De Witt Talmadge

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Hamblin and CHS

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Mr #Hamblin's original tweet appeared to become very elusive to find not long after he posted it. I drew attention to it immediately originally put it up (I am one of the two there who RTed it) and it appeared  to go AWOL for a long time as far as the serach engines were concerned. But hey! he that seeks shall find and after all the perseverance of the saints, it turned up today. 

You can access these sermons associated with the opening of the Metropolitan Tabernacle online here. You will notice that the opening remarks - a section of which appears above - belong to Spurgeon. He brought in other preachers to preach the Calvinist doctrines which he himself endorsed so fervently. When the foundation stones of the great building were being set, CH Spurgeon arranged for a copy of the Calvinistic 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith to be placed under them. For Spurgeon's own views of each of the 5 points of Calvinism, see:

* Spurgeon's Calvinism - From his own pen 

* 12 Proofs CHS held to the Calvinist doctrine of Total Depravity 
* 12 Proofs CHS held to the Calvinist doctrine of Unconditional Election  
* 12 Proofs CHS held to the Calvinist doctrine of Particular Redemption 
* 12 Proofs CHS held to the Calvinist doctrine of Irresistible Grace  
* 12 Proofs CHS held to the Calvinist doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints 

* Why CHS has the anti Calvinists wrapped round his wee finger!  
* Did Spurgeon Champion the cause of 5 point Calvinism?
* CH Spurgeon on the simplicity of Calvinism 
* CH Spurgeon's Calvinism in his last months on earth 
* Believing your own propaganda 

* CH Spurgeon and Arminians 

* Spurgeon on "You cannot vanquish a Calvinist" (Graphic)
* Spurgeon on the rage/religionists against God's sovereignty (Graphic)
* Spurgeon answering some critics of Calvinism (Graphic)

* The creed of CH Spurgeon (Graphic)

* Spurgeon on the Westminster Confession of Faith (Graphic)
* Spurgeon on the WCF Shorter Catechism (Graphic)
* Spurgeon on the necessity of Creeds  

* Spurgeon recommending Calvin's Institutes (Graphic) 
* Spurgeon (with others) on the sinner striving to enter in (Graphic)
* Spurgeon on reconciling Divine Sovereignty and Man's responsibility (Graphic)  

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Ryle - Old Paths

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (Jeremiah 6:16)

In my previous post, I mentioned turning again  to the sermons of old Bishop John Charles Ryle for my spiritual meat.  Truly, this great Victorian Anglican Bishop of Liverpool never fails to satisfy. In his book of addresses, "The Upper Room" I came across the message he preached on  the above text. 

As probably most of the readers of my blog are aware, this phrase #oldpaths has taken on a distinct meaning among a certain kind of so called fundamentalist preacher in the United States. In their brand of Finneyite religion, the “old paths" has come to centre largely around the trite preaching and personality and loud voice of a slickly dressed preacher with his flashy tie, shiningcuff links, pocket handkerchief  etc. If he can shout and holler in the pulpit, then the more the better with extra brownie points accompanying pictures on Twitter of him in an Elijah type pose. And even better again (“out the roof”) if the preacher can do all these things standing on (not merely behind) the pulpit or on the communion table or give a YouTube performance from the tiles of the church roof.  (Not necessarily wearing a grass skirt andblonde wig, but hey! if it gets a crowd...)

How refreshing it is to turn away from the show biz type preachers who use every means to promote themselves to sober and godly men like JC Ryle. How did Ryle treat this text with its old paths reference?

INTRODUCTION:

Laments that Jeremiah is a neglected book, but relevant to describe the scene in England in the previous 35 years.

POINT ONE: THE EXCELLENT ADVICE: “Stand – see – walk”

Brings in several other verses to collaborate with this advice.

Points out that the young are not noted for their strength in the way of thinking.

Spirit of the age is to hurry but we should not fall for it.

Don’t hurry over prayer or Bible reading or spiritual duties.

Danger of hurrying after politics or business etc., is that it is bad for your spiritual health.

POINT TWO: THE PARTICULAR DIRECTION: “old paths”

What are these old paths?

In context, the old paths to Jeremiah would have been the faith of the Patriarchs and godly kings etc.

