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Editorial: \b\i\f1 The Graciousness of God: \par
An Encouragement To Pray\par
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\f1 A Predestinarian Evangelist\f0
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(Part Two)\b\i\f1 Calvin and Servetus\par
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\b\i\f1 Church Problems\b0\i0\f0\par
\b\i\f1 The Doctrines of Grace\par
(A Testimony)\b0\i0\f0
\b\i\f1 Annual General Meeting\par
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\b\i\f1 Erratum\b0\i0\f0
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Letter
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\b\f1\fs22 God is Gracious\par \b0 Throughout His Word God tells us repeatedly how gracious He is; that is, how willing by nature He is to show loving-kindness or favour to the unworthy. This tells us two things: \par (1) Even if there was no-one at all to whom He could show such favour, God would still be an infinitely gracious God. \par (2) Yet because the Scriptures were written that we might come to know Him, His graciousness has been revealed to us.\par \b\par \b0 For instance, in passing before Moses He proclaimed Himself to be \ldblquote merciful and gracious.\rdblquote (Exod 34.6). Comments Charles Hodge: \ldblquote He meant what He said when He proclaimed Himself \ldblquote The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious . . .\rdblquote That is, He really is as gracious as His Word declares Him to be. \par Indeed, so careful was God to keep this aspect of His character before His people\rquote s eyes that He included it in the often-heard priestly blessing: \ldblquote The Lord . . . be gracious unto thee.\rdblquote (Num 6.25). \par A touching example of this graciousness appeared when He preserved Israel under the oppression of King Hazael of Syria: \ldblquote And the Lord was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them . . . and would not destroy them.\rdblquote (2 Kings 13.23).\par \par The Psalms are full of the graciousness of our God. In danger, David appealed to it: \ldblquote But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious.\rdblquote (Psa 86.15). In praise, he singled it out: \ldblquote Gracious is the Lord, and righteous.\rdblquote (Psa 116.5). William Plumer applies this to us: \ldblquote Let us delight ourselves in the Lord our God, dwelling much on His glorious perfections, and extolling His grace and mercy.\rdblquote\par \par One of the most comforting passages in the entire Old Testament reminds us that in relation to our cordial repentance the Lord our God \ldblquote is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.\rdblquote (Joel 2.13). Calvin adds winsomely: \ldblquote While exhorting the people to repentance, they [the prophets] joined to the invitation, \lquote Come\rquote the second part, \lquote Ye shall not come in vain.\rquote\rdblquote That is, \ldblquote He will never reject miserable sinners, provided they return to Him with the heart.\rdblquote\par \b\par \b0 Accordingly, His people are ready to acknowledge how gracious He has been to them. Says Jacob: \ldblquote God hath dealt graciously with me.\rdblquote (Gen 33.11). And having tasted for themselves that \ldblquote the Lord is gracious\rdblquote (1 Pet 2.3), they long for Him to be gracious to others: \ldblquote God be gracious unto thee, my son,\rdblquote said Joseph to his young brother. (Gen 43.29). Comments Luther: \ldblquote After faith has become strong, we must provide for and feed each individual Christian according to his growth.\rdblquote\par \par \b God\rquote s graciousness prominent in His people\rquote s prayers\par \b0 Furthermore, this aspect of His character is prominent in His people\rquote s prayers. In view of certain invasion from the enemy, Isaiah cries: \ldblquote O Lord, be gracious unto us. We have waited for thee: be thou . . . our salvation in the time of trouble.\rdblquote (Isa 33.2). In a sermon based on this verse, Jonathan Edwards says: \ldblquote Those who are in trouble and distressing fear, if they come to Jesus Christ, have this to ease them of their fears, that Christ has promised them that He will protect them; that they come upon His invitation; that Christ has plighted [ie pledged] His faith for their security if they will close with Him; and that He is engaged by covenant to God the Father that He will save those afflicted and distressed souls that come to Him.\rdblquote Such promises, says a certain Puritan, are \ldblquote the cork to keep faith from sinking in prayer.\rdblquote\par \par Similarly, when God had shown His intense displeasure at the hypocrisy in His people\rquote s worship, Malachi calls on them: \ldblquote And now, I pray you, beseech God that He will be gracious unto us.\rdblquote (Mal 1.9). Hosea, too, affectionately instructs the people to return to the Lord their God and say to Him: \ldblquote Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously.\rdblquote (Hos 14.2). The Hebrew here suggests a gracious hope; namely, that when God has pardoned our sin, He would go on showing us mercy, and being graciously reconciled to us in Christ, would bestow more and more grace on us.\par \par \b God\rquote s graciousness in hearing prayer\par \b0 These facts remind us just how gracious our God is in hearing prayer at all. Foreseeing that the poor would cry to Him when fleeced by the rich, He expressly adds that when they do: \ldblquote I will hear, for I am gracious.\rdblquote (Exod 22.27). \par \par Isaiah focuses on this attribute as a special encouragement to pray: \ldblquote And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you . . . blessed are all they that wait for Him . . . He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear it, He shall answer thee.\rdblquote (Isa 30.18-19). What an astonishing truth this is: that God is actually waiting to be gracious to us!\par \par Just think of the speed with which our Lord answered the prayer of blind Bartimaeus. Despite the command from others to hold his peace, he continued to cry: \ldblquote Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me,\rdblquote and Christ immediately stopped and met his need. (Luke 18.38-39). \par Think, too, of the prodigal way in which He answered Solomon\rquote s prayer for wisdom: \ldblquote Lo, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart . . . And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked.