In the beginning God created the heavens and earth..." Genesis 1:1 The Beginning! or, at the commencement of time, according to the original translation. Without indication when the beginning was, the expression intimates that the beginning was THE beginning. CREATED--this describes Divine activity. The idea of creation is acknowledged by the best expositors to be here intended. Its employment in verses 21 and 26, though seeming against, is really in favor of a distinctively creative act; in both instances something that did not previously exist...i.e. animal life, human spirit, having been called into being. in the sense of producing what is new frequently occurs in Scripture (cf. Ps. 51:12, Jer. 31:12, Isaiah 65:18). Thus, the visible universe neither existed from eternity, not was fashioned our of preexisting materials, nor proceeded forth as an emanation from the Absolute, but was summoned into being by an express creative fiat. The NT boldly claims this as a doctrine peculiar to revelation (Hebrews 11:3). Modern science explicitly disavows it as a discovery of reason. the continuity of force admits of neither creation nor annihilation, but demands an unseen universe, out of which the visible had been produced by an intelligent agency residing in the unseen." Whether the language of the writer to the Hebrews homologates the dogma of an "unseen universe," the last result of science, as expressed in what I have written, is practically an admission of the Biblical doctrine of creation." _joinprompttext="">"In the beginning God created the heavens and earth..." Genesis 1:1
The Beginning! or, at the commencement of time, according to the original translation. Without indication when the beginning was, the expression intimates that the beginning was THE beginning.
CREATED--this describes Divine activity. The idea of creation is acknowledged by the best expositors to be here intended. Its employment in verses 21 and 26, though seeming against, is really in favor of a distinctively creative act; in both instances something that did not previously exist...i.e. animal life, human spirit, having been called into being. in the sense of producing what is new frequently occurs in Scripture (cf. Ps. 51:12, Jer. 31:12, Isaiah 65:18).
Thus, the visible universe neither existed from eternity, not was fashioned our of preexisting materials, nor proceeded forth as an emanation from the Absolute, but was summoned into being by an express creative fiat.
The NT boldly claims this as a doctrine peculiar to revelation (Hebrews 11:3). Modern science explicitly disavows it as a discovery of reason. the continuity of force admits of neither creation nor annihilation, but demands an unseen universe, out of which the visible had been produced by an intelligent agency residing in the unseen." Whether the language of the writer to the Hebrews homologates the dogma of an "unseen universe," the last result of science, as expressed in what I have written, is practically an admission of the Biblical doctrine of creation.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Wonderful Touch
All that is contained in the earth,
And all which remains without--
Everything that God has made,
Is His, without a doubt!!!
My God created time and life;
When nothing did exist--
He made something out of nothing,
From the fingers of His fist.
Why is He so mindful of us,
So unworthy and so small,
To take such an interest in us--
And to know the affairs of all?
Blessed be our wonderful Lord!
Who loves, cares, and helps so much
He did lay His life down for us
His life--yours and mine, did touch!!!
And all which remains without--
Everything that God has made,
Is His, without a doubt!!!
My God created time and life;
When nothing did exist--
He made something out of nothing,
From the fingers of His fist.
Why is He so mindful of us,
So unworthy and so small,
To take such an interest in us--
And to know the affairs of all?
Blessed be our wonderful Lord!
Who loves, cares, and helps so much
He did lay His life down for us
His life--yours and mine, did touch!!!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Teach Me
Teach me, Lord, to do thy will
For thou art truly my God,
Search me, Lord, you know my heart,
Teach me to receive the rod.
Teach me how to take pleasure
In all my troubles and strife,
For then when I become weak,
Your strength gives me life.
Teach me, Lord, to always love,
Fervently with a pure heart,
To conduct love toward the brethren,
And that with willing heart.
Teach me how to sing to Thee,
And how to bless thy name;
Let me kneel to my Maker,
And tell him my sins with shame.
Teach me, Lord, to want knowledge
And to seek virtue and work,
To speak without vanity,
And avoid evil that lurks.
Teach me to have good conscience,
Let me draw dear to You,
For then when I die and go,
I want to be with you.
For thou art truly my God,
Search me, Lord, you know my heart,
Teach me to receive the rod.
Teach me how to take pleasure
In all my troubles and strife,
For then when I become weak,
Your strength gives me life.
