The Duty Of Reformation In The Light Of God's Mercies by Thomas Gouge

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The Duty Of Reformation In The Light Of God's Mercies
Thomas Gouge
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Reviewer: 
Joseph J. Adrian

How important is the holiness of His people to our Sovereign Lord? What are the most effectual means (revealing God's great wisdom) to bring about this desired end? Thomas Gouge, in this extraordinary work on Reformation, asserts that God's delivering mercies has this end in view——"The design of God in delivering a people from eminent dangers of ruin, is to oblige them to forsake all sinful and wicked practices." Believer's should increasingly desire to do God's will, to honor Him in all things, to intensely desire to live for His glory, to conform all of their ways to His holy word.

Remembering Your Creator by Matthew Mead

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Remembering Your Creator
Matthew Mead
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Reviewer: 
Joseph J. Adrian

Matthew Mead——the popular Puritan Preacher——begins his exposition of Ecclesiastes 12:1 by isolating the two great duties of the Christian life, ". . . to cease to do evil and to learn to do well." This 17th-century Minister of the Gospel has this great insight (that should seem obvious, yet I found it to be profound): "A man cannot be considered good that does not cease to do evil." No believer successfully ceases to do evil altogether. If that were possible, then sinless perfection would be attainable in this life, but it is not.

A Treatise Of The Loves Of Christ To His Spouse by Samuel Bolton

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A Treatise Of The Loves Of Christ To His Spouse
Samuel Bolton
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Reviewer: 
Joseph J. Adrian

In his insightful introduction to Samuel Bolton's exposition of The Song Of Solomon 4:9 "Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse . . . ," C. Matthew Mcmahon writes" . . . He is taken by the beauties and graces of His people . . . Christ is taken with such grace because it is Christ in them . . . ."

The Doctrine Of Man's Future Eternity

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The Doctrine Of Man's Future Eternity by John Jackson
John Jackson
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Reviewer: 
Joseph J. Adrian

John Jackson, a 17th-century Puritan Pastor, opens with six principles regarding the human soul. A couple of these are: 1. Every person consists of a body and soul joined together. 2. Every soul is immortal. These are important truths in our generation, especially because so many in the world in which we live either deny the immortality of the soul, deny the existence of the soul altogether, or live as if they have no soul (even if they don't verbally deny it).

Gospel Evidences of Saving Faith by John Owen

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Gospel Evidences of Saving Faith
John Owen
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Reviewer: 
Joseph J. Adrian

John Owen, a 17th-century Puritan minister, is considered by many to be among the greatest theologians in the history of the Church. In this work on faith, Owen gives us four things that distinguish "Saving Faith" from empty faith. The first is embracing Christ as God's only appointed way of salvation.

Today's Evangelism by Ernest C.Reisinger

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Today's Evangelism
Ernest C.Reisinger
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Reviewer: 
Joseph J. Adrian

The author's purpose in writing this book was his burden to see a restoration of Church-based "Biblical Evangelism." Reisinger defines evangelism as, "The communication of a divinely inspired message that we call 'The Gospel.'" God's servants are to faithfully communicate that message——without altering the content of the message——for God's Gospel . . . "is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes." The Gospel is a divine message, and Mr. Reisinger asks the question (the title of Chapter Eight), "Is there a divine method?" He asserts that the book of Acts is, ". . .

Directions for Daily Communion with God by Matthew Henry

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Directions for Daily Communion with God
Matthew Henry
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Reviewer: 
Joseph J. Adrian

"Directions for Daily Communion with God" by Matthew Henry——whose commentary on the Bible is still widely used——is a series of three lectures preached in 1712 on beginning the day with God, spending the day with God, and ending the day with God. That true believers desire to, and in fact, do commune with the Living God on a daily basis, very few would deny. Many with whom we interact on a daily basis know nothing of this reality. They do not speak to or commune with God at all——"Many are not sensible of this, and it is their sin and misery; they live without God in the world . . .

Give Yourself unto Reading

Thursday, August 27, 2020

"Give yourself unto reading. The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains, proves that he has no brains of his own. You need to read."

—Charles Spurgeon

Walking With God by J.C. Ryle

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Walking With God
J.C.Ryle
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Reviewer: 
Joseph J. Adrian

"Walking With God" is an abridged version of J.C. Ryle's 19th-century work "Practical Religion." Some think Ryle is among the most helpful Christian writers on practical Christianity. The Anglican Gospel Minister, in the chapter Effort, is looking at Luke 13:24, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate . . ." He comments on one of the ways in which the gate is narrow——"It is narrow for those who love sin and are not willing to part with it."

The Importance of Meditation

Thursday, July 30, 2020

"It is not he who reads most—but he who meditates most, who will prove the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian." Thomas Brooks (1608-1680)

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