\rdblquote (1 Kings 3.12-13). Matthew Henry notes two instances of God\rquote s graciousness in this incident: first, \ldblquote the gracious offer God made him\rdblquote when He said: \ldblquote Ask what I shall give thee.\rdblquote (Verse 5); second, \ldblquote the favourable answer God gave to his request.\rdblquote (Verse 10). So, our God is gracious in inviting us to ask of Him what we will, and in accepting our prayer when we prefer spiritual blessings to temporal ones. Truly, He is \ldblquote able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.\rdblquote (Eph 3.20). \par \par God is so gracious in hearing the prayer of the upright, which is His delight (Prov 15.8), that He claims to be overcome by it. In an astonishing statement, He says: \ldblquote Concerning . . . the work of my hands command ye me.\rdblquote (Isa 45.11). It is as though God is telling us that when we wrestle with Him in fervent prayer, like Jacob, we shall actually prevail over Him!\par \par Indeed, some of His people know from experience the truth of His promise: \ldblquote Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.\rdblquote (Isa 65.24).\par \par \par In view of such privileges, we should exclaim with Jonathan Edwards: \ldblquote How wonderful is it that such worms as we should be allowed to come boldly at all times to so great a God!\rdblquote\par \par \b God\rquote s graciousness is exercised sovereignly\b0\par In extolling the graciousness of our God, we must never forget that He is sovereign in showing any favour at all to us who by nature are His enemies. \ldblquote I . . . will be gracious to whom I will be gracious.\rdblquote (Exod 33.19). In short, we do not deserve to be allowed to call on the name of the Lord in prayer. Neither do we deserve to be heard, accepted or answered. All is of free, sovereign grace.\par \par \b God\rquote s graciousness in giving us Christ to render our prayer acceptable\par \b0 How thankful we should be, too, that God has received Christ into heaven, where He takes our miserable prayers and renders them acceptable to God! Let us never lift up our hearts to God without placing them first on Him as He represents us at God\rquote s right hand.\par \b\par \b0 Dear friend, have you tasted that the Lord is gracious? The doctrines of Calvinism will do you no good unless you come to know the God of the doctrines. \ldblquote And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.\rdblquote (John 17.3). Call on Him then. \ldblquote For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.\rdblquote (Rom 10.13). Say to Him with the Highland kitchen maid: \ldblquote Lord, show me myself; show me Thyself.\rdblquote And in due time He will answer you.\par \par Do not imagine that He is far off. He has already drawn near to us in Christ. Our Lord, in whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, tells even Pharisees: \ldblquote My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.\rdblquote (John 6.32). This is how gracious He is. \par \par Lastly, if you have never prayed and have no intention of praying, remember how inexcusable you are in view of the fact that God is so gracious. O may His very willingness to show favour to the undeserving goad you to seek Him while He may be found, and call on Him while He is near.\par \pard\f0\fs20\par
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\f1\fs22 In the first part of this article, we noticed how Jonathan Edwards felt the need to use all the evangelistic means God has revealed to us in Scripture - information, invitations and warnings - to stir up sinners to seek the Lord while He may be found. His great emphasis on seeking was fully in keeping with God\rquote s gracious promise that those who seek Him with all their heart shall certainly find Him. (Deut 4.29). He urged all his hearers to seek God, knowing full well that God has from eternity chosen to save only some of those who ever hear the Gospel.\par \par In this part, we shall observe how Edwards brought together the sovereign action of God and evangelistic calls for his hearers to come to Christ. \par \par The point at which God actually touches the seeking soul, claims Edwards, is the moment when He floods the Biblical knowledge of salvation we already have with saving spiritual light. It is this \lquote divine and supernatural light\rquote , as he calls it, which distinguishes mere head knowledge from heart knowledge. The Holy Spirit, he claims, shines on His own truth \b from within the heart of God\rquote s elect\b0 , leaving natural men, even orthodox Calvinists, with nothing more than their mental understanding of truth. \par \par It is crucial to notice the difference this light makes in the elect: it not only enables them to \ldblquote receive the revelation\rdblquote made about Christ \ldblquote in the Word\rdblquote ; it also gives them a \ldblquote relish\rdblquote for Him as crucified for sinners such as themselves. In this saving work, no \ldblquote new truths\rdblquote about Christ are imparted, not even a single \ldblquote secret whisper.\rdblquote Rather, the Spirit simply enables them to grasp who Christ is, what He has done and suffered for such sinners as themselves, and to receive and trust Him for their complete salvation. In short, He causes them to see that the saving work of Christ applies to them in particular, considered as sinners.\par \par To sharpen this distinction between head knowledge and heart knowledge, Edwards states bluntly that \ldblquote the perceiving of spiritual beauty and excellency\rdblquote in Christ no more belongs to reason than feeling can perceive colours. \ldblquote Reason\rquote s work is to perceive truth,\rdblquote he adds, \ldblquote and not excellency . . . . It depends on the sense of the heart.\rdblquote\par \par Once we are given this heart sense of the beauty of Christ as a suitable and all-sufficient Saviour, we cannot help being drawn to Him. In sermon after sermon, Edwards pursues this pivotal theme: \ldblquote There never was any man that once came to understand what manner of one Christ was but his heart was infallibly drawn to Him.