Morning Prayer and the Litany (1662 Book of Common Prayer)

For Psalm 15, Prof. Calvin addresses true believers who speak the truth in the heart and with the mouth, versus the hypocrites who serve their own interests, being often filled with pride, cruelty and violence. For Joshua 15, Joshua gives another geography lesson on the south. These jot-and-tittle details matter to the meticulous God of detailed providence, hence, deferentially, we persist. For Isaiah 3.16-25, the text was read. It puts some red-hot butt-hurt on ostentatius women, their dress, and all the details of ornaments. There will be a “burning instead of beauty.” A dressing down for the dressing up. God is bringing humiliation. For Mathew 3.1-12, Prof. Jamiesson discusses JB’s baptism—the outward purification while the inward reality is dispensed by the Spirit—fire and water—searching, consuming, refining, and sublimating. For Revelation 9.1-11, Prof. Henry discusses the fifth angel with the trump. Another star from heaven falls. Leader? Bishop? Nation falling? The smoke ends up bringing darkness and blinding the eyes of men, promoting ignorance and error. For Theology Proper, Prof. Reymond’s discussion on empiricism drops like a rock to the ocean floor. Move along, Professor. For Soteriology, Prof. Berkhof provides a reconnaissance tour of words for “faith” in the OT, NT, classical Greek and the Septuagint. Like the Heidelberg Catechism, the word means strong faith, assurance, confidence, full trust, and more. For Apostolic Christianity, Prof. Schaff does a wrap on Greek religion. For Medieval Christianity, Prof. Schaff includes a wonderful poem by St. Columbanus on life and mortality. It sounds like the letter of Archbishop Grindal to Queen Elizabeth, the laywoman, on mortality, dust to dust, ashes to ashes, etc. Prof. Schaff introduces Columbanus’s companion, St. Gall where he founded a monastery. For the Swiss Reformation, Prof. Schaff discusses the preparations for war, 1529, the First Battle of Cappel. Zwingli counsels military preparedness. For the Creeds of Christendom, Prof. Schaff discusses further Cardinal Roberto Bellarmino (1542-1621) and, secondly in terms of importance, Jacques Bossuet, a Roman apologist. Westminster Larger Catechism, 158-159: Q. 158. By whom is the Word of God to be preached? A. The Word of God is to be preached only by such as are sufficiently gifted, and also duly approved and called to that office. Q. 159. How is the Word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto? A. They that are called to labor in the ministry of the word, are to preach sound doctrine, diligently, in season and out of season; plainly, not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power; faithfully, making known the whole counsel of God; wisely, applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers; zealously, with fervent love to God and the souls of his people; sincerely, aiming at his glory, and their conversion, edification, and salvation.