The Potter's Clay

It will soften a stone!

2008-02-12T18:50:00.000-08:00

--Thomas Watson, "The Mischief of Sin"

"The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin!"
1 John 1:7

Christ's blood is a SOFTENING blood.

There is nothing so hard, that it cannot be softened
by this blood. It will soften a stone! Water will
soften the earth—but it will not soften a stone; but
Christ's blood mollifies a stone. It softens a heart of
stone. It turns a flint into a spring. The heart, which
before was like a piece hewn out of a rock, being
steeped in Christ's blood—becomes soft, and the
waters of repentance flow from it.

"They will look on Me whom they have pierced and
mourn for Him as for an only son. They will grieve
bitterly for Him as for a firstborn son who has died."
Zechariah 12:10

How was the jailer's heart dissolved and made tender
when the blood of sprinkling was upon it! "Sirs, what
must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30. His heart was
now like melting wax. God might now set whatever
seal and impression He desired, upon it.

"I will give you a new heart with new and right desires,
and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your
stony heart of sin and give you a new, obedient heart."
Ezekiel 36:26

The free, sovereign grace of God!

2008-01-15T20:57:00.000-08:00

--Octavius Winslow, "Christ, Our Righteousness"

"Those He predestined, He also called;
and those He called, He also justified;
and those He justified, He also glorified."
Romans 8:30

The justified sinner stands the closest to God,
of any created being in the universe. Nearer
to the throne of the Eternal, he cannot stand.

What marvelous love!

Who will dare assert that salvation is not,
from first to last—of free, sovereign grace!

Let your eye pierce the veil which falls between
earth and heaven. Behold that shining, worshiping
being, standing so near to the throne of glory,
bathed in the overpowering effulgence of its rays!

Who is he?

He was once a sinner upon earth, the vilest
of his race, the dishonored of his generation,
forsaken by man—and abhorred of God.

But Jesus met him, and divine love drew him, and
sovereign grace rescued, pardoned, and saved him!
And now washed from all his guilt by the blood,
freed from all condemnation by the righteousness
of Christ—he stands before the throne "blameless,"
a "king and a priest unto God." Such is the great
love of Jesus! And all this grace, and all this
glory, and all this bliss—flows from the free,
sovereign grace of God!

Only the blood of Christ can soften it!

2007-12-23T08:23:00.000-08:00

--Thomas Watson, "The Beatitudes" 1660

"I will take away their hearts of stone and
give them tender hearts!" Ezekiel 11:19

Oh the misery of a hard heart!

A heart of stone is insensible. A stone is not
sensible of anything. Lay a heavy weight upon
it; or grind it to powder—it does not feel. So it
is with a hard heart—it is insensible to both its
own sin and God's wrath. The stone in the
kidneys is felt—but not the stone in the heart.
"Having lost all sensitivity" (Ephesians 4:19).

A heart of stone is inflexible. A stone will not
bend. Just so, the hard heart will not comply with
God's command. It will not stoop to Christ's scepter.
A heart of stone will sooner break, than bend by
repentance. It is so far from yielding to God, that
like the anvil—it beats back the hammer. A heart
of stone will "always resist the Holy Spirit." (Acts 7:51)

A hard heart is void of all grace. While the wax is
hard—it will not take the impression of the seal.
Just so, the heart, while it is hard—will not take the
stamp of grace. It must first be made tender and
melting. The plough of the Word will not penetrate
a hard heart!

A hard heart is good for nothing—but to make
fuel for hellfire. "Because of your hardness and
unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for
yourself in the day of wrath!" (Romans 2:5).

Hell is full of hard hearts—there is not one soft heart
there! There is much weeping there—but no softness.
We read of "vessels of wrath—prepared for destruction"
(Romans 9:22). Hardness of heart, fits these vessels
for hell, and makes them like withered wood, which
is fit only to burn!

Hardness of heart makes a man's condition worse
than all his other sins besides. If one is guilty of
great sins—yet if he can mourn, there is hope. But
hardness of heart binds guilt fast upon the soul. It
seals a man under wrath. It is not heinousness of
sin—but hardness of heart—which damns!

Oh the misery of a hard heart!

A stony heart is the worst heart. If it were bronze,
it might be melted in the furnace; or it might be
bent with the hammer. But a stony heart is such,
that only the arm of God can break it—and only
the blood of Christ can soften it!

"I will take out your stony heart of sin and give
you a new, obedient heart." Ezekiel 36:26

The way to be like Jesus

2007-12-17T12:50:00.000-08:00

--Thomas Watson, "The Beatitudes" 1660

To render evil for evil is brutish;
to render evil for good is devilish;
to render good for evil is Christian.

"Blessed are the meek." Matthew 5:5

Meekness is a grace whereby we are enabled by
the Spirit of God, to moderate our angry passions.
Meekness has a divine beauty and sweetness in
it. This meekness consists in three things:
the bearing of injuries,
the forgiving of injuries,
the recompensing good for evil.

Meekness is opposed to:
anger,
malice,
revenge and
evil-speaking.

Meekness is a great ornament to a Christian. "The
ornament of a meek spirit—which is so precious to
God!" (1 Peter 3:4). How lovely is a saint in God's
eye, when adorned with this jewel! No garment
is more befitting to a Christian, than meekness.
Therefore we are bid to put on this garment, "Put
on therefore as the elect of God—meekness."
(Colossians 3:12)

Meekness is a noble and excellent spirit. A meek man
is a valorous man. He gets a victory over himself! Anger
arises from weakness of character. The meek man is able
to conquer his fury. "He who is slow to anger is better
than the mighty; controlling one's temper is better than
capturing a city." (Proverbs 16:32). To yield to one's
anger is easy—it is swimming along with the tide of
corrupt nature. But to turn against nature—to resist
anger, to "overcome evil with good"—this is truly
Christian.

Meekness is the best way to conquer and melt the
heart of an enemy. Meekness melts and thaws the
heart of others. The greatest victory is to overcome
an enemy—without striking a blow! Mildness prevails
more than fierceness. Anger makes an enemy of a
friend. Meekness makes a friend of an enemy.

Meekness is the way to be like Jesus—"Learn of
Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart." Mat. 11:29.
It is not profession which makes us like Jesus—but
imitation. Where meekness is lacking—we are like
brutes. Where it is present—we are like Jesus.

All enameled and interwoven with free grace!

2007-12-03T07:28:00.001-08:00

-Thomas Watson, "A Divine Cordial" 1663

"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.
Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many
were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God
chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;
God chose the weak things of the world to shame the
strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the
despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify
the things that are, so that no one may boast before
Him." 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Without this effectual call—there is no going to heaven.

This effectual call, is a GRACIOUS call. It is the fruit and
product of free grace! That God should call some—and
not others; that some should be taken—and others left;
that one should be called who is of a more wicked
disposition—while another of a sweeter temper, is
rejected; here is free grace! That the poor should be
rich in faith, heirs of a kingdom (James 2:5), and the
nobles and great ones of the world for the most part
rejected; this is free and rich grace! "Even so, Father,
for so it seemed good in Your sight!" (Matthew 11:26)

That under the same sermon one should be effectually
wrought upon—while another is no more moved than a
dead man with the sound of music; that one should hear
the Spirit's voice in the Word—while another does not
hear it; that one should be softened and moistened with
the influence of heaven—while another, like Gideon's dry
fleece, has no dew upon him; behold here distinguishing,
sovereign grace!

What is the cause of this—but the free grace of God! It
is all enameled and interwoven with free grace!
Those who are monuments of God's mercies, will be
trumpets of His praise. "So that no one may boast
before Him!" 1 Corinthians 1:29

My sweet pomegranate wine

2007-11-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

Thomas Watson, "The Lord's Prayer"

"Christ's love compels us." 2 Corinthians 5:14

True love to love God turns the soul into a seraphim;
it makes it burn in a flame of affection. Love is the
truest touchstone of sincerity.

Love is the queen of the graces; it commands the
whole soul. If our love to God is genuine, we let Him
have the supremacy of our love. We will set Him in
the highest place of our soul. We will give Him the
purest of our love. "I would give You spiced wine to
drink, my sweet pomegranate wine." Canticles 8:2.
If the spouse had anything better--a cup more juicy
and spiced--Christ would drink of that!

We give the creature the milk of our love;
but God gets the cream!

True faith

2007-10-31T22:04:00.000-07:00

--Thomas Watson, "The Lord's Prayer"

True faith is joined with holiness. As a little
musk sweetens, so a little faith purifies. Though
faith does but touch Christ--it fetches a healing
virtue from Him. Justifying faith does that in a
spiritual sense, which miraculous faith does--it
removes the mountains of sin, and casts them
into the sea of Christ's blood!

True faith is prolific. It brings forth fruit; it has
Rachel's beauty--and Leah's fruitfulness. Faith is
full of good works. It believes as if it did not work
--and it works as if it did not believe. Faith is the
spouse-like grace which marries Christ; and good
works are the children which it bears!

How may we know whether we love God?

2007-09-11T06:57:00.000-07:00

by Thomas Watson, "The Ten Commandments

How may we know whether we love God?

He who loves God desires His presence. Lovers cannot be
long asunder, they soon have their fainting fits, for lack
of a sight of the object of their love. A soul deeply in love
with God desires the enjoyment of Him. David was ready
to faint away, when he had not a sight of God. "My soul
faints for God." Psalm 84:2

He who loves God, does not love sin. "You who love the
Lord--hate evil." Psalm 97:10. The love of God--and the
love of sin, can no more mix together than iron and clay.
Every sin loved, strikes at the being of God. He who loves
God, has an antipathy against sin. He who would part two
lovers is a hateful person. God and the believing soul are
two lovers; sin parts between them, therefore the soul is
implacably set against sin. By this try your love to God.
How can he say he loves God, who loves sin--which is
God's enemy?

He who loves God is not much in love with anything else.
His love is very cool to worldly things. The love of the world
eats out the heart of piety; it chokes holy affections, as earth
puts out the fire. He who loves God--uses the world but
chooses God. The world engages him--but God delights
and satisfies him. He says as David, "God, my exceeding
joy!" Psalm 43:4. "God is the cream of my joy!"

He who loves God cannot live without him. Things we love,
we cannot be without. A man can do without music or flowers,
but not food. Just so, a soul deeply in love with God looks upon
himself as undone without Him. "Hide not Your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down into the pit." Psalm 143:7.
If God is our chief good--we cannot live without Him! Alas!
how do they show they have no love to God--who can do
well enough without Him! Let them have but food and drink,
and you shall never hear them complain of the lack of God.

He who loves God will be at any pains to get Him. What
pains the merchant takes, what hazards he runs--to have
a rich return. Jacob loved Rachel, and he could endure the
heat by day, and the frost by night--that he might enjoy her.
A soul that loves God will take any pains for the fruition of
Him. "My soul follows hard after You." Psalm 63:8. The soul
is much in prayer; it strives as in agony, that he may obtain
Him whom his soul loves. "I will seek Him whom my soul
loves." Canticles 3:2.

He who loves God, prefers Him before estate. "For Whom
I have suffered the loss of all things." Phil 3:8. Who that
loves a rich jewel--would not part with a flower for it?

Touchdown Washington!

2007-08-31T21:24:00.000-07:00

Let's hope this is the start of something good. Jake Locker looked solid in his debut. Go Dawgs!!!

What is the chief end of man?

2007-08-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

--Thomas Watson, "Body of Divinity"

Question: What is the chief end of man?

Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God,
and to enjoy Him forever.

"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When
can I go and meet with God?" Psalm 42:2

Is the enjoyment of God in this life so sweet? How
wicked are those who prefer the enjoyment of their
lusts, before the enjoyment of God! 'The lust of the
flesh, the lust of the eye, the pride of life,' is the
evil trinity they worship.

Lust is an inordinate desire or impulse, provoking the
soul to that which is evil. Lust, like a feverish heat, puts
the soul into a flame. Aristotle calls sensual lusts, brutish,
because, when any lust is violent--reason and conscience
cannot be heard. These lusts besot and brutalize the man.

How many make it their chief end, not to enjoy God--but
to enjoy their lusts! Lust first bewitches with pleasure--and
then comes the fatal dart! This should be a flaming sword
to stop men in the way of their carnal delights--Who, for
a drop of pleasure, would drink a sea of wrath?

Prayer for the Lost

2007-07-10T16:24:00.000-07:00

The Sovereignty of God and Prayer

The following is a great biblical explanation of why we are to pray for the unconverted....

I am often asked, "If you believe God works all things according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11) and that his knowledge of all things past, present, and future is infallible, then what is the point of praying that anything happen?" Usually this question is asked in relation to human decision: "If God has predestined some to be his sons and chosen them before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4,5), then what's the point in praying for anyone's conversion?"

The implicit argument here is that if prayer is to be possible at all man must have the power of self-determination. That is, all man's decisions must ultimately belong to himself, not God. For otherwise he is determined by God and all his decisions are really fixed in God's eternal counsel. Let's examine the reasonableness of this argument by reflecting on the example cited above.

1. "Why pray for anyone's conversion if God has chosen before the foundation of the world who will be his sons?" A person in need of conversion is "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1); he is "enslaved to sin" (Romans 6:17; John 8:34); "the god of this world has blinded his mind that he might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ" (II Corinthians. 4:4); his heart is hardened against God (Ephesians 4:18) so that he is hostile to God and in rebellion against God's will (Romans 8:7).

Now I would like to turn the question back to my questioner: If you insist that this man must have the power of ultimate self-determination, what is the point of praying for him? What do you want God to do for Him? You can't ask that God overcome the man's rebellion, for rebellion is precisely what the man is now choosing, so that would mean God overcame his choice and took away his power of self-determination. But how can God save this man unless he act so as to change the man's heart from hard hostility to tender trust?

Will you pray that God enlighten his mind so that he truly see the beauty of Christ and believe? If you pray this, you are in effect asking God no longer to leave the determination of the man's will in his own power. You are asking God to do something within the man's mind (or heart) so that he will surely see and believe. That is, you are conceding that the ultimate determination of the man's decision to trust Christ is God's, not merely his.

What I am saying is that it is not the doctrine of God's sovereignty which thwarts prayer for the conversion of sinners. On the contrary, it is the unbiblical notion of self-determination which would consistently put an end to all prayers for the lost. Prayer is a request that God do something. But the only thing God can do to save a lost sinner is to overcome his resistance to God. If you insist that he retain his self-determination, then you are insisting that he remain without Christ. For "no one can come to Christ unless it is given him from the Father" (John 6:65,44).

Only the person who rejects human self-determination can consistently pray for God to save the lost. My prayer for unbelievers is that God will do for them what He did for Lydia: He opened her heart so that she gave heed to what Paul said (Acts 16:14). I will pray that God, who once said, "Let there be light!", will by that same creative power "shine in their hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (II Corinthians 4:6). I will pray that He will "take out their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26). I will pray that they be born not of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God (John 1:13). And with all my praying I will try to "be kind and to teach and correct with gentleness and patience, if perhaps God may grant them repentance and freedom from Satan's snare" (II Timothy 2:24-26).

In short, I do not ask God to sit back and wait for my neighbor to decide to change. I do not suggest to God that He keep his distance lest his beauty become irresistible and violate my neighbor's power of self-determination. No! I pray that he ravish my unbelieving neighbor with his beauty, that he unshackle the enslaved will, that he make the dead alive and that he suffer no resistance to stop him lest my neighbor perish.

2. If someone now says, "O.K., granted that a person's conversion is ultimately determined by God' I still don't see the point of your prayer. If God chose before the foundation of the world who would be converted, what function does your prayer have?" My answer is that it has a function like that of preaching: How shall the lost believe in whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher, and how shall they preach unless they are sent (Romans 10:14f.)? Belief in Christ is a gift of God (John 6:65; II Timothy 2:25; Ephesians 2:8), but God has ordained that the means by which men believe on Jesus is through the preaching of men. It is simply naive to say that if no one spread the gospel all those predestined to be sons of God (Ephesians 1:5) would be converted anyway. The reason this is naive is because it overlooks the fact that the preaching of the gospel is just as predestined as is the believing of the gospel: Paul was set apart for his preaching ministry before he was born (Galatians 1:15), as was Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5). Therefore, to ask, "If we don't evangelize, will the elect be saved?" is like asking, "If there is no predestination, will the predestined be saved?" God knows those who are his and he will raise up messengers to win them. If someone refuses to be a part of that plan, because he dislikes the idea of being tampered with before he was born, then he will be the loser, not God and not the elect. "You will certainly carry out God's purpose however you act but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John." (Problem of Pain chapter 7, Anthology, p 910, cf. p 80)

Prayer is like preaching in that it is a human act also. It is a human act that God has ordained and which he delights in because it reflects the dependence of his creatures upon Him. He has promised to respond to prayer, and his response is just as contingent upon our prayer as our prayer is in accordance with his will. "And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (I John 5:14). When we don't know how to pray according to God's will but desire it earnestly, "the Spirit of God intercedes for us according to the will of God" (Romans 8:27).

In other words, just as God will see to it that His Word is proclaimed as a means to saving the elect, so He will see to it that all those prayers are prayed which He has promised to respond to. I think Paul's words in Romans 15:18 would apply equally well to his preaching and his praying ministry: "I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles." Even our prayers are a gift from the one who "works in us that which is pleasing in his sight" (Hebrews 13:21). Oh, how grateful we should be that He has chosen us to be employed in this high service! How eager we should be to spend much time in prayer!

