Required reading
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 2, Device 9.
My notes and thoughts
Device 9: 'Presenting to the soul the crosses, losses, reproaches, sorrows, and sufferings that do daily attend those that walk in the ways of holiness.' This device is the logical counterpart to Device 8. Device 8 told us unrighteousness is pleasurable and Device 9 tells us righteousness is painful. Therefore the same problem is once again encountered, do we trust our experience or the word of God as our final authority. Brooks' obviously trusts God's word as he gives many examples of godly people being blessed through suffering. Although suffering is painful, it is presented as not necessarily a bad thing: 'God's house of correction is his school of instruction.'
Remedy 5 also make the valuable point that there are more important things than the absence of suffering: 'Afflictions, they are but as a dark entry into your Father's house; they are but as a dirty lane to a royal palace.'
On the whole, this is an excellent discussion on why God allows suffering, one of the most frequent questions I come across and often one of the most poorly answered. In the future I might give this section from Brooks to someone asking about the subject and see whether they find it helpful.
July 31, 2009
July 30, 2009
Precious remedies against Satan's devices - Brooks - V - 2.7 to 2.8
Required reading
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 2, Devices 7 and 8.
My notes and thoughts
Device 7: 'By making the soul bold to venture upon the occasions of sin'. Brooks' provides so many good illustrations against this device: 'To venture upon the occasion of sin, and then to pray, 'Lead us not into temptation,' is all one as to thrust thy finger into the fire and then to pray that it might not be burnt.' And 'As long as there is fuel in our hearts for a temptation, we cannot be secure. He that hath gunpowder about him had need keep far enough off from sparkles.'
Device 8: 'By representing to the soul the outward mercies that vain men enjoy...' This is indeed a difficult device to counteract. Our sinful mind loves to judge something by the pleasurable experiences that it produces. Instead Brooks reminds us: 'Prosperity hath been a stumbling-block at which millions have stumbled and fallen, and broke the neck of their souls for ever.' This illustrates the point that experience is not to be trusted as our final authority, rather it is the word of God.
Remedy 5 for this device reminded me of the Hollywood celebrities that we see in the media: 'They have, indeed, a glorious outside, but if you view their insides, you will easily find that they fill the head full of cares, and the heart full of fears.' Michael Jackson? Britney Spears? How many of these celebrities are looked upon as having fantastic lives apart from God, yet time and time again we read of the breakdown of their marriages, their addiction to drugs and alcohol, etc.
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 2, Devices 7 and 8.
My notes and thoughts
Device 7: 'By making the soul bold to venture upon the occasions of sin'. Brooks' provides so many good illustrations against this device: 'To venture upon the occasion of sin, and then to pray, 'Lead us not into temptation,' is all one as to thrust thy finger into the fire and then to pray that it might not be burnt.' And 'As long as there is fuel in our hearts for a temptation, we cannot be secure. He that hath gunpowder about him had need keep far enough off from sparkles.'
Device 8: 'By representing to the soul the outward mercies that vain men enjoy...' This is indeed a difficult device to counteract. Our sinful mind loves to judge something by the pleasurable experiences that it produces. Instead Brooks reminds us: 'Prosperity hath been a stumbling-block at which millions have stumbled and fallen, and broke the neck of their souls for ever.' This illustrates the point that experience is not to be trusted as our final authority, rather it is the word of God.
Remedy 5 for this device reminded me of the Hollywood celebrities that we see in the media: 'They have, indeed, a glorious outside, but if you view their insides, you will easily find that they fill the head full of cares, and the heart full of fears.' Michael Jackson? Britney Spears? How many of these celebrities are looked upon as having fantastic lives apart from God, yet time and time again we read of the breakdown of their marriages, their addiction to drugs and alcohol, etc.
July 29, 2009
Precious remedies against Satan's devices - Brooks - IV - 2.5 to 2.6
Required reading
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 2, Devices 5 and 6.
My notes and thoughts
Device 5: 'To present God to the soul as one made up of all of mercy'. I have felt the force of this one in my own mind. I think remedy number two is the best one given: 'That God is as just as he is merciful. As the Scriptures speak him out to be a very merciful God, so they speak him out to be a very just God.' Therefore we should fear to entertain the foolish notion that we are able to sin because we may beg God for mercy in the future. He cannot be mocked.
Device 6: 'By persuading the soul that the work of repentance is an easy work'. Brooks' remedies collectively work to show that repentance is difficult, and in fact impossible for man: '...repentance is a might work, a difficult work, a work that is above our power.' I always think of this when someone says to me they'll repent when they're just about to die. Where do they get the assurance that they will be able to do repent later if they cannot now? (Brooks gives an example of just such a man in one of his footnotes, number 64, with a quote from Bede) How important it is to remember that repentance is a gift, just as faith is a gift: 'Repentance is a gift that comes down from above.' May God continue to give the gift of repentance to sinful humans.
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 2, Devices 5 and 6.
My notes and thoughts
Device 5: 'To present God to the soul as one made up of all of mercy'. I have felt the force of this one in my own mind. I think remedy number two is the best one given: 'That God is as just as he is merciful. As the Scriptures speak him out to be a very merciful God, so they speak him out to be a very just God.' Therefore we should fear to entertain the foolish notion that we are able to sin because we may beg God for mercy in the future. He cannot be mocked.
