Required reading Heaven on earth by Thomas Brooks (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 3 (Containing the several hindrances and impediments that keep poor souls from assurance; with the means and helps to remove those impediments and hindrances).
My summary Today Brooks looks at impediments 'that keep poor souls from assurance': (i) despairing thoughts of mercy; (ii) men's entering into the lists of dispute with Satan about those things that are above their reach, as about the decrees and counsel of God; (iii) the want of a thorough search and examination of their own souls and of what God hath done and is a-doing in them; (iv) mistakes about the work of grace; (v) grieving and vexing the Spirit of grace by not hearkening to his voice; (vi) doubting souls and making their sense, reason, and feeling the judges of their spiritual conditions; (vii) men's remissness, carelessness, laziness and overliness in religious services and in the exercise of their graces; (viii) men's living in the neglect of some ordinance or in the omission of some religious duties; (ix) immoderate love of the world; (x) the secret cherishing and running out of their hearts to some bosom, darling sin.
What grabbed me Excellent advice about trusting feelings: 'To make sense and feeling the judges of our spiritual conditions, what is it but to make ourselves happy and miserable, righteous and unrighteous, saved and damned in one day, ay, in one hour, when sense and reason sit as judges upon the bench ? Hath God made sense and feeling the judges of your conditions ? No. Why, then, will you ? Is your reason Scripture ? Is your sense Scripture ? Is your feeling Scripture ? No. Why, then, will you make them judges of your spiritual estate ? Is not the word the judge, by which all men and their actions shall be judged at last ? ' The word that I have spoken,' says Christ, ' shall judge you in the last day/ John xii. 48.'
Trust the word of God, not your feelings.
Next week's reading Read Chapter 4 (Containing several motives to provoke Christians to be restless till they have obtained a well-grounded assurance of their eternal happiness and blessedness).
Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
Required reading An all-round ministry by CH Spurgeon (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 10 (The Evils of the Present Time, and Our Object, Necessities, and Encouragements) by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'In these evil times, we have still—ONE ABIDING OBJECT.'
My summary This week we begin Spurgeon's chapter on the evils of his age by looking at what they are: (i) a questioning of fundamental truth; (ii) the attacking of the truth by misrepresenting it and wickedly distorting it; (iii) the want of decision for the truth among truly good men; (iv) the insatiable craving for amusements; (v) the lack of intense piety in many of the churches; (vi) the stolidity of the people outside with regard to the gospel.
What grabbed me Good point about why practical atheism is rampant: 'The ministers have done it. They preached the people out of their faith in the Scriptures; they taught them to be doubters. The most mischievous servant of Satan that I know of is the minister of the gospel, who not only doubts the truth in his own soul, but propagates doubt in the minds of others by his criticisms, innuendoes, and triflings with words. Some ministers believe nothing except that nothing can be believed. Such a man's conscience is withered. In some modern ministers, the faculty wherewith to believe is extinct; they have played with words till they cannot be true if they try.'
Many so-called ministers will have much to answer for come judgement day.
Next week's reading Conclude Chapter 10 (The Evils of the Present Time, and Our Object, Necessities, and Encouragements).
Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
Required reading A lifting up for the downcast by William Bridge (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon II (True peace may be interrupted). My summary Today we read Bridges' second sermon on Psalm 42:11.
Firstly we are taught how far it is possible for a good man to be discouraged or cast down by seeing:
(i) that he can refuse the word, promise or consolation that is brought;
(ii) that his very body feeleth the smart of discouragements.
Secondly we are given some reasons as to how it doth come to pass that he is so discouraged:
(i) to see the fulness of God;
(ii) that the price of peace and quietness of soul would be enhanced;
(iii) so he doesn't love the nurse more than God;
(iv) for training;
(v) for growth;
(vi) to break sins.
Thirdly we see how those discouragements can stand with God's grace and goodness.
Fourthly we observe how those discouragements may be healed and cured by
(i) remembering what you would do if you were to be justified and do the same now;
(ii) labouring to find out your sin;
(iii) reading Scripture much.
What grabbed me Good advice for what to do with the comfort that you do have: 'As you have any spiritual comfort from Christ, spend all for Christ : for though in temporal things, the way to have little, is to spend much ; yet in spiritual things, the more you spend, the more you have. And therefore, whatsoever comfort you have, spend it with the saints. Do as Moses did : when Moses was in Pharaoh's court, and in great preferment, standing in the presence of the king, he went out to visit his brethren, and to comfort them under their burdens : " I will see (saith he) how it fares with my brethren, under their burdens." So do you also. Hath the Lord spoken peace and comfort to your soul, and do you now stand in the presence of the King of kings, having his face shining on you, with your comforts all restored unto you ? Now then go out unto your brethren, and inquire who they are that labour under any burden, and with the same comfort wherewith you have been comforted yourselves, comfort others, knowing this for certain, that the more you spend, the more you shall have, and the longer you shall keep your comforts : yea, and this Christ expects, that what comforts we have from him, we should spend for him.'