John Piper

Who sees us? Who will know?

2007-07-06T22:33:00.000-07:00

--Thomas Brooks, "London's Lamentations" 1670

Atheism reigns in the hearts and lives of sinners.

The covetous make their gold their god.

The drunkard and glutton make their bellies their god.

The ambitious make honors their god.

The voluptuous make pleasures their god.

The religionists make pious duties their god.

The moral make virtue their god.

"The fool says in his heart--There is no God!"
Psalm 14:1

Atheism denies God either:
in opinion--saying there is no God; or
in affection--wishing there were no God; or
in practice--living as if there were no God.

What abundance of atheists there are in the land!

"He says to himself--God has forgotten; He covers
His face and never sees." Psalm 10:11

"They say--How can God know? Does the Most
High have knowledge?" Psalm 73:11

"They say--The Lord does not see; the God
of Jacob pays no heed." Psalm 94:7

What horrid blasphemy, what gross atheism is here!
How do these atheists ungod the great God! How do
they deny His omnipotence and omniscience! What
an idol-god do they make the great God to be!

There are many who sin freely in secret, who can
be drunk and filthy in the dark, when the eye of man
is not upon them. Certainly those men's hearts are
very atheistic, who dare do that in the sight of God
--which they tremble to do before the eyes of men!
How many are there who flatter themselves in their
sins, and conclude that surely the bitterness of hell
and wrath is past, and that they are in a fair way for
heaven--when every step they take is towards the
bottomless pit, and divine vengeance hangs over
their heads, ready every moment to fall upon them!

"On earth are atheists many,
In hell there are not any."

"Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their
plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness
and think--Who sees us? Who will know?"
Isaiah 29:15

The unerring hand of infinite wisdom

2007-06-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

--Thomas Reade, "The Sovereignty of God"

"My purpose will stand, and I will do all that
I please." Isaiah 46:10

Nothing is so calming and comforting to the
Christian pilgrim, as the assurance of Divine
Guidance in every, even the most minute
circumstances which befall him.

Without this perception of his heavenly Father's
care, a thousand intricacies must beset his path.
He must be staggered at almost every step. But
when he beholds, by faith--the unerring hand of
infinite wisdom, wielding the stupendous machine
of human events--causing everything to promote
the spiritual good of His people--then he quiets
himself as a little child, and can say with cheerful
resignation, "Father, not my will, but yours be done."

In such a world of change and trial, how inestimable
is a calm reliance on the wisdom, power, and love of
God. It fully compensates for the lack of temporal
ease and wealth. If, without our heavenly Father,
not even a sparrow can fall to the ground; if the
very hairs of our head are all numbered--how
composed should we be.

The reins of universal nature are in the hands of
Infinite Love! This vast complex machine is guided
by Infinite Wisdom and Power! The Almighty Ruler
of the sky cannot be taken by surprise. Nothing
unforeseen can happen to cross His purposes or
thwart His designs. All worlds are open to His view.

If this Great and Glorious Being is our Father and
our Friend--then our privilege is to rejoice at all
times, and in everything to give thanks. How
consoling and encouraging is the assurance that
the blessed Redeemer of my soul, is the Great
Sovereign of the Universe! Without His permission
nothing can happen in the vast dominion over which
He sways His scepter! To His will every creature
must bow--either in willing obedience, or in just
and endless punishment!

"Lord, be pleased to impart unto me, your unworthy
servant, this spirit of confidence in You. May I see
Your hand in all the events of life--ordering the
the minor, as well as in the greater movements of
Your Providence. This watching and waiting for the
manifestations of Your guardian care--will fill me
with thankfulness for all my mercies, and make
me patient under all my trials."

"My times are in Your hands." Psalm 31:15

The covenant of grace

2007-05-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

--Thomas Brooks, "Paradise Opened" 1675

"He has made with me an everlasting covenant,
ordered in all things, and sure. Will He not bring to
fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire?"
2 Samuel 23:5

All mankind would have been eternally lost--had God
not, of His own free grace and mercy, made a new
covenant with sinful man. The fountain from whence
His new covenant flows, is the sovereign grace and
mercy of God. There was nothing outside of God, nor
anything in God, but His mere mercy and grace--which
moved Him to enter into covenant with poor sinners,
who were miserable and loathsome and polluted; and
and were actually in arms against Him!

As there was nothing in fallen man to draw God's favor
or affection towards him; just so--there was everything
in fallen man which might justly provoke God's wrath and
indignation against him! Therefore it must be a very high
act of favor and grace--for the great, the glorious, the holy,
the wise, and the all-sufficient God--to enter into covenant
with such a forlorn creature as fallen man was!

Oh, the admirable counsel, wisdom, love, care and
tenderness of the blessed God--which sparkles and
shines in the well-ordering of the covenant of grace!
Oh, how lovely and beautiful, with what symmetry
and proportion, are all things in this covenant ordered
and prepared! Oh, what head can conceive, or what
tongue can express--that infinite wisdom which God
has manifested in ordering the covenant of grace--so
as it may most and best suit to all the needs, and
straits, and necessities, and miseries, and desires,
and longings of poor sinners' souls! Here are fit and
full supplies for all our spiritual needs! In the covenant
of grace, every poor sinner may find . . .
a suitable help,
a suitable remedy,
a suitable support,
a suitable supply!

The covenant of grace, is so well ordered by the
unsearchable wisdom of God, that you may find in it . . .
remedies to cure all your spiritual diseases,
cordials to comfort you under all your soul-faintings,
and a spiritual armory to arm you against . . .
all sorts of sins, and
all sorts of snares, and
all sorts of temptations, and
all sorts of oppositions, and
all sorts of enemies--whether inward
or outward, open or secret, subtle or silly.

Do you, O distressed sinner--need . . .
a loving God,
a compassionate God,
a reconciled God,
a sin-pardoning God,
a tender-hearted God?
Here you may find Him in the covenant of grace!

Do you, O sinner--need a Christ . . .
to counsel you by His wisdom,
to clothe you with His righteousness,
to enrich you with His grace,
to enlighten you with His eye salve,
to justify you from your sins,
to reconcile you to God,
to secure you from wrath to come,
to bring you to heaven?
Here you may find Him in a covenant of grace!

Do you, O sinner! need the Holy Spirit . . .
to awaken you,
to convince you of sin, righteousness and judgment,
to enlighten and teach you,
to lead and guide you in the everlasting way,
to cleanse you,
to comfort you?
Here you may find Him in the covenant of grace!

O sinner! Do you need grace, all grace, great grace,
abundance of grace, multiplied grace? Here you may
find it in the covenant of grace!

O sinner! Do you need peace, or ease, or rest, or
quiet in your conscience? Here you may find it in
the covenant of grace!

O sinner! Do you need contentment, or comfort,
or joy, or satisfaction? Here you may have it in
the covenant of grace!

O sinner, sinner! whatever your soul needs are--they
may all be supplied out of the covenant of grace!
God, in His infinite wisdom and love, has laid into
the covenant of grace, as into a common storehouse,
all those good things, and all those great things, and
all those suitable things--that either sinners or saints
can either desire or need!

The best means to mortify sin

2007-04-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

--Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662

"Therefore, put to death whatever in you is worldly:
sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and
greed, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5

While a darling sin lives and keeps the throne in the heart,
grace and holiness will be kept exceeding weak and low. But
when your darling sin is dethroned and slain by the power
and the sword of the Spirit--grace and holiness will quickly
grow stronger and stronger, and rise higher and higher.

When a man has eaten poison, nothing will make him thrive,
until he has vomited up the poison. Beloved sins--they are
the poison of the soul, and until these are vomited up, and
cast out by sound repentance, and the exercise of faith in the
blood of Christ, the soul will never thrive in grace and holiness!

If ever you would attain to higher degrees of holiness,
then fall with all your might, upon subduing and crucifying
your most raging corruptions, and your most daring lusts!

Oh do not think that your golden and your silver idols will
lay down their weapons, and yield the battle, and lie at your
feet, and let you trample them to death--without striking a
blow! Oh remember that besetting-sins will do all they can
to keep their ground, and therefore you must arise with all
your strength against them, and crush them to powder,
and burn them to ashes!

Oh deal with your most enraged lusts, as the Philistines
dealt with Samson--pluck out their eyes, and force them
to grind in the mill of mortification, until their strength is
utterly consumed and wasted.

I have read of five men, who being asked what was
the best means to mortify sin, gave these answers.

Said the first, "The best means to mortify sin,
is to meditate on death."

Said the second, "The best means to mortify sin,
is to meditate on the judgment-day."

Said the third, "The best means to mortify sin,
is to meditate on the joys of heaven."

Said the fourth, "The best means to mortify sin,
is to meditate on the torments of hell."

Said the fifth, "The best means to mortify sin, is to
meditate on the death and sufferings of Christ."

Doubtless the last man hit the nail on the head!

The daily sight of a bleeding, groaning, dying
Savior--is the only thing which will subdue and
mortify darling sins!

O friends! Never leave looking up to a crucified Christ,
until virtue flows from Him to the crucifying of those
special besetting sins which do most obstruct and
hinder the growth and increase of holiness.

You have all your hearts can wish!

2007-03-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

--John Flavel "The Method of Grace"

"My God will supply all your needs according to His
riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

O say with a melting heart--I have a full Christ,
and He is filled for me! I have . . .
His pure and perfect righteousness to justify me,
His holiness to sanctify me,
His wisdom to guide me,
His comforts to refresh me,
His power to protect me,
His all-sufficiency to supply me.

O be cheerful, be thankful--you have all your
hearts can wish! And yet be humble--it is all
from free-grace to empty and unworthy creatures!

A corrupt heart was the source of all

2007-02-13T21:23:00.000-08:00

-- Thomas Boston, "Human Nature in its Fourfold State"

We have seen what man was, as God made him--a lovely
and happy creature. Let us view him now as he has unmade
himself--we shall see him a sinful and a miserable creature.
This is the sad state we are brought into by the fall. Man's
nature is now wholly corrupted. There is a sad alteration,
an astonishing overturning in the nature of man--where,
at first, there was nothing evil--now there is nothing good.

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in
the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts
of his heart was only evil continually." Genesis 6:5

All their wicked practices are here traced to the fountain and
spring-head--a corrupt heart was the source of all. The
soul, which was made upright in all its faculties--is now wholly
disordered. The heart, which was made according to God's own
heart--is now the reverse of it, a forge of evil imaginations,
a sink of inordinate affections, and a storehouse of all impiety,
Mark 7:21, 22. Behold the heart of the natural man, as it is
opened in our text. The mind is defiled; the thoughts of
the heart are evil; the will and affections are defiled. The
imagination of the thoughts of the heart, that is, whatever
the heart frames within itself by thinking, such as judgment,
choice, purposes, devices, desires, every inward motion--is
evil. Yes, and every imagination, every frame of his thoughts,
is evil.

But is there not, at least, a mixture of good in them? No,
they are only evil. Whatever changes may be found in them,
are only from evil to evil; for the imagination of the heart,
or frame of thoughts in natural men, is evil continually. Not
one holy thought can ever be produced by an unholy heart.

O, what a vile heart is this! O, what a corrupt nature is this!
What can that heart be, whereof every imagination, every set
of thoughts--is only evil, and that continually? Surely that
corruption is ingrained in our hearts, interwoven with our very
natures, has sunk deep into our souls, and will never be cured
but by a miracle of grace. Now such is man's heart, such is his
nature--until regenerating grace changes it.

Optimum maximum

2007-01-27T13:50:00.001-08:00

by Thomas Brooks, "The Unsearchable Riches of Christ"

Christians serve a wonderful Master.
They serve Him who is . . .
all ear to hear them,
all hand to uphold them,
all power to protect them,
all wisdom to direct them,
all goodness to relieve them,
all mercy to pardon them.

They serve that God who is optimum maximum
--the best and greatest. God has within Himself
all the good of angels, men, and universal nature.
God has . . .
all dignity,
all glory,
all riches,
all treasure,
all pleasure,
all delight,
all joy,
all beatitudes.

God is . . .
goodness,
beauty,
power,
wisdom,
justice,
mercy, and
love itself!

God is one infinite perfection in Himself!

"He has all--who has the Haver of all." Αugustine

Such a God should be derided!

2007-01-05T10:55:00.000-08:00

The unrenewed heart is atheistic in its inclinations.

"They say--The Lord doesn't see it. The God of Jacob
doesn't pay attention." Psalm 94:7

"The wicked say to themselves--'God isn't watching!
He will never notice!' Arise, O Lord! Punish the wicked,
O God!" Psalm 10:11-12

Nothing more derogatory to the character of God can
possibly be said, than that He does not rule the world.

God reigns is a logical conclusion from God is. To deny
God's providence is as atheistic as to deny His existence!
A God, who neither sees, nor hears, nor knows, nor cares,
nor helps, nor saves--is a vanity, and can never claim
homage from intelligent men. Such a God should be
derided--not worshiped! He might suit the mythology
of Paganism, or meet the demands of an infidel heart
--but could never command the allegiance, or win the
confidence of an enlightened and pious man!

The world may as well be without a God--as have one
who is incompetent to rule it, or, who, wrapping Himself
in a mantle of careless indifference, abandons creation
to the governance of puny mortals, to the rule of devils,
or to the sway of a blind chance! Such conduct may well
comport with the character of false gods--but is wholly
abhorrent to the nature of Jehovah! God's tender mercies
are over all His works. His kingdom rules over all!

"Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases!"
Psalm 115:3

"For I know that the Lord is great; our Lord is greater than
all gods. The Lord does whatever He pleases in heaven and
on earth, in the seas and all the depths!" Psalm 135:5-6

"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!"
Revelation 19:6

---William S. Plumer, "A Treatise on Providence" 1865

But now the tune is changed

2006-12-26T10:25:00.000-08:00

-Joseph Alleine, "Alarm to the Unconverted" 1671

Conversion turns the bent of the affections. These all
run in a new channel. Christ is now his hope. This is his
prize. Here his eye is--here his heart. He is content to
cast all overboard, as the merchant in the storm about
to perish--so that he may but keep this jewel.

The first of his desires is not after gold--but grace. He
hungers for it, he seeks it as silver, he digs for it as for
hidden treasure. He had rather be gracious than great.
He had rather be the holiest man on earth than the most
learned, the most famous, the most prosperous. While
carnal, he said, 'O if I were but in great esteem, rolling
in wealth, and swimming in pleasure--then I would be
a happy man!' But now the tune is changed. 'Oh!'
says the convert, 'if I had but my corruptions subdued,
if I had such a measure of grace, and fellowship with
God--though I were poor and despised, I would not
care, I would account myself a blessed man!'

Reader, is this the language of your soul?

The royal gate

2006-11-24T22:20:00.000-08:00

by Thomas Brooks, "Heaven on Earth" 1667

"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

A man may always pray habitually; he may
have his heart in a praying disposition in all
states and conditions--
in prosperity and adversity,
in health and sickness,
in strength and weakness,
in wealth and wants,
in life and death.

The Christian needs . . .
divine mercy to pardon him,
divine grace to purify him,
divine balm to heal him,
divine favor to comfort him,
divine power to support him,
divine wisdom to counsel him,
divine goodness to satisfy him.

Our daily weaknesses,
our daily needs,
our daily fears,
our daily dangers,
our daily temptations,
call for our daily prayers.

Prayer is the royal gate by which
the Lord enters into the heart--
comforting,
quieting,
strengthening,
quickening, and
upholding it.

By prayer--
faith is increased,
hope strengthened,
the spirit exhilarated,
the heart pacified,
the conscience purified,
temptations vanquished,
corruptions weakened,
the affections inflamed,
the will more renewed, and
the whole man more advantaged.

God's Chain & God's Plan

2006-11-23T10:08:00.000-08:00

By William S. Plumer...

God's ways are unsearchable.

God's judgments are past finding out.

God's compassions are infinite.

God's power is almighty.

God's wisdom is unerring.

"I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours
can be thwarted." Job 42:2

Providences are long chains with many links in them.
If one link were missing, the event would fail. But it
is God's chain and God's plan. The thing is fixed.
The outcome is not doubtful.

"My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have
planned, that will I do." Isaiah 46:10-11

"The plan of Him who works out everything in conformity
with the purpose of His will." Ephesians 1:11

"This is the plan determined for the whole world."
Isaiah 14:26

The marks of a true shepherd

2006-11-08T13:32:00.000-08:00

by Arthur Pink, Studies in the Scriptures, May, 1939

How diligently should they scrutinize their motives, who think of entering the ministry; for thousands have abused this Divine institution through love of ease, desire for authority and reputation, or love of money--and brought upon themselves "greater damnation" (James 3:1). Thousands have invaded the pastoral office in an unauthorized manner, to fleece sheep rather than feed them, robbing Christ of His honor and starving His people.

Solemn beyond words is it to observe how sternly our Lord denounced these false shepherds of His day. (Matthew 23) As J. C. Ryle rightly said, "Nothing seemed so offensive to Christ as a false teacher of religion, a false prophet, or a false shepherd. Nothing ought to be so much feared by the Church, be so plainly rebuked, opposed and exposed."

What are the marks of a true shepherd, how are God’s people to identify those called and qualified by Him to minister unto His people?

First, the genuine pastor has the doctrine of Christ on his LIPS. The ministers of the new covenant are described as those who had "renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness." Christendom today is infested with men who are full of deceit and hypocrisy, trimming their sails according to whatever direction the breeze of public opinion is blowing.