Yet these old paths are for every age.

The early Christians walked the old paths.

The Protestant Reformers walked the old paths.

The old paths involves preaching the great gospel themes of redemption and regeneration etc.

There is no worthy alternative to these old paths worth walking.

Mere morality and setting forth Christ as a mere example can deliver men from sin.

If you turn to the most eminent of saints of all denominations, you will find that they walked the old paths.

Those who died in the greatest comfort walked the old paths.

3) POINT THREE: THE PRECIOUS PROMISE: “Walk...find rest...”

Jesus would have had these old paths in mind when he said “Come unto me all ye that labour etc.,” (Matt 11:28)

This is the only remedy for sin.

Every class needs it.

It is an inward (spiritual) experience.

To those walking these old paths and in order to find peace:

Jesus shows Himself to their souls as: Dying on the Cross.

Jesus shows Himself to their souls as: As their great High Priest.

He implants the Spirit of God in their heart.

He reigns as King in their hearts.

All believers experience this peace – although some more than others.

Such peace makes people independent of men’s opinions

Such peace makes people (spiritually) rich.

Only found in one place: In Jesus Christ.

Don’t leave the old paths

Look for where they lead: To better rest above.

END OF SERMON

Compare that with what men like #Hamblin serve up and see why the old Protestant preachers leave them standing. I cannot locate Ryle's sermon on the internet to read, but here is someone reading it on YouTube. 

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Hey John!

 

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 I accept that I covered this matter a few days ago, but I ran with it anyway. Maybe I should've titled this post "Without blinking" or something like that  :o)

 
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hamblin

WITH WATCHMEN LIKE THIS... ;o)

 

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* How George Muller came to embrace Calvinism
* CH Spurgeon's Calvinism
* Opening night of Spurgeon's Tabernacle when they expounded the 5 points of Calvinism 
* Whitefield's very Calvinist letter to John Wesley
* Where George Whitefield learned his Calvinism 
* George Whitefield on Calvinist preaching
* Hamblin endorsing George Whitefield 
* John Hamblin and Calvinism - oldpaths or enemy?
* Your Fundamentalist Past  
* Billy Sunday and #Hamblin     
* CHS - One of Hamblin's #oldpath preachers
* How Calvinism shaped Christmas Evans
* Christmas Evans sermons
 
INDEXES:

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historybuff

(Apologies for any lay out discrepancies in this post. Numerous attempts have been made to be consistent, especially in spacing between paragraphs, but it doesn't always work out as desired.)

WHY I AM SURPRISED MY FRIEND #WYLIE WANTS YOU TO LEARN YOUR BAPTIST HISTORY 

My friend #Wylie, like myself is a bit of a history buff. Every now and again, he goes digging up some new name for us to think about, mostly some half ancient Baptist preacher and evangelist from his home state of Texas. Well and good. I owe it to #Wylie for introducing me to men like BH Carroll, RC Burleson and CE Jefferson. Google is well and fine, but you need to be able to type something into the find box before you even start and #Wylie done the early part of my homework for me. 

Having said all that, I stand over the observation that forms the title of this blog post. Notice his lament at the top. It can be easily broken down into several easy parts and quickly analysed as I see it:

1) Protestant history is well known to "most Baptists" (Protestants do have a history)

2) "Most Baptists" obviously like what they know about Protestant history (They know and talk about it. Generally favourably.)

3) #Wylie says "we" (presumably "most Baptists") have neglected Baptist history 

4) This neglect is "sad" (because mostly Baptist History is as glorious as Protestant history, but (see previous point) it is not as well known. And the Baptists still like and talk about the overall Protestant history and not just the Baptist segment. 

