Charles Hodge Sermons

Click on photgraph to enlarge

My light and encouraging reading at the moment is this hard back biography of great Princeton theologian Charles Hodge by his son, A.A. Hodge, which I picked up second hand back in the summer. I have several of Charles Hodge's books including his commentaries on Romans, I and II Corinthians, Ephesians and 2/3 of his Systematic Theology set. The opening line of his biography tells us that his Presbyterian ancestors sailed to the United States from the "north of Ireland" which, to an Ulster Scot like me, is the cherry on the cake. The first book I ever picked up by Charles  I Hodge was his book of outlines of sermons back in the early 1980's which he delivered to the Princeton students on the Sabbath afternoons in that great bastion of Reformed theology. This is still in print. I have always found them useful. 

Hodge's commentaries received great recommendations from CH Spurgeon who said:

"Hodge's method and matter make him doubly useful in commenting. He is singularly clear, and a great promoter of thought." (Comments on Hodge's Romans commentary)

"The more we use Hodge, the more we value him. This applies to all his commentaries." (Comments on Hodge's I and II Corinthians commentary)

"Most valuable. With no writer do we more fully agree."
(Comments on Hodge's Ephesians commentary)

From Spurgeon's Autobriography, we get the following information:

Mr. Spurgeon desired to possess a specimen of the manuscript of Dr. Charles Hodge, Professor in the Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A.; and, in reply to a note to that effect, addressed to his son, Dr. A. A. Hodge, the latter wrote the kind letter printed next.

“Princeton,
“New Jersey,
“July 1st, 1879.
“Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon,

“Dear Sir,“I thank you very much for your kind note, relating to the Outlines, received yesterday. Your many friends, on this side of the ocean, have been anxious about your health, as we have received irregular, and imperfect, and perhaps irresponsible reports of it from time to time. I sincerely trust that it is re-established fundamentally and permanently. ‘Yet I am sure that God has warned you, as the trusted steward of His gifts, not to work so hard and continuously. “I send you, herewith, two of my father’s papers, prepared for the Conferences held by the Professors and students, every Sabbath afternoon, in our Oratory. ‘Nelson, of Edinburgh, has just published a volume containing 249 of them. These I send you are originals in my father handwriting.

“May the Father, and the Son, and the Spirit, bless you with all blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord!
“Give my best respects to Mrs. Spurgeon.

“Yours sincerely,
“A. A. HODGE.”

 Worth getting...



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Have you shaved today?

 

The last thing I want/need to do is chase my old friend #Hamblin round Twitter or blogspot. I do try to keep my comments for some of the more serious or humorous matters. I think I'll put the above tweet in the latter section. I know you could take the high road on this one and go all serious i.e. (to adapt the old proverb) that America's burning and her self proclaimed Fundamentalist giants are worrying about a few bristles on a preacher's chin, but (really) I think we ought to have a giggle at this one. I really am struggling at the moment to rein in my humour :o)

To move quickly on: On a more serious note, I was away for a few days witnessing with the FPC at the National Ploughing Championships in the centre of Ireland. We had a good time. I know that it is not all about numbers, but we broke some of our own records. We took this year 34,000 (up  5,000 on last year) gospel calenders for 2015 and all were given out over the 3 day event. We actually ran short at the end and probably could have shifted 2-3,000 more. (Very few, relatively speaking, of these calenders are thrown away). Hundreds came into our tent for a cup of tea and a few biscuits and there were many good conversations and much literature and and many CD's distributed. Other Christian groups present with their own stall included the Plymouth Brethren who distributed some 30,000 free linen bags with John 3:16 (full text) printed on both sides. Since the Irish are charged a bag tax when they go to the supermarket - 22 Euro cent per flimsy and usually not-fit-for-purpose plastic bag - these bags were well received.  In each linen bag, there was a copy of John's gospel and a gospel tract with the offer of a free Bible. (All Bible references in the AV). 

The plan is to do some door to door outreach next week for a two week gospel mission starting on the Lord's Day (5th October) which I am responsible for along with Rev. Larry Power down in Co. Cavan. So your prayers are coveted.

