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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Though flowing slurs Do sorely try, I'll not contend But silent lie.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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?...

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...