Evening Prayer (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, 160-162.

For Psalm 15, Prof. Calvin discusses how the righteous man seeks justice rather than injustice by the words he uses, hears, listens to and receives. False reports, negative. True reports, positive. See the glorious of the WLC on the 9^th commandment for a wonderful condensation.

ISBE on Genesis: anticipating discussions on sources.

For Joshua 15, Joshua gives us more geography.

For Isaiah 3.16-25, Prof. Henry notes that Isaiah has been addressing all classes of society contributing to Judah and Jerusalem’s down-fall. Now, he brings in the women from a dressing-down for their dress-up.

ISBE on Matthew: notes the primacy of Matthew even amongst the early fathers. We note that Theophylact claimed, as we are wont to believe, that Matthew began his work 8 years after the resurrection. That won’t go over well at Tubingen since they “know-it-all.”

For Mathew 3.1-12, Prof. Jamiesson discusses the eschatological work of Jesus cleaning out the barn.

For Revelation 9.1-11, Prof. Henry comments on the implications of the fifth angel with the trumpet.

For Theology Proper, Prof. Reymond is still choking on the Ligonier evidentialists. Let’s move along, Professor.

For Soteriology, Prof. Berkhof continued to evince the evidence that “faith” is strong, steady and sure reliance on God, Christ, His Word, etc.

For Apostolic Christianity, Prof. Schaff continued his discussion on heathenism, including the insights of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Pindar, Sophocles, Cicero, Virgil, Seneca, and Plutarch. Despite the rancorous pantheon of dozens of deities, man had/has the imago Dei, conscience, and, even, “primeval revelations” from the days of Adam and Noah.

For Medieval Christianity, Prof. Schaff discussed the long-term impact on religion, language and literature stemming from St. Gall and the monastery there.

For the Swiss Reformation, Prof. Schaff discussed the stand-down from the First Battle of Cappel, 1529.

For the Creeds of Christendom, Prof. Schaff discussed Bossuet’s argument that Roman doctrine never changes, semper eadem, thus denying maturation and growth of understanding. Bossuet was no ultramontanist nor infallibilist, but, as Vatican 1 show, that changed things. Other refutations are available.

Westminster Larger Catechism, 160-162:

Q. 160. What is required of those that hear the word preached?
A. It is required of those that hear the word preached, that they attend upon it with diligence, preparation, and prayer; examine what they hear by the Scriptures; receive the truth with faith, love, meekness, and readiness of mind, as the Word of God; meditate, and confer of it; hide it in their hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives.

Q. 161. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?
A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not by any power in themselves, or any virtue derived from the piety or intention of him by whom they are administered, but only by the working of the Holy Ghost, and the blessing of Christ, by whom they are instituted.

Q. 162. What is a sacrament?
A. A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ in his church, to signify, seal, and exhibit unto those that are within the covenant of grace, the benefits of his mediation; to strengthen and increase their faith, and all other graces; to oblige them to obedience; to testify and cherish their love and communion one with another; and to distinguish them from those that are without.