Fire in the Mouth

Now I wish young men really felt this before they ever started out to be ministers of the word of God. Quite a few times in my years in the ministry, young men have came to me all fired up to become ministers, and always I say to them, "Look, fella, if you can do anything else, by all means, do it." They thought that was very strange. But what I meant was, in effect this: If you can't say, "I have to be a preacher", and "Woe be unto me if I preach not the Gospel!" I said "You don't belong...

The eighth device that Satan hath to draw the soul to sin, is, Device (8). By representing to the soul the outward mercies that vain men enjoy, and the outward miseries that they are freed from, whilst they have walked in the ways of sin. Saith Satan, Dost thou see, O soul, the many mercies that such and such enjoy, that walk in those very ways that thy soul startles to think of, and the many crosses that they are delivered from, even such as makes other men, that say they dare not walk in suc...

ƲNITY by Anthony Burgess 10 Sermons from: 'CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved' Author: Burgess, Anthony (d. 1664) was a member of the Westminster Assembly and pastor in Sutton Coldfield. SERMON LIX. That it's a speciall Mercy for the Ministers of the Gospel to agree in one; Wherein their Ʋnity should be, And the Reasons of the Diffe∣rences tha...

LAWFUL MINISTERS OF CHRIST: CALLED & FAITHFUL Let us learn, therefore, to take these two things together when we wish to ascertain what kind of persons we ought to esteem as ministers of Christ,—a call to the office, and faithfulness in the discharge of its duties. For as no man can lawfully assume the designation and rank of a minister, unless he be called, so it were not enough for any one to be called, if he does not also fulfil the duties of his office. For the Lord does not choose mini...

Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. —Psalm 33:2–3 William S. Plumer, 'Expository Studies in the Book of Psalms', doctrinal and practical remarks: The second and third verses of this Psalm bring directly before us the subject of instrumental music. A few things are here offered on the propriety of now employing such music in public worship. a. It is entirely certain that the ...

Feel like you don't get enough out of your Bible reading? Perhaps you could be more productive? Want some advice? The Puritan Richard Baxter wrote "Direction for profitable Reading the Holy Scriptures," nestled in his giant tome 'A Christian Directory.' Here are his 10 directions for you to carefully read the Bible. 'Bring not an evil heart of unbelief. Open the Bible with holy reverence as the book of God, indited by the Holy Ghost. Remember that the doctrine of the New Testament was reveal...

You have family worship every day? You reading the Bible every day? "I can't, because I am too busy." "I can't, because I am too tired." "I can't, because I don't have time." With varying reasons from too many school assignments, too tired from class or work, too many chores at home, and too many family events. These are the most common excuses for Christians not being daily in the Word, and not worshiping God as a family every day. "I can't." Translation: "I will not." "I choose not too...

This is the day, and this is the year. It's January 1. The first day of a new year. Husbands and fathers: it's time to start the most important duty you can perform for your household. And men who aspire to be husbands and fathers, get this started now, privately. The encouraging news is: you can start today. You have everything you need, already. It takes very little preparation. What it does require is commitment. Dedication. Resolve. The will to persevere, day in and day out. But isn't...

WHEN TO GET OUT No, I’m not talking about when to get out of your country that (seems to be) going down the drain. I’m talking about when to get out of your church. When should you leave your denomination? Or, for you “non-denominational” types, when to get out of your “movement”? This is an important matter. It’s something that could be considered at any time. People leaving their church is something that happens regularly. People sometimes leave for the wrong reasons. And sometimes people d...

May they only persecute us because we hate vice and love virtue. We seek and pursue the light; they avoid it. We flee the darkness; they pursue it. Let us conduct ourselves so well that they may only hate us because we do not want to be like them and because they cannot bear the light of God which is in us. It reveals all their filth and impurities, just like the sun drives away the darkness and the obscurity of the night (John 3:19–21). As we make sure that we give our enemies no opportunities ...

The first commandment forbids denying God, or saying with our mouths or by our lives that He does not exist. It also forbids us to not worship Him. In other words, we are not allowed to not worship God. Most people see worship as something they can choose to do when it is convenient for them. Many people never go to church at all. Even among people who do go to church, if they wake up tired and would rather go back to sleep or if they have somewhere to go or something to do on Sunday morning the...

When people train women in the same schools and for the same employment as men, then people are not taking into account either her nature or practical requirements. In that sense people are contributing to the disintegration of society, when later such women face an unexpected opportunity to marry, or seek to combine both employment and housekeeping—which in most cases is simply impossible; or for the sake of employment surrender marriage—which in most cases conflicts with the inclination of he...

Of all sins, there is none against which we have such need to watch and pray as pride. It is a pestilence which walks in darkness, and a sickness which destroys at noonday. No sin is so deeply rooted in our nature as pride. It cleaves to us like our skin. Its roots never entirely die. They are ready at any moment to spring up and exhibit a most pernicious vitality. At the same time, no sin is so senseless and deceitful. It can wear the garb of humility itself. It can lurk in the hearts of the ...

WORSHIP AS A PATTERN FOR LIFE God put man in the Garden of Eden to live before Him in this creation and to enjoy life in His presence. This was broken by sin and is restored in Christ. But the important thing is to understand that all of life is before God and in service to God. Yet there is a very important distinction between worshipping and living before God. We use the word worship to describe that activity by which we meet with God to praise Him and be fed by His Word. We also understand t...

