Required reading Bunyan's Holy War (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapters 4 and 5. My summary In chapter four we see Shaddai's first attack on Mansoul. He sends an army of forty thousand under the leadership of four captains: Boanerges, Conviction, Judgement and Execution. They appeal at the ear-gate for the surrender of Mansoul but are ignored.
In chapter five the captains commence battle and the town of Mansoul builds up its defences. Both sides suffer losses and eventually Mansoul outlines some terms of surrender that would have meant 'Shaddai should have been only a titular prince and that Mansoul should still have had power by law, to have lived in all lewdness and vanity before him and so by consequence Diabolus should still here be king in power and other only King in name.' The chapter closes with some infighting within Mansoul - Lord Understanding and Mr Conscience on one side and the Diabolonians on the other.
What grabbed me
I liked the illustration of the effect that the messengers of God have upon the unbeliever: 'For now could not Mansoul sleep securely as before, nor could they now go to their debaucheries with that quietness as in times past; for they had from the camp of Shaddai such frequent, warm, and terrifying alarms, yea, alarms upon alarms, first at one gate and then at another, and again at all the gates at once, that they were broken as to former peace. Yea, they had their alarms so frequently, and that when the nights were at longest, the weather coldest, and so consequently the season most unseasonable, that that winter was to the town of Mansoul a winter by itself. Sometimes the trumpets would sound, and sometimes the slings would whirl the stones into the town. Sometimes ten thousand of the King's soldiers would be running round the walls of Mansoul at midnight, shouting and lifting up the voice for the battle. Sometimes, again, some of them in the town would be wounded, and their cry and lamentable voice would be heard, to the great molestation of the now languishing town of Mansoul. Yea, so distressed with those that laid siege against them were they, that, I dare say, Diabolus, their king, had in these days his rest much broken.'
Once the Christian comes with the gospel, the unbeliever becomes quite uncomfortable.
Thus it is no surprise that people don't like Christians.
Next week's reading Read Chapter 6. Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
Required reading Practical Religion by JC Ryle (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example)- Read Chapter 9 (Happiness). My summary Happiness is the subject of today's reading.
Firstly Ryle points out some things which are absolutely essential to all true happiness: (i) the highest wants of a man's nature must be met and satisfied; (ii) man must have sources of gladness which are not dependent on anything in this world; (iii) a man must be able to look on every side without uncomfortable feelings.
Secondly Ryle exposes some common mistakes about the way to be happy. He sums these mistakes up in one sentence: 'You might as well try to make an elephant happy by feeding him a grain of sand a day, as try to satisfy that heart of yours with rank, riches, learning, idleness or pleasure.'
Thirdly Ryle shows us the way to be really happy: 'The way to be happy is to be a real, thorough-going, true-hearted Christian.' This is because: (i) his conscience is at peace; (ii) he can sit down quietly and think about his soul; (iii) he has sources of happiness entirely independent of this world.
What grabbed me Excellent chapter!
I liked the last paragraph best: 'Believers, if you would have an increase of happiness in Christ's service, "labor every year to do more good." Look around the circle in which you live your life, and determine to be useful. Strive to be of the same character with God: He is not only good, but "does good" (Psalm 119:68). Alas there is far too much selfishness among believers in the present day! There is far to much lazy sitting by the fire nursing our own spiritual diseases, and growling over the state of our own hearts. Get up; and be useful in your day and generation! Is there no one in all the world that you can read the Bible to? Is there no one that you can speak to about Christ? Is there no one that you can write to about Christ? Is there literally nothing that you can do for the glory of God, and the benefit of your fellow-men? Oh I cannot think it! I cannot think it. There is much that you might do, if you had only the will. For your own happiness' sake, arise and do it, without delay. The bold, outspoken, working Christians are always the happiest. The more you do for God, the more God will do for you.'
Take it from Ryle - the hard working Christians are always the happiest.
Next week's reading Read Chapter 10 (Formality).
Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
Required reading
Marrow of Modern Divinity by Edward Fisher (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Continue Part Two by reading about the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth commandments. My summary Now we finish the ten commandments. Apart from the fifth commandment, Fisher continues to give us a summary statement of what each commandment entails and then unpacks that statement in greater detail.
The fifth commandment is expounded by looking at the duties of those who submit to each authority and then the duty of the authority to the submitter. Thus the commandment teaches the duties of the:
(i) child and parent;
(ii) servant and master;
(iii) wives and husbands;
(iv) subjects and magistrates;
(v) people and their minister.
The sixth commandment teaches 'a negative part expressed in these words: "Thou shalt do no murder." That is, thou shalt neither in heart, tongue, nor hand, impeach or hurt either the life of thine own soul or body, or the life of any other man's soul or body; and an affirmative part included in these words: "But thou shalt every way, by all good means, seek to preserve them both."'
