The Westminster Assembly which met over several years in the 1640's in London was the last of the Reformation synods to pen Reformed Catechisms and a Confession. This meant that, by being at the end of the line of theological development, that they were able to pen mature doctrinal standards building on the previous works of the Reformers. These works upon which they built, were Martin Luther and the German Reformation, including the Heidelberg Catechism. The Synod of Dort in the Low Countries which resolved the Arminian controversy, as well as the work of Zwingli, Bucer and others in Switzerland and elsewhere.
One of the "high watermarks" of the Westminster Standards was the clarity of thought and teaching on the Lord's Day, also known as the Christian Sabbath. It was in the Westminster Confession and the two Catechisms that this teaching reached a climax, most likely in the history of the church. The blessing of the Lord's Day, rightly understood and practiced, has shaped the Protestant church since, at least up until the last generation. An American Presbyterian minister told me in recent years that this is the first generation in North America (USA) where the whole church has not practiced the Lord's Day with two services. Why is that? This generation has more time than ever before, but seemingly less time for the worship of the Triune God.
"If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honourable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 58:13-14
The Westminster Confession has a whole chapter (21) "Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day". The last two of eight points teach the Christian Sabbath. The Westminster Larger Catechism expounds the Fourth of the Ten Commandments (Remember the Sabbath Day) and there are seven questions and answers on this Commandment (questions 115-121). The Shorter Catechism similarly expounds the same Fourth Commandment with six questions (57-62).
An important question emerges for every professing Christian. Why do we go to church on the Lord's Day (Sunday)? How do you answer that question? The correct answer from the Bible is that we go to church on the Sabbath to worship the Triune God by the command of God. To wilfully and persistently to fail to do so, is putting yourself in the danger of what the Bible calls covenant unfaithfulness. However, this commandment is for the profit of our souls, it is to be a delight; the whole day is to be put aside for the personal and public exercises of worship, communion with the Lord and with his saints. In short; Call the Sabbath a delight!
Two of the Puritan divines who excelled in their teaching on the Lord's Day were Thomas Watson and George Swinnock.
George Swinnock: “A thanksgiving day has a double-precedency of a fast-day. On a fast-day we eye God’s anger; on a thanksgiving day we look to God’s favour. In the former we specially mind our corruptions, in the latter God’s compassions; therefore a fast-day calls for sorrow, a thanksgiving day for joy. But the Lord’s day is the highest thanksgiving day”.
Thomas Watson: “How highly should we esteem and reverence this day!. It is more precious than rubies. God has anointed it with the oil of gladness above its fellows. On the Sabbath we are doing angels’ work, our tongues are turned to God’s praises. The Sabbath on earth is a shadow and type of the glorious rest and eternal sabbath we hope for in heaven, when God shall be the temple and the lamb shall be light of it”.
My aim in this blog post is the recovery of the joyful delight of honouring the Lord's Day by Christians everywhere. This includes church ministers and elders. The practice of a single service on the Lord's Day by churches today, is a sign that much recovery of Christian truth is needed. Our priority in the church is first to please the Lord, not people. People may say I am not interested in the Lord's Day or in two services, but churches must do what Jesus Christ said in Revelation 2:25 "Only hold fast what you have until I come".
Monday, 16 January 2017
Tuesday, 10 January 2017
The Westminster Standards and the Song of Songs
It is remarkable that the Westminster assembly held to a Christological line on The Song of Songs. It is what we expect but this fact is often overlooked. How do we know that this is the line of interpretation for that Book of Scripture? It is from the proof texts that are used to support various doctrines. Indeed we could say that the Westminster divines held a Trinitarian and Christological line for this book. Let me give you the citations in the Westminster Standards.
1:4 "Draw me after you; let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers".
This is cited in chapter 10:1 of the Confession in relation to the doctrine of effectual calling. That is that we as hardened sinners, we are made willing to come to the Lord by the sovereign grace of God.
The Duty of Christians after the Lord's Supper (Westminster Larger Catechism, question 175).
3:4 "Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me".
I love this phrase here that says "I held him, and would not let him go". What a delightful idea and something for us to consider if it describes our own present spiritual condition and our communion with Christ Jesus.
The Perseverance of the Saints, Assurance of Grace and Salvation and the duty of Christians after the Lord's Supper
5:2 "I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking. 'Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night'. I had put off my garment; how could I put it on? I had bathed my feet; how could I soil them? My beloved put his hand to the latch, and my heart was thrilled within me. I arose to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the bolt. I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer".