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Ian Paisley_again

Olive Maxwell (nee Scott), Dr Ian Paisley, Colin Maxwell

I wrote a short piece about Dr. Ian Paisley on his passing last week. I looked high and low for the photograph to the left, but couldn't find it. It finally turned up yesterday. It was taken in Bethany Free Presbyterian Church in Portadown (Co. Armagh) sometime around 1987 when yours truly and his new wife (or wife to be, depending on the precise dates) both graduated from the Free Presbyterian Church's, Whitefield College of the Bible. Dr Paisley served as the President of the WCB. Dr. Paisley preached an encouraging Graduation sermon from Psalm 48:14 "For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death." 

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Bible Signing

Signing some Bibles for the National Church Growth Conference! Great men of God!

I was first requested to sign someone's Bible somewhere around late 1983 while a newly enrolled Bible student. A wee lad asked me to sign his Bible while I was shaking hands with the worshippers leaving the Lord's morning meeting. I duly signed my name. Noticing that others who had signed their name also added a Bible verse, I wrote Psalm 37:37 under my signature. This was the text I had just attempted to preach upon that morning. Up to then, I had never seen or even heard of people signing Bibles and so I was somewhat surprised to be asked. Since then, if I have signed my name on a Bible flyleaf about half a dozen times, then that is about the height of it. And no one has asked me in about the last five years. 

Ever learning, it was only when I came to Twitter that I discovered that some take great offence at this practice. And I mean great offence. The argument runs that only the author should sign the book. In which case, that unless you can persuade the Almighty, or somehow get hold of Moses and the prophets etc., then it ain't going to happen.

Any time I have signed someone's Bible, it has never once crossed my mind that this could be seen as hijacking God's word. Rather, I saw it as me endorsing its contents. Much the same way as Paul referred to the gospel of the grace of God as "my gospel" on three different occasions. No one thinks that Paul had concocted these doctrines in his own head and was now committing them to print. I certainly would not sign my name on the Koran or the Book of Mormon in that fashion. 

If asked to sign another Bible (especially if by a five year old) I would oblige the asker. The last thing I want is a bewildered child who has just started primary school in tears after a morning service! But if no one asks, I would not be miffed in the least. I am truly indifferent. 

That said, only a certain brand of American Fundamentalism could take the whole thing to a new level. Why wait to be asked? Why merely indulge the cute hobby of five to nine year old children (No one over that age has ever asked me to sign) when you can ratchet this matter up and use it to promote your own standing in the preaching circuit? Especially when you can advertise it in the promotion stuff?  Why not take the initiative and give everyone who comes along and pays their entrance fee a signed Bible with your name on it without them even asking?  And so you get the photograph above.

This photograph makes a statement, especially when it makes it on to Twitter, contains the names of the Bible signers, proclaims them as "Great men of God" and one of them actually RT's it. It appears that the signer in these circumstances anticipates being asked, expects to be asked and indeed makes provision in that dread scenario of not being asked at all. If you pay your money to come, then you get a Bible autographed by those who are effectively proclaiming their own greatness. Of course, you could always refuse the Bible or return it, but you have paid your money for it and why should you? 

So, IMO, wait until you are asked to sign a child's Bible. Only do it because you are asked. But don't do it as part of a self promotion strategy because your notions extend to the belief that you are a giant within Fundamentalism. You are there to serve the Bible. Having the Bible serve you makes your signature worthless. 

Just a few thoughts...

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Invited

Last week, I had an interesting Twitter chat with a couple of Calvinist friends on the issue of the gospel being both a command and an invitation. You can follow it here.  

Evidently, the sinner is commanded to repent and believe the gospel. The imperative to both is found in Mark 1:15 while Acts 17:30 "God commandeth all men everywhere to repent" needs no explanation. It is a sin when sinners do not believe on Christ (John 16:9) and the cause of their condemnation (John 3:18/36) This is not the language of a mere suggestion, but a clear command to obey the gospel. The Lord Jesus is coming again to take vengeance on those who know not God and that obey not the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8)

The word invited only appears three times in the Bible. It is never used by God, but once each by Samuel (1 Samuel 9:24) Absalom (2 Samuel 13:23) and Haman referring to Esther (Esther 5:12). 

