Evening Prayer (1662 Book of Common Prayer)

For Psalm 18, Prof. Calvin comments on Psalm 18.33-36: “He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. ³⁴ He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. ³⁵ Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. ³⁶ Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.”

ISBE on Exodus: Prof. R. K. Harrison notes the group-think of the Graffies relative to the Tabernacle and their willy-nilly dating of those sections in Exodus. Someone is old enough to remember the claims to “Global Cooling” followed by “Global Warming.” Prof. Harrison has single-handedly grabbed the head and tail of the Graffies and tossed them overboard [think sea vessel].

For Genesis 2.4ff: Prof. Keil deals with the dual names of Jehovah Elohim in its varied iterations.

For Joshua 23-24, Joshua nears death and calls the Elders to his side to her his last exhortations to fidelity.

For Isaiah 6.5-8, Prof. Henry notes that God’s commission gave a spine to Isaiah. A tough mission lay ahead, but God gave the orders. And that’s that.

ISBE on Mark: Dr. R. P. Martin is still assaying Dr. Vincent Taylor’s work on the Gospel.

For Mathew 5.9, Prof. Jamiesson comments on the “peace” of God brought to repentant sinners through the cross.

For Romans, Prof. Hodge concludes Romans 2 with exegetical dustups.

For Revelation 15.5-8, Prof. Henry comments on the fourth angel and his mission of destruction.

In the Global Anglican, Prof. Blocher, the French systematician, offers more long-talk about Luther possibly being an Elijah in the Reformation. This is getting nowhere fast. In a few days, we’ll move on to Matthew Payne’s article on “perseverance of the saints” in the CoE literature.

For Systematic Theology (locus 2), Prof. Hodge is still working with Schleiermacher, feelings and emotions as the source of theology, not the inspired Bible. Just another German opinion.

For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Reymond further treats the divinity of Jesus.

For Ecclesiology (locus 6), Prof. Berkhof is long-talking again on the visible and invisible church, its holiness and catholicity.

For Apostolic Christianity, Vol. 1 (0-100) Prof. Schaff takes his time, from his armchair in Mercersburg, PA, to dismiss Josephus’s comments on demographics, priestly numbers and sacrificed lambs at Passovers. Of course, the 19^th century German knows more than Josephus.

For Medieval Christianity, Vol. 4 (590-1073), Prof. Schaff begins the section on Islamist conquests.

For the Swiss Reformation Vol. 8 (1519-1605), Prof. Schaff jaws away on Calvin. We strongly recommend Dr. Bruce Gordon on Calvin. Schaff needs some reconditioning.

For Dr. Cranmer, Prof. MacCulloch comments on Dr. Cranmer’s immediate pursuit and completion of his MA in 1515 followed by his marriage to Joan and her death in childbirth. That death and his return to Jesus College was followed by theological studies. Had she not died, Dr. Cranmer may have missed the central role he played in the English Reformation (20).

EDT on Princeton Theology: Dr. Noll notes that Prof. Hodge was grounded in an infallible and authoritative Bible. He opposed Rome and the Oxford Movement. He opposed Charles Finney and Horace Bushnell for diluting depravity. He also anticipated the dogmatic autonomy-hunters (often called liberals, a grand misnomer).

For the Creeds of Christendom, Prof. Schaff begins to unpack the Vatican 1 decrees. One negative: infallibility does not pertain to the Pope’s private views. But it applies to the official utterances. Schaff notes how the Sorbonne, Louvain and other places want to bury 1302 Unam Sanctam, but that decree allowed for excommunicating Henry VIII, Elizabeth 1, directing Philip to invade England and more. Moderns might reject Unam Sanctum but it was asserted for centuries.

1994 CCC: the Curia keeps slipping in the word “free” for faith. We’re watching. These guys are careful, but so are we.

Westminster Larger Catechism 129:

Q. 129. What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?
A. It is required of superiors, according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they stand, to love, pray for, and bless their inferiors; to instruct, counsel, and admonish them; countenancing, commending, and rewarding such as do well; and discountenancing, reproving, and chastising such as do ill; protecting, and providing for them all things necessary for soul and body: and by grave, wise, holy, and exemplary carriage, to procure glory to God, honor to themselves, and so to preserve that authority which God hath put upon them.