It is beyond the scope of this blog post today to fully expound this text from the Song. I hope that you can see its relevance to the way it is cited. For example, with respect to the assurance of grace, there is a serious warning given in the Westminster Confession, one drawn from Scripture, of neglecting the means of grace. It states in Chapter 18:4
4. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers
[various] ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted [temporarily
lost]; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special
sin which wounds the conscience and grieves the Spirit; by some
sudden or vehement temptation, by God's withdrawing the light of
His countenance, and suffering even such as fear Him to walk in
darkness and to have no light: yet are they never so utterly destitute
of that seed of God, and life of faith, that love of Christ and the
brethren, that sincerity of heart, and conscience of duty, out of which,
by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may, in due time, be
revived; and by the which, in the meantime, they are supported
from utter despair.
May we ensure that we do not neglect the means of grace appointed to be administered through the church and public worship. Namely, the preaching of the Word of God, the right administration of the Sacraments and prayer.
My conclusion is that in various places that the Song of Songs was clearly believed to be understood in a spiritual sense as a portrait of the life of the believer and the church, in their union and communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is compelling evidence for this line of interpretation.
1:4 "Draw me after you; let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers".
This is cited in chapter 10:1 of the Confession in relation to the doctrine of effectual calling. That is that we as hardened sinners, we are made willing to come to the Lord by the sovereign grace of God.
The Duty of Christians after the Lord's Supper (Westminster Larger Catechism, question 175).
3:4 "Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me".
I love this phrase here that says "I held him, and would not let him go". What a delightful idea and something for us to consider if it describes our own present spiritual condition and our communion with Christ Jesus.
The Perseverance of the Saints, Assurance of Grace and Salvation and the duty of Christians after the Lord's Supper
5:2 "I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking. 'Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night'. I had put off my garment; how could I put it on? I had bathed my feet; how could I soil them? My beloved put his hand to the latch, and my heart was thrilled within me. I arose to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the bolt. I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer".
It is beyond the scope of this blog post today to fully expound this text from the Song. I hope that you can see its relevance to the way it is cited. For example, with respect to the assurance of grace, there is a serious warning given in the Westminster Confession, one drawn from Scripture, of neglecting the means of grace. It states in Chapter 18:4
4. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers
[various] ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted [temporarily
lost]; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special
sin which wounds the conscience and grieves the Spirit; by some
sudden or vehement temptation, by God's withdrawing the light of
His countenance, and suffering even such as fear Him to walk in
darkness and to have no light: yet are they never so utterly destitute
of that seed of God, and life of faith, that love of Christ and the
brethren, that sincerity of heart, and conscience of duty, out of which,
by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may, in due time, be
revived; and by the which, in the meantime, they are supported
from utter despair.
May we ensure that we do not neglect the means of grace appointed to be administered through the church and public worship. Namely, the preaching of the Word of God, the right administration of the Sacraments and prayer.
My conclusion is that in various places that the Song of Songs was clearly believed to be understood in a spiritual sense as a portrait of the life of the believer and the church, in their union and communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is compelling evidence for this line of interpretation.
Monday, 2 January 2017
Recovering the Westminster Standards and Confessional Presbyterianism
This time of the years is always good. Why? Well it gives a time of reflection of one's priorities, goals and also to consider how to work more effectively and efficiently. Life is more than working efficiently, however there are a number of teachings in the Bible which make us stop and pause for reflection.
Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom".
John 9:4 "We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work".
Deuteronomy 5:12-14 “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you".
The last verse provides a doctrine of rest and work. Work is a gift from God and hard work is a blessing. Therefore, we must evaluate the use of our time, energy, resources and finances for the honour of the Lord, if we are a Christian.
I have blogged for a number of years and I have found it has helped many people. However, I have fine-tuned my aim for the coming year. It is a simple goal. It is for the recovering of the Westminster Standards and confessional Presbyterianism.
In my view, the Westminster Standards which were produced by the Westminster Assembly in the 1640's in London, England, they are possibly the best summary of the Christian faith in the history of the church. This does not mean that I underestimate other creeds and confessions, but the Westminster Standards are peerless. For clarity of expression, precision of doctrinal truth, a well-rounded body of divinity, they are magnificent.
As an introduction, let us consider the first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God1, and to enjoy him forever.
The proof texts for this question includes 1 Corinthians 10:31 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God".
May we live our life each day in 2017 for the glory of God. This is a good question and answer to memorise and to use in family worship.
Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom".
John 9:4 "We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work".
Deuteronomy 5:12-14 “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you".
The last verse provides a doctrine of rest and work. Work is a gift from God and hard work is a blessing. Therefore, we must evaluate the use of our time, energy, resources and finances for the honour of the Lord, if we are a Christian.
I have blogged for a number of years and I have found it has helped many people. However, I have fine-tuned my aim for the coming year. It is a simple goal. It is for the recovering of the Westminster Standards and confessional Presbyterianism.
