Archive for the 'Books General' Category

Reading Lite

Josh April 16th, 2007

As I may have whined about already, I’m working full time and going to school full time. Thus, because I am a simpleton, I have not been as apt to keep up with my reading of the Puritans and Reformers as of late (though I have been touching a little Gurnall here and there). I’ve pretty much been sticking with my M’Cheyne Bible Reading and my boring text books from school. However, I have to get some relief- so I picked up a new book today for light reading. John MacArthur’s new release, The Truth War: Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception. I look forward to having this small bit of escape.

Though MacArthur is neither a Puritan or a Reformer (especially since he thinks Calvin would be a dispensational premillenialist!), he is nonetheless an excellent preacher and writer (on most things). I have always appreciated his books which show the complete absurdity of modern evanjellyfish thought. My two particular favorites of his are The Gospel According to Jesus and The Gospel According to the Apostles, in which he triumphantly and thoroughly exposes those modern easy believism teachers who seem to think that repentance is optional and wholly separated from faith.

Anyway, I just thought I’d share. Godspeed.

Life/Persecution, Sin, Humility/Mercy, Justice, Comfort…

Josh March 13th, 2007

I have not a few things on my heart and mind these last few days: First, there is life in all its complexities. Within these complexities arises persecution. No, I’m not going hungry (as the padding on my tummy will show). No, I’m not without clothes or shelter. I do not have to wonder if I’ll have enough money for this or that. Nor am I being asked, told, or demanded to renounce or recant my faith in Christ. None of the above.

This persecution is a very subtle thorn indeed. Only I (and the Lord) can know it or see it presently, while others must just trust my word when given. From the outside, it looks so innocent and unharmful…but it’s not. It brings sadness to my life, not ultimately because it hurts me personally (and it does, no doubt), but because it hurts those whom I love and adore. It is just life.

So, this life and the persecution wrought therein often drives me to see myself for what I am: a worm. I serve the God of peace, and of Whom I am most grateful. The God of the Scriptures Who grants mercy and Who exacts justice on the guilty. The God Who keeps covenant with men - The God of Promise. I serve the Almighty God…that is, when I’m not serving the god of self. :( 

O, the sorrow that ensues when I do not fix my eyes upon the Author and Finisher of my faith, King Jesus. The sin which so easily entangles does just that - and I get twisted in its snare. A quote from the good Dr. Owen is most applicable:

Let no man think to kill sin with few, easy, or gentle strokes. He who hath once smitten a serpent, if he follow not on his blow until he be slain, may repent that ever he began the quarrel. And so will he who undertakes to deal with sin, and pursues it not constantly to the death.

And this awful reminder of what I am (a sinner) lowers me into that blessed, yet lowered state called humility (of which I do not possess enough). This is a blessed condition that shows me God has not left me alone to die in my sins. No He’s still chiselling away the once soft clay that’s been a bit hardened by neglecting spiritual graces. Ah what a great thing it is to know the chastening of the Lord. In this all, I’m reminded that its God’s kindness which leads to repentance. In granting me this repentance He has shown me His great mercy.

With His mercy placing me back within the sweet realm of a pure conscience before God, I may rest in His grace and feast upon His Word again with clarity and discernment. As I look at Biblical history, I see His justice always prevailing. Then, as I recall this previously mentioned persecution I’m then reminded that God will let no sin go unpunished. He demands justice. So this sorrow that pervades my heart can be greatly diminished even while in this body of flesh. Yes, I can take solace even in pain my loved ones and I experience because of God’s perfect and holy justice- knowing that those who bring persecution, no matter how smooth, subtle, or covert, will one day be brought to account before a thrice holy God.

And, good people, what does this confidence in God’s justice produce? Comfort from the God of all comfort. Even in my faithlessness, He is faithful. Thus, he works all my life, persecution, and sin to bring me humility, that He might show His mercy, justice, and comfort for my good and to His glory - so that I may say with sincere and true heart, “Blessed be the Name of the Lord.” Amen.  

