Chief Covie Know-all

I have been much blessed by the writings I have read by John Bunyan, and also reading of his life. Here was a largely uneducated man, a common tinker, who when it came to the spiritual was a genius. Someone like Bunyan, with little to no real education, gives folks like me likewise has had little to no education, great hope, by how he was used by God, despite his not being one of the learned or well bred, or  educated, and  yet, he too was looked down upon for his lack of  learning  in his day, much as folks can be today.  Charles II asked John Owen, in a disparaging way, why he went to hear the common tinker preach. Owen was an educated man, with a brilliant mind, some would say too brilliant for his own writings to be understood easily by the masses, as his genius often got the better of him, for being able to put his thoughts down, in  a way that the rest of us could easily understand. But Owen replied to the king:he would gladly give up all his learning for the tinker’s power of reaching the heart.

Spiritualizing from the pulpit or otherwise, is generally not well done. It often makes for foolishness and stretching a text of Scripture into the realms of absurdity by what is made out of the text that was never intended. Much more trained minds than Bunyan  have fallen at even attempting this. John Gill is a notable one. Gill, is still appreciated by many, and his name lives  on as one of those Baptists who helped make history, and we still have many of his works in print today. But when it came to the art of spiritualizing from the pulpit, Gill failed dismally at being effective at it.  His exposition for instance of the parable of the prodigal son, in which he tells us the “fatted calf” was that of our Lord Jesus Christ. And again in his exposition of the Good Samaritan, the ass or donkey on which the wounded man was placed, was again our Lord Jesus Christ, and the two pence that  that the Samaritan gave to the host,  are the “old and New Testaments” or the ordinances of the “Lord’s Supper and Baptism” The spiritualizing clearly becomes absurd. And it is not just stretching the text, but taking it out of all context and placing meanings on it never intended. There are numerous other examples besides that of John Gill I could cite where this spiritualizing of the text, becomes absurd and maybe even offensive. But I think the name of Gill and his reputation makes he alone an ample example.  However, the immortal dreamer, John Bunyan, who as most will recognize as the master of the allegory,  made spiritualizing into an art, and a stroke of genius, that not many before or sin have been or will be imbued with, and they will be wise to not even try it, because for the most part, they will wander into the realms of the absurd.  Bunyan had a poetic gift, he also was a dreamer, and this gave him the keen imagination and  insight, to make allegories as living or real examples, and for them to not become absurd.  This is one such text below where his spiritualizing turns into genius

The leaves of this gate or door, as I told you before, were folding, and so, as was hinted, have something of signification in them. For by this means a man especially a young disciple, may easily be mistaken; thinking that the whole passage, when yet but a part was open, whereas three parts may be yet kept undiscovered to him. For these doors, as I said before, were never yet set wide open, I mean in the anti-type; never yet saw all the riches and fullness which is in Christ. So that I say to a new comer, if he judged by present sight, especially if he saw but little, might easily be mistaken, wherefore, such for the most part are most horribly afraid that they shall never get in thereat. How sayest thou, young comer, is this not the case with thy soul? So it seems to thee that thou art too big, being so great, so tun-bellied a sinner! But O thou sinner, fear not, the doors are folding doors and may be opened wider, and wider again after that; wherefore when thou comest to this gate, and imaginest that there is not space enough for thee to enter,  knock and it shall be wider opened to thee, and thou shalt be recieved (Luke 11:9; John 6:37). So then, whoever thou art come to the door of which the temple was a type, trust not thy first conception of  things, but believe there is grace abundant. Thou knowest not yet what Christ can do, the doors are folding doors. He can do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think (Eph. 3:20). The hinges on which these doors do hang, were, as I told you, gold; to signify that they both turned upon motives and motions of love, and also that the openings thereof were rich.  Golden hingest the gate to God doth turn upon. The posts on which these doors did hang were of the olive tree, that fat and oily tree, to show that they never do open with lothness, or slggishness as doors do whose hinges want oil. They are always oily, and so open easily and quickly to those who knock at them. Hence you read that he who dwells in this house gives freely, loves freely, and doth us good with all his heart. “Yea,” saith he, “I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly, with my whole heart, and my whole soul.” Jer. 3:12, 14:22; 32:41, Rev. 21:6; 22:17. Wherefore, the oil of grace, signified by this oily tree, or these olive-posts, on which these doors do  hang, do cause that they open glibly, or frankly to the soul.
—John Bunyan on the leaves of the gate of Solomon’s temple.

As one of Bunyan’s biographer’s wrote about The Pilgrim’s Progress:

There is no question of the work of genius in the Pilgrim’s Progress. Taine, the
great critic, says that Bunyan has the freedom, the tone, ease and clearness of
Homer. The first edition of the Pilgrim reveals the fact that Bunyan was a
natural writer, and not a product of the schools. Take his spelling, for instance.
When it came to spelling Josh Billings could not hold a candle to him. We
know that there was a good deal of off-side spelling in that day, but Bunyan
never let the spelling book get in his way. For example, he spelled the word die
in three ways: “die,” “dye,” and “dy”; he wrote for Slough of Despond, “Slow
of Dispond”; “ay” for aye; “bien” for been; “bruit” for brute; and “ray-ment”
and “rainment” for raiment; “strodled” for straddled.
It is said that there is nothing remarkable in doubling the final consonant in
such words as “generall” and “untill,” for that was the seventeenth century
custom, but Bunyan doubles it in such words as “bogg,” “denn,” “ragg,”
“wagg,” and, what is even more unusual, he doubles the medial in such words
as, “hazzard,” “fellon,” “eccho,” “widdow.” He dropped his final e’s, writing
“knowledg,” “bridg,” but he uses the “e” to give the old plural form, making it
“shooes,” “braines,” “alwaies.” He was strong on colloquial expressions and
grammatical irregularities, writing “catched up,” “shewen,” “ditest,” “then for
to go,” “I should a been,” “afraid on’t,” “such as thee and I,” “you was.”
Bunyan did not spell brains according to the dictionary, but he had them all the
same, and all that is needed to produce a great book is brains. You can write
your book with lead pencil on butcher’s paper, spell like Josh Billings, and
disregard punctuation marks, but if you have “braines” or “brains” — either
form will do as long as you have them — a hard-boiled publisher will even
send you a prepaid telegram accepting your book.
It is said that the printer corrected a good deal of the spelling in the first
edition. I wonder if any writer is a genius to his proofreader? [William Hamilton Nelson]

Yet despite his obvious lack in the wys above, his heart and spiritual accumen, made him a genius. The Immortal dreamer, that everyone, Calvinist and any other stripe of Christian alike, all recognize the name of.

One thing that is quite clear, about the majority of Christians today, (self included) is that we do not have knowledge and indepth understanding that the puritans had nor before them the  Reformers.  The Bible was at the heart of the reformation, to making it accessible to the common man, and it not being shut up in darkness and obscurity and only having what the Pope said to understand and be able to interpret it for the common people. Our forefathers, paid for the freedom and easy accessibility we have today to the pages of God’s Word, with their blood and very lives often times. And what do we today do with this inestimable treasure? we do not prize it, as they did, at least over all, that is to be sure.. They had the Word in their hearts, as Scripture tells us to have it.  They were Biblicists in the real sense of the word, (and believe it or not I have even heard them called that in a way of trying to put them down!) Oh for more  such Biblicists among us today.  Knowledge or rather ignorance of the Bible, its teachings, God’s will, God Himself and Christ, are, in my opinion one of the major causes for the church to be in its current state of declination.  Even among  parts of the so-called Reformed church.  To know Him is to love him, that much is true. The more we know HIM, the more we will love HIM, and the more we will be the shining lights that we should be.  Rather than groping our way along, still in darkness and not being able to discern if we turn to the right or the left, so limping blindly on regardless and hoping for the best.  That we, of the Reformed faith, are no less culpable of this than any other branch of Christianity, is an abomination, when the Bible and its freedom and accessibility and availability to the common man,  was at the heart of the Reformation, and that they started off not having that glorious liberty we have today. And yet, we turn liberty to licentiousness, by refusing or rejecting the godly liberty of a Bible for every man, woman and child; to the ungodly liberties we find in the pleasures of the world.

Today we have Bible memorization programmes, and the technology to help them stick, such as this one by John Piper’s  ministry So, what excuse do we have. And also, God makes it quite clear, that ignorance is not an excuse for sin. And I myself have long believed, that ignorance is often a choice.

A New England Antinomian  was heard to utter:

I had rather hear such a one that speaks from mere notion of the Spirit, without any study at all, than any of your learned scholars, although he maybe fuller of Scripture.

Which would also seem to confirm my theory that often, ignorance is a choice.

According to a biography on John Bruen, Robert Pasfield who was an illiterate servant of Bruen’s was:

“a man utterly unlearned, being unable to read a sentence or write a sylablle. Yet he was so well acquainted with the history of the Bible, and the sum and substance of every book and chapter, that hardly could any ask him where such a sayinkg or sentence were, but he would with very little ado tell them in what book, and what chapter they might find it.”

We all have to start somewhere. You can’t expect a two year old Christian to have the vast stores of understanding and knowledge  that a 15 year old on will have. But if after, considerable time has passed, and  medical reasons notwithstanding, that could cause it,   the person remains ignorant as many a new born babe, then, I think that person should do some soul searching to ask why it is so.

Lord perseve us from ignorance, and from choosing the worldly pelasures to the dteriment of spiritual concerns. Give us grace to perservere, even when we don’t see  progress, but trust that your grace is sufficient, in this matter, as much as it is, in any other. In Jesus, Name. Amen.

This seems like it maybe an appropriate post to start off my series of “Reformed or Deformed” which at the moment I am trying to organize in my mind to set down on paper in an organized way.

It seems to me, that what sets the puritans apart, from the majority, is spiritual maturity, which is sadly lacking in our world today. They didn’t have the comfort and ease that we can so oft easily indulge in today.  And tho they enjoyed the good things in life, in a temperate manner, they times of recreation or leisure was not set apart as separate from the rest of their Christian life. They were Christians all the time. Whether in the home, in the world, in their secular callings at work, at play, as well as in the church. They took the Bible exhortation literally, of whatever we do, do all to the glory of God. But there were no lines of separation in their lives, all of life, was a life of faith, and setting  God before their eyes no matter the time, occasion, place or event. This very firmly, IMO, sets them apart from most today. And it is why we so need their teachings in our world today, because we have much we can learn from them still, and until we do,  and return to the old paths that they trod, I do not believe the church will ever get her glory back.

The puritans sealed their faith as history testifies too, so often with their blood. They were a suffering people, and prepared to suffer even unto death. It is very easy for us to believe we would do the same, when it is unlikely to ever be anything we have to face as a reality. But until the church matures from its current state, over-all at least, you can take those who say they would be glad to pay the cost of their blood or suffering for Christ as just what it is, that of talk. And talk is always, always cheap and easy.   The pruitans were a doing people. Including that of sealing their testimonies with their blood all too often. They had an ongoing, furnace experience. Is this the reason for their maturity, that we lack today? Perhaps it is. These men (and women) were spiritual giants, yet, too often we only experience Spiritual dwarfism today. May the God of Heaven, give us the same heart, spirits, and quest for God, that these men lived out, to leave a testimony that IMO, by mere men, has never been surpassed.

As George Whitefield was to write:

Ministers never write or preach so well as when under the cross; the Spirit of Christ and of glory then rests upon them. It was this, no doubt, that made the Puritans…such burning and shining lights. When cast out by the Black Bartholomew Act [the 1662 Act of uniformity] and driven from their respective charges to preach in barns and fields, in the highways and hedges, they, in an especial manner, wrote and preached as men having authority. Though dead, by their writings they yet speak; a peculiar unction attends them to this very hour.
—-George Whitefield From the Preface of a Reprint of John Bunyan’s works.

I am not one of these folks who believes there is never a time to judge, I think Scripture clearly says that there is.  However, I have also seen in action,  the law without love,  which pretty much amounts to what this picture says. (1 Cor. 13)

Patriots have toiled, and in their country’s cause
Bled nobly; and their deeds, as they deserve,
Receive proud recompense… .
But fairer wreaths are due, tho’ never paid,
To those who, posted at the shrine of truth,
Have fallen in her defense… .
. . . Their blood is shed,
In confirmation of the noblest claim,
Our claim to feed upon immortal truth,
To walk with God, to be divinely free,
To soar, and to anticipate the skies.
Yet few remember them!…
. . . With their names
No bard embalms and sanctifies his song;
And history, so warm on meaner themes,
Is cold on this. She execrates indeed
The tyranny that doom’d them to the fire,
But gives the glorious sufferers little praise.
—William Cowper’s “The Task”

Amazing Grace, is still the best loved and best known hymn in the Western World, written of course by former Slave Trader, John Newton.  It has struck me as ironic of late, perhaps with a connection to how we like things that are pleasing to us, whether they are pleasing to God or not, that the very stanza most folks would say is their favourite today, was not written till 1910, long after Newton’s death and does not belong to the original  hymn. The Hymn as Newton wrote it is below.

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

A small anecdote on John Newton, give his former slave trading, is that when William Wilberforce, who was to become the great abolitionist, first entered politics, it was as a dare and a joke. He lived the high life for several years, and did not take his occupation seriously at all. However, after he had a thorough conversion, several years into his political life, he started questioning if politics was where God wanted him to be and was his calling.  And the irony is, and a wonderful ironic providence of God, that to get counsel on this matter, of if he should stay in politics or not, he went to John Newton’s house in London, and Newton told him emphatically yes he should stay. If not for the former slave trader giving that counsel,  perhaps Wilberforce would never  have become the great abolitionist.