In my view, the Westminster Standards which were produced by the Westminster Assembly in the 1640's in London, England, they are possibly the best summary of the Christian faith in the history of the church. This does not mean that I underestimate other creeds and confessions, but the Westminster Standards are peerless. For clarity of expression, precision of doctrinal truth, a well-rounded body of divinity, they are magnificent.
As an introduction, let us consider the first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God1, and to enjoy him forever.
The proof texts for this question includes 1 Corinthians 10:31 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God".
May we live our life each day in 2017 for the glory of God. This is a good question and answer to memorise and to use in family worship.
Friday, 23 December 2016
What spiritual question would you like to be answered?: Use the Search Engine on this blog
The search engine on this blog can help you to get answers to vital spiritual questions. I began writing blog posts to sow the seeds of solid Evangelical and Reformed doctrines. In my experience as a Christian the church needs truth and the world needs truth as well.
Perhaps you have questions on topics such as:
+ A Bible book, such as Hebrews, Song of Songs, Revelation, Jude.
+ Specific theological topics such as the doctrine of the Trinity or why we should not use temporal analogies to describe the Triune God.
+ Certain men who have been used in the church such as John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards and so on.
+ Matters of controversy surrounding matters such as worship, women wanting to be ordained in ministry, charismatic influences on the church, or new covenant theology.
+ Book Reviews
+ The doctrine of the church, the Westminster Standards or Presbyterianism.
As you find the time, try using the search engine for topics you may want answers on. I have found this blog to be a helpful means of conveying biblical truth from a biblical and Confessional perspective. I uphold the inerrancy of Scripture and fully subscribe to the Westminster Standards as part of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales.
Perhaps you have questions on topics such as:
+ A Bible book, such as Hebrews, Song of Songs, Revelation, Jude.
+ Specific theological topics such as the doctrine of the Trinity or why we should not use temporal analogies to describe the Triune God.
+ Certain men who have been used in the church such as John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards and so on.
+ Matters of controversy surrounding matters such as worship, women wanting to be ordained in ministry, charismatic influences on the church, or new covenant theology.
+ Book Reviews
+ The doctrine of the church, the Westminster Standards or Presbyterianism.
As you find the time, try using the search engine for topics you may want answers on. I have found this blog to be a helpful means of conveying biblical truth from a biblical and Confessional perspective. I uphold the inerrancy of Scripture and fully subscribe to the Westminster Standards as part of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales.
Monday, 12 December 2016
Reformation Bible Conference, Sheffield, 2017.
This is the third conference we have had at Hill Top Chapel, Sheffield. The last tow have proved to be a great blessing to nourish and feed the Lord's sheep at the beginning of a New Year. It gives the opportunity for fellowship, while sitting under preaching.
The theme this year is Christ our head, husband and bridegroom. The preachers will be Richard Brooks, Warren peel and Kevin Bidwell.
The dates are are Friday 6th and Saturday January 7th, 2017.
The conference is free and there will be an offering of the Saturday to go towards the church planting work in Salford-Manchester.
For more information check out the Sheffield Presbyterian Church website at: http://sheffieldpres.org.uk/reformation-bible-conference
This has proved especially beneficial to the age group 16-25's as a time of meaningful and wholesome fellowship, however all age groups attend. We do not want to divide the body of Christ and all peoples, ages and nationalities are warmly welcomed.
The theme this year is Christ our head, husband and bridegroom. The preachers will be Richard Brooks, Warren peel and Kevin Bidwell.
The dates are are Friday 6th and Saturday January 7th, 2017.
The conference is free and there will be an offering of the Saturday to go towards the church planting work in Salford-Manchester.
For more information check out the Sheffield Presbyterian Church website at: http://sheffieldpres.org.uk/reformation-bible-conference
This has proved especially beneficial to the age group 16-25's as a time of meaningful and wholesome fellowship, however all age groups attend. We do not want to divide the body of Christ and all peoples, ages and nationalities are warmly welcomed.
Tuesday, 6 December 2016
Six Excellent Christological Sermons from the book "The Song of Songs"
I would like to commend "Five Excellent Sermons" by men who have preached on "The Song of Songs" from a Christological position.
John Flavel (1628-1691): This puritans preacher was a favourite from his writings with Archibald Alexander, one of the foremost theologians that the American content has produced, in my view. This sermon is found in Volume 6 of the Works of John Falvel published by the Banner of Truth.
A Coronation Sermon: Preached at Dartmouth to Celebrate the Coronation of William III and Mary II on 11th April 1689.
The text from The Song of Songs was 3:11 "Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart".
Robert Murray M'Cheyne (1813-1843). These sermons are found in the book by the Banner of Truth "Memoirs and Remains".
Song of Songs 2:2-3 "Christ and the Believer".
"As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women. As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste".
Song of Songs 2:8-17 "The Voice of the Beloved", preached the first day he was in St Peter's Church in Dundee.
