The Wanderer

Hampstead L.M.

I would not put my Christ to shame,
By living with an empty name;
Not lightly with the righteous sit
But prove at last a hypocrite.

[ It’s not the battle that I fear
But secret ties to sins too dear;
Some lust that will not bow the knee
But takes the throne where Christ should be. ]

A rebel heart for sin a womb:
A polished bowl, a whitewashed tomb,
That wears its righteousness outside –
Within the horrors still abide:

A sinful habit not confessed;
A cherished passion much caressed;
A wanton glance of gross desire
That gathers fuel for the fire.

A mind in filthiness immersed;
The path of folly much traversed;
Sin’s passing pleasures not released;
Deep-hid iniquities increased.

[ Here in the secret place you look,
Each human heart an open book,
Each thought and intent of the mind
Is plain to you, though men are blind. ]

So search me, Lord, my actions try,
If sin will not then I must die –
The whole of life a battlefield,
And everything to Jesus yield.

So as I go – within, without –
Let all things show there is no doubt:
No lie, no show, no veil, no sham,
What I profess be what I am:

The true wheat from the holy seed,
And not a damned but gilded weed,
Christ’s striving servant through and through,
And prove at last a Christian true.

©JRW

See all hymns and psalms.

Brian Croft with two interesting nuggets on the role of young mothers in caring for widows and concluding that someone is not called to gospel ministry. The latter seems to focus on the pastoral office, though it has illumination for other circumstances.

I think you will find that, for the most part, our words could be used more sparingly, and it would honor Jesus and serve our brothers and sisters better.

If you agree, you might want to read this, and apply its principles beyond assisting pastors.

Joseph Steels asks and seeks to answer these questions:

But what exactly is Puritan preaching? How may it be properly distinguished from other forms of preaching? Why has its influence been so palatably [sic] felt by succeeding generations?

It is an interesting and carefully-researched answer, and worth chewing over. Perhaps that is why he uses the word palatably rather than palpably?

Dan Phillips has his tongue mainly in his cheek as he offers 26 ways in which doing IT Support is better than being a pastor.

Kevin DeYoung uncovers a two part letter from Screwtape to Wormwood, advising him on how to deal with young men and women heading off to university. Read it and heed it.

In two parts. Thought-provoking and challenging.

Iain D. Campbell is reviewing the Puritan Reformed Conference (one, two and three so far) on the beauty and glory of Christ. Despite what seems an unfortunate tendency to miss sessions through double-bookings that constantly surprise him, he cannot speak highly enough of this conference, and urges us to listen to these messages any way we can. I will let you know if and when these become readily available.

For those interested, progress continues on A Portrait of Paul (more information).

With regard to the volume itself, an intense period of editing resulted in a good few changes, but nothing major. The delightful editor was a joy to work with.  Typesetting continues apace, and the interior design looks clear and attractive. We do not have a date for publication yet, but I am informed that it is not far off.

With regard to distribution, we have a good spread of availability in the US, and we are working hard to ensure that the book is readily available in the UK, which looks likely. God willing, all three of you who would like a copy should be able to get one.

With regard to endorsements, my co-author continues to perform minor miracles in finding people who appreciate the book and encouraging them to provide positive reports. We have a generous video endorsement (more to follow on that in due course) and another written endorsement from Philip H. Towner, Dean of the Nida Institute for Biblical Scholarship at the American Bible Society and author of The Letters to Timothy and Titus in the NICNT series:

As the diverse churches of the world have demonstrated throughout history, there is no better place to turn, when confronted with the complexities of pastoral leadership, than the Scriptures.  Each church in each generation must revisit this resource and view it anew through its particular historical, theological, cultural and political lens. The authors of A Portrait of Paul engage precisely in this task. With Colossians as their main laboratory, they probe the text and engage Paul in a conversation about pastoral ministry—its priorities, foundation, and potential—and a profile of pastoral mission and leadership emerges. All who read this book will discover an invitation to join this rich conversation and take away numerous fresh perspectives to challenge and shape their thinking.

To be frank, I was not entirely aware that this was what I had done, but I am glad that someone is ready to put it like that!

At the moment, orders can be placed with Reformation Heritage Books as well as Westminster Bookstore, Monergism Books, Christian Book Distributors (CBD), and Grace Books International.