"We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God." (2 Cor. 4:2). The true servant of Christ holds back nothing which is profitable, no matter how unpalatable it may be unto his hearers. He is one who magnifies not himself, nor his denomination, but Christ--His wondrous Person, His atoning blood, His exacting claims.

Second, the genuine pastor has the Spirit of Christ in his HEART. It is the Spirit who opens to him the mysteries of the Gospel, so that he is "the faithful and wise servant" (Matt. 24:45). It is the Spirit of Christ who gives him a love for His sheep, so that it is his greatest delight to lead them into the green pastures of His Word. It is the Spirit of Christ who enables him to use "great boldness of speech" (2 Cor. 3:12), so that he shuns not to declare all the counsel of God. It is the Spirit of Christ who makes him to be "prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction" (2 Tim. 4:2). It is the Spirit of Christ who gives efficacy to his ministry, making it fruitful according to the sovereign pleasure of God.

Third, the genuine pastor has the example of Christ in his LIFE, which is a conforming of him to the image of his Master. It is true, sadly true, that there is not one of them who does not fall far short both of the inward and outward image of Christ. Yet there are some faint tracings of His image visible in all His true servants. The image of Christ is seen in their words, spirit, actions; otherwise we have no warrant to receive them as God’s servants.

Find a man (no easy task today!) who has the doctrine of Christ on his lips, the Spirit of Christ in his heart, and the example of Christ in his life--and you find one of His genuine ministers--all others are but "thieves and robbers."

Why Christ offends men

2006-10-20T16:06:00.000-07:00

The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
"Unbelievers stumbling; Believers rejoicing"

There are some who stumble at Christ because of his holiness.

He is too strict for them; they would like to be Christians,
but they cannot renounce their sensual pleasures; they
would like to be washed in his blood, but they desire still
to roll in the mire of sin.

Willing enough the mass of men would be to receive Christ,
if, after receiving him, they might continue in their drunkenness,
their wantonness, and self-indulgence. But Christ lays the axe
at the root of the tree; he tells them that these things must be
given up, for “because of these things the wrath of God comes
upon the children of disobedience,” and “without holiness no
man can see the Lord.”

Human nature kicks at this.

“What! May I not enjoy one darling lust? May I not indulge
myself at least now and then in these things? Must I altogether
forsake my old habits and my old ways? Must I be made a
new creature in Christ Jesus?”

These are terms too hard, conditions too severe, and so the
human heart goes back to the flesh pots of Egypt, and clings
to the garlic and the onions of the old estate of bondage, and
will not be set free even though a greater than Moses lifts up
the rod to part the sea, and promises to give to them a Canaan
flowing with milk and honey.

Christ offends men because his gospel is intolerant of sin.

When God pardons

2006-10-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

by William S. Plumer, "Sinners Saved by Unmerited Kindness"

One unpardoned sin would destroy a soul forever.

Many words in Scripture point towards forgiveness, such as:
grace,
mercy,
peace with God,
not imputing iniquity,
taking away sin,
bearing sin,
making an end of transgression,
covering sin,
forgetting sin,
not remembering iniquity,
washing, cleansing and removing sin,
casting it into the sea, or behind the back,
scattering it like a cloud,
burying it,
blotting it out,
pardoning it.

The forgiveness of sins is free. It is "without money and
without price." We can do nothing to merit it, or prepare
ourselves for it. When God pardons, He pardons:
all sins,
original sin and actual sin,
sins of omission and of commission,
secret and open sins,
sins of thought, word and deed.

To those who believe in Jesus, all is freely forgiven.
Full pardon, or none at all, is what God gives. Nor is
this gift ever revoked by God. When He forgives, He
forgives forever!

"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin
the Lord does not count against him." Psalm 32:1-2

Redeeming the time

2006-09-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

--Thomas Brooks, "The Privy Key of Heaven" 1665

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
Ephesians 5:16

"Time is the only thing," says Seneca, "that we can
innocently be covetous of; and yet there is nothing of
which many are more lavishly and profusely wasteful."

Chilo, one of the seven sages, being asked what
was the hardest thing in the world to be done,
answered, "To use and employ a man's time well."

"We trifle with that which is most precious, and throw
away that which is our greatest interest to redeem."

Many Christian professors, instead of redeeming of
precious time--do trifle and fool away much of their
precious time at the mirror, the comb, the lute, the
violin, the pipe, or at vain sports, and foolish pastimes,
or by idle jestings, immoderate sleeping, and
superfluous feasting.

The best Christian is he who is the greatest
monopolizer of time for private prayer.

That man is doubtless upon the brink of ruin,
whose worldly business eats up all thoughts . . .
of God,
of Christ,
of heaven,
of eternity,
of his soul, and
of his soul concerns.

That man is lost, that man is cursed, who can find time
for anything--but none to meet with God in his closet.

Prayer

2006-09-30T09:03:00.000-07:00

Prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is no
small blessing to such proud beings as we are.

True prayer is-
an inventory of needs,
a catalogue of necessities,
an exposure of secret wounds,
a revelation of hidden poverty.

While prayer is an application to divine wealth,
it is a confession of human emptiness.

I believe that the most healthy state of a Christian
is to be always empty, and always depending upon
the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and
rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty
through God to do great exploits; and hence the use
of prayer, because while it adores God, it lays the
creature where he should be, in the very dust.

Prayer....
clothes the believer with the attributes of Deity,
girds human weakness with divine strength,
turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives
to troubled mortals the serenity of the immortal God.
I know not what prayer cannot do!

I thank you, great God, for the mercy-seat, a
choice gift of your marvellous loving-kindness.
Help us to use it aright!
-Spurgeon

Wonderful mystery!

2006-08-29T21:08:00.000-07:00

by William Plumer, "Sinners Saved by Unmerited Kindness"

Wonderful mystery! God was manifest in the flesh!

Our Lord Jesus Christ became incarnate, lived, acted,
obeyed, suffered, died and rose again--for His people.

He came down to earth--that they might go up to heaven.

He suffered--that they might reign.

He became a servant--that they might become kings
and priests unto God.

He died that--they might live.

He bore the cross--that their enmity might be slain,
and their sins expiated.

He loved them--that they might love God.

He was rich and became poor--that they, who
were poor, might be made rich.

He descended into the grave--that they might
sit in heavenly places.

He emptied Himself--that they might be filled
with all the fullness of God.

He took upon Him human nature--that they
might be partakers of the divine nature.

He made Himself of no reputation--that they might
wear His new name, and obtain eternal excellency.

He became a worm, and no man--that they, who were
sinful worms, might be made equal to the angels.

He bore the curse of a broken covenant--that they
might partake of all the blessings of the everlasting
covenant, ordered in all things and sure.

Though heir of all things, He was willingly despised
of the people--that they, who were justly condemned,
might obtain an inheritance which is incorruptible,
undefiled, and which fades not away.

His death was a satisfaction to divine justice, a ransom
for many, a propitiation for sin, a sweet smelling savor
to God--that we, who were an offence to God, might
become His sons and daughters.

He was made sin for His people--that they might be
made the righteousness of God in Him.

Though Lord of all, He took the form of a servant--that
they, who were the servants of sin, might prevail like
princes with God.

He had no where to lay His head--that they who otherwise
must have lain down in eternal sorrow, might reach the
mansions in His Father's house.

He drank the cup of God's indignation--that they
might forever drink of the river of his pleasures.

He hungered--that they might eat the bread of life.

He thirsted--that they might drink the water of life.

He was numbered with the transgressors--that they might
stand among the justified, and be counted among His jewels.

Though He existed from everlasting, from the beginning,
before ever the earth was, yet He became a helpless infant
--that creatures of yesterday, sentenced to death, might
live forever.

He wore a crown of thorns--that all who love His
appearing, might wear a crown of life.

He wept tears of anguish--that His elect might
weep tears of godly repentance.

He bore the yoke of obedience unto death--that
they might find His yoke easy and His burden light.

He poured out his soul unto death, lay three days in
the heart of the earth, then burst the bars of death,
and arose to God--that they, who through fear of
death were all their lifetime subject to bondage,
might obtain the victory over the grave and become
partakers of His resurrection.

He exhausted the penalty of the law--that His redeemed
might have access to His inexhaustible treasures of mercy,
wisdom, faithfulness, truth and grace.

He was matchless in grace--that they might be matchless
in gratitude.

Though a Son, He became a voluntary exile--that they, who had
wickedly wandered afar off, might be brought near by His blood.

His visage was so marred more than any man--that His
ransomed ones might be presented before God without
spot, or blemish, or wrinkle, or any such thing.

For a time He was forsaken of his Father--that they, whom
He bought with His blood, might behold the light of God's
countenance forever.

He came and dwelt with them--that they might be forever
with the Lord.

He was hung up naked before His insulting foes--that all
who believe on His name, might wear a glorious wedding
garment--a spotless righteousness.

Wonderful mystery! God was manifest in the flesh!
Blessed is he who loves the incarnate mystery, and
rests upon it. It is a mystery . . .
of love,
of truth,
of grace,
of wisdom,
of condescension,
of power,
of salvation!
It is the great study of the inhabitants of heaven,
and shall be while immortality endures!

The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus - A.D. 130

2006-08-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

This is a great second century witness to the depravity of man, and the imputation of Christ's righteousness. - JL

The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus - A.D. 130
Chapter IX.—Why the Son was sent so late.

As long then as the former time endured, He permitted us to be borne along by unruly impulses, being drawn away by the desire of pleasure and various lusts. This was not that He at all delighted in our sins, but that He simply endured them; nor that He approved the time of working iniquity which then was, but that He sought to form a mind conscious of righteousness, so that being convinced in that time of our unworthiness of attaining life through our own works, it should now, through the kindness of God, be vouchsafed to us; and having made it manifest that in ourselves we were unable to enter into the kingdom of God, we might through the power of God be made able. But when our wickedness had reached its height, and it had been clearly shown that its reward, punishment and death, was impending over us; and when the time had come which God had before appointed for manifesting His own kindness and power, how the one love of God, through exceeding regard for men, did not regard us with hatred, nor thrust us away, nor remember our iniquity against us, but showed great long-suffering, and bore with us, He Himself took on Him the burden of our iniquities, He gave His own Son as a ransom for us, the holy One for transgressors, the blameless One for the wicked, the righteous One for the unrighteous, the incorruptible One for the corruptible, the immortal One for them that are mortal. For what other thing was capable of covering our sins than His righteousness? By what other one was it possible that we, the wicked and ungodly, could be justified, than by the only Son of God? O sweet exchange! O unsearchable operation! O benefits surpassing all expectation! that the wickedness of many should be hid in a single righteous One, and that the righteousness of One should justify many transgressors! Having therefore convinced us in the former time that our nature was unable to attain to life, and having now revealed the Saviour who is able to save even those things which it was [formerly] impossible to save, by both these facts He desired to lead us to trust in His kindness, to esteem Him our Nourisher, Father, Teacher, Counsellor, Healer, our Wisdom, Light, Honour, Glory, Power, and Life, so that we should not be anxious concerning clothing and food.

Judgment

2006-07-20T22:11:00.000-07:00

by William S. Plumer, "The Rock of Our Salvation" 1867

"For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:14

God has appointed a day in the which He will judge the world. Respecting this day several things are noticeable.

All shall be judged.
Saints and sinners,
great and small,
living and dead,
the servant and his master,
the prisoner at the bar and the judge who sat on his trial,
the assassin and the assassinated,
the seducer and his victim,
the invader and the invaded,
the hireling and his oppressor,
the king and his subjects,
the fool and the wise man,
the persecutor and the persecuted,
the apostate,
the hypocrite,
the child of God and the child of the devil,
shall all be there! No one shall be so mighty, and no one shall be so lowly--as to elude the eye or the sentence of Him who shall sit upon the throne of judgment! What a massive multitude will this be--when prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors, saints of all ages; when sinners, liars, infidels, blasphemers, moralists, and murderers--shall all be there; when the sea and the dry land shall give up their dead; when death and hell shall deliver up the dead who are in them; when all who lived before the flood, all who have lived since the flood, and all who shall have lived to the end of time shall stand before God! This will be the first and the last assembly--in which are found every person whom God ever made.

To God, it is a certain and fixed day. He has appointed it. Acts 17:31. Nothing can hasten it; nothing can retard it. The purpose of God concerning it is fixed, unalterable.

To all creatures, it is an unknown day. "Of that day and hour knows no man; no, not the angels of heaven."

The day of judgment will be THE great day. It will be the greatest day in the annals of the universe! It is the day for which all other days were made. This day is so well known to inspired men, that they call it the day, that day--as preeminent over all others.

It will be the LAST day. After it, time will be no more--time will cease to exist. Duration will no more be measured by seconds, minutes, days, months, years, centuries, cycles; but all will be boundless, shoreless, fathomless, unmeasured eternity!

It will be a day of astounding exposures. Villainy will be covered up no more. Every disguise will be taken away. There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hidden, that shall not be known.

It will be a day of intense excitement. There will be no listless spectators of those scenes. Every faculty of the intellect and of emotion will be aroused to the highest possible exercise. Men may sleep under sermons concerning the judgment, but they will not be dull when they go to judgment!

It will also be a day of final separation. The precious and the vile; the wheat and the tares; the sheep and the goats; saints and sinners--shall no longer mingle together. The separations of this day will be final. The righteous and the wicked shall part that day to meet no more.

It shall be a day of despair to all the unregenerate. Everywhere sinners will be crying to the rocks and the mountains: "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb!" Was ever despair more dreadful than this?

This will be a day full of surprise. Not only will it come unexpectedly, but its awards will fill both saints and sinners with astonishment. So Christ teaches at length in Matthew 25. The wicked will be amazed that they are lost. They will be especially surprised that God sets no value on their self-righteousness. The sons of God will receive more honor than they ever asked or thought of. The sons of Belial will receive more wrath than they ever feared. Christians will marvel why they are saved. Sinners will wonder why they are not saved. Many will be lost--contrary to the opinions formed of them by their neighbors. Many will be lost--contrary to the opinions they had formed of themselves!

"For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:14.

The judgment is coming!

The Judge stands at the door!

The time is short!

All hang dependent on His powerful providence!

2006-07-13T21:55:00.000-07:00

William S. Plumer, "The Rock of Our Salvation" 1867

"He holds all creation together." Col. 1:17

"He sustains the universe by the mighty power of His
command!" Hebrews 1:3

Jesus Christ upholds, preserves, and governs the worlds
which He has made!

Thus all creatures, from the smallest insect which is seen
by the microscope; up to the archangel which worships
before the eternal throne; all events, from the falling of
a hair of the head to the destruction of nations by famine,
pestilence, and war; all rule and authority, from that of a
petty official, to that of thrones and principalities in heaven;
the material universe, from the least particle which floats
in the sunbeam to the grandest system of worlds which roll
in immensity--all hang dependent on His powerful
providence! And if one link in the chain of that dependence
were broken, they would all rush headlong to destruction!

Jesus always has governed this world; and He shall ever hold
the scepter over it, until His last foe shall is vanquished, and
His last hidden one made victorious!

But God

2006-06-29T09:39:00.000-07:00

by William Plumer, "Theology for the People"

No two things are more contrary to each other,
than the vileness of man and the purity of God.

Sin is hateful to God.
It has dug every grave.
It fills hell with groans.

"From the sole of your foot to the top of your
head there is no soundness--only wounds
and welts and open sores." Isaiah 1:6

The whole nature of man is affected by sin:
the understanding is darkened;
the will is corrupt;
the conscience is defiled;
the memory is polluted;
the imagination is depraved;
the throat is an open sepulcher;
the tongue is deceitful;
the mouth is full of cursing and bitterness;
the feet are swift to shed blood;
the eyes are full of adultery;
the heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately wicked.

The whole head is sick,
the whole heart is faint!

Man is by nature ruined. He is lost.
Men are . . .
sinners,
wicked,
ungodly,
unrighteous,
corrupt,
deceitful,
vile,
ungrateful,
children of the devil,
slaves of iniquity.

"But God, who is abundant in mercy, because
of His great love that He had for us, made us
alive with the Messiah even though we were
dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved!
He also raised us up with Him and seated us
with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus, so
that in the coming ages He might display the
immeasurable riches of His grace in His
kindness to us in Christ Jesus." Eph. 2:4-7

A new creature

2006-06-23T22:19:00.000-07:00

"If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things have passed away; behold, all things
have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

What condemnation do these words pronounce upon
the shallow, meager religion so common among
us--making us feel that hardly any description of its
professors could be more exaggerated or unreal,
than that of being "new creatures."

Take yon member of the church. He wears the
garb and bears the name of Christ. He is a fair
average specimen of a large class. He has the
profession of being a Christian; yet . . .
he is fond of the world;
he grasps at its gold;
he loves its fashionable gaiety;
he reads its novels;
he frequents its haunts of amusement;
he enjoys its company;
he relishes its foolish talking and jesting.

Is he "a new creature" in Christ Jesus?

Is it possible that, with . . .
so much worldliness,
so much selfishness,
so much self-indulgence,
so much pleasing of the flesh,
he can have been "born again,"
whatever his profession may be?

"A new creature!" Then . . .
old feelings,
old habits,
old tastes,
old hopes,
old joys,
old sorrows,
old haunts,
old companionships
--all are gone! Old things have passed
away, all things have become new!

