Stats for January

Over a dozen reasons why the argument for Exclusive Psalmody doesn't stand up, Part 15

15. Singing Psalms which make mention of musical instruments

It would be very insteresting to know whether exclusive Psalmist sing all the 150 psalms of the Psalter? This question is asked in the light of the numerous places in the Psalter where mention is made of singing accompanied by musical instrument, either in the title, which is part of the inspired record or in the Psalm itself.

The metrical version of the Psalms omits the inclusion of the inspired titles of the Psalms and yet makes the claim that the metrical version is a faithful translation of the original. How can the metrical version be described as a faithful translation when it omits the inspired titles of many of the Psalms? In many cases where an inspired title is given to the Psalm it forms verse 1. There is actually one verse more in the Hebrew Bible than in the Authorised Version or the metrical version. At least the Authorised Version includes the title separately, whereas the metrical version omits it altogether!

Would this omisison have anything to do with the fact that in a number of these inspired titles there are specific commands given to sing the Psalm with the accompaniment of musical instruments?

Over a dozen reasons why the argument for Exclusive Psalmody doesn't stand up, Part 14

14. The metrical translation of the Psalms is not an accurate translation. 

The 150 Psalms of Scripture are Hebrew poetry. There are written in prose and not in metre. For the Psalms to be sung in congregational worship today they have to be changed to metrical rhythm. In doing so there are many changes that take place. 

Numerous additional words are added to suit the particular metre to which the Psalm is set. A very obvious example of this can easily be referenced. The longest of all the Psalms in the Bible is Psalm 119.  If you paste the words of the English translation from the Authorised Version into a word processing document and do a simple word count, it will tell you that there are 2,621 words in the English translation of this particular Psalm. Do the same with the Scottish metrical version of Psalm 119 and the word count is 3,090. The Scottish metrical version of Psalm 119 has an additional 469 extra words! Amazingly, almost twenty percent of the metrical version is made up of additional words as compared with the Authorised Version!

The Importance of the Church Prayer Meeting

It has often been said that a Church is as strong and useful for God as its prayer meeting is. Is the prayer meeting well attended? Is there a spirit of believing prayer among the people?

Sadly oftentimes the prayer meeting is the least attended meeting in the church's weekly schedule of meetings and activities. Yet, the prayer meeting is the powerhouse of the Church! The story is told that when visitors would come to C H Spurgeon's Metropolitan Tabernacle, in London, he would take them to the prayer-room where people were always on their knees interceding. Spurgeon would then declare: Here is the powerhouse of this church!

The Most Dangerous Minister of All!

Please listen to this excellent and timely sermon preached by Pastor Ralph Ovadal, minister of Pilgrims Covenant Church, in Monroe, Wisconsin, on who is the most dangerous minister of all.

Over a dozen reasons why the argument for Exclusive Psalmody doesn't stand up, Part 13

13. Scottish Presbyterianism has not always believed in Exclusive Psalmody. 

The impression is often given that adhering to exclusive psalmody is being true to our Scottish Presbyterian roots. To adopt any other position is therefore portrayed as a denial of this rich heritage that we enjoy. 

This is the furtherest from the truth and a gross misrepresentation of the practices and beliefs of Scottish Presbyterianism over the centuries. 

Holding to the Old Paths

The quote below is taken from the writings of Charles Hodge, [1797-1878] who spent a considerable time labouring for the Lord at Princeton Seminary. He was the second Principal of the Seminary after the venerable Archibald Alexander. Charles Hodge so esteemed his predecessor that he named his son, Archibald Alexander Hodge, [A.A. Hodge] after him. 

In 1929 this renowned Seminary seriously departed from the old paths and forged a new way. It is a pity they didn't listen to one of their own:

Dr Joel Beeke's latest compromises

Please read this article written by Ralph Ovadal, pastor of Pilgrims Covenant Church, Monroe, Wisconsin. It is entitled:

What a Difference Six Months Does Not Make!

[Click on the title for the link]

It makes sad reading to learn of the array of New Calvinists, Romanists, feminists, Seventh-day Adventists etc that Joel Beeke is in association with by speaking at conferences where those who hold these views are included. How is this in keeping with the Scriptural teaching on separation?