William G. Blaikie comments on Jesus’ question to Mary, “Do you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?”

The question implies that Mary knew something of the aims and feelings of Jesus and therefore leads us to think of the intercourse they must have had together on such topics. It carries our thoughts to the nurture and admonition of the Lord in which she would bring Him up. And deeply interesting it is to consider what must have been the lessons which she would teach Him as soon as He was able to understand the Old Testament and its wonderful stories. It was her privilege to begin at a different point from all other mothers: she would not need to urge Him to give His heart to God; but, finding it with God already, would rather seek to develop and ripen the spirit of consecration, dwelling eagerly on the lives of those who had been remarkable for their devotion: of Enoch and Abraham, of Moses and Caleb and Joshua, of Samuel and David, and the long chain of godly men who, often in the face of bitter persecution, had worked so bravely for God in the world. And how apt a learner she must have found Him! How soon would His sympathies show themselves on the right side! How soon would the desire shape itself to take up the old banner, and continue the old work; to vindicate the Divine law, so shamefully trampled on; to draw men to love and honour the Father, and to walk in righteousness before him all the days of their lives! How early must this have appeared to Jesus the grandest object for which men could live! How soon must all other modes and purposes of life – the pursuit of wealth, or of pleasure, or of fame, or even of wisdom and learning considered in themselves – have dwindled into insignificance, compared with a life devoted to the glory of God and the highest good of man!  It is plain that Jesus was possessed with such thoughts from His childhood; even at the age of twelve, the purpose to devote His life to the work of His Father had banished all rivals from His heart.  Formally, Mary might continue to be His teacher, and never would her Son consciously make the office painful to her; yet how soon must she have felt that she had more need to learn of Him than He of her, whether the lessons might be lessons of the understanding or lessons of the heart.  (Glimpses of the Inner Life of Our Lord, Tentmaker Publications, 1995, 9-10)

Which of us, like Mary, does not find his heart exposed by the heart of this child?  Which of us does not realise that he needs to sit at the feet even of the boy Jesus, and discover what true consecration looks like?  Which of us does not need to learn from him, whether the lessons might be of the understanding or of the heart?

Al Mohler discusses ‘failure to launch’ – the extension of adolescence and the postponement of adulthood:

Every family and local congregation has its work cut out for it in facing this challenge. The Church would demonstrate the power of the Gospel in a whole new way by assisting young people into the successful and faithful transition to adulthood, celebrating this transition as a matter of spiritual maturity to the glory of Christ. These young adults are desperately needed for the cause of Christ, and many are indeed making their way into authentic adulthood with faithfulness, energy, conviction, and excitement. Let’s pray that their example is infectious.

Kevin DeYoung writes:

There are two kinds of Christians: those who like to rebuke and do it often and those who are scared to rebuke and never do it. The irony is both kinds of Christians are prone to sin. Those who enjoy giving a good rebuke are usually the least qualified to give one, while those who would rather do almost anything else are often the very people who would serve the body best with their correction.

We live in a strange day. With email, blogs, and social media, rebuking has never been easier. And yet in a culture of hurt feelings and thin skin, rebuking has never been more suspect.

So which is it? Do Christians rebuke too much or too little? Well, of course, that depends. Some Christians are limp noodles. Others are trigger happy. One-size advice does not fit all. We need wisdom.

He seeks to give some of that Biblical wisdom in three posts on why we rebuke, when to rebuke, and how to rebuke and receive rebuke.  There is some good stuff here.

In two posts, Carl Trueman goes to Luther’s Table Talk to identify nine marks of a good preacher:

The first five are: ability to teach; possession of a good head; eloquence; clarity of speech; and a good memory. The list is interesting because it focuses first on practicalities, things often lost in the romantic spiritual notions of ministry we often have. In short, the person should be able to think and speak clearly, two traits which are often intimately connected. It seems like common sense, but these basic elements are often neglected by churches, seminaries, sessions, elder boards, presbyteries and classes. To put it bluntly: if you cannot put a decent, clear sentence into English and speak it in a way that others can understand, you are not called to the ministry, no matter how much that inner voice tells you that God is calling you to preach, or your mum tells you you’d make a wonderful pastor.

For further comment on the first five, see here; the second four are here.  As usual with Mr T (and, for that matter, Mr L), it’s stimulating stuff.