Formerly, I sought the things of this world.
So now, by the necessity of my new nature,
I seek the things above. Sin has become
hateful, holiness supremely attractive.

My vision has been purged, so that now I see
everything as with a new eye; the evil, with an
eye which loathes it; the holy, with an eye which
loves it. I approach everything with . . .
new feelings,
new tastes,
new sympathies,
new antipathies.
I behold everything in a new light, and from a new
point of view. Myself, this world, the world to come,
God, Christ, and the everlasting joys--all these are
to me now, what they have never been before! My
whole inner man has changed respecting them.
There has been a new creation! What, then, have I
to do with sin, with the flesh, with the vanities of so
vain a life, as the men of this world are leading?

Oh, the unimaginable blessedness of those on whom
this new creation has taken place! Oh, the unutterable,
the endless misery of those on whom no change has
passed--in whom old things still remain!

--Horatius Bonar, "Christ and the New Creation"

Currently Reading - The Man of Sin

2006-06-15T16:31:00.000-07:00

I just picked up Kim Riddlebarger's latest work, The Man of Sin, at the local bookstore. I enjoyed Kim's last work on amillennialism, so I expect this to be a good read. So far, so good. I may do a book review when I am done, we'll see, so long as I don't get freaked out too much reading it. :-)

"Salvation through Spiritual Warfare" - A Divine Miracle

2006-06-13T00:07:00.000-07:00

2 Cor 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. {We are} destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and {we are} taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (NAS)

Spiritual Warfare has nothing to do with human strategy. Let me unpack a little passage of scripture for you. It is found in 2 Cor 10:3-5. Paul says that we are engaged in a spiritual war. We talk about spiritual warfare a lot, but the weapons of our warfare (he says) are not fleshly, what he means by that is that they are not human. We are fighting a war and we can't use human weapons. We can't use them. This war is not a time space war, this is not a material war, it isn't fought on an intellectual level. This is a spiritual battle. This is on another dimension, we can't use human ingenuity, human gimmicks, humans tricks, etc, etc. (I love this passage) He says, "but our weapons are (the Greek says) mighty unto God". We got to fight this spiritual war with divine weapons (ok, I understand that you say but what does that mean? What is this divine weapon?) Well then he goes on to say, "For we are destroying fortresses" "Fortresses" is a word (in the Greek) that means "massive fortification". If you have been in the Middle East or you have traveled in Europe and you have seen those great granite, and stone fortresses. It is the same word for "prison" and it is the same word for "tomb".

So here we have this picture, we are engaged in war and the enemy that we are assaulting is a massive granite fortification, it is not something that falls easily, it is not a paper house, it is not a card board box. What are we going to use against this? Well, what is this fortress? The next verse he says, "We are destroying speculations". In verse 4, he says, "we are destroying fortresses". In verse 5, "we are destroying speculations". Therefore fortresses equal speculations. Speculations is the Greek word "logismos" - ideas (ideologies, concepts, philosophies, psychology's, theories, religions), further defined as, "every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God". Spiritual warfare is not chasing demons around and pronouncing formulas on them. Spiritual warfare is fought against ideologies. Any theory, and idea, any viewpoint, any religion, any belief raise up against the knowledge of God. That is to say any anti-biblical idea, any anti-biblical idea.

So the simple question is, What is the one weapon we have against lies? What is the one weapon we have against error? Truth! So we go out to make battle (and I love what it says) with a view to smashing the fortresses of lying viewpoints and ideologies and then it says, and leading everyone in there and bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." That is what we do in this world. We smash the fortresses. It is not a matter of chasing demons, it is a matter of smashing ideological fortresses with the power of Biblical Truth, made clear to the mind that is captive and Then you watch the fortress fall and you lead the person out and bring every thought they have captive to Christ. That is having the mind of Christ. That is not mystical, I have the mind of Christ and you have the mind of Christ revealed right here (pointing to the Bible). As you know this, you have His mind. That is what we do. That is the great struggle and the great strategy. If you want to get in the war, you learn how to wield the Sword. That is the only weapon that we really have.

By John MacArthur
Not Ashamed of the Gospel Conference - September 21, 1999

Let Him Reign Supreme

2006-06-12T12:23:00.000-07:00

"I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I will have
compassion." Exodus 33:19

Because God is the maker, and creator, and sustainer of
all things, he has a right to do as he wills with all his works.

“Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it,
Why have you made me thus? Has not the potter
power over the clay of the same lump to make one
vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?”

God’s absolute supremacy and unlimited sovereignty
naturally flow from his omnipotence, and from the fact
that he is the source and support of all things.

Moreover, if it were not so, the superlative excellence of
the divine character would entitle him to absolute dominion.

He should be chief who is best. He who cannot err, being
perfect in wisdom; he who will not err, being as perfect in
holiness; he who can do no wrong, being supremely just;
he who must act in accordance with the principles of kindness,
seeing he is essentially love, is the most fitting person to rule.

Tell me not of the creatures ruling themselves: what a chaos
would this be! Talk not of a supposed republic of all created
existences, controlling and guiding themselves. All the creatures
put together, with their combined wisdom and goodness- if, indeed,
it were not combined folly and wickedness -all these, I say, with
all the excellencies of knowledge, judgment, and love, which the
most fervid imagination can suppose them to possess, could not
make the equal of that great God whose name is holiness, whose
essence is love, to whom all power belongs, and to whom alone
wisdom is to be ascribed.

Let him reign supreme, for he is infinitely superior to all other existences.

--Spurgeon’s sermon, “Election No Discouragement to Seeking Souls”

Edwards on Regeneration

2006-06-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

"As the prejudices that are in the heart, against the truth of divine things, are hereby removed [by God]; so that the mind becomes susceptive of the due force of rational arguments for their truth. The mind of man is naturally full of prejudices against the truth of divine things: it is full of enmity against the doctrines of the gospel; which is a disadvantage to those arguments that prove their truth, and causes them to lose their force upon the mind. But when a person has discovered to him the divine excellency of Christian doctrines [by God's grace], this destroys the enmity, removes those prejudices, and sanctifies the reason, and causes it to lie open to the force of arguments for their truth."

- Jonathan Edwards

Human Depravity 29,000 ft. up

2006-06-07T09:11:00.000-07:00

Here is a fine (and sad) example of the depravity of fallen man.

On Doctrinal Clarity

2006-06-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

It is vain to shut our eyes to the fact that there is a vast quantity of so-called Christianity nowadays which you cannot declare positively unsound, but which, nevertheless, is not full measure, good weight and sixteen onces to the pound. It is a Christianity in which there is undeniably 'something about Christ and something about grace and something about faith and something about repentance and something about holiness,' but it is not the real 'thing as it is' in the Bible. Things are out of place and out of proportion... It neither exercises influence on our daily conduct, nor comforts in life, nor gives peace in death; and those who hold it often awake too late to find that they have got nothing solid under their feet." Holiness, 9-10.

--J.C. Ryle

A man's views of sin

2006-06-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

Sin digs every grave, and wrings out every sigh and wail
from earth and hell. Sin is the worst of all evils. Nothing
can compare with it. It is worse than the plague. Sin is
unspeakably hateful. God calls it horrible and abominable.
Godly men in every age lament it--lament it much in
others, most in themselves.

A man's views of sin give a complexion to all his
character. If he regards it as a trifle, he will laugh at
it, when he should weep over it. He will make a mock
of it. He will dally with it. He will take his fill of it. He
will have low thoughts of God, and low estimates of
salvation. He will despise Jesus Christ.

If, on the other hand, he considers sin as very dreadful and
very hateful--he will hate every false way. He will long for
holiness. He will hunger and thirst after righteousness.
He will loathe and abhor himself on account of sin. He will
have exalted thoughts of the being, perfections, word, and
government of God. To him Christ will be most precious,
the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely.

Job's sense of sin was vastly increased by the great
discoveries he had of God's majesty and glory: "I have
heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye
sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust
and ashes!" Increased views of God's glory had the same
effect on Isaiah, and made him cry out, "Woe is me! for
I am undone!" (Job 42:5-6; Isaiah 6:5).

God's presence is infinite; His power is infinite; His nature
is infinite; His existence is infinite; and so to sin against Him
must be an infinite insult and wrong. Sin is an infinite evil.
Sin is that abominable thing which He hates. He hates sin
with infinite loathing.

--William S. Plumer, "The Christian", 1878

On Charity & Doctrinal Disputes

2006-05-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

There are many ministers, nowadays, who think that they must shift their doctrinal landmarks, and there are others who have no landmarks at all. They believe something, or everything, or nothing--it is difficult to tell which; and their common cry is, 'We must be charitable.' I have known many people who were willing to be charitable with other people's money, and I have known others who are charitable with doctrines that are not theirs to give away, for they are Christ's doctrines; but these supposed custodians of them care so little for them that they offer to give them away in any quantity. But a faithful steward of Christ's gospel will not do so; he who loves Christ, and wishes to honour him, keeps Christ's words, and treasures them up.

--Spurgeon

Orange on Monergism

2006-05-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

If anyone makes the assistance of grace depend on the humility or obedience of man and does not agree that it is a gift of grace itself that we are obedient and humble, he contradicts the Apostle who says, "What have you that you did not receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7), and, "But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10). If anyone affirms that we can form any right opinion or make any right choice which relates to the salvation of eternal life, or that we can be saved by assent to the preaching of the gospel through our natural powers without the effectual work of the Holy Spirit, who makes all whom He calls gladly and willingly assent to and believe in the truth, he is led astray from the plain teaching of Scripture by exalting the natural ability of man, and does not understand the voice of God who says in the Gospel, "For apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5), and the word of the Apostle, "Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God" (2 Cor. 3:5). - The Council of Orange (529 AD)

Regeneration

2006-05-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

When a man is converted to God, it is done in a moment.

Regeneration is an instantaneous work.

Conversion to God, the fruit of regeneration, occupies all
our life, but regeneration itself is effected in an instant.

A man hates God-- the Holy Spirit makes him love God.

A man is opposed to Christ, he hates his gospel, does not
understand it and will not receive it-- the Holy Spirit comes,
puts light into his darkened understanding, takes the chain
from his bondaged will, gives liberty to his conscience, gives
life to his dead soul, so that the voice of conscience is heard,
and the man becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus.

And all this is done, mark you, by the instantaneous
supernatural influence of God the Holy Spirit working
as he wills among the sons of men.

--Spurgeon

Our sins!

2006-05-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

By Spurgeon, "The Putting Away of Sin"

"He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to
do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself." Hebrews 9:26

Our sins trail their horrid length athwart many years.

Our sins are aggravated, they are 'piled up' sins.

Our sins are against light and knowledge, against
conscience, against vows and resolution.

Our sins are sins repeated after we had tasted of
their bitterness.

Our sins are foul sins, sins it may be of the sort
which bring the blush to the cheek.

Our sins made us toss on our beds as we remembered
them with dread, and yet sins that we returned to as
the dog returns to its vomit.

Oh! our monster sins, our horrible sins, our damnable sins!

Hell itself cannot put our sins away! There
are the devil and his angels for whom hell
was made, for whom the fire was first kindled,
and its pit first digged; but they are as great
sinners after these six thousand years as they
were when first they were cast down from heaven!

And so those lost ones whose spirits have
been in hell since the time of Noah's flood,
they are still sinners, and after all the ages
of suffering they have endured, not a sin less
is upon them now than there was at first!

Ah, dreadful thought!

If you are ever cast into hell, though ages
on ages may lapse, and the wrath of God be
poured out upon you to the uttermost, there
will never be the destruction of a single sin
or particle of a sin by it all.

Sin cannot be put away until the penalty is borne
to the end, and that can never be by finite man.

What a work was here, then, for the only begotten
Son of God to do! Speak of the labors of Hercules!
they were nothing compared with the labors of Emmanuel.
Speak of miracles! to tread the sea, to hush the billows,
to heal the sick, to raise the dead, these are all bright
stars, but their light is hidden when compared with this
miracle of miracles, when the Sun of Christ's righteousness
arises with healing beneath his wings, and thick clouds
of our sins are put away by him!

All the sins of His people were made to meet in one
tremendous mass. On the cross, Jesus endured the
penalty due for all the sin of His people! He put away
our sins, the whole mass, the whole mountainous mass
of the sin of all those for whom He stood as a substitute,
and for whom He suffered the penalty. Our sins were
completely put away, everlastingly put away!

All of our sins, of every size, shape, form, hue, degree,
or fashion, are altogether gone! Crimson sins, black sins,
crying sins, every sort of iniquity from your childhood until
now, and right on till you enter into the rest of the Beloved,
they were all taken and laid upon Christ, and he made an
end of them all when he offered up His great expiatory
sacrifice! He has put away sin as a whole for His chosen ones!

"All praise to Him who loves us and has freed us from our
sins by shedding His blood for us. He has made us His kingdom
and His priests who serve before God His Father. Give to Him
everlasting glory! He rules forever and ever! Amen!" Rev. 1:5-6

The Curse Removed!

2006-05-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

by Spurgeon, "The Curse Removed"

The curse of God is not easily taken away. In fact, there
was but one method whereby it could be removed.

The lightnings were in God's hand; they must be launched-
he said they must. The sword was unsheathed; it must be
satisfied- God vowed it must.

How, then, was the sinner to be saved?

The only answer was this--
The Son of God appears; and he says,
"Father! launch your thunderbolts at me!
Here is my breast- plunge that sword in here!
Here are my shoulders- let the lash of vengeance
fall on them!"

And Christ, the Substitute, came forth and stood for us,
"the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God."

Powerful, supernatural, irresistible, mighty, overwhelming, constraining!

2006-04-27T16:36:00.000-07:00

by Spurgeon

We declare on scriptural authority that the human will
is so desperately set on mischief, so depraved, so
inclined to everything that is evil, and so disinclined
to everything that is good, that without the powerful,
supernatural, irresistible influence of the Holy Spirit,
no one will ever be constrained toward Christ.

A man is not saved against his will, but he is made
willing by the operation of the Holy Spirit. A mighty
grace which he does not wish to resist enters into the
man, disarms him, makes a new creature of him, and
he is saved.

If I did not believe that there was might going forth
with the word of Jesus which makes men willing, and
which turns them from the error of their ways by the
mighty, overwhelming, constraining force of divine
influence, I should cease to glory in the cross of Christ.

I have many people in this city.

2006-04-26T16:15:00.000-07:00

"I have many people in this city."
Acts 18:10
(by Spurgeon)
This should be a great encouragement to try to
do good, since God has among the vilest of the
vile, the most reprobate, the most debauched
and drunken, an elect people who must be saved.

When you take the Word to them, you do so
because God has ordained you to be the
messenger of life to their souls, and they must
receive it, for so the decree of predestination
runs. They are as much redeemed by blood
as the saints before the eternal throne.

They are Christ's property, and yet perhaps they
are lovers of the ale house, and haters of holiness.
But if Jesus Christ purchased them he will have
them. God is not unfaithful to forget the price
which his Son has paid. He will not allow his
substitution to be in any case an ineffectual,
dead thing.

Tens of thousands of redeemed ones are not
regenerated yet, but regenerated they must be;
and this is our comfort when we go forth to
them with the quickening Word of God.

If God had left me alone

2006-04-21T15:17:00.000-07:00

by Charles Spurgeon

Sometimes, when I see some of the worst characters
in the street, I feel as if my heart must burst forth in
tears of gratitude that God has never let me act as they
have done! I have thought, "If God had left me alone,
and had not touched me by His grace, what a great sinner
I would have been! I would have run to the utmost lengths
of sin, dived into the very depths of evil. Nor would I have
stopped at any vice or folly, if God had not restrained me!"

I feel that I would have been a very king of sinners, if God
had left me alone. I cannot understand the reason why I
am saved, except upon the ground that God would have it
so. I cannot, if I look ever so earnestly, discover any kind of
reason in myself why I should be a partaker of Divine grace.

You are the one who has done this!

2006-04-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

(John Flavel, "The Fountain of Life" 1671)

"I remained speechless. I did not open my mouth
because You are the one who has done this!"
(Psalm 39:9)

Look upwards, when tribulations come upon you!
Look to that sovereign Lord, who commissions and
sends them upon you. You know that troubles do
not rise out of the dust, nor spring out of the
ground, but are framed in heaven.

Troubles and afflictions are of the Lord's framing and
devising, to reduce His wandering people to Himself.

You may observe much of divine wisdom in the choice,
measure, and season of your troubles.

God acts sovereignly, in electing the instruments of
your affliction; in making them as afflictive as He
pleases; and in making them obedient both to His
call, in coming and going, when He pleases. Now,
could you in times of trouble look up to this sovereign
hand, in which your souls, bodies, and all their comforts
and mercies are--how quiet would your hearts be!

Oh, when we have to do with men, and look no higher, how
do our spirits swell and rise with revenge and impatience!
But if you once come to see that man as a rod in your
Father's hand, you will be quiet. "Be still, and know that
I am God." Consider with whom you have to do; not with
your fellow, but with your God, who can puff you to
destruction with one blast of His mouth; in whose hand
you are, as the clay in the potter's hand.

It is for lack of looking up to God in our troubles, that
we fret, murmur, and despond at the rate we do.

