Chapter 2 (part 2)

Biblical Counsel

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The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God. . . .
The Whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence, may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of Spirit, or traditions of men. . . . -- The Westminster Confession (1646), Chapter 1, Articles IV and VI

O ye saints, how you should love the Word, for by this you have been converted. . . . Tie it about your neck, write it upon your hand, lay it in your bosom. When you go let it lead you, when you sleep let it keep you, when you wake let it talk with you. (Proverbs 6:21-22) You that are unconverted, read the Word with diligence; flock to where it is powerfully preached. Pray for the coming of the Spirit in the Word. Come from your knees to the sermon, and come from the sermon to your knees. -- Joseph Alleine



Contents

For all Counselors
Peer Counseling, Peer Evangelism, One-on-one Evangelism
Questions and Answers
Audio CDs and MP3s on Counseling Subjects
Legal Aspects of Counseling
BIBLICAL COUNSEL BY SUBJECT
 Homework for Counselees
Biblical Counseling Tracts
Case Studies
Correspondence Containing Biblical Counsel

Chapter 2 (part 2) Related WebLinks

Contents: Chapter 2, "Biblical Counsel" (parts 1 and 2), interactive
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr2cha.html#index2

Combined Interactive Contents for The Web Edition of Biblical Counsel: Resources for Renewal
http://www.lettermen2.com/combtoc.html



Chapter 2 (part 2)
Biblical Counsel



For all Counselors

See the Theological Notes, "The Fall" at Genesis 3:6 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "God's Covenant of Grace" at Genesis 12:1 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "The Holy Spirit," at John 14:26 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "The Authentication of Scripture," at 2 Corinthians 4:6, in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "The Law of God," at Exodus 20:1 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Legalism," at Matthew 23:4 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "Satan," at Job 1:6 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Demons" at Deuteronomy 32:17 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "God is Love: Divine Goodness and Faithfulness," at Psalm 136:1 in The Reformation Study Bible

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)

And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:2)

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him. -- God The Father (Matthew 17:5)

By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 13:35)

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. (Titus 2:15)

Draw forth the treasure of wisdom and experience, which you have been so long in laying up, to instruct the ignorant, and warn the unexperienced and ungodly that are about you. Job 32:7, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. Titus 2:3-5, The aged women must teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands and children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. It is supposed that time and experience hath taught you more than is known to raw and ignorant youth. Tell them what you have suffered by the deceits of sin: tell them the method and danger of temptations: tell them what you lost by delaying your repentance: and how God recovered you: and how the Spirit wrought upon your souls: tell them what comforts you have found in God; what safety and sweetness in a holy life; how sweet the holy Scriptures have been to you; how prayers have prevailed, how the promises of God have been fulfilled; and what mercies and great deliverances you have had. Tell them how good you have found God; and how bad you have found sin; and how vain you have found the world. Warn them to resist their fleshly lusts, and to take heed of the ensnaring flatteries of sin: acquaint them truly with the history of public sins, and judgments, and mercies in the times which you have lived in. God hath made this the duty of the aged, that the fathers should tell the wonders of his works and mercies to their children, that the ages to come may praise the Lord, Deuteronomy 4:10; Psalm 78:4-6. -- Richard Baxter

All the problems we face in life as individuals or in society prove the same thing -- they prove the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He is indeed all-sufficient. -- Edward Hindson

Word: "disease;" Meaning; "disturb;" Sample location: "Luke 8:49" -- from the "Glossary," 1599 Geneva Bible. Tolle Lege edition DISEASE, n. Dizeze. [dis and ease.] 1. In its primary sense, pain, uneasiness, distress, and so used by Spenser; but in this sense, obsolete. 2. The cause of pain or uneasiness . . . disorder; any state of a living body in which the natural functions of the organs are interrupted or disturbed . . . The first effect of disease is uneasiness or pain, and the ultimate effect is death. . . . 3. A disordered state of the mind or intellect, by which the reason is impaired. 4. In society, vice; corrupt state of morals. Vices are called moral diseases. A wise man converses with the wicked, as a physician with the sick, not to catch the disease, but to cure it. 5. Political or civil disorder, or vices in a state; any practice which tends to disturb the peace of society, or impede or prevent the regular administration of government. The instability, injustice and confusion introduced into the public councils have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have every where perished. DISEASE, v.t. dizeze. 1. To interrupt or impair any or all the natural and regular functions of the several organs of a living body [i.e. robbing a neighbor of sleep -- sk]; to afflict with pain or sickness to make morbid . . . 2. To interrupt or render imperfect the regular functions of the brain, or of the intellect; to disorder; to derange. 3. To infect; to communicate disease to, by contagion. 4. To pain; to make uneasy. --1828 edition of Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language

A wealth of information on Biblical Counseling is found on audio CDs and MP3s on counseling subjects and are available at Sound Word Associates.

*Adams, Jay E., The Bible in Counseling (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates.)
Audio cassette NP119.

*Adams, Jay E.,The Big Umbrella and Other Essays and Addresses on Christian Counseling. Alternate title: ESSAYS ON COUNSELING (Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1972), 265 pages.
"A dozen lectures meant to orient people to the basic ideas of Christian counseling. The 'Big Umbrella' is the notion that mental illness explains any and every difficulty in life. Organic mental malfunction is a much smaller -- and legitimate -- umbrella, but it must not be confused with the vast turf of problems in living. Psychiatrists and others who illegitimately counsel are squatters on the pastor's turf. 'What I wrote [in COMPETENT TO COUNSEL] is only a frail beginning. It is going to take dozens and dozens of us years and years to develop counseling that is fully Christian, clearly defined and articulated.' Treats evangelism in counseling, grief counseling, demon possession, marital and familial communication, abuses of small groups, drugs, masturbation, and homosexuality. 'The kind of counseling that we have been discussing may be structured, but it also is an informal pervasive force among the people of God'." -- David Powlison

Adams, Jay E., Change Them? . . . Into What? Counseling in America Today (Laverock, PA: Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation, 1977), 18 pages.
"Reprint of an address at the University Psychiatric Clinic in Vienna, Austria. 'You are planning to help people; fine. But that means changing them. The question is not only how, but (most basically) -- into what? The Christian replies, "Into the likeness of Jesus Christ".' Discusses the 'general failure of the psychotherapeutic community to succeed in doing anything significant for people and their problems.' Pastors in the 1950s either referred to psychotherapists or sought to incorporate psychotherapy into their practice. Since the mid-60s, however, distinctively biblical counseling has developed. 'This counseling draws upon the wisdom of God in the Scriptures and the power of God in the Holy Spirit.' This is what such counseling looks like: speak the truth in love to responsible people who need to change in order to grow up into the image of Christ." -- David Powlison

*Adams, Jay E., The Christian Counselor's Casebook (The Jay Adams Library. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986), ISBN: 0310511615 9780310511618.
"This is 'a workbook designed for individual or class use in conjunction with COMPETENT TO COUNSEL and THE CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR'S MANUAL.' Contains snapshots of 60 opening sessions and 45 cases in process. There are three major purposes: [1] to learn how to identify various sorts of problems according to biblical norms; [2] to lay out biblical plans of action for dealing with problems; [3] to provide familiarity with a wide variety of representative types of problems that counselors encounter." -- David Powlison
*Adams, Jay E., The Christian Counselor's Manual: The Practice of Nouthetic Counseling (The Jay Adams Library. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986).
An in-depth study of counseling problems and their Biblical solutions. The sequel and companion volume to COMPETENT TO COUNSEL. Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Adams, Jay E., The Christian Counselor's New Testament: a new translation in everyday English, with notations, marginal references, and supplemental helps, revised and amplified.
"Adams has added numerous counseling-oriented footnotes to his translation of the New Testament, and has made many minor revisions to the text itself in order to enhance readability. The last 70 pages contain the original 'supplemental helps,' a primer on counseling. . . . Marginal notations and footnotes address dozens of topics of practical use to counselors. The Supplemental Helps provide a 60 page summary of nouthetic counseling -- both methodological and conceptual -- and a ready reference. 'Supplemental Helps' reprinted as HELPS FOR COUNSELORS." -- David Powlison