\rdblquote \ldblquote The spiritual knowledge of Christ is as it were a sweet savour that the soul hath of Christ.\rdblquote \ldblquote \lquote Tis a sight of the glory of God in Christ . . . which changes the elect of God and makes \lquote em like God.\rdblquote\par \par Once God has brought our knowledge of Christ to life, so to speak, we immediately want to know Him more. Experience of Him coming into our heart invariably bears this fruit. This is why Edwards insists on us continuing to study our Bibles, even after conversion; for the more knowledge we gain of Christ from His Word, \ldblquote the more opportunity there will be, when the Spirit shall be breathed into your heart, to see the excellency of these things, and to taste the sweetness of them.\rdblquote Thus from the moment of our new birth, or union to Christ, our path will shine more and more until the perfect day. Yet, adds Edwards tellingly, not without many dark clouds intervening: such glimpses of glory are usually short-lived. This teaches us that we must not depend on them for our spiritual life, but take encouragement from them that we are truly born again. Not only that, we should use the light given us to bring others to Christ. As Edwards disarmingly says: \ldblquote Don\rquote t only be enlightened, but shine.\rdblquote\par \par One final point remains to be dealt with: What is the link between God\rquote s giving of this spiritual and saving light and our evangelism? For Edwards the answer is plain: never leave men under the impression that they are converted because they have their heads full of sound Scriptural knowledge; but challenge, command, invite and call them out of their sinful darkness into Christ\rquote s marvellous light.\par \par The great and permanent change God makes in their nature at the new birth comes through the preacher freely offering Christ to his hearers in the Gospel. \ldblquote God has sent me to you to make you the offer,\rdblquote he says, echoing the servants\rquote role in the Parable of the Marriage Feast (Matt 22.3,4,9). \ldblquote Christ has sent me to give you an invitation.\rdblquote \par \par This gracious invitation is sent to all who hear the Gospel, for \ldblquote many are called.\rdblquote The invitation is appended to the proclamation. No sooner does God intimate to us that He is willing to unite sinners to His adorable Son in a spiritual wedding that lasts forever than He immediately invites sinners to that wedding. The full-orbed Gospel contains both the proclamation and the invitation.\par \par Then, being made willing in the day of God\rquote s power, some out of all who hear make \ldblquote free choice\rdblquote of Christ as their spiritual Husband and Saviour. They are not forced to accept Him against their will, but they accept Him willingly.\par \par Yet the secret behind their acceptance lies in God\rquote s first choosing of them - \ldblquote few are chosen.\rdblquote Their conscious voluntary choice rests wholly on His unknown secret choice. But when God\rquote s appointed time to draw them to Christ has come, not one of them will refuse the invitation, because they cannot resist the attractiveness of the Saviour as displayed in the Gospel. The inward drawing power from God creates the free choice. This is why God\rquote s grace is described as invincible or irresistible.\par \par Nor does this saving light and power by-pass the mind, as if it operates by magic. When God gives His elect saving faith, \ldblquote they that do truly believe in Christ do therein by their own act appoint Christ to be their Head.\rdblquote Their acceptance of the Gospel invitation is made with conscious awareness of what it means.\par \par \b Conclusion\b0\par There is, then, in Edwards, a beautiful harmony between God\rquote s eternal predestinating purpose to save His elect and the preacher\rquote s actual calling of them through the Gospel. Clearly, that purpose does not dispense with evangelism; rather, it operates through it. \par \par \pard\b\i From all this, it may be seen that there is no contradiction between God\rquote s sovereignty in saving whom He will and man\rquote s responsibility to receive Christ when called. Edwards\rquote s ministry was in the fullest sense the ministry of a predestinarian evangelist.\b0\i0\f0\fs20\par \par
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\f1\fs22 A calm and impartial view of this sad subject has been reserved for this place, and for a chapter of its own. The immense advantage of having been able to consult and to weigh the evidence of the principal writers- certainly not fewer than forty-about the case of Servetus, besides several biographies of the man himself, will greatly aid the writer.\par \par It is very common to hear the remark, \ldblquote What about Servetus?\rdblquote or, \ldblquote Who burned Servetus?\rdblquote There are three kinds of persons who thus flippantly ask a question of this nature. First, the Roman Catholics, who may judge it to be an unanswerable taunt to a Protestant. Second, those who are not in accord with the great doctrines of grace, as taught by Paul and Calvin, and embraced and loved by thousands still. Then there is a third kind of persons who can only be described as ill-informed. It is always desirable, and often useful, to really know something of what one professes to know.\par \par I shall narrow the inquiry at the outset by saying that all Roman Catholics are \ldblquote out of court.\rdblquote They burn heretics on principle, avowedly. This is openly taught by them; it is in the margin of their Bible; and it is even their boast that they do so. AND, MOREOVER, THEY CONDEMNED SERVETUS TO BE BURNED.\par \par Those who misunderstand or misrepresent the doctrines of grace call for pity more than blame when they charge the death of Servetus upon those views of divine truth known as Calvinistic. Perhaps a little instruction would be of great value to such. It is very desirable to have clear ideas of what it is we are trying to understand. In most disputes this would make a clear pathway for thought and argument. Most controversies are more about terms than principles.\par \par \pard\sl-300\slmult0\qj\tx204 The third sort of persons are plainly incompetent to take up this case, for the simple reason that they know nothing whatever about it. Pressed for their reasons, they have to confess that they never at any time read a line about the matter.