Evening Prayer (1662 Book of Common Prayer)

LECTIONS. John Calvin on the Psalms. ISBE: Genesis. Keil: Genesis. Keil & Delitzsch: Joshua. Matthew Henry: Isaiah. ISBE: Matthew. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown: Gospels. Romans: Prof. Hodge. Matthew Henry: Revelation. Prof. Hodge: Systematic Theology. Dr. Robert Reymond: Systematic Theology. Prof. Berkhof, Systematic Theology: Soteriology. Dr. Philip Schaff, Apostolic Christianity, Medieval Christianity, Swiss Reformation and Creeds of Christendom. EDT. CCC. Westminster Larger Catechism, 77-79. For Psalm 17, Prof. Calvin notes that David desires the thorough despoliation of his enemies. ISBE on Genesis: Prof. R. K. Harrison offers notable differences of translation-issues that, for this scribe, are new and heretofore have never been heard. He’s grounded in ANE sensitivities. For Genesis 1: Prof. Keil is working the overview to Genesis before the beginning of the granular look at the text. For Joshua 15, Joshua gives more geographical notes on land-allocation. For Isaiah 5.8-17, Prof. Henry discusses those with insatiable belly-and-stomach cheer of food, wine and women. No thoughts about God. ISBE on Matthew: Dr. Dagner trips on a pebble (again), not being very tall himself. Sad. He vents his wind on the “shocking” tension of universalism and particularism. One is reminded that “Fuller” (Theological Seminary) has some Profs that are “full of it” (hot bottom wind). It's had some good men, but this isn't one of them. For Mathew 4.1-11, Prof. Jamiesson still is, even tediously so, camping on Christ’s Temptation. This much: the Word is the Sword of the Spirit. To his credit, the Prof. disarms those diminishing Christ’s omnipotent Canon. For Romans, Prof. Hodge comments wonderfully on the potency and power of God’s Word, something rather diminished by the sacerdotalists who prate on outward fripperies and retrenchments on God’s Word. For Revelation 12.1-11, Prof. Henry gloriously comments on the preservation and protection of the Church from the depradations of the Red Dragon and his dirty crew. For Systematic Theology, Prof. Hodge continues to defend infant salvation, never noting the caution of his WCF. For Theology Proper, Prof. Reymond quibbles over Robert Dabney and Charles Hodge’s discussion of God’s non-succession of ideas, that is, the eternal past, present and future as one reality to God. Quibbling. We’ll stick to the WCF, WLC, WSC and move on. Move along Dr. Reymond, thank you. For Soteriology, Prof. Berkhof discussed the “holiness” and “majesty” of God as the “numinous Other” as the predicate for sanctification. For Apostolic Christianity, Vol. 1 (0-100) Prof. Schaff discussed Herod the Horrible Murderer. Augustus Caesar heard of his slaughter of so many and noted, “That it was better to be born as swine than one of Herod’s sons.” For Medieval Christianity, Vol. 4 (590-1049), Prof. Schaff discusses the introduction of Christianity to Iceland via Norwegians. For the Swiss Reformation Vol. 8 (1519-1605), Prof. Schaff continues to discuss Bullinger whose death was widely lamented in England. This man is fast becoming a favorite here, especially for both scholarship but his notable fruits of the Spirit. EDT on John Henry Newmann: he notably invoked some distrust in Romish circles after his apostasy and defection to Rome. Although, in a few years, mindful of his PR-value, he was canonized. For the Creeds of Christendom, Prof. Schaff continues the expose on the Immaculate Conception. CCC: the prologue is finished, warrantably calling to charity in catechesis, mindful of varied maturity levels. Westminster Larger Catechism 77-79: Q. 77. Wherein do justification and sanctification differ? A. Although sanctification be inseparably joined with justification, yet they differ, in that God in justification imputeth the righteousness of Christ; in sanctification his Spirit infuseth grace, and enableth to the exercise thereof; in the former, sin is pardoned; in the other, it is subdued: the one doth equally free all believers from the revenging wrath of God, and that perfectly in this life, that they never fall into condemnation; the other is neither equal in all, nor in this life perfect in any, but growing up to perfection. Q. 78. Whence ariseth the imperfection of sanctification in believers? A. The imperfection of sanctification in believers ariseth from the remnants of sin abiding in every part of them, and the perpetual lustings of the flesh against the spirit; whereby they are often foiled with temptations, and fall into many sins, are hindered in all their spiritual services, and their best works are imperfect and defiled in the sight of God.