The Importance of Sabbath Observance

William Wilberforce had this to say about keeping the Sabbath day holy:

Oh what a blessed day is the Sabbath, which allows us a precious interval wherein to pause, to come out from the thickets of worldly concerns and give ourselves up to heavenly and spiritual concerns. Observation and my own experience have convinced me that there is a special blessing on a right employment of these intervals. Oh what a blessing is Sunday, interposed between the waves of worldly business like the divine path of the Israelites through Jordan. There is nothing in which I would recommend you to be more strictly conscientious than in keeping the Sabbath holy. By this I mean not only abstaining from all becoming sports and common business, but from consuming time in frivolous conversations, paying or receiving visits, which among relations often leads to a sad waste of this precious day. I can truly declare that to me the Sabbath has been invaluable.

Stats for December

           

Pre-millennialism and The Early New Testament Church

The most striking point in the eschatology of the ante-Nicene age is the prominent chiliasm, or millenarianism, that is the belief of a visible reign of Christ in glory on earth with the risen saints for a thousand years, before the general resurrection and judgement. It was indeed not the doctrine of the church embodied in any creed or form of devotion, but a widely current opinion of distinguished teachers, such as Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Methodius, and Lactantius, while Caius, Origen, Dionysius the Great, Eusebius (as afterwards Jerome and Augustine) opposed it.
Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church

Pre-millennialism & The Westminster Divines

This article has been updated slightly [Saturday 5th January 2013].
Mention has already been made on this Blog about Dr William Cunningham's* impression of the Pre-millennialist views of a number of the Westminster Divines.

Further evidence of the prevalence of Pre-millennialism among the Westminster Divines is to be found in the writings of Robert Baillie, one of the Scottish Commissioners to the Assembly. Robert Baillie was the Principal of Glasgow University in his day.

In his writings, entitled 'The Letters and Journals of Robert Baillie' he writes on his observations of the Assembly's proceedings.

Spiritualising Scripture

This article was published in the October - December, 1983 edition of Watching and Waiting, the magazine of the Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony. 

The Rise and Fall of A-Millennialism

by James Payne 

Gibbon, the Roman historian tells us that for the first three centuries of the Christian era, the assurance of the Millennial reign of our Lord Jesus Christ was the general belief of orthodox Christians. Justyn Martyr, early in the 2nd century says, “I and as many as are orthodox Christians in all respects do acknowledge that there shall be a resurrection of the body and 1000 years reign in Jerusalem”.

For the first two and a half centuries Pre-Millennialism was the universal doctrine of the Church as it had been of the Apostles. No other doctrine was so much as known, far less received. A-Millennialism was not heard of in the Church during this period.

Quotable Quote - The Greatness of God

The entire indivisible essence of God is at every moment of time contemporaneously present to every point of infinite space.

Archibald Alexander Hodge, 1823 – 1886. He was the Principal of Princeton Seminary between 1878 and 1886, the son of Charles Hodge. He was named after the first Principal of Princeton Seminary, Archibald Alexander.

C H Spurgeon on The Millennium

In his Morning & Evening devotions today C H Spurgeon has the following to say upon the text in Isaiah 40:5: The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

We anticipate the happy day when the whole world shall be converted to Christ; when the gods of the heathen shall be cast to the moles and the bats; when Romanism shall be exploded, and the crescent of Mohammed shall wane, never again to cast its baleful rays upon the nations; when kings shall bow down before the Prince of Peace, and all nations shall call their Redeemer blessed. 

Rank Hypocrisy on Abortion

A real media frenzy has been stirred up as the result of a local election candidate, belonging to the United Kingdom Independence Party [UKIP], calling for an National Health Service review to look at compulsory abortion of unborn children with Down's Syndrome or Spina Bifida.

Mencap, the learning disability charity, said that it was disgusted and horrified at Geoffrey Clark's comments. Mark Goldring, chief executive of Mencap, said:

Much has been written about the Paralympics this summer changing attitudes towards disabled people for the better. Yet in the very same year, a council candidate has proposed forced eugenics against disabled people. It is abhorrent that Geoffrey Clark sees disabled people solely as a burden when people with a learning disability lead full lives and make valuable contributions to their communities and families. We question if he is fit for public office.