\par \pard\sl-300\slmult0\tx204\par \pard\sl-300\slmult0\qj\tx204 The duty of the historian is not to plead, but to narrate facts. I shall do this as impartially as possible. One writer need not be imitated (W. H. Drummond, D.D.), who is not ashamed to disfigure his title-page: \ldblquote Life of Michael Servetus, who was entrapped, imprisoned, and burned by John Calvin.\rdblquote Less scurrilous, but equally prejudiced, is Dr. R. Willis. It is a weak case that needs the aid of ink mixed with abusive gall.\par \pard\sl-300\slmult0\tx204\par \pard\sl-300\slmult0\qj\tx204 The simplest method of arranging my material will be to ask and to answer three questions. First, \i why \i0 was Servetus burned? Second, \i who \i0 burned him? Third, \i what part \i0 in the matter was taken by John Calvin?\par \pard\sl-300\slmult0\tx204\par \pard\sl-300\slmult0\qj\tx204 Michael Servetus was born at Villanueva, in 1509. After a liberal education, he studied medicine; and anticipated Harvey in the discovery of the circulation of the blood. It appears that he had a lively genius, but was unstable, erratic, and weak. In 1530 he published a book \ldblquote On the Errors of the Trinity.\rdblquote His views need not be given here; one specimen will suffice to give an idea of them. He said that the doctrine of the Trinity was \ldblquote a three-headed Cerberus, a dream of Augustine, and an invention of the devil.\rdblquote The book, however, on which his trial was based was his \i\ldblquote Restitutio Christianismi.\rdblquote \i0 Only two copies of this are known to exist; and both are out of England. I have seen a copy of the reprint of 1790. Servetus sent the manuscript of this to Calvin for his perusal; and a lengthy correspondence took place between them, extending from 1546 to 1548. Of this Calvin says: \ldblquote When he was at Lyons he sent me three questions to answer. He thought to entrap me. That my answer did not satisfy him I am not surprised.\rdblquote To Servetus himself he wrote: \ldblquote I neither hate you nor despise you; nor do I wish to persecute you; but I would be as hard as iron when I behold you insulting sound doctrine with so great audacity.\rdblquote\par \pard\sl-300\slmult0\tx204\par \pard\sl-300\slmult0\qj\tx204 And now occurs what foundation there is on which is built the accusation against Calvin. It occurs in his well-known letter to Farel, dated February 13th, 1546. \ldblquote Servetus wrote to me a short time ago, and sent a huge volume of his dreamings and pompous triflings with his letter. I was to find among them wonderful things, and such as I had never before seen; and if I wished, he would himself come. But I am by no means inclined to be responsible for him; and if he come, I will never allow him, supposing my influence worth anything, to depart alive.\rdblquote\par \pard\sl-300\slmult0\tx204\par \pard\sl-300\slmult0\qj\tx204 There lived at Geneva at this time a Frenchman of Lyons named William Trie; and he had a relative at Lyons named Arneys, a Roman Catholic. After the publication of this book by Servetus, Trie wrote to his friend Arneys a letter in which he said that it was base for Protestants to be burned who really believed in Christ while such a man as Servetus should be permitted to live to publish his vile errors. Arneys placed this letter before the Inquisition at Lyons, and cardinal Tournon arrested Servetus at once. Without giving the mass of details, it will be sufficient to say that Servetus escaped from prison one night by a pretext. His trial, however, proceeded in his absence; and on June 17th, 1552, \i the sentence of death, namely, \ldblquote to be burned alive, at a slow fire, till his body be reduced to a cinder,\rdblquote was passed upon him by the Inquisition. \i0 On the same day, his effigy was burned, with five bales of his books.\par \pard\sl-300\slmult0\tx204\par \pard\sl-300\slmult0\qj\tx204 After wandering for a time, he suddenly turned up in Geneva in July; and was arrested by the Council, which, as we have seen, was at this time opposed to Calvin. What Calvin desired from Servetus was his recantation: \ldblquote Would that we could have obtained a retractation from Servetus, as we did from Gentilis!\rdblquote The thirty-eight articles of accusation were drawn up by Calvin. Two examinations took place. At the second of these, Servetus persisted\fs24 \fs22 in one of his errors, namely, that all things, \ldblquote even this footstool,\rdblquote are the substance of God. After further examinations, these articles, with the replies of the accused man, were sent to the churches of Zurich, Berne, Basle, and Schaffhausen, with a request for their opinion. Farel\rquote s reply is worthy of record: \ldblquote It will be a wonder if that man, suffering death, should at the time turn to the Lord, dying only one death, whereas he has deserved to die a thousand times.\rdblquote In another letter, written from Neuchatel, September 8th, 1553, Farel says: \ldblquote Your desire to mitigate the rigour of punishment is the service of a friend to one who is your mortal enemy. But I beseech you so to act as that no one shall hereafter seek with impunity to publish novel doctrines, and to embroil us all as Servetus has done.\rdblquote\par \pard\qj\tx204\par \pard\qj\tx702 All these circumstances prove that his trial was lengthy, deliberate, and careful; and quite in harmony with the requirements of the age. All the Reformers who were consulted approved of the sentence that was pronounced. At the last stage of the trial, the discussion lasted for three days. The \ldblquote lesser Council\rdblquote were unanimous; and the majority of the Great Council were in favour of capital punishment, and so decided on the last day. Sentence of death by fire was given on October 26th, to be carried into effect on the following day.\par \pard\qj\tx204\par \pard\qj\tx702 And now one man alone stands forth to plead for a mitigation of the sentence, namely, that another form of death be substituted for the stake. \b\i That one man was John Calvin.