*Adams, Jay E., Christian Living in the Home (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1974), ISBN: 0801000513 9780801000515.
"His [Adam's] approach to family life is conditioned completely by the Bible. He writes, `A truly Christian home is a place where sinners live; but it is also a place where the members of that home admit the fact and understand the problem, know what to do about it, and as a result grow by grace'." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"This best-selling title will challenge, encourage, and aid the reader in the development of a truly Christian home. Christians will find this volume full of practical, biblical advice on Christ-centered family living, communication with family members, family guidance and discipline, living with an unbelieving spouse, and many other areas. Pastors and Christian counselors will value this work for its insight and faithfulness to God's Word." -- SWRB
"Written to check the erosion of the family as the basic foundation of society. Practical applications of Scripture to family living are given." -- GCB. A study guide is available.
Christian Living in the Home
http://www.nouthetic.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=82&Itemid=99
Adams, Jay E., Christian Living in the Home: Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic.
Barker, Dorothy Anderson, and Jay Adams, Leader`s Guide for Jay E. Adams's CHRISTIAN LIVING IN THE HOME. Alternate title: CHRISTIAN LIVING IN THE HOME (STUDY GUIDE) (Philadelphia: Great Commission Publications, 1977), 64 pages.
"Thirteen week guide for the leader of a Sunday school or Bible study class that utilizes Adams's book on marriage and family." -- David Powlison

*Adams, Jay E., Counseling and the Sovereignty of God (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Theological Seminary), 14 pages. Reprint of a chapter from WHAT ABOUT NOUTHETIC COUNSELING? Reprinted in LECTURES ON COUNSELING.
"For people in tough life circumstances there is only one hope: 'Knowing that God knows, that God cares, that God hears their prayers, and that God can and will act in His time and way to work even in this for good to His own. . . a confident assurance that God is sovereign.' Addresses the 'question on the lips of nearly every counselee -- Why? Why did this have to happen? Why did it have to happen to me? Why did it have to happen now?' Lucid summary of Adams's attitudes toward psychology and psychiatry." -- David Powlison

Adams, Jay Edward, A Counseling Seminar: A 12-tape Album for Laymen and Pastors Covering the Basic Reasons, Methods and Purpose of Nouthetic Counseling as Based on the Scriptures.
Contents: Hope & counseling (3 tapes) -- Christian forgiveness (2 tapes) -- Change (2 tapes) -- The husband (2 tapes) -- The wife (2 tapes) -- Questions & answers.
Search the series "Jay Adams Tape Library" in WorldCat (OCLC) for a listing of 21 audio tapes.

Adams, Jay Edward, Critical Issues #1: A 12-tape Album Briefly Covering Critical Issues Faced in Counseling (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
"This series is not meant to be an exhaustive study of each issue but to define it. Problems of worry and depression -- Group therapy and transactional analysis -- Masturbation, talking about problems -- Nervous breakdowns and marriage problems -- Conscience and self approval -- Drunkenness and suicide -- The disabled and the retarded child -- Inferiority and handling problems -- Devil made me do it/God pleasing work -- Communicating and fear of death -- Too old to change/Restoring brother -- Breaking old habits, why me?"

Adams, Jay E., Effective Communication; Disabled people; Inferiority complex; Unsaved wife; Be prepared! (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA406.

Adams, Jay E., God's Standard and Program for Change; God's Methodology for Change (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA102.

Adams, Jay E., Grist From Adams Mill (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.), ISBN: 0875520790 9780875520797.
"Contains 27 two to four page essays on a wide range of topics: 'tracts for the times.' How does God guide? Where do you get peace? How do you handle interruptions? Dealing with church hoppers? Think: does God hate the sin but love the sinner? Are you clear about the Gospel? How do you handle the influence -- for bad or good -- that people have on one another? How do you deal with differences on biblically debatable matters? What is good music? How can you be professional in your ministry, in the best sense of the word? How do you judge success and failure?" -- David Powlison

Adams, Jay E., Helps for Counselors: A Mini-Manual for Christian Counseling (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1977), 63 pages. Reprint of the helps from the back of THE CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR'S NEW TESTAMENT.
Contains, Counselor's Quick Check List, Fifty Failure Factors, Remarks and Responses, Counseling Outlines (for various problems), The Counselor's Topical Worklist, and so forth.

Adams, Jay E., Ministering Series.
Contents: The ministry of the church -- God is!! Stability we can count on -- The environment of God -- The balanced Christian -- The Disciplined life -- Setting priorities -- Making plans Biblically -- Am I a winner? It's joys and responsibilities -- The pastor's wife and depression -- Christian forgiveness -- Pain, does it belong? -- Decisions, make them or they make you -- Worry, trouble, how to combat it -- The Biblical view of divorce -- Homosexuality, how to deal with it -- Overcoming depression -- Grading and degrading, Christian education -- Poles apart, who's a Christian? -- Baptism for infants.

*Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling, 202 pages, ISBN: 1889032468 9781889032467.
See the subject "Authority," "Attitude," "Referral," "Balance," "Behavior," "Bizarre Behaviour," "Breakdown," "Church," "Confidentiality," "Contentment," "Correction," "Crises," "Data Gathering," "Deceit," "Dependence," "Empathy," "How-to," and so forth, and so on.
"THE PRACTICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHRISTIAN COUNSELING is designed to afford Christian counselors quick reference as well as comprehensive access to the chief principles and practices of biblical counseling. It is called an 'encyclopedia' because a counselor interested in surveying the gamut of those principles and practices will find in this volume a wider variety of subjects than may be located in any other book of biblical counseling. The counseling described here is truly 'Christian' with method and content firmly rooted in careful biblical exegesis. At the same time it is 'practical' because articles consist not merely of definitions and descriptions, but also of application of the material useful to Christian counselors. Although not necessarily the only way these biblical principles can be applied, they are the fruit of years of study and experience in biblical counseling. In short, the book is designed as an aid to the working counselor who needs a quick reference guide. We trust that God will use it to His glory and to the blessing of His people." -- Preface

*Adams, Jay E., Shepherding God's Flock: A Handbook on Pastoral Ministry, Counseling and Leadership, ISBN: 0310510716 9780310510710.
"The book is divided into three parts: Pastoral Life deals with the pastor, his calling, and the general care he provides the flock. Pastoral Counseling provides an overview of the task and general approach for pastoral counselors. Pastoral Leadership offers a perspective on the ways the pastor can lead the church in its many tasks and responsibilities." -- Publisher's Annotation
"An `unparalleled handbook' on ministry for teaching and ruling elders." -- SWRB
"A handbook on pastoral ministry, counseling, and leadership. This book is one of the finest you can get and will help you in the real world. The contents come out of years of working directly with ministers, counselors, and work as a seminary professor." -- GCB. Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Adams, Jay E., Solving Marriage Problems: Biblical Solutions for Christian Counselors (The Jay Adams Library. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing Corporation, 1986).
"Marriage and family problems are the number one counseling problem. Too many times Christian counselors combine worldly ideas, from purely secular sources, with the Bible. Adams tries a purely Biblical approach which assumes that God speaks authoritatively on marriage." -- GCB. Includes bibliographical references.
"Practical training for counselors in how to understand and solve marriage problems. What are the basics of the biblical view of marriage? What sorts of problems destroy marriages?: [1] unbiblical concepts ('problems of error'); [2] sinful living patterns ('problems of practice']; [3] relationships with others (e.g., companions, in-laws, children, former spouse); [4] general influences in society. Gives methods for discovering and solving problems." -- David Powlison

*Adams, Jay E., Sovereignty of God in Counseling (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
"Dr. Adams' lecture upon his inauguration as full professor at Westminster Theological Seminary." Audio cassette JA301.

Adams, Jay Edward, Ten Volume Christian Counselor's Commentary Series (Timeless Texts).
"This 10-volume series of commentaries is written in everyday English -- a must for laymen as well as the Pastor/Counselor. Jay Adams explains and applies biblical truths in the clear, understandable way that typifies his writing. He does not try to duplicate the standard technical commentaries, but supplements them with the implications of the text for God-honoring counseling and Christian living." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Adams, Jay E., Update on Christian Counseling,volumes 1 and 2, includes MATTERS OF CONCERN TO CHRISTIAN COUNSELORS (The Jay Adams Library. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986), ISBN: 0801001536 9780801001536.
"Volume I surveys Biblical teaching on current counseling concerns, e.g. Failure in Counseling, Drugs and Counseling, Getting Organized, etc. . . . Volume II . . . is an evaluation of the latest developments, problems, ideas, and concerns in the field of Christian counseling. This book contains a reviewing of an old article `Does the Behaviorist Have a Mind?' This series is a must for those who want to be ready. MATTERS OF CONCERN TO CHRISTIAN COUNSELORS is a `potpourri of principles and practices of Biblical counseling'." Includes bibliographical references.
Essays, on: how counseling affects the counselor; counseling failure; a biblical approach to stress; prescription medications; the Sermon on the Mount as an example of how-to given along with what-to; the problem with apologies; 25 key presuppositions of biblical counseling; structuring counseling; using a Personal Data Inventory; the flexibility of nouthetic counseling; the adaptability of a nouthetic counselor; reminding counselees; definitions of about 115 terms of basic Christian vocabulary, from "Adoption" and "Advent" to "Worship" and "Wrath," do people really get their idea of God from their own fathers?; Christian liberty and questionable practices; counseling disabled people; evaluating transactional analysis; winning an unsaved wife to Christ; using I Corinthians 13 in counseling; guidance through "checks" and "promptings"; "Does the Behaviorist Have a Mind?" (reprint of a 1927 article by William Hallock Johnson); eclecticism in counseling; "complicating problems" of various sorts (difficulties growing out of a counselee's primary problem that must be addressed in order to solve the primary problem).

