Last From The Library. For Now.

Why build a library? 

I believe there are few worldly investments as worthy as good books. For one, they will outlive me. The cost incurred is very little, a very good trade, if you think of the generations that would benefit from that particular purchase that seem costly at the time. To be able to borrow illumination from the minds that shaped an era, particularly the Reformed era, is precious, not to mention extremely helpful. Seeing that the LORD has placed me in this lot He has also provided the means for this servant to deliver, with discretion and discernment of course. 

A wise man of God said, between two men who teach different ideas of one verse, we can look back to 1800 years of church history, and confirm where the minds of godly men collectively stand on the issue. Not that I do not trust modern writers, I am familiar with the work of a few I chose to read. (It is wise to pick what you put into your fruit basket). But I prefer the Puritans, as they have been tested by time, and found to be true. I am only beginning to see the relevance and value of the Puritan teachings now that I have begun reading them, and how they can be used as a guide and measuring stick to look to when separating what is true and what is false.

The Bible is still the main book from which all written books of men flow from. But it is beyond astounding to see the immense volume of literal treasure that God will allow men to pull from even just one verse. The commentaries are very valuable, but still to be tread upon carefully, and not to be taken wholly. With the little I have begun to digest, I have been humbled to realize I am in the same road as the Puritans, though far from the mind and capacity of being one. Yet Father has guided me faithfully into the old paths in the rediscovery of His truth. 

I want to thank Father for the kindness of a good brother in the Visayas, and another brother here in Manila, and for our dear Taiwan church, for providing me with these ink on paper treasures I have been honored to recommend here during my recent posts.

The Decades of Heinrich Bullinger

Henry Bullinger was one of the most widely esteemed leaders of the Reformation Churches. The Decades was the most famous of the 150 treatises and manuscripts that he wrote, deriving its name from being a series of fifty theological addresses divided into five groups of ten. Each address is a helpful, detailed exposition of an important doctrine. Combined, they provide an overview of the Christian faith suitable for the everyday Christian. When first published The Decades outsold Calvin’s Institutes in England, a work that performs a similar function. This edition features introductions to the life of Bullinger and to the work itself by George Ella and Joel R. Beeke.

Henry Bullinger (1504-1575) was born in Bremgarten, Switzerland and became the best-known theologian in Britain during the Reformation era. He produced 86 works of Reformed theology at a time prior to Calvin's first edition of the Institutes of the Christian Religion. His overall writing output was larger than Luther, Calvin, and Melancthon combined. This thorough work was the reason he came to be called the Father and Shepherd of the Reformed churches.

 

 Treatise on the Law and the Gospel by John Colquhoun

 

In this book, Colquhoun helps us understand the precise relationship between law and gospel. He also impresses us with the importance of knowing this relationship. Colquhoun especially excels in showing how important the law is as a believer's rule of life without doing injury to the freeness and fullness of the gospel. By implication, he enables us to draw four practical conclusions: (1) the law shows us how to live; (2) the law as a rule of life combats both antinomianism and legalism; (3) the law shows us how to love; and 4) the law promotes true freedom.

"The law and the gospel are the principal parts of divine revelation; or rather they are the center, sum, and substance of all the other parts of it. Every passage of sacred Scripture is either law or gospel, or is capable of being referred either to the one or to the other . . . If then a man cannot distinguish aright between the law and the gospel, he cannot rightly understand so much as a single article of divine truth. If he does not have spiritual and just apprehensions of the holy law, he cannot have spiritual and transforming discoveries of the glorious gospel; and, on the other hand, if his view of the gospel is erroneous, his notions of the law cannot be right."
John Colquhoun

Source WTSBooks

 

From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological and Pastoral Perspective

(If there is such a book to look into regarding the subject of limited atonement. This is it.)

 

There is a palpable sense of confusion―and sometimes even embarrassment―with regard to so-called limited atonement today, pointing to the need for thoughtful engagement with this controversial doctrine. Incorporating contributions from a host of respected theologians, From Heaven He Came and Sought Her stands as the first comprehensive resource on definite atonement as it examines the issue from historical, biblical, theological, and pastoral perspectives.

Offering scholarly insights for those seeking a thorough and well-researched discussion, this book will encourage charitable conversations as it winsomely defends this foundational tenet of Reformed theology. 

Source Amazon

 

The Heart of Christ by Thomas Goodwin

The Heart of Christ in Heaven towards Sinners on Earth was first published in 1651, and it soon became Thomas Goodwin’s (1600-1680) most popular work. It is a fine example of his Christ-centredness and his mix of theological rigour and pastoral concern. In it he aims to show from Scripture that, in all his heavenly majesty, Christ is not now aloof from believers and unconcerned, but has the strongest affections for them.

Goodwin begins with the beautiful assurances given by Christ to his disciples, taking as an example of that love Christ’s washing of his disciples’ feet (John 13). The heart of his argument, however, lies in his exposition of Hebrews 4:15, in which Goodwin shows that in all his glorious holiness in heaven, Christ is not sour towards his people; if anything, his capacious heart beats more strongly than ever with tender love for them. And in particular, two things stir his compassion: our afflictions and—almost unbelievably - our sins. 

 

How we need Goodwin and his message today! If we are to be drawn from jaded, anxious thoughts of God and a love of sin, we need such a knowledge of Christ. 

Source Banner of Truth