Fair enough. It is natural that people within the several denominations within Fundamental Christianity should have a desire for their own. Presbyterian history floats my boat, more (with due respect) than Methodist or Anglican stuff, although I do read widely and rejoice accordingly. I want those outside of Presbyterianism to rejoice in what God has done through men like Calvin and Knox and others. And to be fair, they do and do again. And it animates their prayer life. See here, where a good Baptist pleads with God to send a man like Calvin (and others) to Texas. FTR: I rejoice in the ministries of all who love the Lord in sincerity and truth. In my preaching etc., I readily and positively refer to the efforts and writings of men like Wesley, RA Torry, HA Ironside etc. Let's move unto our next tweet from #Wylie:

#Wylie really is on a roll with this subject. In many ways, it is a natural outcome of his lament above. It is a call to Baptists (although they are not specifically named) to dig up old books and read about the great Baptist leaders and soul winners. Presumably, to relieve the "most Baptist" people of their ignorance and give them something else to talk about, other than great Presbyterians and Methodists.

Before we move on to #Wylie's next tweet in his roll, it needs to be said that digging into Baptist history certainly won't be kind to Wylie and his somewhat modern brand of Independent Fundamental Baptists. #Wylie thinks it does (bless him) but it really doesn't. Fair enough, his heroes baptised only believers by immersion and kept the decision making processes within the four walls of a congregation, but beyond that (outside of sharing the fundamental doctrines that all Christians believe) there really isn't much more. I develop this thought more here, but keep reading this post and circle back again. # Wylie's next tweet is significant: 

 

 Here, #Wylie gives us his thoughts on one WE Penn. He was "an uncompromising Baptist" who (example given of this uncompromising man) "refused ecumenical meetings." Does this mean that he didn't preach outside Baptist circles? Or to word it another way - does preaching outside Baptist pulpits make you an ecumenical compromiser? Or having non Baptists e.g. Presbyterians and Methodists in your pulpit make you a compromiser? It is #Wylie who uses the word "uncompromising" and since #doctrinematters (one of #Wylies recently and frequently used hashtags) then to work with those who effectively deny your position is to make you a dread #Neo. (Again, keep going and circle back again)

 If so, then steal a glance at yet another of #Wylie's recent tweets. This gets interesting, because he encourages us to study the names in photograph. 

"Wow!" indeed, Mr #Wylie. What a lovely little ecumenical gathering we have here! Spot the ordained Presbyterian evangelist (Billy Sunday) and the Methodist evangelist! (Gypsy Smith). I would love to look at the others, but time isn't on my side, but the point is more than adequately proved. What a compromising church this proves itself to be. Imagine some horrid compromiser in #Wylie's circles inviting a Presbyterian to preach in their services? Or a Methodist? 

Let me encourage #Wylie's constituents indeed study Baptist history. They will find it weaving in and out of the Protestant stuff, so that they can hardly tell the two apart. Even the famed Trail of Blood tells of how the Baptists at the time of the Reformation sought to help and co-operate with the Reformers. No isolationalist policy there. I assume that #Wylie's constituency, although ignorant of Baptist history, aren't stupid. Ignorance and stupidity are not necessarily linked. In my opinion, if #Wylie wants to maintain his own stated position of cussing Calvinists, castigating those who are not #KJVO or who repudiate his Dispensationalism as compromisers, then Baptist History isn't the place to be. Even his great hero, Frank J Norris (mentioned in the roll of honour above) sat happily at the feet of a PostMill, Calvinist and Protestant (BH Carroll took all three titles). I must wonder if #Wylie can point to one person in Baptist history who has taken his position? Can #Wylie assure anyone that even WE Penn wasn't a Calvinist, or worked (within the Baptist denomination) with them? Or that WE Penn was not a PostMill but a card carrying Dispensationalist? If the jury is out on this one, then WE Penn could be as big a compromiser as any of the rest of them, not withstanding #Wylie's observations. There are a lot of dotted lines in #Wylie's assessments that can be readily challenged. Even men of God on pedestals have feet of clay. 

I readily acknowledged how helpful he has been to me in my opening paragraph. And if he can be so helpful to me as a cusséd Calvinistic, AMill, Presbyterian, then he can be helpful to you too. But only with caution.  Amazingly at times, #Wylie would teach us that the Calvinist translators of the Geneva Bible were 'exceptional Christian leaders and scholars' and that BH Carroll was a Baptist giant and genius and that BHC's PostMill, Calvinist, Protestant commentaries were a goldmine. #Wylie wants you to find out these things for yourself. Remember, if your Baptist forefathers can be and do all these things, then so can you. If it was glorious for them, it will be equally glorious for you too. 

THE END 

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