locus communis

On the End of Sin

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:28:06 +0000

A Christian knows that death shall be the funeral of all his sins, his sorrows, his afflictions, his temptations, his vexations, his oppressions, his persecutions. He knows that death shall be the resurrection of all his hopes, his joys, his delights, his comforts, his contentments.

Thomas Brooks (The Transcendent Excellency of a Believer’s Portion above All Earthly Portions)

On Death and Acceptance

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:25:14 +0000

We cannot enjoy peace in this world unless we are ready to yield to the will of God in respect of death. Our times are in His hand, at His sovereign disposal. We must accept that as best.

John Owen (Meditation on the Glory of Christ, 1684, Preface)

On Faith Without Doubts

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:14:39 +0000

“A faith without some doubts is like a human body without antibodies in it. people who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience or tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic… Believers should acknowledge and wrestle with doubts – not only their own but their friends and neighbors.” – Tim Keller

On Law and Gospel

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:27:12 +0000

The law supposing I have all,
Does ever for perfection call;
The gospel suits my total want,
And all the law can seek does grant.

The law could promise life to me,
If my obedience perfect be;
But grace does promise life upon
My Lord’s obedience alone.

The law says, Do, and life you’ll win;
But grace says, Live, for all is done;
The former cannot ease my grief,
The latter yields me full relief.

The law will not abate a mite,
The gospel all the sum will quit;
There God in thret’nings is array’d
But here in promises display’d.

The law excludes not boasting vain,
But rather feeds it to my bane;
But gospel grace allows no boasts,
Save in the King, the Lord of Hosts.

The law brings terror to molest,
The gospel gives the weary rest;
The one does flags of death display,
The other shows the living way.

The law’s a house of bondage sore,
The gospel opens prison doors;
The first me hamer’d in its net,
The last at freedom kindly set.

An angry God the law reveal’d
The gospel shows him reconciled;
By that I know he was displeased,
By this I see his wrath appeased.

The law still shows a fiery face,
The gospel shows a throne of grace;
There justice rides alone in state,
But here she takes the mercy-seat.

Lo! in the law Jehovah dwells,
But Jesus is conceal’d;
Whereas the gospel’s nothing else
But Jesus Christ reveal’d.

- Ralph Erskine (1685-1752)

On Being Clothed In Righteousness

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:24:01 +0000

“It is a great sin to think any sin little; but it is a greater sin to think the righteousness of Christ is not above all sin. Our disobedience is the disobedience of man; but Christ’s obedience is the obedience of God: therefore, our believing in Christ doth please God better than if we had continued in innocency, and never sinned. The least sin is unpardonable without this obedience and righteousness of Christ; and the greatest is pardonable by it. Therefore, O seek in to Christ, to be clothed upon with this righteousness.”

- Ralph Erskine, “And Walking in Him, Opened,” in The Works of Ralph Erskine, p. 332, vol. 24.

On Shattered Relationships

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:40:17 +0000

“The shattered relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit at the cross provides the basis for our reconciliation. No other relationship ever suffered more than what Father, Son, and Holy Spirit endured when Jesus hung on the cross and cried, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ Jesus was willing to be the rejected Son so that our families would know reconciliation. Jesus was willing to become the forsaken friend so that we could have loving friendships. Jesus was willing to be the rejected Lord so that we could live in loving submission to one another. Jesus was willing to be the forsaken brother so that we could have godly relationships. Jesus was willing to be the crucified King so that our communities would experience peace.” – Paul David Tripp, Relationships: A Mess Worth Making (Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press, 2006), 13.

On Repentance and Procrastination

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:02:24 +0000

God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.

Augustine of Hippo, 354 – 430

On Forgiveness Withheld

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:51:05 +0000

The offender never pardons.

George Herbert, Jacula Prudentium

On The Measure of a Christian

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:33:35 +0000

The virtue of a man ought to be measured, not by his extra-ordinary exertions, but by his everyday conduct.

Blaise Pascal

On Humility and Pride

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:28:31 +0000

Humility is the repentance of pride.

Nehemiah Rogers A Puritan Golden Treasury, Banner of Truth, Carlisle, PA. 2000, p. 147.