The epitaph on John Newton’s gravestone says:

JOHN NEWTON, Clerk [preacher]
Once an infidel and libertine
A servant of slaves in Africa,
Was, by the rich mercy
of our Lord and Saviour
JESUS CHRIST,
restored, pardoned and
appointed to preach
the Gospel which he had
long laboured to destroy.
He ministered,
Near sixteen years in Olney, in Bucks,
And twenty eight years in this Church.

Written by John Newton, it is engraved on a marble plaque in St Mary, Woolnoth, UK.

This was related by Joseph Hall, witnessed while he was travelling through Europe. It has long been noted, and there are several likewise accounts in Foxes Book of Martyrs, how the methos of torture or cruelty the inquisitors wrought on God’s chosen people, God revenged their blood and suffering, by ironic and almost paradoxical turn of events in the tormenters own lives, often ending in their death, but the act they had commited just a short while before, to one of the martyrs, their own death so strikingly had resemblance to the act, yet it came directly from the hand of God, that one would have to be blind to deny God’s justice and revenge over the blood of the martyrs and the cruelty inflicted upon them. Joseph Hall’s account of a similar scenario that he witnessed:

a short but memorable story which the graphier of that town (though of a different religion) reported to more ears than ours. When the last inquisition tyrannized in those parts, and helped to spend the faggots of Ardenne, one of the rst, a confident confessor, being led far to his stake, sung psalms along the way, in a heavenly courage and victorious triumph. The cruel officer, envying his last mirth, and grieving to see him merrier than his tormenters, commanded him silence. He sings still, and desirous to improve his last breath to the best. The view of his approaching glory bred his joy; his joy breaks forth into a cheerful confession. The enraged sherriff causes his tongue to be cut off near the roots. Bloody wretch! It had been good music to have heard his shrieks; but to hear his music was torment. The poor martyr dies in silence, rests in peace. Not many months after, our butcherly officer hath a son born with his tongue hanging down upon his chin, like a deer after a long chase, which never could be gathered up within the bounds of his lips. O the Divine hand, full of justice, full of revenge. —Joseph Hall

This was related by Joseph Hall, witnessed while he was travelling through Europe.  It has long been noted, and    there are several likewise accounts in Foxes Book of Martyrs, how the methos of torture or cruelty the inquisitors wrought on God’s chosen people, God revenged their blood and suffering, by ironic and almost paradoxical turn of events in the tormenters own lives, often ending in their death, but the act they had commited just a short while before, to one of the martyrs,  their own death so strikingly had resemblance to the act, yet it came directly from the hand of God, that one would have to be blind to deny God’s justice and revenge over the blood of the martyrs and the cruelty inflicted upon them.

Joseph Hall’s account of a similar scenario that he witnessed:

a short but memorable story which the graphier of that town (though of a different religion) reported to more ears than ours. When the last inquisition tyrannized in those parts, and helped to spend the faggots of Ardenne, one of the rst, a confident confessor, being led far to his stake, sung psalms along the way, in a heavenly courage and victorious triumph. The cruel officer, envying his last mirth, and grieving to see him merrier than his tormenters, commanded him silence. He sings still, and desirous to improve his last breath to the best. The view of his approaching glory bred his joy; his joy breaks forth into a cheerful confession. The enraged sherriff causes his tongue to be cut off near the roots. Bloody wretch! It had been good music to have heard his shrieks; but to hear his music was torment. The poor martyr dies in silence, rests in peace. Not many months after, our butcherly officer hath a son born with his tongue hanging down upon his chin, like a deer after a long chase, which never could be gathered up within the bounds of his lips. O the Divine  hand, full of justice, full of revenge.
—Joseph Hall

We all seem to in our age, or many of us, to learn more doctrine and theology, than we are able to practice; and what is the use of that? Christianity should be practical, but it is not the case often times. I have known folks in the past, who were so rigid in matter of the law, and so careless towards others in their afflictions, and the favourite battle cry or mentality among the group was “God is all you need,” that when one of them fell into pretty common type of affliction, God wasn’t enough, nor the manifold blessings they also had, but they also needed anti-depressants too! They had all the right doctrine and spiel, but very weak faith when it came to practicing it themself. We are very good at dishing out, what we are utterly unable to practice ourselves, and the most rigid or unloving often comes from those who seem to exalt the law above the gospel and have extra Biblical rules that many others who would group themselves loosely with what they claim to be, yet they go further than Scripture, and what does the Bible say about that, that the law without love, is nothing but a clashing cymbal. As I have said for a long time, doctrine maketh no man, though it may feed our pride, and give us some sense of superiority or exclusivity, and at times, when you meet Christians who you would expect many what would be technically termed children who would be more learned on matters of Scripture yet you get these Christians who just don’t grow and to not do so, is an unbiblical view of true Christianity. WE may grow at different rates, and there will always be weak Christians, but a Christian who remains unlearned in the ways of God, there is something very amiss, IMO. So you get the two extremes. And it seems to me in either extreme, the legalistic pharisees, or the antinomians the cross or the Gospel is what is being neglected.
Doctrine is important of course, as if we hold to some things we will hold to damnable heresy. But we must not build our knoweldge without it entering into our hearts and changing us and pervading the whole man, and not just stay as some lofty, theoretical idea, that when we meet adversity, God will not be enough, no matter how much we have preached that, but we need worldly, unbiblical props also.
We need to get our eyes back on the cross.

When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
– Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

I have recently come across a Gospel centred Reformed preacher online, and the Gospel is where we all need to be, and by t that I am not dismissing or negating the value of the law, only that each much have its place and one not be exalted at the cost of the other. If we do not have Christ, we have nothing.

Spirit Empowered Preaching by Art Azurdia who in his sermon called Fix your eyes on the Cross says:

“Fix your eyes on the Cross, and never get beyond it”

It seems that should be something, many of us ought to practice more.

I’m sorry I have not blogged at this site for longer than I care for; there have been various things that have prevented me, not least of all my daily struggles in my illnesses and afflictions; I try to keep up at the other sites, a puritan at heart, and 2. Covenanted Reformation, particularly the former, when the sites are all merged into one, I think it will be an aid to being more organized with blogging.

But since I have had little to say, and didn’t want to go another day without having something for the reader, thought I would make three book recommendations, which are not puritan, but are definitely reformed.
There is much it seems to me, ignorance amongst the reformed community, (some of it at least) about what Calvin taught and thought exactly about the insitute of marriage and family. Calvin was very much a man of his times, and to read him in one place it seems like he contradicts himself in others; however, Calvin was no chauvinist, the woman was made equal and the heart of the home in Calvin’s Geneva. Same as the divorce laws we currently have,, originated from Calvin’s Geneva. Before that time, women were not seen as equal to the men in the home, they were treated often as slaves or children, or definitely as inferiors, and Calvin and his time in Geneva changed this, and we are still reaping the benefits of this today.
Yes, Calvin does seem to contradict himself on some subjects, but he wrote and lived so long ago, that we only have the translated works of Calvin, (for English speaking folk) and language and use of it, has changed since his time, and some of what is translated is likely very far from what Calvin originally intended, hence we are left with what often appears contradictions.
But two books on this subject I would reccommend are:

Sex, Marriage, and Family in John Calvin’s Geneva.

Family Reformation: The Legacy of Sola Scriptura in Calvin’s Geneva by Scott T. Brown

And

The third book, if you are an iconoclast though written by a papist it is a very good book to read on this subject by Carlos Eires called
The War against Idols. Which starts pre reformation and goes up to Calvin’s time, and how idols in the Worship of God were seen by the Church.

It is about time, we as Presbyterians took our foot out of Rome, which it is sad to say, much of Presbyterianism is still steeped by Romish superstition.

On  a sermon preached on December 25, 1551, his 20th sermon on Micah,  on  Micah: 5:7-14 Calvin preached:

Now, I see here today more people than I am accustomed to having at
the sermon. Why is that? It is Christmas Day. And who told you
this? You poor beasts. That is a fitting euphemism for all of you
who have come here today to honor Noel. Did you think you would be
honoring God? Consider what sort of obedience to God your coming
displays. In your mind, you are celebrating a holiday for God, or
turning today into one. But so much for that. In truth, as you have
often been admonished, it is good to set aside one day out of the year
in which we are reminded of all the good that has occurred because of
Christ’s birth in the world, and in which we hear the story of his
birth retold, which will be done on Sunday. But if you think that
Jesus Christ was born today, you are as crazed as wild beasts. For
when you elevate one day alone for the purpose of worshipping God, you
have just turned it into an idol. True, you insist that you have done
so for the honor of God, but it is more for the honor of the Devil.

Let us consider what our Lord has to say on the matter. Was it not
Saul’s intention to worship God when he spared Agag, the king of the
Amalakites, along with the best spoils and cattle? He says as much:
“I want to worship God.” Saul’s tongue was full of devotion and good
intention. But what was the response he received? “You soothsayer!
You heretic! You apostate! You claim to be honoring God, but God
rejects and disowns all that you have done” [1 Samuel 15:8,9].
Consequently, the same is true of our actions. For no day is superior
to another. It matters not whether we recall our Lord’s nativity on a
Wednesday, Thursday, or some other day. But when we insist on
establishing a service of worship based on our whim, we blaspheme God,
and create an idol, though we have done it all in the name of God.
And when you worship God in the idleness of a holiday spirit, that is
a heavey sin to bear, and one which attracts others about it, until we
reach the height of iniquity. Therefore, let us pay attention to what
Micah is saying here [Micah 5:7-14], that God must not only strip away
things that are bad themselves, but must also eliminate anything that
might foster superstition. Once we have understood that, we will no
longer find it strange that Noel is not being observed today, but that
on Sunday we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper and recite the story of
the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. But to all those who barely
know Jesus Christ, or that we must be subject to him, and that God
removes all those impediments that prevent us from coming to him,
these folks, I say, will at best grit their teeth. They came here in
anticipation of celebrating a wrong intention, but will leave with it
wholly unfulfilled.

The Westminster Confession of faith, chapter XXI says thus:

I. The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all; is good, and doeth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served with all the hearth, and with all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation or any other way not prescribed in the holy Scripture.

The Directory for The Public Worship of God, also penned by the Westminster Divines, says thus:

THERE is no day commanded in scripture to be kept holy under the gospel but the Lord’s day, which is the Christian Sabbath.

Festival days, vulgarly called Holy-days, having no warrant in the word of God, are not to be continued.

Nevertheless, it is lawful and necessary, upon special emergent occasions, to separate a day or days for publick fasting or thanksgiving, as the several eminent and extraordinary dispensations of God’s providence shall administer cause and opportunity to his people.

As no place is capable of any holiness, under pretence of whatsoever dedication or consecration; so neither is it subject to such pollution by any superstition formerly used, and now laid aside, as may render it unlawful or inconvenient for Christians to meet together therein for the publick worship of God. And therefore we hold it requisite, that the places of publick assembling for worship among us should be continued and employed to that use.

The Reformation was built and stood on the principles of Sola Scriptura. By Scripture Alone. The Regulative Principle also stands on the same principle. Can any Presbyterian, who denies or rejects the teachings of our Reformed fore-fathers, and instead opts for celebrating the Christ mass and Easter, expressly rejected by our Reformed fore-fathers,  and even more importantly has no warrant from the word of God, in truth say they are reformed? Because I humbly suggest they cannot. There is far more to Calvinism than T.U.L.I.P. Calvin’s Calvinism, is not met by the majority of the Reformed churches today, they say they are following Calvin while practicing entirely opposing things to what man himself did.
There is a huge difference in my opinion, in people who are open to the truth, but may not have arrived at a full understanding of this yet,  to those who just utterly reject this principle, on no Biblical grounds whatsoever. Scripture is either sufficient or is it not? And if Sola Scriptura is what the Reformation was built upon, why would Reformed people now want to add to Scripture? The argument is commonly used that God never forbade it. It’s something I don’t have the health to go into at this point in time, but, He never commanded it. And in other places in Scripture one can only draw the conclusion by sure and necessary consequence it is an abomination in his site, and an unacceptable sacrifice.

Is any Presbyterian who may read this, willing to argue against Sola Scriptura?  And if not, if also partaking of man made festival days, we are expressly denying the sufficiency of Scripture while proclaiming with our lips by Scripture alone.  As I have said a thousand times,  Actions speak much louder than words.

