The Enlightened Mind

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The true Christian who has been born again by God’s Spirit and made a new creature receives an enlightened mind from God with which he clearly sees that his natural mind is a blind guide in spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:4). He also sees that if he were to be led by is natural mind, he would fall into the pit of ruin, for, as Christ says, “if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matt 15:14). The regenerate person also sees that man’s wisdom is pure foolishness to God and that we are mere children in the things of salvation. When our natural mind is not led by the Holy Spirit, it provides us only with wisdom that is earthly, sensual, and Devilish, as James 3:15 declares.
In order to be saved, then, we should deny our natural mind and to let ourselves be guided by the spirit. We will not be happy and blessed unless we follow the Lords Counsel, for a true spiritual life cannot be modelled after our own insight but, rather must be formed according to God’s Word (Psalm 119:6). We see that the only true measure of diligent and godly exercises is not derived from worldly sources or from our imagination but is found in the Word of the Lord. We see the futility of all earthly things — riches, pleasures, and splendours — which so lamentably bewitch the worldly.
We also see the glorious bliss of a peaceful conscience, the living hope, and the excellence of heavenly treasures, which are completely hidden from the eyes of worldly people. These considerations will greatly fortify us against our natural mind, which would otherwise tend to mislead us.

—Willem Teellinck “The Path of true godliness” pp. 89

The Practice of Godliness

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Many do not pay attention to this, and regard the matter as if the practice of godliness consisted of only confessing the Christian faith, diligently attending church and the Lord’s Supper, being careful not to commit offensive sins, and living aimably with one’s neighbours. In this way, many people have decieved themselves all too quickly into thinking that they are truly godly, while they really only have the appearance of godliness.

If we do not want to be decieved in this important matter, we should accept that the practice of godliness is a very strenuous undertaking that spreads like a good leaven until it has permeated every part of life, including the entire thought and the entire conduct of a person.
—Willem Teellinck

Nadere Reformatie

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Or “Dutch Second Reformation,”  view of many of its theologians of the day,  is much the same as my own in our present time.  And I hope to be able to post some stuff over time, of a more personally practical nature, but for now will post a quote, written by some Dutch Scholars, for a periodical on the “Nadere Reformatie” or “Dutch Second Reformation.” which gave the following definition of the movement.

The Dutch Second (or “Further”) Reformation is that movement within the Dutch Reformed Church during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, which, as a reaction to the declension of absence of living faith, made both the personal experience of faith and godliness matters of central importance. From that perspective the movement formulated substantial and procedural reformation initiatives, submitting them to the proper ecclesiastical, political, and social agencies, and pursued those initiatives through a further reformation of the church, society, and state, in both word and deed.  [Cited from Willem Teellinck’s “The Path of True Godliness.”