"It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him."
(1 Samuel 3:18)

It quenches the thirst of the soul

2006-04-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

(Horatius Bonar, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ")

"My blood is the true drink!" John 6:55

The blood of the Lamb contains the true drink for the
soul. It quenches the thirst of the soul--the thirst
of parching produced by an evil conscience and a sense
of wrath. It removes the wrath and the sense of wrath,
by showing us that wrath transferred to the Substitute.

It relieves the conscience when first we come into
contact with it; and it keeps it relieved from day
to day, as we drink it by faith.

It is 'the true drink.'

It calms!

It revives!

It refreshes!

It soothes!

It is like cold water to the thirsty lips under a
scorching sun. Nothing but the blood can allay
this thirst; nothing else can be . . .
drink for the soul,
drink for the intellect,
drink for the conscience,
drink for the heart!

Read This

2006-04-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

This quote from John Owen's Communion with God is a must read.

HT: Justin Taylor

Latest Sacred Sandwich

2006-04-04T10:13:00.000-07:00

I have always enjoyed the Sacred Sandwich. It was recently remodeled, and it is better than ever. Along with Purgatorio, these, in my estimation, are the funniest sites on the web.

Good satire can make a great point, especially when dealing with the church in 21st century America.

Letter from a Martyr

2006-04-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

Powerful letter from a martyr.

HT: Triablogue

Google Earth Community

2006-04-03T11:51:00.000-07:00

From the "killing time" files--

I have been using Google Earth for a while now as a fun side bar to busy days. I recently found Google Earth Community. Users from all over the world "tag" places on Google Earth that interest them. It's quite fun, if you have a few hours to kill. :-)

They are soon seen dancing along the slippery path!

2006-03-29T11:22:00.000-08:00

--Archibald Alexander, "Thoughts on Religious Experience" 1844

There is a class of people, who seem never to feel the force of Christian truth. They are such as spend their whole waking hours in the giddy whirl of amusement and social company. Full of health and spirits, and optimistic in their hopes of enjoyment from the world--they put away 'serious reflection' as the very bane of pleasure. The very name of Jesus is hateful to them: and all they ask of Christian people is to let them alone, that they may seize the pleasures of life while within their reach.

If we may judge from appearances, this class is very large. We find them in the many places of fashionable resort. The theater, the ballroom, and the very streets are full of such. They flutter gaily along, and keep company with each other--while they are strangers to all serious reflection. If a Christian ever gets the opportunity of addressing a word of serious advice to them, their politeness may prevent them from behaving rudely--but no sooner is his back turned, than they laugh him to scorn, and hate and despise him for his endeavors. They habituate themselves to think that Christianity is an awkwardly foolish thing, and wonder how any person of sense can bear to attend to it.

Very often this high reverie of pleasure is short. In such a world as this, events are apt to occur which dash the 'cup of sensual delights' while it is at the lips. Death will occasionally intrude even upon this mirthful circle and put a speedy end to their unreasonable merriment. O how sad is the spectacle, to see one of these 'votaries of fashion' suddenly cut down, and carried to the grave! When mortal sickness seizes such people--their cruel friends make it their chief study to bar out every idea of true religion, and to flatter the poor dying creature with the hope of recovery--until death has actually seized his prey. Such an event produces a shock in the feelings of the others--but such is the buoyancy of their feelings and their forgetfulness of mournful events--that they are soon seen dancing along the slippery path, with as much insane thoughtlessness as before!

Yours! Mine!

2006-03-23T10:10:00.000-08:00

John Flavel, "The Fountain of Life"

Lord, the condemnation was Yours,
that the justification might be mine!

The agony was Yours, that
the victory might be mine!

The pain was Yours,
and the ease mine!

The stripes were Yours, and the
healing balm issuing from them mine!

The vinegar and gall were Yours,
that the honey and sweet might be mine!

The curse was Yours, that
the blessing might be mine!

The crown of thorns was Yours,
that the crown of glory might be mine!

The death was Yours,
the life purchased by it mine!

You paid the price, that
I might enjoy the inheritance!

Has He put you so many times into the furnace?

2006-03-21T10:32:00.000-08:00

John Flavel, "The Fountain of Life" 1671

You have a further advantage to a holy life, by all the
chastisements with which God visits you.

By these afflictions, God prevents your straying and wandering.
Others may wander even as far as hell, and God will not spend
a sanctified rod upon them, to reduce or stop them; but says,
"let them alone!" Hosea 4:17. But if you wander out of the way
of holiness, He will clog you with one trouble or other to keep
you within bounds.

Holy Basil was a long time sorely afflicted with an inveterate
headache, he often prayed for the removal of it. At last God
removed it, but in the place of it, he was sorely exercised with
the motions and temptations of lust; which, when he perceived,
he heartily desired his headache again, to prevent a worse evil.

You little know the ends and uses of many of your afflictions.

Are you exercised with bodily weakness? It is a mercy you are
so; and if these pains and infirmities were removed, these clogs
taken off, you may with Basil, wish for them again, to prevent
worse evils.

Are you poor? Why, with that poverty God has clogged your pride!

Are you reproached? With these reproaches God has clogged your
sinful ambition.

Corruptions are prevented by your afflictions. And, is not this
a marvelous help to holiness of life?

By your afflictions, your corruptions are not only clogged, but
purged. By these God dries up and consumes that spring of sin
which defiles your lives. God orders your wants to fill your
wantonness; and makes your poverty poison to your pride.

Afflictions are God's medicines, to purge ill humours out
of your souls. They are both fire for the purifying; and water
for the cleansing of your souls. Christ's blood is the only
fountain to wash away sin. But, in the virtue and efficacy of
that blood, sanctified afflictions are cleansers and purifiers too.

A cross without a Christ never made any man better; but with
Christ, saints are much the better for the cross. Has God been
so many days and nights a whitening you, and yet is not the
hue of your conversation altered? Has He put you so many
times into the furnace, and yet is not the dross separated?
The more afflictions you have been under, the more assistance
you have had for this life of holiness.

By all your troubles, God has been weaning you from the world,
the lusts, loves, and pleasures of it; and drawing out your souls
to a more excellent life and state than this. He often makes you
groan under your burdens. And yet will you not be weaned from
the lusts, customs, and evils of this world?

Sweet 16 Bound

2006-03-19T17:43:00.000-08:00

It'll be Huskies vs. Huskies in DC. Should be a great game. UConn better be ready for the REAL player of the year, Brandon Roy. The guy does it all.

O that dreadful house-idol

2006-03-16T22:23:00.000-08:00

John Flavel, "The Fountain of Life" 1671

O that dreadful house-idol--myself!

We have need to be redeemed from ourselves,
as much as from the devil and the world!

I would like to make a sweet bargain, and shuffle
out self, and substitute Christ my Lord in place of
myself! Not I, but Christ! Not my will, but Christ's!
Not my ease, not my lusts, not my home--but Christ,
Christ!

O wretched idol, myself! When shall I see you wholly
cast out--and Christ wholly put in your place?

Spurgeon Fix

2006-03-10T16:05:00.000-08:00

If you need a Spurgeon fix, head here.

The most precious thing in heaven or earth

2006-03-08T11:25:00.000-08:00

John Flavel, "The Fountain of Life" 1671

In giving Christ to die for poor sinners, God gave the
richest jewel in His cabinet; a mercy of the greatest
worth, and most inestimable value.

Heaven itself is not so valuable and precious as Christ
is! Ten thousand thousand worlds--as many worlds as
angels can number, would not outweigh Christ's love,
excellency and sweetness! O what a lovely One! What
an excellent, beautiful, ravishing One--is Christ!

Put the beauty of ten thousand paradises, like the garden
of Eden, into one; put all flowers, all fragrances, all colors,
all tastes, all joys, all sweetness, all loveliness into one;
O what a lovely and excellent thing would that be! And yet
it would be less to that loveliest and dearest well-beloved
Christ--than one drop of rain to all the seas, rivers, lakes,
and fountains of ten thousand earths!

Now, for God to bestow the mercy of mercies, the most
precious thing in heaven or earth, upon poor sinners;
and, as great, as lovely, as excellent as His Son was--what
kind of love is this!

O what a melting consideration is this!

2006-03-05T14:25:00.000-08:00

John Flavel, "The Fountain of Life" 1671

"Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:6)

O what a melting consideration is this! That . . .
out of His agony, comes our victory;
out of His condemnation, comes our justification;
out of His pain, comes our ease;
out of His stripes, comes our healing;
out of His gall and vinegar, comes our honey;
out of His curse, comes our blessing;
out of His crown of thorns, comes our crown of glory;
out of His death, comes our life!

Who is this Jesus?

2006-03-02T15:50:00.000-08:00

This is one of the best sermons I have ever heard. Read it and be blessed!

Who is this Jesus? by Melito of Sardis

Also, I finally got off my duff and updated my links to the right. Hope you like.

Come to Christ as Mary Magdalene did!

2006-03-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

--Jonathan Edwards, "Directions How to Conduct Yourself
in Your Christian Course"--A Letter addressed to a young
lady in the year 1741

"There was a woman who was a notorious sinner in that city.
When she learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's
home, she took an alabaster jar of perfume and knelt at His
feet behind Him. She was crying and began to wash His feet
with her tears and dry them with her hair. Then she kissed
His feet over and over again, anointing them constantly
with the perfume." (Luke 7:37-38)

When you engage in the duty of prayer, or come to the Lord's
supper, or attend any other duty of divine worship--come to
Christ as Mary Magdalene did! Come, and cast yourself at
His feet, and kiss them, and pour forth upon Him the sweet
perfumed ointment of divine love, out of a pure and broken
heart, as she poured the precious perfume out of her pure
broken alabaster jar!

The most hidden, secret, and deceitful of all lusts

2006-02-24T14:04:00.000-08:00

--Jonathan Edwards, "Directions How to Conduct Yourself
in Your Christian Course"--A letter addressed to a young
lady in the year 1741

"To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride,
evil conduct, and perverse speech." (Proverbs 8:13)

Remember that pride is the worst viper that is in
the heart, the greatest disturber of the souls peace,
and of sweet communion with Christ. Pride . . .
was the first sin committed,
lies lowest in the foundation of Satan's whole building,
and is with the greatest difficulty rooted out.

Pride is the most hidden, secret, and deceitful of all
lusts--and often creeps insensibly into the midst of religion,
even, sometimes, under the disguise of humility itself!

My Sheep

2006-02-15T12:02:00.000-08:00

J. C. Ryle, "The Privileges of the True Christian"

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and
they follow Me." (John 10:27)

This verse gives the character of true Christians.

1. God's children, His real believing people, are compared
to sheep, because they are gentle, quiet, harmless and
inoffensive; because they are useful and do good to all
around them; because they love to be together, and
dislike separation; and because they are very helpless
and wandering and liable to stray.

2. Jesus calls them "My sheep," as if they were His
peculiar property. "Mine," He would have us know, by
election; "Mine" by purchase; and "Mine" by adoption.

3. Christ's sheep hear His voice, they listen humbly to
His teaching, they take His word for their rule and guide.

4. Christ's sheep follow Him, they walk in the narrow
path He has marked out, they do not refuse because it
is sometimes steep and narrow--but wherever the line
of duty lies they go forward without doubting.

Precious Lord Jesus,

2006-02-09T12:06:00.000-08:00

--A Puritan Prayer

Precious Lord Jesus,
Give me faith to behold . . .
my name engraved in Your hand,
my soul and body redeemed by Your blood,
my sinfulness covered by Your life of pure obedience.

May . . .
Your comforts cheer me in my sorrows,
Your strength sustain me in my trials,
Your blessings revive me in my weariness,
Your presence render me a fruitful tree of holiness,
Your promises establish me in peace and joy,
Your revivings kindle in me undying devotion.

Search my heart. Show me more of my
corruptions and helplessness, that I may . . .
flee to You,
cling to You,
rest in You,
as the beginning and end of my salvation.

May I never vex You by my indifference and
waywardness; or grieve You by my cold welcome.

Answer my prayers, O Lord, for Your great name's sake.

Lead me to the cross

2006-02-09T11:28:00.000-08:00

- A Puritan Prayer

O Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on me. Move, I beg You, upon my
disordered heart. Take away the infirmities of
unruly desires and hateful lusts. Lift the mists
and darkness of unbelief. Brighten my soul with
the pure light of truth. Make my soul . . .
as fragrant as the garden of paradise,
rich with every goodly fruit,
beautiful with heavenly grace,
radiant with rays of divine light.

Be my comforter, light, guide, sanctifier.

Take of the things of Christ and show them
to my soul. Teach me more of His . . .
love,
grace,
compassion,
faithfulness,
beauty.

Lead me to the cross and show me . . .
His wounds,
the hateful nature of sin,
the power of Satan.

May I there see my sins as . . .
the nails which transfixed Him,
the cords which bound Him,
the thorns which tore Him,
the sword which pierced Him.

Help me to see in His death, the reality
and immensity of His love. Increase my
faith in the clear knowledge of . . .
atonement achieved,
expiation completed,
satisfaction for sin made,
guilt done away.

See this sad sight

2006-02-03T13:58:00.000-08:00

by Charles Spurgeon

"The iniquity of the holy things." Exodus 28:38

What a veil is lifted up by these words--and what a
disclosure is made! It will be humbling and profitable
for us to pause awhile--and see this sad sight!

The iniquities of our public worship--its hypocrisy,
formality, lukewarmness, irreverence, wandering of
heart and forgetfulness of God--what a full measure
have we there!

Our work for the Lord--its envious rivalry,
selfishness, carelessness, slackness, unbelief
--what a mass of defilement is there!

Our private devotions--their laxity, coldness,
neglect, sleepiness, and vanity--what a mountain
of dead earth is there!

If we looked more carefully, we would find this iniquity in
our holy things, to be far greater than appears at first sight!

Edward Payson, writing to his brother, says, "My parish,
as well as my heart, very much resembles the garden of
the sluggard. And what is worse, I find that very many
of my desires for the betterment of both, proceed either
from pride or vanity or indolence. I look at the weeds
which overspread my garden, and breathe out an earnest
wish that they were eradicated. But why? What prompts
the wish? It may be that I may walk out and say to myself,
'In what fine order is my garden kept!' This is pride! Or,
it may be that my neighbors may look over the fence and
say, 'How finely your garden flourishes!' This is vanity!
Or I may wish for the destruction of the weeds, because
I am weary of pulling them up. This is indolence!"

So even our desires after holiness may be polluted by
sinful motives. Under the greenest sods, 'worms' hide
themselves--we need not look long to discover them.

How cheering is the thought, that when the High Priest
bore the iniquity of the holy things he wore upon his brow
the words, "Holiness to the Lord" (Exod 28:36) and even
so while Jesus bears our sin, He presents before His Father's
face not our unholiness--but His own holiness! O for grace
to view our great High Priest by the eye of faith!

Infra, Supra and others...

2006-02-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

The good folks at Fide-O have a helpful post on the logical order of the decrees of God. I think this is a very helpful post, as well as the excellent chart by B.B. Warfield. You want to start an interesting debate at church on Sunday? Bring up this topic. :-)

More Da Vinci...

2006-02-02T09:49:00.000-08:00

Jollyblogger has a thought provoking post about the effects of The Da Vinci Code on America, and especially on evangelism. Worth the time to read.

Da Vinci Code blog series: Debunking Dan Brown

2006-01-30T10:08:00.000-08:00

Over at AOMin.org, James White has posted his complete series debunking Dan Brown's "Fact Based Fiction". Keep this one handy, as later this spring, the film will hit theaters, igniting a fire-storm of controversy. This series of small essays will be vital not only in the upcoming debates that will happen on the talking head networks, but around water coolers, bbq's and blogs. Be equipped, and be ready!

It is their Father's hand which chastens them

2006-01-24T10:33:00.000-08:00

by J. C. Ryle, "The Blood of the Lamb"

God lays heavy trials upon His children for the most wise
and merciful purposes. We live in such a fair and pleasant
world, we are so surrounded with so much that is smiling
and mirthful, that if we were not often obliged to taste
of sickness and trial or disappointments, we would forget
our heavenly home--and pitch our tents in this Sodom!

This is why God's people pass through great tribulations.
This is why they are often called upon to suffer the sting
of affliction and anxiety--or weep over the grave of those
on whom our affections are set. It is their Father's hand
which chastens them! It is thus He weans their affections
from things below--and fixes them on Himself! It is thus He
trains them for eternity, and cuts the threads one by one,
which bind their wavering hearts to earth!

No doubt such chastening is grievous for the time--but
still it brings many a hidden grace to light, and cuts down
many a secret seed of evil. We shall see those who have
suffered most, shining among the brightest stars in the
assembly of heaven. The purest gold is that which has
been longest in the refiner's furnace! The brightest
diamond is often that which has required the most
grinding and polishing!

"For our momentary light affliction is producing for us
an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory!"
(2 Corinthians 4:17)

Super Bowl Seahawks

2006-01-22T22:11:00.000-08:00

I Just got back from Qwest Field, and I have no voice, hence I type on my blog. Some photos below are from my camera, others from the local newspapers.

The stadium was rockin, and it was loud. It was fun watching the Panthers get steamrolled. To all the pundits out there who said the Hawks are soft, there is nothing soft about a dominating 34-14 rout. My game ball goes to the Seahawks defense, who shut down everyone's favorite WR, Steve Smith. The Hawks won the time of possession battle 42:00 to 18:00. In every aspect of the game, the Seahawks dominated.

I have been a Seahawks fan since I can remember, so this is sweet!!!

