Sunday, December 26, 2010
Last words of James Renwick
James Renwick was known as the last of the martyred Covenanters of the late 17th century in Scotland. Renwick's final testimony was: "Farewell, beloved sufferers and followers of the Lamb; farewell, night wanderings, cold and weariness for Christ . . . Welcome scaffold for precious Christ; welcome heavenly Jerusalem; welcome O thou blessed Trinity and one God! O eternal One! I commit my soul into thy eternal rest."
Friday, December 24, 2010
Spurgeon on the Power of Preaching
"My experience goes to show that there have been persons converted to God by doctrines that some might have thought altogether unlikely to produce that result. I have known the doctrine of the resurrection to bring sinners to Christ; I have heard of scores brought to the Savior by a discourse upon election, -- the very sort of people who, as far as I can see, would never have been reached if that truth had not happened to be an angular doctrine that just struck their heart in the right place, and fitted into the crevices of their nature. I have often preached a terrible sermon upon the law, and afterwards found that sinners had been comforted by it. God frequently blesses the Word in the very opposite manner to that in which I thought it would be blessed, and He brings very, very many, to know their state by nature by doctrines which I should have thought would rather have comforted believers than awakened the unconverted" Charles Spurgeon
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Cure for Owen's Depression
The great reformer John Owen dealt with spiritual depression in the early years of his walk with Christ. The following description by A. Thomson tells of the cure:
"Dr. Edmund Calamy was at this time minister in Aldermanbury Chapel, and attracted multitudes by his manly eloquence. Owen had gone one Sabbath morning to hear the celebrated Presbyterian preacher, and was much disappointed when he saw an unknown stranger from the country enter the pulpit. His companion suggested that they should leave the chapel, and hasten to the place of worship of another celebrated preacher; but Owen's strength being already exhausted, he determined to remain. After a prayer of simple earnestness, the text was announced in these words of Matt. viii 26, 'Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?' Immediately it arrested the thoughts of Owen as appropriate to his present state of mind, and he breathed an inward prayer that God would be pleased by that minister to speak to his condition. The prayer was heard, for the preacher stated and answered the very doubts that had long perplexed Owen's mind; and by the time that the discourse was ended, had succeeded in leading him forth into the sunshine of a settled peace. The most diligent efforts were used by Owen to discover the name of the preacher who had thus been to him 'as an angel of God,' but without success."
"Dr. Edmund Calamy was at this time minister in Aldermanbury Chapel, and attracted multitudes by his manly eloquence. Owen had gone one Sabbath morning to hear the celebrated Presbyterian preacher, and was much disappointed when he saw an unknown stranger from the country enter the pulpit. His companion suggested that they should leave the chapel, and hasten to the place of worship of another celebrated preacher; but Owen's strength being already exhausted, he determined to remain. After a prayer of simple earnestness, the text was announced in these words of Matt. viii 26, 'Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?' Immediately it arrested the thoughts of Owen as appropriate to his present state of mind, and he breathed an inward prayer that God would be pleased by that minister to speak to his condition. The prayer was heard, for the preacher stated and answered the very doubts that had long perplexed Owen's mind; and by the time that the discourse was ended, had succeeded in leading him forth into the sunshine of a settled peace. The most diligent efforts were used by Owen to discover the name of the preacher who had thus been to him 'as an angel of God,' but without success."
Friday, December 17, 2010
Perfectionism
John Wesley's views on perfectionism had a great impact on 18th century England. William Grimshaw, curate of Haworth, responded to those in his Yorkshire parish who agreed with Wesley: "I wish they knew their own hearts . . . my perfection is to see my imperfection."
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
A. J. Gordon
Adoniram Judson Gordon 1836–1895
A. J. Gordon was born in tiny New Hampton, New Hampshire on April 19, 1836 to devout Christian parents. At about 15 years of age, Adoniram had a conversion experience and was baptized in his father's mill stream. One year later, he openly confessed in a church meeting his desire and determination to prepare for Christian ministry.
In 1856, at age 20, he entered Brown University as a Classics major, where he met his future wife, Maria Hale. In 1860 he entered the Newton Theological Institution. Upon graduation in 1863, he accepted a call to become pastor of the Jamaica Plain Baptist Church, near Boston. In this time frame, he also married Maria Hale. After six successful years there, he accepted the pastorate of the Clarendon Street Baptist Church in Boston, the church where his ministry would have its broad impact.
Dr. Gordon remained pastor of Clarendon Street Church for more than a quarter of a century. He wrote many books, including: In Christ, The Two-Fold Life, The Ministry of the Spirit, How Christ Came to Church, and many others. He set Monday mornings aside to publishing his own monthly, the Watchword, and focused on devotional enrichment. He saw the church completely transformed into one of the most spiritual and aggressive churches in America with an unsurpassed effort in missions.
A. J. Gordon poured his heart and energy into the work of foreign missions. He traveled, preached, wrote, and served with the passion of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide. In 1889, he founded Gordon College in Boston, Massachusetts, as a missionary training institute.
He continued as minister of the Clarendon Street Church until his death, due to influenza and bronchitis, on the morning of February 2, 1895, with "victory" as the last clearly audible word on his lips. (Gordon College)
A. J. Gordon was born in tiny New Hampton, New Hampshire on April 19, 1836 to devout Christian parents. At about 15 years of age, Adoniram had a conversion experience and was baptized in his father's mill stream. One year later, he openly confessed in a church meeting his desire and determination to prepare for Christian ministry.
In 1856, at age 20, he entered Brown University as a Classics major, where he met his future wife, Maria Hale. In 1860 he entered the Newton Theological Institution. Upon graduation in 1863, he accepted a call to become pastor of the Jamaica Plain Baptist Church, near Boston. In this time frame, he also married Maria Hale. After six successful years there, he accepted the pastorate of the Clarendon Street Baptist Church in Boston, the church where his ministry would have its broad impact.
Dr. Gordon remained pastor of Clarendon Street Church for more than a quarter of a century. He wrote many books, including: In Christ, The Two-Fold Life, The Ministry of the Spirit, How Christ Came to Church, and many others. He set Monday mornings aside to publishing his own monthly, the Watchword, and focused on devotional enrichment. He saw the church completely transformed into one of the most spiritual and aggressive churches in America with an unsurpassed effort in missions.
A. J. Gordon poured his heart and energy into the work of foreign missions. He traveled, preached, wrote, and served with the passion of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide. In 1889, he founded Gordon College in Boston, Massachusetts, as a missionary training institute.
He continued as minister of the Clarendon Street Church until his death, due to influenza and bronchitis, on the morning of February 2, 1895, with "victory" as the last clearly audible word on his lips. (Gordon College)
Monday, December 6, 2010
The Edwards' Diet
By a sparingness in diet, and eating as much as may be what is light and easy of digestion, I shall doubtless be able to think more clearly, and shall gain time; 1. By lengthening out my life; 2. Shall need less time for digestion, after meals; 3. Shall be able to study more closely, without injury to my health; 4. Shall need less time for sleep; 5. Shall more seldom be troubled with the head-ache. (Works, I, xxxv)
Sent by L. Larson
Sent by L. Larson
Top Ten Books of 2010
Köstenberger’s Guide to the Best of 2010
Publishers and authors have been at it again, and 2010 was a rich year for serious academic publishing in biblical and theological studies. As a matter of fact, I have made a tiny contribution to the deluge of materials myself by releasing The Heresy of Orthodoxy (Crossway, co-authored with Michael Kruger), the second edition of God, Marriage & Family (Crossway, with David Jones), and Entrusted with the Gospel (B&H Academic, co-edited with Terry Wilder), along with several smaller essays. That said, here is my list of “The Best of 2010.” Disclaimer: I haven’t read all these books cover to cover (yet), but have perused them sufficiently to be able to recommend them.
1. The ESV Bible Atlas by John D. Currid and David P. Barnett (Crossway): A truly magnificent achievement. You have to see this for yourself!
2. The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach by Michael R. Licona (InterVarsity): A very impressive treatment of the study of the question of Jesus’ resurrection.
3. Redeeming Singleness: How the storyline of Scripture affirms the single life by Barry Danylak (Crossway): The long-awaited biblical-theological treatment of singleness from this Ph.D. candidate at Cambridge University.
4. Who Chose the Gospels? by Charles E. Hill (Oxford University Press): The new mint standard on this vital topic. The subtitle of chapter 11 says it all: “Natural Selection: The Gospels that Imposed Themselves.”
5. After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters by N. T. Wright (HarperCollins): Despite some negative reviews, Wright’s book deserves serious consideration. I found this to be very stimulating reading in my work on a forthcoming project on academic excellence.
6. Politics according to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture by Wayne Grudem (Zondervan): Another encyclopedic resource by this prolific author who does not shy away from addressing critical matters such as Christian influence on government and economic issues.
7. The Glory of God, ed. Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson (Crossway): A nurturing study of this important biblical theme in the Theology in Community series (disclaimer: I wrote the essay on God’s glory in John for this volume).
8. Keeping God’s Earth: The Global Environment in Biblical Perspective, ed. Noah J. Toly and Daniel I. Block (InterVarsity): A responsible treatment of a subject often neglected by evangelicals, with important essays by Douglas Moo and Daniel Block, among others.
9. The Legacy of John: Second-Century Reception of the Fourth Gospel, ed. Tuomas Rasimus (Brill). A fascinating collection with essays by Charles Hill and Nicholas Perrin, among others.
10. The Trials of Theology: Becoming a ‘Proven Worker’ in a Dangerous Business, ed. Andrew J. B. Cameron and Brian S. Rosner (Christian Focus). A helpful reader for theology students, with selections by Luther, Spurgeon, Warfield, and others and essays by D. A. Carson, Carl Trueman, and others.
Andreas Kostenberge, Prof. of NT
Publishers and authors have been at it again, and 2010 was a rich year for serious academic publishing in biblical and theological studies. As a matter of fact, I have made a tiny contribution to the deluge of materials myself by releasing The Heresy of Orthodoxy (Crossway, co-authored with Michael Kruger), the second edition of God, Marriage & Family (Crossway, with David Jones), and Entrusted with the Gospel (B&H Academic, co-edited with Terry Wilder), along with several smaller essays. That said, here is my list of “The Best of 2010.” Disclaimer: I haven’t read all these books cover to cover (yet), but have perused them sufficiently to be able to recommend them.
1. The ESV Bible Atlas by John D. Currid and David P. Barnett (Crossway): A truly magnificent achievement. You have to see this for yourself!
2. The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach by Michael R. Licona (InterVarsity): A very impressive treatment of the study of the question of Jesus’ resurrection.
3. Redeeming Singleness: How the storyline of Scripture affirms the single life by Barry Danylak (Crossway): The long-awaited biblical-theological treatment of singleness from this Ph.D. candidate at Cambridge University.
4. Who Chose the Gospels? by Charles E. Hill (Oxford University Press): The new mint standard on this vital topic. The subtitle of chapter 11 says it all: “Natural Selection: The Gospels that Imposed Themselves.”
5. After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters by N. T. Wright (HarperCollins): Despite some negative reviews, Wright’s book deserves serious consideration. I found this to be very stimulating reading in my work on a forthcoming project on academic excellence.
6. Politics according to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture by Wayne Grudem (Zondervan): Another encyclopedic resource by this prolific author who does not shy away from addressing critical matters such as Christian influence on government and economic issues.
7. The Glory of God, ed. Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson (Crossway): A nurturing study of this important biblical theme in the Theology in Community series (disclaimer: I wrote the essay on God’s glory in John for this volume).
8. Keeping God’s Earth: The Global Environment in Biblical Perspective, ed. Noah J. Toly and Daniel I. Block (InterVarsity): A responsible treatment of a subject often neglected by evangelicals, with important essays by Douglas Moo and Daniel Block, among others.
9. The Legacy of John: Second-Century Reception of the Fourth Gospel, ed. Tuomas Rasimus (Brill). A fascinating collection with essays by Charles Hill and Nicholas Perrin, among others.
10. The Trials of Theology: Becoming a ‘Proven Worker’ in a Dangerous Business, ed. Andrew J. B. Cameron and Brian S. Rosner (Christian Focus). A helpful reader for theology students, with selections by Luther, Spurgeon, Warfield, and others and essays by D. A. Carson, Carl Trueman, and others.
Andreas Kostenberge, Prof. of NT
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Hymn by McCheyne
When this passing world is done,
When has sunk yon flaming sun,
When I stand with Christ in glory,
Looking back upon life's story,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know,
Not till then, how much I owe.
Robert Murray McCheyne
When has sunk yon flaming sun,
When I stand with Christ in glory,
Looking back upon life's story,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know,
Not till then, how much I owe.