Some More on Christian Armour

Josh February 8th, 2007

Look closely at the label to see whether the armour you wear is the workmanship of God or not. There are many imitations on the market nowadays. It is Satan’s game, if he cannot keep the sinner satisfied in his naked, lustful state, to coax him into some flimsy thing or other that by itself will neither do him good nor Satan harm. Perhaps it is church attendance, or good works, or some self-imposed penance by which he intends to impress both God and man. Do such impersonators believe in God? Oh, they hope they are not infidels. But what their armour is, or how they came by it, and whether it will hold up in an evil day, they never stop to question. Thus thousands perish who supposed they were armed against Satan, death, and judgment - when all along they were miserable and naked. These people are worse off thann those who have not a rag of pretense to hide their shame from the world’s gaze.

To most of us, a careful copy of a masterpiece looks quite as good as the original. But when the master himself appears, he can tell in an instant which is real and which the imposter. It is the same with that self-righteous hypocrite who is a pretender to faith and hope in God. Here is a man in glittering array with his weapon in his hand. With the sharp sword of his tongue he keeps both the preacher and the Word of God at arm’s length: ‘Who can say I am not a saint? Name one commandment I do not keep, one duty I neglect!’ he demands indignantly. Many are impressed by his seeming piety. It takes the Spirit’s discerning eye to expose him because Satan has so cleverly tampered with him already. He must first be disarmed and unclothed of his own filthy self-righteousness, because God’s armour can never be made to fit over the suit he fashioned for himself. On the other hand, the soul that stands naked and humble before God is fully aware of the magnitude of his need for help. Which would you say is easier: to set a freshly broken bone, or to attempt the repair of one that has already been falsely mended?

Oh, pious hypocrite, either deny the name of Christ, whose insignia you only pretend to march after, or throw away the phony armour of self-righteousness and come to Him in true repentance. Do not dare to call anything the armour of God which does not gloriy Him and defend you against the power of Satan.

-William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour

A Real Puritan Blogger

Josh January 30th, 2007

If there had been blogs in the Puritan era, and I could pick one of those gentlemen whose blog I’d look forward to every day, I think I’d have to go with William Gurnall. While reading through his The Christian in Complete Armour, I’ve noticed that most of Gurnall’s words can be used effectively in both collective form, or with certain passages isolated. Even these, when taken from their larger context, have wonderful, poignant, and biblically consistent messages. They are stand alone tidbits of good and practical Christian theology.

Needless to say, Gurnall would make for a much better blogger than I, or for that matter, most people. I’ve enjoyed almost everything I’ve read thus far in Complete Armour. There’s definitely more of it marked up by my pen than not. “They being dead, yet speak…” may certainly and aptly describe the works of this faithful Puritan author. Allow me to once again whet your appetites to the Puritans of old.

On true godliness:

Your morals may be impeccable, but if you do not worship God, then you are an atheist. If you worship Him and that devoutly, but not according to Scripture, you are an idolator. If according to the rule, but not according to the spirit of the gospel, then you are a hypocrite.

Concerning temptation:

If you wish to stand firm in the midst of suffering, forewarn yourself of this fact: Temptation is never stronger than when relief seems to dress itself in the very sin that Satan is suggesting.

On Satan’s devices:

If you want to be protected from your enemy as a troubler, you must take heed of him as a seducer. You can be sure he takes heed of you! The handle of the hatchet with which he chops at the root of the Christian’s comfort is commonly made of the Christian’s own wood. Satan is only a creature and cannot work without tools. He can indeed make much from a little, but he cannot make anything out of nothing. We see this in his assault on Christ, where he troubled himself to no purpose because he came and found nothing in Him (John 14:30).

And so, I think it’s safe to say that William Gurnall may turn out to be one of my favorite Puritan authors. I encourage you to bask in the wealth of the Puritans and make good on their writings which are available to you.

Quote from Sibbes

Josh January 14th, 2007

Consider James 1:2-4 again. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Now a quote from Richard Sibbes:

Christ took upon Him our nature, and in that nature suffered hunger and was subject to all infirmities; therefore when we are put to difficulties in our callings, to troubles for a good conscience, or to any hardship in the world, we must labor for contentment, because we are only with hardness made conformable unto Christ; we suffer, then reign with Him (Romans 8:17).

 

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