Required reading
The Fundamentals edited by R. A. Torrey (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 27 (A personal testimony).
My summary
Today we read the final personal testimony (and chapter of the work).
Mauro tells us how he:
(i) worshipped money;
(ii) found worldliness depressing;
(iii) was unnaturally drawn to a prayer meeting;
(iv) confessed Christ;
(v) had doubts miraculously removed;
(vi) witnessed to his family;
(vii) looks forward to the new age.
What grabbed me
It was interesting to read how Mauro was converted through people of low regard: 'And here I wish to call particular attention to a striking instance of the fact that God's ways are not as our ways, and that the wisdom of man is foolishness with God. I should have supposed that, in order to convince me of the truth of the Bible and of Christianity it would be necessary to employ the best efforts of a faculty of the profoundest theologians, versed in all the arguments of skeptical philosophy, and able to furnish plausible replies to them. But God, in His wisdom, sent me to learn the way of everlasting life from a company of exceedingly plain, humble people, of little education, to whom I regarded myself as immeasurably superior in all the higher branches of knowledge. It is true that these people knew very little of what is taught in colleges and seminaries ; but they did have that knowledge which is the highest and most excellent of all, that knowledge for which one of the most scholarly of men of his day was willing to sacrifice all his advantages, counting them but refuse, and to cast away all his brilliant prospects, saying, "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Phil. 3:8). '
Mauro certainly could testify to the truth of Paul's words: 'Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (1Co 1:26-27)'
Next week's reading
Commence Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Available from Amazon or free here) Volume 1 by reading Chapter 1 (On method).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
2 comments:
What a lot if ground was covered in that reading! But all very worthwhile, as sadly it seems some of the same false teachings addressed are still alive and well, or perhaps I just noticed them after having read this. But having read it, I was able to speak a little more informatively when the subjects came up, so thank you very much for including such an influential and necessary work! Your blog truly is a blessing to me, and I pray The Lord uses it mightily for the furthering and upbuilding of His people.
CJ,
Good to hear that you enjoyed the Fundamentals.
It was certainly a long read, but much easier than some of the works we've read together.
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