Robert Murray McCheyne
Friday, November 26, 2010
Henry Martyn
From Henry Martyn's diary:
"Sept. 24 -- The determination with which I went to bed last night, of devoting this day to prayer and fasting, I was enabled to put into execution. In my first prayer for deliverance from worldly thoughts, depending on the power and promises of God, for fixing my soul while I prayed, I was helped to enjoy much abstinence from the world for nearly an hour. Then read the history of Abraham, to see how familiarly God had revealed himself to mortal men of old. Afterwards, in prayer for my own sanctification, my soul breathed freely and ardently after the holiness of God, and this was the best season of the day."
"Sept. 24 -- The determination with which I went to bed last night, of devoting this day to prayer and fasting, I was enabled to put into execution. In my first prayer for deliverance from worldly thoughts, depending on the power and promises of God, for fixing my soul while I prayed, I was helped to enjoy much abstinence from the world for nearly an hour. Then read the history of Abraham, to see how familiarly God had revealed himself to mortal men of old. Afterwards, in prayer for my own sanctification, my soul breathed freely and ardently after the holiness of God, and this was the best season of the day."
Saturday, November 20, 2010
McCheyne's Last Sermon
Robert Murray McCheyne "preached his last sermon on earth in a place outside Dundee called Broughty Ferry on a Sabbath night. He preached from the text of Isaiah 60:1 -- 'Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.' He went home to go to bed, ill of the fever from which he was not to recover. He died just days after he had preached on that text, and after his death they found a letter under his pillow. It had come from a man who was listening to him preaching that last sermon, and in part of the letter he said this:
'Dear Mr. McCheyne, I heard you preach at Broughty Ferry last Sabbath evening, and your sermon brought me to Christ. It was not anything you said, but it was what you were as you preached. For as you preached, I thought that I had never seen the beauty of holiness as I saw it in you. You were talking about the glory of our God resting on the Saviour, and I saw the Saviour's glory rest on you. That brought me to Christ.'"
(From J. Douglas MacMillan, The Lord Our Shepherd)
'Dear Mr. McCheyne, I heard you preach at Broughty Ferry last Sabbath evening, and your sermon brought me to Christ. It was not anything you said, but it was what you were as you preached. For as you preached, I thought that I had never seen the beauty of holiness as I saw it in you. You were talking about the glory of our God resting on the Saviour, and I saw the Saviour's glory rest on you. That brought me to Christ.'"
(From J. Douglas MacMillan, The Lord Our Shepherd)
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Books
“Get books into your houses, when you have not the spring near you, then get water into your cisterns; so when you have not that wholesome preaching that you desire, good books are cisterns that hold the water of life in them to refresh you.... So when you find a chillness upon your souls, and that your former heat begins to abate, ply yourselves with warm clothes, get those good books that may acquaint you with such truths as may warm and affect your hearts.”
—Thomas Watson (1662) From Ethan Smith.
—Thomas Watson (1662) From Ethan Smith.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards
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, peace able, 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
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, peace able, 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
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Susanna Wesley
Susanna Wesley bore 19 children. 10 of them lived past the age of two years old. Following are her 16 rules of parenting.
1. Eating between meals not allowed.
2. As children they are to be in bed by 8 p.m.
3. They are required to take medicine without complaining.
4. Subdue self- will in a child, and those working together with God to save the child's soul.
5. To teach a child to pray as soon as he can speak.
6. Require all to be still during Family Worship.
7. Give them nothing that they cry for, and only that when asked for politely.
8. To prevent lying, punish no fault which is first confessed and repented of.
9. Never allow a sinful act to go unpunished.
10. Never punish a child twice for a single offense.
11. Comment and reward good behavior.
12. Any attempt to please, even if poorly performed, should be commended.
13. Preserve property rights, even in smallest matters.
14. Strictly observe all promises.
15. Require no daughter to work before she can read well.
16. Teach children to fear the rod.
1. Eating between meals not allowed.
2. As children they are to be in bed by 8 p.m.
3. They are required to take medicine without complaining.
4. Subdue self- will in a child, and those working together with God to save the child's soul.
5. To teach a child to pray as soon as he can speak.
6. Require all to be still during Family Worship.
7. Give them nothing that they cry for, and only that when asked for politely.
8. To prevent lying, punish no fault which is first confessed and repented of.
9. Never allow a sinful act to go unpunished.
10. Never punish a child twice for a single offense.
11. Comment and reward good behavior.
12. Any attempt to please, even if poorly performed, should be commended.
13. Preserve property rights, even in smallest matters.
14. Strictly observe all promises.
15. Require no daughter to work before she can read well.
16. Teach children to fear the rod.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
A Holy Minister
Robert Murray McCheyne wrote the following to a friend in the ministry:
"I know you will apply hard to German, but do not forget the culture of the inner man -- I mean the heart. How diligently the cavalry officer keeps his sabre clean and sharp; every stain he rubs off with the greatest care. Remember you are God's sword, his instrument -- I trust, a chose vessel unto him to bear his name. In great measure, according to the purity and perfection of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God."
"I know you will apply hard to German, but do not forget the culture of the inner man -- I mean the heart. How diligently the cavalry officer keeps his sabre clean and sharp; every stain he rubs off with the greatest care. Remember you are God's sword, his instrument -- I trust, a chose vessel unto him to bear his name. In great measure, according to the purity and perfection of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God."
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Hypocrisy
John Murray in his commentary on the Book of Romans states the following:
"No vice is more reprehensible than hypocrisy. No vice is more destructive of integrity because it is the contradiction of truth." (Romans, vol. 2, p. 128)
"No vice is more reprehensible than hypocrisy. No vice is more destructive of integrity because it is the contradiction of truth." (Romans, vol. 2, p. 128)
Monday, October 4, 2010
Newton to Cowper
"Pray for me that my heart may be looking to Jesus for peace, wisdom, and strength. Without him all is waste and desert. And every thought in which He has not a place or rule is treason. I trust, yea, I know He will be with you. He will cover your head in the day of battle, and give you many a song of triumph before the great day of decision, when all enemies shall be finally bruised under your feet."
John Newton to William Cowper
"My most dear and intimate friend, William Cowper, has obtained a release from all his distresses. I preached a funeral sermon for him on the 11th inst. from Eccles. ii.2,3. Why was he, who both by talents and disposition seemed qualified, if it were possible, to reform the age in which he lived, harassed by distresses and despair, so that the bush which Moses saw all in flames was a fit emblem of his case?" Newton to Mrs. Hannah More on the death of Cowper
John Newton to William Cowper
"My most dear and intimate friend, William Cowper, has obtained a release from all his distresses. I preached a funeral sermon for him on the 11th inst. from Eccles. ii.2,3. Why was he, who both by talents and disposition seemed qualified, if it were possible, to reform the age in which he lived, harassed by distresses and despair, so that the bush which Moses saw all in flames was a fit emblem of his case?" Newton to Mrs. Hannah More on the death of Cowper
Friday, October 1, 2010
Toplady
If Thou art my shield and sun,
The night is no darkness to me;
And, fast as my moments roll on,
They bring me but nearer to Thee."
Augustus Toplady
"Inspirer and Hearer of Prayer"
The night is no darkness to me;
And, fast as my moments roll on,
They bring me but nearer to Thee."
Augustus Toplady
"Inspirer and Hearer of Prayer"
Friday, September 24, 2010
Part 2
My academic "conversion" has driven me to serve the church rather than merely the academy. Although I am a full-time professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary, I also serve as Senior Pastor of Ballantyne Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Charlotte. The latter position provides me with the opportunity to put my studies into action. It gives me an appropriate outlet for and application of all the study and teaching I do at the seminary. In reality, the work at the seminary and at the church feed off of one another: I teach what I preach, and I preach what I teach. Over the years, the teaching and the preaching have begun to resemble one another more and more. Again, I am a disciple who happens to be a scholar.
This second "conversion" has also greatly affected my writing. My desire at this point in life is to write books that bridge the gap between the technical and the popular. I believe that one in my position ought to take all the exegetical skills to the text, but then explain the text in very practical and understandable terms. I believe our preaching ought to do that as well: do all the labors on the text, and then translate it for the people. This is what George Whitefield said was "preaching the market language." And, so, all my effort is to glorify Christ and to teach his church through my scholarship. I am a disciple who happens to be a scholar.
This second "conversion" has also greatly affected my writing. My desire at this point in life is to write books that bridge the gap between the technical and the popular. I believe that one in my position ought to take all the exegetical skills to the text, but then explain the text in very practical and understandable terms. I believe our preaching ought to do that as well: do all the labors on the text, and then translate it for the people. This is what George Whitefield said was "preaching the market language." And, so, all my effort is to glorify Christ and to teach his church through my scholarship. I am a disciple who happens to be a scholar.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Academic Conversion Part 1
On a personal note:
David Hubbard of Fuller Seminary once made the comment, "I am not a scholar who happens to be a disciple, but I am a disciple who happens to be a scholar. That statement reflects my philosophy and sentiments exactly. Academics and scholarship are a means to serve Jesus Christ. Teaching, and all that goes with it, is a vocation and a calling to be used to help build the kingdom of God.
I have not always thought that way. Soon after my conversion, I entered college with little direction or idea of what I wanted to do with my life (note: I did not say "what the Lord wanted me to do with my life" -- such a concept was quite foreign at that time). My first college class was Old Testament Survey taught by Marvin Wilson -- when I left that class on the very first day, I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Again, I did not necessarily see this as the Lord's hand, but rather a personal desire and decision. But as John Flavel once said, "some providences are like the letters of the Hebrew language, they must be read backwards." I look back now, of course, and I see God's hand in all of it.
Along with my conversion came an insatiable desire to learn, a yearning that I had heretofore been wholly unfamiliar with. So at nineteen years old my education truly began: I had to learn how to read properly, how to write properly, and how to speak properly. An all-consuming desire to be an educated/civilized person took control of everything. By the time I finished my Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, in my own mind I had become an academic. This was the driving force: I wanted to be accepted in academia, not as a Christian scholar, but merely as a scholar. My early writings reflect such a drive: such stellar pieces as "Storehouse Construction in Iron Age Israel," "Building 5900 at Shechem Reconsidered," "Beehive Buildings of Ancient Palestine," and "Iron Age Pits in Israel" (in which I deal with the topic of ancient mouse droppings!) just flowed from my pen. In some ways, I had become the academic technician writing stuff for the academic community, and for that community alone.
Teaching college students for thirteen years at Grove City College helped to take some of the luster off of the academic/professorial image, but, in reality, it was not until I came to Reformed Theological Seminary that I had an academic conversion. In an interview at the time of his retirement, I. Howard Marshall was asked if he regretted anything regarding his vocation as an academic. He said, "I think looking back I would like to have done more to bring together the academic study of the New Testament and the problems expounding Scripture and using it in the church." That is my vocational conversion: I do not want to come to the end of my teaching and writing career and have a similar regret. We need not hide or compromise our scholarship, but we must serve the kindgom with it -- we must drive our scholarship to the church.
End Part 1
David Hubbard of Fuller Seminary once made the comment, "I am not a scholar who happens to be a disciple, but I am a disciple who happens to be a scholar. That statement reflects my philosophy and sentiments exactly. Academics and scholarship are a means to serve Jesus Christ. Teaching, and all that goes with it, is a vocation and a calling to be used to help build the kingdom of God.
I have not always thought that way. Soon after my conversion, I entered college with little direction or idea of what I wanted to do with my life (note: I did not say "what the Lord wanted me to do with my life" -- such a concept was quite foreign at that time). My first college class was Old Testament Survey taught by Marvin Wilson -- when I left that class on the very first day, I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Again, I did not necessarily see this as the Lord's hand, but rather a personal desire and decision. But as John Flavel once said, "some providences are like the letters of the Hebrew language, they must be read backwards." I look back now, of course, and I see God's hand in all of it.
Along with my conversion came an insatiable desire to learn, a yearning that I had heretofore been wholly unfamiliar with. So at nineteen years old my education truly began: I had to learn how to read properly, how to write properly, and how to speak properly. An all-consuming desire to be an educated/civilized person took control of everything. By the time I finished my Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, in my own mind I had become an academic. This was the driving force: I wanted to be accepted in academia, not as a Christian scholar, but merely as a scholar. My early writings reflect such a drive: such stellar pieces as "Storehouse Construction in Iron Age Israel," "Building 5900 at Shechem Reconsidered," "Beehive Buildings of Ancient Palestine," and "Iron Age Pits in Israel" (in which I deal with the topic of ancient mouse droppings!) just flowed from my pen. In some ways, I had become the academic technician writing stuff for the academic community, and for that community alone.
Teaching college students for thirteen years at Grove City College helped to take some of the luster off of the academic/professorial image, but, in reality, it was not until I came to Reformed Theological Seminary that I had an academic conversion. In an interview at the time of his retirement, I. Howard Marshall was asked if he regretted anything regarding his vocation as an academic. He said, "I think looking back I would like to have done more to bring together the academic study of the New Testament and the problems expounding Scripture and using it in the church." That is my vocational conversion: I do not want to come to the end of my teaching and writing career and have a similar regret. We need not hide or compromise our scholarship, but we must serve the kindgom with it -- we must drive our scholarship to the church.