Device 6: 'By persuading the soul that the work of repentance is an easy work'. Brooks' remedies collectively work to show that repentance is difficult, and in fact impossible for man: '...repentance is a might work, a difficult work, a work that is above our power.' I always think of this when someone says to me they'll repent when they're just about to die. Where do they get the assurance that they will be able to do repent later if they cannot now? (Brooks gives an example of just such a man in one of his footnotes, number 64, with a quote from Bede) How important it is to remember that repentance is a gift, just as faith is a gift: 'Repentance is a gift that comes down from above.' May God continue to give the gift of repentance to sinful humans.
July 28, 2009
Precious remedies against Satan's devices - Brooks - III - 2.3 to 2.4
Required reading
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 2, Devices 3 and 4.
My notes and thoughts
Devices 3: 'By extenuating and lessening of sin.' I found this section most edifying. I remember a lecturer at theological college claiming that in certain situations it was appropriate to lie, namely when it prevented greater evil. I argued against it and I think I would find a sure ally in Brooks: 'If we commit one sin to avoid another, it is just we should avoid neither, we having not law nor power in our own hands to keep off sin as we please; and we by yielding to the lesser, do tempt the tempter to tempt us to the greater.'; '...when Satan says it is but a little one, do thou answer that oftentimes there is the greatest unkindness showed to God's glorious majesty, in the acting of the least folly, and therefore thou wilt not displease thy best and greatest friend, by yielding to his greatest enemy.'
Device 4: 'By presenting to the soul the bestmen's sins and by hiding from the soul their virtues.' This device is indeed a clever one as it requires people to know something of their Bibles, to be aware of Noah, Job, David, Hezekiah and Peter. They claim to have scriptural support for their sin. But as Brooks indicates in his remedies, it is only a superficial knowledge of Scripture that would use these men to condone sin. The sins of these men in Scripture was accompanied by repentance, was infrequent, was disciplined for by God and only recorded for our example of what not to do. Interestingly, a remedy that Brooks didn't mention that was in my mind was that we should be trying to be Christ-like and not Christian-like. In the end, we should have the sinless saviour as our model, not other sinners.
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 2, Devices 3 and 4.
My notes and thoughts
Devices 3: 'By extenuating and lessening of sin.' I found this section most edifying. I remember a lecturer at theological college claiming that in certain situations it was appropriate to lie, namely when it prevented greater evil. I argued against it and I think I would find a sure ally in Brooks: 'If we commit one sin to avoid another, it is just we should avoid neither, we having not law nor power in our own hands to keep off sin as we please; and we by yielding to the lesser, do tempt the tempter to tempt us to the greater.'; '...when Satan says it is but a little one, do thou answer that oftentimes there is the greatest unkindness showed to God's glorious majesty, in the acting of the least folly, and therefore thou wilt not displease thy best and greatest friend, by yielding to his greatest enemy.'
Device 4: 'By presenting to the soul the bestmen's sins and by hiding from the soul their virtues.' This device is indeed a clever one as it requires people to know something of their Bibles, to be aware of Noah, Job, David, Hezekiah and Peter. They claim to have scriptural support for their sin. But as Brooks indicates in his remedies, it is only a superficial knowledge of Scripture that would use these men to condone sin. The sins of these men in Scripture was accompanied by repentance, was infrequent, was disciplined for by God and only recorded for our example of what not to do. Interestingly, a remedy that Brooks didn't mention that was in my mind was that we should be trying to be Christ-like and not Christian-like. In the end, we should have the sinless saviour as our model, not other sinners.
July 27, 2009
Precious remedies against Satan's devices - Brooks - II - Introduction to 2.2
Required reading
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read the Introduction and up to Chapter 2, Device 2.
My notes and thoughts
In the Introduction and 'Proof of the Point' Brooks emphasises Biblical support for his task. Satan is real and he is at work to ensnare the sinner.
So begins twelve devices that Satan uses to 'draw the soul to sin':
1) To present the bait and hide the hook.
2) By painting sin with virtue's colours
Brooks' remedies are helpful. Particularly not to play with the bait - instead keep sin at a distance: 'David draws near, and plays with the bait, and falls, and swallows the bait and hook with a witness.' Brooks reminds us that sin is 'bitter sweet', brings 'the greatest and saddest losses', is 'deceitful', 'vile', 'abominable', 'dangerous' and 'costly' (particularly Jesus' blood).
I do think that Brooks kicks off his series with the best of Satan's devices. The alluring nature of sin to our minds is strong as we listen to Satan's promises of blessing. Yet the hook is there under the bait. Even if we don't see it, we must listen to our God who is working for our good, rather than Satan who is working for our downfall.
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read the Introduction and up to Chapter 2, Device 2.
My notes and thoughts
In the Introduction and 'Proof of the Point' Brooks emphasises Biblical support for his task. Satan is real and he is at work to ensnare the sinner.
So begins twelve devices that Satan uses to 'draw the soul to sin':
1) To present the bait and hide the hook.
2) By painting sin with virtue's colours
Brooks' remedies are helpful. Particularly not to play with the bait - instead keep sin at a distance: 'David draws near, and plays with the bait, and falls, and swallows the bait and hook with a witness.' Brooks reminds us that sin is 'bitter sweet', brings 'the greatest and saddest losses', is 'deceitful', 'vile', 'abominable', 'dangerous' and 'costly' (particularly Jesus' blood).