Here we come Detroit, and bring on the Steelers. Yup, bring it. Huff and puff Pittsburgh, you will not intimidate us.

GO SEAHAWKS!!!!

PS - This guy should be fired, what a joke.

Wave upon wave of grace

2006-01-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

A Puritan Prayer

O God of grace,
Teach me to know that grace precedes, accompanies,
and follows my salvation; that it sustains the redeemed
soul, that not one link of its chain can ever break!

From Calvary's cross, wave upon wave of grace . . .
reaches me,
deals with my sin,
washes me clean,
renews my heart,
strengthens my will,
draws out my affection,
kindles a flame in my soul,
rules throughout my inner man,
consecrates my every thought, word, work,
teaches me Your immeasurable love.

How great are my privileges in Christ Jesus!

Without Him I stand far off, a stranger, an outcast.
In Him I draw near and touch His kingly scepter!

Without Him I dare not lift up my guilty eyes.
In Him I gaze upon my Father-God and friend!

Without Him I hide my lips in trembling shame.
In Him I open my mouth in petition and praise!

Without Him all is wrath and consuming fire.
In Him is all love, and the repose of my soul!

Without Him is gaping hell below me, and eternal anguish.
In Him its gates are barred to me by His precious blood!

Without Him darkness spreads its horrors before me.
In Him an eternity of glory is my boundless horizon!

Without Him all within me is terror and dismay. In
Him every accusation is charmed into joy and peace!

Praise be to You for grace, and for
the unspeakable gift of Jesus!

"By the grace of God I am what I am!" 1 Cor. 15:10

I know everything about every one of them

2006-01-18T10:57:00.000-08:00

by J. C. Ryle, "The Privileges of the True Christian"

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them,
and they follow Me." (John 10:27)

The Lord Jesus Christ says of His sheep who hear His
voice and follow Him, "I know them." I know . . .
their number,
their names,
their particular characters,
their besetting sins,
their troubles,
their trials,
their temptations,
their doubts,
their prayers,
their private meditations.
I know everything about every one of them!

Be comforted, all you who are tried and buffeted
with difficulties in your way towards heaven,
difficulties from without and difficulties from within,
difficulties abroad and difficulties at home, grief for
your own sins and grief for the sins of others--the
Good Shepherd Jesus knows you well, though you
may not realize it.

You never shed a secret tear over your own corruption,
you never breathed a single prayer for forgiveness and
helping grace, you never made a single struggle against
wickedness--which He did not observe and note down in
the book of His remembrance.

You need not fear His not understanding your needs.
He knows your particular necessities far better than
you do yourselves. Your humble prayers are no sooner
offered up than heard. You may sometimes sigh and
mourn for lack of Christian fellowship--but remember
that the Good Shepherd is ever about your path and
about your bed. His eyes are on all your movements.
No husband, brother, father, mother, sister, friend,
could take more tender interest in your soul's welfare
than He does. If you sorrow He will bind up your
broken heart and pour in balm. He is ever watching
and observing and listening. The Good Shepherd is
acquainted with all your ways.

HAWK TIME

2006-01-14T20:46:00.000-08:00

I know most of the readers of this tiny blog could care less about the Seattle Seahawks, but I don't do this for my readers, I do this because it's my blog.

This victory ends two decades of football futility, and I for one am glad it is over with. A hard fought victory without the league's offensive MVP is impressive. Matt Hasselbeck is the most underrated QB in football. The guy can run the west coast offense like clock work. The Redskins brought heart and intensity, but at the end of the day, the better team won.

The NFC championship will be the biggest sports event in the history of Seattle. Should be a great show.

GO SEAHAWKS!!!!

PS - I am also glad to see the hated Broncos beat the hated Patriots. It's a lesser of two evils thing for me... :-)

I am not what I once used to be

2006-01-12T21:59:00.000-08:00

by J. C. Ryle

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without
which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14

The regenerate man is a holy man. He endeavors . . .
to live according to God's will,
to do the things that please God,
to avoid the things that God hates.

His aim and desire is to love God with heart and soul, and
mind and strength--and to love his neighbor as himself.
His wish is to be continually looking to Christ as his Example
as well as his Savior; and to show himself Christ's friend, by
obeying whatever He commands.

No doubt he is not perfect. None will tell you that sooner
than himself. He groans under the burden of indwelling
corruption cleaving to him. He finds an evil principle within
him constantly warring against grace, and trying to draw
him away from God. Yet, in spite of all short-comings,
the average bent and bias of . . .
his ways is holy;
his doings holy;
his tastes holy
and his habits holy.

In spite of all his swerving and turning aside, like a ship
going against a contrary wind, the general course of his
life is in one direction--toward God and for God. He will
generally be able to say, with old John Newton, "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! By the grace of God, I am what I am!"

"Let none conclude that they have no grace, because they
have many imperfections in their obedience. Your grace may
be very weak and imperfect, and yet you may be truly born
again, and be a genuine son of God and heir of heaven."
(Hopkins, 1670)

A new existence

2006-01-10T00:28:00.000-08:00

by J. C. Ryle

"Truly, truly, I say to you--Unless a man is born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3

To be born again is, as it were, to enter upon
a new existence, to have . . .
a new mind,
a new heart,
new views,
new principles,
new tastes,
new affections,
new likings,
new dislikings,
new fears,
new joys,
new sorrows,
new love to things once hated,
new hatred to things once loved,
new thoughts of God, and ourselves, and the
world, and the life to come, and salvation.

He who has been born again, is a new man, a
new creature, for old things are passed away.
He receives a new bias and direction. All things
have become new! It is the implanting of a new
principle which will surely bear good fruit. It is . . .
opening the eyes of the blind;
unstopping the ears of the deaf;
loosing the tongue of the dumb;
giving hands and feet to the maimed and lame.

"You must be born again." John 3:7

The divine Illuminator

2006-01-06T00:29:00.000-08:00

by James W. Alexander, "Consolation" 1852

"But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will
send in My name--He will teach you all things, and
bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
(John 14:26)

Divine Truth is an instrument in the hand of the Spirit, for
the accomplishment of His work of consolation. If we would
be comforted, we must seek it by the truth. The Comforter
is the Spirit of truth. The consoling process is carried on by
the application of Scriptural truth. Therefore, the Word of
God is beyond all other volumes--the Book of Consolation.
The precious doctrines concerning God, Christ, salvation,
and heaven--are the principal means which the Holy Spirit
uses for the support of the soul under heavy afflictions.

Thus we are enabled to perceive more clearly and fully, how
the adorable Spirit comes in Christ's name. He teaches what
Christ taught. He takes of the things of Christ, and reveals
them unto us. From the infinite fund of Scriptural wisdom and
knowledge--He draws and dispenses, according to the diversified
necessities of His people. It is scarcely a change of teacher. The
Spirit gives the same lessons as Jesus. He repeats and revives
them. He brings out afresh in the chambers of memory, the
truths which had faded. He touches the sluggish heart to awaken
it to new impressions of Scriptural truth. All this is by a direct
influence on the soul by the Spirit--opening the mind and
pouring in light. It is this which accounts for the difference
between believers; and between different states of the same
individual.

In order that truth be effectual, especially to consolation,
something more is necessary than that it should be revealed
in the Bible; something more than that it should be understood
by the intellect. It must be powerfully brought home to the mind
and heart. And to do this is the especial work of the Holy Spirit.
No effect will be produced in reading Scripture, except so far as
the Holy Spirit takes, shows, and impresses them to the heart.
And this He graciously does to many a broken-hearted Christian.

The experienced and godly Christian, long tried in the 'school
of sorrows'--is made to know that the soul may be comforted
amidst the deepest afflictions. In some unexpected moment,
the divine Illuminator reveals to him the great abiding truths
of Scripture; truths which are as precious and as satisfying--in
adverse as in prosperous days. By a process of holy attraction,
his thoughts are drawn away from self and all its sorrows and
losses--to be fixed and absorbed . . .
by the character of God,
by His mighty works,
by the person of the adorable Redeemer,
by the work of redemption,
by the glory yet to be revealed.

Filled and animated and tranquilized by these blessed truths,
he is led to forget his private griefs; and thus the Comforter
performs His office by means of the truth. "The things of Christ,"
applied to the heart by the Spirit, direct the mind from its earthly
pangs, and to a certain extent afford a foretaste of the celestial joy.

He loves the things that once he hated

2005-12-20T17:38:00.000-08:00

by J. C. Ryle

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old things have passed away. Behold, all things
have become new!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

Whatever part of the globe we live in, our eyes need
to be opened--naturally we never see our sinfulness,
guilt, and danger.

Whatever nation we belong to, our understandings
need to be enlightened--naturally we know little or
nothing of the plan of salvation. Like the Babel-builders,
we think to get to heaven our own way.

Whatever church we may belong to, our wills need
to be bent in the right direction--naturally we would
never choose the things which are for our peace; we
would never come to Christ.

Whatever be our rank in life, our affections need to
be turned to things above--naturally we only set them
on things below, earthly, sensual, short-lived and vain.

Pride must give place to humility;
self-righteousness to self-abasement;
carelessness to seriousness;
worldliness to holiness;
unbelief to faith.

Satan's dominion must be put down within us--and the
kingdom of God set up. Self must be crucified--and Christ
must reign. Until these things come to pass, we are as
dead as stones. When these things begin to take place,
and not until then, we are spiritually alive.

The true Christian knows all this by experience.
He loves the things that once he hated, and
hates the things that once he loved. He has . . .
new habits,
new companions,
new ways,
new tastes,
new feelings,
new opinions,
new sorrows,
new joys,
new concerns,
new pleasures,
new hopes,
new fears.

In short, the whole bias and current of his being
is changed. Ask his nearest relatives and friends,
and they would bear witness to it. Whether they
liked it or not, they would be obliged to confess
he was no longer the same person.

Once he could see no beauty and excellence in the
Lord Jesus Christ. Now he would tell you that He is . . .
the pearl above all price,
the chief among ten thousand,
his Redeemer,
his Advocate,
his Priest,
his King,
his Physician,
his Shepherd,
his Friend,
his All.

Once he thought lightly about sin. He could not
see the necessity of being so particular about it.
He could not think a man's words, and thoughts,
and actions, were of such importance, and required
such watchfulness. Now he would tell you sin is the
abominable thing which he hates--the sorrow and
burden of his life. He longs to be more holy.

Once he cared only for this world . . .
its pleasures,
its business,
its occupations,
its rewards.
Now he looks upon it as an empty, unsatisfying place.
His treasure is in heaven. His home is beyond the grave.

He puts us in our right place

2005-12-19T00:19:00.000-08:00

J. C. Ryle, "Having the Spirit"

"When He comes, He will convict the world about
sin, righteousness, and judgment." (John 16:8)

All who have the Spirit are convinced by Him of sin.

He alone can open a man's eyes to the real extent of
his guilt and corruption before God. He always does
this when He comes into the soul. He puts us in our
right place! He shows us the vileness of our own hearts,
and makes us cry with the publican, "God be merciful to
me a sinner!" He pulls down those proud, self-righteous,
self-justifying notions with which we are all born--and
makes us feel as we ought to feel--"I am a sinful man,
and I deserve to be in hell!"

Sin is no more pleasant to those who are taught by the
Spirit. It is their sorrow when tempted by it. It is their
shame when they are overtaken by it. Their desire is to
be free from it altogether. Their happiest times are when
they are enabled to walk most closely with God. Their
saddest times are when they are furthest off from Him.

"When He comes, He will convict the world about
sin, righteousness, and judgment." (John 16:8)

Something peculiar, distinct, and different

2005-12-13T19:55:00.000-08:00

J. C. Ryle, "Conversion"

The effects of the Spirit's work in conversion will always
be seen. Those effects may be weak and feeble at first.
But there where there is true conversion, some fruit
will always be seen.

Where no effect can be seen--there you may be sure
is no grace. Where no visible fruit can be found--there
you may be sure is no true conversion.

Does anyone ask me what we may expect to see
in a true conversion? I reply, There will always be
something seen in a converted man's . . .
character,
and feelings,
and conduct,
and opinions,
and daily life.

You will not see perfection in him--but you will
see in him something peculiar, distinct, and
different from other people. You will see him . . .
hating sin,
loving Christ,
following after holiness,
taking pleasure in his Bible,
persevering in prayer.

You will see him . . .
penitent,
humble,
believing,
temperate,
charitable,
truthful,
good-tempered,
patient,
upright,
honorable,
kind.

These, at any rate, will be his aims--these are the
things which he will follow after, however short he
may come of perfection. In some converted people
you will see these things more distinctly, in others
less. This only I say, wherever there is conversion,
something of this kind will be seen. True conversion
is a thing that can always be seen.

Never, never, will I allow that the blessed Spirit can
be in a man's heart--when no fruit of the Spirit can
be seen in his life! A conversion which allows a man
to live in sin, to lie, and drink, and swear--is not the
conversion of the Bible. It is a counterfeit conversion,
which can only please the devil, and will lead the man
who is satisfied with it--not to heaven, but to hell!

Rotten at the Heart

2005-12-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

(Note: I am on a Ryle kick for some reason. I am finding his writings quite convicting. - JL)

J. C. Ryle, "Our Hope!" 1877

"Everyone who has this hope in Christ keeps
himself pure, just as Christ is pure." 1 John 3:3

The man who has a good hope will show it in all
his ways. It will influence his life, his character,
and his daily conduct. It will make him strive to
be a holy, godly, conscientious, spiritual man.
He will feel under a constant obligation to serve
and please Him from whom his hope comes.

If there is light in a house it will shine through the
windows--if there is any real hope in a man's soul
it will be seen in his ways. Show me your hope in
your life and daily behavior. Where is it? How does
it appear? If you cannot show it, you may be sure
it is nothing better than a delusion and a snare.

The hope that does not make a man . . .
honest,
honorable,
truthful,
sober,
diligent,
unselfish,
loving,
meek,
kind,
faithful
in all the relations of life--is not from God.

Let us beware of any hope that does not exercise
a sanctifying influence over our . . .
hearts,
lives,
tastes,
conduct, and
conversation.
It is a hope that never came down from above. It is
mere base metal, and counterfeit coin. It lacks the
mint-stamp of the Holy Spirit, and will never pass
current in heaven. The hope that does not make a
man holy--is no hope at all.

The person who can allow himself in any willful and
habitual breach of God's law, is rotten at the heart!
He may talk of his hope as much as he pleases--but
he has none in reality. His religion is . . .
a joy to the devil,
a stumbling block to the world,
a sorrow to true Christians,
and an offence to God!

Oh, that people would consider these things!

Because JIBBS requested it...

2005-12-05T14:45:00.000-08:00

Seven Sevens

If JIBBS says so, I do it, no questions asked.

Seven things to do before I die:

1. Lord willing, have children
2. Travel to Africa
3. Row a marathon
4. Visit every pro ballpark in America
5. Go to the Maldives
6. See my parents, brother, grandmother come to Christ
7. Summit Mt. Rainier

Seven things I cannot do:
1. Skateboard
2. Root for Wazzu or Oregon
3. Eat mincemeat pie
4. Not be annoyed with liberals
5. Get my way
6. Remember to fold the laundry
7. Beat my father-in-law at Puerto Rico or Settlers of Catan.

Seven things that attract me to my wife:

1. Uh, she’s drop dead stunning (I was resurrected after she said “Hi” to me the first time…)
2. She agrees with me on my sports opinions, and will go to a game with me anytime.
3. God is preeminent in her life
4. She deals with my bad memory
5. She keeps me civil
6. She prevents me from looking like a ragamuffin
7. She is a better card player than I am

Seven things I say most often:
1. “Hey”
2. “Sup”
3. “Yo”
4. “Crumb”
5. “oh yeah”
6. “It’s the liberals fault”
7. “What?!?!”

Seven books (or series) I love:

1. The Holiness of God - Sproul
2. Apologetics to the Glory of God / Doctrine of God - Frame
3. A Godly Man’s Picture - Watson
4. The Pleasures of God - Piper
5. The Cross – M.L. Jones
6. The Mystery of Marriage - Mason
7. The Hobbit / LOTR / Unfinished Tales - Tolkien

Seven movies I would watch over and over again:

1. LOTR Trilogy
2. Field of Dreams
3. Star Wars Episodes IV-VI
4. Blackhawk Down
5. Rudy
6. Napoleon Dynamite
7. Patton

~~Seven~~ Five (sorry, most of my blogroll has been tagged…) people I want to join in, too:

1. Mike Perrigoue
2. Nathan White
3. Doug Patton
4. FIDE-O
5. Monty (aka The Montster) - Get a blog dude!!!

Some Thoughts on Predestination

2005-11-30T12:37:00.000-08:00

by B. B. Warfield

This essay was originally published in The Christian Workers Magazine, Dec. 1916, pp. 265-267.

A great man of the last generation began the preface of a splendid little book he was writing on this subject, with the words: 'Happy would it be for the church of Christ and for the world, if Christian ministers and Christian people could be content to be disciples-learners.' He meant to intimate that if only we were all willing to sit simply at the feet of the inspired writers and take them at their word, we should have no difficulties with Predestination. The difficulties we feel with regard to Predestination are not derived from the Word. The Word is full of it, because it is full of God, and when we say God and mean God-God in all that God is-we have said Predestination.

