Monthly Archives: February 2008

Instead of cold calling

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One of the problems with working at home is the distractions of small children when trying to use the phone. This is an idea I’ve been hesitant to try because I hadn’t heard of anyone else doing it.

But what is with all the legal threats? Sending a single email that you write to a specific person for a specific purpose should not be an action that invites fear of government reprisals.

More Henry on baptism

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This preaches:

Is baptism a door of admission into the visible church? Yes: There were added to the church daily, Acts 2:47.

Are we thereby entered into Christ’s school? yes: Jesus made and baptized disciples, John 4:1.

And listed under his banner? Yes: as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, 2 Tim. 2:3.

I may never march in the infantry…

Matthew Henry on “What is a Sacrament?”

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You might know I’ve recently begun to get interested in Matthew Henry’s thought on baptism. Assuming this is the same Henry, I am more and more intrigued. Commenting on Answer #92 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, he writes

Is a sacrament a seal?

Yes: Circumcision was a seal of the righteousness which is by faith, Rom. 4:11. A seal of the covenant? Yes: He gave him the covenant of circumcision, Acts 7:8.

Is a sacrament an oath? Yes: They entered into an oath to walk in God’s law, Neh. 10:29.

Is it an encouragement to our faith? Yes: Reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing, John 20:27.

Is it an engagement to obedience? Yes: That henceforth we should not serve sin Rom. 6:6.

Is Christ applied to us in sacraments? Yes: As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, Gal. 3:27.

Are the benefits of the new covenant applied to us? Yes: To be a God to thee, and to thy seed after thee, Gen. 17:7.

Free Wi-Fi in the Manchester, NH airport

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Not that it matters, since I could use my internet card. But I thought it was worth mentioning.

Had a great time teaching on Ephesians at Tri-City Covenant Church in Somersworth, NH. Had an even better time as the recipient of wonderful hospitality!

Not least because Jennifer and I got to go on a trip without children.

Right now, though, were worried because our flight to Detroit is delayed and we might miss our flight to St. Louis.

Postscript: Here is my sermon manuscript for this morning.

The Shorter Catechism Project

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I’m sure I’ve mentioned this website before, but I want to point out that I just added it to the link list to the left.

It is simply an awesome resource for the history of the Reformed heritage. I would love to see it keep expanding with more sources–perhaps adding earlier catechisms and other documents to complement the later commentaries on the Westminster Shorter Catechism.  It would also be great to see similar websites devoted to other catechisms and Confessions that cross link each other to show continuity and discontinuity
Just recently I was thinking of my study on the Westminster Standard’s exposition of what the Bible says about obedience and salvation and noticed this great entry by Thomas Vincent.

Q. 18. What is that obedience which we must deliver ourselves up unto, in our returning to the Lord?
A. The obedience which we must deliver up ourselves unto, in our returning to the Lord, is the new obedience of the gospel.

Q. 19. Why is the obedience of the gospel called new obedience?
A. The obedience of the gospel is called new obedience, because it is required in the new covenant, and because it must proceed from newness of spirit, the new nature, or now principle of grace and spiritual life, which is put into the soul by the Spirit of God. “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held, that we shotild serve in newness of spirit.”— Rom. 7:6.

Q. 20. When do we deliver up ourselves unto this new obedience?
A. We deliver up ourselves unto this new obedience— 1. When we have full resolutions and purposes of it. “I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.”— Ps. 119:106. “And exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord.”— Acts 11:23. 2. When we are diligent in our endeavours after it, that we may constantly walk in the ways of new obedience, without offence either to God or man. “And they were both righteous before God, walk. mg in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”— Luke 1:6. “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men.”— Acts 24:16.

Q. 21. Do all that truly repent fully perform new obedience?
A. None that truly repent do here in this life perform new obedience fully, without any failure or defect, but they diligently endeavour to do it; and wherein they fall short, it is their glief and trouble. “For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.”— Ps. 38:17.

Tagged

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I never do memes but my blog needs to be updated and I’m too sore from standing all day talking about Ephesians to think of anything creative to say.

So I’ll acknowledge that I’m tagged.

I took my books out of my briefcase and stacked them. At the top of the stack is Gene Wolfe’s Free Live Free, which I have never read.

1. Pick up the book nearest you with at least 123 pages.
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Count the first five sentences.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five other bloggers

I’m opting out of five. I think Im the last blogger in the web to do this. The three sentences are:

No, that was gone, already gone. The ticket was in his wallet. Free’s ticket?

Gotta try again right now

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If you can keep your head while all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you.
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating
And yet don’t look too good or talk to wise.

If you can dream and not make dreams your master
If you can think and not make thoughts your aim
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to set a trap for fools
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken
And stoop to build them up with worn out tools

If you can make a heap of all your winnings
And risk it all in one throw of Pitch and Toss
And lose and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss.
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone
Until there is nothing left within you
Except the will which says to them, “hold on.”

If you can walk with crowds and keep your virtue
Or talk with kings nor lose the common touch
If neither foe nor loving friend can hurt you
If all men count with you but none too much
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds worth of distance run
Then yours is the Earth and all that’s in it
And, which is more, you’ll be a Man, my son.

I’ll check it later. I’ve got too many of those unforgiving minutes to fill right now.