Teach me, Lord, to always love,
Fervently with a pure heart,
To conduct love toward the brethren,
And that with willing heart.
Teach me how to sing to Thee,
And how to bless thy name;
Let me kneel to my Maker,
And tell him my sins with shame.
Teach me, Lord, to want knowledge
And to seek virtue and work,
To speak without vanity,
And avoid evil that lurks.
Teach me to have good conscience,
Let me draw dear to You,
For then when I die and go,
I want to be with you.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Articles of the Church of England proved not to be Calvinistic.
Review of New Publications
1803
Orthodox Churchman
The Articles of the Church of England proved not to be Calvinistic. By Thomas Kipling, D.D. Dean of Peterborough, and late Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge. 8vo. 1802. Second Edition.
In the supplement to our second volume, p. 414, one of our correspondents had so fully expressed our sentiments respecting this treatise, that we did not deem it necessary to notice it in our reviewing department. We think it right, however, to announce its appearance in a second edition, more especially as it is now enlarged by the addition of an Appendix.
The learned author, after premising, that all the peculiar opinions of Calvin, which are connected with het subject of his enquiry, may be comprised under the single doctrine of predestination, proceeds to prove, that the doctrines of our Church are not, as has sometimes been asserted, in unison and correspondence with those op[inions o Calvin. This he does, and in the most satisfactory manner, 1st, by delineating the Calvinistic doctrine of predestination; and, 2dly. By comparing this doctrine with the Articles and Liturgy of the Church of England.
He considers the Calvinistic doctrine of predestination as reducible to the following propositions.
1st. That omnipotent Being, who has existed from all eternity, after he had decreed to create man in his own image, and had fore-ordained his fall from original righteousness, by which fall Adam’s own nature would be corrupted and depraved, viewed with the eye of prescience the whole of Adam’s offspring as a mass of corruption and perdition.
2nd. Among the vast multitude of human beings composing this mass of corruption and perdition, Almighty God decreed, before the foundation of the world, to bring some everlasting salvation and to damn all the rest eternally. This decree or purpose of God is denominated by Calvin predestination, some being thereby predestined to everlasting happiness, and other condemned by it to everlasting misery.
3dly. The objects of this decree are, not collective bodies of men, as Jews, Gentiles, Greeks, Romans, but individuals, as John, Matthew, Thomas, Peter, every one of whose fate after death is fixed by it, before he is born, immutably and everlastingly.
4thly. Adam, agreeably to the preordinance of God (for we are now come to the execution of this decrees) fell from innocence; and , in consequence of this lapse, the whole of man’s nature, as the Deity had foreseen and foreordained, underwent a complete change. It became corrupt, depraved, vicious; and every descendant of Adam, through his first parents’ transgression, became a lost, a damned, an accursed creature, and fuel for the flame of divine vengeance.
5thly. From the birth of Abraham (if not from an earlier period) to this present time, the Deity, agreeably to his eternal purpose and immutable decree, hath constantly been taking, and will continue daily to take, those individuals, whom he hath predestinated before the world began to everlasting salvation, out of this mass of corruption and perdition. All the rest, every one, whom he Passeth by, and leaves in this state of corruption and perdition, he reprobates; that is, abandons to wickedness in this life, and will torture eternally in the next. Those, whom he makes choice of, selects, and segregates for salvation, are called elect. Those whom he leaves in their original pollution, abandons, and will eternally torment, are called preterits (praeteriti) but most commonly reprobates. By election and reprobation is executed the immutable decree of predestination.
6thly. This discrimination made by the Deity between the elect and the reprobates is arbitrary; in no degree owing to any superior excellence, worth, or merit in the former, either present and actual, or future and foreseen, but wholly and solely to God’s will and pleasure. He extricates the elect from destruction for a demonstration of his mercy and goodness. He leaves the reprobates in their original state of perdition for a display of his power and glory.
7thly. The elect are put under the custody and protection of Jesus Christ; and, do what they will in this life, they cannot fail of being saved finally, being under an immutable decree, and guarded by omnipotence. The reprobates, how much soever they may exert themselves for the purpose, cannot attain everlasting salvation, being hindered therefrom, and repelled by Almighty God. As the final salvation of the elect is in no degree doubtful, from their first entrance into this world to their departure out of it, but is all the time fixed and certain; so neither is the eternal damnation of a reprobate ever uncertain, during his passage through this world, but is even before he is born unalterably fixed and sure. That he should perish, is the very purpose, for which he was created.