Our difficulties with Predestination arise from a, no doubt not unnatural, unwillingness to acknowledge ourselves to be wholly at the disposal of another. We wish to be at our own disposal. We wish 'to belong to ourselves,' and we resent belonging, especially belonging absolutely, to anybody else, even if that anybody else be God. We are in the mood of the singer of the hymn beginning, 'I was a wandering sheep,' when he declares of himself, 'I would not be controlled.' We will not be controlled. Or, rather, to speak more accurately, we will not admit that we are controlled.

I say that it is more accurate to say that we will not admit that we are controlled. For we are controlled, whether we admit it or not. To imagine that we are not controlled is to imagine that there is no God. For when we say God, we say control. If a single creature which God has made has escaped beyond his control, at the moment that he has done so he has abolished God. A God who could or would make a creature whom he could not or would not control, is no God. The moment he should make such a creature he would, of course, abdicate his throne. The universe he had created would have ceased to be his universe; or rather it would cease to exist-for the universe is held together only by the control of God.

Even worse would have happened, indeed, than the destruction of the universe. God would have ceased to be God in a deeper sense than that he would have ceased to be the Lord and Ruler of the world. He would have ceased to be a moral being. It is an immoral act to make a thing that we cannot or will not control. The only justification for making anything is that we both can and will control it. If a man should manufacture a quantity of an unstable high-explosive in the corridors of an orphan asylum, and when the stuff went off should seek to excuse himself by saying that he could not control it, no one would count his excuse valid. What right had he to manufacture it, we should say, unless he could control it? He relieves himself of none of the responsibility for the havoc wrought, by pleading inability to control his creation.

To suppose that God has made a universe-or even a single being-the control of which he renounces, is to accuse him of similar immorality. What right has he to make it, if he cannot or will not control it? It is not a moral act to perpetrate chaos. We have not only dethroned God; we have demoralized him.

Of course, there is no one that thinks at all who will imagine such a vanity. We take refuge in a vague antinomy. We fancy that God controls the universe just enough to control it, and that he does not control it just enough not to control it. Of course God controls the universe, we perhaps say-in the large; but of course he does not control everything in the universe-in particular.

Probably nobody deceives himself with such palpable paltering in a double sense. If this is God's universe, if he made it and made it for himself, he is responsible for everything that takes place in it. He must be supposed to have made it just as he wished it to be-or are we to say that he could not make the universe he wished to make, and had to put up with the best he could do?

And he must be supposed to have made it precisely as he wished it to be, not only statically but dynamically considered, that is, in all its potentialities and in all its developments down to the end. That is to say, he must be supposed to have made it precisely to suit himself, as extended not only in space but in time. If anything occurs in it as projected through time--just as truly as if anything is found in it as extended in space--which is not just as he intended it to be-why, then we must admit that he could not make such a universe as he would like to have, and had to put up with the best he could get. And, then, he is not God. A being who cannot make a universe to his own liking is not God. A being who can agree to make a universe which is not to his liking, most certainly is not God.

But though such a being obviously is not God, he does not escape responsibility for the universe which he actually makes -whether as extended in space or in time-and that in all its particulars. The moment this godling (not now God) consented to put up with the actual universe-whether as extended in space or as projected through time, including all its particulars without exception-because it was the best he could get, it became his universe. He adopted it as his own, and made it his own even in those particulars which in themselves he would have liked to have otherwise. These particulars, as well as all the rest, which in themselves please him better, have been determined on by him as not only allowable, but as actually to exist in the universe which, by his act, is actually realized.

That is to say they are predestinated by him, and because predestinated by him actually appear in the universe that is made. We have got rid of God, indeed; but we have not got rid of the Predestination, to get rid of which we have been willing to degrade our God into a godling.

We have passed insensibly from the idea of control to the idea of Predestination. That is because there is no real difference between the two ideas at bottom. If God controls anything at all, of course he has intended to control it before he controls it. Exactly the control which he exerts, of course he has intended to exert all long.

No one can imagine so inadvertent a God, that he always acts 'on the spur of the moment,' so to speak, with no manner of intention determining his action. Providence and Predestination are ideas which run into one another. Providence is but Predestination in its execution; Predestination is but Providence in its intention. When we say the one, we say the other, and the common idea which gives its content to both is control.

It is purely this idea of control which people object to when they say they object to Predestination; not the idea of previousness, but purely the idea of control. They would object just as much if the control was supposed to be exercised without any previous intention at all.

They ought to object much more. For a control exercised without intention would be a blind control. It would have no end in view to justify it; it would have no meaning; it would be sheerly irrational, immoral, maddening. That is what we call Fate. Say intention, however, and we say person; and when we say person we say purpose. A meaning is now given to the control that is exercised; an end is held before it.

And if the person who exercises the control be an intelligent being, the end will be a wise end; if he be a moral being it will be a good end; if he be infinitely wise and holy, just and good, it will be an infinitely wise and holy, just and good end, and it will be wrought out by means as wise and holy, just and good as itself.

To say Predestination is to say all this. It is to introduce order into the universe. It is to assign an end and a worthy end to it. It enables us to speak of a far off divine event to which the whole creation is moving. It enables us to see that whatever occurs, great or small, has a place to fill in this universal teleology; and thus has significance given it, and a juustification supplied to it. To say Predestination is thus not only to say God; it is also to say Theodicy.

No matter what we may say of Predestination in moments of puzzlement, as we stand in face of the problems of life--the problem of the petty, the problem of suffering, the problem of sin--it is safe to say that at the bottom of our minds we all believe in it. We cannot help believing in it--if we believe in God; and that, in its utmost extension, as applying to everything about us which comes to pass.

Take any occurrence that happens, great or small-the fall of an empire or the fall of a sparrow, which our Lord himself tells us never once happens 'without our Father.' It surely cannot be imagined that God is ignorant of its happening-nay, even if it be so small a thing as the fall of a pin.

God assuredly is aware of everything that happens in his universe. There are no dark corners in it into which his all-seeing eye cannot pierce; there is nothing that occurs in it which is hidden from his universal glance. But certainly neither can it be imagined that anything which occurs in his universe takes him by surprise. Assuredly God has been expecting it to happen, and in happening it has merely justified his anticipations.

Nor yet can he be imagined to be indifferent to its happening, as if, though he sees it coming, he does not care whether it happens or not. That is not the kind of God our God is; he is a God who infinitely cares, cares even about the smallest things. Did not our Savior speak of the sparrows and the very hairs of our heads to teach us this?

Well, then, can it be imagined that, though infinitely caring, God stands impotently over against the happenings in his universe, and cannot prevent them? Is he to be supposed to be watching from all eternity things which he does not wish to happen, coming, coming, ever coming, until at last they come-and he is unable to stop them?

Why, if he could not prevent their happening any other way he need not have made the universe; or he might have made it differently. There was nothing to require him to make this universe-or any universe at all-except his own good pleasure; and there is nothing to compel him to allow anything which he does not wish to happen, to occur in the universe which he has made for his own good pleasure.

Clearly things cannot occur in God's universe, the occurrence of which is displeasing to him. He does not stand helplessly by, while they occur against his wish. Whatever occurs has been foreseen by him from all eternity, and it succeeds in occurring only because its occurrence meets his wish.

It may not be apparent to us what wish of his it meets, what place it fills in the general scheme of things to which it is his pleasure to give actuality, what its function is in his all-inclusive plan. But we know that it could not occur unless it had such a function to perform, such a place to fill, a part to play in God's comprehensive plan.

And knowing that, we are satisfied.. Unless, indeed, we cannot trust God with his own plan, and feel that we must insist that he submit it to us, down to the last detail, and obtain our approval of it, before he executes it.

Least of all will the religious man doubt the universal Predestination of God. Why, what makes him a religious man is, among other things, that he sees God in everything.

A glass window stands before us. We raise our eyes and see the glass; we note its quality, and observe its defects; we speculate on its composition. Or we look straight through it on the great prospect of land and sea and sky beyond. So there are two ways of looking at the world. We may see the world and absorb ourselves in the wonders of nature. That is the scientific way. Or we may look right through the world and see God behind it. That is the religious way.

The scientific way of looking at the world is not wrong any more than the glass-manufacturer's way of looking at the window. This way of looking at things has its very important uses. Nevertheless the window was placed there not to be looked at but to be looked through; and the world has failed of its purpose unless it too is looked through and the eye rests not on it but on its God. Yes, its God; for it is of the essence of the religious view of things that God is seen in all that is and in all that occurs. The universe is his, and in all its movements speaks of him, because it does only his will.

If you would understand the religious man's conception of the relation of God to his world, observe him on his knees. For prayer is the purest expression of religion and in prayer we see religion come to its rights.

Did ever a man pray thus: 'O God, Thou knowest that I can do as I choose and Thou canst not prevent me, Thou knowest that my fellowmen are, like me, beyond Thy control, Thou knowest that nature itself goes its own way and Thou canst but stand helplessly by and watch whither it tends'?

No, the attitude of the-soul in prayer is that of entire dependence for itself, and of complete confidence in God's all-embracing government. We ask him graciously to regulate our own spirit, to control the acts of our fellowmen, and to direct the course of the whole world in accordance with his holy and beneficent will. And we do right. Only, we should see to it that we preserve this conception of God in his relation to his world, when we rise from our knees; and make it the operative force of our whole life.

I know, it is true, an eminent theologian who will shake his head at this. God cannot control the acts of free agents, he says, and it is folly to ask him to do so. If we go gunning with an unskillful friend, he may awkwardly shoot us; and it is useless to ask God to protect us; he simply cannot do it. If we are at work at a dangerous machine by the side of a careless companion, he may destroy us at any moment, and it is useless to ask God to avert the mishap; God cannot do it.

If this were so, we certainly would be in a parlous case. Or rather the world would long ago have broken down into chaos.

Every religious man knows full well that it is not so. Every religious man knows that God can and will and does control everything that he has made in all their actions, and that therefore-despite all adverse appearances-it is all well with the world.

All well with the world, which is moving steadily forward in its established orbit; and all well with us who put our trust in God. For has he not himself told us that all things-all things, mind you-are working together for good to those that love him? And how, pray, could that be, except that they all do his bidding in all their actions?

Is the Bible the Word of God?

2005-11-29T07:58:00.000-08:00

(J. C. Ryle, "Inspiration" 1877)

Is the Bible the Word of God? Then mind that
you do not neglect it. Read it! Begin to read it this
very day. What greater insult to God can a man
be guilty of than to refuse to read the letter God
sends him from heaven? Oh, be sure, if you will
not read your Bible, you are in fearful danger
of losing your soul!

Is the Bible the Word of God? Then be sure
you always read it with deep reverence. Say to
your soul, whenever you open the Bible, "O my
soul, you are going to read a message from God!"

Is the Bible the Word of God? Then be sure
you never read it without fervent prayer for the
help and teaching of the Holy Spirit. Humble
prayer will throw more light on your Bible than
any commentary that ever was written. You will
not understand it unless your heart is right. You
will find it a sealed book without the teaching of
the Holy Spirit. Its contents are often "hidden
from the wise and learned, and revealed to babes."

Is the Bible the Word of God? Then let us all
resolve from this day forward to prize the Bible
more. God has given us the Bible to be a light to
guide us to everlasting life. Let us not neglect this
precious gift. Let us read it diligently, and walk in
its light.

Back to normal, with some additions.

2005-11-28T15:27:00.000-08:00

I am back. Had a long Thanksgiving holiday weekend filled with friends, family, lot's of Puerto Rico games, a few games of Canasta, and of course thrilling football. The Stanford v. Notre Dame game was a great college football game. $14.5 mil on the line for the Irish, and they pull it off. My hometown team Seahawks about gave me cardiac arrest, they just can't win easy, they always make me sweat.

I have added a few new links to the blog-o-rama:

Rhoblogy: Missionaries in Japan. God bless 'em!

FIDE-O: "Biblical Wisdom with Bull-dog Tenacity". What else can be said? Oh, they like deep fried turkey and football. Bingo, they are on the list.

Off the Main Road: Dan is a Northwesterner like me, and he has a cool blog design.

Fish Tacos: Mike is Dan's bro. He likes fish tacos and so do I, therefore he is on the list. (Notice that food is a key qualifier to get on my blog-o-rama...).

Digital Puritan: I like the Puritans, and I like digital stuff, hence the inclusion here.

Free St. George's: I just ran across this blog the other day. It is a good read with a lot of good articles and quotes, check it out.

Lameworldview: Funny blog title with some good content.

That's all for now, life is back to normal and I am thankful.

The Chain

2005-11-17T00:16:00.000-08:00

This warning from Spurgeon sent chills up my spine. I pray it does to you as well. One will NEVER hear this type of preaching from today's American, self-centered, therapeutic, feel good, "let's not offend anyone" school of preaching. I pray today's ministers of the Word will take a page out of some of the great preachers of the past and preach sin and repentance.

-Spurgeon, "Meditation on God"

O wicked men! wicked men! one word to you, all of you
who know not God- I will give you a subject for your
meditation tonight. It shall be a parable--

A certain tyrant sent for one of his subjects, and
said to him, "What is your employment?"
He said, "I am a blacksmith."
"Go home," said the tyrant, "and make me a chain
of such a length."

He went home; it occupied him several months, and
he had no wages all the while he was making the chain,
but only the trouble and the pains of making it.

Then he brought it to the monarch, and the tyrant said,
"Go and make it twice as long."
He gave him no pay for it, but sent him away.

Again he worked on, and made it twice as long.
He brought it back again, and the monarch said,
"Go and make it longer still."

Each time he brought it, there was nothing but
the command to make it longer still.
And when he brought it up at last, the monarch said--
"Take it, bind him hand and foot with it, and cast him
into a furnace of fire."

There were his wages for making the chain!

Here is a meditation for you tonight, you servants of the devil!
Your master the devil is telling you to make a chain.
Some of you have been fifty years welding the links of the
chain; and he says-- "Go and make it longer still. Next
Saturday night you will be drunk, and put another link on;
next Monday you will do a dishonest action, and so you will
keep on making fresh links to this chain."

And when you have lived twenty more years, the devil will
say, "More links on still!"

And then, at last, it will be-- "Take him, and bind him hand
and foot, and cast him into a furnace of fire."

There is the subject for your meditation.

I do not think it will be sweet; but if God makes it profitable, it will do good.

You must have strong medicines sometimes, when the disease is bad.

God apply it to your hearts! Amen.

New look - update

2005-11-16T16:20:00.000-08:00

I messed around late last night and came up with this blog design. Major props do to Dan, because he hooked me up with the base template. I am not finished, mostly because I am not 100% sold I even like this color scheme, and my alignment is messed up. I do like the three-column format though; it provides more room for blog goodies. Alas, I am impatient, so I went ahead and prematurely put it up. Suggestions welcome from all three of you who read this blog.

*Update* - I continue to tweak, and one area is really giving me problems. When I view an individual post, the comments text does not show. The text color is the same as the background. Therefore the only way to see the text is my selecting it. Mickey pointed this out and I am still trying to fix it. If anyone knows where to look in the code, let me know. Also, if you are using IE, the blog looks messed up. Firefox is fine. I am working on that too. Thanks for your patience, I am very green at blog design.

*Update Part 2* - Ok, I think I am good to go. Suggestions welcome, but until next time, I need to get back to the Calvinistic quotes and other edifying things, such as Seahawks football and Husky basketball. Again, big props to my Winnipeg homeboy Dan for the template.

I am astonished

2005-11-12T13:51:00.000-08:00

(A Puritan Prayer)

O bottomless Fountain of all good,
I am astonished at the difference between . . .
my receivings--and my deservings,
the state I am now in--and my past gracelessness,
the heaven I am bound for--and the hell I merit.

Who made me to differ, but You? I could not have
begun to love You, had You not first loved me.

O Lord, I am astonished that . . .
such a crown should fit the head of such a sinner,
such high advancement for one so worthless,
such joys for so vile a rebel!

Let 'wrath deserved' be written on the door of hell;
but the 'free gift of grace' on the gate of heaven!

Let Your love draw me nearer to Yourself. Wean
me from sin, mortify me to this world, and make
me ready for my departure hence. Secure me by
Your grace as I sail across this stormy sea.

LibraryThing

2005-11-09T17:07:00.000-08:00

I have just found what quite possibly is the most addictive website for book worms. LibraryThing.com. Launched in August 2005, you can catalog your entire library online. Features include: leaving ratings, comments, profiles, author clouds, tag clouds, graphical shelf. A good feature is that the search engine is linked to Amazon.com and the Library of Congress (among others...), so you can find basically any book in print. Another fine feature is how your library is measured and mapped with other users, allowing you to see what other folks have the same books, and how they rated them. You can leave comments on other people's libraries as well.

I have a library on there now. Check it out, leave a comment, and build your own.

Joe's Library

The Great Heart Changer!

2005-11-03T12:27:00.000-08:00

From Spurgeon's, "The Stony Heart Removed"

The heart of the natural man, like marble,
is stone-cold towards spiritual things.

No arguments have power to move a soul so steeled,
so thoroughly stony, hard, and impenetrable.

O rocks of iron and hills of brass,
you are softer than the proud heart of man!

Fallen man is like the deaf adder which will not be charmed,
charm we never so wisely.

Tears are lost on him.

Threatenings are but as the whistlings of the wind.

The preachings of the law, and even of Christ crucified--
all these are null and void and fall hopelessly to the ground,
so long as the man's heart continues what it is by nature--
dead, and hard, and cold.

The heart of man grows harder whether it be the soft sunshine
of love, or the harsh tempest of judgment that falls upon it.

