Stephen MarshallA Sermon on the Baptizing of Infants (1644)Conclusion 1. The Covenant of Grace, for substance, hath always been one and the same, both to the Jews and to the Gentiles. Which to understand, know, that the new and living way to life was first revealed to Adam immediately after his fall, and that blessed… Read More The Covenant of Grace: Same to Both Jew and Gentile
The parts of a Sacrament are of two sorts, some outward, open, sensible, earthly, visible, and signifying—some are inward, hidden, spiritual, heavenly, invisible, and signified. The outward is applied to the body, the inward is applied to the soul and conscience. This division and distinction of parts appeareth plainly, “He is not a Jew which is one outward, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew which is one within, and the circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter” (Rom. 2:28-29).… Read More The Nature of a Sacrament: Partly Outward and Partly Inward.
A Sacrament is a visible sign and seal ordained of God, whereby Christ and all his saving graces by certain outward rites are signified, exhibited, and sealed up unto us. There is more in the Sacraments than is seen with the eyes, or felt with the hands: and therefore we must not conceive unreverently of them, nor come negligently unto them, making them mere carnal and outward things: but we must think reverently, speak soberly, receive humbly and penitently these holy mysteries.… Read More What Is A Sacrament?
The Word of God may fitly be resembled to writings and evidences: and the Sacraments to seals, which the Lord alone sets to his own letters. They are as a visible sermon preaching unto us most lively the promises of God: that as the Word we hear doth edify and instruct the mind by the outward ears, so doth the Sacraments by the eyes and other senses… The Word may be without the Sacraments, but the Sacraments cannot be without the Word, as a writing may be without a seal, but not the seal without the writing. Set a seal to a blank, and is it not vain, void, and unprofitable?… Read More Word and Sacrament: Agreements & Differences
Dr. George DownameThe Christian’s Sanctuary, pp. 29-49 Inward and spiritual exercise of prayer joined with repentance What then is the spiritual exercise and the inward fast, whereunto the outward abstinence must be referred? It is an humbling of our souls in a solemn exercise of prayer, joined with repentance, for the obtaining of our special… Read More The Christian Duty of Fasting: 3. The Inward Fast
Dr. George DownameThe Christian’s Sanctuary, pp. 18-29 Thus we have heard that the religious fast is a solemn exercise of religion, to be undertaken of us, when we are humble suitors to the Lord, upon some urgent occasion. Let us now consider wherein this exercise doth consist, which is expressed in the rest of the… Read More The Christian Duty of Fasting: 2. The Outward Fast
Dr. George DownameThe Christian’s Sanctuary, pp. 8-18 What is Fasting? The religious fast is a solemn exercise of religion, wherein we being humble suitors unto the Lord upon some special or extraordinary occasion, do abstain not only from food and some other commodities and delights of this life, but also from bodily labours and worldly… Read More The Christian Duty of Fasting: 1. What is Fasting?
Evangelical Worship Must Be Spiritual Worship A Sermon Preached At Paul’s Church,August 26th 1660 By Matthew Poole “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship… Read More Evangelical Worship Must Be Spiritual Worship
Theodore Beza Sermons upon the Three Chapters of the Canticle of Canticles (1587) First Sermon upon the First Chapter It is written as followeth in the title of the third book of Solomon: “The Canticle of Canticles, or Song of Songs, of Solomon.” (Songs 1:1). The principal points handled in the first Sermon. 1. Read… Read More Eight Principles for the True Exposition of the Song of Solomon
DR. OWEN’S INSTRUCTION IN THE WORSHIP OF GOD, BY WAY OF QUESTION AND ANSWER; WITH AN EXPLICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF THOSE ANSWERS (1667). Q. 1. What doth God require of us in our dependence on him, that he may be glorified by us, and we accepted with him? A. That we (a) worship him (b) in and… Read More A Short Catechism On Worship
Purely Presbyterian 