Adams, Jay E., What About Nouthetic Counseling? A Question and Answer Book With History, Help and Hope for the Christian Counselor (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1976), 91 pages, ISBN: 0801001145 9780801001147.
" 'A question and answer book with history, help and hope for the Christian counselor.' Discusses the first ten years of the movement, both the gains that have occurred and the opposition and misunderstandings that have arisen. 25 questions and answers engage common misunderstandings and criticisms. For example, Q: 'Do you think that feelings are unimportant?' A: 'Of course not! They play a vital role in the human makeup.' For example, Q: 'Don't you think that we can learn something from psychologists?' A: 'Yes, we can learn a lot; I certainly have. That answer surprised you, didn't it? If it did, you have been led to believe, no doubt that nouthetic counselors are obscurantists who see no good in psychology.' For example, Q: 'Why can't you use the methods of other counseling systems?' A: 'Well-thought-through systems are self-contained packages. . . . Distinguish between methods and means.' Also contains COUNSELING AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD." -- David Powlison

Adams, Jay E., What do you do When Series (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.).
A 6-pamphlets series including the follow:
Adams, Jay E., What do you do When Anger Gets the Upper Hand? Alternate title: YOU CAN DEFEAT ANGER, 8 pages.
" 'Anger, like a good horse, must be bridled.' Uncontrolled temper is a sin. You can learn to release the energies of anger productively and under control to solve problems." -- David Powlison
What do you do When Anger Gets the Upper Hand?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm
Adams, Jay E., What do you do When you Become Depressed? Alternate title: YOU CAN CONQUER DEPRESSION.
"You must know God personally before you can expect Him to give you the help that you need. You must not put the alleviation of depression first as your goal, but rather the desire to please God by doing what He says. You must do exactly as He says regardless of how you feel." -- David Powlison
What do you do When you Become Depressed?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm
Adams, Jay E., What do you do When Fear Overcomes you? Alternate title: YOU CAN OVERCOME FEAR, ISBN: 0875520464 9780875520469, 24 pages.
"You must learn to commit yourself prayerfully to doing what God requires of you whether or not you will have a fear experience by doing so. That is the key that will unlock your prison."
What do you do When Fear Overcomes you?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm
*Adams, Jay E., What do you do When Your Marriage Goes Sour? Alternate title: YOU CAN SWEETEN A SOUR MARRIAGE, ISBN: 0875520480 9780875520483.
"Love is not first a feeling, because God commands love: to wife, to neighbor, even to enemy. You must learn how to give. You must forgive: a promise not to use it against the person, not to talk to others, not to dwell on it yourself. The husband is responsible to take initiative in love." -- David Powlison
What do you do When Your Marriage Goes Sour?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm
Adams, Jay E., What do you do When you Worry all the Time? Alternate title: YOU CAN STOP WORRYING (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1975), 8 pages, ISBN: 0875520499 9780875520490.
A tract by Jay Adams. "Worry is concern about something that one can do nothing about. That is why it tears us apart. 'Christ does not ask you to cease being concerned; instead He tells you to redirect your concern.' Asks three questions: What is my problem?; What does God want me to do about it?; When, where and how should I begin?
What do you do When you Worry all the Time?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm
Adams, Jay E., What to do About Worry (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.), ISBN: 0801000483 9780801000485.
"Worry is a sin that Christians can learn to overcome. Pray with thanksgiving; find God's solutions; then work on the problem God's way. When you find yourself worrying rather than working, sit down and answer the following three questions: [1] What is my problem?; [2] What does God want me to do about it?; [3] When, where and how should I begin?" -- David Powlison
Adams, Jay E., What to do on Thursday (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.).
"Making the Bible practical is the author's gift. Sunday is not the Christians only day. This book is designed to bridge the gap in personal application of scriptural principles learned. This method of using the Scriptures will excite you all over again." Adams, Jay E., You can Kick the Drug Habit.
"If you are hooked on alcohol or other drugs you must learn to put off the old behavior and attitudes and put on the new. Repent of your sin. List ways you are failing God and others. Work with someone who practices biblical counseling to restructure your entire life. Cut off all connections with people who are negative influences. Restructure your life concretely." -- David Powlison
What do you do When you Know That You're Hooked?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm
Adams, Jay E., You can Kick the Drug Habit.
"If you are hooked on alcohol or other drugs you must learn to put off the old behavior and attitudes and put on the new. Repent of your sin. List ways you are failing God and others. Work with someone who practices biblical counseling to restructure your entire life. Cut off all connections with people who are negative influences. Restructure your life concretely." -- David Powlison
What do you do When you Know That You're Hooked?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm

Adams, Jay E., Your Place in the Counseling Revolution (Presbyterian and Reformed, 1975), 44 pages, ISBN: 0801001005 9780801001000.
"The confusion in the counseling world exists because 'they have rejected the one and only perfect and lasting textbook on counseling': the Bible. Christians have all too often accommodated the faith wrongly to secular psychology. God refuses to be brought in as an additive to a pagan system or to be 'discovered' in a pagan theory. Christians have unresolved personal problems; Bible-believers largely neglected matters of practical Christian living during the battles with liberalism. What is your place in the counseling revolution?: [1] the ministry of everyday Christians is described where 'many of the `one another' verses refer to exhortation, encouragement, restoration, admonition, rebuke and the giving of other sorts of counsel'; [2] if God has called you to full-time counseling, go to seminary to get training in the Bible and go into the pastorate. Reprinted in Lectures on Counseling." -- David Powlison

Aden, LeRoy, and David G. Benner (editors), Counseling and the Human Predicament: A Study of Sin, Guilt and Forgiveness, ISBN: 0801002184 9780801002182.

Alexander, Archibald (1772-1851), Practical Truths (Keyser, WV: Odom Publications, 1990, 1857).
"This 400 page reprint by one of the Old Princeton `greats' will be welcome indeed. The book is in three sections: short articles on practical Christian living subjects; a series of longer articles on doctrinal and theological subjects; and finally a series of dialogues in defense of the faith, etc." -- GCB

Almy, Gary, and Carol Tharp Almy, with Jerry Jenkins, Addicted to Recovery: Exposing the False Gospel of Psychotherapy: Escaping the Trap of Victim Mentality (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 1994), ISBN: 1565071859 9781565071858, 251 pages.
"The Almys are medical doctors who have written a polemic against the pop psychologies that have recently swept into the church. Through a series of detailed case studies, they portray the dynamics operative in therapeutically-induced false memories, the healing of memories, multiple personality disorder, unmet love needs, and codependency." -- David Powlison

Baker, Don, Beyond Forgiveness: The Healing Touch of Church Discipline, ISBN: 0880700548 9780880700542.

