God Glorified in the Creation of the World

Here recently the church that I have been attending is doing a Sunday-school series on Creation and the first eleven chapters of Genesis. After church I came home to read a bit more on the subject and found this helpful, written by Thomas Brooks.

This was God’s purpose in the creation of the world. The divine perfections are admirably glorified here, not only in regard of the greatness of the effect, which comprehends the heavens and the earth, and all things in them; but in regard of the marvellous way of its production. For he made the vast universe without the concurrence of any material cause; he brought it forth from the womb of nothing by an act of his efficacious will. And as he began the creation by proceeding from nothing to real existence, so in forming the other parts he drew them from infirm and inert matter, as from a second nothing, that all his creatures might bear the signatures of infinite power. Thus he commanded light to arise out of darkness, and sensible creatures from an insensible element. The lustre of the divine glory appears eminently here. Hence David says, Psalm 19:1. “The heavens declare the glory of God.” They declare and manifest to the world the attributes and perfections of their great Creator, even in his infinite wisdom, goodness, and power. All the creatures have some prints of God stamped upon them, whereby they loudly proclaim and show to the world his wisdom and goodness in framing them. Hence says Paul, Rom. 1:20, “The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.”

The Puritan Exegesis Project: William Fenner on Mark 14:72

Joel Heflin writes,

“Meditation is the first step toward conversion. The depraved heart, says Fenner, does not reflect on original sin or evaluate the true nature of God’s grace. This is the only difference: everyone complains of their guilt and depression but not all go to God for forgiveness. Fenner’s solution for removing guilt and its spiritual paralysis is to aggravate sin by reflecting on its circumstances. It is possible, says Fenner, to realize the full extent and character of sin in ourselves when we examine the circumstances of any given sin. Fenner takes his biblical example from a notoriously sticky passage.”

Read the rest here.

I was asked the Following Question…

Question: Can you detail five lessons that you have learn from the Puritans in promoting a more Biblical form of evangelicalism than the easy-believism that presently permeates the Christian world? If so, what areas are those and what was their importance? 

1. Puritan Worship – seeing the importance of how scripture deals with how worship is done and the manner in which it is to be done instead of going along always with culture or what feels good.

2. Puritan Marriage – seeing the importance of the covenant of the puritans viewed marriage would then give easy believers and actual respect, and high view of the doctrine that is now today so easily broken by many evangelicals.

3. Puritan Sanctification – The importance of living out the gospel and practicing the truths in obedience to that of which God commands instead of  “free ticket” going to heaven junk.

4. Puritan Adoption – Seeing that the doctrine is of extreme importance, being that easily believism tends to and is the most over looked doctrine and highest blessing of the gospel.

5. Puritan Meditations – The puritans view was great! In a world and culture that actually promotes reading the bible in church everyday for whatever and whenever, they need the puritans view. Having rime and reason to studying the Bible for the glory of God and doing it more then once a day, or finding whatever verse(s) best fit the believer at that time is a must need in today evangelicalism. 

Summarize the practice of Puritan meditation in terms of its…

1. Kinds – was the way that mediations were done. The puritans had two, occasional and deliberate. One was to be done shortly, off the top of the head, and can be done with group. The daily was to be planned, taken time, deep study of the Bible.

2. Manner – was the time that once spent in the devotion and how many times a day of the devotion as well.

3. Subjects – was the way that study was categorized. Every thing fell under systematical theology and in those 7 areas.

4. Benefits – This was for the believer then after study to enjoy, love and cherish their Savior knowing him deeper then when they started.

5. Obstacles – these were areas in which at times could have been hard for the Puritans. For example is on does not know the Scripture, nor what it is speaking about, it can be hard, but still God remains the same, and remains right always. Getting this past man’s mind was always hard. 

The Puritan Thought of Pilgrim Mentality

Biblicist – was a walk of Christian life that lived out a life being centered on the Scriptures and what they taught.

Pietist – was a walk that remained pure and stayed away from worldliness. They lives lived out a holiness in all things, church, society, living, family and the church.

Churchly – was a walk that saw the church as a group of people that was to walk along side of one another in this world. They saw this as an importance because of those who would try to live among this world alone, and fall into sin and away from the gospel.

Two-worldly – was a walk that would keep one eye on heaven and the other upon living in this world.

Warfaring – was the walk of the Christian life that the puritan looked, and must I say looked closely at his own life watching himself that he was living for the glory of God.

Methodical Outlook – was the walk that the church and state was to work in online. The Puritans loved the 3^rd use of the law that it could bring about holy living and good to the culture of their time. 

2008 Puritan Reading Challenge

I would like to talk the time of this post to direct you to Timmy Brister’s challenge in reading the Puritans. You can read all of the information at his blog, Provocations & Pantings. If you would pick up this challenge for 2008 my i add, that Reformation Heritage Books are selling Mr. Brister’s 12 picks of the Puritans for 36% off the retail price at an amazing price of only $65.oo.