Evening Prayer

LECTIONS. John Calvin on the Psalms. Keil & Delitzsch: Joshua. Matthew Henry: Isaiah. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown: Gospels. Matthew Henry: Revelation. Dr. Robert Reymond: Systematic Theology. Prof. Berkhof, Systematic Theology: Soteriology. Dr. Philip Schaff, Medieval Christianity and Swiss Reformation. Dr. Philip Schaff: Creeds. Westminster Shorter Catechism, 61-70. Prof. Calvin takes us to the Court Room where the Divine Judge teeth-smashes the faces of nations. It's a sobering and strengthening Psalm, a prayer and Psalm that will not be heard but in Psalm-singing Reformed congregations. The CoE and the American cub scouts have excised this Psalm while in their soft marshmellow-castles and while playing in their theological playpens. An awful insult against the Majesty and glory of the Just Judge. One of the factors in why the historic and exegetical doctrine of the atonement has been replaced by Pelagian do-gooding and virtue-signalling. Prof. Keil has Joshua in the court room ordering Achan to make oaths of adjuration and to speak clearly and openly Coram Deo. Cheating God is a capital offense. Prof. Henry gloriously says over the PA-system: "Haze gray underway. Set the colors." To wit, the ship is getting into the channel to go out to sea in the study of this grand Prophet, the "Fifth Evangelist," Isaiah. Prof. Jamiesson briefly speaks of two enemies of the early church: Porphyry and Celsus. Origen preserved the arguments from Celsus in his unbelieving abuses of Christian theology co-incidentally showing his knowledge of the Canon. How nice of him, including Origen. Prof. Henryl bespeaks the Shekinah Glory of the Risen Savior in the church of Philadelphia. It's sobering and alarming, but full of joy and comfort. Revelation 3. Prof. Reymond covers developments or statements on the NT Canon from Eusebius to Ni Prof. Berkhof circumnavigates the OT on the Holy Spirit and varied names and operations, including life-giving and providential acts of sustenance. Prof. Schaff outline three periods of the Middle Ages. 1. Greg 1 to Greg 7 (Hildebrand), 590-1073. Missionary activity, Islamist conquests, separation of East and West, Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire. 2. Greg 7 to Boniface 8 *1073-1294. Theocracy, papacy, monasticism, rise of scholasticism, Crusades, and the rising conflict between Church and Sate. 3. Decline of medievalism and rising sunset (1294-1517), from Boniface 8 to the Reformation. Papal exile, schism, several reformatory councils, decline of scholasticism, mysticism, Renaissance, printing, forerunners of the Reformation and discovery of the New World. Despite other flaws (see below), this is an admiral summary. Prof. Schaff claims Zwingli held to original sin, but not in the Augustinian sense--another weirdo claim by the backwoodsman of Pennsylvania. He also really refuses to simply exegete Romans while inserting his own insights. We are finding defects in Mr. Schaff and are considering a demotion from Professor to Mr. Prof. Schaff in the Creeds discuss the value and use of the Apostles Creed.