A body of divinity by Thomas Watson (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read 'Preliminary discourse to catechising'.
Firstly Watson teaches us that it is the duty of Christians to be settled in the doctrine of faith. This is because:
(i) it is the great end of the word preached to bring us to a settlement in religion;
(ii) to be settled in religion is both a Christian's excellence and honour;
(iii) such as are not settled in the faith can never suffer for it;
(iv) to not be settled in the faith is provoking to God;
(v) if you are not settled in religion, you will never grow;
(vi) there are so many things to unsettle us.
Secondly Watson tells us that the way for Christians to be settled is to be well grounded, particularly in knowledge of the fundamentals.
Watson is very easy to read.
I enjoyed this description of preaching: 'The word is called a hammer. Jer 23:39. Every blow of the hammer is to fasten the nails of the building; so the preacher’s words are to fasten you the more to Christ; they weaken themselves to strengthen and settle you. This is the grand design of preaching, not only for the enlightening, but for the establishing of souls; not only to guide them in the right way, but to keep them in it.'
Great image!
Next week's reading
Read I. Man's chief end is to glorify God.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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