I had planned for a blog post tonite on the doctrine of election, but after a bolt out of the blue tonite, I have decided to post this instead.
I have long felt perplexed, confusion, even anger, at those Professors of Christ who when I was already dealing with more than enough for anyone to cope with at one time, continued to pile me up in additional afflictions so that at times, I have felt I knew not how to stand. Being sick unto death would be enough to cope with for most people, to die alone, estrange from and abandoned by the church you once loved, and forsaken of humanity in such dreadful illness is another matter entirely, and a cross of great magnitude. Yet for all those who have used their hands against me, I can only think now, forgive them Father, for they know not what they do. They were the instruments to pile me up so high, yet the first cause of anything is always the God of heaven and earth, and by these crosses, whether directly from God of men being used as the instruments to pile them up, through them, I have gained by the grace of God much sanctification, and ultimately, true conversion. Sometimes I have felt like Alexander Peden, the prophet of the Covenant when he said he felt the visible church was trying to shut him out of heaven. in his case however, he was not talking of his covenanting brethren or those of like mind, but of enemies of God and true religion. But God is the first cause of everything that befalls us–good, bad, or indifferent. When men are used as the tools which strike us or afflict us, we must see the affliction as ultimately from the hand of God. The same was true of Herod and pontus Pilate, and like Christ with his persecutors and murderers, the only dignified thing to say is Father forgive them, they know not what they do, whether they are true believers are false professors that remains true.
Sometimes you think things are fine, and out of the blue you get a shock or some insult or sleight, and you feel knocked down. But you will only stay down if you choose to. It is said of William Wilberforce the politician and abolitionist, that the thing that made him notable, was no matter how many times he got knocked down, he always got back up, and stronger. I think affliction works that in you. That you get knocked down so often, you don’t know how not to get back up, because if you do not, you have lost it all. Christ said do not fear those who can kill the body, but those who can kill the soul. We will only lose our souls if we let them be taken or give our consent. When your soul is one of the few things one has left of any worth to you, and you have lost everything and everyone that once mattered to you, as well as your health and freedom, then you are not going to give consent for your souls eternal welfare to be snatched from you, or killed, but we will commit to the Lord for safe keeping, knowing that we are unable to keep it, just as we cannot do a thing in our own strength, but we have a Saviour, and Advocate, an Intercessor who is more than able and more than willing.

1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

I will close this blog post with a prayer of George Wishart, whose surely was as his name suggests, wise of heart.

‘O Thou Savior of the World, have mercy upon me! Father of
Heaven, I commend my spirit into Thy holy hands.’ Then he
turned to the people and said: ‘I beseech you, Christian Brethren
and Sisters, be not offended at the Word of God, for the affliction
and torments which ye see prepared for me. But I exhort you, love
the Word of God and suffer patiently, and with a comfortable
heart, for the Word’s sake, which is your undoubted salvation and
everlasting comfort. Moreover, I pray you, show my brethren and
sisters, which have heard me oft, that they cease not to learn the
Word of God which I taught unto them, for no persecutions in this
world, which lasteth not. Show them that my doctrine was no
wives’ fables, after the constitutions made by men. If I had taught
men’s doctrine, I had gotten greater thanks by men. But for the
true Evangel, which was given to me by the Grace of God, I suffer
this day by men, not sorrowfully, but with a glad heart and mind.
For this cause I was sent, that I should suffer this fire for Christ’s
sake. Consider and behold my visage. Ye shall not see me change
my color! This grim fire I fear not: and so I pray you to do, if any
persecution come unto you for the Word’s sake; and not to fear
them that slay the body, and afterward have no power to slay the
soul. Some have said I taught that the soul of man should sleep
until the Last Day; but I know surely that my soul shall sup with
my Savior this night, ere it be six hours, for whom I suffer this.’

The below is a quote fron Daniel Nea’s “history of the Puritans”  and it occurred to me as reading, as how it could apply as easily to my country today; Today we of course  have many churches, no less than there has always been, however to find a Biblically sound one, that  practices purity in worship  for the whole of England, that I could attend without wounding my conscience even if able to go out and about, we have 3 churches.  The Pentecostals are the denominations on the highest increase here. You can easily find a muslim temple to worship at, far easier than one can find a Biblically sound,  Christian church.

Its lamentable when one things of the great history we have here; how the martyrs ashes spread the truth abroad, and carried the torch and candle for reform. But we know that God will deliver his church, in his own season; that even now he could be raising  up men who have the hearts of those fearless nobles of long ago, who was willing to foresake all for Christ’s cause and seal it with their blood, and that in the meanwhiole, the very scattered remanant remains, and  knows that as lamentable as it maybe,  We have a God whose in complete control. I do believe it will be by judgement that the church is delivered, because we seem to have made comfort and the everything for easy andn quickness the idol of our age, and in doing so, we have put ourselves too comfortable too often, to want to be a bit discomfitted in continuing the work of bringing the Kingdom in.  My only wonder, is the patience and long-suffeirng that God has  showed in bearing with us this long but, one day, as the book of Ezekiel  keeps saying about the Judgments that have come upon the land.  They will know, that I am God. Because God is glorified as much by his judgments when he shows his strong arm, as he is by his mercy.

Great was the Scarcity of preachers about England at this time, in the large and populous town of Northampton there was not one, nor had been for a Considerable time, though the people applied to the Bishop of the diocess by most humble application for the bread of life. In the County of Cornwall there were one hundred and forty clergymen, not one of which was  capable of preaching a sermon, and most of them were pluralists and non-residents, Even the city of London was in a lamentable case, as appears by their petition  to the parliament which met the winter In which are these words:
“-May it please you therefore for the tender mercies of God, to understand the woeful estate of many thousands of souls dwelling in deep darkness, and
in the Shadow of death, in this famous and populous city of London: a place, in respect of others, accounted as the Morning star, or rather as the
Sun in its brightness, because of the Gospel, supposed to shine gloriously and abundantly in The same; but being near looked into, will be found Sorely
eclipsed and darkened through the  dim cloud of unlearned ministers, whereof there be no small number. There are in this city a great number of-churches, but, the one half of them  at least are utterly unfurnished of preaching ministers, and are pestered with candlesticks net of gold, but of
clay, unworthy to have the  Lord’s light Set in them, with . watchmen that have no eyes, nd Clouds that have no water ;–        in the other half, partly by  Means of non-residents, which are very many ; partly through the poverty of many meanly qualified there is scarcely the tenth man
that makes conscience to wait  upon his charge, Whereby the ord’s Sabbath is often times wholly neglected, and for the most part miserably mangled;
ignorance Increaseth, and wickedness comes upon us like an armed man-As sheep therefore going astray I we humbly  on our knees beseech this          honourable assembly, in the   bowels and blood of Jesus  Christ, to become humble suitors to her Majesty, that we may have guides ; as hungry men
bound to abide by our empty  rackstaves, we do beg of you to be means, That the bread of life may be brought home  to us ; that the sower may come
into the fallow ground ; that the pipes of water may be brought nto our assemblies ; That there may be food and Refreshing for us, our poor wives, and forton children: So shall the Lord have his due honour; you shall discharge good duty to her majesty; many languishing Souls shall be comforted
atheism and heresy banished; her majesty have more faithful subjects ;  and you move hearty prayers for your prosperity in this life, and full happiness in the life to come through Jesus Christ, our alone Saviour Amen
—Daniel Neal, History of the Puritans, Volume One

Alexander Henderson, one of the leading figures in the killing times of Covenanter Scotland during the reign of Charles 1 was to write:

‘I began to remember how men who love to live obscurely and in the Shadow are brought forth to light, to the view and talking of the world; how men that love Soliloquies and Contemplations are brought upon debates and controversies, and generally how men are brought to act the things which they never dreamed of before…: the words of the prophet, Jeremiah come to my remembrance, “0 LORD, I Know that the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”

Very much in the manner of Calvin, he had intended a life of quiet retirement, studying in the quiet place of Leuchars. But God had other plans for this great man of God, just as Calvin’s plans for himself of quiet retirment were also dashed. I don’t know about you, but i had planned for my life anything other than it is. If anyone had toldl me even 15 years ago, I would come to the straits I have and live out the rest of my days, alone in such chronic ill-health I’d have busted a gut laughing. Yet, the best laid plans of mice and men. If you’re life has gone completely other to your dreams or hopes or plans, just as mne has, then we can see this is a common theme throughout history with Christians God raised up for a particularl purpose. John Knox is another one, he had no plans to be a preacher, and tried to resist the call just as Calvin did when Farrel threatened him with a curse. But Henderson, Calvin, Knox and others, all lived out their lives, in total opposition to the way they had aspired to, yet all lived and died to the glory of God and were greatly used by him. The below is a quote from Marcus Loane’s book, “Maker’s of puritan history,” describing the last days of Henderson, after he had been mightily used by God in the Covenanter wars of Scotland.

Henderson’s health broke down in the midst of this*crises; it was the end result of the mental anxiety and severe fatigue which he had borne over the years. His health had been precarious ever since 1641 when he had sought release from his public duties; it had quickly become worse since 1645 when illness and melancholy had much reduced his strength. His great plan for uniform government of the church in the three kingdoms had failed, and the last and “hardest passage” in his life’s work was to end in disappointment. These things preyed on his mind and increased his weakness.

On 7th August Ballie wrote from London to say that “Mr.. Henderson is dying most of heartbreak at Newcastle.” The rapid progress of complex ailments forced him to give up the controversy with Charles, and he sailed from Newcastle to Leith. On 11 August he arrived in Edinburgh, and two days later, Ballie wrote to him in farewell: “His Spirit strengthen and comfort and encourage you to the end.. I rest in my hearty love and reverence toward you.”

He had known that his work was done when he sailed for Scotland, but weariness and depression now passed away as clouds before the sun. He had returned as from exile, although it was to die, and he was cheered at the very sight of his home country. His friends found him very frail and reduced in strength, but he was full of joy at the prospect of a better landing and a brighter welcome on the shore of Heaven. “I am near the end of my race, hasting home,” he told Sir. James Stewart, “and there was never a school-boy more desirous to have the play than I am to have leave of this world.” John Livingstone paid him several visits, and found him in great peace of mind. It was 19th August, 1646 and he was no more than sixty three years old when he was seized with the last bout of fever. Sir. James Stewart and one other friend were standing at the foot of his bed when he opened his eyes and glanced upward: his eyes sparkled like diamonds as if he saw the Son of man at the right hand of God. It was with that shining look of wonder in his eyes that he died, mercifully taken from the evils at hand.

Puritan History Maker's Marcus Loane

These words of Baxter’s from The Reformed Pastor struck a chord with me, not just to and for ministers of the gospel, but to all private protestant Christians and particuarly those who are under the label of Reformed; as what was true in Baxter’s day, in these words he wrote, is surely even truer in our own days:

How long have we talked of reformation, how much have we said and done for it in general, and how deeply and devoutly have we vowed it for our own parts. And, after all this, how shamefully have we neglected it, and neglect it to this day! We carry ourselves as if we had not known or considered what that reformation was which we vowed. Carnal men will take on them to be Christians, and profess with confidence that they believe in Christ, and accept of his salvation. They may contend for Christ and fight for him, and yet, for all this, will have none of him. They perish for refusing him, who little dreamed that ever they had been refusers of him; and all because they understood not what his salvation is, and how it is carried on. Instead they dream of a salvation without flesh–displeasing, and without self–denial and renouncing the world, and parting with their sins, and without any holiness, or any great pains and labor of their own in subserviency to Christ and the Spirit. In the same way did too many ministers and private men talk and write and pray and fight and long for reformation, and would little have believed that man who should have presumed to tell them, that, notwithstanding all this, their very hearts were against reformation—that they who were praying for it, and fasting for it, and wading through blood for it, would never accept it, but would themselves be the rejectors and destroyers of it. And yet so it is, and so it hath too plainly proved. And whence is all this strange deceit of heart, that good men should no better know themselves? Why, the case is plain; they thought of a reformation to be given by God, but not of a reformation to be wrought on and by themselves. They considered the blessing, but never thought of the means of accomplishing it—as if they had expected that all things besides themselves should be mended without them. Perhaps the Holy Ghost should again descend miraculously, or every sermon should convert its thousands, or some angel from heaven or some Elias should be sent to restore all things, or the law of the parliament, and the sword of the magistrate, would have converted or constrained all, and have done the deed. Little did they think of a reformation that must be wrought by their own diligence and unwearied labors, by earnest preaching and catechizing, and personal instructions, and taking heed to all the flock, whatever pains or reproaches it should cost them. They thought not that a thorough reformation would multiply their own work. But we had all of us too carnal thoughts, that when we had ungodly men at our mercy, all would be done, and conquering them was converting them, or such a means as would have frightened them to heaven. But the business is far otherwise, and had we then known how a reformation must be attained, perhaps some would have been colder in the prosecution of it. And yet I know that even foreseen labors seem small matters at a distance, while we do but hear and talk of them. But when we come nearer them, and must lay our hands to the work, and put on our armor, and charge through the thickest of opposing difficulties, then is the sincerity and the strength of men’s hearts brought to trial, and it will appear how they purposed and promised before.

Reformation is to many of us as the Messiah was to the Jews. Before he came, they looked and longed for him, and boasted of him, and rejoiced in hope of him. But when he came they could not abide him, but hated him, and would not believe that he was indeed the person, and therefore persecuted and put him to death, to the curse and confusion of the main body of their nation. ‘The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in. But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth (Mal. 3:1-3)? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.’ And the reason was, because it was another manner of Christ that the Jews expected. It was one who would bring them riches and liberty, and to this day they profess that they will never believe in any but such. So it is with too many about reformation. They hoped for a reformation that would bring them more wealth and honor with the people, and power to force men to do what they would have them. And now they see a reformation that must put them to more condescension and pains than they were ever at before. They thought of having the opposers of godliness under their feet, but now they see they must go to them with humble entreaties, and put their hands under their feet, if they would do them good. They must meekly beseech even those that sometime sought their lives, and make it now their daily business to overcome them by kindness, and win them with love. O how many carnal expectations are here crossed!
–Richard Baxter “the Reformed Pastor.”

Although there are many Christ like Christians today, sadly, there are some who claim to be on the side of Christ and speak words that sound like angels, while becoming the persecutors of the brethren in different ways to days of old, through not caring about our brothers and sisters’ in Christ as we should, neither body or soul, and only our immediate family mattering to us, and the mystical family is degraded into non-importance. Christ said there is no greater love for a man to lay down his life for his brother, and Christ did that for all us unworthy sinners, he loved us when we didn’t love him.  The covenanters in Scotland and the puritans in England risked life and limb to help and assist each other too. When they were turned out of their livings and manses it was not just them, but their wives, children, any other dependants with them, and yet, for the crown of Christ, and those who upheld his name, no cost was too great for Christ or the brethren, sadly, this is not the case in all cases today, as self takes much more precedence over Christ or Christ’s body.