I do think that Brooks kicks off his series with the best of Satan's devices. The alluring nature of sin to our minds is strong as we listen to Satan's promises of blessing. Yet the hook is there under the bait. Even if we don't see it, we must listen to our God who is working for our good, rather than Satan who is working for our downfall.
July 26, 2009
Precious remedies against Satan's devices - Brooks - I - Biography, epistle dedicatory, word to the reader
Required reading
Today we begin our second book in the club, Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks. I'll be following the Banner of Truth edition which is available from Amazon, although at least one older edition is available free from Google books. Today's reading is the Banner of Truth brief biography and Brook's 'Epistle dedicatory' and 'A word to the reader'.
My notes and thoughts
Biography. Interesting point: 'We may judge that much of the success of Brooks' ministry assuredly resulted from his wife's support of him in prayer. Let Puritan wives be given their due; assuredly the 'price' of some of them was 'above rubies''. Each day I grow ever more thankful for the godly wife I have been blessed with.
Epistle dedicatory. Brooks informs us at the beginning that there are 'four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched.' They are: 'Christ, the Scripture, your own hearts, and Satan's devices.' I'm have a feeling that this book is set forth as an example of such study.
Word to the reader. One of Brooks' four points of counsel in this section struck me - serious meditation is profitable, not hasty reading: 'It is not he that reads most but he that meditates most, that will prove the choices, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian.' I do have a tendency to read books quickly without due meditation.
Today we begin our second book in the club, Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks. I'll be following the Banner of Truth edition which is available from Amazon, although at least one older edition is available free from Google books. Today's reading is the Banner of Truth brief biography and Brook's 'Epistle dedicatory' and 'A word to the reader'.
My notes and thoughts
Biography. Interesting point: 'We may judge that much of the success of Brooks' ministry assuredly resulted from his wife's support of him in prayer. Let Puritan wives be given their due; assuredly the 'price' of some of them was 'above rubies''. Each day I grow ever more thankful for the godly wife I have been blessed with.
Epistle dedicatory. Brooks informs us at the beginning that there are 'four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched.' They are: 'Christ, the Scripture, your own hearts, and Satan's devices.' I'm have a feeling that this book is set forth as an example of such study.
Word to the reader. One of Brooks' four points of counsel in this section struck me - serious meditation is profitable, not hasty reading: 'It is not he that reads most but he that meditates most, that will prove the choices, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian.' I do have a tendency to read books quickly without due meditation.
July 25, 2009
Sure guide to heaven - Alleine - XIII - Conclusion
Required reading
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Alleine's conclusion
My notes and thoughts
And so we come to the conclusion, the last installment of our first book in the club.
Alleine makes a final push and will not accept any indecision: 'Well, do not put me off with a dilatory answer; tell me not later. I must have your immediate consent.'
A reminder is given of the eternal nature of the decision: 'Remember you are now upon your good behaviour for everlasting; if you do not make a wise choice now, you are undone for ever. What your present choice is, such must be you eternal condition.'
Alleine's exasperation in this section demonstrates that he has given this quest all he has. If he had anything else to say that would help the sinner he would have said it: 'Have you read thus far, and not yet resolved to abandon all your sins and to close with Jesus Christ? Alas, what shall I say? What shall I do? Will you turn off all my importunity? Have I run in vain? Have I used so many arguments and spent so much time to persuade you and must I sit down at last in disappointment?'
Final verdict
Although I would not give this book to all my non-Christian friends, it could well be useful for those who are seeking Christ and are yet to make a commitment. For ministers, Alleine's book is an excellent example of someone who has poured out their heart to win souls for Christ. Alleine has used argument after argument coupled with impassioned pleas for the sinner to come to Christ. If only more of us were as alarmed as Alleine about the souls' of the unconverted.
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Alleine's conclusion
My notes and thoughts
And so we come to the conclusion, the last installment of our first book in the club.
Alleine makes a final push and will not accept any indecision: 'Well, do not put me off with a dilatory answer; tell me not later. I must have your immediate consent.'
A reminder is given of the eternal nature of the decision: 'Remember you are now upon your good behaviour for everlasting; if you do not make a wise choice now, you are undone for ever. What your present choice is, such must be you eternal condition.'
Alleine's exasperation in this section demonstrates that he has given this quest all he has. If he had anything else to say that would help the sinner he would have said it: 'Have you read thus far, and not yet resolved to abandon all your sins and to close with Jesus Christ? Alas, what shall I say? What shall I do? Will you turn off all my importunity? Have I run in vain? Have I used so many arguments and spent so much time to persuade you and must I sit down at last in disappointment?'
Final verdict
Although I would not give this book to all my non-Christian friends, it could well be useful for those who are seeking Christ and are yet to make a commitment. For ministers, Alleine's book is an excellent example of someone who has poured out their heart to win souls for Christ. Alleine has used argument after argument coupled with impassioned pleas for the sinner to come to Christ. If only more of us were as alarmed as Alleine about the souls' of the unconverted.
July 24, 2009
Sure guide to heaven - Alleine - XII - Chapter 7
Required reading
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 7 (the whole chapter)
My notes and thoughts
Alleine is not finished. Just in case there are some still reading who have not been converted, he provides five final reasons for why they should be.
1) God graciously invites you.
2) Doors of heaven are open.