\b0 \i0 He interceded most earnestly with the judges for this, but in vain. Both Farel, who came to Geneva for the purpose, and Calvin, prayed with the unhappy man, and expressed themselves tenderly towards him. Both of them pleaded with the Council for the substitution of a milder mode of death; but the syndics were inflexible. The historian Paul Henry writes of this matter: \ldblquote Calvin here appears in his real character; and a nearer consideration of the proceeding, examined from the point of view furnished by the age in which he lived, will completely exonerate him from all blame. \i His conduct was not determined by personal feeling; \i0 it was the consequence of a struggle which this great man had carried on for years against tendencies to a corruption of doctrine which threatened the church with ruin. Every age must be judged according to its prevailing laws; and Calvin cannot be fairly accused of any greater offence than that with which we may be charged for punishing certain crimes with death.\rdblquote\par \pard\qj\tx204\par The main facts therefore may now be summarized thus: \par 1. That Servetus was guilty of blasphemy, of a kind and degree which is still punishable here in England by imprisonment.\par 2. That his sentence was in accordance with the spirit of the age.\par 3. That he had been sentenced to the same punishment by the Inquisition at Vienne.\par 4.\b \b0 That the sentence was pronounced by the Councils of Geneva, Calvin having no power either to condemn or to save him.\par 5. That Calvin and others visited the unhappy man in his last hours, treated him with much kindness, and did all they could to have the sentence mitigated.\par \pard\qj\tx408\par \pard\qj\tx493\tx748 Three hundred and fifty years after the death of Servetus, a \ldblquote monument of expiation\rdblquote was erected on the spot where he suffered death at Champel, near Geneva. It bears the date of October 27th, 1903; but the unveiling ceremony was postponed until November 1st. On one side of this monument are recorded the birth and death of Servetus. On the front is this inscription: \ldblquote Dutiful and grateful followers of Calvin our great Reformer, yet condemning an error which was that of his age, and strongly attached to liberty of conscience, according to the true principles of the Reformation and of the Gospel, we have erected this expiatory monument. October 27th, 1903.\rdblquote\par \pard\qj\tx204\par \pard\qj\tx493\tx748\fs24 Should the Roman Catholic Church desire to follow this example, and erect \ldblquote monuments of expiation,\rdblquote let her first build one in Paris, and unveil it on August 24th [the date of the Bartholomew Massacre of the Huguenots. Ed.] And doubtless sites would gladly be given for the same purpose in Oxford, Coventry, Maidstone, Lewes, and other places in England. And should Romanists desire the alteration or abrogation of any oath, instead of tampering with the Coronation Oath of Great Britain, let them first annul the oath taken by every bishop at his consecration that he will pursue heretics to the death. All persecution on account of religion and conscience is a violation of the spirit of the gospel, and repugnant to the principles of true liberty.\fs36\par \pard\f0\fs20\par \par \par
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\f1\fs22 [We include the following quotations from the writings of John Calvin in response to a subscriber\rquote s suggestion that we provide some guidance on current church problems. We trust the advice given accords with the Scriptures and the Reformed Basis of the S.G.U. Besides offering solutions, Calvin shows us how to approach church problems, namely, by laying down Biblical principles of conduct, and then applying them to the problems at hand. Readers may judge whether or not his counsel is relevant to their particular situation. Should it prove to be so, may they seek strength to take firm and prudent action, whatever the consequences to themselves. Ed.]\par \par \b A Major Cause\par \b0 God seems to be relaxing the reins on Satan and the wicked in order to try His people.\par \par \b Divisions\par \b0 I am compelled to write to you because of my distress of mind over your quarrels and strife, to which I see no end . . . . . You should consider where you are sinking . . . . . If this does not satisfy those brothers who are zealous and too addicted to their own opinions, I ask them in the Lord\rquote s name to consider again and again the crisis into which they are leading the church . . . . . Will you not realize that we are all under attack by those who are striving for only one thing, to destroy all of you? . . . . . May the Lord rule you by His Spirit in true wisdom, gentleness and steadiness . . . . . Christ, whom we worship and confess in one Spirit, ought to be a strong enough bond of deep friendship.\par \par \b Evil Speaking\par \b0 By \lquote evil speaking\rquote we mean hateful accusation arising from evil intent and wanton desire to defame . . . . . Since God, who is truth, abhors a lie, we must practice truth without deceit towards one another . . . . . We should faithfully help everyone as much as we can in affirming the truth, in order to protect the integrity of his name and possessions . . . . . And seeing that God has given it [the gift of communication] to us for the purpose of nurturing love and brotherly-ness with each other, may we not abuse it in order to gossip and hustle about here and there, so perverting our speech as to poison ourselves against each other. This is the principle to which we must return.\par \par \b Marital Faithfulness\par \b0 If anything ought to be holy in all of human life, it is the faith that a husband has in his wife and her faith in him . . . . . Because God loves modesty and purity, all uncleanness must be far from us . . . . . We should not become defiled with any filth or lustful intemperance of the flesh . . . . [But] we [should] chastely and continently regulate all parts of our life.\par \par \b Divorce\par \b0 At issue is a pious request from a woman who, because of her desire to follow the truth and pure religion, has been treated badly by her husband. . . . . Our duty is to respond, purely and simply, on the basis of what God reveals to us in His Word, closing our eyes to all else . . . . . Now, with regard to the bond of marriage, one must remember that a believing party cannot, of his or her free will, divorce the unbeliever . . (1 Cor 7.13) . . . . Paul emphasizes this, fully knowing the suffering each party may be experiencing . . . . . It is especially fitting for the Christian wife to double her efforts to be submissive to her husband - here regarded as an enemy to the truth - in order to win him, if at all possible . . (1 Pet 3.1).