Morning Prayer (1662 Book of 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/Swiss Reformation. Dr. Philip Schaff: Creeds. Westminster Shorter Catechism, 1-10. In Psalm 8, at one point, Calvin makes an effort but it's not his finest moment. His moments quite largely are excellent, but a here-and-a-there is an exception. In 1557, did anything of this quality emerge from England? Well, yes, Tyndale and the Genevan editions of the English Bible. But, in terms of commentaries and creeds? The 42 Articles are nice, but are elemental. In hind sight, middle school level compared to graduate school with the Westminster standards. The Tudors often put up road blocks and, in some instances, drove the car into the brick wall with a tragic car accident. As it typical, Prof. Keil runs down another rabbit hole (a joyful thing) on varied rendering of "Achan" in Joshua 7. Prof. Henry in his introduction to Isaiah has an absolutely wonderful development of the "school of the prophets" developing from Adam's time and forward, teachers of the faith, schools, academies for study, including in elect instances predictive prophecy, but more largely centers of remembrancers and teachers. "God's schools" to remember and teach His Word to the church. Mr. Henry's introduction was done in 1712 and it was better than anything heard by this scribe in his academic rounds. Prof. Jamiesson discusses Irenaeus, the 90-year old Bishop and martyr at Lyons, France, a theological descendant back to Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, and through him back to St. John the Apostle. Irenaeus writes his books against the heretics (Gnostics) and mightily affirms the Canonical supremacy of the Gospels, towering over self-appointed Poohbahs and their ethereal reveries. Additionally, we get a delightful meal on the Muratorian fragment that describes the preceding and controlling books of the NT. The Papists, with their metabolic urges to supremacy, mislead their inmates by telling them that "they, Da' Popes" decreed what is Canonical. Wrong. God is the Canon who authenticated the message and established the apostolic witness and college. Those embracing the NT canon and message, established by God Himself, follow the apostles. Hence, Irenaeus and the Muratorian Canon bear witness to the previously recognized books of authority. The issue of authority is at bar: Apostolic Authority or Da' Roman Papas. As always, Da' Papas trying to be God. Prof. Henry wonderfully comments on the elect who are persevering in a corrupt church--Sardis. The braggarts in Sardis are smug and complacent, believing themselves to be alive and not dead. Jesus slaps down the puffing by saying they are dead. Yet, for confirmation and invigoration, he commends those who are truly alive in this dead church. Where can this be applied in the 21st century? A wonderful piece from Revelation 3. Prof. Reymond comments on the closures (DPV, plural) of the canon with the final closure of the apostles. Prof. Grudem contradicts himself on this point,, allowing for on-going prophetic, predictive utterances that can be fallible. No theologian and no Pope is infallible. Prof. Berkhof is still on the ordo salutis and one hopes the game gets-upped. The brief on the Reformed view is less than satisfying. Pedagogical, intentional condescension to or putting it down on a graduate level? At least it's not at a collegial or high school level. Prof. Schaff continues his outline on the Romano-Latin stream in the early middle ages and also the Celtics of France, northern German and England, the period of migratory, tribalist shifts and drifts and land-pickups. Prof. Schaff outlines the literary burst from Zwingli's pen from 1519-1531, the year of his death. It is prodigious. There is a library of books to be found on Zwingli at archive.org. Read like no one else so you can read like no one else. Schaff on the Creeds covers and summarizes those of the false church of Rome, Lutherans, Reformed and the English Baptists who plagiarized with adjustments the WCF for their own 1689 model. These are public documents of confession, confirmation, and guard rails to novelists and drifters. Everyone with exception or exemption has a "confession." Inescapable." They can be flawed like ACNA which confesses "to hold to the 39 Articles, but we really don't when the hard questions are asked."