3) Unspeakable privileges in this life. I like these lines: '...He will not only save from misery, but install you unto unspeakable prerogatives. He will bestow Himself upon you; He will be a Friend and a Father unto you. He will be a Sun and a Shield to you. In a word, He will be a God to you. And what more can be said? What may you expect that a God should do for you, and be to you? That He will be, that He will do.'
4) His terms are low: 'God does not impose anything unreasonable or impossible as a condition of life, upon you...He expects nothing but that you should accept His Son, and He shall be righteousness and redemption to you.'
5) God offers all needed grace.
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 7 (the whole chapter)
My notes and thoughts
Alleine is not finished. Just in case there are some still reading who have not been converted, he provides five final reasons for why they should be.
1) God graciously invites you.
2) Doors of heaven are open.
3) Unspeakable privileges in this life. I like these lines: '...He will not only save from misery, but install you unto unspeakable prerogatives. He will bestow Himself upon you; He will be a Friend and a Father unto you. He will be a Sun and a Shield to you. In a word, He will be a God to you. And what more can be said? What may you expect that a God should do for you, and be to you? That He will be, that He will do.'
4) His terms are low: 'God does not impose anything unreasonable or impossible as a condition of life, upon you...He expects nothing but that you should accept His Son, and He shall be righteousness and redemption to you.'
5) God offers all needed grace.
July 23, 2009
Sure guide to heaven - Alleine - XI - Chapter 6 completed
Required reading
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 3 (Point 11 to end of the chapter)
My notes and thoughts
More directions to the unconverted:
11) Take heed of delaying conversion
12) Attend conscientiously on the word
13) Strike in with the Spirit
14) Pray. Alleine places a strong emphasis on prayer as part of the conversion: 'He that neglects prayer is a profane and unsanctified sinner. He that is not constant in prayer is a hypocrite, unless the omission be contrary to his ordinary course, under the force of some instant temptation. One of the first things conversion appears in is that it sets men a-praying.'
15) Forsake evil company. Also a strong emphasis on a change in behaviour: 'I never expect your conversion from sin unless you are brought to some self-denial...'
16) Set apart a day to humble your soul.
Interesting that Alleine provides a 'sinner's prayer' to pray. Considerably longer than most that I've seen and with a greater emphasis on the sinner's sin.
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 3 (Point 11 to end of the chapter)
My notes and thoughts
More directions to the unconverted:
11) Take heed of delaying conversion
12) Attend conscientiously on the word
13) Strike in with the Spirit
14) Pray. Alleine places a strong emphasis on prayer as part of the conversion: 'He that neglects prayer is a profane and unsanctified sinner. He that is not constant in prayer is a hypocrite, unless the omission be contrary to his ordinary course, under the force of some instant temptation. One of the first things conversion appears in is that it sets men a-praying.'
15) Forsake evil company. Also a strong emphasis on a change in behaviour: 'I never expect your conversion from sin unless you are brought to some self-denial...'
16) Set apart a day to humble your soul.
Interesting that Alleine provides a 'sinner's prayer' to pray. Considerably longer than most that I've seen and with a greater emphasis on the sinner's sin.
July 22, 2009
Sure guide to heaven - Alleine - X - Chapter 6 continued
Required reading
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 6 (Points 6 to 10)
My notes and thoughts
More directions are given to the unconverted:
6) Make the solemn choice of God - in his personal relations (Father, Son, Spirit); essential perfections (holiness, all-sufficiency, sovereignty, faithfulness). We need to take the God as revealed in Scripture, not the one we wish to construct ourselves: 'But when men close with His mercy, but yet love sin, hating holiness and purity; or will take Him for their Benefactor, but not for their Sovereign; of for their patron, and not for their portion; this is no thorough and sound conversion.'
7) Accept Jesus and all his offices: 'Here lies the main point of your salvation, that you be found in your covenant-closure with Jesus Christ'.
8) Resign all your powers and faculties (will; memory; conscience, affections, desire, fear, grief, mourning, anger, hatred)
9) Choose the laws of Christ as your rule (all of them; for all times; do it deliberately and understandingly): 'Take the Westminster Assembly's Larger Catechism and see their excellent and most comprehensive exposition of the commandments, and put your heart to it.' Now there's a reading challenge that the bookclub could rise to if it keeps going!
10) Covenant with God. Alleine provides a nice covenant which he encourages the reader to consider and then make in writing. I have to say, again, that I like Alleine's continual attempt to impact upon the reader's heart, not simply fill their head with knowledge.
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 6 (Points 6 to 10)
My notes and thoughts
More directions are given to the unconverted:
6) Make the solemn choice of God - in his personal relations (Father, Son, Spirit); essential perfections (holiness, all-sufficiency, sovereignty, faithfulness). We need to take the God as revealed in Scripture, not the one we wish to construct ourselves: 'But when men close with His mercy, but yet love sin, hating holiness and purity; or will take Him for their Benefactor, but not for their Sovereign; of for their patron, and not for their portion; this is no thorough and sound conversion.'
7) Accept Jesus and all his offices: 'Here lies the main point of your salvation, that you be found in your covenant-closure with Jesus Christ'.
8) Resign all your powers and faculties (will; memory; conscience, affections, desire, fear, grief, mourning, anger, hatred)
9) Choose the laws of Christ as your rule (all of them; for all times; do it deliberately and understandingly): 'Take the Westminster Assembly's Larger Catechism and see their excellent and most comprehensive exposition of the commandments, and put your heart to it.' Now there's a reading challenge that the bookclub could rise to if it keeps going!