\par \par \b Election to Office\par \b0 It clearly contradicts the order and basic rules of Christianity to believe that the wealthy, and those who are noteworthy for their position and name, should be chosen for church offices.\par \par \b Children\par \b0 Those who are under the authority of their parents or tutors are not free or independent.\par \par \b Ordinances\par \b0 We ought not to pay attention to what some-one before our time thought we ought to do; we should do what Christ did.\par \par \b Usury (charging illegal or excessive rates of interest on money loaned)\par \b0 If we come to an accurate decision as to the thing itself, our determination must be derived from nowhere else than the universal rule of justice, and especially from the declaration of Christ, on which hangs the law and the prophets: Do not to others what you would not have done to yourself. (Matt 7.12) . . . . . In short, provided we had engraven on our hearts [this] rule of equity . . . it would not be necessary to enter into lengthened discussions concerning usury.\par \par \b Violence\par \b0 Each man ought to concern himself with the safety of all . . . . . Man is both the image of God and our flesh . . . . . The Lord has willed that we consider these two things which . . might lead us to seek his preservation: to reverence His image imprinted in man and to embrace our own flesh in him . . . . . It is not enough for you not to have been poisoned with ill-will, but it is crucial for you to live in charity . . [being] disposed to walk in pure and tender love with each other.\par \par \b Our Only Hope\par \b0 I would be in despair if it did not occur to me that the building up of the church is always God\rquote s work.\par \pard\f0\fs20\par \par \pard\qc
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\i\f1\fs22 Instructions About Heart Work \i0 - Richard Alleine. 412pp. Hdbk. $29.95.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\f1\fs22 This beautifully-produced volume was Alleine\rquote s last work. It bears the hall-marks of a sifted man of God. Based on the command \ldblquote Keep thine heart with all keeping (Heb)\rdblquote (Prov 4.23), it is one of the most searching treatments of practical godliness I know (even from the Puritan school of heart surgeons!) Probing to a depth that any flabby, self-indulgent professing Christian would find unbearable, it offers the only cure for that self-same spiritual malady. No heart sin is left unexposed, no hypocrite or dilettante is left excused. Should it please the Holy Spirit to accompany our reading of it, we shall not be the same people on closing the book as we were on opening it. Just what we all need!\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par \pard\qj\i\f1\fs22 The True Christian\rquote s Love to the Unseen Christ - \i0 Thomas Vincent. 149pp. Hdbk. $18.95.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\f1\fs22 Don Kistler is not exaggerating when he writes: \ldblquote This is one of the most poignant books ever to come from a Puritan pen.\rdblquote Written by one who risked his life to minister to plague-stricken Londoners, it breathes throughout the spirit of a man who had been enabled to give Christ his first love. It is therefore calculated, under the hand of the Holy Spirit, both to encourage all who find even the faintest love for Him in their hearts and to draw to Him those who do not. It deserves the widest circulation. [It is also available on CD and cassette for $15.95. Pilgrim Homes and Cherith Trust, please note!]\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par \pard\qj\i\f1\fs22 Justification by Faith Alone - \i0 Jonathan Edwards. 154pp. Hdbk. $18.95.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\f1\fs22 The first paragraph of this fine treatise demolishes every possible claim to human merit, by high-lighting the wondrous truth that God justifies the UNGODLY (Rom 4.5). The rest of the book amplifies and defends this unassailable position by characteristically calm and thorough Scriptural reasoning. The attractive format of the book, besides its contents, makes it a pleasure to read. Far from being academic, it is shot through with a rich experiential emphasis.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par \pard\qj\i\f1\fs22 The Wrath of Almighty God - \i0 Jonathan Edwards. 390pp. Hdbk. $27.95.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\f1\fs22 This terrifying book brings together Edwards\rquote most powerful sermons on God\rquote s righteous wrath and eternal punishment of the wicked. If it fails to make its readers tremble, despair of themselves and flee to Christ for refuge, it must be because they are hardened beyond hope, or because their time for deliverance has not yet come. I know of no other collection more likely to close sinners into Christ alone. Its heart-piercing truths are more needed now than ever.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par \pard\qj\i\f1\fs22 Pressing into the Kingdom - \i0 Jonathan Edwards. 350pp. Hdbk. $26.95.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\f1\fs22 Besides cutting from under our feet every piece of ground on which we may defend our slothfulness in spiritual things, this superb collection of sermons gives us countless directions how to seek and find God in His appointed way. It also combines the most tender warnings with the most urgent exhortations. O that God would bless it to this careless and presumptuous generation!\par \par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par \pard\qj\i\f1\fs22 To All The Saints Of God -\i0 Jonathan Edwards. 401pp. Hdbk. $28.95.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\f1\fs22 Lest anyone should imagine that Edwards was nothing but a preacher to the unconverted, this title comprises twelve winsome addresses to the believing people of God. Such topics as Prayer, Dependence on God, Bereavement, Self-Examination, Excommunication, Hope for the Penitent and the Relationship of Individuals to the Church at Large, are all handled with refinement and faithfulness. When shall we realize that the solutions to all our Church problems are already to hand, through the kindness of God, and need only to be applied to make the Church \ldblquote fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners\rdblquote (Song 6.10)?