But I loved this  included in John Foxes Acts and monumuments, its referred to as a fable, but I’m not sure how to interpret that, originally written I believe by Clement.

Hear a fable, and yet not a fable, but a true report which was told
us of John the apostle, and has been ever since kept in our
remembrance. After the death of the tyrant, when John was
returned to Ephesus from the isle of Patmos, he was requested to
resort to the places bordering near unto him, partly to constitute
bishops, partly to dispose the causes and matters of the church,
partly to ordain to the clerical office such as the Holy Ghost
should elect. Whereupon, when he was come to a certain city not
far off, (the name of which also some do mention) f927 and had
comforted the brethren as usual, he beheld a young man robust in
body, and of a beautiful countenance, and of a fervent mind, when,
looking earnestly at the newly-appointed bishop: “I most solemnly
commend this man (saith he) to thee, in presence here of Christ and
of the church.”
When the bishop had received of him this charge, and had promised
his faithful diligence therein, again the second time John spake unto
him, and charged him with like manner and contestation as before.
This done, John returned again to Ephesus. The bishop, receiving
the young man commended and committed to his charge, brought
him home, kept him, and nourished him, and at length also did
illuminate, that is, baptized him; and after that, he gradually relaxed
his care and oversight of him, trusting that he had given him the
best safeguard possible in putting the Lord’s seal upon him. The
young man thus having his liberty more, it chanced that certain of
his old companions and acquaintances, being idle, dissolute, and
hardened in wickedness, did join in company with him, who first
invited him to sumptuous and riotous banquets; then enticed him
to go forth with them in the night to rob and steal; after that he was
allured by them unto greater mischief and wickedness. Wherein, by
custom of time, and by little and little, he becoming more expert,
and being of a good wit, and a stout courage, like unto a wild or
unbroken horse, leaving the right way and running at large without
bridle, was carried headlong to the profundity of all misorder and
outrage. And thus, being past all hope of grace, utterly forgetting
and rejecting the wholesome doctrine of salvation which he had
learned before, he began to set his mind upon no small matters.
And forasmuch as he was entered so far in the way of perdition, he
cared not how much further he proceeded in the same. And so,
associating unto him a band of companions and fellow thieves, he
took upon himself to be as head and captain among them, in
committing all kind of murder and felony.
In the mean time it chanced that of necessity John was sent for to
those quarters again, and came. The causes being decided and his
business ended for the which he came, by the way meeting with the
bishop afore specified, he requireth of him the pledge, which, in the
presence of Christ and of the congregation then present, he left in
his hands to keep. The bishop, something amazed at the words of
John, supposing he had meant them of some money committed to
his custody, which he had not received (and yet durst not mistrust
John, nor contrary his words), could not tell what to answer. Then
John, perceiving his perplexity, and uttering his meaning more
plainly: “The young man,” saith he, “and the soul of our brother
committed to your custody, I do require.” Then the bishop, with a
loud voice sorrowing and weeping, said, “He is dead.” To whom
John said, “How, and by what death?” The other said, “He is dead
to God, for he became an evil and abandoned man, and at length a
robber. And now he doth frequent the mountain instead of the
church, with a company of villains and thieves, like unto himself.”
Here the apostle rent his garments, and, with a great lamentation,
said, “A fine keeper of his brother’s soul I left here! get me a horse,
and let me have a guide with me:” which being done, his horse and
man procured, he hasted from the church as much as he could, and
coming to the place, was taken of thieves that lay on the watch.
But he, neither flying nor refusing, said, “I came hither for the
purpose: lead me,” said he, “to your captain.” So he being brought,
the captain all armed fiercely began to look upon him; and eftsoons
coming to the knowledge of him, was stricken with confusion and
shame, and began to fly. But the old man followed him as much as
he might, forgetting his age, and crying, “My son, why dost thou
fly from thy father? an armed man from one naked, a young man
from an old man? Have pity on me, my son, and fear not, for there
is yet hope of salvation. I will make answer for thee unto Christ; I
will die for thee, if need be; as Christ hath died for us, I will give
my life for thee; believe me, Christ hath sent me.” He, hearing these
things, first, as in a maze, stood still, and therewith his courage was
abated. After that he had cast down his weapons, by and by he
trembled, yea, and wept bitterly; and, coming to the old man,
embraced him, and spake unto him with weeping (as well as he
could), being even then baptized afresh with tears, only his right
hand being hid and covered. Then the apostle, after that he had
promised and firmly ascertained him that he should obtain
remission of our Savior, and also prayed, falling down upon his
knees, and kissing his murderous right hand (which for shame he
durst not show before) as now purged through repentance, he
brought him back to the church. And when he had prayed for him
with continual prayer and daily fastings, and had comforted and
confirmed his mind with many sentences, he left him not (as the
author reporteth) before he had restored him to the church again;
and made him a great example of sincere penitence and proof of
regeneration, and a trophy of the future  resurrection.
—John Foxe, “Acts and Monuments” Volume 1

And was not as described like many of the Reformed it has been my dark providence to know who come under the label of the Frozen chosen.  If those folks I Have known, are truly chosen, then they will not remain frozen, if they do, however,  then I fear for their eternal future.

That blog post created some controversy, though I also had some positive feedback about it away from this blog site itself, but it was not my declaration that all Calvinist’s are the frozen chosen, in fact, it was my contention that to be so, is the most uncalvinistic and even more, unchristian outlook one can have. One filled with self and not with God.

Calvin himself, the man of whom Calvinists take their name, though not their faith, but he was the man who after a thousand years of popish darkness set forth the true religion once again, by his immaculate writings that could have only come from the mind of a genius.  From his first edition of the Institutes in 1536, he never varied  from those doctrines, even though he was a young convert at the time.  By the time the last edition was published however, in 1559, he had expanded on them enormously, because his first edition was only six chapters, and he wrote it for the french refugees and Protestants of France as a simple manual or summary of Christian doctrine.  His last edition however,  was more of an introduction to Scripture for any student of God, and particularly of pastors. Since his final edition has over 7,000 Scripture references in it, it can be truly said it is an introduction to Scripture and Biblical doctrine.

I plan to start a series on Calvin, to again debunk many of the myths, fables, and in some cases downright malicious lies that have existed and been handed down the centuries about him, as a monster or the dictator of Geneva.  There is more than ample proof to prove these literary pieces that started the ball rolling in the time of Calvin was nothing more than malicious propaganda and a fulfilling of Isa.:5:20

But going back to my post on Calvinist’s should not be the frozen chosen, the very point of that post is that to be a Calvinist and yet act like the frozen chosen towards the brethren, is an oxymoron. And those who do, shame the name of Calvinism, and it’s noble heritage and this short quote by B.B. Warfield shows how the man himself of who Calvinist’s take their name from was nothing like that.  I have had the dark providence to know many who were not one iota like Calvin, but  I have the good providence in more recent times, to have new Calvinist friends, among many are not like those I formerly knew.

Calvin was a man of letters, no one can dispute that. HIstory bears it out and the works he has left us, about which only half thus far have been translated into English.  But much of his writing comprised of letter writing. The ones that have remained, fill four full volumes of works, and its a sure dunk that many didn’t stand the test of time and got lost. Most of the Reformation itself, and the very real spiritual war that was going on, was conducted by letter.  People who criticize the use of email don’t seem to know their history very well,  as email is just another form of letter, and in those days when it could take a whole year for a single letter to arrive somewhere, it seems to me with the technological tools we have today, we should also be able to conduct our own reformation with much more power because we are not in those primitive times.

B.B Warfield writes:

Of one other product of his literary activity, however,  a special word seems demanded. Calvin was the great letter-writer of the Reformation age. About four thousand of his letters have come down to us, some of them almost of the dimensions of treatises, many of them practically theological tractates, but many of them also of the most intimate character in which he pours out his heart. In these letters we see the real Calvin, the man of profound religious convictions and rich religious life, of high purpose and noble strenuousness, of full and freely flowing human affections and sympathies. In them he rebukes rulers and instructs statesmen, and strengthens and comforts saints. Never a perplexed pastor but has from him a word of encouragement and counsel; never a martyr but has from him a word of heartening and consolation. Perhaps no friend ever more affectionately leaned on his friends; certainly no friend ever gave himself so ungrudgingly to his friends. Had he written these letters alone, Calvin would take his place among the great Christians and the great Christian leaders of the world.
Benjamin B. Warfield Calvin and Calvinism Vol 5 of the Works of B.B. Warfield.

You see Calvin was not the frozen chosen, he knew how to be a friend to those in need. And he accomplished his labours not only in primitive times, but in the worst of circumstances that anyone could have.  And anyone claiming to be a Calvinist who acts like the frozen chosen is an oxymoron. To be the frozen chosen is to be an antinomian, because if you do not love one’s neighbour as oneself, then the whole of the law is broken, and the whole sum of the law, and one’s love to God questionable. As only when we love God aright, will we also love our fellow man aright also.

This is a series that will be continued on Calvin uncovered.

Deut 19:14
Deut 27:17
Prov 22:28
Prov 23:10-12
Hos 5:8-10

Why the Westminster Standards are more important than ever today:

An image of the kind of person that the Westminster Standards type of Presbyterianism bred, in the lands of those times they were authored.

One person, describes The Scottish Peasant of those times, as the most remarkable man in Europe. Furthermore, the writer who said that, was an Anglo-catholic, rather than a Calvinist.

Dignity, intellect and character, of the typical Scottish peasant, largely flowed from the memorization of the shorter Catechism. They were far more equipped as a result of memorizing the shorter catechism, for conceptual thinking, than most 21 st century citizens of England or America.

They lived in huts, and toiled the land, wore kilts, and often seemed intellectually stinted due to their simplicity, in living, yet they are described as the most remarkable men in Europe. In the days when Education started to be esteemed and prized and sought after, it was the Scottish peasants, who were the most remarkable. And that was a result of the effect, of them memorizing, applying and believing, the Westminster Standards. What a man believes, so he is.

Nowadays, those entering the ministry are taught it, whereas it was written for children, and most 8 year olds in those days, had it memorized. How far we have fallen! What a tenth of their nobility we desire and should crave.

The covenanters had a strictness of life and behaviour and worship By that, I mean, they were a self denying lot in following the word of God. Their whole lives were regulated a by the Scriptures.

These men and women were courageous to the last. They had a high regard for people in need, and denied themselves to fulfil that need, and their courage seemed to know no bounds , as the list of martyrs shows us. They counted it a joy to sacrifice for the Lord. They lived in dangerous times, deadly times to believe and uphold the Truth of God that they did, but their actions proved by far more than speech, and didn’t only defend causes where they had very little to lose like we do today, in our self indulgent soft societies.

Calvinist’s in those days, were marked by a love of God and truth, justice, purity of character , and historically, they always shone in all these virtues above any other professing group of Christians.

One person wrote of the Calvinist’s of those times:

“We may with confidence maintain, that the world has never known, a higher type of Stalwart manhood, nor a gentler, purer, or more lovable womanhood, than has prevailed amongst those people in whose hearts and lives has entered the Calvinist creed. ”

Rather than the slant that is put on puritans historically, and the spin, which distorts the truth, and calls evil good and good evil, and presents those men and women as harsh, severe, unloving fanatics, the above is the truth, and history bears witness to testify to the truth of it.

Do you think the Covenanters or Calvinists today are producing the same kind of character? I would say unhesitatingly, a resounding no in many cases! Some of those traits remain, but the ones that made them stand out a head and shoulders above others, is no longer the typical Calvinist or Covenanter, of either England or America. I get infuriated at times, by how much it is not true. How their luke warm sense of serving, is a joke as compared to those days. As to my mind, it disgraces the great, rich, noble heritage that the name today trades on, yet fails to live up to in many cases. Today Reformed doesn’t always mean reformed. That’s where the crux lies I believe.

The Biblical picture we have of the true Christian home, is built on the standards and beliefs and practices of the Westminster Divines; they lived and breathed Scripture; the family homes were the nurseries of the church.

The democratic nations we live in, where the individual is upper most in importance, where political correctness is the emphasis, means Presbyterianism, built upon the Westminster Standards has been squeezed out. And man has become his own god. The landmarks and boundaries have not just been removed, they have been eradicated, as if they never existed. The covenants, made and swore to in Scotland, are no longer remembered, or even known anything about by most Christians in my country, even though it is their own country, that historically was at the fore of all these events.

Everything is now relative, on if it fits man’s taste, rather than us bending to God’s will, again, man is Sovereign of his own destiny, sovereign of our own behaviour and conduct, his own god. Discipline, both in our family homes, and self-discipline, is a dirty word.  Ignorant people within the so-called Reformed church but where Deformed would be the better term, believe that practicing it, and denying ourselves, makes us no better than the monks, of trying to win God’s favour, by our works, rather than the truth being of simply being obedient to what God desires and doing it cheerfully, not counting it a burden but a joy.

Presbyterianism, as set forth by the Westminster Standards, give us liberty. Presbyterianism and Tyranny cannot co-exist.. The same is true of the true Calvinistic or Reformed faith. We don’t need to be genius’ or above intelligence any more than anyone else. Some of us are distinctly below the majority! But again, where Calvinism and ignorance meet, one of them leaves the field.