John Cennick, a faithful preacher and bold evangelist, wrote a hymn, the last verse of which is powerful:

Now will I tell to sinners round
What a dear Saviour I have found!
I’ll point to Thy redeeming blood,
And say, ‘Behold the way to God!’

They are indeed stirring words, and it is easy to sing them fervently and earnestly within the safe confines of the walls of a home or church building.  But when Cennick wrote them he meant them, and he lived them.  Having obtained salvation and the assurance of it, he was bold and quick to point others to the same Saviour who had delivered him.  May we know the same joy of salvation, and the same boldness to make known our Saviour.

Seraph  D.C.M.

Psalm 27
The Lord is my salvation sure,
My light: whom shall I fear?
My strength of life: why tremble then
When God, my God, is near?
Though enemies should seek my life
And armies camp around,
My heart will cling to Christ alone,
In him my hope is found.

One thing I’ve wanted of the Lord,
One thing alone I’ve sought,
That I may dwell for all my days
Within his glorious court;
His beauty there I will behold,
Inquire before his face,
And in the time of trouble find
A holy hiding-place.

When he in triumph lifts my head,
A sacrifice of praise
My willing heart shall gladly give
In song through all my days.
You called in mercy, “Seek my face;”
My heart replied, “I will”:
You’ll not forsake when others fail,
But be my Father still.

Then lead me in your way, O Lord,
And make that pathway plain;
From enemies deliver me,
And let them rage in vain;
My feeble heart would quickly fail,
Unless I could believe
That in this life of toil and tears
Your goodness I’d receive.

This goodness and your beauty shine
In Christ your glorious Son,
Your faithfulness is known in him
By whom our heaven is won.
Wait on the Lord, then, do not faint;
With courage stand assured;
In Christ your heart shall be made strong:
In faith wait on the Lord!

©JRW

See all hymns and psalms.

Since three people forwarded this to me, I feel as much obliged to share it as I ever feel obliged to do anything.  It is an article in the Wall Street Journal by Brett McCracken taking aim at “‘wannabe cool’ Christianity”. Although Kevin DeYoung raises a warning signal about some of the statistics, McCracken develops several themes that I have attempted to highlight before. Here is the full article:

‘How can we stop the oil gusher?” may have been the question of the summer for most Americans. Yet for many evangelical pastors and leaders, the leaking well is nothing compared to the threat posed by an ongoing gusher of a different sort: Young people pouring out of their churches, never to return.

As a 27-year-old evangelical myself, I understand the concern. My peers, many of whom grew up in the church, are losing interest in the Christian establishment.  Recent statistics have shown an increasing exodus of young people from churches, especially after they leave home and live on their own. In a 2007 study, Lifeway Research determined that 70% of young Protestant adults between 18-22 stop attending church regularly. Statistics like these have created something of a mania in recent years, as baby-boomer evangelical leaders frantically assess what they have done wrong (why didn’t megachurches work to attract youth in the long term?) and scramble to figure out a plan to keep young members engaged in the life of the church.

Increasingly, the “plan” has taken the form of a total image overhaul, where efforts are made to rebrand Christianity as hip, countercultural, relevant. As a result, in the early 2000s, we got something called “the emerging church”—a sort of postmodern stab at an evangelical reform movement. Perhaps because it was too “let’s rethink everything” radical, it fizzled quickly. But the impulse behind it—to rehabilitate Christianity’s image and make it “cool”—remains.

There are various ways that churches attempt to be cool. For some, it means trying to seem more culturally savvy. The pastor quotes Stephen Colbert or references Lady Gaga during his sermon, or a church sponsors a screening of the R-rated “No Country For Old Men.” For others, the emphasis is on looking cool, perhaps by giving the pastor a metrosexual makeover, with skinny jeans and an $80 haircut, or by insisting on trendy eco-friendly paper and helvetica-only fonts on all printed materials. Then there is the option of holding a worship service in a bar or nightclub (as is the case for L.A.’s Mosaic church, whose downtown location meets at a nightspot called Club Mayan).

“Wannabe cool” Christianity also manifests itself as an obsession with being on the technological cutting edge. Churches like Central Christian in Las Vegas and Liquid Church in New Brunswick, N.J., for example, have online church services where people can have a worship experience at an “iCampus.” Many other churches now encourage texting, Twitter and iPhone interaction with the pastor during their services.