Baxter, Richard, The Certainty of the Worlds of Spirits. Fully evinced by the unquestionable histories of apparitions, operations, witchcrafts, voices, etc. proving the immortality of souls, the malice and misery of the devils and the damned, and the blessedness of the justified. Written for the conviction of Sadduces and Infidels. By Richard Baxter (London, England: Printed for T. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside and J. Salusbury at the Rising Sun near the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, 1691), ISBN: 9781150756948 1150756942, EEBO. Reproduction note: Microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms, 1966. 1 microfilm reel; 35 mm. (Early English Books, 1641-1700; 200:11). Cited in: Wing B1215.
"This, as it is among the quaintest and most curious, is also the rarest of Baxter's writings." -- Alexander B. Grosart
See also: Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), and Cotton Mather (1663-1728), The certainty of the world of spirits fully evinced, 3rd edition (London: S. Cornish & Co., 1841), to which was added Cotton Mahter, The wonders of the invisible world.
Translations: German, entitled under John Cotton (1663-1728), WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD and to which was added Baxter's THE CERTAINTY OF THE WORLD OF SPIRITS FULLY EVINCED, (Schw. Hall: F.F. Haspel), OCLC: 41952189.
Mather, Cotton (1663-1728), The wonders of the invisible world (singly) is available in EEBO.
Wonders of the Invisible World, Cotton Mather, 1693
http://www.constitution.org/primarysources/wonders.html

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Practical Works of Richard Baxter: With a Preface, Giving Some Account of the Author, and of This Edition of His Practical Works, 4 volumes (Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000), originally published: London: G. Virtue, 1846, ISBN: 1877611379 9781877611377 (4 vol. set), ISBN: 1877611131 9781877611131 (A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, vol. 1).
"THE PRACTICAL WORKS OF RICHARD BAXTER (4 large volumes) are a rare find indeed. This set includes the unabridged edition of A Christian Directory: Baxter's Practical Works, (Vol. 1),A Call to the Unconverted, (Vol. 2), The Saint's Everlasting Rest: Baxter's Practical Works, (Vol. 3), The Reformed Pastor: Baxter's Practical Works, (Vol. 4), Treatise of Self-Denial, and The One Thing Necessary, and much, much more." -- Book Description

*BAXTER, RICHARD (1615-1691), A Christian Directory: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1. Full title: A Christian Directory: or A Sum of Practical Theology, and Cases of Conscience. Directing Christians How to Use Their Knowledge and Faith; How to Improve all Helps and Means, and to Perform all Duties; How to Overcome Temptations, and to Escape or Mortify Every Sin. In Four Parts.
I. Christian Ethics (or Private Duties)
II. Christian Economics (or Family Duties)
III. Christian Ecclesiastics (or Church Duties)
IV. Christian Politics (or Duties to Our Rulers and Neighbours) (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, 1990, 1838, 1707, 1678, 1673), ISBN: 1877611131 9781877611131. Foreword by J.I. Packer (Soli Deo Gloria edition only). The Soli Deo Gloria publication is a facsimile reprint of the 19th century reprint by George Virtue, London, 1846. The original 1673 edition and the 1678 edition, both printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons. Bibliographic and scriptural footnotes. A Christian classic.
"The complete practical works of Richard Baxter are in print in four volumes entitled BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS. This volume (about 1 1/4 million words, 1028 pages) is volume one of the set. The editor's preface (1707), p. xiii, stated that the works of Richard Baxter are 'perhaps the best body of practical divinity that is extent in our own or any other tongue.' Richard Baxter lived from 1615-1691. The DIRECTORY was completed in 1665. Its scope was intended to cover all of practical theology, a summa of casuistry . . ." -- Don Kistler
"Baxter's series, which grew in range and scope as it proceeded . . . is a peak point in Puritan devotional writing, and remains a precious resource for all, in this or any age, who want to know what is involved in Biblical godliness. . . . A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY may justly be described as a landmark. It is the fullest, most thorough, and in this writer's judgment, most profound treatment of Christian spirituality and standards that has ever been attempted by an English-speaking Evangelical author. The fact that it embraces both spirituality and standards (the principles of communion with God plus the specifics of obedience to God) merits approving comment in itself; nowadays spirituality and ethics have become two distinct disciplines in the schools, and books written on either say virtually nothing about the other . . ." -- J.I. Packer
Timothy Keller calls it the greatest manual on Biblical counseling ever produced.
"There are many Puritan classics on this subject. Thomas Brooks' PRECIOUS REMEDIES FOR SATAN'S DEVICES, Thomas Goodwin's A CHILD OF LIGHT WALKING IN DARKNESS, William Bridge's A LIFTING UP FOR THE DOWNCAST, and many other similar works give evidence that the Puritans were. . . . masters at applying Biblical answers and principles to problems that can only be solved by spiritual means. No Puritan work, however, has ever approached the popularity, the scope, or the depth of Baxter's classic treatise. With the widespread interest in counseling in today's church, this reprint of Baxter's work should be a welcome addition to every pastor's library, or to anyone else who wishes to give solid Biblical answers to man's questions." -- Don Kistler
"We have long waited for a purely Biblical treatment of the spiritual ills and cures of men which is untainted by the views of psychology. Since Baxter lived about 200 years before psychology arrived, his deep work is completely void of its encroachment -- thankfully!" -- John MacArthur
"The kings men sought to arrest Richard Baxter, but he traveled ceaselessly from place to place, writing his sermons and his books even on horseback (he had an inkwell in his saddle) and preached over a wide area." -- Brian H. Edwards
"Baxter was a wonder of his age. His writings total 72 large volumes, much of it written on horseback as he traveled in his widespread preaching efforts. He seldom, if ever, edited anything he wrote. Knowing this any reader will be amazed at how well he communicated his deep love for his Savior. For 26 years he was public enemy No. 1 to the king, yet he lived to see the flight of the king in 1688." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
POOR MAN'S FAMILY BOOK (1674) and THE CATECHIZING OF FAMILIES (1683), found elsewhere in BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, are less detailed works. They are more suitable for family instruction than are the detailed presentation in A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY.
"Ptacek in Family Worship (p. 51-52), supplies the following information in regard to Baxter and this book. He notes that after the Episcopalians ejected numerous `nonconformists,' in what is know as the `great ejection,' in 1662, `Baxter pastored from house to house, visiting families of his parish in their homes. These visits contributed to Baxter's A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, a large and still very relevant manual of pastoral care.' Focusing on just one area of great importance, Ptacek demonstrates how this book's relevance is not limited by time or culture, though sometimes the use of specific words are. `Published in 1673, but written 1664-65, a large book-length part of Baxter's CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY is devoted to the family. It is entitled `Christian Economics' based on the archaic usage of the word, which reflects the proper sense of the Greek root oikonomos as the manager of a household, in the Christian case, the spiritual leader of the family. The family head is essential to Baxter's view of family worship and instruction. Baxter asserts that it is God's will that this instruction be carried out by the rulers of the families.' For a male head of the household to fail to do so, or to have another instruct in the family, is contrary to his position of authority.' This is the kind of book that can be passed on from generation to generation and still find much use in the service of the kingdom of God. . . .
"Though relatively weak on corporate sanctification, corporate faithfulness and some important areas of doctrine (such as justification), Baxter's work on subjects related to personal piety can be of good practical use to the Christian -- if one is careful to separate out his aberrant doctrinal views and any practical errors they may lead to." -- SWRB
This work is available in many editions, and in many formats.
Reformation Heritage Books has new copies of the Soli Deo Gloria edition as of March 2008, even though it is generally thought to be out of print. They acquired Soli Deo Gloria from Ligonier Ministries in late 2007. They may be the publisher who will eventually reprints the title.
http://www.heritagebooks.org/
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue is available as a Cerlox bound photocopy from Still Waters Revival Books, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
The reprint by George Virtue is available online and may be downloaded in PDF format at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/baxter/practical.toc.html
The reprint by George Virtue is included on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #21.
The reprint by George Virtue appears in full preview in Google Books but may not be downloaded. This Google Books scan includes the contents in detail on pages iii-xix. This contents in detail is not included in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library PDF files. About five other editions from libraries are available in Google Books, and may be downloaded (August 2008).
Notice that the e-text in Google Books has the advantage of being searchable. Searching an image-based PDF file is not possible, unless the user owns software such as Abode Acrobat Pro or Kirtas BookScan Editor. They both have an OCR (optical character recognition) feature that will search an image-based PDFs (bit-map scans). Searches appear to be perfect in this work, although one must know Baxter's vocabulary. Text can be cut and paste from image-based PDF format to OCR (character) format. This particular Google Books scan can not be cut and pasted or downloaded at this time.
http://books.google.com/books?id=cyQFBOUHkaoC&dq=A+Christian+Directory+inpublisher:lettermen+inpublisher:associates&lr=&as_brr=0&ie=ISO-8859-1
One of the older, multi-volume editions of THE WORKS OF RICHARD BAXTER is available at Monergism.com in the "Puritan Library," "Richard Baxter." A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, volume 23. It can be downloaded.
http://www.puritanlibrary.com/
Another older edition is available on microfilm (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1970), 1 microfilm reel, 35 mm (Early English books, 1641-1700; 343:11).
The following three excerpts are included as bonus free books on Reformation Bookshelf CD #28, ISBN: 0921148267 9780921148265.
1. "The Duties of Parents for Their Children" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. X., pp. 449-454.
2. "The Special Duties of Children Towards Their Parents" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XI., pp. 454-457.
3. "The Special Duties of Children and Youth Towards God" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XII., pp. 457-458).
The Practical Works of Richard Baxter: A Christian Directory, Vol. 1
A summary of currently available publications.
http://www.lettermen2.com/pwrbcd.html

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), A Call to the Unconverted: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 2 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000), ISBN: 1877611158 9781877611155. A Christian classic.
"This is the second of four volumes constituting the complete works of this giant of the faith. This huge volume, over 1000 pages, gathers together such penetrating topics as The Unpardonable Sin, The Spirit's Witness to the Truth of Christianity, The Arrogancy of Reason Against Divine Revelation, A Call to the Unconverted, Now or Never, A Saint or a Brute, God's Goodness Vindicated, The Character of a Sound, Confirmed Christian, and others." -- GCB.
This volume also contains A Call to the Unconverted, The Reasonableness of the Christian Religion, The Unreasonableness of Infidelity, A Treatise of Conversion, and Character of a Sound Confirmed Christians.
Translations: A Call to the Unconverted (singely), Dutch; French; Danish; Polish.

