Posts by Jeremy Walker

Posts by

Friends in the UK and mainland Europe might be interested to know of the Banner of Truth Conference at Leicester, due to take place this year on Monday 15 through Thursday 18 April. Speakers include Sinclair Ferguson, who probably needs no introduction, Warren Peel, a dear friend from the Reformed...
Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons Thabiti M. Anyabwile Crossway (IX Marks), 2012, 176pp., paperback, $10.99 ISBN 978-1-4335-2992-4 Although the lion's share of this book is devoted to the eldership, the valuable space afforded to the diaconate is much appreciated, if only because helpful...
Because, judging by the annual jamboree, this piece on Lent (and other festivals) is still relevant .
This won't float everyone's boat, especially when I tell you that Particular Voices glories in the strapline, "Interesting bits and pieces of 17th century literature" (I can already hear Levy's disdain as he readies another "last of the Puritans" jibe). However, this site is a little treasure trove...
What is the Mission of the Church? Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission Greg Gilbert & Kevin DeYoung Crossway , 2011, 288pp., paperback, $15.99 ISBN 978-1-4335-2690-9 Contributing to the ongoing debate in the "young, restless and reformed" movement about the nature...
Developing a Healthy Prayer Life: 31 Meditations on Communing with God James W. Beeke and Joel R. Beeke Reformation Heritage Books , 2010, 99pp., paperback, $10 / £7.50 ISBN 978-1-60178-112-3 This is the first in a planned series of volumes providing 31 meditations on a given subject. Each portion...
Losing Adam means losing so much more besides. That is because losing Adam is likely to prove the beginning of losing our Bibles. Like the gardener who decides to trim his hedge, he finds that an aggressive cut at one point leaves a lopsided creation which requires further cuts here and there in...
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the unity of Scripture: Higher criticism is man picking and choosing out of the Scriptures, believing what he likes and rejecting, or ignoring, the rest. It is man failing to submit himself completely and utterly to the whole of the Scriptures. And I believe that this is...
Pastors in the Classics: Timeless Lessons on Life and Ministry from World Literature Leland Ryken, Philip Ryken & Todd Wilson Baker Books , 2012, 192pp., paperback, $16.99 ISBN 978-0-8010-7197-3 This is an odd book. It is not a bad book, but it is hard to categorise. Divided into two parts, the...
When the New Testament deals with sexual morality, it does so unfailing clarity and reassuring discretion. Take, as an example, the instruction of the apostle in 1 Thessalonians 4: Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you...
The Public Ministry of Christ William G. Blaikie This volume , first published in 1883, bridges the disciplines of Christology and pastoral theology, and its author will need no commendation to those who value Scriptural studies that blend scholarship and devotion. Blaikie's contention, argued in...
A last snippet, for now, from Thomas Foxcroft's The Gospel Ministry once more, fairly early on in his sermon, exhorting himself and other ministers to preach Jesus in every sense: Ministers then must study to feed their flocks with a continual feast on the glorious fullness there is in Christ; they...
7 6. 7 6 (St. Alphege ) In Eden's sinless garden A man and woman stood, Each crafted in God's image, And both entirely good. The serpent entered Eden, And entered both their hearts; And neither did resist him, Fell to his fiery darts. So Adam's abdication Was punished by the Lord; Eve's...
The following quote is from Benjamin Wadsworth's introduction to The Gospel Ministry by Thomas Foxcroft: The right performance of this work [of gospel ministry] is attended with many and great difficulties, partly from the various, frequent, furious assaults of Satan; partly from the lusts of men,...
As promised, a first snippet from Thomas Foxcroft, who advises us as to the correct and necessary balance and relationship between public and private ministerial responsibility. He gives this specific counsel: Private inspection or pastoral visitation is of necessity to the same purpose as the...
The apostle John had seen many wonderful things in his life. He had lived alongside the Christ for three years, testifying that if all the things that Jesus did "were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written" (Jn 21.25). He had...
The Gospel Ministry Thomas Foxcroft Soli Deo Gloria ( RHB ), 87pp, hbk ISBN 978-1-56769-061-3 This unusual but highly profitable little volume is a preacher's own ordination sermon. It was preached in 1717 by Thomas Foxcroft as he set out to demonstrate to the congregation which he was to serve the...
