“In the thirty sections of their pamphlet, they have produced a list of difficulties to be met with in reading the Old and New Testament. Had I been aware of their design, I could have enriched the collection with many more, at least as good, if not a little better. But they have compiled, I dare say, what they deemed the best, and, in their own opinion, presented us with the essence of infidelity in a thumb-phial, the very fumes of which, on drawing the cork, are to strike the bench of bishops dead at once.

Let not the unlearned Christian be alarmed, “as though some strange thing had happened to him,” and modern philosophy had discovered arguments to demolish religion, never heard of before. The old ornaments of deism have been “broken off” upon this occasion, “and cast into the fire, and there came out this calf.” These same difficulties have been again and again urged and discussed in public; again and again weighed and considered by learned and sensible men, of the laity as well as the clergy, who have by no means been induced by them to renounce their faith.

Indeed, why should they? For is any man surprised, that difficulties should occur in the books of Scripture, those more especially of the Old Testament? Let him reflect upon the variety of matter on which they treat; the distance of the times to which they refer; the wide difference of ancient manners and customs from those of the age in which we live; the very imperfect knowledge we have of these, as well as of the language in which they are described; the conciseness of the narratives, sufficient for the purpose intended, but not for gratifying a restless curiosity; above all, the errors and defects of translations.

Many and painful are the researches sometimes necessary to be made, for settling points of that kind. Pertness and ignorance may ask a question in three lines, which it will cost learning and ingenuity thirty pages to answer. When this is done, the same question shall be triumphantly asked again the next year, as if nothing had ever been written upon the subject. And as people in general, for one reason or another, like short objections better than long answers, in this mode of disputation (if it can be styled such) the odds must ever be against us; and we must be content with those of our friends, who have honesty and erudition, candor and patience, to study both sides of the question – Be it so.” (George Horne, Letters on Infidelity)

by Stephen Rodgers

RESOURCES

• The October issue of Tabletalk is out on the subject of facing our fears.
• The free book of the month from Ligonier is a collection of essays on the life of John Calvin. This is an excellent book (it was part of the bag-o-loot from a Shepherd’s Conference a number of years ago).
• Speaking of biographies, christianaudio.com’s free book of the month is Marsden’s abridged work on Jonathan Edwards. This is another good one that you’ll want to grab, and I’m happy to report that they’ve also streamlined the claiming process.
• The free logos offering of the month is AT Robertson’s book on Paul…so really, it’s biographies all the way down (like turtles…nevermind).

ROBERT REYMOND

• In more somber news, Robert Reymond has passed away; his systematic theology was actually the second systematic I ever bought (and introduced me to the concept that some of the topics were considerably denser than you might realize if all you had read up to that point was Grudem’s fine-but-introductory offering). James White offers up a bit of a eulogy, and Fred Butler has a great summary of the “essential” Reymond works.

OTHER

• The NANC has a new website (and they’re changing their name to the ACBC).  I figured we have enough folks in biblical counseling programs that this would be of interest to you.

That’s it for now.  See you Sunday!

Pro Rege

Those spots which a Christian finds in his own heart can only be washed out in the blood of the Lamb.

‘Oh,’ says such a poor soul, ‘I pray—and yet I sin; I resolve against sin—and yet I sin; I combat against sin—and yet I am carried captive by sin; I have left no outward means unattempted—and yet after all, my sins are too hard for me; after all my sweating, striving, and weeping—I am carried down the stream.’

It is not our strong resolutions or purposes which will be able to overmaster these enemies.

There is nothing now but the actings of faith upon a crucified Christ, which will take off this burden from the soul of man. You must make use of your graces to draw virtue from Christ; now faith must touch the hem of Christ’s garment—or you will never be healed. (Thomas Brooks)

by Richard Shin

• Russel Moore gave his inaugural address as the President of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention on September 10, 2013. You can read the full transcript here.
• Jesse Johnson from the Cripplegate shares with us a pastoral letter from Jonathan Edwards to a mourning friend. It balances beautifully the internal, emotional conflict Christians feel from the death of a loved believer.
• I mentioned Nathan Busenitz’s series on church history last week. He continues his third part this week here.
• Tim Challies has an excellent article reviewing John MacArthur’s book and conference Strange Fire. If you’re interested in the charismatic movement debate at all, you should read it here.
• Joe Rigney, with the help of C.S. Lewis and Prince Caspian, pens an article on the lost art of chivalry.
• Here’s an interesting one: Joe Carter from the Gospel Coalition scores a debate on  whether football is too dangerous for Christians.
• Ed Welch from the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF) shares a story of how he went to visit an eighty-five year old man at a nursing home and the conversation that followed. Similarly, Ivan Mesa writes four lessons he learned from nursing home ministry. And, well, Brian Croft shares five reasons Christians do not visit the sick and dying.

Coram Deo

If Christ had been murdered by thieves or slain in an insurrection by a raging mob, in such a death there would have been no evidence of satisfaction.

But when he was arraigned before the judgment seat as a criminal, accused and pressed by testimony, and condemned by the mouth of the judge to die—we know by these proofs that he took the role of a guilty man and evildoer.  (John Calvin)

by Richard Shin

• As the saga of the American moral demise continues, Al Mohler comments on the chaplains who serve in the military that repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
• Here’s a short anecdote from Trevin Wax on teaching our children the meaning of gathering for worship on Sundays. Indeed, we can easily forget the reason we gather.
• Nathan Busenitz began a series on the Cripplegate looking at the evidence that the Reformers did not invent anything about the gospel. I enjoyed his narrative of Martin Luther here. He continued his series this past week with part 2 here.
• Kevin DeYoung and Justin Taylor made a (slightly awkward) interview video promoting DeYoung’s new book Crazy Busy. My favorite part: “… like on Mondays?”
• Here’s a quote from the book Blood Work Ligonier Ministries is offering for free. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, you should.
• Joe Thorn from the Christward Collective has an article on the gospel and how it leads to godliness. It’s spot on.

I hope you’re having a great flocks week. See you on Sunday!

Coram Deo