God is a God of love and compassion. When He was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, He is portrayed in the Bible as One who yearns over lost sinners. See Him weeping over the rebellious sinners of Jerusalem and telling us, midst His hot and copious tears, how He would have gathered them, but they would not (Matthew 23:37) I am pretty sure that His words of condemnation in Matthew 23 were delivered in severe tones. We are commanded in Romans 9 to behold both the goodness and severity of God, and a severe tone would do full justice to the words He uttered. However, it can hardly be anything other than right to suppose that His tones in John 7:37 (loud cry notwithstanding) and in Matthew 11:28-30 were delivered with all the sweetness of an invitation. 

The wise preacher, who always seeks out acceptable words (Ecclesaistes 12:10), will know when to employ and how to employ both methods of delivery. The great aim is to get the sinner to Christ and to do so by employing Scriptural language. Sometimes he will woo and other times, he will rebuke. Often, in the same sermon, being largely dictated by his text and its subsequent development. I would suggest that he tries to avoid coming to the end of every sermon with a blast of hell fire. Jonathan Edwards might have had the sinners clinging to their seat in fear of dropping into the Hell, but that was in his suitably entitled sermon: "Sinners in the hands of an angry God" based on Deuteronomy 32:35. It seems a bit rough to preach a whole sermon on "God is Love" and then labour at the end for 7 full minutes developing the thought of how hot the undying flames of an everlasting Hell really are. 

This business of command and invite reminded me of some words of CH Spurgeon - the great Calvinist evangelist par excellent.  In his sermon from Luke 14:23 "Compel them to come in" (Park Street 5 # 227) CHS used the words command in relation to repentance. 

But do you spurn it? Do you still refuse it? Then I must change my tone a minute. I will not merely tell you the message, and invite you as I do with all earnestness, and sincere affection — I will go further. Sinner, in God’s name I command you to repent and believe.

Spurgeon developed this theme, concentrating on the fact that his authority for such a command came from God whose gospel he preached. But still, he could anticipate sinners sitting on in their sins. But Spurgeon wasn't for giving up. He seemed to sense that some of the fish he was supposed to be catching (compelling them to come in) were sniffing at the bait. So he changed tactic. He continued:

But do you turn away and say you will not be commanded? Then again will I change my note. If that avails not, all other means shall be tried. My brother, I come to you simple of speech, and I exhort you to flee to Christ. O my brother, dost thou know what a loving Christ he is? Let me tell thee from my own soul what I know of him. I, too, once despised him. He knocked at the door of my heart and I refused to open it. He came to me, times without number, morning by morning, and night by night; he checked me in my conscience and spoke to me by his Spirit, and when, at last, the thunders of the law prevailed in my conscience, I thought that Christ was cruel and unkind. O I can never forgive myself that I should have thought so ill of him. But what a loving reception did I have when I went to him. I thought he would smite me, but his hand was not clenched in anger but opened wide in mercy. I thought full sure that his eyes would dart lightning-flashes of wrath upon me; but, instead thereof, they were full of tears. He fell upon my neck and kissed me; he took off my rags and did clothe me with his righteousness, and caused my soul to sing aloud for joy; while in the house of my heart and in the house of his church there was music and dancing, because his son that he had lost was found, and he that was dead was made alive. I exhort you, then, to look to Jesus Christ and to be lightened. Sinner, you will never regret, — I will be bondsman for my Master that you will never regret it, — you will have no sigh to go back to your state of condemnation; you shall go out of Egypt and shall go into the promised land and shall find it flowing with milk and honey. The trials of Christian life you shall find heavy, but you will find grace will make them light. And as for the joys and delights of being a child of God, if I lie this day you shall charge me with it in days to come. If you will taste and see that the Lord is good, I am not afraid but that you shall find that he is not only good, but better than human lips ever can describe.