8thly. Neither the best purposes, nor the best endeavors, nor the best acts, of an elect, even after regeneration, are in any wise preparatory to eternal salvation. On the contrary, as the elect people of God under the Mosaic dispensation, were commanded to desist on the Sabbath day from their worldly occupations, so, in respect of a all spiritual concerns, the elect under the Gospel dispensation are enjoined to bid adieu to all wills, works, and endeavors of their own, and to keep most religiously a perpetual Sabbath; that there may be free and sample scope within them for the operation of God’s spirit.
9thly. God, who of his own will and pleasure predestinated the elect to eternal salvation, himself prepares and fits them for it. The means used by him for this purpose are the preaching of his word, and the operations of his spirit; both which together constitute what is denominated special calling.
10thly. The operations of God’s spirit are manifold – He forms in the elect a new understanding.2. He destroys their natural, and creates in them a new will.3. Every propensity they may have, and every effort they may make, to do works pleasing and acceptable to God, is his.4. He also, it is, who begins; continues, and finishes, every good work done by them; and who makes them persevere unto the end in well doing. In each of these operations, he does not concur or co-operate with the elect, but is the sole and entire operator; and they are his instruments or organs.
11thly. Though the elect may, for a time, resist the grace of God, they cannot finally overcome it. This grace is sovereign, and invincible in its operation.
12thly. God, who arbitrarily predestinated the reprobates to eternal destruction, himself also prepares and hits them for it. He does this by blinding their minds, hardening their hearts, stupefying their intellects, depriving them of the knowledge of himself, withholding from them the influence of his spirit, and delivering them over to the devil.
13thly. The number of the elect is very small. The reprobates, of course, are numberless.
Lastly. The reprobates, those numberless rational beings, whom Almighty God hath raised up for the illustrating of his glory, are hateful to him. He also hates, in proportion to their naughtiness, the chosen few.
When these propositions are brought together, and consider in one view, they almost induce us to think that Calvin had set himself to collect al the absurdities on the subject, which the human imagination was capable of conceiving. That the above is a faithful representation of the opinions of Calvin on the subject of predestination, is most incontrovertibly shown by copious extracts from the writings of Calvin himself. These extracts the learned reader will do well to consult; but it is not necessary for us to transcribe them here. After this delineation of what Calvinism is, we need not follow the author in his comparison of it with the Articles and Liturgy of our Church; but may safely leaven it to the judgment of our readers to determine, whether the doctrines of the Church can with any propriety be called Calvinistic.
1803
Orthodox Churchman
The Articles of the Church of England proved not to be Calvinistic. By Thomas Kipling, D.D. Dean of Peterborough, and late Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge. 8vo. 1802. Second Edition.
In the supplement to our second volume, p. 414, one of our correspondents had so fully expressed our sentiments respecting this treatise, that we did not deem it necessary to notice it in our reviewing department. We think it right, however, to announce its appearance in a second edition, more especially as it is now enlarged by the addition of an Appendix.
The learned author, after premising, that all the peculiar opinions of Calvin, which are connected with het subject of his enquiry, may be comprised under the single doctrine of predestination, proceeds to prove, that the doctrines of our Church are not, as has sometimes been asserted, in unison and correspondence with those op[inions o Calvin. This he does, and in the most satisfactory manner, 1st, by delineating the Calvinistic doctrine of predestination; and, 2dly. By comparing this doctrine with the Articles and Liturgy of the Church of England.
He considers the Calvinistic doctrine of predestination as reducible to the following propositions.
1st. That omnipotent Being, who has existed from all eternity, after he had decreed to create man in his own image, and had fore-ordained his fall from original righteousness, by which fall Adam’s own nature would be corrupted and depraved, viewed with the eye of prescience the whole of Adam’s offspring as a mass of corruption and perdition.
2nd. Among the vast multitude of human beings composing this mass of corruption and perdition, Almighty God decreed, before the foundation of the world, to bring some everlasting salvation and to damn all the rest eternally. This decree or purpose of God is denominated by Calvin predestination, some being thereby predestined to everlasting happiness, and other condemned by it to everlasting misery.
