek On Fire

John Gresham Machen (1881 – 1937)

This is just a quick post. Tomorrow is a pretty big day, a kind of landmark for me. At long last, I am starting Machen's New Testament Greek for Beginners.

I'd like to save face and say that this was my first attempt, but it isn't..

I previously made about a quarter semester's worth of progress in this book. So now I am rallying. and resolved to try to make a serious effort in the quest for mastery (or basic grasp) of New Testament Greek for the glory of God.

Week1:

I spent some time this week reading the first few chapters of Machens' book. I discovered that while Koine (Common) Greek was spoken through practically the whole Roman empire, Biblical Greek brought the Koine up to a whole new level. The amazing thing was that it used the Greek language people in ever nation knew and spoke to explain things (spiritual mysteries, things of God) people had never heard of, and in a big way it also brought the language to new heights, while still remaining understandable to everyone who spoke Greek.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh

Reform your life and doctrine, meet with God in the text

Spontaneous Discipline

...just a preview

Since the last post was on new year's resolutions, I thought I would reveal a little of what I am planning to study this year.

I said planning to study rather than going to study because as Jonathan Edwards said, we need God's grace to keep our resolutions, and for them to matter. So inasmuch as God shines His grace on me, I am resolved to keep at it through 2010.

I would love to say that studying God's holy word and reading delicious books comes naturally, effortlessly, and spontaneously but that would be far from the truth. I mean, we all desire to be spontaneous. We all wish it would come naturally, and we know it should. At least for me I need to take hold of certain means of grace to keep myself in the Word and learning from God fearing men.

One of those means is to plan out what I want to read and not to overbook myself with too much. I can read a number of books in a year, but I am not a speed reader, and overloading myself is a good way to get discouraged and bomb out of reading books altogether for a season.

Last year I found out that a good read-through-the-bible-in-a-year-plan works for me.

There are several to choose from.

The Discipleship Journal plan is offers a 4 part, short selection of readings, starting in Genesis, Psalms, Matthew, and Acts at the same time. With 20 minutes a day read for only 25 days a month it gives much grace to the reader. I opted to choose this one for 2010.

The official Bible Reading Plan for Shirkers and Slackers is also a great option. It has check boxes like the DJP, but instead of a monthly schedule it uses the weekly method with no dates. The reader gets a fantastic opportunity to dig into,

O.T. Poetry on Sunday,
The Pentateuch on Monday,
O.T. History on Tuesday and Wednesday,
O.T. Prophets on Thursday,
N.T. History on Friday,
and N.T. Epistles on Saturday

I have been thinking recently that I should toss out a reminder that discipline is a means of grace and often leads to the spontaneous. And I especially want to get this out;

if we are in Christ, then we are Sons of God by adoption and He looks at us as his children with the eyes of a Father rather than a judge. And it is only Christ's blood and perfect righteousness that is sufficient to give us the freedom to serve and know more about God because we are accepted, rather than to labor and study in order to be accepted by God. What a difference that can make for the troubled soul!

Romans 4:6-8 David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."



Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh

Reform your life and doctrine, meet with God in the text

New Year's Resolutions

Jonathan Edwards

Today I have been thinking about resolutions for 2010. Some thoughts came to mind.

1. Jonathan Edwards wrote one of the best lists of resolutions ever devised
2. Lists of heavy resolutions do not carry with them the power to keep them
3. Lists 'can' diminsh the gospel if we're not careful.
(ie. Saying 'I will live my life by such and such set of rules')
4. Keeping Christ, and the gospel central, I am still to watch my life and doctrine (1Tim 4:16)
5. One way to watch my life and doctrine is to resolve to watch my life and doctrine, knowing that
without God's grace, watching my life and doctrine is fruitless.

So without further rambling, here are Edwards' resolutions for Godly living.



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