James Henley Thornwell Discourses on Truth (1855) Discourse IV. Sincerity. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true—think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8) Speculative Truth and Practical Truth. Truth may be considered in two leading aspects, either as having reference to the correspondence of our convictions with the reality of things, which may be called speculative truth,… Read More Must We Always Tell the Truth?
William Gouge Of Domestical Duties 6.9-16, pp. 367-377. § 6.9. Of a Mother’s Care Over Her Child While It is in Her Womb. The first age of a child is the infancy thereof. I will therefore first show how therein parents must procure the temporal good of their children, and then their spiritual good. The… Read More A Mother’s Care Over Her Child
George Gillespie A Dispute Against the English Popish Ceremonies pt. 4, ch. 3, pp. 375–379 Every thing which is indifferent in the nature of it, is not by and by indifferent in the use of it. But the use of a thing indifferent ought evermore to be either chosen or refused, followed or forsaken, according… Read More Scriptural Rules Governing Indifferent Things
Zacharias Ursinus Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism pp. 542-548 The objections which the Papists bring against us in favor of the Invocation of the Saints. Obj. 1. The saints, on account of their virtues, are to be honored with the worship either of adoration (λατρεια) or of veneration (δουλεια). But it is not in the… Read More Should We Pray to the Saints in Heaven?
John Calvin Commentary on Psalm 50:14 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24 “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High.” Psalm 50:14 These verses [Psalm 50:14-15] cast light upon the preceding context. Had it been stated in unqualified… Read More Spiritual Worship in the Old Testament
Martin Luther The Estate of Marriage Works, vol. 45, pp. 17-22. 1. Male and Female. “So God created man…male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27). From this passage we may be assured that God divided mankind into two classes, namely, male and female, or a he and a she. This was so pleasing to… Read More Childbearing and the Gift of Singleness | Martin Luther
Peter Martyr Vermigli (1499-1562) Common Places Part 2, ch. 10, § 17-26, pp. 431-437 Whether it be lawful for children to marry without the consent of their parents. §17 Now shall it be very well to see whether it be lawful for children to contract matrimony without consent of their parents. The Patriarchs. Certainly, Samson… Read More Against Marriage Without Parental Consent | Peter Martyr Vermigli
Why do fathers give their daughters away in wedding ceremonies? Is this just an empty tradition, or does it have a deep theological and moral basis? The Protestant reformation of the purity of the Christian faith had implications not just for doctrine, worship, and the church, but also in ethics. The institution of marriage,… Read More The Importance of Parental Consent in Marriage
Francis Roberts (1609-1675) Mysterium & Medulla Bibliorum The Mystery and Marrow of the Bible Book 3, Chapter 2. Of the Discovery and Administration of the Covenants of Promise in the Second Period of Time—From Noah till Abraham. II. The Spiritual Meaning of the Noahic Covenant. II. What the spiritualness, or spiritual meaning of these Covenants… Read More The Spiritual Meaning of the Noahic Covenant
Francis Roberts (1609-1675) Mysterium & Medulla Bibliorum The Mystery and Marrow of the Bible Book 3, Chapter 2. Of the Discovery and Administration of the Covenants of Promise in the Second Period of Time—From Noah till Abraham. APHORISM. III. These two Covenants of God, established with Noah, before and after the Flood—for saving Noah and… Read More God’s Grace in the Noahic Covenant