3dly. The objects of this decree are, not collective bodies of men, as Jews, Gentiles, Greeks, Romans, but individuals, as John, Matthew, Thomas, Peter, every one of whose fate after death is fixed by it, before he is born, immutably and everlastingly.
4thly. Adam, agreeably to the preordinance of God (for we are now come to the execution of this decrees) fell from innocence; and , in consequence of this lapse, the whole of man’s nature, as the Deity had foreseen and foreordained, underwent a complete change. It became corrupt, depraved, vicious; and every descendant of Adam, through his first parents’ transgression, became a lost, a damned, an accursed creature, and fuel for the flame of divine vengeance.
5thly. From the birth of Abraham (if not from an earlier period) to this present time, the Deity, agreeably to his eternal purpose and immutable decree, hath constantly been taking, and will continue daily to take, those individuals, whom he hath predestinated before the world began to everlasting salvation, out of this mass of corruption and perdition. All the rest, every one, whom he Passeth by, and leaves in this state of corruption and perdition, he reprobates; that is, abandons to wickedness in this life, and will torture eternally in the next. Those, whom he makes choice of, selects, and segregates for salvation, are called elect. Those whom he leaves in their original pollution, abandons, and will eternally torment, are called preterits (praeteriti) but most commonly reprobates. By election and reprobation is executed the immutable decree of predestination.
6thly. This discrimination made by the Deity between the elect and the reprobates is arbitrary; in no degree owing to any superior excellence, worth, or merit in the former, either present and actual, or future and foreseen, but wholly and solely to God’s will and pleasure. He extricates the elect from destruction for a demonstration of his mercy and goodness. He leaves the reprobates in their original state of perdition for a display of his power and glory.
7thly. The elect are put under the custody and protection of Jesus Christ; and, do what they will in this life, they cannot fail of being saved finally, being under an immutable decree, and guarded by omnipotence. The reprobates, how much soever they may exert themselves for the purpose, cannot attain everlasting salvation, being hindered therefrom, and repelled by Almighty God. As the final salvation of the elect is in no degree doubtful, from their first entrance into this world to their departure out of it, but is all the time fixed and certain; so neither is the eternal damnation of a reprobate ever uncertain, during his passage through this world, but is even before he is born unalterably fixed and sure. That he should perish, is the very purpose, for which he was created.
8thly. Neither the best purposes, nor the best endeavors, nor the best acts, of an elect, even after regeneration, are in any wise preparatory to eternal salvation. On the contrary, as the elect people of God under the Mosaic dispensation, were commanded to desist on the Sabbath day from their worldly occupations, so, in respect of a all spiritual concerns, the elect under the Gospel dispensation are enjoined to bid adieu to all wills, works, and endeavors of their own, and to keep most religiously a perpetual Sabbath; that there may be free and sample scope within them for the operation of God’s spirit.
9thly. God, who of his own will and pleasure predestinated the elect to eternal salvation, himself prepares and fits them for it. The means used by him for this purpose are the preaching of his word, and the operations of his spirit; both which together constitute what is denominated special calling.
10thly. The operations of God’s spirit are manifold – He forms in the elect a new understanding.2. He destroys their natural, and creates in them a new will.3. Every propensity they may have, and every effort they may make, to do works pleasing and acceptable to God, is his.4. He also, it is, who begins; continues, and finishes, every good work done by them; and who makes them persevere unto the end in well doing. In each of these operations, he does not concur or co-operate with the elect, but is the sole and entire operator; and they are his instruments or organs.
11thly. Though the elect may, for a time, resist the grace of God, they cannot finally overcome it. This grace is sovereign, and invincible in its operation.
12thly. God, who arbitrarily predestinated the reprobates to eternal destruction, himself also prepares and hits them for it. He does this by blinding their minds, hardening their hearts, stupefying their intellects, depriving them of the knowledge of himself, withholding from them the influence of his spirit, and delivering them over to the devil.
13thly. The number of the elect is very small. The reprobates, of course, are numberless.
Lastly. The reprobates, those numberless rational beings, whom Almighty God hath raised up for the illustrating of his glory, are hateful to him. He also hates, in proportion to their naughtiness, the chosen few.