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Saint's Everlasting Rest: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 3 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000), ISBN: 187761128X 9781877611285. A Christian classic.
"Third in the four-volume set. Includes The Saint's Everlasting Rest; Treatise of Self-Denial; The Life of Faith; Obedient Patience, and many more. Over 1000 pages." -- GCB
The Saints' Everlasting Rest, (singly) Richard Baxter, edited by Benjamin Fawcett
"Discusses the nature, excellencies, design, rejection, necessity, of the Saints' rest. Calls us to live the heavenly life now." -- GCB
"This is the greatest treatment on Heaven ever to appear! . . ." -- Wilbur M. Smith. A Christian classic.
http://www.ccel.org/b/baxter/everlasting_rest/saints_rest.html
Available (THE SAINT'S EVERLASTING REST, singly) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Two, CD #11.
Translations: The Saint's Everlasting Rest (singely), French; Danish; Dutch.

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Reformed Pastor: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000, 1992), ISBN: 1877611360 9781877611360.
"This is the fourth and final volume in this great set. Includes, [`Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men,' -- sk] `The Reformed Pastor' `Poor Man's Family Book,' `The Catechizing of Families,' and `The Mother's Catechism,' in all 25 sermons, treatises, and catechisms. Dr. J.I. Packer says, `For me, the great joy of this year is that it see the completion of Soli Deo Gloria's reprint of Baxter's incomparable PRACTICAL WORKS'." -- GCB
The Reformed Pastor (singly, e-text)
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/baxter/pastor.html
Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men (1681), by Richard Baxter
http://www.lettermen2.com/ccaym.html

*Baxter, Richard, A Treatise of Knowledge and Love Compared in THE REFORMED PASTOR: BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, VOL. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, 1990, 1838, 1707, 1678, 1673).
Long title: A Treatise of Knowledge and Love Compared. In two Parts: 1. Of Falsely Pretended Knowledge. II. Of True Saving Knowledge and Love. I. Against Hasty Judging, and False Conceits of Knowledge; and for Necessary Suspension. II. The Excellency of Divine Love, and the Happiness of Being Known and Loved of God. Written as greatly necessary to the safety and peace of every Christian, and of the Church: the only certain way to escape false religions, heresies, sects, and malignant prejudices, persecutions, and sinful wars; all caused by falsely pretended knowledge, and hasty judging, by proud, ignorant men, who know not their ignorance.

Beechick, Ruth, A Biblical Psychology of Learning: How Your Mind Works (Denver, CO: Accent Books, 1982), ISBN: 0896360830.
"May be the finest book on the contemporary scene that explains the learning process, while allowing the Scriptures to judge the vast array of learning theories. The mode of learning the author presents and her discussion of creativity, higher thinking, and the spiritual developmental tasks are provocative. But her use of the Biblical concept of the heart marks the book with its uniqueness. It pries open a variety of areas with a new touch." -- Warren S. Benson

Beeke, Joel R. and Randall J. Pederson, Meet the Puritans: With a Guide to Modern Reprints (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2006), ISBN: 1601780001.
"It's endorsed by Packer, Piper, MacArthur, Sproul, Duncan, Mohler, Ferguson -- and the recommendations go on and on.
"It's packed with terse information, illustrations, great biographies on more than 140 individual Puritan authors, overviews of over 700 individual Puritan volumes, a list of all the known reprints published between 1956 and 2005, excellent articles, and a glossary of terms used. At 900 pages, its a deep well of information. As cloth bound, it's made to endure years of use.
"Important helps include chapters on who the Puritans are, why we should read them, and short histories of the English, Scottish and Dutch Puritans. I found the short history of the resurgence of Puritan literature in the 20th century especially interesting.
"Here is just one quote, taken from the section explaining why we should read the Puritans today:

With the Spirit's blessing, Puritan writings can enrich your life as a Christian in many ways as they open the Scriptures and apply them practically, probing your conscience, indicting your sins, leading you to repentance, shaping your faith, guiding your conduct, comforting you in Christ and conforming you to Him, and bringing you into full assurance of salvation and a lifestyle of gratitude to the triune God for His great salvation (xix).
"Perfect for the beginner and the more advanced reader, MEET THE PURITANS will help guide and direct your way through the forest of Puritan authors.
"In summary, I cannot say it better than our friend, Dr. Ligon Duncan:
Joel Beeke and Randall Pederson have produced a tremendous gift to and resource for all who want an entryway into the study of the Puritans. They not only provide accurate biographical and theological introduction to every Puritan whose works have been reprinted in the last fifty years, but also combine with their helpful summaries an insightful analysis. If this were not enough, they've added major appendices that include the so-called Scottish Puritans (that is, the great Scottish theologians who were contemporaries of and like-minded brethren in doctrine and piety with the English Puritans) as well as the Dutch Further Reformation divines. MEET THE PURITANS, WITH A GUIDE TO MODERN REPRINTS is a must have. I know of nothing like it. If you are looking for a reliable window into the life, theology, piety and ministry of the Puritans -- this is it.
"Like I said, a monumental work!" -- The Shepherd's Scrapebook
The format of the book is simple. After a Preface explaining how to profit from reading the Puritans, a brief word about where to begin and a brief history of English Puritanism, there comes a long list of authors. Each author has his own chapter containing a short biography and a list of his books that have been reprinted. There is a review of each book along with publishing information and the number of pages. And that is the heart of the book and continues for some 800 pages. Five appendices deal with collections of Puritan writings, Scottish divines, Dutch further Reformation divines, secondary sources on the Puritans and a final word on Puritanism courtesy of J.I. Packer. In short, this is a one-stop-shop for all you could want to know as a beginner to the Puritans. And if you are already a fan of their writing, this book will lead you further and deeper, guiding you to the best books available." -- Reader's Comment

*Bennett, Arthur (editor), The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions (Edinburgh, Scotland: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1975), ISBN: 0851518214 9780851518213.
"The prayers are taken from the works of Thomas Shepard, Thomas Watson, Richard Baxter, John Bunyan, Isaac Watts, William Williams, Philip Doddridge, William Romaine, David Brainerd, Augustus Toplady, Christmas Evans, William Jay, Henry Law, and Charles Haddon Spurgeon" -- Arthur Bennett
"Contains a wealth of insight into the practical application of Puritan theology to the Christian life. Challenging." -- Cyril J. Barber

*The Reformation Study Bible: The Word That Changes Lives -- the Faith That Changed The World, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, March 2001). Previous published under the title New Geneva Study Bible: Bringing the Light of the Reformation to Scripture, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995).
"The NEW GENEVA STUDY BIBLE offers a restatement of Reformation truth for Christians today. The first Geneva Bible was a pivotal force in the Reformation. Using the everyday language of its time, it opened the pages of Scripture to readers and provided helpful notes to assist them in understanding its message. It became the family Bible of the English people, and was the Bible that the Pilgrims brought to the New World. Since that time a multitude of English translations and study Bibles have appeared, but none of these has incorporated a summary of Reformed theology." -- Thomas Nelson Publishers
Also available in digital format from Logos Bible Software.
A Review of The Reformation Study Bible
http://www.lettermen2.com/geneva.html
Readers of THE REFORMATION STUDY BIBLE should also be familiar with The Westminster Family of Documents, the doctrine of the Mediatorial Dominion of Jesus Christ, and the literature of the Covenanted Reformation.
"The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646, The Westminster Standards) and Related Works: A Study Guide"
http://www.lettermen2.com/suggest.html
The Covenanted Reformation of Scotland Short Title Listing
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr9chb.html#crsstl
Reformed Presbyterian Catechism, William L. Roberts D.D.
http://www.covenantedreformation.com/EssaysCR/RP%20Catechism/RP%20Index.html