10) Covenant with God. Alleine provides a nice covenant which he encourages the reader to consider and then make in writing. I have to say, again, that I like Alleine's continual attempt to impact upon the reader's heart, not simply fill their head with knowledge.
July 21, 2009
Sure guide to heaven - Alleine - IX - Chapter 6 begun
Required reading
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 6 (Points 1 to 5)
My notes and thoughts
Alleine moves to provide the solution to the sinner's problem, which is the point that he has been working toward: 'This is the aim of all that has been spoken hitherto, to bring you to set your heart upon turning to God. I would not trouble you, nor torment you before the time with the thoughts of your eternal misery, but in order that you may make your escape.'
16 directions are given (5 are today's reading)
1) Set it down that it is impossible to get to heaven unconverted
2) Labor to get a thorough sight, sense and feeling of your sins. I like the method that Alleine gives to do this. Look at the quantity of sins, the results of your sins in this life, the results of your sins in the next life, the quality of the sins ('black as hell'). Then he encourages us to consider our original sin and particular sins. How few of us encourage a sinner to do such a thorough examination of their sins? But we should: 'Do not be like a desperate bankrupt that is afraid to look over his books. Read the records of conscience carefully. These books must be opened sooner or later.'
3) Strive for a deep sense of present misery
4) Look out of yourself for help
5) Renounce your sins. So many good lines: 'You cannot be married to Christ except you be divorced from sin...spare but one sin and God will not spare you. Your sins must die or you must die for them...the life of your soul must go for the life of that sin.'
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 6 (Points 1 to 5)
My notes and thoughts
Alleine moves to provide the solution to the sinner's problem, which is the point that he has been working toward: 'This is the aim of all that has been spoken hitherto, to bring you to set your heart upon turning to God. I would not trouble you, nor torment you before the time with the thoughts of your eternal misery, but in order that you may make your escape.'
16 directions are given (5 are today's reading)
1) Set it down that it is impossible to get to heaven unconverted
2) Labor to get a thorough sight, sense and feeling of your sins. I like the method that Alleine gives to do this. Look at the quantity of sins, the results of your sins in this life, the results of your sins in the next life, the quality of the sins ('black as hell'). Then he encourages us to consider our original sin and particular sins. How few of us encourage a sinner to do such a thorough examination of their sins? But we should: 'Do not be like a desperate bankrupt that is afraid to look over his books. Read the records of conscience carefully. These books must be opened sooner or later.'
3) Strive for a deep sense of present misery
4) Look out of yourself for help
5) Renounce your sins. So many good lines: 'You cannot be married to Christ except you be divorced from sin...spare but one sin and God will not spare you. Your sins must die or you must die for them...the life of your soul must go for the life of that sin.'
July 20, 2009
Sure guide to heaven - Alleine - VIII - Chapter 5 completed
Required reading
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 5 completed (point 4 to the end of the chapter)
My notes and thoughts
Alleine continues with listing the miseries of the unconverted.
4) Guilt of all your sins lies like a mountain upon you.
5) Your raging lusts miserably enslave you. Excellent illustration for this point: 'Would it not pierce your heart to see a company of poor creatures drudging and toiling to carry together faggots and fuel for their own burning?' But that is what they do by carrying on in their sin, they are making hell hotter and hotter for themselves.
6) The furnace of eternal vengeance is heated ready for you
7) The law discharges all its threats and curses at you
8) The gospel itself binds the sentence of eternal damnation upon you
One word for this chapter: confronting. I was once told that I should not use the 2nd person pronoun in my preaching as it is offensive. Alleine knows no such limitation - I'd be interested to know how many times he uses 'you' and 'your' in the chapter. Punch after punch is laid to scare the reader into submission to Christ. I'm starting to wish I'd heard this guy preach!
I learnt a new word from this chapter: 'cockatrice'.
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 5 completed (point 4 to the end of the chapter)
My notes and thoughts
Alleine continues with listing the miseries of the unconverted.
4) Guilt of all your sins lies like a mountain upon you.
5) Your raging lusts miserably enslave you. Excellent illustration for this point: 'Would it not pierce your heart to see a company of poor creatures drudging and toiling to carry together faggots and fuel for their own burning?' But that is what they do by carrying on in their sin, they are making hell hotter and hotter for themselves.
6) The furnace of eternal vengeance is heated ready for you
7) The law discharges all its threats and curses at you
8) The gospel itself binds the sentence of eternal damnation upon you
One word for this chapter: confronting. I was once told that I should not use the 2nd person pronoun in my preaching as it is offensive. Alleine knows no such limitation - I'd be interested to know how many times he uses 'you' and 'your' in the chapter. Punch after punch is laid to scare the reader into submission to Christ. I'm starting to wish I'd heard this guy preach!
I learnt a new word from this chapter: 'cockatrice'.
July 19, 2009
Sure guide to heaven - Alleine - VII - Chapter 5
Required reading
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 5 (Points 1 to 3)
My notes and thoughts
Hopefully after the previous chapters the reader recognises that they are unconverted. But such a recognition is not enough: 'But I find by sad experience that such a spirit of sloth and slumber possesses the unsanctified that, though they are convinced that they are yet unconverted, often they carelessly sit still.'