We have an heir to the throne here, who will have to change the constitution if and when he takes the throne, to not be Defender of THE faith, but to become as he has said he will, “Defender of Faiths.” And that all faiths are equal. That is a scary thought to my mind, and I also wonder if he will take the oath as his mother did before him at the Coronation, for her to uphold the True religion in Scotland, as that is still included in the coronation oaths. She apparently took it but her son plans to openly defy that. Christ is the ruler of the Kings of the earth, but Charles seems in some form to be resurrecting to some degree, the divine right of kings by what he proposes. As the Scripture references above clearly show, God pours out his wrath on the removing of the landmarks and boundaries, and I believe the spiritual decay and decline that exists in England is evidence of that.

All the men who just before the writing of the Westminster standards, who were at the front of upholding tyranny, like King Charles, I and Archbishop Laud, were executed shortly after the completion of the Standards, and tyranny started to be squeezed out. Tthose works of Westminster, gave us liberty. True Liberty. The only True Liberty is liberty in Christ, which we find in the pages of Scripture.

Most faiths are accepted in our society, on a live and let live basis. If you take a different view you are seen as an intolerant bigot.  It is only the True Faith, the Reformed faith, based upon the Biblical teachings of the Westminster standards that today, makes for there being hostility against us. Universalism, popery, and arminianism, will be gladly tolerated. Yet try and tell people from a world view based on the Westminster Standards your point of view, you will not get the toleration or live and let live attitude you will be an outcast, someone who is causing “schism” because you hold to the truth, among the brethren here who hold to otherwise. Furthermore, the choice will have to be made, between pleasing the Lord and holding to the truth, or pleasing men, and your Christian brethren on one’s own doorstep, at the cost of betraying the truth you love. There is no contest! Yes, we need the courage, and nobility, of those Scottish peasants, that were so remarkable, even among the best of Christians, we are not prepared to go so far, or be as fierce and have the same goals and the same priorities. Our courage we leave behind the door, by comparison to protect ourselves and put ourselves first, which is why the easy way out of almost any situation, is the most oft chosen option. We are not prepared to suffer unduly, for either the Truth or the brethren. In doing so, we move the landmarks and make them shaky. The nobility that lived in a grass hut, among the Scottish peasants, in the fields of Scotland, put us to shame. They had so little, yet were willing to part with it all, even with dear life. We need to get our landmarks and boundaries put back in place. Only then, can or will England and America revive. And Scotland can once again glory, in the upholding of the Covenants!

“Art Thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? I shall not die.’ Then, just before the end, he lifted the napkin from his face, and cried, ‘The Covenants, the Covenants shall yet be Scotland’s reviving!’ [from an account of James Guthrie’s martyrdom]

[Blog owners note: of course there are may faithful calvinists around today, but sadly, there are also those who shame the name and noble heritage. And within the Reformed faith on the days of those Scottish peasants in the hills of Scotland that was not the case.  And Calvinism in these days, often doesn't represent Calvin's Calvinism at all, but a luke-warm, watered down version of it.  Those who hold to the same Calvinism as Calvin, are for the most part faithful Christians. There will always be the exception in any faithful church, as theology maketh no Christain, not on its own at least.  But Presbyterianism has taken on some many forms since those days, that Presbyteiranism in our day, doesn't always mean reformed.  They should call  themselves something other, to not degrade, defame and shame the noble history of Calvinsim.]

I have heard it said, and I’m sure many of you may have experienced it to some degree, that those within the Reformed faith community can be unloving. Sadly, this is often the case, but it should not be.   Being God’s elect should not make us the frozen chosen.

John Calvin who is quite greivously slandered and misrepresented in death as much as he was in life, made this well known statement:

Doctrine is not an affair of the tongue, but of the life; is not apprehended by the intellect and memory merely, like other branches of learning; but is received only when it possesses the whole soul, and finds its seat and habitation in the inmost recesses of the heart.

Experimental religion doesn’t just appear as good theology, and doctrinal learning, it reaches into every recess of our lives and practices, it affects the whole man in the whole of life. It certainly doesn’t make us blocks of stone, because true Christianity, is about having tender hearts, and having the attributes that God does, though in a less perfect way, some of those ways being compassion, loving-kindness, long-suffering, and a few others I could mention.
This is a subjet that until a short time ago, I could not have written about without it turning into a rant at the cold, discompassionate Christians I have known, who have only sought their own or immediate families welfare, and anyone outside of that doesn’t count, and their soul is not worth nurturing, but now I am detached enough from the hurts I have felt for a very long time, since first being strapped to a sick bed, and left to basically die alone, by Christian “friends” both in my local vicinity and “friends” in the online world, whose faith didn’t extend outside their own four walls, or barely at least. But it is long over-due for saying even so.
In the times of the Reformers and puritans and Scots Covenanters, these people had a deep care and concern for the welfare of their brethren. Calvin never heard of an afflicted church, or someone awaiting martrydom, but he would write them a letter of comfort and consolation even if they were in different countries. He was not one of the frozen chosen.
This was displayed clearly in his concern for Servetus. Forget the fables you have read about that whole case, if you want to read an accurate account of events of Calvin and Sevetus then I may suggest you read an accurate and well researched account I posted some time ago, HERE.
If Michael Servetus at the last, escaped the flames of hell, it would have been because of how God used John Calvin to talk him out of his heresy. And there are some reports that when in the flames the last words he was heard to utter was, “eternal Father, accept my Spirit” I hope that is the case. But Calvin persevered so tirelessly in the case of Servetus because of his concern for his soul. It is why he was so frequent a visitor to him in his prison cell as he awaited execution, because he wanted him to repent before he died. Calvin certain wasn’t one of the frozen chosen.

The Wesminster Directory for the Publick Worship of God says this about visiting the sick:
Concerning Visitation of the Sick.

IT is the duty of the minister not only to teach the people committed to his charge in publick, but privately; and particularly to admonish, exhort, reprove, and comfort them, upon all seasonable occasions, so far as his time, strength, and personal safety will permit.

He is to admonish them, in time of health, to prepare for death; and, for that purpose, they are often to confer with their minister about the estate of their souls; and, in times of sickness, to desire his advice and help, timely and seasonably, before their strength and understanding fail them.

Times of sickness and affliction are special opportunities put into his hand by God to minister a word in season to weary souls: because then the consciences of men are or should be more awakened to bethink themselves of their spiritual estate for eternity; and Satan also takes advantage then to load them more with sore and heavy temptations: therefore the minister, being sent for, and repairing to the sick, is to apply himself, with all tenderness and love, to administer some spiritual good to his soul, to this effect.

He may, from the consideration of the present sickness, instruct him out of scripture, that diseases come not by chance, or by distempers of body only, but by the wise and orderly guidance of the good hand of God to every particular person smitten by them. And that, whether it be laid upon him out of displeasure for sin, for his correction and amendment, or for trial and exercise of his graces, or for other special and excellent ends, all his sufferings shall turn to his profit, and work together for his good, if he sincerely labour to make a sanctified use of God’s visitation, neither despising his chastening, nor waxing weary of his correction.

If he suspect him of ignorance, he shall examine him in the principles of religion, especially touching repentance and faith; and, as he seeth cause, instruct him in the nature, use, excellency, and necessity of those graces; as also touching the covenant of grace; and Christ the Son of God, the Mediator of it; and concerning remission of sins by faith in him.

He shall exhort the sick person to examine himself, to search and try his former ways, and his estate towards God.

And if the sick person shall declare any scruple, doubt, or temptation that are upon him, instructions and resolutions shall be given to satisfy and settle him.

If it appear that he hath not a due sense of his sins, endeavours ought to be used to convince him of his sins, of the guilt and desert of them; of the filth and pollution which the soul contracts by them; and of the curse of the law, and wrath of God, due to them; that he may be truly affected with and humbled for them: and withal make known the danger of deferring repentance, and of neglecting salvation at any time offered; to awaken his conscience, and rouse him up out of a stupid and secure condition, to apprehend the justice and wrath of God, before whom none can stand, but he that, lost in himself, layeth hold upon Christ by faith.

If he hath endeavoured to walk in the ways of holiness, and to serve God in uprightness, although not without many failings and infirmities; or, if his spirit be broken with the sense of sin, or cast down through want of the sense of God’s favour; then it will be fit to raise him up, by setting before him the freeness and fulness of God’s grace, the sufficiency of righteousness in Christ, the gracious offers in the gospel, that all who repent, and believe with all their heart in God’s mercy through Christ, renouncing their own righteousness, shall have life and salvation in him. It may be also useful to shew him, that death hath in it no spiritual evil to be feared by those that are in Christ, because sin, the sting of death, is taken away by Christ, who hath delivered all that are his from the bondage of the fear of death, triumphed over the grave, given us victory, is himself entered into glory to prepare a place for his people: so that neither life nor death shall be able to separate them from God’s love in Christ, in whom such are sure, though now they must be laid in the dust, to obtain a joyful and glorious resurrection to eternal life.

Advice also may be given, as to beware of an ill-grounded persuasion on mercy, or on the goodness of his condition for heaven, so to disclaim all merit in himself, and to cast himself wholly upon God for mercy, in the sole merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, who hath engaged himself never to cast off them who in truth and sincerity come unto him. Care also must be taken, that the sick person be not cast down into despair, by such a severe representation of the wrath of God due to him for his sins, as is not mollified by a sensible propounding of Christ and his merit for a door of hope to every penitent believer.

When the sick person is best composed, may be least disturbed, and other necessary offices about him least hindered, the minister, if desired, shall pray with him, and for him, to this effect:

“Confessing and bewailing of sin original and actual; the miserable condition of all by nature, as being children of wrath, and under the curse; acknowledging that all diseases, sicknesses, death, and hell itself, are the proper issues and effects thereof; imploring God’s mercy for the sick person, through the blood of Christ; beseeching that God would open his eyes, discover unto him his sins, cause him to see himself lost in himself, make known to him the cause why God smiteth him, reveal Jesus Christ to his soul for righteousness and life, give unto him his Holy Spirit, to create and strengthen faith to lay hold upon Christ, to work in him comfortable evidences of his love, to arm him against temptations, to take off his heart from the world, to sanctify his present visitation, to furnish him with patience and strength to bear it, and to give him perseverance in faith to the end.

That, if God shall please to add to his days, he would vouchsafe to bless and sanctify all means of his recovery; to remove the disease, renew his strength, and enable him to walk worthy of God, by a faithful remembrance, and diligent observing of such vows and promises of holiness and obedience, as men are apt to make in times of sickness, that he may glorify God in the remaining part of his life.

And, if God have determined to finish his days by the present visitation, he may find such evidence of the pardon of all his sins, of his interest in Christ, and eternal life by Christ, as may cause his inward man to be renewed, while his outward man decayeth; that he may behold death without fear, cast himself wholly upon Christ without doubting, desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, and so receive the end of his faith, the salvation of his soul, through the only merits and intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ, our alone Saviour and all-sufficient Redeemer.”

The minister shall admonish him also (as there shall be cause) to set his house in order, thereby to prevent inconveniences; to take care for payment of his debts, and to make restitution or satisfaction where he hath done any wrong; to be reconciled to those with whom he hath been at variance, and fully to forgive all men their trespasses against him, as he expects forgiveness at the hand of God.

Lastly, The minister may improve the present occasion to exhort those about the sick person to consider their own mortality, to return to the Lord, and make peace with him; in health to prepare for sickness, death, and judgment; and all the days of their appointed time so to wait until their change come, that when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, they may appear with him in glory.

The whole document can read at one of my sister sites 2. Covenanted Reformation.

William Perkins, who is said to be the father of English puritans, and the first puritan, first  congregation was in a jail in Cambridge. He worked tirelessly with these men, many of them facing execution for their crimes, and he worked often never seeing the wages for his work.  One day however, a young man was awaiting execution at the jail, came to him in great distress about facing death, and his fear of it.  Perkins begged him and pleaded with him in tears, to accept Christ, telling him of the Gospel and how he could be sure of being like the thief on the cross and after execution be with Christ in paradise.  His tears and pleadings so affected the young prisoner that he did accept Christ, and he faced his execution with great courage, and it was a testimony to God’s grace at how bravely he met his death.  William Perkins, was not one of the frozen chosen. Neither were the Westminster divines who penned the Director of Publick Worship.

It is often said of Samuel Rutherford, that his life was one self sacrifice and consisted of: “always praying, always preaching, always visiting the sick, always catechising, always writing and [always] studying.”   Samuel Rutherford, was not one of the frozen chosen.

If you read for any time through Calvin’s letters, you will see his words of comfort and consolation to those facing death, awaiting martydrom, exhorting them to be constant to the end, not only out of his pastors heart, but out of real concern for their souls.

Oliver Cromwell, whatever one may think of him in history, is another one who was deeply moved by the sufferings of the puritans.  Oliver Cromwell was not one of the frozen chosen.

If people are sick, and facing death or uncertain futures, they need to be built up and prepared to die, to be ready to meet their maker, for their souls to matter enough to spend time in trying to get them  to a good spiritual estate.  I was blessed to have one friend who was not one of the frozen chosen.

Richard Baxter in his “The Reformed Pastor” wrote his of ones duties towards the sick and/or dying.

