Morning Prayer and the Litany (1662 Book of Common 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, Apostolic Christianity, Medieval Christianity, Swiss Reformation and Creeds of Christendom. Westminster Larger Catechism,117-119.

For Psalm 13, Prof. Calvin notes how David betakes himself to God’s goodness despite the circumstances.

For Joshua 13, Prof. Keil talks about the south of the southwest on cities taken.

For Isaiah 3.1-8, Prof. Henry talks about God removing the wise, elderly, sage and sober leaders and will give them the opposite. UPSHOT: modern applications?

For Mathew 2.13-25, Prof. Jamiesson highlights again how God head-butts Herod by protecting Jesus from Herod’s plot, power, and infanticide.

For Revelation 7, Prof. Henry details the beauty of saints above who have washed themselves in the blood of the Lamb. UPSHOT: shake off the acquired torpor from the tainted air of modern pulpits.

For Bibliology, Prof. Reymond finished his able defense on the historicity of Genesis 1-11. UPSHOT: dig around on OT Profs denying this. Deny this and Jesus and other OT-NT authors are implicated in errors. IT’s that serious.

For Soteriology, Prof. Berkhof talks about baptismal regeneration in Rome, Anglicanism and Reformed Theology. UPSHOT: beware of the first two since they are dismissive of sovereign election and seek power-grabs for their clerks.

For Apostolic Christianity, Prof. Schaff finishes his discussion on church historians. UPSHOT: an excellent bibliography for reference and research.

For Medieval Christianity, Prof. Schaff delightfully tells more about Columba in Iona, including his involvement in combat.

For the Swiss Reformation, Prof. Schaff continues to develop Vergerius’s life down to his death in 1565. Schaff has developed this disproportionately. UPSHOT: watch for balance with historians.

For the Creeds of Christendom, Prof. Schaff outlines more malice-mongery by the Greek Synods of Constantinope, 1671 and 1692, jawing about Synodical infallibility, 7 sacraments, real sacrifice at the altar, transmutation of the element (transmuter, metaboln) and the extent of the canon. These are ex opere operato and opus operatum boys. UPSHOT: Pride-watch with Greeks and Romanists.

Westminster Larger Catechism, 117-119:

Q. 117. How is the sabbath or the Lord's day to be sanctified?
A. The sabbath or Lord's day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all the day, not only from such works as are at all times sinful, but even from such worldly employments and recreations as are on other days lawful; and making it our delight to spend the whole time (except so much of it as is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy) in the public and private exercises of God's worship: and, to that end, we are to prepare our hearts, and with such foresight, diligence, and moderation, to dispose and seasonably dispatch our worldly business, that we may be the more free and fit for the duties of that day.

Q. 118. Why is the charge of keeping the sabbath more specially directed to governors of families, and other superiors?
A. The charge of keeping the sabbath is more specially directed to governors of families, and other superiors, because they are bound not only to keep it themselves, but to see that it be observed by all those that are under their charge; and because they are prone ofttimes to hinder them by employments of their own.

Q. 119. What are the sins forbidden in the fourth commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the fourth commandment are, all omissions of the duties required, all careless, negligent, and unprofitable performing of them, and being weary of them; all profaning the day by idleness, and doing that which is in itself sinful; and by all needless works, words, and thoughts, about our worldly employments and recreations.