So the battle for the heart of the unregenerate reader continues with chapter 5 emphasising the miseries of the unconverted in an attempt to awaken them. Today's reading involves three particular miseries:
1) The infinite God is engaged against you. He is not neutral, either he is friend or foe: 'Of if God would stand neutral, though He did not own nor help the poor sinner, his case were not so deeply miserable.....There is no friend like Him, no enemy like Him.' How many people in our neighbourhoods are happy to acknowledge they are not one of God's but do not realise that this means God is their enemy!
2) The whole creation is against you. This is a nice use of Romans 8:22. I particularly like the dialogue of creation with God to seek the destruction of the man that is abusing them: '...your food would say, "Lord, must I nourish such a wretch as this, and yield forth my strength for him, to dishonour Thee? No, I will choke him rather, if Though wilt give commission.'...His poor beast would say "Lord, must I carry him upon his wicked designs? No, I will break his bones...'" Powerful, powerful imagery. To think, your food would choke you rather than feed you if God gave permission.
3) Satan has his full power over you. Alleine desires to shock the reader with the truth that if they are not God worshipers they are devil worshipers. There is no in between.
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 5 (Points 1 to 3)
My notes and thoughts
Hopefully after the previous chapters the reader recognises that they are unconverted. But such a recognition is not enough: 'But I find by sad experience that such a spirit of sloth and slumber possesses the unsanctified that, though they are convinced that they are yet unconverted, often they carelessly sit still.'
So the battle for the heart of the unregenerate reader continues with chapter 5 emphasising the miseries of the unconverted in an attempt to awaken them. Today's reading involves three particular miseries:
1) The infinite God is engaged against you. He is not neutral, either he is friend or foe: 'Of if God would stand neutral, though He did not own nor help the poor sinner, his case were not so deeply miserable.....There is no friend like Him, no enemy like Him.' How many people in our neighbourhoods are happy to acknowledge they are not one of God's but do not realise that this means God is their enemy!
2) The whole creation is against you. This is a nice use of Romans 8:22. I particularly like the dialogue of creation with God to seek the destruction of the man that is abusing them: '...your food would say, "Lord, must I nourish such a wretch as this, and yield forth my strength for him, to dishonour Thee? No, I will choke him rather, if Though wilt give commission.'...His poor beast would say "Lord, must I carry him upon his wicked designs? No, I will break his bones...'" Powerful, powerful imagery. To think, your food would choke you rather than feed you if God gave permission.
3) Satan has his full power over you. Alleine desires to shock the reader with the truth that if they are not God worshipers they are devil worshipers. There is no in between.
July 18, 2009
Sure guide to heaven - Alleine - VI - Chapter 4
Required reading
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 4 (Marks of the unconverted - please read the whole chapter)
My notes and thoughts
Alleine now seeks in this chapter to convict the reader that they are numbered among the sons of death. He gives some Biblical lists (Eph 5:5-6; Rev 21:8; 1 Cor 6:9-10) and then provides two lists of his own with proof texts. The first list are sins that are observed outwardly and the second list are sins that are inward/hidden sins. Both types equal death: 'A man may be free from open pollutions, and yet die at last by the hand of some unobserved iniquity.'
Interestingly the second list is dominated by sins that are related to religion: 'formality in religion'; 'wrong motives in holy duties'; 'enmity against the strictness of religion'; 'resting in a certain degree of religion'. I think Alleine is so right - many 'Christians' in our churches are part of our mission field and need to have their religious sins exposed.
I love Alleine's appeal to the reader's conscience at the end of the chapter, as though it was a separate person that is going to assist him in convicting the reader: 'And now, conscience, do your work. Speak out, and speak home to him that hears or reads these lines.'
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 4 (Marks of the unconverted - please read the whole chapter)
My notes and thoughts
Alleine now seeks in this chapter to convict the reader that they are numbered among the sons of death. He gives some Biblical lists (Eph 5:5-6; Rev 21:8; 1 Cor 6:9-10) and then provides two lists of his own with proof texts. The first list are sins that are observed outwardly and the second list are sins that are inward/hidden sins. Both types equal death: 'A man may be free from open pollutions, and yet die at last by the hand of some unobserved iniquity.'
Interestingly the second list is dominated by sins that are related to religion: 'formality in religion'; 'wrong motives in holy duties'; 'enmity against the strictness of religion'; 'resting in a certain degree of religion'. I think Alleine is so right - many 'Christians' in our churches are part of our mission field and need to have their religious sins exposed.
I love Alleine's appeal to the reader's conscience at the end of the chapter, as though it was a separate person that is going to assist him in convicting the reader: 'And now, conscience, do your work. Speak out, and speak home to him that hears or reads these lines.'
July 17, 2009
Sure guide to heaven - Alleine - V - Chapter 3
Required reading
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 3 (please read the whole chapter)
My notes and thoughts
Basically Alleine is systematically demonstrating that without conversion everything is meaningless, meaningless.
1) You yourself have no purpose: 'An unsanctified man cannot work the work of God.'
2) Creation has no purpose in sustaining you: 'While you are unconverted, all the offices of the creatures are in vain to you. Your food nourishes you in vain. The sun holds forth its light to you in vain. Your clothes warm you in vain. Your beast carries you in vain.' I think this is the first time I've come across this argument and I like it. What a waste of food it is when people use that energy for sin.
3) Religion has no purpose: 'God's work must be done according to God's mind, or he will not be pleased; and this cannot be, except it be done with a holy heart.'