We must be diligent in visiting the sick, and helping them to prepare either for a fruitful life, or a happy death. Though this should be the business of all our life and theirs, yet doth it, at such a season, require extraordinary care both of them and us. When time is almost gone, and they must now or never be reconciled to God, oh, how doth it concern them to redeem those hours, and to lay hold on eternal life! And when we see that we are like to have but a few days or hours more to speak to them, in order to their everlasting welfare, who, that is not a block or an infidel, would not be much with them, and do all he can for their salvation in that short space!
Will it not awaken us to compassion, to look on a languishing man, and to think that within a few days his soul be in heaven or hell? Surely it will try the faith and seriousness of ministers, to be much about dying men! They will thus have opportunity to discern whether they themselves are in good earnest about the matters of the life to come. So great is the change that is made by death, that it should awaken us to the greatest sensibility to see a man so near it, and should so excite in us the deepest pangs of compassion, to do the office of inferior angels for the soul, before it departs from the body, that it may be ready for the convoy of superior angels to the “inheritance of the saints in light.” When a man is almost at his journey’s end, and the next step brings him to heaven or hell, it is time for us, while their is hope, to help him if we can.
—Richard Baxter, “The Reformed Pastor” B.O.T. pp. 102

Richard Baxter was not one of the frozen chosen. But through my pilgrimage through this world in such an afflicted condition the last few years I seem to have sure come across and known and even been friends with alot of the frozen chosen, or as Baxter calls them “blocks or infidels.”
It is not always the case among Calvinists today, but sadly it is too rife and I have seen and experienced that from the sharp end. Doctrine and theology maketh no man. A man with good doctrine and all his theological ducks lined up, and maybe even with the voice of an angel for the holy words he speaks, if his actions say otherwise, it counts not one iota, and the puritans and reformers, of which just a few instances there are above and there could be countless others added to it, were both theologically astute, but also practiced experimental religion and were very self denying and self sacrificing. Their brethren’s sufferings mattered to them, they wept with those who wept, and had concern for their souls.
But finally, what does our good Lord say about the frozen chosen? In Matthew 25:31-46 he says thus which should deter anyone from being so self seeking or self serving only, to not be those mentioned in this passage because of the end that is threatened to them

Matthew 25:31-46 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Faith and religion is not passive, or just holy sounding words. Actions speak far louder than words, and show the inclination of our hearts, much more readily than any amount of holy sound words can ever do. Let us get back to the days of experimental religion. In the above example the whole sum of the law is broken, by not loving our neighboutr as ourself. And if we do not do so, then we do not love God aright either. As only when we love God rightly, we will be able to love our fellow man aright too. It does not only apply to Pastors, because we are all part of the royal priesthood

I have often written about our comfortable days today, and how that incites us to want everything for ease and comfort and our own convenience and yet years ago, no cost was too high for the faith of the true religion. The martyrs blood, whether in the hills of Scotland, or the puritans ashes in England, or the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre and umpteen other places and occasions one could cite speak to that being true.

It is sad to see the things that are out there today, which fit into our desire and quest for comfort and anything we gain to be had with the least effort possible. The 100 minute Bible would be a good example

An abridged version of Calvin’s the institutes of the Christian Religion would be another good one:

It has 271 pages as opposed to one of the more popular unabridged versions on sale today of 2 hardback volumes of 1,600 odd of the John T. Mcneil’s Ford Lewis Battle edition.

One can make a case, that if one is dealing with babes in Christ, the 271 page would be a good start for them, without overwhelming them. Or even if you are trying to get someone of false faiths or false religions to pick up as a first copy. But it doesn’t stop there. Research shows and statistics prove, that the greatest majority of evangelical Protestant Christians today, including many among the Reformed Faith have not read Calvin’s institutes in their entirety, and even more concerning is that this includes many reformed pastors.

Yet, if one had to make a list of the 10 most important books to ever be in the world, The Bible should take first place, and Calvin’s institutes unabridged should also be on the short-list. Many people who claim to be Calvinist’s know very little about what Calvin taught. So their claim is a vain one, one I think at times, has a lot to do with pride, because being a Calvinist is sometimes worn like a badge of honour, and a sense of grandiose. Yet these men and women who claim to be Calvinist’s and do not know what Calvin taught, often betray and shame the Reformed faith–not intentionally–but through ignorance. Ignorance very often is a choice.

We all have to make choices every day. One of them being how we will spend our time, once the daily grind of occupational work, and family business is out of the way. Playing computer games, watching garbage on the TV that will not be spiritually helpful and could be quite harmful in the long run by what we are filling our senses with; Now I am not against recreation at all. I want to make that clear. Everyone needs time to wind down, and have some enjoyment, or leisure, but not to the detriment of one’s own soul by indulging in it excessively. Despite popular opinion and folk-lore, the puritans were not against recreation, enjoyment, mirth, or dancing or merry making in general. Oliver Cromwell at his daughter’s wedding is said to have danced till 3 am. But one thing the puritans were big on, is temperance. All things in moderation, and that the main business of all professing believers of faith should be that of eternity.

As Solomon wisely said. There is a time for everything. [Eccles 1]

When any one who has professed faith through their lives, comes to being on their death bed, you often hear of the things they regret about their lives. One never hears though, that they regretted the time they spent on eternal matters, or making their salvation sure. One often hears quite the reverse.- a regret that they wasted so much time.

I have not read the entirety of the Institutes just yet though I have the greater part, but I aim to soon rectify that, and say it to my shame. If you can say the same thing, then I exhort you to also set aside some time, and read it and study it. The institutes is not just a cold book of Theological doctrine; it has over 7000 references to Scripture in it, it is also a tool along side the Bible that will help us all grow in our love for God and our external consequences of that by growing in piety and righteous living. You cannot read them, with a right heart, and remain unchanged or unmoved.

John T. McNeil in the unabridged version above, in his introduction describes it as being one of a “short-list of books that have notably affected the course of history.” Who would not want to read such a book, when written by John Calvin if a Calvinist? He adds that it has: “moulded the beliefs and behaviour of generations of mankind.” Elsewhere he said: that it is “admired as an incomparable exposition of Scriptural truth and a bulwark of evangelical faith.”
It teaches us of “Christian doctrine and social duty.”

The original edition which only had six chapters in it, and was the size of average paperback today was titled: “The institute of the Christian Religion containing almost the whole sum of piety and whatever is necessary to know in Doctrine and Salvation. A work well worth reading by all persons zealous for piety and lately published. A preface to the most Christian King of France in which this book is presented to him as a confession of faith. Author John Calvin, of Noyon Basel.

(Some of the length of original titles of these old books are hysterical by our standards today.)

The King referred to, was a stanch papist and opposer and persecutor of the Protestant faith. And even after the said King’s death in future editions, Calvin still included the original preface written to him in it.
A few short months previously to the Institutes first publication, King Francis of France had tried to ban all printing, but his attempt to do so failed. God was determined that Calvin’s magnus opus would be published, just as he has always kept his own Word from being destroyed. Don’t we have a duty to our own souls, to the heritage that we come from, and a duty to God, to read and study this fine master-piece. Not to gain knowledge and learning for it’s own sake, but so that we will also experience the natural consequence of doing so, of understanding the life of faith better, be more useful in the kingdom, and learn to do our duties as Christian to grow in understanding of the Scriptures and to have more piety and righteous living in our lives because we have read this book.

Six months after publishing the first edition, Calvin began his work in Geneva. The second edition when published had grown from the original six chapters to now seventeen chapters. And in this second edition he quoted the patristic father’s extensively such as Augustine and Origen and others. In this second edition Calvin stated that he saw it as a textbook to be used in the “preparation of candidates in theology for the reading of the divine Word.”
Wouldn’t that describe you and I, as are we not all of the priesthood of believers?

An ignorant Christian, particularly ignorant Calvinist’s are a liability and dangerous to the cause of true religion. To the Biblical doctrine that is contained within the doctrine simply known as Calvinism.

Many people will say they need nothing more than the Word of God to know what to believe. They have the holy Spirit, so they will sit at home with their Bible, studying it, without any outside works to help them understand it. No confessions of faith, commentaries or other books written by godly men. Yet what an arrogant attitude this is. Calvin made reference to Augustine around 400 times in his final edition of the Institutes, which grew each time it was published in his life time, till it now stands at the size we know it now. Calvin didn’t think he was above being taught by the learned men who had gone before him. And yet it was B.B. Warfield who described Calvin as the “theologian of the Holy Spirit.”

Calvin didn’t get his vast wealth of Biblical understanding, by taking short-cuts to everything that the Christian needs to be armed in life for the Spiritual warfare we face daily and the duties we must perform. He got it by years and years of hard laborious study and labour. Even when too ill to work, and was ordered to rest, and told to rest by his friends and associations. He answered with the words: “What, would you have the Lord come, and find me idle”

Yes, recreation and enjoyment and leisure has it’s place. The Christian life however, has no right to have other things above in priority the work of eternity. Whether it is working out our own salvation with fear and trembling, or trying to help others along the way.
He would find abhorrent the 100 minute Bible or abridged version of his Institutes.

There is no place in God’s kingdom for people ignorant of the doctrines of the Bible or the way of life for Christian living. Ignorance very often is a choice. If we have been Christians for many years, and have never read the Institutes, that has been a choice. If we have been Calvinist’s many years and know little of what Calvin taught about almost anything, then that is also is a choice. AND if we have been a Christian many years, and know little of what the Bible teaches in truth, and even less live it out as experimental religion, that is also a choice in many instances. Christ’s kingdom has no place for sloth.

So let us set our eyes on eternity, and head heavenwards, and not indulge and be firmly grounded in the world as we make our pilgrimage through it to a better place. Let us be like Abraham, strangers in a foreign land, and let us not be carried about and tossed in the wind by many strange doctrines. (Heb 13:9). God gave us this treasure, (His Word) entrusted it to us to keep it. Let us not betray that trust; and let us not feel safe and presumptuous without a sure foundation for that assurance and presumption as many seem to do. Those men who were for many years, some of the best known teachers of Calvinism, have betrayed the faith they professed to love by the federal vision heresy. Yet who would have that? None of us is beyond being deceived.

Let us not profess the true religion and build our houses on the sand. Let us be like the text of Hebrews 11 where almost each line starts with “by faith.” And if called to suffer for the truth of God, we shall be prepared and ready to. Whereas now, many of those who think they would stand strong, while not well taught in the ways of faith, and have no excuse or reason not to be, suffering would soon show how they spoke in presumption, because words are easy for anyone. But when in comfortable times, and we are not even prepared to deny ourselves one day a week, to give it to the Lord; not set aside some time each day to put down our toys and recreations, and to pick up God’ Word or study tools, then their proclamations really show how vain they are. Because the life of the Christian, and especially the suffering Christian is all about self-denial. And if we do not do that in the small things, when we are so comfortable it would be easy for us to do so, then it is vanity to think we would do it if ever called to it without comfort and in great need, because we have professed faith.

The statistics show that around 15% of the visible church is made up of true believers. It is not our job to find out which is which, and in fact Paul speaks against doing so in Romans. (Rom 10) But if God sends us plagues or famine, he may just sift out the tares from the wheat. And don’t think it can’t happen in our days because it can. God will deliver his True church, and one of those ways will be to build her up so that it is not so weak and so full of false professors as it is now. And let’s be armed and ready for when that happens, by our faith having a sure foundation and being grounded in the Rock. But that wont’ happen by choosing the life of comfort and ease and not denying our own pleasures to pick up the Word of God or other tools to help us better understand it, and so become better Christians.

Let’s set our eyes on eternity, and keep them there; and not take them off, until we have reached the Christian’s true Home. Let’s set out to heavenwards, and let the world and all that glitters in it, not be the thing that robs us of eternity by our being more dazzled by the world we can see that glitters, rather than the hope of things invisible (Heb 11:27) that are yet to come, yet would make this glittering world, look like a bottomless pit.

I hope to get a series of posts out this week, on Reformation history, and how we can apply that to our lives today. This is the first.

There are plenty of things I believe are worth getting up and fighting for over, in the Christian religion. I am a great proponent for purity in worship and returning back to the churches glory days, where Christ reigned in his Church in the manner of which he is to be worshipped. For that reason, even if Providence did not prevent me attending Church, because of chronic illness, there would be very many churches that I could not in good conscience attend, believing I would be partaking of sin to do so just by being there.

However, in America, the Presbyterian church is much more visible than in England, we have 3 Reformed Presbyterian churches of the Scots covenanting tradition,  for the whole of England. But in America, Presbyterianism means different things, many of the Presbyterian churches are quite liberal, and I would call them deformed rather than reformed. If I was the other side of the pond, then in no way could I join myself to any of the Presbyterian churches that fit that description.

BUT, I also think one can have an air of being too exclusive. To make the terms of membership to a church something that many people would have a hard job to square with either conscience or logic as part of the terms of communion and if you do not subscribe to those things, then I think that is unnecessary dividing the house of God, and going further than Scripture warrants. And in doing so, just as those who have wandered away from the Reformed history they were bred from by dethroning God in the practice of worship, then there is the other extreme, of extra creedal and extra Biblical requirements, which is no less schismatic than the first group. The schism in the first group, many Reformed Presybterians who hold to Reformation attainments, , couldn’t join themselves to those churches who have wandered away from them, because it would go against their beliefs and in many cases conscience. It is the sin of those churches in dethroning Christ that causes the need to separate from them, as far as not being able to join with them in worship.