Why no outrage at those in society who every week, willingly and freely, abort the unborn child in the womb for no other reason than it has one of these same disabilities? It is rank hypocrisy to criticise one and not the other! Is it only the 'eugenics' that are 'disgusting and horrifying'? What about the basis principle of life and the killing of a child for no other reason that it will be born with a disability? All the pretended outrage at this case and the pretended interest in disability issues and disabled people by those who in other circumstances see absolutely nothing wrong with killing a disabled unborn child is pure humbug. 

The Literal Interpretation of Scripture

Rev William de Burgh records the following conversation between a Christian minister and a Jew in a sermon of his on the second advent of Jesus Christ:

Quotable Quote - Beware whom you listen to!

Take heed whom you listen to! It is our dear Saviour’s counsel, ‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves’ (Matthew 7:15). Let me tell you, the Devil has his ministers - as well as Christ. There are some, who by the subtlety of their wit have learned the art of mixing error with truth, and to give poison in a golden cup.

Attributed to the Puritan Thomas Watson

The Sodomite Bible!!

It would seem that those who have done so, have either ignored some very important verses or more likely are ignorant of them:
Revelation 22:18,19: For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Augustus Toplady on the 'Millennium'

I am one of those old-fashioned people, Mr President, who believe the doctrine of the Millennium: and that there will be two distinct resurrections of the dead, first, of the just, secondly, of the unjust; which last resurrection, of the reprobate, will not commence till a thousand years after the resurrection of the elect. In this glorious interval of one thousand years, Christ, I apprehend, will reign, in person, over the kingdom of the just…
Augustus Toplady, Volume 3 of his Works, page 470.

Horatius Bonar on 'Israel' in prophecy

The prophecies concerning Israel are the key to all the rest. True principles of interpretation in regard to them will aid us in disentangling and illustrating all prophecy. False principles as to them…that is Israel…will most thoroughly perplex and overcloud the whole Word of God

I am one of those who believe in Israel’s restoration and conversion, who receive it as a future certainty, that all Israel shall be gathered and that all Israel shall be saved. As I believe in Israel’s present degradation, so do I believe in Israel’s coming glory and preeminence. I believe that God’s purpose regarding our world can only be understood by understanding God’s purpose as to Israel.

I believe that all human calculations as to the earth’s future, whether political or scientific, or philosophical, or religious, must be failures if not taking for their data or basis God’s great purpose regarding the latter day standing of Israel. 

J C Ryle's comments on the "Throne of his father David"

In J C Ryle's commentary on Luke's Gospel chapter 1 verses 32 and 33, which reads: He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end; he makes the following comments:

Matthew Henry on the creation of Eve, the first woman

Further to the posts relating to Women Bishops and The position and role of women in the Church I was reminded this morning of what Matthew Henry had to say in his excellent commentary about the creation of Eve as recorded in Genesis 2:18-25: 

Over a dozen reasons why the argument for Exclusive Psalmody doesn't stand up, Part 12

12. The Westminster Divines did not believe in Exclusive Psalmody. 

From around the time of the compiling of the Westminster Confession of Faith [1643-46] there is abundant evidence to be gleaned that the term 'psalm' in the chapter 21 section 5 is not referring exclusively to the Psalter. This section of the Confession reads:
The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear; the sound preaching and conscionable hearing of the Word, in obedience unto God, with understanding, faith, and reverence; singing of psalms with grace in the heart; as also, the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ; are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God: beside religious oaths, vows, solemn fastings, and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in a holy and religious manner.

The men who compiled these worthy documents of the Westminster Standards could not be shoehorned into the exclusive psalmist camp.

A poignant reminder of the past!

Border Trail of IRA Slaughter

During the Troubles in South East Fermanagh 42 Protestants were cruelly murdered by IRA/Sinn Fein. A tour has now been organised, by the relatives, in memory of these 42 individuals who were brutally murdered. The South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) Border Trail allows people to pay tribute to the memory and walk respectfully in the footsteps of some of those individuals who were murdered.

A fuller report can be read in The Belfast Newsletter

The position and role of women in the Church

A great furore has arisen in recent weeks over the Church of England's decision not to permit women bishops. Much fury and annoyance has been directed towards those who have resisted this further departure from the truth. Calls have come from various quarters for pressure to be brought to bear upon the Church of England to change the decision. Democracy is a great thing until it brings about the wrong decision! Then the outcome must be changed to one more palatable to those who are in positions of influence or power.

In the light of this decision and subsequent comment it is worthwhile taking a look at what the Scriptures have to say about the position and role of women in the Church. 