Mercy and love alike make it more solid,
and knit its particles closer together;
and surely until the Omnipotent himself speak the word,
the heart of man grows harder, and harder, and harder,
and refuses to be softened or broken.

Granite may be ground and be broken into pieces,
but unless God gets the hammer in his hand,
and even he must put both hands to it,
the great 'granite heart' of man will not yield in any way.

You may smite a man's heart right and left with death,
with judgment, with mercy, with tears, with entreaties,
with threatenings, and it will not break!

No, even the fires of hell do not melt man's heart,
for the damned in hell grow more hard by their agonies,
and they hate God, and blaspheme him all the more
because of the suffering they endure.

Only Omnipotence itself, I say,
can ever soften this hard heart of man.

Christ is the Great Heart Changer!

"Lord, melt my heart.
None but a bath of blood divine can take the flint away;
but do it Lord, and you shall have the praise."

Heathenish Luck?

2005-10-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

by Spurgeon

"The lot is cast into the lap, but its every
decision is from the LORD." (Pr.16:33)

"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. (Rev. 19:6)
"My times are in Your hands" (Psalm 31:15)

Not only are we ourselves in the hand of the Lord,
but all that surrounds us.

Everything is under divine arrangement.

We dwell within the palm of God's hand.

We are absolutely at his disposal, and all our
circumstances are arranged by him in all their details.
We are comforted to have it so.

How did the psalmist's times come to be thus in God's hand? I should
answer, that they were there according to the eternal purpose
and decree of God. All things are ordained by God, and
are settled by Him, according to His wise and holy predestination.
Whatever happens here does not happen by 'chance' but according to the
counsel of the Most High.

The acts and deeds of men below, though left wholly to their own wills,
are the counterpart of that which is written in the purpose of heaven.
The open acts of Providence below, tally exactly with that which is
written in the 'secret book', which no eye of man or angel as yet has
scanned. This eternal purpose superintended our birth- "All the days
ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
(Psalm 139:16)

In Your book, every footstep of every creature was recorded before the
creature was made. God has mapped out the pathway of every man who
traverses the plains of life. It is no small comfort to a child of God
that he feels that, by divine arrangement and sacred predestination, his
times are in the hand of God.

It would be a hideous thought to us if any one point of our life-story
were left to 'chance', or the the frivolities of our our fancy. "My
times are in your hands" -then there is nothing left to chance. Events
do not happen by a 'fortune' that has no order or purpose in it.
CHANCE is a heathenish idea which the teaching of the Word has cast
down, even as the ark threw down Dagon, and broke him in pieces.
Blessed is that man who is done with chance, and who never speaks of
'luck'; but believes that, from the least even to the greatest, all
things are ordained of the Lord.

We dare not leave out the least event. The creeping of an aphis on a
rosebud is as surely arranged by the decree of Providence, as the march
of a pestilence through a nation. Believe this; for if the least be
omitted from the supreme government, so may the next be, and the next,
until nothing is left in the divine hand.

A godly wife, one of a kind

2005-10-20T00:02:00.000-07:00

I love my wife. She is just great. She let's me buy really thick systematics like R.L. Dabney's Systematic Theology, and Jonathan Edwards' two volume Works by Banner of Truth. I am not gloating here, just giving thanks to God for faithful, godly women like my wife. She gives me the freedom to follow the Lord and pursue Him the best way I know how, by learning from faithful men of the past. It's not a cheap hobby, but a spiritually fruitful one for sure. Here's to all the faithful wives out there who support their husband's theological addictions. Husbands, make sure you remember to give thanks to the Lord for your wife, He is to be praised for her.

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. (Proverbs 31:10 ESV)

"Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. (Proverbs 31:29-31 ESV)

Reformation Theology - A Monergism Blog

2005-10-19T08:33:00.000-07:00

By far my favorite website on earth is Monergism.com. I have learned more about the Christian faith via that website than all others combined. John Hendryx has spent countless hours on his website and book store, all for God's glory. So, when I saw he launched a blog, I was stoked. Check it out and support this great addition to the blogosphere.

Reformation Theology Blog

Presuppositionalism and The Problem of Evil

2005-10-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

Presuppositionalism and The Problem of Evil

An Apologetic Dialogue

by Joshua Anderson

A: You’ve heard me speak often of my faith in God. Have you ever given any serious thought about the place of God in your own life?

B: I know that you’re a Christian and as far as I’m concerned it’s your prerogative to believe. I just can’t accept the things that you do. Besides, in my opinion the most serious problems that we face in the world today come precisely from people taking their religion too seriously. If you want to know the truth, I don’t see how any reasonable person can really believe in your God any more. Can you really give me any solid, persuasive reason to accept that the Christian God even exists?

A: That’s a fair question. The fact is, I think that there is every reason to believe that He does exist.

B: Can you be more specific?

A: Absolutely. But when I said that there was every reason to believe that God exists I wasn’t exaggerating. According to the Bible, God has made himself plainly known through the creation. There is a sense in which anything and everything that you can name testifies to the reality of God. For example, the fact that you are raising the question and that we can have a meaningful conversation testifies to the reality of God. Even our minds and everything we see around us testifies. None of these things could exist if the God described in the Bible did not exist. Perhaps that’s why the Bible also teaches that all people know at some level that God exists whether they acknowledge it or not.

B: I’m not so sure about that. But what do you mean when you say that all things testify to God?

A: Well, first of all, it’s important to realize that when you ask whether or not the God of the Bible exists you are asking a very unique question. It’s not as if you were asking whether this thing or that exists. It’s not like asking, ‘Does this fountain exist?’ or ‘Does that clock exist?’ With God it’s different. No offense, but its possible that your concept of God is too limited. The God that is described in the Bible is the source of all things. He is the most absolute and fundamental reality there is. All other things depend on him for their existence and are what they are because of Him. He is the source of all meaning, all life, all value, and all truth; as such he exists necessarily.

B: I understand that you choose to define God in this way. But I fail to see why it necessarily follows that such a God must exist. Certainly there are other possible answers for why we, and all of this exist. How about chance? Isn’t that the answer that science has given us? After all, given enough time isn’t anything possible?

A: I agree with you that chance is the alternative that many people turn to. But is it really an alternative? What do you mean when you say chance?

B: I don’t know, just random events taking place over time.

A: But when we say that something happens by chance don’t we mean that it has no discernable cause? How is saying that something is the result of utterly random and chaotic happenings any different from no explanation at all?

B: I’m not sure, but wouldn’t you agree that human knowledge has progressed to the point that we have all but shown that everything is really just reducible to the physical universe? There is no longer any reason to defer to some mythical, supernatural God to explain what we don’t understand.

A: I would maintain that there are many things that the material world alone cannot account for, but we aren’t just invoking God to explain the otherwise unexplainable. In any case, I think that you have inadvertently hit on something very important. There really are only two true alternatives. Either you and I and the world are the result of blind impersonal forces or the result of a personal creator. The question is which of these is really able to account for the world as we know it. Of course, when I describe these as alternatives I don’t mean to imply that they are equally valid possibilities. As I said, chance or whatever other term you might use to describe an impersonal creator is no real alternative. You see, even in the very asking of the question “Does God exist?” you are, perhaps unconsciously, presupposing that He does in fact exist.

B: I don’t get it. How does my asking the question imply or presuppose that God exists?

A: Well, let me ask you this: when you raise the question ‘Does God exist?’ what makes you so certain I will understand the question? What leads you to believe that I won’t simply experience what you say as a stream of unrelated sounds or unintelligible nonsense?

B: Isn’t it obvious that you will understand the meaning of my words if we speak a common language?

A: Yes it is obvious, but only if you assume certain things to begin with. In asking the question, you are assuming that we live in a world in which things and words and people exist in meaningful relationship to one another. You are assuming that this is an ordered, rational world, one that makes sense, one in which questions have answers. You are presupposing that you live in a world in which there is coherent truth to be known.

B: I suppose. But what does that have to do with God?

A: It has everything to do with God. An intelligible and meaningful world has to be the handiwork of an intelligent, personal creator. An impersonal origin can never account for an intelligible world. A world where everything is the product of random events there can be no coherent, meaningful relationships.

Ironically if you were to try and argue that God does not exist, the very argument would itself demonstrate that He does exist. It’s as if I were to say to you, “I don’t speak a word of English.” The statement refutes itself. In the same way, if you were to say “I don’t believe in God and this is why….” your argument itself presupposes a meaningful world, the kind of world that is only consistent with a personal creator.

Again, it’s as if you were to try and construct and argument that demonstrated that you didn’t exist. The very conditions for putting together the argument include your existence. In the same way, trying to demonstrate that God doesn’t exist requires that He does in fact exist.

B: I think I see your point, but, if you ask me, what you’re saying is only persuasive if things remain abstract. Wouldn’t you agree that this cruel, evil and tragic world is incompatible with the benevolent creator that you claim created it? If anything is certain, the evidence is against your good God.

A: Well, even though I don’t agree with your conclusion, I do think that your instincts are right on target. The world is certainly full of evil and there is an undeniable element of mystery when it comes to trying to square that reality with the reality of a good God. But I do think that there are some good responses to the issue you raise.

B: Like what?

A: At the risk of sounding redundant, I think that it’s important to realize that even raising the question of why there is evil in the world and how that can be consistent with belief in a good God is a compelling demonstration that that He exists. When you speak of evil you reveal that you take seriously the fact that there are some things in the world that are inherently bad and, by contrast, some things that are good. From where do you think those notions of good and evil come?

B: I know where you are going with this. You think that a belief in good and evil are only consistent with belief in God.

A: That’s right.

B: Well, I don’t see any reason to invoke God. Why can’t we just look at morality as a purely human convention? Don’t we ultimately get our sense of morality from those around us? Morality is something that we have been taught by others in our communities. It’s what makes human society possible. God doesn’t need to be brought into this. I don’t even believe in God and I have a sense of right and wrong.

A: I don’t doubt that you have a sense of right and wrong. But if you think that good and evil are simply human creations, just a quirk of human psychology, some useful standards that humanity simply agrees upon, then evil isn’t really a problem. That is to say, if good and evil have no independent reality outside of our own minds, if they are just the opinions of individuals or cultures, then the existence of evil cannot stand as an argument against the existence of God. But, having said that, I must add that I’m sure you will find that this is not the case. Although we have been created with the ability to discern good from evil, morality must be rooted in a reality that is greater than our own opinions or social conventions. For the sake of clarity let’s consider a concrete case. Suppose tomorrow you and happen upon several people torturing a small child. Wouldn’t you agree that this is an unambiguously evil act?

B: Of course.

A: How do you know?

B: I guess it’s difficult to pin down exactly how or why, but I just perceive that what is about to happen is something that ought not to take place. I know intuitively that what I am seeing is wrong.

A: And suppose you were to speak with one of the people committing this act, what would you say?

B: I would say, this child is innocent and what you are doing is not right.

A: And what if they responded that they did not share your moral values? Maybe they were raised in a culture different from our own.

B: I don’t see how another culture could ever advocate something like that. No child deserves to be treated in such a way.

A: Suppose that everyone else in the world condoned the act. If the consensus were against you wouldn’t you be forced to concede that your personal preference in this matter was misguided?

B: No. It’s not just a personal preference. I mean, any sane person can see that something like this is decidedly wrong. Even if the whole world approved of it I would maintain my position that it’s evil.

A: Just think for a moment about the kind of language you have been using. You said that this is something that ‘ought’ not to happen, something that the innocent victim did not ‘deserve.’ It seems like you have in mind a kind of standard that supersedes any one person’s opinion. You even said that if the whole world were to take the opposite view you would persist in your evaluation of the act. I guess what I am saying is that it seems that you think that certain things, like the example I gave, are really wrong and not simply wrong because a person or society as a whole says so. Would that be a fair statement?

B: There does seem to be a sense in which certain things are really right or wrong.

A: But only in a world that has been created for a purpose by a personal creator could there be things are really right and really wrong. A world that is the product of impersonal forces simply cannot account for genuine moral values in which things are really right or wrong, and there are principles that are truly binding on the individual.

B: Suppose I grant that good and evil do have some kind of reality beyond the human mind. You argue that belief in the reality of moral values requires the existence of a personal creator. But I fail to see how the existence of evil is compatible with a God like the one you believe in. If your God exists and is both good and omnipotent then certainly he would not have created a world that is full of evil like the one we find ourselves in.

A: I think the mistake that you are making is that you are assuming that there is no reason for which God would be justified in allowing evil to be a part of the world that he has made.

B: What reason could a perfect God have for making a creation in which people suffer needlessly?

A: As I said before, there is certainly mystery here. I don’t want to diminish that fact and pretend that there are easy answers. Nevertheless, I believe that the Bible gives us some important insights into this issue. To begin with, the Bible makes it clear that evil, while very real, is a temporary reality. Evil does not have the final word. God created the world and he will judge it in righteousness. In the end all wrongs will be made right. The world as we know it, according to the scriptures is not the end. God has promised that he will recreate the world and that in that new world there will be no suffering or evil or death.

B: If that is true then why didn’t he just originally create such a world? Why didn’t he just bypass this world and begin with a world without all of the evil?

A: That’s a great question. I think we would agree that the only reason for allowing evil to exist, even if only for a season, would be if doing so would bring about some greater overall good, that is, if in the end the existence of evil allowed some higher purpose to be realized. The Bible affirms by showing how certain evils people and events throughout history have been used by God to accomplish his good purposes. In fact, it teaches that God causes all things, both good and evil, to work together for his the good. There is even some sense in which we can see this in our own experience now on a limited scale. If I asked you to name some things or qualities that you take to be inherently good what would you say?

B: Justice, love, beauty, compassion, faithfulness, courage...

A: Think about some of those things you just named. It’s worth noting that some of the things that you mentioned would not be possible without the existence, at least for a time, of some kind of evil. In fact, many of the things that we routinely consider the highest and noblest goods, things like forgiveness, hope, perseverance, courage, mercy, self-sacrifice, grace and compassion are the result of a good overcoming some kind of evil.

B: I see what you mean.

A: And what we are discussing here is not some peripheral issue. In many ways it is at the heart of the Christian faith. According to the Bible, God became man in the person of Jesus Christ and suffered and died on our behalf, taking the penalty of our wickedness, our evil upon himself. Paradoxically, in an event that could well be described as the greatest single act of evil in history, the brutal murder of the only truly innocent man who ever lived, God provided eternal salvation for the human race.

As I said earlier, all things testify to God. The story of this world is the story of God glorifying Himself by exalting the good and vanquishing evil. In the end, the infinite goodness of God is fully demonstrated in that he is able to bring good not only out of that which was originally good but also out of events and people that are evil. That is the good news of Christianity. The issue of evil is not only the problem of evil in the world but also in us. But God in Christ has provided a way for we who were evil to be made right with God.

B: That’s an interesting perspective. There are still many things that I have to consider, but some of what you have said makes sense to me.

A: I’m glad to hear that. Ultimately, I am convinced that there is nothing that I can do to persuade you of these things. I think God alone is able to allow a person to come to an understanding of the truth. But I hope that God will use our conversation to reveal himself to you, and I hope that you will continue to wrestle with these issues.

-- Thanks to Monergism.com and the Hall of Frame where I found this essay. Joshua Anderson is a student at Reformed Theological Seminary; this paper is a recipient of the “Hall of Frame” award for 2003.

Attn: Superman comic geeks

2005-10-10T13:22:00.000-07:00

Recently my mom cleaned the attic and found these comics from my school days. I vaguely remember buying them, as I have never been a big comic books fan. I have no idea if these things are worth anything or not. Any info on these you could provide would be great. I realize there are only four people that actually read my blog, so I am hoping for some responses. I know Centuri0n seems to be a comic book geek extraordinaire, maybe he'll chime in.

The white plastic covered one is mysterious to me. I have no idea what it is about. I think it is #500. Apparently the Man of Steel died or something, then was brought back to life. All of these are in plastic sheets, I have never opened them. Here are some details.

All are from June 1993, #'s 11-15 (White covered issue unknown). DC Comics #'s 22,78,500,501,687.

Song of Deliverance

2005-10-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

Pyromaniac's (a.k.a. Phil Johnson) latest "Monday Menagerie" is one of his best. It is a bit of World War II history that just riveted me all the way through. My friends and I are armchair historians, and in particular WWII history buffs, so this one really got my attention. I greatly enjoyed this contribution to the blogosphere. The vast majority of blog articles are very fleeting, here today, gone tomorrow, with no real substance, just a lot of hot air and fluff. This one does not fit the normal mold. It is great history, and well worth your time to read.

Thanks Phil!

The Trinity in the Creeds

2005-10-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

Second, I would caution that these two early creeds are not evangelical creeds, that is, creeds explicating soteric matters. They were framed in the context of the Trinitarian debates in the fourth century and are underdeveloped respecting and virtually silent on soteriological matters. As has often been pointed out, there is nothing in them that the Judaizers whom Paul confronted in his letter to the Galatians could not also have endorsed. Nevertheless, Paul condemned the Judaizers in the strongest terms possible because they were preaching “another gospel which is not another” when they corrupted his doctrine of justification by faith alone. Quite obviously, according to Paul there is no saving value in holding to an “orthodox view” of God as Trinity if one is at the same time also holding to an “unorthodox” view of the saving work of the Trinity.

Dr. Robert L. Reymond, A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, pg. 342