Logos Research Systems, Inc., Biblical Counseling Library (29 Volumes), on CD-ROM, Libronix Digital Library System
"This 29 volume collection of Biblical Counseling titles is an amazing compilation of Christian counseling resources. THE BIBLICAL COUNSELING LIBRARY features some of Jay E. Adams' outstanding counseling titles, including THE CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR'S MANUAL, COMPETENT TO COUNSEL, and A THEOLOGY OF CHRISTIAN COUNSELING. It includes works from 20 different authors, including Steve Farrar, Elizabeth George, Jerry Bridges, and Lou Priolo.
"This collection includes informative studies on general Christian counseling, as well as very focused works on Women's and Men's counseling needs, counseling victims of sexual abuse, eating and diet issues, dating, working through struggles with sexual sin and anger, and developing a deeper walk with God. A fantastic resource for the library of a pastor or Christian counselor, the BIBLICAL COUNSELING LIBRARY adds a new dimension to your Logos Bible Software. These expert resources are combined with the tools of the Logos Bible Software system, including topical searching for studying specific areas of Biblical counseling, and linked references to other titles in your Libronix library." -- Publisher's Annotation
http://www.logos.com/products/prepub/details/2482

*Nelson (Thomas Nelson editors), Nelson's Topical Bible Index, ISBN: 0785211241 9780785211242.
"Offers pastors, Bible scholars, and laypeople ready-to-use information and quick answers to Bible questions. It organizes key Scripture references with context summaries under 8,000 topics and sub-topics, including names, places, things, concepts, events and doctrines. Includes brief definitions that are useful for personal study or lesson preparation." -- Publisher's Annotation
Also available in LLS format in Nelson's Electronic Bible Reference Library, Volume 1.
Nelson Reference, Ultimate Bible Reference Library: CD-ROM (Nelson Reference, October 15, 2002), ISBN: 9780785249955 0785249958.
Includes THE NEW GENEVA STUDY BIBLE, THE NEW TREASURY OF SCRIPTURE KNOWLEDGE, THE NEW NAVE'S TOPICAL BIBLE, MATTHEW HENRY'S COMMENTARY (complete and unabridged) and about 55 other works. Logos Library System format.

*Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), The Everlasting Righteousness or How Shall man be Just With God? (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1993). A Christian classic.
"First published in 1874, THE EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, may be the best book on the doctrine of justification by faith alone ever written.
"Since the seventeenth century, the church's adherence to the central doctrine of the Christian faith has been weakening; in the twentieth century it has all but disappeared. But to those who remain faithful -- to those who are called of God -- justification by faith alone is the best news there could ever be: that Christ died for our sins, and we shall live forever because of Christ's righteousness.
"Justification by faith alone -- the `principal hinge of religion,' according to John Calvin, the `doctrine by which the church stands or falls,' according to Martin Luther -- is salvation. Without it, all hope is lost; with it, Heaven gained. Bonar's discussion is without equal in the English language." -- John W. Robbins
The Banner of Truth edition is available free as e-text.
The Everlasting Righteousness; or, How shall man be just with God?
The Everlasting Righteousness, Horatius Bonar
http://www.jude3.net/bertoc.htm
http://books.google.com/books?id=nQMDAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Broger, John C., and Jay Edward Adams, Competent to Counsel: Study Guide for Christian Counseling Training Course (Wheaton, IL: National Association of Evangelicals, 2001?).

*Broger, John C. (developer/editor), Course I: The Self-Confrontation Syllabus for Biblical Counseling Training, ISBN: 1878114018 9781878114013 and Course I: Self-Confrontation Tapes (10 cassette tapes) (Rancho Mirage, CA: Biblical Counseling Foundation).
"Contains 24 weekly lessons intended to move a person through the change process personally as the foundation for working on becoming a counselor (Matthew 7:1-5). Intended for Sunday school and other classes or personal study. The first eight lessons lay the biblical foundation for change. The grace of the God in the gospel of Jesus Christ is spring of all true change, and it prompts a self-confrontation: 'Man's way is oriented to self: to please self, to comfort self, to rely on self, to fulfill self, to forgive self, to exalt self, and to love self. . . . [God's way] emphasizes that you are to live for Him.' The next thirteen lessons treat particular problem areas: selfishness, anger, interpersonal conflict, marriage and family, depression, fear, life-dominating sins. The final three lessons summarize and set the foundation for Course II, Biblical Counseling Training." -- David Powlison
"Helps Christians solve their personal problems Biblically and equips laymen and women to counsel others Biblically within the church." Particularly valuable for its system of identifying root problems in counseling cases. Some of the material presented is from various writings by Jay E. Adams. The audio cassette tape series by John Broger is designed to accompany the course and includes practical examples.
Biblical Counseling Foundation
http://www.bcfministries.org/aboutbcf.htm

*Broger, John C. (developer/editor), Course II: Nouthetic Counseling Study Guide and Course II: Self-Confrontation Tapes (8 cassette tapes) (Rancho Mirage, CA: Biblical Counseling Foundation).
Biblical Counseling Foundation
http://www.bcfministries.org/aboutbcf.htm

Broger, John C., Instructor's Guide for the Self-confrontation Course: Based on the Old and New Testaments as the Only Authoritative Rule of Faith and Conduct (Rancho Mirage, CA: Biblical Counseling Foundation, 1992).

*Brooks, Thomas, Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851510027 9780851510026. A Christian classic.
"The best Christian authors of former times treated the seductive influence and terrible power of Satan in a way `greatly more full and suggestive than in the literature of the present day'." -- William Grimshaw
" `The strange opposition that I met with from Satan, in the study of the following discourse, hath put an edge upon my spirit, knowing that Satan strives mightily to keep these things from seeing the light that tend eminently to shake and break his kingdom of darkness, and to lift up the kingdom and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the souls and lives of the children of men . . .' This is one of the seven reasons for writing his book which the author, Thomas Brooks, gives in his preface." -- Publisher's Annotation

*BROWN, JOHN (OF EDINBURGH, 1784-1858) Discourses and Sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ, 3 volumes (London, England: Banner of Truth Trust, 1990, 1967, 1852). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
"Spurgeon says of this great commentary: `Of the noblest order of exposition. Procure it.' Elsewhere in COMMENTING AND COMMENTARIES, he wrote, `Dr. Brown's work must be placed among the first of the first-class. He is a great expositor.' Again, `Brown is a modern Puritan. All his expositions are of the utmost value.'
"These volumes cover much of the Gospel of John, plus many portions of the other three Gospels. In them he reveals his encyclopedic mind, and a profound regard for the Bible and the very Word of God. In addition, it is seen why it was said that he had the best clerical library in the whole nation of Scotland.
"There is little doubt in the mind of this reviewer that any reader of these volumes will become possessor of myriads of new insights into the Scriptures, and what they reveal of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is indispensable to the student of the Gospels." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"Based upon the revised and enlarged edition of 1852. Rich in thought. Pastors will appreciate the writer's application of spiritual truths to the needs of men and women." -- Cyril J. Barber
Recommended for daily devotions, as are all the books in the listing of "Books Considered to be Among the ten Greatest in the English Language."
Also available in Google Books, full view, Discourses and Sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ, Illustrated in a Series of Expositions. ... by John Brown, published 1856 [Complete in 2 volumes. New York: Robert Carter and Brothers] original from the University of Michigan, digitized Feb. 17, 2006.
http://books.google.com/books?id=SZl9u8v0Yi8C&dq=Discourses+and+Sayings+of+Our+Lord+Jesus+Christ&ie=ISO-8859-1&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0
This University of Michigan digitized edition, that appears in Google Books, is available in paper from two publishers: (Scholarly Publishing Office, University of Michigan Library, November 30, 2006 [Gardners Books, 2006]), 652 pages.
"This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's preservation reformatting program." -- Publisher's Annotation
And (Hard Press, November 26, 2007), 652 pages.