Stats for November

Recommended Sermons

Sermons from week of meetings held in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church

Themes from the Book of the Revelation

Sermon One - Why study prophecy?

Degrees of reward in Heaven

The American Puritan Jonathan Edwards in a sermon on the reward of the righteous based upon Romans 2:10: But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile, discourses upon the degrees of reward in heaven. This is what he had to say:

There are different degrees of happiness and glory in heaven. As there are degrees among the angels, viz. thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers; so there are degrees among the saints. In heaven are many mansions, and of different degrees of dignity. The glory of the saints above will be in some proportion to their eminency in holiness and good works here. Christ will reward all according to their works. He that gained ten pounds was made ruler over ten cities, and he that gained five pounds over five cities. Luke 19:17. 2 Corinthians 9:6. “He that soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” And the apostle Paul tells us that, as one star differs from another star in glory, so also it shall be in the resurrection of the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:41. 

Women Bishops??

You would wonder where he got this impression from!

In case he doesn't know this is what God has to say on the matter:

Imagine the outcry if this had been Israelis on the moterbikes!

Can you imagine the frenzied outcry of the appeasers of Arab terrorism if this had been the other way around and Israel had dealt with calibrators in this fashion. 

Is an Abortion ever right?

Much comment has been expended on the issue of whether the life of a pregnant woman living in the Republic of Ireland might have been saved if she had been given an abortion. The 31-year-old died after a miscarriage at Galway University Hospital on 28th October. Her family claimed she was repeatedly refused a termination during the miscarriage.

This begs the question is it ever right to grant an abortion to someone in these circumstances? The answer is yes! There are certain circumstances where it is wholly justified. This is justified on the grounds that an unborn child does not have the right to kill its mother. The unborn child must abide by the moral law of God like everyone else, which says that: Thou shalt  not kill. The unborn child like anyone else does not have an absolute right to live, even to the point where its mother loses her life as a result. An unborn child does not have an innate right to kill its parent.

Over a dozen reasons why the argument for Exclusive Psalmody doesn't stand up, Part 11

11. The Puritans did not all believe in Exclusive Psalmody

The impression is often given by those who promote exclusive psalmody that every Reformed stalwart of the past was an exclusive psalmist. This could not be further from the truth. Many of the great and good men of the past who were reformed in doctrine did not hold to the exclusive singing of the Psalter. 

Some prominent examples:

1. Matthew Henry. In his commentary on Ephesians 5:19 the renowned and much loved expositor had this to:
By psalms may be meant David's psalms, or such composures as were fitly sung with musical instruments. By hymns may be meant such others as were confined to matter of praise, as those of Zacharias, Simeon, &c.

On Colossians 3:16 his commentary reads: 

Singing of psalms is a gospel ordinance - the Psalms of David, and spiritual hymns and odes, collected out of the scripture, and suited to special occasions, instead of their lewd and profane songs in their idolatrous worship.

Quotable Quote!

Seek not to grow in knowledge chiefly for the sake of applause, and to enable you to dispute with others; but seek it for the benefit of your souls, Jonathan Edwards [Puritan].

Pillars of the Reformation - 5. Sola Deo Gloria.

The fifth pillar of the Protestant Reformation was Sola Deo Gloria - to the glory of God alone. 

All of these pillars were defined and articulated by the Reformers in opposition to the errors of Romanism. This fifth pillar likewise stands in contradistinction to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.

Rome looks upon the Church as the mystical body of Christ. 

The term ‘Corpus Christi’ is Latin for the 'body of Christ'. In viewing the church as the body of Christ Rome goes on to argue that to honour the Church is to honour Jesus Christ Himself.

A sign of things to come

Plymouth Brethren lose charity status because
'they're doing no public good'

In a sign of things to come the Charity Commission in England and Wales has refused to register the Preston Down Trust of the Plymouth Brethren as a charity because of their restrictions upon who can take Communion at their services. The Plymouth Brethren operate a 'closed communion' practice where only members can sit at the Lord's Table. It also said that the Trust does not do enough good works in the community.

The right of churches to decide for themselves who may partake of Communion is now being challenged by the Charity Commission in England and Wales. This will have a huge impact on the Brethren's ability to claim back Gift Aid on donations.

Special Week of Meetings on topics from the Book of the Revelation