End Part 1
Sunday, September 19, 2010
The Tavern Keeper
I recently ran across the story of a profane, ungodly tavern keeper in England during the 17th century. He was dead and lost in his sin. His one redeeming quality is that he loved music. And so he decided to attend one of John Wesley's meetings so that he could hear the singing. He had, however, decided not to listen to the sermon. And so he sat through the sermon with his head down and his fingers in his ears.
But when God wants to speak to a soul he can do it and use means that seem very strange to us. As the man stubbornly refused to listen to the sermon, a fly landed on his nose. For a moment he moved his hand to drive it away, and as he did he heard nine words of the sermon: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." From that moment on the man had no rest in his soul. He came to the next meeting, listened eagerly to the gospel, and was saved.
But when God wants to speak to a soul he can do it and use means that seem very strange to us. As the man stubbornly refused to listen to the sermon, a fly landed on his nose. For a moment he moved his hand to drive it away, and as he did he heard nine words of the sermon: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." From that moment on the man had no rest in his soul. He came to the next meeting, listened eagerly to the gospel, and was saved.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Saward
Michael Saward makes the following comment as he surveys the decades that laid the foundation for today's post-modern church:
"This is the disturbing legacy of the 1960s and 1970s. A generation brought up on guitars, choruses, and home group discussion. Educated, as one of them put it to me, not to use words with precision because the image is dominant, not the word. Equipped not to handle doctrine but rather to 'share'. A compassionate, caring generation, suspicious of definition and labels, uneasy at, and sometimes incapable of, being asked to wrestle with sustained didactic exposition of theology. Excellent when it comes to providing religious music, drama, and art. Not so good when asked to preach and teach the Faith."
"This is the disturbing legacy of the 1960s and 1970s. A generation brought up on guitars, choruses, and home group discussion. Educated, as one of them put it to me, not to use words with precision because the image is dominant, not the word. Equipped not to handle doctrine but rather to 'share'. A compassionate, caring generation, suspicious of definition and labels, uneasy at, and sometimes incapable of, being asked to wrestle with sustained didactic exposition of theology. Excellent when it comes to providing religious music, drama, and art. Not so good when asked to preach and teach the Faith."
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Puritan Richard Rogers
J. I. Packer tells the story of the Puritan Richard Rogers as he calls his audience to value the Word of God more highly. Rogers personates God to the people, telling them, "Well, I have trusted you so long with my Bible; you have slighted it, it lies in such and such houses all covered with dust and cob-webs; you care not to listen to it. Do you use my Bible so? Well, you shall have my Bible no longer." And he takes up the Bible from his cushion, and seemed as if he were going away with it and carrying it from them; but immediately turns again and personates the people of God, falls down on his knees, cries and pleads most earnestly, "Lord, whatever thou dost to us, take not thy Bible from us; kill our children, burn our houses, destroy our goods; only spare us thy Bible, only take not away thy Bible." And then Rogers personates God again to the people: "Say you so? Well, I will try you a while longer; and here is my Bible for you. I will see how you will use it, whether you will love it more . . . observe it more . . . practise it more, and live more according to it." By these actions . . . Rogers put all the congregation into so strange a posture that . . . the place was a mere Bochim, the people generally . . . deluged with their own tears; and . . . he himself, when he got out was fain to hang a quarter of an hour upon the neck of his horse weeping before he had the power to mount; so strange an impression was there upon him, and generally upon the people, upon having been expostulated with for the neglect of the Bible.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Mather on Preaching
"Exhibit as much as you can of a glorious Christ. Yea, let the motto upon your whole ministry be: Christ is all. Let others develop the pulpit fads that come and go. Let us specialize in preaching our Lord Jesus Christ."
--Cotton Mather
--Cotton Mather
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Kuyper
Abraham Kuyper, the great Dutch theologian, once made the point that the reformation creed is not simply Deo Gloria ("to God be the glory") but Soli Deo Gloria ("to God be the glory alone"). That is an important distinction that we need to keep in mind.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Lady Huntingdon
A great example to the women in the church is Lady Huntingdon who was influential during the English Reformation of the 18th century. She was a great promoter of George Whitefield and John Wesley. She used her high position for full effect for the gospel. She promoted the gospel to the servants in her house and she promoted the gospel to the royal family. Money and things did not mean much to her, but she used her goods for the glory of God. For example, she founded no less than 200 chapels and mission stations in England; in 1828, nearly forty years after her death, there were 35,000 people regularly attending these places of worship, and they were cared for by 72 ministers of the gospel.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Flavel
Take away the knowledge of Christ, and Christians would be the most sad and melancholy beings in the world: again, let Christ but manifest himself, and dart the beams of his light into their souls, it will make them kiss the stake, sing in the flames, and shout in the pangs of death, as men that divide the spoil. (The Excellency of the Subject, 14) John Flavel
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Born Again
The evangelist D. L. Moody, who had a very effective ministry both in Britain and in the United States, on one occasion addressed a group of church workers. After the meeting he was confronted by an angry woman who said, "Mr. Moody, do you mean to tell me that I, an educated woman, taught from childhood in good ways and all my life interested in the church and doing good, must enter heaven the same way as the worst criminal of our day?" "No, madam," said Moody. "I don't. God does. He says everyone who would enter heaven, no matter how good they think they are, or how well educated, or zealous in good works, must be born again”.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Newton to Cowper
John Newton wrote the following to William Cowper on July 30, 1767: "But if He is the Captain of our salvation, if his eye is upon us, his arm stretched out around us, and his ear open to our cry, and if He has engaged to teach our hands to war and our fingers to fight, and to cover our heads in the day of battle, then we need not fear, though a host rise up against us; but, lifting up our banner in his name, let us go forth conquering and to conquer."
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Land
Rainey and Notley, in their book The Sacred Bridge, say that "of all the writing held sacred by the world's religions, only the Bible presents a message linked to geography. This is not just the location of religious centers but the experience of a people in its land . . . the religious experiences of that ancient people took place in relation to a geographical setting . . . the Bible is replete with geographical information, not as a guidebook for travelers or a textbook on geography, but often almost incidental to the message. Yet without geography, that message is often obscured or vitiated for the uninformed reader."
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Spurgeon on Conversion
"When I was coming to Christ, I thought I was doing it all myself, and though I sought the Lord earnestly, I had no idea the Lord was seeking me. I do not think the young convert is at first aware of this. I can recall the very day and hour when first I received those truths in my own soul - when they were as John Bunyan says, burnt into my heart as with a hot iron; and I can recollect how I felt that I had grown all of a sudden from a babe into a man - that I had made progress in scriptural knowledge, through having found, once for all, the clue to the truth of God ... I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that He was the Author of my faith, and so the whole doctrine of grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make this my constant confession, I ascribe my change wholly to God." (Charles Spurgeon, Autobiography: 1, The Early Years, Banner of Truth, pp. 164-165).
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Spurgeon on Calvinism
I have my own opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel if we do not preach justification by faith without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing unchangeable eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross. (Charles Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, Vol. 1, 1856)
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Paton
John G. Paton was a Scottish missionary to the New Hebrides of the South Pacific during the 19th century. The inhabitants of the islands were cannibals; in 1839 the London Missionary Society had sent John Williams and James Harris there to be missionaries. Both were killed and eaten by cannibals. This, therefore, was risky, perilous business for Paton as he began work in 1858.
Before he left a certain Mr. Dickson said to Paton, "The cannibals! You will be eaten by the cannibals!" Paton's response is classic: "Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of the risen Redeemer."
In 1887, Paton wrote the following: "On our New Hebrides, more than 12,000 cannibals have been brought to sit at the feet of Christ . . . and 133 of the Natives have been trained and sent forth as teachers and preachers of the Gospel."
Before he left a certain Mr. Dickson said to Paton, "The cannibals! You will be eaten by the cannibals!" Paton's response is classic: "Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of the risen Redeemer."
In 1887, Paton wrote the following: "On our New Hebrides, more than 12,000 cannibals have been brought to sit at the feet of Christ . . . and 133 of the Natives have been trained and sent forth as teachers and preachers of the Gospel."
Monday, August 9, 2010
Ranavalona
Missionary work began in Madagascar in the 19th century under the auspices of the London Missionary Society. Welsh missionaries, David Jones and David Johns, did some great work there . . . the church grew to around 1,000 members during their time there. However, all the missionaries were expelled from the island when a new queen, named Ranavalona, came to the throne. She then persecuted the church for nearly 30 years. By the time of the queen's death . . . the church numbered 7,000 members! Ranavalona had killed almost 1,000 Christians, yet during her rule the church had grown to 7,000 members. How can this be? How could this happen? One of the Christian women who went through the persecutions gave the answer: "The Queen does not know that the best teacher of all, the Holy Spirit, is still with us."
Monday, July 26, 2010
From Whitefield's Journal
Evesham, April 8. Several persons came to see me, amongst whom was Mr. Benjamin Seward, whom God has been pleased to call by his free grace very lately. It pleased God to cast him down, by eight days sickness; in which time, he scarce ever ate, or drank, or slept, and underwent great inward agonies and tortures. After this, God sent a poor travelling woman, that came to sell straw toys, to instruct him in the nature of our second birth, and now he is resolved to prepare for holy orders, and to preach Christ and those truths which once he endeavored to destroy. He is a gentleman of a very large fortune, which has has now devoted to God. Blessed be God, that although not many rich, not many mighty, not many noble are called, yet some are.
A poor seller of straw toys is the means God uses to bring a rich man to faith!
A poor seller of straw toys is the means God uses to bring a rich man to faith!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
M'Cheyne on 1 John 1:1-4
"Learn the true way of coming to peace.-It is by looking to manifested Jesus. Some of you think you will come to peace by looking in to your own heart. Your eye is riveted there. You watch every change there. If you could only see a glimpse of light there, oh, what joy it would give you! If you could only see a melting of your stony heart, if you could only see your heart turning to God, if you could only see a glimpse of the image of Jesus in your heart, you would be at peace; but you cannot,-all is dark within. Oh, dear souls, it is not there you will find peace! You must avert the eye from your bosom altogether. You must look to a declared Christ. Spread out the record of God concerning His Son. The Gospels are the narrative of the heart of Jesus. Spread them out before the eye of your mind, till they fill your eye. Cry for the Spirit to breathe over the page, to make a manifested Christ stand out plainly before you; and the moment that you are willing to believe all that is there spoken concerning Jesus, that moment you will wipe away your tears, and change your sighs for a new song of praise"~Robert Murray M'Cheyne from sermon on 1 John 1:1-4
Friday, July 23, 2010
The Example of Mrs. Talbot
In the 18th century, the godly curate of St. Giles church in Reading, a Rev. Talbot, died. He was to be replaced by a godless man, W. B. Cadogan, who was Oxford educated and had obtained many literary honors. "Mr. Cadogan's views of religion were entirely different from those of his predecessor; and the people heard of his appointment with grief . . . Many left the church. Mrs. Talbot, however, considered it her duty to remain, hoping for a better state of things, and that she might encourage and help forward those to whom her husband's labours had been blessed. She opened her house for religious services, and invited clergymen like-minded with herself to conduct them. At the same time prayer was continually offered up under her roof for Mr. Cadogan's conversion. By all this he was greatly offended. Letters passed full of remonstrance and even reproach on Mr. Cadogan's part, but which Mrs. Talbot's letters answered with meekness and wisdom. Mr. Cadogan was overcome, and ever afterwards confessed that Mrs. Talbot's letters and example were the principal means of leading him to the saving knowledge of Christ." Then he preached the truths of Jesus, those truths that he had so strenuously opposed. Multitudes began to flock to hear him preach the gospel.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Grimaldi
I came across the story of a young man who came to a famous doctor in Paris complaining about depression, lack of peace, and no happiness. The doctor thought of another young man named Grimaldi who was living a life of carousing in the night-life of Paris. The doctor said to the patient, "Introduce yourself to Grimaldi. Let him show you how to enjoy yourself and your will get well." The downcast young patient looked up with a sardonic smile and said to the doctor, "I am Grimaldi."
Monday, July 19, 2010
Two Quotes from Spurgeon
Here are two quotes from Charles Spurgeon used in yesterday's sermon:
"A short life should be wisely spent. We have not enough time at our disposal to justify us in misspending a single quarter of an hour. Neither are we sure of enough life to justify us in procrastinating for a moment."
"Thy presence alone can reconcile us to this transient existence."
"A short life should be wisely spent. We have not enough time at our disposal to justify us in misspending a single quarter of an hour. Neither are we sure of enough life to justify us in procrastinating for a moment."