4) Your hope is useless: 'To hope we shall be saved, though continuing unconverted, is to hope that we shall prove God a liar.'
5) Christ's work is meaningless. Alleine spends the majority of his time on this point and I think rightly so. To damage God's glory is more terrible than to do damage to our own selves and creation. Yet this is what a refusal of conversion results in: a mockery of Christ.
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 3 (please read the whole chapter)
My notes and thoughts
Basically Alleine is systematically demonstrating that without conversion everything is meaningless, meaningless.
1) You yourself have no purpose: 'An unsanctified man cannot work the work of God.'
2) Creation has no purpose in sustaining you: 'While you are unconverted, all the offices of the creatures are in vain to you. Your food nourishes you in vain. The sun holds forth its light to you in vain. Your clothes warm you in vain. Your beast carries you in vain.' I think this is the first time I've come across this argument and I like it. What a waste of food it is when people use that energy for sin.
3) Religion has no purpose: 'God's work must be done according to God's mind, or he will not be pleased; and this cannot be, except it be done with a holy heart.'
4) Your hope is useless: 'To hope we shall be saved, though continuing unconverted, is to hope that we shall prove God a liar.'
5) Christ's work is meaningless. Alleine spends the majority of his time on this point and I think rightly so. To damage God's glory is more terrible than to do damage to our own selves and creation. Yet this is what a refusal of conversion results in: a mockery of Christ.
July 16, 2009
Sure guide to heaven - Alleine - IV - Chapter 2 completed
Required reading
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 2 (point 6 to the end of the chapter).
My notes and thoughts
Alleine is really challenging in point 6: 'There is no surer evidence of an unconverted state than to have the things of the world uppermost in our aim, love and estimation.' By systematically listing what we should have turned from when we became a Christian he strikes fear into the heart of any that do not hold God above sin, the devil, the world and their own righteousness. For Alleine every Christian must have experienced, and continue to experience, a turning away from that which was previously cherished.
Then after telling us what we should have turned from Alleine now tells us what we have turned to, Christ and his laws: 'The unsound convert takes Christ by halves. He is all for the salvation of Christ, but he is not for sanctification. He is for the privileges, but does not appropriate the person of Christ.'
The importance of a delight in holiness for its own sake rather than for salvation very clear: 'Here the hypocrite's rottenness may be discovered. He desires holiness, as one well said, only as a bridge to heaven, and inquires earnestly wha is the least that will serve his turn; and if he can get but so much as may bring him to heaven, this all he cares for. But the sound convert desires holiness for holiness' sake, and not merely for heaven's sake.' Great to be reminded of this fact.
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 2 (point 6 to the end of the chapter).
My notes and thoughts
Alleine is really challenging in point 6: 'There is no surer evidence of an unconverted state than to have the things of the world uppermost in our aim, love and estimation.' By systematically listing what we should have turned from when we became a Christian he strikes fear into the heart of any that do not hold God above sin, the devil, the world and their own righteousness. For Alleine every Christian must have experienced, and continue to experience, a turning away from that which was previously cherished.
Then after telling us what we should have turned from Alleine now tells us what we have turned to, Christ and his laws: 'The unsound convert takes Christ by halves. He is all for the salvation of Christ, but he is not for sanctification. He is for the privileges, but does not appropriate the person of Christ.'
The importance of a delight in holiness for its own sake rather than for salvation very clear: 'Here the hypocrite's rottenness may be discovered. He desires holiness, as one well said, only as a bridge to heaven, and inquires earnestly wha is the least that will serve his turn; and if he can get but so much as may bring him to heaven, this all he cares for. But the sound convert desires holiness for holiness' sake, and not merely for heaven's sake.' Great to be reminded of this fact.
July 15, 2009
Sure guide to heaven - Alleine - III - Chapter 2 continued
Required reading
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 2 (point 5)
My notes and thoughts
Good answer for the hypercalvinist: 'You begin at the wrong end if you first dispute about your election...What can be plainer? Do not stand stilll disputing about your election, but set to repenting and believing.' I do think we need to encourage people to repent and believe before engaging in debates about predestination.
I appreciate his little challenges to the reader throughout. E.g. '(O man, do you read this, and never stop to examine yourself?)' His concern for the reader's soul is quite evident. Why don't books today do this more?
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 2 (point 5)
My notes and thoughts
Good answer for the hypercalvinist: 'You begin at the wrong end if you first dispute about your election...What can be plainer? Do not stand stilll disputing about your election, but set to repenting and believing.' I do think we need to encourage people to repent and believe before engaging in debates about predestination.
I appreciate his little challenges to the reader throughout. E.g. '(O man, do you read this, and never stop to examine yourself?)' His concern for the reader's soul is quite evident. Why don't books today do this more?
July 14, 2009
Sure guide to heaven - Alleine - II - Chapter 1 and part of Chapter 2
Required reading
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 1 (read the whole chapter) and Chapter 2 (read up to point 4).
My notes and thoughts
Chapter 1: Alleine seeks to strike at the common mistakes that people base their hope upon. He does not take on the task lightly, but recognises that to take away people's false assurance is painful to them: 'I know that he will find hard work that goes to pluck away your hopes. It cannot but be unpleasant to you and truly it is not pleasing to me. I set about it as a surgeon when about to cut off a mortified limb from his beloved friend, which of necessity he must do though with an aching heart.' I think Alleine has nailed on the head the reason we don't like to attack people's false hopes, it unpleasant for them and for us. But attack we must.