*BROWN, JOHN (of Wamphray, 1610?-1679), The Life of Justification Opened, or, A Treatise grounded upon Gal. 2.11 [i.e. 3.11]: wherein the orthodox doctrine of justification by faith . . . is clearly expounded . . . 1695. Available on the SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #20, ISBN: 0921148976 9780921148975. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #5. A Christian classic.
"The title continues: `Or, a Treatise grounded upon Gal. 2:11. Wherein the Orthodox Doctrine of Justification by Faith, and Imputation of Christ's Righteousness, is clearly expounded, solidly confirmed, and learnedly vindicated from the various Objections of its Adversaries. Whereunto are subjoined some Arguments against Universal Redemption.' In 1828 Dr. Burns wrote, `Mr. John Brown was unquestionably one of the most eminent divines Scotland has yet produced, as his numerous writings, still carefully sought after by solid and judicious Christians, fully envince' (Johnston, Treasury of the Scottish Covenant, p. 339). Regarding this book Dr. Walker noted, `By far our most thorough exposition and discussion of the doctrine it handles; and all the more to be prized because of the particular bearing it has on the new views which Baxter and others had begun to propagate, and which in some shape are ever returning upon ourselves' (Ibid., p. 341). Interestingly, Brown, in the preface, after warning against Arminianism `as the immediate way to introduce Popery' states, `Yea even those who were purer in appearance, pressing the moral duties and practical doctrine of piety (I mean the followers of that famous Minister Mr. Richard Baxter) did corrupt the true doctrine of justification, because they adopted universal grace and redemption.' One of the best, if not the best, books ever written on the topic of justification!" -- SWRB

*CALVIN, JOHN, Calvin's Ecclesiastical Advice (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1991).
"Forty-six (46) letters and writings of Calvin newly translated into English from Corpus Reformatorum (volume 38, part I). Focusing on doctrine, the Reformation, worship, discipline, judicial questions, and marriage, this books clearly exhibits Calvin's pastoral style. It also shows the great influence which Calvin exerted over second Reformation thought, because of his focus on doctrine, worship and church government." -- SWRB

*Calvin, John, and John Graham Miller (contributor), Calvin's Wisdom: An Anthology Arranged Alphabetically by a Grateful Reader, ISBN: 0851516246 9780851516240. "This anthology (arranged alphabetically by topic) also becomes a dictionary of his thought and almost an encyclopedia of his theology." -- GCB
Calvin's Wisdom: An Anthology Arranged Alphabetically by a Grateful Reader, Jean Calvin, John Graham Miller
http://books.google.com/books?id=_VsuAAAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*Calvin, Jean, and John Owen (translator and editor), Commentaries on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. Alternate title: COMMENTARIUS IN EPISTOLAM PAULI AD ROMANOS. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1948, 1947), 592 pages.

Christian Legal Society, Christian Conciliation Services, Peacemaker's Handbook (Annandale, VA: Christian Legal Society, 1978).
C. Ken Sande, editor.

Cook, Earl, Counseling Children (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette AC881.

Curro, Ellen, Caring Enough to Help: Counseling at a Crisis Pregnancy Center (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group, April 1990), ISBN: 0801025516 9780801025518.
"Much valuable information for training volunteers to serve at a crisis pregnancy center is included here. The entire Christian community will see how it can make a difference by touching hurting lives." -- GCB

Davis, D. Clair, Resolving Conflict (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette WW102.

*Dayringer, Richard, The Heart of Pastoral Counseling: Healing Through Relationship (Grand Rapids, MI: Ministry Resources Library, c1989), ISBN: 0789001721 9780789001726.
Includes bibliography and index.
"Edition lays the foundation for utilizing the pastoral counseling relationship to bring about positive change as it explores topics such as observation, listening, communication, handling transference, and termination of therapy. Dr. Richard Dayringer explores these topics through research from the disciplines of psychiatry, psychology, marriage counseling, family therapy, and pastoral counseling to help pastoral counselors understand how to use the relationship to bring about the desired ends in the therapeutic process." -- Reader's Comment

*Delitzsch, Franz, A System of Biblical Psychology, 2nd edition (Edinburg, Scotland: 1869).
"The greatest single work on Biblical psychology ever written."

Dineen, Tana, Manufacturing Victims, ISBN: 189585458X 9781895854589.
"Dr. Tana Dineen clearly demonstrates that providers of psychological therapy do manufacture victims.
"Dineen knows the profession from her experience of twenty years on the inside. Contrary to most practicing therapists, Dineen knows the research regarding the efficacy of psychotherapy. Through the years she saw more and more problems with the profession and finally closed her practice. In her book she provides enough scientific research to discourage anyone from ever wanting to combine psychology with Christianity. She also reveals the many ways in which therapists do create victims. We believe every Christian leader should read MANUFACTURING VICTIMS.
"Another eye-opening book is HOUSE OF CARDS: PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY BUILT ON MYTH by Dr. Robyn M. Dawes, who is a widely recognized researcher and a professor at Carnegie-Mellon University. His book demolishes all pretensions of psychological counseling theories and therapies and relegates clinical psychology to the realm of pseudoscience.
"In his book THE CRISIS IN PSYCHIATRY AND RELIGION, O. Hobart Mower poses this question: 'Has evangelical religion sold its birthright for a mess of psychological pottage?' Yes, that is exactly what evangelical Christianity has done! Isn't it time to confess that horrible sin, throw out the psychological stew and cleave to the Lord and all He has given through the New Birth?" -- Reader's Comment

*Dowdy, Augustus W., Jr., Phone Power, ISBN: 0817006524 9780817006525.
"Brief but very helpful, with practical ideas on communication by phone and many practical ways to use the phone within the local ministry of the church. Has a helpful appendix on where to go for information on hotlines and telephone ministries." -- Robert B. Somerville

*Enroth, Ronald M., Churches That Abuse: Help for Those Hurt by Legalism, Authoritarian Leadership, Manipulation, Excessive Discipline (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992).
"What makes a church abusive? Usually it's not doctrinal deviation but intimidating behavior: legalism, authoritarian leadership, manipulation, and excessive discipline. Enroth names abusive groups, shows you how to recognize them, and lists `red flags' that may indicate when a church is drifting into trouble. Most importantly, Enroth offers help to Christians who've been hurt by abusive churches." -- CBD
"Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps; The Assembly; Body of Christ Fellowship (Piecemakers); Boston Church of Christ; Christian Growth Ministries; Church of Bible Understanding; Church of Jesus Christ Forever; Church of Our First Love; Church of the Great Shepherd; Christian Growth Ministries; Community of Jesus; Emmaus Christian Fellowship; Faith Assembly; Faith Tabernacle; Fellowship of Christian Churches and Ministries; Great Commission International; Maranatha Christian Ministries; No-Name Fellowship/C-U (Champaign-Urbana) Ministries; River of Life/Truth Station; Set Free; Two-by-Two's; University Bible Fellowship; Victory Chapel (Potter's House); Vineyard; Word of God Community."

Evans, Robert A., Alice F. Evans, Louis Weeks, and Carolyn Weeks, Casebook for Christian Living: Value Formation for Families and Congregations (Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press, c1977), ISBN: 0804220328 9780804220323.
Includes bibliographical references.