 I think this change of voice here is simply wonderful!  What! The vile, bankrupt  sinner sitting in the pew would not be commanded by the glorious God of Heaven and earth! What a great opportunity to thunder out Romans 9:20 "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?" But Spurgeon didn't go there. He was determined to (metaphorically) kill the sinner with love. Did he sense the great door of the sinner's heart weakening? To rebuke might well have summonsed other nefarious forces to secure the door.  Spurgeon wanted in!  And, as we can see, often (under God) he got in. 

John Calvin is not our standard, but he is useful to show that Calvinism is not afraid of the invite word in relation to sinners coming to Christ. He wrote in his commentary:

These repetitions describe the patience of God in calling us; for he does not merely invite us once, but when he sees that we are sluggish, he gives a second and even a third warning, in order to conquer our hardheartedness. Thus he does not all at once reject those who despise him, but after having frequently invited them. (Isaiah 55:3)

To go back to Spurgeon again. I never tire of recommending Iain Murray's excellent little book "Spurgeon v. Hyper Calvinism - the Battle for Gospel Preaching." I command you to buy it, and if you don't, I plead with you to do so. Here is Calvinism at its purest and warmest.

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Ian Paisley

Dr. Ian Richard Kyle Paisley (1926-2014)

Sometimes I name two men who really influenced me in the earliest days of my Christian faith. Of course, they were several others, but these two men stand out particularly in my mind. Both men are now in the Glory with the Lord. 

One was a Scotsman, Jack Mitchell, who pastored in the Iron Hall Assembly and who passed away in 2003. 

The other was Dr. Ian Paisley, who passed away only yesterday. They were both solid Fundamentalist preachers whose belief in the authority of God's word was never in any doubt.  If I have any fire in my belly, I owe it, under God, to these men and their faithful ministry. 

Others have paid their own tribute on the passing of Dr Paisley. I know both Rev. Aaron Dunlop and Rev. Stephen Hamilton personally, and fully endorse and share their personal tributes to Dr Paisley. Click here for the official statement of our Free Presbyterian Church.  Do take the time to click these links. Our prayers are with the Paisley family at this time. 

Click here for vintage Paisley preaching (mp3) 

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Andrew Broadus

 How Andrew Broadus, early Virginian, Baptist pastor describes the Sovereignty of God working through wicked agents to accomplish His own holy ends.

Relevant Selections drawn from The Remedy for Heart-Troubles A Sermon by Rev. Andrew Broaddus, 1845

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." John, xiv: 1.

"It seems to be too common a persuasion, that Divine Providence has nothing to do with those cases of calamity which are brought about by wicked agency. Permit me to say, brethren, that he who cherishes this sentiment, not only circumscribes the range of God's providential government, but so far deprives himself of that ground of resignation, and that support, which faith offers to him under the pressure of any such calamity.  

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All things are in the hand of God. Accidents (so called,) are under his control and management; and even those cases of calamity which are brought about by wicked agency — these too come within the range of his all-pervading providence. "He workelh all things after the counsel of his own will." For his own wise purpose he permits the act of wickedness, and by his wisdom and power he governs its operation. And thus, while he holds the wicked agent accountable for his wickedness, he brings to pass, through his criminal agency, the counsel of his own will. "Surely, the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shall thou restrain." And thus too, I may add, while you or I justly complain of the injury at the hand of the unrighteous man, we submit to the hand of the all-righteous God — considering the affliction as a dispensation of his providence. Is there something here mysterious and incomprehensible? — Join with me then, and with the Apostle, in the adoring exclamation, "O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

 Again:

"NOTE. — I wish to add here a few thoughts, in regard to the supervision of Divine Providence, (as noticed in this discourse,) in cases of injury in any form, perpetrated by the agency of wicked men. 

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      If we would rightly conceive of any such case, we must view it under two different aspects; namely, as a wicked action on the part of the agent; and as a dispensation of Divine Providence. Viewed in the light first mentioned, we justly abhor ths deed and condemn the perpetrator: — in the second point of view, we bow to the Disposer of all events, and own the righteousness of his all-pervading government. 

