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This treatise is about reformation. It is set within the framework of being more holy, because reformation means “reformation of life” in light of Jesus Christ’s saving benefits and God’s abundant saving mercies. What makes this treatise so excellent is not only its theological and practical depth (and it is deep), but its vivid directness. Gouge, uncompromisingly from Ezra 9:13-14, is going to tell Christians (not just sinners) that if they sin, expect judgment. And, if Christians sin collectively (as a Christian nation), expect collective judgment. Gouge says, “When Christians will not reform their ways, God replies, they have not minded my mercies, I will not mind their miseries.” Christians around the world need true biblical and spiritual reformation. Even though God has given Christians blessing upon blessing, and mercy piled onto mercy, if Christians answer God’s abundant blessing by sinning against him, what then should they expect? As Gouge shows, “If reformation can only be regarded as a suitable compensation to God's mercies to us, we are without it.” In other words, Christians must be about the work of reformation post-haste. This work is not a scan or facsimile, has been carefully transcribed by hand being made easy to read in modern English, and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.
This treatise is about reformation. It is set within the framework of being more holy, because reformation means “reformation of life” in light of Jesus Christ’s saving benefits and God’s abundant saving mercies. What makes this treatise so excellent is not only its theological and practical depth (and it is deep), but its vivid directness. Gouge, uncompromisingly from Ezra 9:13-14, is going to tell Christians (not just sinners) that if they sin, expect judgment. And, if Christians sin collectively (as a Christian nation), expect collective judgment. Gouge says, “When Christians will not reform their ways, God replies, they have not minded my mercies, I will not mind their miseries.” Christians around the world need true biblical and spiritual reformation. Even though God has given Christians blessing upon blessing, and mercy piled onto mercy, if Christians answer God’s abundant blessing by sinning against him, what then should they expect? As Gouge shows, “If reformation can only be regarded as a suitable compensation to God's mercies to us, we are without it.” In other words, Christians must be about the work of reformation post-haste. This work is not a scan or facsimile, has been carefully transcribed by hand being made easy to read in modern English, and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.
The Digital Puritan is a biannual digest of carefully selected Puritan works, providing a steady diet of sound Puritan teaching. The language has been gently modernised to render it more readable, while still retaining much of the flavour and character of the original text. Hundreds of helpful notes and Scripture references (in the English Standard Version®) are included as end-notes; no internet connection is needed. The following articles appear in this autumn/winter 2015 special edition, "The Word of God": 1. The Authority and Utility of the Scriptures – Hugh Binning. The necessity of learning and practising what the Bible teaches is shown from 2 Timothy 3:16-17. 2. The Duty of Searching the Scriptures – George Whitefield. In which Whitefield illustrates the two great messages of the Scripture (our fallen nature and the grace of God) and gives directions on how to make time spent in Scripture most profitable. Based on John 5:39. 3. The Great Worth of Scripture Knowledge – Francis Roberts. Roberts gives seven helpful directions on how to better read and understand the Word of God. 4. How the Word is to be Read and Heard – Thomas Boston. From Luke 8:18 ("Take heed therefore how ye hear"), Boston teaches how to prepare our hearts for receiving the Word, and how to apply it to our daily lives. 5. How We May Read the Scriptures with Most Spiritual Profit – Thomas Watson. Watson's own collection of twenty-four directions on how to read the Scripture for greatest benefit. 6. The Puritan Practice of Meditation – Drs. Joel R. Beeke and Mark Jones. To read the Scripture is not enough; it must permeate the mind and affect the heart. The authors show how the Puritans used meditation this effect.
Thomas Case sets forth Leviticus 26:25, “And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant.” He explains how it comes to pass that covenant violation is a matter of high quarrel between God and his people. He shows “covenant” in its nature, matter, form, parties and end. He clearly explains that such a violation (to break covenant with God or to lie in taking an oath or vow) is seen in three ways: contemptuous refusing, graceless profaning, and treacherous deceiving. The reasons he gives of such a quarrel is the contempt of God’s holy ordinances and of holiness itself; gross ignorance under the glorious light of the Gospel; unfruitfulness under the means of grace; ingratitude for mercies; incorrigibleness under judgments; profaning the Lord’s Day; all sorts of uncleanness, luxury, and excess in eating or drinking; vanity, pride, envy, contention, divisions, oppression, fraud, and violence. Not even one professing Christian person can say that he is wholly free from such. In this he remarks that the wishy washy nature of people in the church bring God’s judgments against them whether they see it or not. Swear and un-swear, do and undo. Protest for Christ today and accommodate Antichrist tomorrow. As if breach of our covenant dissolved our engagements. And because we have broken once with God, we were never bound afterward to keep our word, and our oaths. He shows that we may not tempt God in this. He that swears he knows not what will observe he cares not how. Ignorant making of an oath will end in unconscionable breaking of the same.
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