"Thy presence alone can reconcile us to this transient existence."
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Solitude
Spurgeon writes the following on the early church father Jerome:
"That was a grand action by Jerome, one of the Roman fathers. He laid aside all pressing engagements and went fulfill the call God gave him, viz., to translate the Holy Scriptures. His congregations were larger than many preachers of today, but he said to his people, 'Now it is necessary that the Scriptures be translated; you must find another minister: I am bound for the wilderness and shall not return until my task is finished.' Away he went and labored and prayed until he produced the Latin Vulgate, which will last as long as the world stands. So we must say to our friends, 'I must go away and have time for prayer and solitude.' And though we did not write Latin Vulgates, yet our work will be immortal: Glory to God."
"That was a grand action by Jerome, one of the Roman fathers. He laid aside all pressing engagements and went fulfill the call God gave him, viz., to translate the Holy Scriptures. His congregations were larger than many preachers of today, but he said to his people, 'Now it is necessary that the Scriptures be translated; you must find another minister: I am bound for the wilderness and shall not return until my task is finished.' Away he went and labored and prayed until he produced the Latin Vulgate, which will last as long as the world stands. So we must say to our friends, 'I must go away and have time for prayer and solitude.' And though we did not write Latin Vulgates, yet our work will be immortal: Glory to God."
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Ryle on Christian Labor
"Take, for an illustration of this, two English emigrants, and suppose them set down side by side in Australia or New Zealand. Give each of them a piece of land to clear and cultivate. Secure that land to them by every needful legal instrument, let it be conveyed as freehold to them and their for ever, let the conveyance be publicly registered, and the property made sure to them by every deed and security that man's ingenuity can devise. Suppose, then, that one of them shall set to work to bring his land into cultivation, and labour at it day after day without intermission or cessation. Suppose, in the meanwhile, that the other shall be continually leaving his work, and repeatedly going to the public registry to ask whether the land really is his own -- whether there is not some mistake -- whether after all there is not some flaw in the legal instruments which conveyed it to him. The one shall never doubt his title, but just diligently work on; the other shall never feel sure of this title, and spend half his time in going to Sydney or Auckland with needless inquiries about it. Which, now, of these two men will have made most progress in a year's time? Who will have done the most for his land, got the greatest breadth under tillage, have the best crops to show? You all know as well as I do -- I need not supply an answer. There can be only one reply.
Brethren, so will it be in the matter of our title to 'mansions in the skies.' None will do so much for the Lord who bought them as the believer who sees that title clearly." J.C. Ryle
Brethren, so will it be in the matter of our title to 'mansions in the skies.' None will do so much for the Lord who bought them as the believer who sees that title clearly." J.C. Ryle
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Newton: "I am what I am"
John Newton once preached in Reading on 1 Corinthians 15:10, "By the grace of God I am what I am." The outline of that sermon is as follows: "1. I am not what I ought to be. Ah! how imperfect and deficient. 2. Not what I might be, considering my privileges and opportunities. 3. Not what I wish to be. God, who knows my heart, knows I wish to be like him. 4. I am not what I hope to be; ere long to drop this clay tabernacle, to be like him and see him as He is. 5. Not what I once was, a child of sin, and slave of the devil. Though not all these, not what I ought to be, not what I might be, not what I wish or hope to be, and not what I once was, I think I can truly say with the apostle, 'By the grace of God I am what I am.'"
Friday, July 9, 2010
Paton on His Father's Prayers
In his autobiography the missionary John Paton tells the story of his father's prayer time: "Our home consisted of a kitchen, a living room and a mid-room -- or chamber -- called the 'closet.' The closet was a very small compartment between the other two, having room only for a bed, a little table, and a chair, with a diminutive window shedding an extremely small amount of light on the scene. This was the sanctuary of that cottage home. Daily, and many times during the day, generally after each meal, we saw our father retire, and shut the door. We children got to understand, by a sort of spiritual instinct (for the thing was too sacred to be talked about), that prayers were being poured out there for us, just as in the days of old by the High Priest within the veil in the Most Holy Place. We occasionally heard the pathetic echoes of a trembling voice, pleading as if for life. We learned to slip in and out past that door on tiptoe, so as not to disturb the holy colloquy. The outside world might not know, but we knew whence came that happy light, like that of a newborn smile, that always was dawning on my father's face. It was a reflection from the divine Presence, in the consciousness of which he lived. Never, in temple or cathedral, in mountain or glen, can I hope to feel the Lord God more near, more visibly walking and talking with men, than he did under that humble cottage roof of thatch and oak framework."
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Muller on Prayer
George Muller gives a striking testimony regarding the value of prayer. He says, "I never remember, in all my Christian course, a period of sixty-nine years and four months, that I ever sincerely and patiently sought to know the will of God by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, through the instrumentality of the Word of God, but I have been always directed rightly. But if honesty of heart and uprightness before God were lacking, or if I did not patiently wait before God for instruction, or if I preferred the counsel of my fellowmen to the declarations of the Word of the living God, I made great mistakes."
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Martyrdom of Michael Sattler
In 1527, Michael Sattler was arrested and tried in Rotterdam on charges that he violated Catholic doctrine and practice. He was sentenced: "Michael Sattler shall be committed to the hangman, who shall take him to the square and there first cut out his tongue, then chain him to a wagon, tear his body twice with hot tongs there and five times more before the gate, then burn his body to powder as an arch-heretic." Both in the town square and at the place of execution, Sattler prayed for his executioners. Leonard Cross reports, "Among the chagrined onlookers was 25-year-old Klaus von Grafeneck. He had been summoned there to protect the court while it was in session. To his amazement, through the condemned man's slurred speech, Grafeneck heard Sattler pray specifically for him . . . Sattler was thrown into the fire. When the ropes on his hands burned through, the dying man raised his hands in a sign of triumph, and prayed, 'Father, I commend my spirit into Thy hands.'"
Grafeneck left Rotterdam shaken. A condemned man had prayed for him. He decided that someone needed to tell the story of Michael Sattler, and it was Grafeneck who wrote the story. He concluded the biography with these words: "All this I saw with my own eyes. May God grant us also to testify of Him so bravely and patiently."
Grafeneck left Rotterdam shaken. A condemned man had prayed for him. He decided that someone needed to tell the story of Michael Sattler, and it was Grafeneck who wrote the story. He concluded the biography with these words: "All this I saw with my own eyes. May God grant us also to testify of Him so bravely and patiently."
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sibbes on Health and Wealth
Richard Sibbes in Divine Meditations tells us that "whatsoever is good for God's children they shall have it, for all is theirs to help them toward heaven. Therefore, if poverty be good they shall have it, if disgrace or crosses be good they shall have them, for all is ours to promote our great prosperity."
Monday, June 28, 2010
Prayer
"I ought to spend the best hours of the day in communion with God. It is my noblest and most fruitful employment, and it not to be thrust into any corner."
Robert Murray M'Cheyne
Robert Murray M'Cheyne
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Revival at Kilsyth
A memorable revival began at Kilsyth on July 23, 1839. William C. Burns wrote at the time: "I have since heard that some of the people of God in Kilsyth had been longing and wrestling for a time of refreshing from the Lord's presence. During much of the previous night, after travailing in birth for souls, came to the meeting not only with the hope, but with the certain anticipation of God's glorious appearing. This came from the impression they had received upon their own souls of Jehovah's approaching glory and majesty."
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
William C. Burns
It is said of the 19th century Scots evangelist and missionary William Burns that "His whole life was literally a life of prayer. His whole ministry a series of battles fought at the mercy seat." Burns had concluded early in his ministry that the "great, fundamental error, as far as I can see, in the economy of the Christian life, which many, and alas, I for one commit, is that of having too few and too short periods of solemn retirement with our gracious Father and His loving Son, Jesus Christ."
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Let Me Be With Thee
Let me be with Thee where Thou art,
My Savior, My eternal rest;
Then only shall this longing heart
Be fully and for ever blest.
Let me be with Thee where Thou art,
Thy unveiled glory to behold;
Then only will this wand'ring heart
Cease to be false to Thee and cold.
Let me be with Thee where Thou art,
Where none can die, where none remove,
Then neither death nor life shall part
Me from Thy presence and Thy love.
Charlotte Elliott
My Savior, My eternal rest;
Then only shall this longing heart
Be fully and for ever blest.
Let me be with Thee where Thou art,
Thy unveiled glory to behold;
Then only will this wand'ring heart
Cease to be false to Thee and cold.
Let me be with Thee where Thou art,
Where none can die, where none remove,
Then neither death nor life shall part
Me from Thy presence and Thy love.
Charlotte Elliott
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Wise Words from Newton
"Of all people who engage in controversy, we, who are called Calvinists, are most expressly bound by our own principles to the exercise of gentleness and moderation. . . . The Scriptural maximum, that "The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God," is verified by daily observation. If our zeal is embittered by expressions of anger, invective, or scorn, we may think we are doing service to the cause of truth, when in reality we shall only bring it into discredit." John Newton
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Assurance
"He that has assured hope can sing in prison, like Paul and Silas at Philippi. Assurance can give songs in the night. He can sleep with the full prospect of execution on the morrow, like Peter in Herod's dungeon. Assurance says, 'I will lay me down and take my rest, for thou, Lord, makes me dwell in safety.' He can rejoice to suffer shame for Christ's sake, as the apostles did. Assurance says, 'Rejoice and be exceeding glad -- there is a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' He can meet a violent and painful death without fear, as Stephen did in olden time, and Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer and Taylor in our own land. Assurance says -- 'Fear not them which kill the body, and after that have no more they can do. Lord Jesus, into Thy hand I commend my spirit.'" J. C. Ryle
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Mrs. Gardiner
John Newton often exchanged letters with a Mrs. Gardiner. In a letter he wrote to a Mrs. Dawson he says the following about Mrs. Gardiner:
"My friend Mrs. Gardiner has been confined to her drawing-room and chamber for these five years. For so long a time she has not been able to set foot down a single stair, nor does she ever expect it. Yet I think a more lively, cheerful, exemplary Christian than she is, is scarcely to be found in London. And since it is the will of God to confine her, she seems to have no more desire to go out of the door than out of the chamber window." (Written in 1788; Mrs. Gardiner died in 1795.)
"My friend Mrs. Gardiner has been confined to her drawing-room and chamber for these five years. For so long a time she has not been able to set foot down a single stair, nor does she ever expect it. Yet I think a more lively, cheerful, exemplary Christian than she is, is scarcely to be found in London. And since it is the will of God to confine her, she seems to have no more desire to go out of the door than out of the chamber window." (Written in 1788; Mrs. Gardiner died in 1795.)
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
ESV Bible Atlas
The Crossway ESV Bible Atlas has been published . . . to see the announcement go to thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Pink
"Nothing is too great and nothing is too small to commit into the hand of the Lord." -- A. W. Pink
Friday, June 4, 2010
The Crux
Terry Johnson in his book on the parables says the following:
"I'll never forget one of my important mentors, the Rev. William Still of Aberdeen, saying that his trouble began at the Gilcomston South Church when he quit preaching to the unconverted and began to apply Scripture to allegedly converted church members. He said they nearly went 'mad with rage.' They are willing to hear a good sermon. But they didn't want anyone implying that they had sins from which they needed to repent. This is the great rub. This is the crux. This is perhaps the biggest problem in the church. We have too many connoisseurs of sermons who fail to ever apply the teaching of Scripture to their lives. They have no guilt. They never change. They are unteachable. Tragically, unless we act upon Jesus' words, unless we actually put them into action, unless we believe and obey them, then certain destruction awaits us."
"I'll never forget one of my important mentors, the Rev. William Still of Aberdeen, saying that his trouble began at the Gilcomston South Church when he quit preaching to the unconverted and began to apply Scripture to allegedly converted church members. He said they nearly went 'mad with rage.' They are willing to hear a good sermon. But they didn't want anyone implying that they had sins from which they needed to repent. This is the great rub. This is the crux. This is perhaps the biggest problem in the church. We have too many connoisseurs of sermons who fail to ever apply the teaching of Scripture to their lives. They have no guilt. They never change. They are unteachable. Tragically, unless we act upon Jesus' words, unless we actually put them into action, unless we believe and obey them, then certain destruction awaits us."
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Lloyd-Jones on Singing
In his book on revival D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones makes the following comments on singing:
"I am no opponent of singing, we are to sing God's praises in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Yes, but again there is a sense of proportion even here. Have you not noticed how singing is becoming more and more prominent? People, Christian people, meet together to sing only. 'Oh,' they say, 'we do get a word in.' But the singing is the big thing. At a time like this, at an appalling time like this, with crime and violence, and sin, and perversions, God's name desecrated and the sanctities being spat upon, the whole state of the world surely says that this is not a time for singing, this is a time for preaching. I am reminded of the words of Wordsworth about Milton, 'Plain living, and high thinking are no more.' It is almost true of us to say plain speaking and high thinking are no more. We are just singing. We are wafting ourselves into some happy atmosphere. We sing together. My dear friends, this is no time for singing. 'How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?' (Ps. 137:4). How can we take down our harps when Zion is as she is?"