The seventh commandment teaches 'a negative part expressed in these words, "Thou shalt not commit adultery"; that is, though shalt not think, will, speak, or do anything whereby thine own chastity or the chastity of others, may be hurt or hindered. And an affirmative part included in these words, "But thou shalt every way, and by all good means, preserve and keep the same."'
The eighth commandment teaches 'a negative part expressed in these words, "Thou shalt not steal"; that is, though shalt by no unlawful way or means hurt or hinder the wealth and outward estate either of thyself or others: and an affirmative part included in these words, "But thou shalt by all good means preserve and further them both."'
The ninth commandment teaches 'a negative part expressed in these words: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour"; that is, thou shalt not think or speak anything contrary to truth, or that may tend to the hurt or hindrance either of thine own or thy neighbour's good name. And an affirmative part included in these words: "But thou shalt by all good means seek to maintain them both, according to truth and a good conscience." '
The tenth commandment teaches 'a negative part expressed in these words, "Thou shalt not covet," &c.: that is, thou shalt not inwardly think on, nor long after, that which belongs to another, though it be without consent of will, or purpose of heart to seek after it; and an affirmative part included in these words, "But thou shalt be well contented with thine own outward condition, and heartily desire the good of thy neighbours."'
What grabbed me I liked how Fisher applied the fifth commandment to not just the relationship of children and parents, but to all relationships of authority.
Particularly challenging for me was the duty of husbands toward wives: 'Why, the Lord in this commandment requires that husbands be careful to choose religious wives, (2 Cor 6:14); and that they dwell with them as men of knowledge, (1 Peter 3:7); and that they cleave unto them with true love and affection of heart, (Col 3:19); yea, and that they content themselves only with the love of their own wives, and keep themselves only to them both in mind and body, (Prov 5:19,20); they are also to be careful to maintain their authority over them, (Eph 5:23); and to live cheerfully and familiarly with them, (Prov 5:19); and to be careful to provide all things needful and fitting for their maintenance, (1 Tim 5:8); and to teach, instruct, and admonish them, as touching the best things, (1 Sam 1:8); and to pray with them and for them, (1 Peter 3:7); and to endeavour to reform and amend what they see amiss in them, by seasonable and loving admonition and reproof, (Gen 30:2); and wisely and patiently to bear with their natural infirmities, (Gal 6:2).'
I have broken the fifth commandment all too many times.
Next week's reading
Continue Part Two by reading the section entitled, 'The Use of the Law'.
Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
Required reading
Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter (we'll be reading from the 1862 edition available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Continue Chapter 3 by reading Part 2 (Objections to this duty).
My summary Now Baxter addresses objections to the duty of catechising. He attempts to answer nine objections:
OBJECTION 1: We teach our people in public; and how then are we bound to teach them, man by man, besides?
OBJECTION 2: All the parish are not the church, nor do I take the pastoral charge of them, and therefore I am not satisfied that I am bound to take these pains with them.
OBJECTION 3: This course will take up so much time, that a man will have no opportunity to follow his studies. Most of us are young and inexperienced, and have need of much time to improve our own abilities, and to increase our own knowledge, which this course will entirely prevent.
OBJECTION 4: But this course will destroy the health of our bodies, by continual spending our spirits, and allowing us no time for necessary recreations; and it will wholly lock us up, from friendly intercourse with others, so that we must never stir from home, nor enjoy ourselves a day with our friends, for the relaxation of our minds; but, as we shall seem uncourteous and morose to others, so we shall tire ourselves, and the bow that is always bent will be in danger of breaking at last.
OBJECTION 5: I do not think that it is required of ministers that they make drudges of themselves. If they preach diligently, and visit the sick, and perform other ministerial duties, and occasionally do good to those they converse with, I do not think that God doth require that we should thus tie ourselves to instruct every person distinctly, and to make our lives a burden and a slavery.
OBJECTION 6: The times that Paul lived in required more diligence than ours. The churches were but in the planting, the enemies many, and persecution great. But now it is not so.
OBJECTION 7: But if you make such severe laws for ministers, the Church will be left without them. For what man will choose such a toilsome life for himself? or what parents will impose such a burden on their children? Men will avoid it both for the bodily toil, and the danger to their consciences, if they should not well discharge it.
OBJECTION 8: But to what purpose is all this, when most of the people will not submit? They will not come to us to be catechized, and will tell us that they are now too old to go to school. And therefore it is better to let them alone, as trouble them and ourselves to no purpose.
OBJECTION 9: But what likelihood is there that men will be converted by this means, who are not converted by the preaching of the Word, when that is God's chief ordinance for that end? ‘Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the preaching of the word.'
What grabbed me
This was the section that was really for me, but I'm still unconvinced. Most of the objections had to do with laziness and Baxter was splendid in stirring up such objectors to work hard for their Lord. If you want a reading to kick you into hard work, this was it.
