Morning Prayer (1662 Book of Common Prayer)

ISAIAH-ALERT. Straighten up and fly right.

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, Apostolic Christianity, Medieval Christianity and Swiss Reformation. Dr. Philip Schaff: Creeds. Westminster Shorter Catechism, 101-107. 

For Psalm 10, Prof. Calvin elaborates on the mother of all sins: pride.

For Joshua 9, Prof. Keil talks about how Joshua was “snookered” by the Gibeonites and their deceits. Joshua failed to do due diligence with a forensic exam of these Canaanites. 

For Isaiah 1, Prof. Henry talks about “learning to do good” after taking the trash to the curb. Learning justice rather than the bloodshed of which they’ve been accused. Speaking for those who cannot speak, helping the helpless (poor and widows). In short, in our words, doing all things from the motive of love to God and neighbor, done according to the right way (God’s Word) and to the right end. To wit, an Augustinian world view. 

For the Introduction to the Gospels, Prof. Jamiesson tries again to deny an Aramaic version of Matthew’s Gospel (never mind the history), seated in his 19th century armchair. It’s not going well for his effort. Happily, we move to the summary of Mark’s Gospel tonight.

For Revelation 4, Prof. Henry describes—using the Bible’s language—the all-glorious Savior with 24 elders seated around His throne. This chapter would readjust and reform any Christian with a horizontal eye-lock at the earthly circumstance.

For Bibliology, Prof. Reymond continues to talk about the Self-Authenticating work of God with His Word.

For Soteriology, Prof. Berkhof is repeating himself (again) on common grace. He’s obsessed and is like a hamster on the hamster-wheel, going fast but going nowhere. We got all this earlier, but he feels the need to repeat himself. Something is amiss here. Attempt to rehabilitate the CRC's perception of itself as an insular haven in western MI and out of the mainstream of American life (which they weren't). Trying to import (or export) relevance to the world? Something is off with Berkhof and Kuyper. The antithesis took hits from this beclouding. Our heads are on a swivel here.

For Apostolic Christianity, Mr. Schaff gives an excellent 9-point outline of Church History from the Incarnation until 1880. 

For Medieval Christianity, Mr. Schaff informs us of Gregory’s pastoral counsel to Augustine on strategies to deal with the 350-year tradition of the Celtic Christians. Point at bar: imperial take-over and our way is the best. Go by steps like a ladder, he tells Augustine in Kent. We'll soon get that Celtishness out-of-them. It's insulting in one sense. Oh, those awful tonsures and that awful Quarto-decimian errors! And their Bishops need to be subordinated to Rome rather than this free-style stuff of their past. 

For the Swiss Reformation, Mr. Schaff talks about the reformation ordered up by the magistrates of Basel, 1529, including the wide-spread removal of images, statues and art work in churches, porches, vestibules and monasteries. The art-worshippers ain’t gonna like that one. [BTW, go to an English Cathedral today, take the average tour by a tour-guide, and about 95% of it will be long-talking about stain-glassed windows, etc., and zero-theology.]

For the Creeds, Mr. Schaff further explicates the One Person and two natures of Christ. 

For the WCF, we reviewed the preface, petitions and ending of the Lord’s Prayer. Thankfully, this is used in Morning and Evening Prayers, as well as all services of Holy Communion.