\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par \par\i\f1\fs22 On the Wings of a Dove - \i0 Noel Gibbard. 229pp. Pbk. N.P.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\f1\fs22 In this intriguing book the author shows how the work of God in the 1904-6 Revival in Wales was not confined to the Principality but had a worldwide effect. He traces the links with Wales through accounts of the Revival reaching Welsh communities and missionaries by letter, reports, magazines and newspapers and personal testimony, in each of the five Continents. He shows how these accounts awakened a desire for revival, resulting in prayer and witness among the people, \ldblquote O God, pour down Thy Spirit upon us all now, whilst Thou art blessing the people of Wales so much, do not send us away empty.\rdblquote So prayed the people in India. The Lord heard, and this book is mainly an account of these times of blessing in various parts of the world.\par The influence of many people, e.g., Mrs. Jessie Penn-Lewis; William Fetler (Russia); Jonathan Goforth (China), in spreading the news and preaching is notable and a challenge to us today.\par The main characteristics of the Revivals \ldblquote included a profound sense of the presence of God, contrite confession of sin, open worship, an impact on society\rdblquote and joyous hymn singing. Many of the hymns of the Revival were translated and sung all over the world in many languages e.g., \ldblquote Dyma gariad fel y moroedd\rdblquote (Here is love vast as the ocean). The unacceptable phenomena and excessive emotionalism experienced in some places is mentioned and also how error and division crept in, often as a result of these excesses. The subsequent effect of these Revivals, both in Wales and other parts of the World, occupy the last few chapters. Its effect in opposing Liberalism; the rise and influence of pre-millenialism, particularly its impact in Korea and Germany; the global missionary movement, especially the Welsh missionaries who left their homeland inspired by God\rquote s call during the Revival; the establishing of Bible Colleges and the forming of the Apostolic Church.\par The final chapter summarizes the lasting contribution made by the Revival and its impact on the first part of the 20th century.\par A thrilling book to read in parts and one which should challenge us today to pray for a Worldwide Revival in the light of 2 Chron.7.14. (MEB.)\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par\i\f1\fs22 Discovering Christ in Ruth - \i0 Don Fortner. 138pp. Pbk. \'a37.95.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\f1\fs22 The author finds Christ everywhere in Scripture. Here, in full accord with Biblical typology, he sees Him in Boaz, the Kinsman-Redeemer. The Levitical law regarding the right to redeem is the basis for a loving account of the grace of God in providence and redemption. How good it is to see a cordial appreciation of the sovereign, distinguishing grace of God alongside the reality of Ruth\rquote s decision to join herself to the covenant people of God. Especially valuable are Dr Fortner\rquote s reminders that providences, whether merciful or judicial, cannot save us, and that the consequences of unbelief and disobedience are dreadful. Warmly recommended.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\i\f1\fs22 The Pigtail and Chopsticks Man - \i0 Jim Cromarty. 160pp. Pbk. $14.99.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\f1\fs22 Here is another of the former primary school headmaster\rquote s delightfully-told books for children. It recounts the story of Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission in graphic style, faithful to both God and His servant. It fills a further gap in worthwhile children\rquote s books.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par \par \par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\i\f1\fs22 Evolution: Fact or Fiction? - \i0 John Blanchard. 40pp. Pbk. $24.99 for 10.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\f1\fs22 For those of us who have never wrestled with the problem, this popular apologetic may be superfluous. Yet it could form a useful basis for a group study, provided that its users believe the Genesis account \b because it is the God of truth is speaking in it\b0 , not because the author clears up their doubts. God\rquote s works are never at variance with His Word. It is only science falsely so-called, and people\rquote s faith in it, that create the problems. There is nothing like a Spirit-wrought faith in God\rquote s inerrant Word to keep us safe from every form of falsehood.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par \par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\i\f1\fs22 Revolutionary Forgiveness - \i0 Eric E. Wright. 320pp. Pbk. \'a38.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\f1\fs22 This further contribution to the Guide Web-link Series searches deeply into almost every aspect of the great subject of forgiveness - by God towards us and by us towards others. Because we all love naturally to think that God has forgiven us, perhaps the author\rquote s frank and probing treatment of the latter aspect is the more valuable. It is painful but salutary to see the roots of bitterness, resentment, lurking grudges, suspicion, fear, hatred and other subterranean workings of our treacherous hearts exposed and dealt with in a Biblical and straightforward way. Such topics as forgiving the unrepentant and making restitution add to the great value of this contemporary resource. The author\rquote s long and broad experience of dealing with souls is much in evidence in this excellent work. Warmly recommended.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par \par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\i\f1\fs22 Enjoying God Always - \i0 Peter Jeffery. 380pp. Hdbk. \'a313.95.