But one of the most popular—and arguably most unseemly—methods of making Christianity hip is to make it shocking. What better way to appeal to younger generations than to push the envelope and go where no fundamentalist has gone before?  Sex is a popular shock tactic. Evangelical-authored books like “Sex God” (by Rob Bell) and “Real Sex” (by Lauren Winner) are par for the course these days. At the same time, many churches are finding creative ways to use sex-themed marketing gimmicks to lure people into church.

Oak Leaf Church in Cartersville, Georgia, created a website called yourgreatsexlife.com to pique the interest of young seekers. Flamingo Road Church in Florida created an online, anonymous confessional (IveScrewedUp.com), and had a web series called MyNakedPastor.com, which featured a 24/7 webcam showing five weeks in the life of the pastor, Troy Gramling. Then there is Mark Driscoll at Seattle’s Mars Hill Church—who delivers sermons with titles like “Biblical Oral Sex” and “Pleasuring Your Spouse,” and is probably the first and only pastor I have ever heard say the word “vulva” during a sermon.

But are these gimmicks really going to bring young people back to church? Is this what people really come to church for? Maybe sex sermons and indie- rock worship music do help in getting people in the door, and maybe even in winning new converts. But what sort of Christianity are they being converted to? In his book, “The Courage to Be Protestant,” David Wells writes:”The born-again, marketing church has calculated that unless it makes deep, serious cultural adaptations, it will go out of business, especially with the younger generations. What it has not considered carefully enough is that it may well be putting itself out of business with God. “And the further irony,” he adds, “is that the younger generations who are less impressed by whiz-bang technology, who often see through what is slick and glitzy, and who have been on the receiving end of enough marketing to nauseate them, are as likely to walk away from these oh-so-relevant churches as to walk into them.”

If the evangelical Christian leadership thinks that “cool Christianity” is a sustainable path forward, they are severely mistaken. As a twentysomething, I can say with confidence that when it comes to church, we don’t want cool as much as we want real. If we are interested in Christianity in any sort of serious way, it is not because it’s easy or trendy or popular. It’s because Jesus himself is appealing, and what he says rings true. It’s because the world we inhabit is utterly phony, ephemeral, narcissistic, image-obsessed and sex-drenched—and we want an alternative. It’s not because we want more of the same.

Mr. McCracken’s book, “Hipster Christianity: Where Church and Cool Collide” (Baker Books) was published this month.

The  Gospel Coalition just released the latest issue of Themelios. It is available as a 185-page PDF and in HTML.  Interesting articles include one on the issue of B. B. Warfield and his opinion of creation and evolution and another by D. A. Carson on appealing to unconverted hearers.

Gary Brady gives us the meditations that Anne Bradstreet (more here) passed on to her second son, Simon, in 1664:

I. There is no object that we see; no action that we doe; no good that we injoy; no evill that we feele or feare, but we may make some spiritu(a)ll, advantage of all: and he that makes such improvement is wise as well as pious.

II. Many can speak well, but few can do well. We are better Scholars in the Theory then the practique part, but he is a true Christian that is a proficient in both.

III. Youth is the time of getting, middle age of improving, and old age of spending; a negligent youth is usually attended by an ignorant middle age, and both by an empty old age. He that hath nothing to feed on but vanity and lyes must needs lye down in the Bed of Sorrow.

IV. A ship that beares much saile, and little or no ballast, is easily overset; and that man, whose head hath great abilities, and his heart little or no grace, is in danger of foundering.

V. It is reported of the peakcock that, prideing himself in his gay feathers, he ruffles them up; but, spying his black feet, he soon lets fall his plumes, so he that glorys in his gifts and adornings should look upon his Corruptions, and that will damp his high thoughts.

VI. The finest bread hath the least bran; the purest hony, the least wax; and the sincerest Christian, the least self love. [I guess she would have known that sincere means literally without wax].

VII. The hireling that labors all the day, comforts himself that when night comes he shall both take his rest and receive his reward; the painfull Christian that hath wrought hard in God’s vineyard, and hath born the heat and drought of the day, when he perceives his sun apace to decline, and the shadows of his evening to be stretched out, lifts up his head with joy, knowing his refreshing is at hand.

VIII. Downny beds make drosey persons, but hard lodging keeps the eyes open. A prosperous state makes a secure Christian, but adversity makes him Consider.