"This is no time for singing, it is a time for thinking, for preaching, for conviction. It is a time for proclaiming the message of God and his wrath upon evil, and all our foolish aberrations. The time for singing will come later. Let the great revival come, let the windows of heaven be opened, let us see men and women by the thousands brought into the Kingdom of God, and then it will be time to sing."
"I am no opponent of singing, we are to sing God's praises in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Yes, but again there is a sense of proportion even here. Have you not noticed how singing is becoming more and more prominent? People, Christian people, meet together to sing only. 'Oh,' they say, 'we do get a word in.' But the singing is the big thing. At a time like this, at an appalling time like this, with crime and violence, and sin, and perversions, God's name desecrated and the sanctities being spat upon, the whole state of the world surely says that this is not a time for singing, this is a time for preaching. I am reminded of the words of Wordsworth about Milton, 'Plain living, and high thinking are no more.' It is almost true of us to say plain speaking and high thinking are no more. We are just singing. We are wafting ourselves into some happy atmosphere. We sing together. My dear friends, this is no time for singing. 'How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?' (Ps. 137:4). How can we take down our harps when Zion is as she is?"
"This is no time for singing, it is a time for thinking, for preaching, for conviction. It is a time for proclaiming the message of God and his wrath upon evil, and all our foolish aberrations. The time for singing will come later. Let the great revival come, let the windows of heaven be opened, let us see men and women by the thousands brought into the Kingdom of God, and then it will be time to sing."
Sunday, May 30, 2010
The Work of Christ
From John Calvin's Preface to the French Bible (1539):
"All good which could be thought or desired is to be found in Jesus Christ alone.
For he was humbled to exalt us, he became a slave to free us,
he became poor to enrich us, he was sold to redeem us,
made captive for our deliverance, condemned for our absolution;
he was made a curse for our blessing, an offering for sin for our righteousness,
he was marred that we might be restored, he died for our life.
So that by him harshness is softened, anger appeased, darkness made light,
injustice justified, weakness made strong, dejection consoled,
sin prevented, scorn despised, fear made sure,
debt canceled, toil made light, sadness rejoiced,
misfortune made blessed, difficulty eased, disorder ordered,
division united, disgrace made noble, rebellion quelled,
threats threatened, ambushes uncovered, assaults assailed,
effort weakened, combat combatted, war warred against,
vengeance avenged, torment tormented, damnation damned,
hell held prisoner, death done to death and immortality made immortal."
"All good which could be thought or desired is to be found in Jesus Christ alone.
For he was humbled to exalt us, he became a slave to free us,
he became poor to enrich us, he was sold to redeem us,
made captive for our deliverance, condemned for our absolution;
he was made a curse for our blessing, an offering for sin for our righteousness,
he was marred that we might be restored, he died for our life.
So that by him harshness is softened, anger appeased, darkness made light,
injustice justified, weakness made strong, dejection consoled,
sin prevented, scorn despised, fear made sure,
debt canceled, toil made light, sadness rejoiced,
misfortune made blessed, difficulty eased, disorder ordered,
division united, disgrace made noble, rebellion quelled,
threats threatened, ambushes uncovered, assaults assailed,
effort weakened, combat combatted, war warred against,
vengeance avenged, torment tormented, damnation damned,
hell held prisoner, death done to death and immortality made immortal."
Monday, May 24, 2010
Shining Bridge to Glory
Charles Spurgeon said the following:
"Ah! the bridge of grace will bear your weight, brother. Thousands of big sinners have gone across that bridge, yea, tens of thousands have gone over it. I can hear their trampings now as they traverse the great arches of the bridge of salvation. They come by their thousands, by their myriads; e'er since the day when Christ first entered into His glory, they come, and yet never a stone has sprung in that mighty bridge. Some have been the chief of sinners, and some have come at the very last days, but the arch has never yielded beneath their weight. I will go with them trusting to the same support; it will bear me over as it has borne them."
"Ah! the bridge of grace will bear your weight, brother. Thousands of big sinners have gone across that bridge, yea, tens of thousands have gone over it. I can hear their trampings now as they traverse the great arches of the bridge of salvation. They come by their thousands, by their myriads; e'er since the day when Christ first entered into His glory, they come, and yet never a stone has sprung in that mighty bridge. Some have been the chief of sinners, and some have come at the very last days, but the arch has never yielded beneath their weight. I will go with them trusting to the same support; it will bear me over as it has borne them."
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Works Righteousness
"No more soul-destroying doctrine could well be devised than the doctrine that sinners can regenerate themselves, and repent and believe just when they please . . . As it is a truth both of Scripture and of experience that the unrenewed man can do nothing of himself to secure his salvation, it is essential that he should be brought to a practical conviction of that truth. When thus convinced, and not before, he seeks help from the only source whence it can be obtained."
Charles Hodge
Charles Hodge
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Amazing Prayer
In the year 1826, the preacher John Smith was leading a service in the city of Nottingham. He led the people in prayer and ended it by reciting the Lord's Prayer. We read that the people:
"responded with peculiar fervour to each petition as it was pronounced, till he came to the doxology, at each clause of which he raised his voice and ascribed to the Almighty 'the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever and ever' in a tone and with an unction which fell on the congregation with irresistable force" . . . and the people were gripped . . . "A glow of heavenly feeling pervaded the whole assembly; many gave vent to their emotions by bursts of tears and some with irrepressible shouts of praise. Others laid hold of the words, repeating them again and again even after he had ceased; and whispers of 'for ever and ever' mingled with sobs passed from one to another . . . In fact, it was some time before the regular business of the meeting could be resumed." (Paul Cook)
"responded with peculiar fervour to each petition as it was pronounced, till he came to the doxology, at each clause of which he raised his voice and ascribed to the Almighty 'the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever and ever' in a tone and with an unction which fell on the congregation with irresistable force" . . . and the people were gripped . . . "A glow of heavenly feeling pervaded the whole assembly; many gave vent to their emotions by bursts of tears and some with irrepressible shouts of praise. Others laid hold of the words, repeating them again and again even after he had ceased; and whispers of 'for ever and ever' mingled with sobs passed from one to another . . . In fact, it was some time before the regular business of the meeting could be resumed." (Paul Cook)
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The Gospel
John Newton spent a lot of time writing to Thomas Scott in matters regarding conversion . . . after a number of years Scott was converted. Following is one presentation that Newton made to Scott of the gospel:
"The gospel, my dear sir, is a salvation appointed for those who are ready to perish, and is not designed to put them in a way to save themselves by their own works. It speaks to us as condemned already, and calls upon us to believe in a crucified Savior, that we may receive redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of our sins. And the Spirit of God, by the gospel, first convinces us of unbelief, sin, and misery; and then by revealing the things of Jesus to our minds, enables us, as helpless sinners, to come to Christ, to receive him, to behold him, or in other words, to believe in him; and expect pardon, life, and grace from him; renouncing every hope and aim in which we once rested, 'and accounting all things loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ.'"
"The gospel, my dear sir, is a salvation appointed for those who are ready to perish, and is not designed to put them in a way to save themselves by their own works. It speaks to us as condemned already, and calls upon us to believe in a crucified Savior, that we may receive redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of our sins. And the Spirit of God, by the gospel, first convinces us of unbelief, sin, and misery; and then by revealing the things of Jesus to our minds, enables us, as helpless sinners, to come to Christ, to receive him, to behold him, or in other words, to believe in him; and expect pardon, life, and grace from him; renouncing every hope and aim in which we once rested, 'and accounting all things loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ.'"
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Revival at Mousehole
William Carvosso, an evangelist in 18th-19th century England, describes the beginning of a revival at the town of Mousehole in Cornwall in 1818:
"I proceeded to Mousehole where I rejoiced to see the mighty works of God displayed in convincing and converting sinners . . . In my usual way, I went preaching from house to house, and I believe God never blessed my feeble effort more than at that time. In one house I found a poor penitent to whose broken heart the Lord revealed his pardoning mercy. We fell on our knees, to give glory to God for what he had done. And now a brother of her who had been subject of the happy change, being present, fell on the floor, and cried for mercy in an astonishing manner; and, before I left the house, the Lord also set his soul at liberty. In another house, while relating this circumstance, the arrow of truth reached the heart of a poor backslider, and she trembled as in the presence of God. The next morning I found her weeping for her ingratitude and now made willing to return to her offended God . . . There was a gracious work among the children in the Sunday School. None but those who have witnessed such a revival can form any idea of it. Some of them seemed as deeply convinced of sin as if they had been forty years of age; and after they had found peace, could give as clear an account of the work of grace in their minds as if they had been in the good way seven years."
"I proceeded to Mousehole where I rejoiced to see the mighty works of God displayed in convincing and converting sinners . . . In my usual way, I went preaching from house to house, and I believe God never blessed my feeble effort more than at that time. In one house I found a poor penitent to whose broken heart the Lord revealed his pardoning mercy. We fell on our knees, to give glory to God for what he had done. And now a brother of her who had been subject of the happy change, being present, fell on the floor, and cried for mercy in an astonishing manner; and, before I left the house, the Lord also set his soul at liberty. In another house, while relating this circumstance, the arrow of truth reached the heart of a poor backslider, and she trembled as in the presence of God. The next morning I found her weeping for her ingratitude and now made willing to return to her offended God . . . There was a gracious work among the children in the Sunday School. None but those who have witnessed such a revival can form any idea of it. Some of them seemed as deeply convinced of sin as if they had been forty years of age; and after they had found peace, could give as clear an account of the work of grace in their minds as if they had been in the good way seven years."
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Our God Reigns
John Newton wrote the following to a Mrs. Place in 1776:
"I will tell you then, though you know it, that the Lord reigns. He who once bore our sins, and carried our sorrows, is seated upon a throne of glory, and exercises all power in heaven and on earth. Thrones, principalities, and powers, bow before him. Every event in the kingdoms of providence and of grace is under his rule. His providence pervades and manages the whole, and is as minutely attentive to every part, as if there were only that single object in his view. From the tallest archangel to the meanest ant or fly, all depend on him for their being, their preservation, and their powers. He directs the sparrows where to build their nests, and to find their food. He overrules the rise and fall of nations, and bends, with an invincible energy and unerring wisdom , all events; so that, while many intend nothing less, in the issue, their designs all concur and coincide in the accomplishment of his holy will. He restrains with a mighty hand the still more formidable efforts of the powers of darkness; and Satan, with all his hosts, cannot exert their malice a hair's breadth beyond the limits of his permission. This is He who is the head and husband of his believing people."
"I will tell you then, though you know it, that the Lord reigns. He who once bore our sins, and carried our sorrows, is seated upon a throne of glory, and exercises all power in heaven and on earth. Thrones, principalities, and powers, bow before him. Every event in the kingdoms of providence and of grace is under his rule. His providence pervades and manages the whole, and is as minutely attentive to every part, as if there were only that single object in his view. From the tallest archangel to the meanest ant or fly, all depend on him for their being, their preservation, and their powers. He directs the sparrows where to build their nests, and to find their food. He overrules the rise and fall of nations, and bends, with an invincible energy and unerring wisdom , all events; so that, while many intend nothing less, in the issue, their designs all concur and coincide in the accomplishment of his holy will. He restrains with a mighty hand the still more formidable efforts of the powers of darkness; and Satan, with all his hosts, cannot exert their malice a hair's breadth beyond the limits of his permission. This is He who is the head and husband of his believing people."
Monday, May 10, 2010
Losing One's Way
"The church has lost the wider audience because it gave up much of what it should know and in the past was good at: the light shed on human reality from the Word of God in love, encouragement, moral clarity, and compassion . . . when the church abandons her singular calling, she is usually not even very good in the attempt to compete with the street and the market." Udo Middelmann
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Long for Jesus
"This Lord, our God, the Word of God, the Word made flesh, the Son of the Father, the Son of God, the Son of man, exalted that He might create us, humbled that He might recreate us, walking among men, suffering what is human, concealing what is divine. Let every sigh be a panting after Christ, let that most beautiful One, who loved even the ugly that He might make them beautiful, let Him be longed for. Hurry to Him alone, sigh for Him."