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      But here it may be asked, if the case above mentioned be a dispensation of Divine Providence, how can the agent be I considered culpable, and subject to just condemnation? Or, (vice versa,) if the agent be really criminal, how can such a case be considered a dispensation of Divine Providence? 

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      In answer to these queries, and as something towards a solution of the difficulty, I offer the following remarks: 

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      1. That in any such case, the agent acts freely, of his own volition, without any constraint or impulse from God he being left to the exercise of his own wicked disposition and design: James i: 13: and thus is he responsible and justly subject to condemnation. And

      2. God, the sovereign Ruler, removing those restraints which might prove a hinderance, and so laying or ordering the train of circumstances as to permit the perpetration of the deed — the case thus becomes a dispensation of Divine Providence. And thus we exhibit the twofold aspect of such a case, as before mentioned. 

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      The limits, however, of this permission on the part of Divine Providence, are marked out by unerring wisdom, and guarded by almighty power. "Hither to shall thou come, but no further," is spoken by the voice of Omnipotence, to the tuibulent passions of wicked agents, as well as to the tumultuous ocean. See this truth exemplified in the case of satan's power to afflict God's servant Job: and see too that expression of the Psalmist verified: "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shall thou restrain." 

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      It is in this view of Divine Providence, (as I humbly conceive,) that God is said to do that which he has seen proper to permit — having so ordered the train of circumstances, that it will certainly take place. Thus it is said that " He hardened Pharaoh's heart:" Exodus vii: 13; while Pharaoh, more strictly speaking, " hardened his [own] heart: " ch. viii: 15. So, also, David says of Shimei, while cursing the king, "Let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him:" 2 Samuel xvi: 11. Examples to this effect abound in the scriptures: I add one more — the case of the death of our Redeemer, Acts iv: 27, 28: "For, of a truth, against thy holy child Jesus," &c. they "were gathered together, to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done." 

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      That there rests still an adorable darkness on that link which connects the purpose and providence of God with human freedom and accountability, is readily admitted: — a darkness which checks our presumption, and renders reverence more suitable than speculation. "O the depth!" 

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      Nor is this the only mysterious feature in the afflicting dispensations of Divine Providence. Cases occur in which we may enquire in vain, why should this be? — Why such a visitation, so signally distressing, from the Divine hand? The reason rests with the great Sovereign; and it is the proper office of faith, in such a case, to refer the matter to Him, whose wisdom never errs, whose goodness never fails."

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FW Grant

 

Please Click on Picture to Enlarge

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Cryptic Crosswords

OK, we're going for a lighter post this time. The info on my blog header that declares me to be a Cryptic Crossword Solver is not there just to make me look semi intelligent. I've been doing crosswords for somewhere around 12 years. It all started when I picked this book up, as ex stock, in the library in Enniskillen for a mere 30p. It took my love affair with words to a new level. Not so much at this time of the year (except when we are on holidays) but mostly in the dark winter nights, my good wife and I sit with the same cryptic and pool the dark side of our brains together and generally do quite well. Not exactly The Time's crossword in 15 minutes standard, but some hard ones have almost brought tears to our eyes over the years. If we get 75% of a crossword done, we are usually satisfied. There is usually a word that you have never heard of in your entire life and so you are unlikely to work it out through the tortuous route of a cryptic crossword.

Came across the above clue a while back. Had us both thinking for a while, but we eventually got it. Sometimes, you can't see the wood for the trees.

Expert = Pro
Try = test
A = A
Holy Book = New Testament = NT

Giving you: Pro-test-a-nt = Person of religion.

Frequently Bible based clues come up. The crossword compiler is always looking for a smaller word or letters to form his answer. Sometimes  he has "Eli" mind when he  puts "priest" in the clue. "First man" in a clue could mean the letter "M" or it could refer to "Adam." Likewise, "first woman" could be the letter "W" or refer to "Eve." e.g "First woman went north to get revenge" (4) Answer: "Even."  

I liked this one: "Cruelty found in incomplete Old Testament" (8) Which turned out to be "Ruthless" It must be great fun being paid to make them up.

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