IX. Sweet words are like hony, a little may refresh, but too much gluts the stomach.

X. Diverse children have their different natures; some are like flesh which nothing but salt will keep from putrefaction; some again like tender fruits that are best preserved with sugar: those parents are wise that can fit their nurture according to their Nature.

XI. That town which thousands of enemys without hath not been able to take, hath been delivered up by one traytor within; and that man, which all the temptations of Sathan without could not hurt, hath been foild by one lust within.

XII. Authority without wisdome is like a heavy axe without an edge, fitter to bruise than polish.

XIII. The reason why Christians are so both to exchange this world for a better, is because they have more sence than faith: they se what they injoy, they do but hope for that which is to come.

XIV. If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes tast of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.

XV. A low man can goe upright under that door wher a taller is glad to stoop; so a man of weak faith, and mean abilities may undergo a crosse more patiently than he that excells him, both in gifts and graces.

XVI. That house which is not often swept, makes the cleanly inhabitant soone loath it, and that heart which is not continually purifieing itself, is no fit temple for the spirit of God to dwell in.

XVII. Few men are so humble as not to be proud of their abilitys; and nothing will abase them more than this—What hast thou, but what thou hast received? Come, give an account of thy stewardship.

XVIII. He that will undertake to climb up a steep mountain with a great burden on his back, will finde it a wearysome, if not an impossible task; so he that thinks to mount to heaven clog’d with the Cares and riches of this Life, ’tis no wonder if he faint by the way.

XIX. Corne, till it has passed through the Mill and been ground to powder, is not fit for bread. God so deales with his servants: he grindes them with grief and pain till they turn to dust, and then are they fit manchet for his Mansion.

XX. God hath sutable comforts and supports for his children according to their severall conditions if he will make his face to shine upon them: he then makes them lye down in green pastures, and leads them beside the still waters: if they stick in deepe mire and clay, and all his waves and billows goe over their heads, He then leads them to the Rock which is higher than they.

XXI. He that walks among briars and thorns will be very carefull where he sets his foot. And he that passes through the wilderness of this world, had need ponder all his steps.

XXII. Want of prudence, as well as piety, hath brought men into great inconveniencys; but he that is well stored with both, seldom is so insnared.

XXIII. The skillfull fisher hath his severall baits for severall fish, but there is a hooke under all; Satan, that great Angler, hath his sundry bait for sundry tempers of men, which they all catch gredily at, but few perceives the hook till it be too late.

XXIV. There is no new thing under the sun, there is nothing that can be sayd or done, but either that or something like it hath been both done and sayd before.

XXV. An akeing head requires a soft pillow; and a drooping heart a strong support.

XXVI. A sore finger may disquiet the whole body, but an ulcer within destroys it: so an enemy without may disturb a Commonwealth, but dissentions within overthrow it.

XXVII. It is a pleasant thing to behold the light, but sore eyes are not able to look upon it; the pure in heart shall see God, but the defiled in conscience shall rather choose to be buried under rocks and mountains then to behold the presence of the Lamb.

XXVIII. Wisedome with an inheritance is good, but wisedome without an inheritance is better then an inheritance without wisedome.

XXIX. Lightening doth generally preceed thunder, and stormes, raine; and stroaks do not often fall till after threat’ning.

XXX. Yellow leaves argue the want of Sap, and gray haires want of moisture; so dry and saplesse performances are symptoms of little spirituall vigor.

XXXI. Iron till it be thoroughly heat is uncapable to be wrought; so God sees good to cast some men into the furnace of affliction, and then beats them on his anvile into what frame he pleases.

XXXII. Ambitious men are like hops that never rest climbing soe long as they have anything to stay upon; but take away their props and they are, of all, the most dejected.

XXXIII. Much Labour wearys the body, and many thoughts oppresse the minde: man aimes at profit by the one, and content in the other; but often misses of both, and findes nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit.

XXXIV. Dimne eyes are the concomitants of old age; and short-sightednes, in those that are eyes of a Republique, foretells a declineing State.

XXXV. We read in Scripture of three sorts of Arrows—the arrow of an enemy, the arrow of pestilence, and the arrow of a slanderous tongue; the two first kill the body, the last the good name; the two former leave a man when he is once dead, but the last mangles him in his grave.

