Works (Vol 7) - Goodwin - XXX - Chapter 1 & 2 of 'Three several ages...'

Required reading
The Works (Vol 7) by Thomas Goodwin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence the work 'Three several ages of Christians in faith and obedience' by reading Chapters 1 and 2.

My summary
Today we start a new work by Goodwin which is basically an exposition of 1 John 2:13-14 'I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.'

Thus in Chapter One Goodwin gives us an idea of where he is headed.  The book is going to focus on the three ages described in the verses: '1. Fathers in Christ.  2. Men grown up, which is translated ' young men.'  3. Babes, or new converts not yet grown up, but true believers all.'

But in Chapter One Goodwin also premises 'Some cautions...to prevent a misunderstanding either of the apostle's or my intent.'

Then in Chapter Two Goodwin teaches us:
(i) 'The height and prime of Christian religion lies in fellowship and communion with the persona of God the Father and Christ';
(ii) 'although it is common to all New Testament Christians to have a true, distinct, saving knowledge both of the Father and of the Son Christ, in some, measure or degree, yet that then the knowledge of the one may abound more than of the other ; but specially that in their growing up into acquaintance and fellowship with both, it may and doth fall out, that in successive times of their lives, through God's dispensations therein, they are led into, and have, and enjoy a more intimate fellowship, free and open-hearted, and enlarged converse with some one of these three persons more than they find to be with the other of them ; that is, both on those persons' part whom they converse with, they find one of them more accessible, more free and open- hearted towards their souls, more ready to entertain them, and receive them graciously ; and also on their own part, as they find themselves more disposed, according to their various ages, to treat with one more than another.'

What grabbed me
I continued to be amazed at Goodwin's insights into Scripture which hardly anyone else seems to possess.  I'm starting to think that maybe we stop doing other authors on Fridays in the club.  Instead we spend every Friday reading Goodwin until we've read his entire works.

Today I loved the careful explanation about how we go through periods of enjoying sweeter fellowship with the different members of the trinity. 

And this is not a problem for the members of the trinity, in fact they encourage it: 'Yea, these persons are so far from jealousy in this case of one another, lest one should have more of us than himself, that they do help forward and advance the glorifying of one the other unto us. Jesus Christ the Son, when he hath once been thoroughly revealed and made known to any soul himself, it is he, when once believed on by it, that reveals the Father unto us: Mat. xi. 27, ' No man knows the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son reveals him.' And, vice versa, when Christ is revealed and made known to you, and your hearts drawn to him, and your hearts taken up with the communications of him, you must know it is the Father that concealedly doth this : John vi. 45, ' It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God : every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh unto me ;' so Gal. i. 15. And then Christ taketh his turn afresh and anew to reveal the Father : John xvi. 25, 'The time cometh that I will shew you plainly of the Father.' And the Spirit is as zealous and forward to glorify both : John xvi. 14, 'He (the Spirit) shall take of mine and glorify me ' (and take of the Father's too, and glorify him also to your hearts), ' by shewing it to you.' And I say, he glorifies the Father as well as Christ; for so Christ intends his speech: ver. 15, 'All things that the Father hath are mine : therefore said I that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.' Herein they take their turns also : John xvii. 1, 'The hour is come that thou, Father, shouldst glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify thee ; ' in their courses to glorify one another. And they, having an eternity of time to glorify themselves unto us in, are not hasty for themselves ; they have time enough afore them to do it in, and take their seasons. And, however, in heaven they will be sure then to manifest themselves to us at once, to the full, and together.'

The trinity love to make much of each other, even if it means the Christian focuses on another member for a time.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 3.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.