"The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, looking through the lattice. My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away. O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.” My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies. Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on cleft mountains".
Song of Songs 3:4 "Holding Christ Fast".
"Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me".
Song of Songs 4:12 "The Church a Garden and Fountain".
"A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed".
Song of Songs 5:6-7 "The Church Coming Up from the Wilderness".
"I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer. The watchmen found me as they went about in the city; they beat me, they bruised me, they took away my veil, those watchmen of the walls".
May these sermons help us all to rediscover the glories of Christ and the church in this amazing book of holy Scripture!
John Flavel (1628-1691): This puritans preacher was a favourite from his writings with Archibald Alexander, one of the foremost theologians that the American content has produced, in my view. This sermon is found in Volume 6 of the Works of John Falvel published by the Banner of Truth.
A Coronation Sermon: Preached at Dartmouth to Celebrate the Coronation of William III and Mary II on 11th April 1689.
The text from The Song of Songs was 3:11 "Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart".
Robert Murray M'Cheyne (1813-1843). These sermons are found in the book by the Banner of Truth "Memoirs and Remains".
Song of Songs 2:2-3 "Christ and the Believer".
"As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women. As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste".
Song of Songs 2:8-17 "The Voice of the Beloved", preached the first day he was in St Peter's Church in Dundee.
"The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, looking through the lattice. My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away. O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crannies of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.” My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies. Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on cleft mountains".
Song of Songs 3:4 "Holding Christ Fast".
"Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me".
Song of Songs 4:12 "The Church a Garden and Fountain".
"A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed".
Song of Songs 5:6-7 "The Church Coming Up from the Wilderness".
"I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer. The watchmen found me as they went about in the city; they beat me, they bruised me, they took away my veil, those watchmen of the walls".
May these sermons help us all to rediscover the glories of Christ and the church in this amazing book of holy Scripture!
Monday, 5 December 2016
Recovering "The Song of Songs" with a Trinitarian and Christological Approach
"He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love", Song of Songs 2:4.
"What is that coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of a merchant?", Song Songs 3:6
During times of spiritual awakening in the church, the rich and immeasurable love of God is often magnified. Just think of these hymns as examples>
From the Welsh Revival
Here is Love vast as the ocean
By Charles Wesley in the 18th Century
Jesu' Lover of my Soul
Love divine, all loves excelling
These are just a sample. Likewise during times of what we may term revival or awakenings, an increased sense of God's love for us through Christ comes to the forefront of the church's experience. It is no surprise then, that at such times that the rich poetic expression of the book of the Song of Songs comes to be loved by the church in a renewed way. Its rich language of love expresses the divine love between Christ the bridegroom and the church, the bride of Christ.
Admittedly there are two lines of interpretation that are proposed. One is that this book is on a horizontal level about human love in marriage; the other is that it is primarily about our union and communion with Christ. I hold the latter view. The overarching theme of the Bible is that the Triune God's salvation plan is for the Father to redeem a bride for his Son, in the blood of the redeemer the Son, and she is gathered in by the Holy Spirit. This marriage is consummated eternally in heaven.
Some rich resources to consider are commentaries on this by Richard Brooks and George Burrows. Additionally sermons by Robert Murray M'Cheyne also follow this rich Christological line. I encourage you to read this book again with fresh eyes to consider our union and communion with Christ our head, husband and heavenly bridegroom.
"What is that coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of a merchant?", Song Songs 3:6
During times of spiritual awakening in the church, the rich and immeasurable love of God is often magnified. Just think of these hymns as examples>
From the Welsh Revival
Here is Love vast as the ocean
By Charles Wesley in the 18th Century
Jesu' Lover of my Soul
Love divine, all loves excelling
These are just a sample. Likewise during times of what we may term revival or awakenings, an increased sense of God's love for us through Christ comes to the forefront of the church's experience. It is no surprise then, that at such times that the rich poetic expression of the book of the Song of Songs comes to be loved by the church in a renewed way. Its rich language of love expresses the divine love between Christ the bridegroom and the church, the bride of Christ.
Admittedly there are two lines of interpretation that are proposed. One is that this book is on a horizontal level about human love in marriage; the other is that it is primarily about our union and communion with Christ. I hold the latter view. The overarching theme of the Bible is that the Triune God's salvation plan is for the Father to redeem a bride for his Son, in the blood of the redeemer the Son, and she is gathered in by the Holy Spirit. This marriage is consummated eternally in heaven.
Some rich resources to consider are commentaries on this by Richard Brooks and George Burrows. Additionally sermons by Robert Murray M'Cheyne also follow this rich Christological line. I encourage you to read this book again with fresh eyes to consider our union and communion with Christ our head, husband and heavenly bridegroom.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)