A selection from a letter by John Calvin to William Farel, his co-laborer in the Reformation, written from Strasburg, October 24, 1538:
Among Christians there ought to be so great a dislike of schism, as that they may always avoid it so far as lies in their power.
Letters from John Calvin: Selected from the Bonnet Edition, the Banner of Truth, 1980, p. 53.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
The Terms and the Treaty of Reconciliation
From the pen of Thomas Chalmers, to his friend, Mr. Duncan, a professor of Mathematics, whom he exhorted to become a Christian, written on Sept. 13, 1846:
There is a precise, definite, and let me add, only and exclusive way laid down for the attainment of [eternal life] – a way authoritatively pointed out and prescribed by Heaven. He who hath the Son hath life; he who hath not the Son hath not life. Christ says of Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life – by me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved,” and, “No man cometh unto the Father but by the Son.” Let us not quarrel with this way, more especially as it is open to all of us: “Whosoever cometh unto me shall not be cast out,” “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” It is for God, the offended party, and not for us, the offenders, to dictate the terms and the treaty of reconciliation. Heaven grant that you may be led henceforth to bestow an earnest heed on the Word of His testimony till the day dawn and the day-star arise in your heart.
Letters of Thomas Chalmers, edited by William Hanna, first published 1853, reprinted by The Banner of Truth, 2007, p. 364.
There is a precise, definite, and let me add, only and exclusive way laid down for the attainment of [eternal life] – a way authoritatively pointed out and prescribed by Heaven. He who hath the Son hath life; he who hath not the Son hath not life. Christ says of Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life – by me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved,” and, “No man cometh unto the Father but by the Son.” Let us not quarrel with this way, more especially as it is open to all of us: “Whosoever cometh unto me shall not be cast out,” “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” It is for God, the offended party, and not for us, the offenders, to dictate the terms and the treaty of reconciliation. Heaven grant that you may be led henceforth to bestow an earnest heed on the Word of His testimony till the day dawn and the day-star arise in your heart.
Letters of Thomas Chalmers, edited by William Hanna, first published 1853, reprinted by The Banner of Truth, 2007, p. 364.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Trusting and Confiding
Extract from a letter by A. W. Pink, to Mr. and Mrs. Horace Coleman:
It is only as faith is really in exercise that we can have comfort from Romans 8:28! To merely ‘bow to God’s sovereign will’ is not sufficient when the Mohammedan does that! – there needs to be a trusting in his goodness and a confiding in his wisdom also, if the heart is to be kept in peace and if we are to be ‘giving thanks always for all things’ (Eph. 5:20).
The Life of Arthur W. Pink, Ian Murray, Banner of Truth, p. 135.
It is only as faith is really in exercise that we can have comfort from Romans 8:28! To merely ‘bow to God’s sovereign will’ is not sufficient when the Mohammedan does that! – there needs to be a trusting in his goodness and a confiding in his wisdom also, if the heart is to be kept in peace and if we are to be ‘giving thanks always for all things’ (Eph. 5:20).
The Life of Arthur W. Pink, Ian Murray, Banner of Truth, p. 135.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Mind the Work
A selection from a letter by Thomas Charles, to a young clergyman, October 15, 1812:
Our time is short, and souls are hastening to eternity. We have not a moment to be idle, if we are in our right senses. Mind the work more than the income; and drive on with all your might.
Thomas Charles’ Spiritual Counsels: Selected from his Letters and Papers, by Edward Morgan, first published in 1836, reprinted by the Banner of Truth, 1993, p. 391.
Our time is short, and souls are hastening to eternity. We have not a moment to be idle, if we are in our right senses. Mind the work more than the income; and drive on with all your might.