Contrary to your usual understanding of spending, when it comes to your comforts spend to receive more!
Next week's reading
Read Sermon III (Saints should not be discouraged whatever their condition be). Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
I've decided that the next Tuesday Theology title will be 'Charity and its fruits' by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here).
By my calculations we'll finish our current Tuesday Theology title, 'A lifting up for the downcast' by William Bridge sometime in June 2011 and so we'll start our new title then.
Required reading
Attributes of God by Charnock (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Commence Chapter 4 (A discourse upon spiritual worship) by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'II. The second thing I am to shew is, what spiritual worship is' (page 298 in the Banner edition).
My summary After seeing in the last Chapter that God is a Spirit, we now commence a chapter on the subject of spiritual worship.
Today we read some general propositions about spiritual worship:
(i) the right exercise of worship is founded upon and riseth from the spirituality of God;
(ii) this spiritual worship of God is manifest by the light of nature to be due to him;
(iii) spiritual worship, therefore, was always required by God, and always offered to him by one or other;
(iv) it is therefore as much every man's duty to worship God in spirit, as it is their duty to worship him;
(v) the ceremonial law was abolished to promote the spirituality of divine worship;
(vi) the service and worship the gospel settles is spiritual, and the performance of it more spiritual;
(vii) yet the worship of God with our bodies is not to be rejected upon the account that God requires a spiritual worship.
What grabbed me I liked Charnock's exaltation of Jesus as the best spiritual worshipper: 'Jesus Christ, the most spiritual worshipper, worshipped God with his body. He prayed orally, and kneeled — Father, if it be thy will, &c. Luke xxii. 41, 42. He blessed with his mouth— Father, I thank thee, Matt xi. 26. He lifted up his eyes as well as elevated his spirit, when he praised his Father for mercy received, or begged for the blessings his disciples wanted, John xi. 41; John xvii. 1. The strength of the spirit must have vent at the outward members.'
If spiritual worship for Jesus overflowed into bodily worship, so should ours.
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 4 (A discourse upon spiritual worship) by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'IV. To make use of this: Use 1. First, it serves for information.' (page 321 in the Banner edition).
Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
Required reading Robert Murray M'Cheyne by Andrew Bonar (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 2 (His labours in the vineyard before ordination). My summary Now we read of M'Cheyne's early endeavours as a minister.
Once again, Bonar gives us a good summary of the period: 'During these ten months the Lord had done much for him, but it was chiefly in the way of discipline for a future ministry. He had been taught a minister's heart; he had been tried in the furnace; he had tasted deep personal sorrow, little of which has been recorded; he had felt the fiery darts of temptation; he had been exercised in self-examination and in much prayer; he had proved how flinty is the rock, and had learned that in lifting the rod by which it was to be smitten, success lay in Him alone who enabled him to lift it up. And thus prepared of God for the peculiar work that awaited him, he had turned his face towards Dundee, and took up his abode in the spot where the Lord was so marvelously to visit him in his ministry.'
What grabbed me Enjoyed his counsel in a letter to a young man leaving home, particularly concerning prayer: 'Turn the Bible into prayer. Thus, if you were reading the 1st Psalm, spread the Bible on the chair before you, and kneel, and pray, 'O Lord, give me the blessedness of the man,' etc. 'Let me not stand in the counsel of the ungodly,' etc. This is the best way of knowing the meaning of the Bible, and of learning to pray. In prayer confess your sins by name--going over those of the past day, one by one. Pray for your friends by name--father, mother, etc. etc. If you love them, surely you will pray for their souls. I know well that there are prayers constantly ascending for you from your own house; and will you not pray for them back again? Do this regularly. If you pray sincerely for others, it will make you pray for yourself.'
One of the greatest pieces of advice I have known is to turn the Bible into a prayer book.
Next week's reading Commence Chapter 3 (First years of labour in Dundee) by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'In the close of the same year 1837, he agreed to become Secretary to the Association for Church Extension in the county of Forfar.' Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
Required reading Tracts and Letters (Volume 2) by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Chapter IX (Second defence of the pious and orthodox faith concerning the sacraments, in answer to the calumnies of Joachim Westphal).
My summary Today we finish Calvin's second defence against Westphal.
The reading is mostly Calvin defending himself and other reformers from Westphal's personal attacks. Although there are some theological accusations laid as well, including: (i) that they allow children to die unbaptized; (ii) that the Lord's supper is not given to the sick at their homes; (iii) that they admit people to the Supper without previous examination and without private absolution; (iv) that in order to defend the image-war of Carlostadt, they divide the first commandment into two; (v) that they abrogate feast days and also the divisions of the Gospel and Epistles which were in common use.