--Saint Augustine
--Saint Augustine
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Value of the Weather-Beaten Christian
John Newton wrote the following to Captain Scott (January 4, 1768):
"Innumerable are the trials, fears, complaints and temptations which the Lord's people are beset with; some in one way, and some in another; the minister must, as it were, have a taste of all, or it might happen a case might come before him to which he had nothing to say. And we need them likewise to bring our hard hearts into a feeling disposition and sympathy with those who suffer: other wise we should be too busy or too happy to attend unto their moans. Surely much of that hasty and censorious spirit, too often observable in young converts, arises from their having, as yet, a very imperfect acquaintance with the deceitfulness of their own hearts. But, the old weather-beaten Christian, who has learnt by sorrowful experience how weak he is in himself, and what powerful subtle enemies he has to grapple with, acquires a tenderness in dealing with bruises and broken bones, which greatly conduces to his acceptance and usefulness."
"Innumerable are the trials, fears, complaints and temptations which the Lord's people are beset with; some in one way, and some in another; the minister must, as it were, have a taste of all, or it might happen a case might come before him to which he had nothing to say. And we need them likewise to bring our hard hearts into a feeling disposition and sympathy with those who suffer: other wise we should be too busy or too happy to attend unto their moans. Surely much of that hasty and censorious spirit, too often observable in young converts, arises from their having, as yet, a very imperfect acquaintance with the deceitfulness of their own hearts. But, the old weather-beaten Christian, who has learnt by sorrowful experience how weak he is in himself, and what powerful subtle enemies he has to grapple with, acquires a tenderness in dealing with bruises and broken bones, which greatly conduces to his acceptance and usefulness."
Monday, May 3, 2010
Drifting
D.A. Carson on holiness:
"People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith and delight in the Lord. We drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated."
"People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith and delight in the Lord. We drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated."
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Who Left Who?
Harvard Professor Kirsopp Lake made the following observation:
"It is a mistake often made by educated persons who happen to have but little knowledge of historical theology, to suppose that fundamentalism is a new and strange form of thought. It is nothing of the kind. It is the partial uneducated survival of a theology which was once universally held by all Christians. How many were there, for instance, in Christian churches in the eighteenth century who doubted the infallible inspiration of all Scripture? A few, perhaps, but very few. No, the fundamentalist may be wrong. I think he is. But it is we who have departed from the tradition, not he, and I am sorry for the fate of anyone who tries to argue with a fundamentalist on the basis of authority. The Bible and the corpus theologicum of the church are on the fundamentalists side."
"It is a mistake often made by educated persons who happen to have but little knowledge of historical theology, to suppose that fundamentalism is a new and strange form of thought. It is nothing of the kind. It is the partial uneducated survival of a theology which was once universally held by all Christians. How many were there, for instance, in Christian churches in the eighteenth century who doubted the infallible inspiration of all Scripture? A few, perhaps, but very few. No, the fundamentalist may be wrong. I think he is. But it is we who have departed from the tradition, not he, and I am sorry for the fate of anyone who tries to argue with a fundamentalist on the basis of authority. The Bible and the corpus theologicum of the church are on the fundamentalists side."
Monday, April 26, 2010
Pastoral Retirement?
John Newton wrote the following to his friend Rev. William Bull in 1802:
"I am now two days in my seventy-eighth year. My health and strength are remarkable for my age; but I feel some symptoms of declining years. The day of opportunity wears away, and the night is approaching when no man can work. But while the Lord enables me to preach, and the people are attentive and willing to hear me in my poor broken way, I ought to be willing to live to the age of Methusaleh, if I might but promote his glory, and be any way useful to my hearers. I am bought with a price, ergo, I am not my own. I wish to say from my heart, Lord, grant that the short uncertain remnant of my time may not discredit my profession, by pride or any evil tempers; and that when the summons shall come, it shall find me ready and waiting."
"I am now two days in my seventy-eighth year. My health and strength are remarkable for my age; but I feel some symptoms of declining years. The day of opportunity wears away, and the night is approaching when no man can work. But while the Lord enables me to preach, and the people are attentive and willing to hear me in my poor broken way, I ought to be willing to live to the age of Methusaleh, if I might but promote his glory, and be any way useful to my hearers. I am bought with a price, ergo, I am not my own. I wish to say from my heart, Lord, grant that the short uncertain remnant of my time may not discredit my profession, by pride or any evil tempers; and that when the summons shall come, it shall find me ready and waiting."
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Ryle on Heaven
"You all wish to go to heaven. I know it. I am fully persuaded of it; I am certain of it. There is not one of you, however false may be his views of what he must believe and what he must do, however unscriptural the ground of his hope, however worldly-minded he may be during the week, however careless when he gets outside that door -- there is not one of you, I say, who does not wish to go to heaven. But I do sadly fear that many of you, without a mighty change, will never get there. You would like the crown, but you do not like the cross; you would like the glory, but not the grace; the happiness, but not the holiness; the peace, but not the truth; the victory, but not the fight; the reward, but not the labour; you would like the harvest, but not the ploughing; you would like the reaping, but not the sowing; and so I fear that many of you will never get to heaven." J. C. Ryle
Friday, April 23, 2010
Valley of Vision
"O God, it is amazing that men can talk so much about man's creaturely power and goodness, when, if thou didst not hold us back every moment, we should be devils incarnate. This, by bitter experience, thou has taught me concerning myself." Valley of Vision
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Whitefield on Puritan Pastors
"Ministers never write or preach so well as when under the cross; the Spirit of Christ and of glory then rests upon them. It was this, no doubt, that made the Puritans... such burning lights and shining lights. When cast out by the black Bartholomew-act [the 1662 Act of Uniformity] and driven from their respective charges to preach in barns and fields, in the highways and hedges, they in an especial manner wrote and preached as men having authority. Though dead, by their writings they yet speak; a peculiar unction attends them to this very hour...."
Monday, April 19, 2010
Newton
John Newton wrote the following to a pastor who was having doubts and fears:
"So you preach to others; so you deal with exercised consciences; why not preach so to yourself? Will you point out a ground for their hopes, upon which you are afraid to venture your own? Has He not kept you sound in the faith in wavering times? Does He not preserve you unspotted from the world? Does He not enable and own you in your ministry? Has He not often refreshed you with his consolations? Do you not tell others that the blood of Jesus cleanseth from all sin? Why then do you give way to doubts and fears?"
"So you preach to others; so you deal with exercised consciences; why not preach so to yourself? Will you point out a ground for their hopes, upon which you are afraid to venture your own? Has He not kept you sound in the faith in wavering times? Does He not preserve you unspotted from the world? Does He not enable and own you in your ministry? Has He not often refreshed you with his consolations? Do you not tell others that the blood of Jesus cleanseth from all sin? Why then do you give way to doubts and fears?"
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Newton on the Best Christian
John Newton wrote the following to Rev. Joshua Symonds on February 17, 1769:
"Upon a supposition of degrees of glory, I should think it probable, the best Christian will have the highest place; and I am inclined to think that if you and I were to travel in search of the best Christian in the land, or were qualified to distinguish who deserved the title, it is more than two to one we should not find the person in a pulpit, or any public office of life. Perhaps some old woman at her wheel, or some bed-rid person, hid from the knowledge of the world, in a mud-walled cottage, would strike our attention more than any of the doctors or reverends with whom we are acquainted. Let us not measure men, much less ourselves, by gifts and services. One grain of grace is worth abundance of gifts. To be self-abased, to be filled with a spirit of love, and peace, and gentleness; to be dead to the world; to have the heart deeply affected with a sense of the glory and grace of Jesus, to have our will bowed to the will of God; these are the great things, more valuable, if compared in the balance of the sanctuary, than to be an instrument of converting a province or a nation."
"Upon a supposition of degrees of glory, I should think it probable, the best Christian will have the highest place; and I am inclined to think that if you and I were to travel in search of the best Christian in the land, or were qualified to distinguish who deserved the title, it is more than two to one we should not find the person in a pulpit, or any public office of life. Perhaps some old woman at her wheel, or some bed-rid person, hid from the knowledge of the world, in a mud-walled cottage, would strike our attention more than any of the doctors or reverends with whom we are acquainted. Let us not measure men, much less ourselves, by gifts and services. One grain of grace is worth abundance of gifts. To be self-abased, to be filled with a spirit of love, and peace, and gentleness; to be dead to the world; to have the heart deeply affected with a sense of the glory and grace of Jesus, to have our will bowed to the will of God; these are the great things, more valuable, if compared in the balance of the sanctuary, than to be an instrument of converting a province or a nation."
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Bavinck
"Sometimes we feel almost powerless. With fear and trembling we can only try each day anew to live close to God, and we can pray. More than ever before in our own weakness, we experience that God alone can help us and that he will help, if we pray. Thus, we learn in these tense years to understand again what Paul had learned by prayer and tears, namely, that the power of Jesus Christ is revealed to the fullest only in our weakness, and that therefore -- no matter how contradictory it may appear -- it is possible to take comfort in our own impotence." J. H. Bavinck
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Bunyan's Character
Following is a contemporary account of John Bunyan's character:
"He appeared in countenance to be of a stern and rough temper, but in his conversation mild and affable; not given to loquacity or much discourse in company, unless some urgent occasion required it; observing never to boast of himself or his parts, but rather seem low in his own eyes, and submit himself to the judgment of others; abhorring lying and swearing, being just in all that lay in his power to his word, not seeming to revenge injuries, loving to reconcile differences and make friendship with all; he had a sharp quick eye, accomplished with an excellent discerning of persons, being of good judgment and quick wit. As for his person, he was tall of stature, strong boned, though not corpulent, somewhat of a ruddy face, with sparkling eyes, wearing his hair on his upper lip, after the old British fashion; his hair reddish, but in his latter days time had sprinkled it with grey; his nose well set, but not declining or bending, and his mouth moderate large; his forehead something high, and his habit always plain and modest. And thus we have impartially described the internal and external parts of a person whose death hath been much regretted — a person who had tried the smiles and frowns of time, not puffed up in prosperity nor shaken in adversity, always holding the golden mean.
In him at once did three great worthies shine: Historian, poet, and a choice divine:Then let him rest in undisturbed dust,Until the resurrection of the just."
"He appeared in countenance to be of a stern and rough temper, but in his conversation mild and affable; not given to loquacity or much discourse in company, unless some urgent occasion required it; observing never to boast of himself or his parts, but rather seem low in his own eyes, and submit himself to the judgment of others; abhorring lying and swearing, being just in all that lay in his power to his word, not seeming to revenge injuries, loving to reconcile differences and make friendship with all; he had a sharp quick eye, accomplished with an excellent discerning of persons, being of good judgment and quick wit. As for his person, he was tall of stature, strong boned, though not corpulent, somewhat of a ruddy face, with sparkling eyes, wearing his hair on his upper lip, after the old British fashion; his hair reddish, but in his latter days time had sprinkled it with grey; his nose well set, but not declining or bending, and his mouth moderate large; his forehead something high, and his habit always plain and modest. And thus we have impartially described the internal and external parts of a person whose death hath been much regretted — a person who had tried the smiles and frowns of time, not puffed up in prosperity nor shaken in adversity, always holding the golden mean.
In him at once did three great worthies shine: Historian, poet, and a choice divine:Then let him rest in undisturbed dust,Until the resurrection of the just."
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
William Haslam
We have written before about William Haslam, a preacher in Cornwall in the mid-19th century, who was converted through his own preaching from his own pulpit! I have recently been reading his autobiography called From Death Into Life . . . it is indeed a worthy read. For example, we read the following description about the service in which Haslam was converted:
"Whether it was something in my words, or my manner, or my look, I know not; but all of a sudden a local preacher, who happened to be in the congregation, stood up, and putting up his arms, shouted out in a Cornish manner, 'The parson is converted! the parson is converted! Hallelujah!' and in another moment his voice was lost in the shouts and praises of three or four hundred of the congregation. Instead of rebuking this extraordinary 'brawling,' as I should have done in a former time, I joined in the outburst of praise; and to make it more orderly, I gave out the Doxology -- 'Praise God from whom all blessings flow' -- and the people sang it with heart and voice, over and over again. My Churchmen were dismayed, and many of them fled precipitately from the place. Still the voice of praise went on, and was swelled by numbers of passers-by, who came into the church, greatly surprised to hear and see what was going on."
"When this subsided, I found at least twenty people crying for mercy, whose voices had not been heard in the excitement and noise of thanksgiving. They all professed to find peace and joy in believing. Amongst this number there were three from my own house; and we returned home praising God."
"Whether it was something in my words, or my manner, or my look, I know not; but all of a sudden a local preacher, who happened to be in the congregation, stood up, and putting up his arms, shouted out in a Cornish manner, 'The parson is converted! the parson is converted! Hallelujah!' and in another moment his voice was lost in the shouts and praises of three or four hundred of the congregation. Instead of rebuking this extraordinary 'brawling,' as I should have done in a former time, I joined in the outburst of praise; and to make it more orderly, I gave out the Doxology -- 'Praise God from whom all blessings flow' -- and the people sang it with heart and voice, over and over again. My Churchmen were dismayed, and many of them fled precipitately from the place. Still the voice of praise went on, and was swelled by numbers of passers-by, who came into the church, greatly surprised to hear and see what was going on."