The same with the other end of the extreme. Though I believe they are probably fewer in numbers. Those  that have extra creedal and extra Biblical requirements for joining to their church, which is of course legalism, by adding requirements that God has not imposed, and binding people’s consciences to those requirements is a form of tyranny, because the conscience should be answerable only to the Lord, and not to the doctrines of men. Yet there are some, who hold to these extra creedal requirements for terms of communion. They come from within the Covenanter groups, yet I am a covenanter myself, but not one that will go further than Scripture does, whether its in the liberal way of the first group of “anything goes,” or the exclusivity and extra Biblical strictness of the second group, the steelite covenanters, who clearly go further than Scripture requires to be able to join yourself to their church. But the result of either group, the liberals or the extra creedal churches is schism and unnecessary division. And in the second group, an unhealthy exclusivism, that in no way would the Lord warrant or approve of.

Christ’s priestly prayer of John 17 speaks to me in a way that many other Scriptures don’t. It will move me to tears for the desire of his and what he wants to see for his church of brotherly unity. It’s also interesting, that John Knox, that was the very passage of Scripture on which he “first cast anchor,” and was responsible for his conversion. On his death-bed, he asked his wife to read him again the passage of where he had “first cast anchor,” and the whole priestly prayer of Christ was very dear to him, and I feel a great attachment to that passage myself.

There is a time for separation for the good of Christ and his church, but we should not unnecessarily rent his body apart, on trifles or without Biblical warrant to support the stance we are taking on whatever the matter may be.

I am reading a book by puritan William Ames, called “A Fresh suit against Human ceremonies in God’s worship” Volume one, as the subject of purity in worship, and Christ reigning in his church by what is allowed and what is not allowed in the Worship of God is a subject very dear to me. But despite that, I still don’t believe that there should ever be things from outside of Scripture that causes separation, division, or being set apart and exclusive. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. This is a quote from the William Ames book mentioned above.

There is a.. sort of profound disputers in the world, who apprehending they reach to be beyond the reason and writings of other men, have out of the depth of their judgments, devised a way judiciously to deceive their own souls; and out of their pick-lock subtlety, count it easy to make way for themselves, and maintain their way in any question. And this they do by making a maze of divisions, and cut things in so many shreds, by multitude of distinctions, that at length they lose their cause, the truth, and themselves in the issue, and must of necessity bewilder the reader, unless he be of searching judgment: This kind of distinguishing is like snuffing of the candle that is too near, putting out the light wholly, while they intend to make the light burn more clearly: so do these men darken the truth, professing to discover more of it. When to avoid the dint of argument concerning significant ceremonies and worship, his distinctions are so many and intricate, that one member destroys another, and the true nature of worship also.

Whether the Pharisees in their ceremonies did not pretend more holiness than other men? However, these men, in who effect say to all other men, stand back, I am more holy than thou. [William Ames]

The Gospel and its message was not meant to be shut up and an exclusive club that one may not be good enough to partake of in the worship of God. That kind of exclusivity is both unhealthy and unbiblical. And it perhaps is self serving since in separation from the vast majority of other Christians, they have no obligations with or real sense of brother hood. If that were not true, you could join in their worship service any Lord’s Day of your choosing, in an official public worship setting at least. Yet the terms of communion would make it almost impossible for anyone logical or right minded to be able to subscribe to the terms, so you would not be able to.

The steelites have serious error I believe, and there is a bent of legalism amongst them. That’s not to say they still don’t have a lot of good things about their beliefs and practices, but I still believe the later to be true, and rather than just this post which gives thoughts without Biblical reasons of why, I shall at some later point in time, with the Lord’s assistance in both, discernment, and giving me the time to, address in more detail, with the reasons from Scriptures and creeds, of why it is wrong.

I think it is a very slippery slope actually, when one considers the fiascos at the Edmonton Church who were also like-minded, and they became more and more exclusive and continued to add thing after thing that had no Biblical warrant, to continue being part of their church. The result was, that the church at Edmonton imploded on itself.

However, just because they have some error, I believe at least, and I doubt I am alone in this belief, doesn’t mean one should throw the baby out with the bath water and ignore the good and focus on the bad, or erroneous, or to start bandying words such as cults about them as is commonly done. But I do think they are on a slippery slope. I am a covenanter, through and through. I am not a steelite Covenanter however.

A Fresh Suit Against Human Ceremonies in God's Worship Vol 1 by William Ames

This is the sequel to this post. It will be largely quotes from John Beadle’s diary of a thankful Christian, maybe even entirely.

Ask your own hearts this question, What honour do I bring to God for all this? Do herein as Ahashuerosh did, when he had read what good service Mordecai had done him, in discovering a treason; he asked those about him: What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for all this? So do you, upon a survey of all the good things God hath vouchsafed to you and yours: Hitherto the Lord hath helped me; he hath preserved me from many dangers, supplied me with many comforts, assisted me in many straights, ,afforded me many friends: But what honour hath God from me for all this? I live upon him, but do I live to him? I have all from him, but do I anything for him?…He is never weary I see of doing me good, but am I not weary of doing him service? He is the alpha of all my happiness, why should not he be the omega of all my thankfulness? But may not my conscience answer as those Servants about Ahashuerosh did concerning Mordecai, There hath been nothing done for him? Nay, ,have I not requited him evil for the good he hath done me? If any spirit be grieved, it shall be his; if any day be neglected, it shall be his; if any commandments be broken, they shall be his; if my honour be called for, and I be reproached; if my liberty be threatened, and I be imprisoned; if my wealth or ease be required, and I be damaged or troubled: How hardly comes anything from me for God, that hath done all this for me? so that God may say to me, as David sometimes complained of Nabal, the unthankful churl, In vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness so that nothing was missed of all that to pertained to him; and he hath requited me evil for good.

to give the same thing we receive from a friend, back again is rudeness amongst men; but with God is true religion. Hannah after many payers and tears, received a son from the Lord,, and she returned him back again to the Lord, as long as he lived. What health, strength, peace, liberty, parts,, gifts, we received from God, are best used when they are bestowed on God in his service. And there is nothing lost this way.

God hath done all this for me, and he hath dealt bountifully with me; but what good do o theirs reap by me; either my Prince or Country, the church or state? What good do I in the town where I live? ..Even Seneca could say,, I had rather be sick than idle, and do no good. But it is the greatest affliction to a gracious heart to be wholly unuseful; he had rather not be, than be idle and unprofitable. Every man therefore shall do well to put this query often to his own heart. Of what use are my parts and gifts of body, mind or estate? Yea, is my very example sufficient to others? How do I promote the good of my neighbour by my alms, prayers counsels, labours? It is not sufficient to say, I do no body harm. With which plea, some are well enough satisfied: But remember what question Christ asked his auditors; not What are you; or What know you more than others? but What do you? .. Our charity should be as a running spring at our own doors, that will not only supply our wants, but run through our neighbours pastures, and water the field of a stranger; yea, sometimes cross the high-way and run into a common ditch. Whilst we have opportunity we should do good to all, but especially to the household of faith. Yea, if our enemy hunger, give him food; if he thirst give him drink; for in so doing we shall heap coals of fire upon his head.

Our Saviors counsel was to sell what we have, rather than neglect this duty of doing good. Let him that stole,, steal no more (saith the apostle) but rather let him labour with his hand, the thing that is good. But for what end? that he may have to supply his own wants only? No, but rather that he may have to give to him that needeth: So that there is no man under heaven, ,from the highest Prince to the lowest peasant, that may plead an immunity for this duty of giving. He that giveth to the poor shall not lack. He that soweth liberally, shall reap liberally.

As a wicked fool hath no foe like himself; so a wise Christian hath no friend like himself; who will be a gainer by every loss, and a saver by every comfort. Let every man therefore ask his own heart upon a serious survey this much: Am I bettered by all this health and wealth, and good days; this Gospel of peace, and this peace of the Gospel that I have enjoyed so long? they will leave you better or worse than they find you. But by all these good days, rich mercies, or sharp afflictions, do I grow into more acquaintance with God, the world and mine own heart; with God, ,and his holiness; with the world and its vanity; with my own heart and its deceitfulness; that I may trust him more, and the world and my heart less?

St Augustine had a saying: If you would attain to what you are not, let it grieve you that you are as you are that is,, no better: you are undone if you think that is sufficient.

A devout pilgrim traveling to Jerusalem and by the way visiting many brave cities, with their rare monuments; and meeting with many friendly entertainments; would often say, I must not stay here, this is not Jerusalem.

It is Christ that makes heaven be heaven, and do you long to be there? A wicked man at the day of judgment, might he have his choice, would not go to heaven. Dives in hell torments, when he discoursed with Abraham afar off, did not desire to go to Abraham, but prayed that Lazarus might come to him, he cared more fore ease than heaven; nor did he desire that his five Brethren should go to heaven but that one might be sent to them,to testify to them, that they might not come into the place of torment.–John Beadle

End of Part Two. I hope to conclude this series with another set of quotes by John Beadle over the coming days. I am not actually sure this is from the intended chapter but if not, the originally intended shall be forthcoming. My illness and its cognitive dysfunction makes things like this harder to  keep on top of, but even if this is the incorrect chapter it is still very much related.

Blessedness is a riddle which can only be found out by faith, “which is the evidence of things not seen,” (Heb. xi. 1) That a poor, godly man is counted the filth and off-scouring of all things should be the only happy man; and that the great men of this world who have all things at will never enter into the heart of a natural man, that he hath only the light of sense and carnal reason to judge of things, for to sight and reason, it is nothing so. Wait for the light and power of  the Spirit, to incline and draw thy heart to God.  Many times we are doctrinally right in point of blessedness, but not practically; we content ourselves with the mere notion, but are not brought under the power of these truths; that is the work of the Spirit. It is easy to prove that it is the beasts happiness to enjoy pleasure without remorse; easy to prove the uncertainty of riches, and what unstable foundations they are for the work of the Holy Ghost. “This their way is their folly, yet their posterity approve their sayings” (Psalm xlix. 13). Many a man who stands over the grave of his ancestors, will say, Ah! how foolish they were to waste their time and strength in pleasure, and in hunting after worldly greatness, and esteem and favour with men; what doth is profit them now? And yet their posterity approve the same; that is, they live by the same principles, are as greedy upon worldy satsifactions as ever those were that have gone before that neglected God and heavenly things, and went down to the grave and their honour was laid in the dust. Until the Lord take off our heart by the light and power of his grace, we remain as sottish and foolish and wordly as they. [Thomas Manton--sermons on Psalm 119 volume 1]

The poor and off-scouring of all things, often become despised even among God’s people,  because they have been tried and tested in ways, that those who esteem them less because of natural infirmity in poverty, while those who like the above, find it easy to talk about blessedness, yet never seem to put that to practice to any extent, and  demonstrate they do actually depend on worldly comforts before that of the God that  they claim is theres, remain well thought of, because they are not tested the same, and talk is cheap, and words and actions are two entirely different things.  I have seen this demonstrated, by both affliction and riches, far away from my own situtation and circumstances,  yet the off-scouring of the world, who became impoverished,  and lost respect through natural infirmity, proved by their actions, the far sounder Christian, and the one who was really following God and seeking to do his will above others.  It seems to me often, that people will remain well thought of, simply because they have an easy time of it and are not pressed the same way as others,  but its often a case of talk is easy, and if even in comfort we show ourselves earthly minded,  and do not do the will of God in many respects, then we have little right to think ourselves better than those who have become impoverished, as the off scouring of all things.

Give me the off-scouring as my friend any time, above those who even in comfort fall far short of doing God’s will, yet remain well respected because they are not pressed the same,  as that off-scouring generally, will be the man or woman who follows God no matter where He leads them and proves their faith as practial and experimental, and not merely notional.  Theology and doctrine maketh no man or woman.  Comfort allows us to talk a good talk. But give me the off-scouring please, because they are the ones who are approved, and show themselves to be far more than notional or theoretical religion in faith and practice.

Of course, fellowship and friendship will always be a good thing, whether with the impoverished and off-scouring of all things, or those on easier times, as long as they are men and women who hold to experimental religion and not alot of notional, as in Manton’s quote.  But the same applies to any scenario, rich or poor, if we hold more to notional religion than experimental, we may gain the applause of men,  our learning  may profit them more in this life, than it will us in the next.  As we have not really proved anything as far as practice when that is the case,  and only God can really know if we be approved when that is the case.  The off-scouring however, stands approved as much as anyone can be.

I didn’t manage to get back to continuing loving one’s neighbour as ourself yesterday, though this post is not entirely unrelated,  if the Lord gives me time, strength and assitance to be able to, I hope to pick it back up over the next day or two.

This is a subject that has been weighing on me heavily for months. I have a somewhat unique view into some things because of the extent of my sufferings, that come under the heading of what Calvin termed “Extraordinary,” being outside most normal human experiences. I don’t plan to repeat any of them here, if you are not familar with this blog then I may suggest you read my “About” page.

I am going to be quoting extensively from John Beadle’s diary of a thankful Christian in this post and I am not sure  if I will be able to finish it in one single blog post or if there will need to be a part two out of neccessity out of consideration for readers time. I am posting it with the hopes of getting it out of my system instead of it continuing to burden me, and in the hope of doing some good, to any one else who any reader may know either now or in future who is in need of loving ones neighbour as yourself if they are in severe afflictions.

The response to this degree of suffering has also been extraordinary for the most part, from the Church, who as a church we should propogate love and  nurture each others spiritual well being, and the exact opposite for the most part was done. But this has however been weighing more heavily on me than ever before, through knowing others in dire affliction, outside the normal severity, and seeing the same thing propagated towards them, by folks who criticised those who had acted thus towards myself.  For me this is the thing that has led to me feel weighed down, both on behalf of the church, and God’s glory,  and if folks who we love are harmed needlessly it should bother us greatly.  If we love our neighbour as ourself at least.