Lectures to my Students C. H. Spurgeon Various publishers and editions Every Friday afternoon Charles Spurgeon would head down to the Pastors' College - of all the institutions in which he was involved, the one that was perhaps dearest to his great heart - and attempt to put an edge and a point on...
6 6. 6 6 (St. Cecilia) Psalm 150 Oh come and praise the Lord, Praise in his sanctuary; Come, praise him in the heavens, On earth with bended knee. Give praises for his deeds, And reach for fitting words, Enlarge your hearts to hymn The glories of the Lord. With heart and hand and voice, Praise him...
Not long before Christmas, a father in the Lord went home. For those who lived in my part of the world, Mr Cherry - as he was almost invariably known - was an institution. He died at the age of 95, declining health having kept him only for a few months from his beloved task of preaching the gospel...
Stephen McCaskell's collection of quotations from the great Victorian, Through the Eyes of C. H. Spurgeon: Quotes from a Reformed Baptist Preacher , is available on Kindle at a great price, only $3.11 at Amazon.com and £1.92 at Amazon.co.uk ($14 or £15 in print). With references to their sources,...
Jeremiah Burroughs: The gospel of Christ in general is this; It is the good tidings that God has revealed concerning Christ. More largely it is this: As all mankind was lost in Adam and became the children of wrath, put under the sentence of death, God, though He left His fallen angels and has...
Maurice Roberts, writing on "The Christian's Refreshing" in his book of essays The Thought of God (Banner of Truth, p. 74-75), has the following counsel, which may prove a timely encouragement at the end of a long and laborious year: There are times in the Christian's life when he must recognize...
Though flowing slurs Do sorely try, I'll not contend But silent lie.
Yon blackguard Levy sallies forth Regardless of wight's feeling: Why waxed thee wroth o'er sorry tales, Thou scurvy Pope of Ealing? What need we Del or Phil or Rick, Those trusty blades of yore? From Levy's quill, one post suffice To make a world full sore. Wapping, 1677
How do you pray? How do you think about praying? How do you set out to pray? Consider these encouragements from Thomas Brooks in his volume, The Privy Key of Heaven (also reprinted recently by Banner as The Secret Key to Heaven ). Brooks clearly feels himself on the very borders of reverent speech...
For those persuaded beyond all reasoned argument that Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year (and, indeed, for those who are not), might I draw your attention to a couple of new volumes from the Banner of Truth ? Just published are two gift edition confessions of faith in the Pocket...
6 6. 6 6. 8 8 (Rhosymedre) He stepped from his high throne, And laid aside his crown, And to this sinful world The Son of God stooped down: He came as our Immanuel That God as man with men should dwell. The virgin brought him forth As promised from of old; The Word in flesh appeared, The Saviour...
Despite the implied goading of the Pope of Ealing and the Dean of Westminster, I have no intention of engaging in a tit-for-tat with my brother Lee Gatiss, responding to all the various points of contention (and I do not mean by saying that to imply that all his points could be swiftly and...
This year's Westminster Conference finished yesterday with a further three papers. The first was, for me, perhaps the highlight of the conference. David Gregson from Reeth gave a paper (the Reeth lecture?) on Blaise Pascal. We considered his life and his scientific exploits as a man of indisputable...
Oh, the ignominy! One moment Mr Levy is speaking of my contribution to the discussion at the Westminster Conference, and the next he dismisses those making contributions as "loony toons." A more sensitive man than I might turn for solace to one of those cheering Russian novels which Carl recommends...
Last Sunday I failed again. I often fail on the Lord's day, but this Sunday evening was one of those particularly noticeable occasions. There were a number of factors at play, as there always are, but there was at least one that meant I was never going to succeed. In fact, I had set myself up to...
Angus T. Jones, one of the stars of American sitcom Two and a Half Men , has gone online to explain that he no longer wants to participate in the show, describing its contents as "filth," as reported by the BBC . I do not know anything much about the programme, the actor, the church, or the...
Over at the Gospel Coalition, Trevin Wax has warned us against what he calls the Puritan paralysis : that crippling, morbid self-analysis - what Mr Wax calls hyper-introspection - that directs all our spiritual attention toward self and our efforts rather than toward Christ as the object of saving...