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\f1\fs22 In this set of 366 daily readings, the author leaps from Scripture to Scripture, skilfully opening up the meaning of each passage and applying it directly. Each \lquote message\rquote leaves the reader with a distinct thought to take away and meditate on. One wonders, however, with so many \lquote devotional\rquote collections on the market, whether something more searching could have been attempted, perhaps using the best experiential writers of the past.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par \par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\i\f1\fs22 John Owen - The Man and His Theology - \i0 ed. Robert Oliver. 190pp. Pbk. \'a39.95.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\f1\fs22 This fine symposium of papers read at the September 2000 Conference held at the John Owen Centre for Theological Study is as humbling and stimulating as it is informative. If our reading of it is blessed to create in us a hunger for John Owen\rquote s God, its publication will not be in vain. We look forward (DV) to more of the same kind.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\i\f1\fs22 God Delivers: Isaiah Simply Explained - \i0 Derek Thomas. 416pp. Pbk. \'a313.95.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\f1\fs22 This is possibly the most accessible of recent commentaries on Isaiah for the general reader. In it the holiness of God in both judgment and mercy is faithfully presented. Historical narrative and Messianic prediction are skilfully interwoven with practical counsel and quotations from fine Christian prose and poetry. All is designed to bring us into loving awe of the sovereign God who holds every heart in His hand. The panoramic view placed before us - from God as Almighty Creator to God as the Resplendent Glory of Heaven - should make believers\rquote hearts leap for joy and gratitude that this God is our God, and that soon, along with Isaiah, they shall enter His immediate presence.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par \par \par\i\f1\fs22 Romans 13 - \i0 D.M Lloyd-Jones. 323pp. Hdbk. \'a316.50.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\f1\fs22 In view of the ghetto mentality that makes Christians withdraw from considering their responsibility to the state, this superb exposition deals unflinchingly with the very issues they seek to avoid: our attitude to civil law, war, revolution, Erastianism, Romish tyranny, Communism, and much else - all of which are handled with the great preacher\rquote s customary clarity, vigour, breadth of vision and trenchant exposure of false views. What emerges is the emphatic insistence on the supreme authority of the Word of God over both Church and State. We may not agree with all his conclusions, but we cannot deny that we are challenged to clarify our own position on all the issues taken up. Very striking, however, is the Doctor\rquote s charge that many of us are ignorant of our church and national history. His stimulating, even provocative, teaching spares no-one: Calvinistic Antinomians, Sandemanian Believists, Instant Sanctificationists, Legalists and Higher-Christian-Life-ists! What a model of polemical preaching! Wiping the floor with opponents before picking them up and pointing them in a different direction!\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\i\f1\fs22 The Imperative of Preaching - \i0 John Carrick. 202pp. Hdbk. \'a313.50.\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\tx498\tx731\f1\fs22 This unusual book shows how the four grammatical categories of the English language - Indicative, Imperative, Exclamatory and Interrogatory - may be used to the best advantage in preaching. Each category is defined, exemplified from Scripture and illustrated from such preachers as Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Samuel Davies, Asahel Nettleton, D.M. Lloyd-Jones and others. The author is absolutely clear in insisting that the aim of all preaching is to bring the whole inner and outer man under the ruling power of the Word of God. Lest the reader might conclude that the author is claiming the ability to achieve this by techniques of eloquence, he repeatedly stresses that it is exclusively the work of the Holy Spirit. In an age when our glorious English language is being debased into triviality and banality, this book is a timely corrective and valuable pointer to its vast and expressive capabilities. An excellent resource for every minister.\par \pard\f0\fs20
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\f1\fs22 [This letter was written by Andrew Fuller to his daughter Mary while she was at school in Northampton. Ed.]\par \pard\f0\fs20
\par \pard\qj\f1\fs22 If, my dear, you do really enjoy the presence of God, and so see the greatness of your sin as to abhor it and yourself on account of it, that is \i certainly \i0 an evidence that God has chosen you out of the world. If there be any doubt in the matter, it is whether those feelings which you enjoy \i be \i0 excited by the Lord\rquote s presence, and whether the sense you have of the greatness of your sin does lead you to bewail and hate it. I do not mean to discourage you, or to suggest as if I thought otherwise; but it may be well for you to suspect your own heart, which is deceitful. I may add, that if you \i think \i0 you \ldblquote see yourself a great sinner,\rdblquote it may in part be because you at present know but little of yourself. You are a much greater sinner, my dear, than you are aware of; and an interest in the dying love of Christ is of far greater importance than you have ever yet conceived. But let not this discourage you. Though your sins be as scarlet, yet the blood of Christ is sufficient to make you pure as snow. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. Believe His gospel, commit your soul to Him as a perishing sinner, and you will be everlastingly saved. See Isaiah 1.18; 1 John 1.7; 2 Timothy 1.12. Follow on to know the Lord, and you shall know Him. Call upon Him in the name of Christ; that is, pray Him to pardon and accept of you, and grant all your petitions, not for your worthiness\rquote sake, for you are utterly unworthy; but for the worthiness\rquote sake of His dear Son, who died for sinners. \par \pard\qr\par \pard\f0\fs20
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