But my main objection concerns whether catechising should be given such a high priority, particularly over preaching. It is not about whether catechising will wear me out, but whether it is the best possible use of my time and what I am called to do above all else as a minister.
Baxter did try to answer my issue with 'Objection 9': 'I hope there are none so silly as to think this conference is not preaching. What? doth the number we speak to make it preaching? Or doth interlocution make it none? Surely a man may as truly preach to one, as to a thousand. And, as we have already said, if you examine, you will find that most of the preaching recorded in the New Testament, was by conference, and frequently interlocutory, and that with one or two, fewer or more, as opportunity served. Thus Christ himself did most commonly preach. Besides, we must take account of our people's learning, if we regard the success of our work.'
It seems now Baxter has changed the meaning of 'preaching'. Up to this point in the book he has drawn a distinction between 'preaching' and 'catechising', now he is saying 'preaching' is 'catechising'. If this is so, then he should not have a problem with me spending the majority of my time 'catechising' from the pulpit.
I must admit I feel a bit guilty for disagreeing with Baxter so strongly, so I'd be interested to hear of any readers who are in agreement with Baxter?
Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 3 by reading Part 3 (Directions for this duty). Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
Required reading Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner (Available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example).Read Chapter 25 (Predestination in the physical world) and 26 (A comparison with the Mohammedan doctrine of predestination). My summary
In Chapter 25 we see that the uniformity of the natural law teaches an absolute determinism: 'This has not only been admitted but dogmatically held and asserted by many of the greatest scientists.The atoms follow their exactly prescribed courses.The material objects we handle are governed by fixed laws.If we have accurate knowledge of all the factors involved, we can determine exactly what will be the effect of a falling stone, an explosion, or an earthquake.The telescope reveals to us millions of distant fiery suns, each of which follows an exact, predetermined course, and their positions can be predicted for thousands of years to come.'
Then in Chapter 26 we note the similarities and the differences between Calvinism and Islam. They agree on a strict predestination, but in Islam there is a tendency toward fatalism as 'the idea that man is in any way the cause of his own acts has nearly ceased to exist.'
What grabbed me I enjoyed the chapter on predestination in the physical world: 'And what is Mendel's law but Predestination in the realm of Genetics? The tendency is strongly against the free and the contingent. The Universe is conceived of as one systematic whole, interrelated in all of its parts, and following a very definite, prearranged course. With a different nomenclature and a different idea of the supernatural, the foremost modern scientists and philosophers hold the Calvinistic view in regard to the world as a unit.'
If I wasn't a Christian I certainly would have to be a determinist and believe that there is no free-will in man. The reason we think that we have freedom is because we simply don't know all the variables that are influencing us at any given moment to do what we end up doing.
Therefore predestination is a logical concept revealed in general revelation. It is the responsibility of man as revealed in special revelation that turns the concept into a paradox. Next week's reading
Commence Chapter 27 (Practical importance of the doctrine) by reading points 1 to 6. Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
Required reading City of God by Augustine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Continue Book 15 by reading Chapters 12 to 19. My summary Today's reading continues looking at the men and women of Genesis in order to understand the initial founding of the city of men and the city of God.
The city of man could have been founded by Cain because there were plenty of people present at the time. This is due to: (i) the longevity of human beings in the early ages; (ii) early man having many, many children that are not mentioned in the Biblical record; (iii) early man being able to marry his sister.
Then Augustine looks at the symbolism of the names Abel, Seth, Enos and Enoch - he claims that they prefigure the death and resurrection of Christ (Note: I'm not sure where Augustine is getting his translations of the names here, but as far as I can tell it doesn't appear to be from the Hebrew - I also checked the LXX and the Vulgate and they both have transliterations. In other words I wouldn't hang my hat on the city of God being shown in their names).
What grabbed me Today is mostly a defence of the historicity of Genesis which is always encouraging to read in an age where Genesis as a historical record is often disregarded.
Also there was a good quote about how one enters either city: 'Now the intercourse of male and female is the seedbed, as it were, of a city, as far as the race of mortals is concerned. But the earthly city needs only generation, whereas the Heavenly City needs regeneration also, to escape the guilt connected with generation.'
If you are to be in the City of God you need to be generated and then regenerated.
Next week's reading Conclude Book 15 by reading Chapters 20 to 27.
Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
Required reading Life and times of George Whitefield by Robert Philip (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read Chapter 31 (Whitefield's funeral).
My summary Firstly in today's reading we read an account of Whitefield's funeral.
Then the rest of the chapter is basically a mixture of quotes commemorating Whitefield's life. What grabbed me The quote from John Wesley was particularly good: 'His [Whitefield's] fundamental point was, Give God all the glory of whatever is good in man: set Christ as high, and man as low as possible in the business of salvation. All merit is in the blood of Christ and all power in and from the Spirit of Christ.'
Wesley certainly understood what Whitefield believed in regards to the grace of God!
Next week's reading Read Chapter 32 (Whitefield's characteristics).
Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