When these propositions are brought together, and consider in one view, they almost induce us to think that Calvin had set himself to collect al the absurdities on the subject, which the human imagination was capable of conceiving. That the above is a faithful representation of the opinions of Calvin on the subject of predestination, is most incontrovertibly shown by copious extracts from the writings of Calvin himself. These extracts the learned reader will do well to consult; but it is not necessary for us to transcribe them here. After this delineation of what Calvinism is, we need not follow the author in his comparison of it with the Articles and Liturgy of our Church; but may safely leaven it to the judgment of our readers to determine, whether the doctrines of the Church can with any propriety be called Calvinistic.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Next Month's reading from Kindred Spirits
I am really looking forward to getting this book from the library!!!Here is a link to join the monthly reading!!!
http://kindredspiritsbookgroup.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
His Will
Learning the painful lesson of havening to admit we're wrong and to try to appreciate the good that comes out of it; to see that what happened was for the glory of God, that is was His will—helps us grow.
The taste of humility can be sorrowful and even bitter to the taste when it comes to the test.
It really reminded me of how humble Jesus had to make himself living down here among us humans and die (Phil. 2:8)—and how small our own lessons of humility are so pathetically silly compared to His. It’s a great comfort to know that whatever lesson comes by it is God's will, and blessings come out of every situation. Each lesson and trial is apart of the narrow walk He gives us.
Personally, it makes me feel very small how God chose us to love and care for, to create in His likeness out of anything and everything, that He cares for us so gently and kindly—so amazing!! We are so small and so insignificant yet so precious in His sight.
And then men have the gall and sinful will to rebel, hate, and curse this loving God,--so forgiving and gentle—they murder...sin upon sin deliberately—and yet God is so patient! So astonishingly forgiving and patient that it quite overwhelms me. I continue to stand in awe of Him.
And then we return to "painful" lessons in humility—what petty feelings to have pride in anything! He create everything and I can do nothing without Him. He knows everything about us and what's in our minds every passing moment. What a n awesome, awesome God we praise and worship!
Nut then I hear of the horrid earthquake in Haiti—and I think, "Why, Lord?" Why so much death? "Because it is my will." Is the answer I keep receiving—that's what pops up in my mind—God has a plan for this—this is his plan in action for our lives in History. It is quite impossible to hear of death and we not hurt, and not see why it doesn't happen somewhere else (like the White House, hee hee—that was bad—sorry); but instead to these poor, poor people. "It's My will."
"Amen, so be it Lord."
The taste of humility can be sorrowful and even bitter to the taste when it comes to the test.
It really reminded me of how humble Jesus had to make himself living down here among us humans and die (Phil. 2:8)—and how small our own lessons of humility are so pathetically silly compared to His. It’s a great comfort to know that whatever lesson comes by it is God's will, and blessings come out of every situation. Each lesson and trial is apart of the narrow walk He gives us.
Personally, it makes me feel very small how God chose us to love and care for, to create in His likeness out of anything and everything, that He cares for us so gently and kindly—so amazing!! We are so small and so insignificant yet so precious in His sight.
And then men have the gall and sinful will to rebel, hate, and curse this loving God,--so forgiving and gentle—they murder...sin upon sin deliberately—and yet God is so patient! So astonishingly forgiving and patient that it quite overwhelms me. I continue to stand in awe of Him.
And then we return to "painful" lessons in humility—what petty feelings to have pride in anything! He create everything and I can do nothing without Him. He knows everything about us and what's in our minds every passing moment. What a n awesome, awesome God we praise and worship!
Nut then I hear of the horrid earthquake in Haiti—and I think, "Why, Lord?" Why so much death? "Because it is my will." Is the answer I keep receiving—that's what pops up in my mind—God has a plan for this—this is his plan in action for our lives in History. It is quite impossible to hear of death and we not hurt, and not see why it doesn't happen somewhere else (like the White House, hee hee—that was bad—sorry); but instead to these poor, poor people. "It's My will."
"Amen, so be it Lord."
Friday, January 22, 2010
Comments
It seems that occationally comments will not show up on my blog--so I am going to post a recent comment that won't show up that was written to my post "Rejoice!"
That was written just lovely! I am a friend of Marquetta's and found your blog through hers. I am a homeschooling mom with teenage daughters. God bless, Rose
That was written just lovely! I am a friend of Marquetta's and found your blog through hers. I am a homeschooling mom with teenage daughters. God bless, Rose
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