Morning Prayer

Halley’s “Bible Handbook:” offers the geography of Palestine and surrounding areas. PRACTICAL: it affects travel. Even, the designation of “ascent Psalms” as travelers ascended to Jerusalem.

For Psalm 29, Prof. Calvin comments on revelation in nature, in the Bible and manifested in the church’s worship. PRACTICAL: nothing new here, but good to remember.

Zondervan Pictorial Bible: “Ishmael:” a son of Abraham by Hagar, a concubine. PRACTICAL: marriage is between one man and one woman as per Creation and as per Jesus. Send the memo to Mike at 815.

ISBE on “Leviticus:” comments on “cleansing and ransom” in connection with kippur. PRACTICAL: beware of the Socinianism and others with strange and erroneous views on the atonement.

For Genesis 25: Prof. Keil discusses Keturah and Abraham’s marriage. PRACTICAL: nothing of note, yet, on this.

For Judges 13, Prof. Keil comments on the family of Samson entertaining the Angel of the LORD. One is reminded that one may be visited by an Angel without knowing it. PRACTICAL: readjust metaphysics accordingly.

For Isaiah 13.19-22, Prof. Henry comments on the doom-to-come for Babylon. PRACTICAL: God has a foreign and political policy.

ISBE on Johannine Theology, Prof. I. Howard Marshall comments on love and obedience. PRACTICAL: Love and obey, it’s that simple.

For Mathew 11.20-30, Prof. Jamieson discusses Jesus’s reactions to unbelieving cities like Capernaum and Chorazin. Judgment is coming. Jesus thanks God for electing and reprobating. PRACTICAL: Jesus has a policy of judging. Our prayers should reflect the same pattern on election and reprobation.

For Romans 7, Prof. Hodge gives the doctrinal content and summary conclusions. PRACTICAL: provides a good role model: exegesis, details, and then conversation and engagement.

For Acts 2.14-36, Prof. Henry gave the sermon. PRACTICAL: evaluate not just the history of Christ’s life preached, but the OT background of texts cited.

Frederick Copleston’s “History of Philosophy: Greece and Rome (1.1):” comments on Socrates’ ethical ideals. PRACTICAL: keep reading by way of review of Platonism.

EDT: “Day of Judgment: discussion of Jesus’s view. PRACTICAL: don’t let the daily and routine silence on this obscure or eclipse the subject from meditation.

For Systematic Theology (locus 2), Prof. Hodge comments on materialism and John Locke. PRACTICAL: retour Locke in terms of epistemology and metaphysics. Colossians 2’s warning remain in effect.  

For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Reymond discusses common grace as the larger sphere in which redemptive grace operates. PRACTICAL: rethink this.

For Theology Proper (locus 2), Prof. Berkhof comments on natural and supernatural revelation with notes about reduction, merging and fusion of the latter into the former. Schleiermacher reduced supernatural religion in subjectivistic self-or-God consciousness. PRACTICAL: let the Reformed hawks circle over the high grasses.

ODCC: “General Confession:” the uses of such in Mattins and Evening Prayer. This is distinguished from particular confessions with detailed lists of transgressions. PRACTICAL: both are warranted. Life is a life of repentance and saving faith..

For Apostolic Christianity, Vol. 1 (1-100) Prof. Schaff is still baffle-gabbing on Acts 15. PRACTICAL: nothing to see here with Schaff.

For Medieval Christianity, Vol. 4 (590-1073), Prof. Schaff surveys the disciplined retrieval of the Benedictine rule via the Cluniacal reforms. It commanded wide acceptance with significant, practical results. PRACTICAL: nothing is achieved without discipline.

For the Swiss Reformation Vol. 8 (1519-1605), Prof. Schaff discusses the industry of Calvin’s at preaching and writing. PRACTICAL: hard work in theology is warranted.

For Dr. Cranmer, Prof. MacCulloch details Cranmer’s on-going conflicts and lawsuits with some Kentish gentry as well as the loss of three major houses. PRACTICAL: it dispels the notion that Cranmer was never contentious.

For the Creeds of Christendom, Vol. 1, Prof. Schaff surveys the post-Concord Formula in Lutheranism with pietism and rationalism following afterwards. Symbolatory and dead orthodoxy were the complaints. PRACTICAL: Caveat lector for Confessionalists who haven’t let their subscriptions lapse.

1994 CCC: our infallibilists in paragraphs #753-757: the images of the church: Bride, Vineyard, Temple, Body, etc. TAKEWAY: Solid, commemorative.

Westminster Confession of Faith 14.2:

2. By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein; and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.