The first point about children and baptism resurfaces towards the end of the tract and is developed further there.
What grabbed me Great point about the importance of proper exegesis: 'Were the sacred majesty of the word of God to be called in question, such license, I admit, ought to be withstood ; but here, Westphal, it is not Scripture, but an opinion of your own that is brought under discussion. The question is not whether Christ truly and correctly called the bread his body, but what he meant to say, and what his words, which we reverently embrace, signify. You contend that they are too clear to need exposition. We assert the same thing as to their clearness, provided you refuse not to open your eyes.'
A superficial reading of Scripture is not something you should base your theology on.
Next week's reading Commence Chapter X (Last admonition of John Calvin to Joachim Westphal) by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'The third head which he has undertaken to refute is, that we communicate in the flesh and blood of Christ, but in such manner, that the reality of his human nature remains entire' (page 379 in the Banner edition).
Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
Required reading The Works Volume 1 by Richard Sibbes (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapters 13 to 21. My summary We continue Sibbes exposition of Matthew 12:20: 'A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.'
Chapter 13 is an encouragement to do your duties notwithstanding your weaknesses.
Chapter 14 looks at when the case of our heart is altogether indisposed and resolves this situation for us.
Chapter 15 examines our infirmities of body and suggests that they should be no cause of discouragement.
Chapter 16 teaches us not to believe Satan as he represents Christ to us.
Chapter 17 is a reproof of those who sin against the merciful disposition of Christ and quench the Spirit.
Chapters 18 to 21 begins to discuss the judgement of Christ in us.
What grabbed me Such good advice: 'Since Christ is thus comfortably set out unto us, let us not believe Satan's representations of him. When we are troubled in conscience for our sins, his manner is then to present him to the afflicted soul as a most severe judge armed with justice against us. But then let us present him to our souls, as thus offered to our view by God himself, as holding out a sceptre of mercy, and spreading his arms to receive us.'
Satan will indeed speak to you about Christ. He will not avoid the subject. But what Satan does tell you should not be trusted.
Rather, trust what Christ tells you about Christ.
Next week's reading Read Chapters 22 to 28.
Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
Required reading Heaven on earth by Thomas Brooks (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Chapter 2.
My summary Last week we began Chapter 2 and saw 'several weighty propositions concerning assurance'. Proposition number seven was 'that there are some special seasons and times, wherein the Lord is graciously pleased to give to his children a sweet assurance of his favour and love.'
This week Brooks teaches us about nine of those seasons: (i) at first conversion, the Lord is pleased to make out sweet manifestations of his love to the penitent soul; (ii) when he intends to put his people upon some high and hard, some difficult and dangerous service; (iii) waiting times are times wherein God is pleased to give his people some secret tastes of his love, and to lift up the light of his countenance upon them; (iv) suffering times are times wherein the Lord is pleased to give his people some sense of his favour; (v) hearing and receiving times are times wherein the Lord is graciously pleased to cause his face to shine upon his people; (vi) times of personal afflictions are times wherein the Lord is graciously pleased to vouchsafe to his people sweet manifestations of his love and favour; (vii) praying times are times wherein the Lord is graciously pleased to give his people some sweet and comfortable assurance of his love and favour towards them; (viii) sometimes before the souls are deeply engaged in sore conflicts with Satan, the Lord is graciously pleased to visit his people with loving-kindness to give them some sweet assurance, that though they are tempted, yet they shall not be worsted; (ix) after some sharp conflicts with Satan, God is graciously pleased to lift up the light of his countenance upon his people, and to warm and cheer their hearts with the beams of his love.
What grabbed me Great line about the addictive nature of assurance: 'The more a saint tastes of God in an ordinance, the more are his desires raised and whetted, and the more are his teeth set on edge for more and more of God. Plutarch saith, that when "once the Gauls had tasted of the sweet wine that was made of the grapes of Italy, nothing would satisfy them but Italy, Italy." So a soul that hath tasted of the sweetness and goodness of God in ordinances, nothing will satisfy it, but more of that goodness and sweetness.' A little mercy may save the soul, but it must be a great deal of mercy that must satisfy the soul. The least glimpse of God's countenance may be a staff to support the soul, and an ark to secure the soul, and a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide the soul ; but it must be much, very much of God, that must be enough to satisfy the soul. '
Once you get a taste of God and his mercy, you can't get enough!
Next week's reading Read Chapter 3 (Containing the several hindrances and impediments that keep poor souls from assurance; with the means and helps to remove those impediments and hindrances).
Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