In my opinion, it boils down to this: How much do we love our neighbour; do we love them as we love ourself?  And how thankful are we to God for the good things and blessings and comparative ease we find ourselves in?  The one, it is my belief has a direct bearing on the other.

The obvious example of Scripture is the book of Job. Whatever one thinks about the right royal shipwreck his friends made of trying to help him, their attempts were noble, and they sacrificed to do so.  We have every reason to suppose they too were prosperous men, being friends of Job, and also because of their speeches as regards prosperity as it related to being God’s children. The Bible itself tells us they were also righteous men.  They got it wrong, because even the most noble men of God, are not free of error or infallible,  but the point is, their intent and desire above anything else was to help Job.  They left their own prosperous lives behind, (which we can assume I think also included family, we have no reason to assume they were any different than most men of that age in that regards) they left it all though, to go to be with, and uphold and support their friend who was in such dire need and trouble. They loved their neighbour as themself, even in their mistaken belief that Job was not a righteous man, or it would not have all befallen him as it did. They sat in an ash heap with Job and never said a word for an entire week, they showed their love to him by that act alone; their regard for his well being and showing solidarity with him standing shoulder to shoulder with him in it, holding him up by their silent support. Who knows in those days also, how long the journey they had undertaken to be with him took aside from the time they were actually with him. Sometimes to those in severe affliction,  companionable silence can be more meaningful than words that will do harm rather than help.  They sacrficed their own pleasures, and things they could enjoy at home, being in the bosom of their families, in other words they denied themselves to the uttermost, to go and uphold and support Job in his trial.

What often seems to be forgotten in our days of ease and comfort today, is that by serving each other, we are also serving Christ. Christ said there is no greater love than a man who will lay down his life for his friends, [John 15:13] and in  way that is what Job’s friends did, because they cast their own lives, their own interests aside, in favour of  trying to help their friend.  If God gives us many blessings, then the more thankful we have to be, and the more willingly we should be to part or deprive ourself of them for a time to do the service of the Lord towards our brethren.  Children are blessings;  they should make one so full up with thanks to God, that we are brimming over with it, and that be displayed in our actions in our sevice to the Lord. With many children comes many responsibilites, but our first priority should always be to the service of the Lord, and HIS church. When we serve each other in the church, then we do indeed serve God. We shouldn’t set limits or boundaries on how much we are going to give Mr X or Mrs Y, or we are putting boundaries on how much we are willing to give  back to God, in grateful return for all he has given us, and the one debt of his precious Son’s blood that can never be repaid. If we are thankful, it will show, and this is one of the major ways, because it is the sum and substance of the Law of God.  To serve God and put God before any other creature, (that includes our nearest and dearest) and to fulfil the law by loving one’s neighbour as we do ourself.

Joseph Caryl in his exposition on Job, had much to say about the special blessings that children are. They are the greatst blessing God can give any man.  He can be read here and here on this subject.  The more our quiver is full of arrows, the greater the blessing from  God which despite the responsibility both financially and for their care, the gratitude we should have towards God for giving us them, remembering that they are not our own, and we deserve nothing good, each of us is deserving of hell, should make us put our service to God, before our enjoyment of our children or other blessings God has bestowed upon us.  If we do not, we have unthankful hearts, and are making idols of our children by putting them before our first service which should always be to God.

From John Beadle pp.124

When you have an opportunity of doing good, never plead you have many children. Cyprian had wont to say, The more children, the more charity.

Charity comes out of a thankful heart. That God has given us any good thing in this life, when we are nothing but poor worms crawling about in dungheaps. If God has given us many blessings, we should remember those blessings belong to him, are on loan to us, and he can take them back at any time, and he may do that, if we put them as the idols over our service to God, and that often comes in the form of our service to each other, and the church, and even to the stranger. Virgina is for Hugueont’s had an interesting post on Who is my Neighbour.
But when it comes to those we call our friends, have enjoyed sweet fellowship together and share the same religion with them, the desire to do good to them, should be even greater, the desire to deny our own pleasures in favour of taking up the service of God, and to love our neighbour as ourself, which if we do any less, we do not do, and break the whole law by not doing, should be borne our of love to both God and man, that the Lord is our first Love, and his service our first objective in all of life, and to love our neighbour as ourself, which if we do so, we will take their afflictions to heart as much as if they were our own, and help them bear it, weep with those who weep, and actively seek to relieve them, with no boundaries on time or thinking about the cost of what we may have to deny ourselves by doing so, becuase the things we deny ourselves for a short time of, do not belong to us anyway, they belong to the Lord, and he has only loaned them us, and he loans us things of a temporal nature, whether that be worldly riches or intimiate family relations, on the understanding that the Christians, always puts him and our service to him, and therefore show our love to him, and to show our thankfulness for him above anything or anyone else, FIRST. God is a jealous God. He will not share that glory with another. And he will not be robbed of it, by us putting anything of the world before Him. If we do anything less, then we show we love ourself far more than we do our neighbour and we value our own comforts before our service to God, as if we somehow deserve or merit them. And we also love ourself above our love to God. If we are also not thus self-sacrificing for our friends, as Job’s friends were in his trial, then it feels a betrayal to the person you call your friend while showing contempt to them by trying to assist them so little, and in some cases Psalm 55 may come to mind, especially if rather than helping, we actively make them worse.

I will leave this here for today for the readers’ convenience, but part two, will follow (DV) tomorrow.

When I imported my wordpress posts to here, not all of them did import. This is one such post and its a subject much on my mind today, because even ~some~ covenanters do not have the Covenanter Standard. It takes more than covenanter theology to make a covenanter it takes the heart and spirit and nobility of it too. If we just rely on our theology to represent us being covenanters, then we are little different to Mr Talkative in Pilgrim’s Progress. People who claim covenanting as their faith, should posses the noble spirit of those brave men and women yet I have seen up close and personal how this is not so in all cases. Including just again recently, when I revisited soemthing to try and tie up loose ends and got the ungodly, unchrist like response that I was used to getting from that source. If the Covenanter wars today, were current. I think with that kind of example of covenanters today, they may just be in a lot of trouble.

The standard of religion adopted by the Covenanted Church demands that
Covenanters possess the noblest spirit. They, who rally in earnest under
this banner, will be men after God’s own heart. Such were the martyrs:
kind, patient, self-sacrificing, passionately in love with Christ, and
laboring diligently to bring others into the same sphere of blessedness.
They were strong, heroic, and unconquerable; affectionate, intelligent,
filled with veneration for God, and aflame with zeal for His House.
Those Covenanters knew that they were redeemed, and gloried in their
relation and obligation to the Lord Jesus Christ, their Almighty
Redeemer. They flew into every service at His command. Their obedience
was accompanied with much assurance of salvation. They had heaven on
earth. The heaven of glory was merely an extension of their vista, an
enlargement of their horizon, higher up the mountain that they were
climbing, more spiritual ozone in the air they were breathing. They
dwelt with God, lived in Jesus Christ, felt the raptures of the Holy
Spirit; they knew the mystery of the cross, the value of the Blood, and
the power of the spiritual resurrection. Therefore were they swallowed
up in love to God and man. Are we amazed at the divine beauty of the
martyr’s life? Let us have the same heartiness, the same vision of God,
the same joy in the Holy Spirit, and we will have the key to the
nobleness of the martyr. The Covenant with God, when kept, produces
holiness, tenderness, charitableness, and divinest sympathy; turns life
into an overflowing fountain of goodness. They, who follow the Banner of
the Covenant in spirit and in truth, will aim at the very climax of
Christian character, moral culture, and heroic service through Jesus
Christ. [From Sketches of the Covenanters by J.C. McFeeters]

Till we get that same standard back, there will be no reviving of the Covenants I believe, in Scotland nor any place else. If we claim to be Covenanters, then lets please have their spirts and hearts and nobility, or not claim to be so.

This is also something I need to keep in mind, having come off a little more zealous than I had intended or hoped once or twice of late, myself.

Sorry ladies, you are not excluded from this blog post, I’m one meself ya  know! We may not smoke pipes or wear slippers, (perish that thought!) but it applies to Calvinists whatever gender they may be.

I am proud to be a Calvinist. No one who has read my blog for any length of time could not know that. I am proud of my reformed heritage and the great battle of the REformation when truth tried to be blighted and many brave men, women and children lost thier lives for sake of the truth. Who couldn’t be proud of such a heritage? But,  Calvinism should not just be an intellectual thing but a heart thing, true faith cannot be anything else. Yet, in the few short years I have been a Christian, a Calvinistic one from the word go, its been my experience that there is a brand of Calvinistic Christian on the internet who seem to do duels in intellectual, theological, philosopical debates, and often do so, so ungraciously and arrogantly, and do the Reformed cause much harm, that there intellectual powers or abilities to debate and win the day is what is at stake, not defending Christ or His Cause. Not to defend the truth. Of course I’m sure at times we’ve all said or done things in the heat of a discussion we wish we had done another way, or said more softly or gentler.  I’m sure we’ve all had moments of being zealots without love.  And whilst not condoning that, (and I am more guilty of this than many I know) I do think when its a case of stepping up to the plate in a debate to show off our intellectual powers, our knowledge of theology and then proceed in arrogance to browbeat our opponents into submission, not neccessarily with the truth but with our own puffed up sense of importance because we know something someone else doesn’t, it then becomes a matter of pride and has nothing at all to do with defending God’s glory or honour or the truth.

Theonomists in my limited experience often come across as harsh, unloving Christians.  I have yet to meet one who understood theonomy in its entirety who doesn’t. The fact they come across as such however, doesn’t make the subject they are defending, (Theonomy) untrue or false just because they present it in a dogmatic over-bearing way. But they do their cause little favour by doing so. I’m of  course not saying I think theonomy is right here,  you may need to go back several months of posts to see my views on theonomy, but this is not a repeat. I repeat, this is not a repeat! (alternatively my thoughts on some theonomists are written HERE)

But the pipe and slippers calvinist seems to put intellectualism above truth. The truth is living out what we profess not bandying with words or terms that confound our opponent and make ourselves look way ahead in the brains department than the rest.  Christianity, whether Calvinism or any other brand, should be accompanied by humility, yet the pipe and slippers Calvinist seems to leave theres at the door, and may not pick it up on the way out cos they can come back again just as arrogant as previously for the next round. I have heard Calvinism in general termed as unloving and harsh. I’m not sure if by this the theology of Calvinism is meant, or the Calvinist’s themselves. I know many folks think John Calvin came across as such an individual yet anyone who has studied his life knows he was a man of piety and humble spirit even whilst beliving the truth for all time is what should be put out there.

I struggle with not feeling the brainiest person in the world. Well even in my immediate locale it wouldn’t take much to find someone more brainy than moi! But when I see how some folks use their brains as secret weapons to put others down, to be the big I am as far as knowledge and only having the right opinion and being completely closed to thinking anyone else may have a truthful opinion they hadn’t yet thought of,  since we are all prone to pride I am glad at times not to be a Bob in case I too got tempted into this icy intellectualism that forgets we are dealing with human hearts. The internet seems to breed such Christians, and while I have experienced both ends of the scale, those who fit the icy intellectualism description along with those of humble heart and meek spirit who still get the truth out there,  but in much kinder terms, its easy to see which type of people are the ones who folks respect as Christians and are willing to listen and discuss with them.

I’m sure we all could be a pipe and slippers calvinist where our brains and knowledge made our  ego enlarge  but Heaven forbid.  But the fad the last few years has been for Calvinists to go online, show off thier debating skills, and there “superior” brand of learning and by icy intellectualism which has very little  root it seems in heart knowledge, go on to try to brow beat there opponent by it, rather than discussing in an edifying God, glorifying way.

May God gives us all the humble heart of Christ, who never compromised the truth, and would rebuke sin frequently, but who never puffed himself up with knowledge and superiority and was definity NOT  a  kind of pipe and slippers Calvinist it has been often my misfortune to come across in the online world in recent years.

As Calvin himself said in his institutes:

This is the place to address those who, having nothing of Christ but the name and sign, would yet be called Christians. How dare they boast of this sacred name? None have intercourse with Christ but those who have acquired the true knowledge of him from the Gospel. The Apostle denies that any man truly has learned Christ who has not learned to put off “the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and put on Christ,” (Ephesians 4:22.) They are convicted, therefore, of falsely and unjustly pretending a knowledge of Christ, whatever be the volubility and eloquence with which they can talk of the Gospel. Doctrine is not an affair of the tongue, but of the life; is not apprehended by the intellect and memory merely, like other branches of learning; but is received only when it possesses the whole soul, and finds its seat and habitation in the inmost recesses of the heart. Let them, therefore, either cease to insult God, by boasting that they are what they are not, or let them show themselves not unworthy disciples of their divine Master. To doctrine in which our religion is contained we have given the first place, since by it our salvation commences; but it must be transfused into the breast, and pass into the conduct, and so transform us into itself, as not to prove unfruitful. If philosophers are justly offended, and banish from their company with disgrace those who, while professing an art which ought to be the mistress of their conduct, convert it into mere loquacious sophistry, with how much better reason shall we detest those flimsy sophists who are contented to let the Gospel play upon their lips, when, from its efficacy, it ought to penetrate the inmost affections of the heart, fix its seat in the soul, and pervade the whole man a hundred times more than the frigid discourses of philosophers?[John Calvin]I think this post should have been subjected by my new mantra of “You’re so vain, you probably think this blog is about you”