Thomas Charles’ Spiritual Counsels: Selected from his Letters and Papers, by Edward Morgan, first published in 1836, reprinted by the Banner of Truth, 1993, p. 391.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The Clamant Need of the Hour
From an annual letter written to the members of Westminster Chapel by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, January, 1953:
Missionary friends who have worshipped with us for some time and who have recently returned to their ‘field’ have frequently said that they felt that revival blessing was very near. God grant that this may be so, and may we all be urgent in prayer and supplication to that end. Surely it must be plain to all who are spiritually alive and alert that nothing else will suffice to stem the mounting tide of blatant and boastful godlessness and vice. A set, polite and formal religion is worse than useless. The clamant need of the hour is for men and women in whom our Lord and Saviour is glorified, and who are ready to be His witnesses, confessors, and, if necessary, martyrs.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Letters 1919-1981, Selected with Notes, by Ian H. Murray, Banner of Truth, 1994, p. 92.
Missionary friends who have worshipped with us for some time and who have recently returned to their ‘field’ have frequently said that they felt that revival blessing was very near. God grant that this may be so, and may we all be urgent in prayer and supplication to that end. Surely it must be plain to all who are spiritually alive and alert that nothing else will suffice to stem the mounting tide of blatant and boastful godlessness and vice. A set, polite and formal religion is worse than useless. The clamant need of the hour is for men and women in whom our Lord and Saviour is glorified, and who are ready to be His witnesses, confessors, and, if necessary, martyrs.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Letters 1919-1981, Selected with Notes, by Ian H. Murray, Banner of Truth, 1994, p. 92.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Publishing the Gospel
A selection from a letter written by William Carey to his nephew, who felt called to the gospel ministry and was considering mission work in India, written in March, 1812:
Whether you come to India or not, be assured that the work of publishing the Gospel is the most important you could have chosen. Engage in it with humble dependence on God, and with a single eye to His glory, and He assuredly will bless you.
William Carey, by S. Pearce Carey, first published in 1923, republished by The Wakeman Trust, 1993, p. 283.
Whether you come to India or not, be assured that the work of publishing the Gospel is the most important you could have chosen. Engage in it with humble dependence on God, and with a single eye to His glory, and He assuredly will bless you.
William Carey, by S. Pearce Carey, first published in 1923, republished by The Wakeman Trust, 1993, p. 283.
Monday, March 17, 2008
A Son At Home Yet Unconverted
A letter by Daniel Baker to his unconverted son at home in Holly Springs, Mississippi. The letter was written while Mr. Baker was away preaching in Pulaski, Tennessee, May 12, 1842:
My Dear Son – I have preached fifteen sermons in this place already; I preach in the morning and at night. The people come out in crowds. I think I never say people turn out better in any place where I have been; and I am happy to say, we have the prospect of a very great and blessed work of grace here. There is a very general awakening, and some ten or twelve persons have already professed conversion. We hope this number will be considerably increased within a few days. How strange! Your father is made the instrument of the conversion of many abroad, and there is a dear son at home yet unconverted. O, my dear son, how happy would I be to be made your spiritual father, even as I am your own father in a natural sense. May dear boy, do not neglect your precious soul.
God bess you, my son: and may you be happy in time, and through all eternity.
Your ever affectionate father,
Daniel Baker
Making Many Glad: The Life and Labours of Daniel Baker, by William M. Baker, first published in 1858, reprinted by the Banner of Truth, 2000, p. 288.
My Dear Son – I have preached fifteen sermons in this place already; I preach in the morning and at night. The people come out in crowds. I think I never say people turn out better in any place where I have been; and I am happy to say, we have the prospect of a very great and blessed work of grace here. There is a very general awakening, and some ten or twelve persons have already professed conversion. We hope this number will be considerably increased within a few days. How strange! Your father is made the instrument of the conversion of many abroad, and there is a dear son at home yet unconverted. O, my dear son, how happy would I be to be made your spiritual father, even as I am your own father in a natural sense. May dear boy, do not neglect your precious soul.
God bess you, my son: and may you be happy in time, and through all eternity.
Your ever affectionate father,
Daniel Baker
Making Many Glad: The Life and Labours of Daniel Baker, by William M. Baker, first published in 1858, reprinted by the Banner of Truth, 2000, p. 288.
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