"When this subsided, I found at least twenty people crying for mercy, whose voices had not been heard in the excitement and noise of thanksgiving. They all professed to find peace and joy in believing. Amongst this number there were three from my own house; and we returned home praising God."
Monday, March 29, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Definition of Revival
George Smith offers a succinct definition of revival:
"A revival, therefore, is a work of grace effected by the Spirit of God on the souls of men; and, in its nature, differs only from the ordinary operations of the Holy Ghost, in the enlightening and conversion of men, by its wider prevalence and greater intensity."
"A revival, therefore, is a work of grace effected by the Spirit of God on the souls of men; and, in its nature, differs only from the ordinary operations of the Holy Ghost, in the enlightening and conversion of men, by its wider prevalence and greater intensity."
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Conversion of William Rundle
William Carvosso tells of the conversion of his grandson in the Cornish revival of 1827 in the following manner:
"My dear grandson, William Rundle, so recently brought to God, and so hopeful in the church, has been snatched away from us by the hand of death. He was ill only a very short time; but glory be to God, he died in sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection to eternal life. How merciful are the dispensations of God! His conversion took place about six weeks before his removal hence. He did not long groan under the burden of guilt, and his evidence of pardon and adoption was very clear. At a prayer-meeting two or three weeks before his death, he received an overwhelming manifestation of the Spirit, in which every doubt and fear was utterly put to flight. He attended his class a few days before his death, and seemed to be filled with unspeakable joy: 'My soul', he said, 'is like a ship in full sail, on the boundless ocean of redeeming love.' His death was occasioned by the rupture of a blood vessel. In all the conflict, he was perfectly tranquil and serene; fear was not permitted to come near him. This was the more striking, because, in every little indisposition before, he was much alarmed and distressed at the thought of death. But now he seemed at once ready-winged for the flight. To his father, who had fondly hoped that he would be the help and comfort of his advancing years, he said, 'Father, you can do very well without me; and I would rather die than live.' The Lord whom he had so heartily chosen for his portion in the vigour of health, was not his abundant support in the struggle of pain and death. Just before he expired, he said to me, 'I used to be struck with terror at the thought of dying, but now I can meet death with a smile.' He died in his nineteenth year."
"My dear grandson, William Rundle, so recently brought to God, and so hopeful in the church, has been snatched away from us by the hand of death. He was ill only a very short time; but glory be to God, he died in sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection to eternal life. How merciful are the dispensations of God! His conversion took place about six weeks before his removal hence. He did not long groan under the burden of guilt, and his evidence of pardon and adoption was very clear. At a prayer-meeting two or three weeks before his death, he received an overwhelming manifestation of the Spirit, in which every doubt and fear was utterly put to flight. He attended his class a few days before his death, and seemed to be filled with unspeakable joy: 'My soul', he said, 'is like a ship in full sail, on the boundless ocean of redeeming love.' His death was occasioned by the rupture of a blood vessel. In all the conflict, he was perfectly tranquil and serene; fear was not permitted to come near him. This was the more striking, because, in every little indisposition before, he was much alarmed and distressed at the thought of death. But now he seemed at once ready-winged for the flight. To his father, who had fondly hoped that he would be the help and comfort of his advancing years, he said, 'Father, you can do very well without me; and I would rather die than live.' The Lord whom he had so heartily chosen for his portion in the vigour of health, was not his abundant support in the struggle of pain and death. Just before he expired, he said to me, 'I used to be struck with terror at the thought of dying, but now I can meet death with a smile.' He died in his nineteenth year."
Saturday, March 20, 2010
The High Calling of Preaching
To underscore the true high calling of preaching, Philip Henry said that he would beg all week in order to be allowed to preach on Sunday.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Conversion of John Chapman
Paul Cook tells the story of the conversion of one John Chapman in the 18th century:
"His work was that of a roadman. He had been troubled about his spiritual state for some time, but was fearful of attending the local chapel. One day as he was taking his lunch break with his bread and cheese, sitting under a hedge by the roadside, a robin settled nearby. He held out a crumb in his hand to entice the robin to take it, and said, 'Come, come, come to me: you don't know how much good I can do for 'ee.' The next moment he looked up, and in his account he said, 'There was the Lord Jesus right in front of me, holding out his hand with nail prints in it. And 'twas like as if he said them words over again -- 'Come, come, come to me: you don't know how much good I can do for you.' And so he passed from death to life. His subsequent godly life convinced everyone of the genuineness of his conversion." (Fire from Heaven, p. 75)
"His work was that of a roadman. He had been troubled about his spiritual state for some time, but was fearful of attending the local chapel. One day as he was taking his lunch break with his bread and cheese, sitting under a hedge by the roadside, a robin settled nearby. He held out a crumb in his hand to entice the robin to take it, and said, 'Come, come, come to me: you don't know how much good I can do for 'ee.' The next moment he looked up, and in his account he said, 'There was the Lord Jesus right in front of me, holding out his hand with nail prints in it. And 'twas like as if he said them words over again -- 'Come, come, come to me: you don't know how much good I can do for you.' And so he passed from death to life. His subsequent godly life convinced everyone of the genuineness of his conversion." (Fire from Heaven, p. 75)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Percy
William Alexander Percy: "I'm unhappily convinced that our exteriors have increased in importance while our interiors have deteriorated: it is a good paint job!"
Monday, March 15, 2010
Filey
H.B. Kendall in his book The Origin and History of the Primitive Presbyterian Church (1905) tells the story of the revival in the town of Filey a fishing village in East Riding. This town was particulary well known for its evil ways and wickedness. Numerous attempts had been made by evangelists to penetrate the town, but nothing had worked. John Oxtoby took it as a challenge, and he said, "What will the people say about praying and believing? . . . Let me go." According to Paul Cook, "When he reached Muston Hill and viewed Filey in the distance, he fell upon his knees in a dry ditch and began to agonize with God. A miller passing that way thought he heard two men arguing. But it was only one man praying. He was engaging in 'the argument of faith' with his God. Eventually God gave Oxtoby the assurance that his prayers were answered. He 'rose in faith' and exclaimed, 'It is done, Lord! Filey is taken! Filey is taken!' So he descended into the town: and it was taken!" Indeed, a great revival occurred in the town, and it was taken by prayer.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Don't Trifle
Charles Simeon endured great opposition and hardship in his church in Cambridge, England. He overcame it, however, and served Trinity Church as pastor for 54 years. Henry Martyn served as Simeon's assistant for a time before he set sail as a missionary to India. Martyn ministered in India for only four years before his untimely death at 31 years of age. Martyn's short life, however, was a source of great encouragement to Charles Simeon.
In four years of ministry Martyn was diligent: he preached often, established schools in India, and translated the New Testament into Hindustani, Persian, and Arabic. He once commissioned a portrait of himself that he had sent to his friend Charles Simeon. Simeon hung the portrait over his fire-place in his study. When anyone would visit Simeon in his study, he would point to the portrat and say, "See that blessed man. No one looks at me as he does. He never takes his eyes off me, and he seems always to be saying, 'The years are short. Be serious. Be in earnest. Don't trifle; don't trifle.'" Then Simeon would say, "And I won't trifle; I won't trifle."
In four years of ministry Martyn was diligent: he preached often, established schools in India, and translated the New Testament into Hindustani, Persian, and Arabic. He once commissioned a portrait of himself that he had sent to his friend Charles Simeon. Simeon hung the portrait over his fire-place in his study. When anyone would visit Simeon in his study, he would point to the portrat and say, "See that blessed man. No one looks at me as he does. He never takes his eyes off me, and he seems always to be saying, 'The years are short. Be serious. Be in earnest. Don't trifle; don't trifle.'" Then Simeon would say, "And I won't trifle; I won't trifle."
Monday, March 8, 2010
Hull
Paul Cook comments on the revival in the city of Hull, England in the 19th century:
" . . . in 1858 the people of Hull used to run to their places of worship -- many of which seated over 1000 -- in order to secure a seat for the mid-week preaching meeting. This seems inconceivable today; but it did happen, and by the grace of God we trust it will happen again. Once more we learn that it is 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of Hosts."
" . . . in 1858 the people of Hull used to run to their places of worship -- many of which seated over 1000 -- in order to secure a seat for the mid-week preaching meeting. This seems inconceivable today; but it did happen, and by the grace of God we trust it will happen again. Once more we learn that it is 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of Hosts."
Friday, March 5, 2010
Edwards on Revival
"It may be observed that from the fall of man to our day the work of redemption in its effects has mainly been carried on by remarkable communications of the Spirit of God. Though there may be a more constant influence of God's Spirit always in some degree attending his ordinances yet the way in which the greatest things have been done towards carrying on this work always has been by the remarkable effusions at special seasons." Jonathan Edwards
Good reasons that we should pray for revival!
Good reasons that we should pray for revival!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Covenanter James Renwick
The following traditional incident is said to have befallen him when he was on one occasion preaching, in the wilder parts of Galloway. It was known that a conventicle was to be held by him among the desert mountains, in a place the name of which is not given; and to this place the leader of a party of dragoons repaired with his men, for the purpose of surprising the meeting, and of seizing the preacher. Mr. Renwick and his friends, by certain precautionary measures, were made aware of their danger, and fled. In the eager pursuit, the commander of the troopers shot far ahead of his party, in the hope of capturing by his single arm the helpless minister, on whose head a price had been set. Mr. Renwick, however, succeeded in eluding the pursuit; and wending his way through the broken mosses and bosky glens, came, in the dusk of the evening, to Newton-Stewart, and found lodgings in an inn, in which, on former occasions, he had found a resting-place.
After a tedious and fruitless chase through moor and wild, the leader of the troopers arrived at the same place, and sought a retreat for the night in the same inn. It appears to have been in the winter season when this occurrence took place, for the commander of the party, feeling the dark and lonely hours of the evening hang heavy on his hands, called the landlord, and asked if he could introduce to him any intelligent acquaintance of his, with whom he might spend an hour agreeably in his apartment. The landlord retired, and communicated the request to Mr. Renwick, and whatever might have been his reasons for the part which on this occasion he acted, Mr. Renwick, it is asserted, agreed to spend the evening in the company of the trooper. His habiliments would, no doubt, be of a description that would induce no suspicion of his character as a Nonconformist minister; for in those days of peril and necessity, there would be little distinction between the preacher and the plain peasant, in regard to clothing. It is highly probable that the soldier was a man of no great discernment; and hence Mr. Renwick succeeded in managing the interview without being discovered by the person in whose presence he was, and without his being suspected by others who might happen to frequent the inn. The evening passed agreeably and without incident, and they parted with many expressions of high satisfaction and good-will on the part of the officer, who retired to sleep with the intention of resuming his search in the morning.
When all was quiet in the inn, however, and when sleep had closed the eyes of its inmates, Mr. Renwick took leave of the landlord, and withdrew in the darkness and stillness of the night to the upland solitudes, to seek some cave, in whose cold and damp retreat he might hide himself from the vigilance of his pursuers.
When the morning came, and the soldiers were preparing to march, the commander asked for the intelligent stranger who had afforded him so much gratification on the preceding evening. The landlord said that he had left the house long before the dawn, and was now far off among the hills to seek a hiding-place. "A hiding-place!" exclaimed the leader. "Yes, a hiding-place," replied the innkeeper; "this gentle and inoffensive youth, as you have witnessed him to be, is no other than the identical James Renwick after whom you have been pursuing." "James Renwick! impossible!—a man so harmless, so discreet, and so well informed; if he is James Renwick, I for one, at least, will pursue his track no longer."
The officer, accordingly, marched away with his dragoons, and searched the wilderness no farther for one of whom he had now formed so favourable an opinion. It was probably with the full concurrence of Mr. Renwick that the master of the inn divulged the secret when danger was no longer to be apprehended; and it was done, in all likelihood, with a view to show the troopers that the Covenanters were not the men that their enemies affirmed they were—wild, fanatical, and ferocious; and by this means, if possible, to leave a good impression on the mind of those who, without cause, were seeking their destruction. (Rev. Stewart)
After a tedious and fruitless chase through moor and wild, the leader of the troopers arrived at the same place, and sought a retreat for the night in the same inn. It appears to have been in the winter season when this occurrence took place, for the commander of the party, feeling the dark and lonely hours of the evening hang heavy on his hands, called the landlord, and asked if he could introduce to him any intelligent acquaintance of his, with whom he might spend an hour agreeably in his apartment. The landlord retired, and communicated the request to Mr. Renwick, and whatever might have been his reasons for the part which on this occasion he acted, Mr. Renwick, it is asserted, agreed to spend the evening in the company of the trooper. His habiliments would, no doubt, be of a description that would induce no suspicion of his character as a Nonconformist minister; for in those days of peril and necessity, there would be little distinction between the preacher and the plain peasant, in regard to clothing. It is highly probable that the soldier was a man of no great discernment; and hence Mr. Renwick succeeded in managing the interview without being discovered by the person in whose presence he was, and without his being suspected by others who might happen to frequent the inn. The evening passed agreeably and without incident, and they parted with many expressions of high satisfaction and good-will on the part of the officer, who retired to sleep with the intention of resuming his search in the morning.