XXXVI. Sore labourers have hard hands, and old sinners have brawnie consciences.

XXXVII. Wickednes comes to its height by degrees. He that dares say of a lesse sin, is it not a little one? will ere long say of a greater, Tush, God regards it not!

XXXVIII. Some Children are hardly weaned, although the breast be rub’d with wormwood or mustard, they will either wipe it off, or else suck down sweet and bitter together; so is it with some Christians, let God embitter all the sweets of this life, that so they might feed upon more substantiall food, yet they are so childishly sottish that they are still huging and sucking these empty brests, that God is forced to hedg up their way with thornes, or lay affliction on their loynes, that so they might shake hands with the world before it bid them farewell.

XXXIX. A Prudent mother will not clothe her little childe with a long and cumbersome garment; she easily forsees what events it is like to produce, at the best but falls and bruises, or perhaps somewhat worse, much more will the alwise God proportion his dispensations according to the Stature and Strength of the person he bestows them on. Larg indowments of honor, wealth, or a helthfull body would quite overthrow some weak Christian, therefore God cuts their garments short, to keep them in such trim that they might run the wayes of his Commandment.

XL. The spring is a lively emblem of the resurrection. After a long winter we se the leavlesse trees and dry stocks (at the approach of the sun) to resume their former vigor and beauty in a more ample manner then what they lost in the Autumn; so shall it be at that great day after a long vacation, when the Sun of righteousness shall appear, those dry bones shall arise in far more glory then that which they lost at their creation, and in this transcends the spring, that their leafe shall never faile, nor their sap decline.

XLI. A Wise father will not lay a burden on a child of seven yeares old, which he knows is enough for one of twice his strength, much less will our heavenly father (who knows our mould) lay such afflictions upon his weak children as would crush them to the dust, but according to the strength he will proportion the load, as God hath his little children so he hath his strong men, such as are come to a full stature in Christ; and many times he imposes waighty burdens on their shoulders, and yet they go upright under them, but it matters not whether the load be more or less if God afford his help.

XLII.  I have seen an end of all perfection (sayd the royall prophet); but he never sayd, I have seen an end of all sinning: what he did say, may be easily sayd by many; but what he did not say, cannot truly be uttered by any.

XLIII.  Fire hath its force abated by water, not by wind; and anger must be alayed by cold words, and not by blustering threats.

XLIV. A sharp appetite and a thorough concoction, is a signe of an healthfull body; so a quick reception, and a deliberate cogitation, argues a sound mind.

XLV. We often se stones hang with drops, not from any innate moisture, but from a thick ayer about them; so may we sometime se marble- hearted sinners seem full of contrition; but it is not from any dew of grace within, but from some black Clouds that impends them, which produces these sweating effects.

XLVI. The words of the wise, sath Solomon, are as nailes and as goads both used for contrary ends—the one holds fast, the other puts forward; such should be the precepts of the wise masters of assemblys to their hearers, not only to bid them hold fast the form of sound Doctrin, but also, so to run that they might obtain.

XLVII. A shadow in the parching sun, and a shelter in the blustering storme, are of all seasons the most welcome; so a faithfull friend in time of adversity, is of all other most comfortable.

XLVIII. There is nothing admits of more admiration, then God’s various dispensation of his gifts among the sons of men, betwixt whom he hath put so vast a disproportion that they scarcely seem made of the same lump, or sprung out of the loynes of one Adam; some set in the highest dignity that mortality is capable of; and some again so base, that they are viler then the earth; some so wise and learned, that they seem like Angells among men; and some again so ignorant and Sotish, that they are more like beasts then men: some pious saints; some incarnate Devils; some exceeding beautyfull; and some extreamly deformed; some so strong and healthfull that their bones are full of marrow; and their breasts of milk; and some again so weak and feeble, that, while they live, they are accounted among the dead—and no other reason can be given of all this, but so it pleased him, whose will is the perfect rule of righteousness.

XLIX. The treasures of this world may well be compared to huskes, for they have no kernell in them, and they that feed upon them, may soon stuffe their throats, but cannot fill their bellys; they may be choaked by them, but cannot be satisfied with them.

