The Nature and Purpose of Baptism
What does baptism do? A number of different answers have been given to this question. At one end of the spectrum are those who say that it is a converting ordinance. At the other end are those who claim that…
Category Meet the Puritans
39 Articles—Guilt, Grace, and Gratitude (7)
Because we’ve had a month’s pause for #Reformation500, it would be good to review the previous seven articles that concern our salvation before we continue. Articles 9 and 10 set the extent of our guilt before God. They explain the…
Book Giveaway: The Christian’s Reasonable Service
Thanks to our friends at Reformation Heritage Books we have two (2) E-Book copies of Wilhelmus à Brakel’s 4-volume, The Christian’s Reasonable Service. 1 E-Book will be for a someone in the U.S. 1 E-Book will be for a someone outside the U.S. Deadline to register is Friday,…
Book Review: Puritanism and Natural Theology
Wallace Marshall, Puritanism and Natural Theology (Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2016), 144pp. Wallace Marshall’s Puritanism and Natural Theology ably demonstrates that Puritanism in general not only theoretically developed but pastorally utilized a robust natural theology. More provocatively, he shows that they…
Heinrich Bullinger’s Apology for the Reformation
Authors who have told the story of the Reformation often neglect to give appropriate recognition to some of its most influential and significant figures, whom David Steinmetz dubbed, “Reformers in the wings.” These were often viewed by their contemporaries to…
Is the Pope the Antichrist?
These days no one asks a question like this. It seems too arrogant, too outdated, grossly missing the mark of a honest religious conversation. Moreover, any reference to the Anti-Christ seems to be further marred by the fancy treatments that…
John Calvin and the Papacy
The Papacy has always had its critics throughout the centuries. It is fair to say, however, that it was the XVI century Protestant Reformation that developed the most comprehensive and massive argument against the Papacy pulling together biblical, doctrinal, historical,…
Martin Luther and the Papacy
Luther and the Pope have long been perceived as representing the two enemies within Western Christianity. Their persons embodied the religious conflict that took place in the XVI century giving rise to the Protestant Reformation and the Counter-Reformation. Before Luther…
John Davenant: Good Works
In the last article, I looked at John Davenant’s discussion on the formal cause of our justification. Now I will turn to his discussion of the role of good works in light of our justification in Christ. Davenant is…
John Davenant: The Formal Cause of Justification
One of the key theological battles between the Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic Church was over the doctrine of justification. This important battle continued on into the seventeenth century and indeed it continues unabated today. John Davenant, the Bishop…