When all was quiet in the inn, however, and when sleep had closed the eyes of its inmates, Mr. Renwick took leave of the landlord, and withdrew in the darkness and stillness of the night to the upland solitudes, to seek some cave, in whose cold and damp retreat he might hide himself from the vigilance of his pursuers.
When the morning came, and the soldiers were preparing to march, the commander asked for the intelligent stranger who had afforded him so much gratification on the preceding evening. The landlord said that he had left the house long before the dawn, and was now far off among the hills to seek a hiding-place. "A hiding-place!" exclaimed the leader. "Yes, a hiding-place," replied the innkeeper; "this gentle and inoffensive youth, as you have witnessed him to be, is no other than the identical James Renwick after whom you have been pursuing." "James Renwick! impossible!—a man so harmless, so discreet, and so well informed; if he is James Renwick, I for one, at least, will pursue his track no longer."
The officer, accordingly, marched away with his dragoons, and searched the wilderness no farther for one of whom he had now formed so favourable an opinion. It was probably with the full concurrence of Mr. Renwick that the master of the inn divulged the secret when danger was no longer to be apprehended; and it was done, in all likelihood, with a view to show the troopers that the Covenanters were not the men that their enemies affirmed they were—wild, fanatical, and ferocious; and by this means, if possible, to leave a good impression on the mind of those who, without cause, were seeking their destruction. (Rev. Stewart)
Schaeffer Quote
You must not lose confidence in God because you lost confidence in your pastor. If our confidence in God had to depend upon our confidence in any human person, we would be on shifting sand.
-- Francis Schaeffer
-- Francis Schaeffer
Monday, March 1, 2010
Poem by John Newton
"Though troubles assail
And dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail
And foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us,
Whatever betide,
The scripture assures us,
The Lord will provide.”
And dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail
And foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us,
Whatever betide,
The scripture assures us,
The Lord will provide.”
Friday, February 26, 2010
Fun Quotes
"I am not bothered by the things in the Bible that I don't understand . . . it's the things of the Bible that I do understand that keep me up at night." Mark Twain
Lady Nancy Astor to Winston Churchill: "Winston, if you were my husband I would poison your tea!"
His response: "Nancy, if I were your husband I would drink it!"
"An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets the more interested he is in her." Agatha Christie
Lady Nancy Astor to Winston Churchill: "Winston, if you were my husband I would poison your tea!"
His response: "Nancy, if I were your husband I would drink it!"
"An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets the more interested he is in her." Agatha Christie
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Spurgeon on Perfectionism
A few weeks ago in Sunday morning service we were looking at Philippians 3:12-16, and we talked some about the issue of perfectionism. Following are a few remarks by Charles Spurgeon on the topic:
"Our Wesleyan brethren have a notion that they are going to be perfect here on earth. I should be very glad to see them when they are perfect; and if any of them happen to be in the position of servants, wanting situations, I would be happy to give them any amount of wages I could spare, for I should feel myself highly honored and greatly blessed in having perfect servants; and what is more, if any of them are masters, and need servants, I would undertake to come and serve them without any wages at all if I could but find a perfect master. I have had one perfect Master ever since I first knew the Lord, and if I could be sure that there is another perfect master, I should be greatly pleased to have him as an under-master, while the great Supreme must ever be chief of all. One man, who said he was perfect, called upon me once, and asked me to go and see him, for I should receive valuable instruction from him if I did. I said, 'I have no doubt it would be so; but I should not like to go to your house, I think I should hardly be able to get into one of your rooms.' 'How is that?' he inquired. 'Well,' I replied, 'I suppose that your house would be so full of angels that there would be no room for me.' He did not like that remark; and when I made one or two other playful observations, he went into a towering rage. 'Well, friend,' I said to him, 'I think, after all, I am as perfect as you are; but do perfect men ever get angry?' He denied that he was angry, although there was a peculiar redness about his cheeks, and a fiery flash in his eyes, that is very common to persons when they are in a passion."
"Our Wesleyan brethren have a notion that they are going to be perfect here on earth. I should be very glad to see them when they are perfect; and if any of them happen to be in the position of servants, wanting situations, I would be happy to give them any amount of wages I could spare, for I should feel myself highly honored and greatly blessed in having perfect servants; and what is more, if any of them are masters, and need servants, I would undertake to come and serve them without any wages at all if I could but find a perfect master. I have had one perfect Master ever since I first knew the Lord, and if I could be sure that there is another perfect master, I should be greatly pleased to have him as an under-master, while the great Supreme must ever be chief of all. One man, who said he was perfect, called upon me once, and asked me to go and see him, for I should receive valuable instruction from him if I did. I said, 'I have no doubt it would be so; but I should not like to go to your house, I think I should hardly be able to get into one of your rooms.' 'How is that?' he inquired. 'Well,' I replied, 'I suppose that your house would be so full of angels that there would be no room for me.' He did not like that remark; and when I made one or two other playful observations, he went into a towering rage. 'Well, friend,' I said to him, 'I think, after all, I am as perfect as you are; but do perfect men ever get angry?' He denied that he was angry, although there was a peculiar redness about his cheeks, and a fiery flash in his eyes, that is very common to persons when they are in a passion."
Monday, February 22, 2010
Newton on the Bible
"The Bible is the grand repository ... It is the complete system of divine truth, to which nothing can be added, and from which nothing can be taken, with impunity. Every attempt to disguise or soften any branch of this truth, in order to accommodate it to the prevailing taste around us, either to avoid the displeasure, or to court the favour, of our fellow mortals, must be an affront to the majesty of God, and an act of treachery to men." - John Newton
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Newton on Heaven
John Newton on heaven:
"If ever I reach heaven I expect to see three wonders there: first, to meet some I had not thought to see there; second, to miss some I had expected to see there; and, third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there."
"If ever I reach heaven I expect to see three wonders there: first, to meet some I had not thought to see there; second, to miss some I had expected to see there; and, third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there."
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Hudson Taylor on Evangelism
“Perhaps if there were more of that intense distress for souls that leads to tears, we should more frequently see the results we desire. Sometimes it may be that while we are complaining of the hardness of the hearts of those we are seeking to benefit, the hardness of our own hearts and our feeble apprehension of the solemn reality of eternal things may be the true cause of our want of success.” Hudson Taylor
Friday, February 12, 2010
Flavel as Pastor
One of his parishioners wrote of John Flavel as a minister, “I could say much, though not enough of the excellency of his preaching; of his seasonable, suitable, and spiritual matter; of his plain expositions of Scripture; his talking method, his genuine and natural deductions, his convincing arguments, his clear and powerful demonstrations, his heart-searching applications, and his comfortable supports to those that were afflicted in conscience. In short, that person must have a very soft head, or a very hard heart, or both, that could sit under his ministry unaffected” (Erasmus Middleton, Evangelical Biography, 4:50-51).
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Bunyan
From Sunday's sermon: conversation between Obstinate and Christian in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress:
Obstinate: "What are the things you seek, since you leave all the world to find them?"
Christian: "I seek an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away; and it is laid up in Heaven, and fast there, to be bestowed at the time appointed, on them that diligently seek it. Read it so, if you will, in my book."
Obstinate: "What are the things you seek, since you leave all the world to find them?"
Christian: "I seek an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away; and it is laid up in Heaven, and fast there, to be bestowed at the time appointed, on them that diligently seek it. Read it so, if you will, in my book."
Saturday, February 6, 2010
The Lord Will Provide
Though troubles assail
And dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail
And foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us,
Whatever betide,
The scripture assures us,
The Lord will provide
John Newton
And dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail
And foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us,
Whatever betide,
The scripture assures us,
The Lord will provide
John Newton
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
C. S. Lewis Quote
Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself." — C.S. Lewis(Mere Christianity)
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Newton of Sanctification
""I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am." " — John Newton
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Amazing Grace
“Although we all sing the hymn ‘Amazing Grace,’ it amazes few. Why? Because grace cannot amaze until we feel the judgment we deserve… This grace amazed John Newton [1725-1807]. This is why he wrote the hymn ‘Amazing Grace.’ Newton became a Christian in his late twenties. Prior to his conversion, he had been a slave trader in West Africa and was a godless, ruthless man.
For example, he kept a black slave as a mistress. When he caught her in a sexual relationship with a black man, he beat the man to death with his shovel only to find out later that he was her husband.
On the long voyages across the Atlantic, he and his mates raped the women being transported to their North American masters. Though many arrived pregnant with his seed, he was hard and indifferent to the fate of these women and their children.
This is why, after his conversion, Newton looked at the cross with amazement. There he saw grace – Christ suffering the agony of God’s wrath in his place, so that God could reward him with eternal life. The grace of God stunned him, and he never got over it.
Our sins may be different from those of John Newton, but God’s grace works the same way for us. When a Christian choral group changed the words in Newton’s hymn from ‘saved a wretch like me’ to ‘saved a person like me’ I knew that grace had sprouted wings and flown away. Grace appears most perfectly in the knowledge of our sin revealed at the cross. Only cross-centered Christians find grace amazing.”
Farley, Outrageous Mercy (Baker)
For example, he kept a black slave as a mistress. When he caught her in a sexual relationship with a black man, he beat the man to death with his shovel only to find out later that he was her husband.
On the long voyages across the Atlantic, he and his mates raped the women being transported to their North American masters. Though many arrived pregnant with his seed, he was hard and indifferent to the fate of these women and their children.
This is why, after his conversion, Newton looked at the cross with amazement. There he saw grace – Christ suffering the agony of God’s wrath in his place, so that God could reward him with eternal life. The grace of God stunned him, and he never got over it.
Our sins may be different from those of John Newton, but God’s grace works the same way for us. When a Christian choral group changed the words in Newton’s hymn from ‘saved a wretch like me’ to ‘saved a person like me’ I knew that grace had sprouted wings and flown away. Grace appears most perfectly in the knowledge of our sin revealed at the cross. Only cross-centered Christians find grace amazing.”
Farley, Outrageous Mercy (Baker)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Flavel
Flavel was ejected from the pulpit in 1662 for nonconformity, but he continued to meet secretly with his parishioners in conventicles. On occasion, he would preach for them in the woods, especially on days of fasting and humiliation. Once he even disguised himself as a woman on horseback in order to reach a secret meeting place where he preached and administered baptism. At another time, when pursued by authorities, he plunged his horse into the sea and managed to escape arrest by swimming through a rocky area to reach Slapton Sands. (Beeke and Pederson)
Monday, January 25, 2010
Lewis on Humility
A man who is eating or lying with his wife or preparing to go to sleep in humility, thankfulness and temperance, is, by Christian standards, in an infinitely higher state than one who is listening to Bach or reading Plato in a state of pride.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Prayer for Revival
In 1934, Mordecai Ham preached in Charlotte, NC, and a great awakening took place. A farmer was deeply concerned about the meetings, so he invited a group of his Christian friends to come spend a day in prayer at his farm. As they prayed, they felt compelled to ask God to raise up a man from their city to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. Although they didn't see an immediate answer to their prayer, the great awakening had begun. The farmer's teenage son was converted during the crusade, and that boy--whose name is Billy Graham!--has indeed carried the gospel to the ends of the earth. (Leighton Ford)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Bunyan Poem
On Holiness of Life by John Bunyan
Now, then, if holiness thou wouldst obtain,
And wouldst a tender Christian man remain,
Keep faith in action, let that righteousness
That Christ fulfilled always have express
And clear distinction in thy heart, from all
That men by Scripture, or besides, it, call
Inherent gospel holiness, or what
Terms else they please to give it; for 'tis that,
And that alone, by which all graces come
Into the heart; for else there is no room
For ought but pride, presumption, or despair,
No love or other graces can be there.
Received you the Spirit, saith St. Paul,
By hearing, faith, or works? not works, and shall
No ways retain the same, except you do
Hear faith, embrace the same, and stick thereto.
Now, then, if holiness thou wouldst obtain,
And wouldst a tender Christian man remain,
Keep faith in action, let that righteousness
That Christ fulfilled always have express
And clear distinction in thy heart, from all
That men by Scripture, or besides, it, call
Inherent gospel holiness, or what
Terms else they please to give it; for 'tis that,
And that alone, by which all graces come
Into the heart; for else there is no room
For ought but pride, presumption, or despair,
No love or other graces can be there.
Received you the Spirit, saith St. Paul,
By hearing, faith, or works? not works, and shall
No ways retain the same, except you do
Hear faith, embrace the same, and stick thereto.
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