L. Sometimes the sun is only shadowed by a cloud that wee cannot se his luster, although we may walk by his light, but when he is set we are in darkness till he arise again; so God doth sometime vaile his face but for a moment, that we cannot behold the light of his Countenance as at some other time, yet he affords so much light as may direct our way, that we may go forward to the Citty of habitation, but when he seems to set and be quite gone out of sight, then must we needs walk in darkness and se no light, yet then must we trust in the Lord, and stay upon our God, and when the morning (which is the appointed time) is come, the Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings.

LI. The eyes and the eares are the inlets or doores of the soule, through which innumerable objects enter, yet is not that spacious roome filled, neither doth it ever say it is enough, but like the daughters of the horsleach, crys, give, give! and which is most strang, the more it receives, the more empty it finds itself, and sees an impossibility, ever to be filled, but by Him in whom all fullness dwells.

LII. Had not the wisest of men taught us this lesson, that all is vanity and vexation of spirit, yet our owne experience would soon have speld it out; for what do we obtain of all these things, but it is with labour and vexation? When we injoy them it is with vanity and vexation; and, if we loose them, then they are lesse then vanity and more then vexation.: so that we have good cause often to repeat that sentence, vanity of vanityes, vanity of vanityes, all is vanity.

LIII. He that is to saile into a farre country, although the ship, cabbin and provision, be all convenient and comfortable for him, yet he hath no desire to make that his place of residence, but longs to put in at that port where his bussines lyes; a Christian is sailing through this world unto his heavenly country, and heere he hath many conveniences and comforts; but he must beware of desire(ing) to make this the place of his abode, lest he meet with such tossings that may cause him to long for shore before he sees land. We must, therefore, be beer as strangers and pilgrims, that we may plainly declare that we seek a citty above, and wait all the dayes of our appointed time till our chang shall come.

LIV. He that never felt what it was to be sick or wounded, doth not much care for the company of the physitian or chirurgian; but if he perceive a malady that threatens him with death, he will gladly entertaine him, whom he slighted before: so he that never felt the sicknes of sin, nor the wounds of a guilty conscience, cares not how far he keeps from him that hath skill to cure it; but when he findes his diseases to disrest him, and that he must needs perish if he have no remedy, will unfeignedly bid him welcome that brings a plaister for his sore, or a cordiall for his fainting.

LV. We read of ten lepers that were cleansed, but of one that returned thanks: we are more ready to receive mercys than we are to acknowledg them: men can use great importunity when they are in distresses, and show great ingratitude after their successes; but he that ordereth his conversation aright, will glorifie him that heard him in the day of his trouble.

LVI. The remembrances of former deliverances is a great support in present distresses: he that delivered me, sath David, from the paw of the Lion and the paw of the Beare, will deliver mee from this uncircumcised Philistin; and he that hath delivered mee, saith Paul, will deliver mee: God is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; we are the same that stand in need of him, to-day as well as yesterday, and so shall forever.

LVII. Great receipts call for great returnes; the more that any man is intrusted withall, the larger his accounts stands upon God’s score: it therefore behoves every man so to improve his talents, that when his great Master shall call him to reckoning he may receive his owne with advantage.

LVIII. Sin and shame ever goe together. He that would be freed from the last, must be sure to shun the company of the first.

LIX. God doth many times both reward and punish for the same action: as we see in Jehu, he is rewarded with a kingdome to the fourth generation, for takeing veangence on the house of Ahab; and yet a little while (saith God), and I will avenge the blood of Jezevel upon the house of Jehu: he was rewarded for the matter, and yet punished for the manner, which should warn him, that doth any speciall service for God, to fixe his eye on the command, and not on his own ends, lest he meet with Jehu’s reward, which will end in punishment.

LX. He that would be content with a mean condition, must not cast his eye upon one that is in a far better estate than himself, but let him look upon him that is lower than he is, and, if he see that such a one beares poverty comfortably, it will help to quiet him; but if that will not do, let him look on his owne unworthynes, and that will make him say with Jacob, I am lesse then the least of thy mercys.

Brian Croft suggests that the ideal pastor’s wife is supportive but unimpressed.

When God wants to drill a man
And thrill a man
And skill a man
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part

When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch His methods, watch His ways!

How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him
And with mighty blows converts him
Into shapes and forms of clay
Which only God can understand.

How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes
How He uses whom He chooses
And with mighty power infuses him
With every act induces him
To try His splendor out –
God knows what He’s about.

Author unknown.

