Self-examination regarding one’s faith, repentance, and obedience toward God is crucial for the Christian life. Here are ten signs to assess your sincerity, including a genuine desire for holiness, love for God and others, prioritization of heavenly treasures, and a commitment to godly living over worldly pursuits, while trusting in Christ for righteousness.… Read More Signs of Sincere Faith: A Heart Examination Guide
Richard Baxter’s guidance emphasizes the importance of thoughtful meditation for spiritual growth. He advises selecting meaningful subjects, seeking clarity, and understanding the purpose of each meditation. Engaging with significant truths, connecting smaller matters to greater ones, and bringing doctrine into action are essential for fostering a vibrant and obedient faith unto the glory of God.… Read More Guidelines for Meaningful Christian Meditation
In a pastoral letter by John Sprint from his 1623 publication “The Christian Sword & Buckler,” he addresses a man tormented for seven years by demonic oppression and spiritual affliction. He provides scriptural comfort, emphasizing God’s power and Christ’s victory over Satan, His ministers’ duties to reassure the afflicted, and His mercy toward sinners. The pastor also guides the man in overcoming demonic temptations and despair with faith, and teaches him to find the comfort of the Spirit, and solace in his spiritual trials as proof of God’s love.… Read More A Pastoral Letter To One Oppressed By Demons
When such thoughts come into thy head, either to keep thee from prayer, or to distract thee in praying, remember that those are the fowls which the evil one sends to devour the good seed [Mat. 13:19], and the carcasses of thy spiritual sacrifices—but endeavour with Abraham, to drive them away (Gen. 15:11).… Read More Motivations To Set Aside Time For Prayer
William PerkinsThe Damned Art of WitchcraftWorks IX, pp. 389-399. Question. Whether a man may prevent the danger of witchcraft, and if he may, then what remedies may he lawfully and effectually use against it? Answer. To this question we answer affirmatively that a man may. And for the manifestation of this point, the remedies of… Read More Lawful & Unlawful Remedies Against Witchcraft
Zacharias Ursinus Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism pp. 621-624. Question 117. What are the requisites of that prayer, which is acceptable to God, and which he will hear? Answer. First, that we from the heart pray to the one true God only, who hath manifested himself in his word, for all things he hath commanded… Read More Conditions of Acceptable Prayer
Wilhelmus à Brakel The Christian’s Reasonable Service Vol. 4, pp. 3-10. Fasting To fast [Hebrew: (ta‘anith)], is a derivative of the words to oppress, humiliate, torment, as well as to be distressed. Others translate this Hebrew word as “to fast”: “And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness” (Ezra 9:5); “Is it… Read More Wilhelmus à Brakel on Fasting
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