Chapter 2: Luther would be proud of this chapter's beginning - no room for human freewill! (see Luther's Bondage of the Will for his blast against the notion that man has anything to do with his salvation). Also good to see Alleine viewed preaching as an important instrument for conversions - but the sermon itself is not alone. The reasons preaching fails: 'The sermon does not prosper because it is not watered by prayers and tears, nor covered by meditation.' Good reminder to pray and meditate on our sermons before we preach them and to have our hearers do the same.
Sure Guide to Heaven (Puritan Paperbacks) by Joseph Alleine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 1 (read the whole chapter) and Chapter 2 (read up to point 4).
My notes and thoughts
Chapter 1: Alleine seeks to strike at the common mistakes that people base their hope upon. He does not take on the task lightly, but recognises that to take away people's false assurance is painful to them: 'I know that he will find hard work that goes to pluck away your hopes. It cannot but be unpleasant to you and truly it is not pleasing to me. I set about it as a surgeon when about to cut off a mortified limb from his beloved friend, which of necessity he must do though with an aching heart.' I think Alleine has nailed on the head the reason we don't like to attack people's false hopes, it unpleasant for them and for us. But attack we must.
Chapter 2: Luther would be proud of this chapter's beginning - no room for human freewill! (see Luther's Bondage of the Will for his blast against the notion that man has anything to do with his salvation). Also good to see Alleine viewed preaching as an important instrument for conversions - but the sermon itself is not alone. The reasons preaching fails: 'The sermon does not prosper because it is not watered by prayers and tears, nor covered by meditation.' Good reminder to pray and meditate on our sermons before we preach them and to have our hearers do the same.
July 12, 2009
Sure guide to heaven - Alleine - I - Biographical Introduction and Alleine's Introduction
Today we begin the club with the Puritan Paperback from Banner of Truth entitled Sure Guide to Heaven 
by Joseph Alleine (although my copy is is from 1978 and called 'Alleine's Alarm'). At least one version is also available free from Google Books.
Required reading
The first reading is a gentle start with just the biographical introduction given by Iain Murray and Alleine's own Introduction.
My notes and thoughts
Nice brief introduction from Iain Murray.
Good quote about Alleine: ‘His warm disposition found him many friends, but if their visits interrupted his studying time ‘he had no leisure to let them in, saying, “It is better that they should wonder at my rudeness than that I should lose my time; for only a few will take notice of the rudeness, but many may feel my loss of time.’ If only more of us who preach the gospel felt that to neglect our studies for a few, means many go hungry.
Interesting also to note that Alleine’s ‘Alarm’ influenced Whitefield and Spurgeon. I can only hope that reading this book will make me even a pale shadow of those two great evangelists.
In Alleine's introduction I liked that he is upfront about his goal – no hidden agendas with this guy: ‘These lines are upon a weighty errand indeed – to convince, and convert and save you. I am not baiting my hook with rhetoric, nor fishing for your applause, but for your souls. My work is not to please you, but to save you; nor is my business with your fancies, but with your hearts.’
by Joseph Alleine (although my copy is is from 1978 and called 'Alleine's Alarm'). At least one version is also available free from Google Books.Required reading
The first reading is a gentle start with just the biographical introduction given by Iain Murray and Alleine's own Introduction.
My notes and thoughts
Nice brief introduction from Iain Murray.
Good quote about Alleine: ‘His warm disposition found him many friends, but if their visits interrupted his studying time ‘he had no leisure to let them in, saying, “It is better that they should wonder at my rudeness than that I should lose my time; for only a few will take notice of the rudeness, but many may feel my loss of time.’ If only more of us who preach the gospel felt that to neglect our studies for a few, means many go hungry.
Interesting also to note that Alleine’s ‘Alarm’ influenced Whitefield and Spurgeon. I can only hope that reading this book will make me even a pale shadow of those two great evangelists.
In Alleine's introduction I liked that he is upfront about his goal – no hidden agendas with this guy: ‘These lines are upon a weighty errand indeed – to convince, and convert and save you. I am not baiting my hook with rhetoric, nor fishing for your applause, but for your souls. My work is not to please you, but to save you; nor is my business with your fancies, but with your hearts.’
The Purpose of the Reformed Book Club
In his book Brothers, We Are Not Professionals
John Piper suggests reading in twenty minutes blocks is a good way to get through Christian classics at roughly ten pages a time.
Therefore I've begun this blog to encourage myself and others to develop this discipline. Each day I will attempt to read around ten pages of a Christian classic reformed work. I will then post a few brief thoughts. Fellow readers are encouraged to give their reflections in the comments section.
I will begin with the Puritan Paperbacks published by Banner of Truth and see how many we get through before deciding where next to go.
I hope you will join me and be blessed by those who have gone before us.
John Piper suggests reading in twenty minutes blocks is a good way to get through Christian classics at roughly ten pages a time.Therefore I've begun this blog to encourage myself and others to develop this discipline. Each day I will attempt to read around ten pages of a Christian classic reformed work. I will then post a few brief thoughts. Fellow readers are encouraged to give their reflections in the comments section.
I will begin with the Puritan Paperbacks published by Banner of Truth and see how many we get through before deciding where next to go.
I hope you will join me and be blessed by those who have gone before us.
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