A noble prince rode into a forsaken village and slew the dragon that had been terrorizing the people there for as long as anyone could remember. The people rejoiced and begged the prince to stay and rule over them. "Very well," said the prince, "but if I stay you must heed all my orders. This is how you will honor me." The people cheered and made solemn vows to obey everything the prince would command. The people adored him. One day, the young maidens went to see the prince, to commune with him...

At last the Bible is brought out and now preacher, here again is your chance. You may not see some of these people again in twelve months. Give meat to parents, and pure milk of the Word for the little ones. Speak tenderly and earnestly and then in prayer remember all three generations that are here present, father and son and son's sons and daughters. Sow seed for eternity. —Cornelius W. Grafton, 'A Forty-Three Year Pastorate in a Country Church' ...

All of history is moving toward a goal: the total redemption of the universe. History is not meaningless but meaningful. Though we are not always able to discern the meaning of each historical event, we know what the ultimate outcome of history will be. We eagerly look forward to the new earth as part of a renewed universe in which God’s good creation will realize finally and totally the purpose for which he called it into existence: the glorification of his name. All this implies that regardin...

7 BIBLE READING PLANS 2025 Usually I don't start posting about Bible reading plans until January, because that's when I have to choose one. But by then it's already too late to make suggestions. It could take a couple days to compare plans and pick one. By then you're already behind. So, I've thought ahead this time. It's once again time to decide on reading the whole Bible, this new year. First, have a trusty Bible translation for reading. I recommend getting yourself a copy of the Legacy S...

IMAGINE, IF YOU WILL... You are not financially providing enough for your family, with your current job. It just isn’t enough to sustain you. More than just a little tight. The situation is bad. Your basic material needs are not being met. You know something needs to change. There’s a hopeful prospect. There’s a job opening. But it’s in another city, in another province. You’ll have to uproot your family from where you are now, and move them to a new place, in order to provide for them. You’l...

. . . the generation of the Sophists did not die out in the time of the orators. They live among us into the present day. There remain numerous people, who, according to Fénélon, speak not because they have something to say, but to look for something to say, because they must speak. Schopenhauer divides writers in three classes: first, those who write without thinking—this class, he says, is the most numerous. Then there are those who think while writing. These are also great in number. Finally,...

Reformation, therefore, is the labor to reestablish first principles, to re-form the community of faith upon the instruction laid down by God through the prophets and apostles. —Richard Phillips, 'Turning Back the Darkness: The Biblical Pattern of Reformation', 151. ...

The reform of worship is never a mere matter of removing false practices but is only made complete with the joyful, earnest institution of worship that conforms to the Bible. Josiah did what reformers today must do. Instead of gazing around at the practices of the world for popular modes of praise, he turned his gaze to God's Word. He read it and derived conclusions from it about what ought to be done. Then, as now, the issue was not about style or preference, but about a desire to see God obeye...

So vital is the Bible to any true reform that a return to the Bible—to its reverence and study, to its acceptance as the authoritative and sufficient guide for all of our faith and practice, to its use as the yardstick by which all other claims to truth and wisdom are assessed—is precisely what reformation is all about. —Richard Phillips, 'Turning Back the Darkness: The Biblical Pattern of Reformation', 143. ...

A question for the future: Will the Bible remain the final court of appeal or will Presbyterians be tossed about by innovative theological winds that blow? Building upon a foundational commitment to the authority of Scripture, Calvin and the other Reformers tended to emphasize the core elements of catholic faith. Creeds and confessions were of vital importance to Calvin, especially the Apostles' Creed but he also saw the place for larger Confessions, writing the 'French Confession' ("Gallican C...

What a stop hath been set to Superstition? How good a progress hath been made in Reformation? And may we not yet hope that God will do better unto us then at our beginnings? God’s promise is the ground of hope: and my Text sheweth that God hath promised as much. Go on, Right Honourable, and put forth your utmost endeavours, for bringing on those better things that yet remain. Where there is Hope, their endeavours use to be most earnest: For Hope stirreth up men’s spirits to set upon great thing...

The ground of his joy is said to be the divine word; and this implies, that however much he might seem to be forsaken and abandoned by God, he satisfied himself by reflecting on the truthfulness of his promises. He would glory in God notwithstanding, and although there should be no outward appearance of help, or it should even be sensibly withdrawn, he would rest contented with the simple security of his word. The declaration is one that deserves our notice. How prone are we to fret and to murmu...

A Christian is just as much under obligation to obey God’s will in the most secular of his daily businesses as he is in his closet or at the communion table. He has no right to separate his life into two realms, and acknowledge different moral codes in each respectively—to say the Bible is a good rule for Sunday, but this is a week-day question, or the Scriptures are the right rule in matters of religion, but this is a question of business or politics. God reigns over all everywhere. His will is...

The true proof of faith consists in this, that when we feel the solicitations of natural fear, we can resist them, and prevent them from obtaining an undue ascendancy. Fear and hope may seem opposite and incompatible affections, yet it is proved by observation, that the latter never comes into full sway unless there exists some measure of the former. In a tranquil state of the mind, there is no scope for the exercise of hope. At such times it lies dormant, and its power is only displayed to adva...

In the amplification of this reason, the apostle calls the commandment of honoring parents the “first commandment with promise,” [Eph. 6:2] to show that it is the first which has a particular promise added to it, so it is the first that God gave of any duty to be performed to man. The very order of the Decalogue shows the truth of this. The reason is clear; honor due to parents is the ground of all the duties required in the second table, for if duty is not performed to those who we are bound to...

WORKS OF NECESSITY & MERCY WCF 21.8. This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest, all the day, from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations, but also are taken up, the whole time, in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy. WLC Q. 117. How is the sabbath or the Lord...