HT: Ray Ortlund.

Anne Bradstreet: “Iron till it be thoroughly heat is uncapable to be wrought; so God sees good to cast some men into the furnace of affliction, and then beats them on his anvile into what frame he pleases” (see XXXI here).

Tim Challies:

I am often asked about my reading habits and, in particular, whether I now prefer to read e-books or plain, old-fashioned “real” books (of the printed variety). For a time I went back-and-forth on this question, sometimes preferirng to read on a device and sometimes preferring to read a book. But at this point my mind is largely made up. Today I want to share 5 ways in which books are better than e-books, 5 ways in which I’ll transition from paper to pixels only with a lot of kicking and screaming.

A friend wrote to tell me that, according to Open Doors, there are at least 200 Muslim people groups of over 100,000 people who do not have any Christian witness. Furthermore, in 1961 there were seven mosques in Britain. By 1990 the number had grown to 400. By 2007 it had exploded to 1689. Now there are almost as many mosques as the total number of Baptist churches in our land.

I have no way of verifying those statistics, but it chimed somewhat with a piece that I read elsewhere about the missionary zeal of Islamic groups:

I opened the door to find a family of five, dressed in very strict Islamic attire – the husband in a long robe and religious cap; the wife fully covered, except her eyes; and, the children with what looked like small turbans, along with their robes that looked like daddy’s. The interaction changed my life.

The author goes on to record several observations, the final one having to do with their determination to spread Islam, and this slap-in-the-face conclusion: “They reached me first.”

It is worth reading in its entirety, but is more worth considering and embracing the response:

I am now resolved, by the strength and perseverance of God’s sovereign grace, to reach those around me quickly and consistently with the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Shame on me for being silent this long. Yesterday is the day that God used a strict Muslim to get this PCA pastor off of his rear end.

This is a good resolution, but it is – as this man knows – a sad prompt.

I have mentioned before that I am trying to use this beautiful edition of Tyndale’s New Testament for much of my devotional Bible reading this year.  As I was reading in Romans 5 this morning, I came across this delightful marginal note:

If the text is a little tricky, Tyndale gives our verse 14 thus (spelling modernised): “Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them also that sinned not, with like transgression as did Adam: which is the similitude of him that was to come.”

As you will see, the owner of the original volume from which this copy is taken has faintly scratched in a name alongside the description, “him that was to come”: Christ.

How often in the Old Testament are there predictions and premonitions “him that was to come” – from Adam’s person and experience onward – alongside which we might faintly write the name Christ? With the light of the New Testament shining back into the Old, ought we not to be able to see more and more how often and how readily the person and work of our Saviour appears?  Our Lord himself, on the road to Emmaus, “beginning at Moses and all the Prophets . . . expounded to [the two discples] in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Lk 24.27).

We should learn to look in the Old Testament for those shadows of “him that was to come” and to write alongside it in our margin that brightest and highest of names: Christ.

Paul Helm provides a careful and interesting review of an excellent book, Robert Letham’s The Westminster Assembly: Reading its Theology in Historical Context (P&R, 2009). He concludes:

You may already have gathered from all of this that Dr Letham’s new book is a most welcome addition to the literature on the Confession, and on Reformed theology more generally, being both instructive and thought-provoking.

Anyone interested in the Westminster Confession or its daughter documents, the Savoy Declaration or the 1689 Confession, seeking to appreciate the issues addressed and the nuances intended, will find this a helpful volume.

A. W. Pink offers some questions for self-examination with regard to worldliness:

First, what are the objects before your mind in times of recreation? What do your thoughts most run upon?

Second, what are the objects of your choice? When you have to decide how to spend an evening or the Sabbath afternoon, what do you select?

Third, which occasions you the most sorrow, the loss of earthly things, or lack of communion with God?

Which causes greater grief (or chagrin), the spoiling of your plans, or the coldness of your heart to Christ?

Fourth, what is your favorite topic of conversation? Do you hanker after the news of the day, or to meet with those who talk of the “altogether lovely” One?

Fifth, do your “good intentions” materialize, or are they nothing but empty dreams? Are you spending more or less time than formerly on your knees? Is the Word sweeter to your taste, or has your soul lost its relish for it?

A. W. Pink, Profiting from the Word (Banner of Truth, 1970)

I snaffled these from The Reformed Baptist Trumpet.