This week’s poem comes from Paul Speratus, who helped Martin Luther assemble the first Lutheran hymnal. It is long, but it nicely lays out the futility of works, the place of the Law, justification by faith alone and how works result from faith. SALVATION UNTO US HAS COME Salvation unto us has come By God’s …
Here is C. S. Lewis dealing, parenthetically, with an issue which parents often ask about. I think he is exactly right. “The question whether the disputed pencil belongs to Tommy or Charles is quite distinct from the question which is the nicer little boy, and the parents who allowed the one to influence their decision …
Continue reading ‘C. S. Lewis, Children, Property & Justice’ »
My poem of the week this week comes from William Cowper, one who was well acquainted with feelings of dismay. Yet, in this hymn he draws comfort from the Scriptural testimony of God’s care and aid to his people. May these words encourage you as they do me. THE SAINTS SHOULD NEVER BE DISMAYED …
In his first sermon on 2 Timothy John Calvin discusses God’s aim in preaching and his gracious desires for his people. God only speaks for our profit. He wants his love, his mercy, is infinite goodness, to be laid out before us. He wants us to be assured of our salvation. He wants us to …
This is a powerful portrait of preaching from Thomas Foxcroft’s book, The Gospel Ministry. Note his combination of close study and earnest, clear exposition. “They must endeavor for as thorough an understanding and penetration into the mysteries of godliness as they can, and labor to draw the images thereof in their sermons as near as …
My poem of the week this week is “Last Lines,” by Anne Brontë. John Starke cited a portion of this poem last week on Twitter which sent me looking for the full poem. The message of the poem fits very well with 2 Cor 1 which we discussed in class this morning. This is a …
I have finally plugged one more gap in my education by reading Augustine’s On Christian Doctrine. As is often noted, this English title might cause people to think it is a survey of doctrine. In fact it is a handbook on biblical interpretation (Books 1-3) and proclamation (Book 4). At the end of the book …
Due to some technical problems I have not been able to post at PastoralEpistles.com for a good while. However, we have worked out the issues and the overhauled site is now being hosted by the good folks at Logos Bible Software. I am grateful to Logos for making this possible and especially to Rick Brannan …
Continue reading ‘Anthony Esolen on the Pastoral Epistles’ »
My poem of the week this week is a strong call to perseverance from Robert Service. Service is not a guide to theology but is at his best calling for us to live life to the fullest and not give up. “Carry On!” It’s easy to fight when everything’s right, And you’re mad with thrill …