While I hope to offer a review of Beeke & Jones on the Puritans in the not-too-distant future, let's just say that my exposure so far would make it the height of churlishness not to let you know that Amazon.com is doing it for $60 hardback but only $10.29 on Kindle , while the same generosity...
A couple of recommendations for helpful techno-tools that I appreciate: many of you will know of and use these, but for the few who don't . . . Dropbox . This is great. Doubtless there are other versions, but this is simple and delightful. You set up an account (the basic one of 250 megabytes is...
Most of us manage to annoy someone from time to time. Writing on a platform like Reformation21 gives us unusual scope for this, extending our capacity somewhat. However, I have just read Mr Levy promising us five less-than-great things about America, and I now look forward to what will surely be...
Despite an overwhelming vote in favour of women bishops (including the required two thirds majority among the bishops and the clergy by a substantial margin), the General Synods fails to pass the motion, it not reaching the necessary two thirds majority among "the laity." The bile is already...
As the General Synod of the Church of England waxes lyrical about the issue of women bishops, with the evangelical cause somewhat compromised by a necessary co-belligerence with Rome and fatally undermined by the fact that the Archbish-elect is described as both evangelical and in favour of women...
In recent days a slur's been cast on certain giants of the past, Who did - so goes the painful claim, despite their other rightful fame As men of penetrating sight who sought to know and do what's right - See nothing wrong with stealing men, but added their robust "Amen!" To ownership of humankind...
Peter: Eyewitness of His Majesty Edward Donnelly Banner of Truth , 1998, 160pp., paperback, £6.50 ISBN 0-85151-744-7 We might imagine that we know Simon Peter. His character seems to lie splayed on the pages of the New Testament. Yet, at the same time, we may think that a few bold strokes capture...
A Long Line of Godly Men (Volume 2, AD100 - 1564): Pillars of Grace Steven J. Lawson Reformation Trust , 2011, 543pp., hardback, $28.00 ISBN 978-1-56769-211-2 Volume One ( Foundations ) in this series concentrated on the doctrines of sovereign grace as displayed through the entirety of the Bible...
A few things: First, on the basis of the post on paedobaptism and Presbyterianism, Paul Levy should undertake to leave any future instruction of his interns in grammar, spelling, and the like, to others. A failure to do this will evidently hinder a man for life. Second, the discussion so far has...
Although some of the phrasing is a little dusty, and the period needs to be borne in mind, there is some sound advice here about the pursuit of plainness in preaching from William Plumer: The Word of God must be preached plainly and simply, not in allusions and doubtful terms, not in innuendoes and...
Not long ago, I received a very generous offer. One of the current glitterati of the evangelical scene was going to be preaching, and I was invited to go along and hear him speak . . . in person . . . for free. I must confess that, living as I do in the UK, I was not able to take up this very kind...
8 8 6. D (Tresalem) I wander often from the way, And sin afflicts me every day: Oh, when shall I be pure? Christ leads me to the path again, And washes me from every stain, A cleansing full and sure. I hear the world's enticing voice, That tempts me to a godless choice: How shall I stand the test?...
The Intolerance of Tolerance D. A. Carson IVP , 2012, 200pp., paperback, £12.99 (UK) / Eerdmans , 2012, 196pp, hardback, $24 (US) ISBN 9781844744053 / 9780802831705 The central premise of this book is that a true and proper tolerance defends both the right of others to hold views other than one's...
I would not necessarily agree with all the emphases and recommendations, but - as someone who might end up at the sharp end of this kind of law - I appreciate the clarity of Rowan Atkinson's argument, and the defence of the right to speak plainly. As ever, one is obliged to smirk at the intolerance...
Matthew Henry was born on 18 October 1662, not long after Black Bartholomew's Day (24 August 1662), the date on which his father - in common with about 2000 other ministers of the gospel - was ejected from the Church of England for refusing to compromise his conscience by taking the Oath of...
Light is one of those commodities, like oxygen, much underestimated until one finds oneself in need of it. I am particularly conscious of this because my desk light - a quite splendid piece of kit - decided to pack up rather suddenly a few days ago. Being a sentimental type, I sent it off to the...