Falkowski, Carol, Dangerous Drugs: An Easy to use Reference for Parents and Professionals, 2nd edition (Hazelden, February 25, 2003), 1568389817 9781568389813.
"In a world where the drug abuse scene is more confusing and dangerous than ever, the second edition of DANGEROUS DRUGS: AN EASY TO USE REFERENCE FOR PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS is the answer. Now with color photos of drugs and paraphernalia, DANGEROUS DRUGS is a concise, comprehensive, clear, and handy reference that answers your questions at a glance, with: - Up-to-date information on drugs of abuse - Demographics of users. - Explanations of how a drug is used; where it's found and how it affects the mind and body - The names and forms under which drugs are sold - Their addictive, lethal, and overdose potential - Signs of drug abuse and where/how to seek help, and more. Written in clear language, Dangerous Drugs provides straightforward, authoritative, comprehensive, and up-to-the-minute information. It covers the full range of drugs of abuse, whether illegal (marijuana, heroin, cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, etc.) or legal (alcohol, prescription, tobacco, or Internet-marketed, herbal remedies). Dangerous Drugs is written for professionals and non-professionals alike, and is a book that no one concerned about drug use can afford to be without.
"Carol Falkowski, Director of Research Communications at the Hazelden Foundation, is author of the new reference book, Dangerous Drugs: An Easy-to-Use Reference for Parents and Professionals.For nearly 20 years she has monitored drug abuse trends at the national level, as one of 20 researchers in the country who participates in a drug abuse monitoring network of the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Falkowski advised the US Food and Drug Administration (1995 - 1999) regarding the safety, efficacy, and abuse potential of certain drugs, and has provided consultation to the National Institute of Justice, the National Drug Intelligence Center, Join Together, and numerous states. Before coming to Hazelden in 1997, she was research coordinator at the Minnesota state alcohol and drug abuse authority for 15 years. Falkowski was featured in the 1999 Showtime documentary by Robert Zemeckis, "Smoking, Drinking, and Drugging in the Twentieth Century." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Findley, Martha, Book 2: Elsie's Holidays at Roselands, ISBN: 9781888306323 1888306327.
"When Elsie's father becomes ill, she takes on the job of nurse-companion, and all goes well until Elsie, because it is the Sabbath, as a matter of conscience refuses to read to him from a secular book. The battle of wills that ensues nearly causes first her father's death, and then Elsie's. Lonely Elsie -- punished, ostracized, and then abandoned by her father -- turns to her heavenly Father for comfort and assurance. Will her father realize that Elsie's obedience to God must be paramount, and submit himself to the same Divine Authority?" -- Publisher's Annotation
On an even more serious note, one moral of this story is the broader life and death struggle between Truth and Falsehood (see "Absolute Truth and Relativism," "Epistemology," "Christian Scholarship"). The consequence of conflict of will is death of the "One," or war of the "Many" (see Rushdoony, The One and the Many). Conflict of will (see "Will and Recalcitrance," "Rebellion and Lawlessness") may begin when one individual (see "The Doctrine of Man (Human Nature, Total Depravity)" or corporate body (see "Corporate Faithfulness and Sanctification") tries to usurping authority over another (see "Power," "Authority") -- tries to control and possess them (see "Tyranny," "Slavery"). The means of control may be either outward or occult (see "The Occult and Spiritism"): deceit, repression or suppression of the truth, replacing moral and ethical absolutes with relativism (see "Ethics," "Medical Ethics"), unfaithfulness to the highest ethical standards (see "The Ten Commandments, the Moral Law" "The Holy Bible"), apostasy, Spirituality and harlotry (see "Idolatry," "Jeremiah"), invocation of the demonic, idolatry, ungodly alliance and secret societies (see "Carnality and Flesh Pleasing: Lust, Desires, Ambition," "Justice, Judgment, God's Final Judgment, The Great White Throne Judgment, The Day of the Lord"), attempts to take authority over another politically or by mental malpractice (see "Selection of Covenant Heads for Positions of Leadership"), "making up their own rules (see "Absolute Truth and Relativism)," ignoring or changing constitutional or creedal documents, unjust laws for the accumulation of wealth and power, indebtedness, disenfranchisement, denial of freedom (see "God the Author of Freedom"), soul-stealing, possessiveness, physical seduction and whoredom, political economic or sexual enslavement (see Sexual Relationship, Spirituality and Harlotry), and so forth, and so on.
This abuse, this soul-violence, quenches the Holy Spirit (see Owen, "God's Presence With a People the Spring of Their Prosperity; With Their Special Interest in Abiding in Him"). If either side is immovable, then death is the consequence (see "Soteriology," "The Atonement," "The Blood of Christ," "Hell" and "Heaven").
How are conflicts of will resolved? By submission to the Absolute Truths of God's word, the great common denominator (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6, KJV). All this bears a strain of the Gospel (see "Book-length Presentations of the Free Offer of The Gospel Message of Salvation and the Life to Come: The Means of Grace," "The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)").
Holidays at Roselands (Gutenberg text)
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=14280

*Foster, Timothy, Called to Counsel (Nashville, TN: Oliver Nelson, 1986).
"Designed for the training of laypersons in our churches, this book is practical and specific and focuses on `what to do,' and `what to say' in different situations. Foster gives easily accessible answers on how to handle uncomfortable situations and when to refer those beings counseled to professional therapists. Most importantly, he discusses what is appropriate to do (and not to do) in hundreds of cases readers can easily relate to in their own counseling. Recommended." -- Cyril J. Barber

*Foster, Timothy, The Handbook of Christian Counseling, ISBN: 0785279393 9780785279396.
A revised edition of CALLED TO COUNSEL, 1986. Includes index.

Ganz, Richard, How I Became a Christian Counselor (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Also includes "Dr. Adams, Questions and Answers; Is Masturbation for Christians?"

*Ganz, Richard, L., You Shall be Free Indeed: The Statutes of Liberty for Godly Living (Nepean, Ontario, Canada: GSG Group, c1989).
"Drawing from his experience as a nouthetic counselor and pastor, Ganz shows how Christians can have the freedom that Christ gives his people. Jay Adams says: `This is one of the most encouraging and helpful books I have read in a long time'." -- GCB

*Gordon, Burgess L., Understanding and Promoting the Resources of Aging People: A Guide to Care, Proper Environment, and Well Being (Smithtown, NY: Exposition Press, 1981).
"Describes the conditions that affect the health of the aged. Written more for those who work extensively with senior citizens, this work nevertheless brings into sharp focus the unique needs of the elderly." -- Cyril J. Barber
The Caregiver's Handbook
http://www.seniormag.com/caregiver-handbook.pdf

Grunlan, Stephen A., and Daniel H. Lambrides, Healing Relationships: A Christian's Manual for Lay Counseling, ISBN: 087509354X 9780875093543.

*Harrison, Roland Kenneth (editor), Encyclopedia of Biblical and Christian Ethics, revised and updated (Testament, March 4, 2003), 480 pages, ISBN: 0517222280
"A comprehensive reference work for everyone concerned with the complicated moral issues of this world, this unique volume clearly communicates what Scripture teaches about the ethical dilemmas facing our society. Biological warfare, corporate responsibility, human rights, computer ethics, and much more are discussed by over fifty scholars who explain the moral guidelines in the Bible and historic Christian teachings.
"R.K. Harrison, author and editor of over thirty books on biblical studies, has brought together a valuable A to B treasury of thought for every believer searching for guidance." -- Publisher's Annotation
"A compendium of reliable information. Arranged in dictionary format, 550 entries and 61 contributors. Goes beyond descriptive data to the practical application of truth to a variety of situations . . . . The book is well-indexed. . . . Treats ethical areas like apartheid and surrogate motherhood. Probably the best available evangelical treatment of this type." -- GCB

Hexham, Irving, Karla Poewe, and J.I. Packer, Understanding Cults and New Religions (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.).
"This book is designed to help Christian laymen, pastors, youth workers, and students understand cults from a social, psychological, and religious perspective. . . ." -- GCB

Hindson, Ed (author), Howard Eyrich (author), Totally Sufficient (Christian Focus, September 1, 2004), 272 pages, ISBN: 1857929608 9781857929607.
"Contributors Gary L. Almy, W. Wilson Benton Jr, Edward G. Dobson, Howard Eyrich, Ronald E. Hawkins, Ed Hindson, Arnold Hyndman, Wayne A. Mack, Paul Madtes Jr, David Powlison, C. Dwayne Shafer, Chris Thurman, Edward T. Welch. Christian counselors agree that the Bible's message of salvation can radically change lives. Scripture can lead even the most unlikely people to faith but when it comes to everyday problems is the Bible really enough? Here we have more than a dozen highly trained counselors, medical experts and pastors who are highly respected in their fields. Every one has at least one doctorate relevant to the area they examine in this book. Their answers to the question stated above are enlightening, thought provoking and surprising." -- Publisher's Annotation

Hughes, Selwyn, The Christian Counselor's Pocket Guide

*Johnson, David, and Jeff VanVonderen, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse: Recognizing and Escaping Spiritual Manipulation and False Spiritual Authority Within the Church (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, October 1, 2005), ISBN: 0764201379 9780764201370.
"Manipulation, shaming, `using' other people -- that's in the church, too. Spiritual abuse happens when authority figures use spiritual means to gratify their desires for importance, power, or intimacy. Because abusers use spiritual-sounding language, their followers are trapped in legalism, guilt performance, and begrudging service. Johnson and VanVonderen explain how to identify spiritual abuse, break the cycle of abusive spiritual dynamics, and encourage both abusers and victims to repent and recover." -- CBD
"In a breakthrough book first published in 1991, the authors address the dynamics in churches that can ensnare people in legalism, guilt, and begrudging service, keeping them from the grace and joy of God's kingdom. Written for both those who feel abused and those who may be causing it, THE SUBTLE POWER OF SPIRITUAL ABUSE shows how people get hooked into abusive systems, the impact of controlling leadership on a congregation, and how the abused believer can find rest and recovery.
"David Johnson has been the senior pastor at Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, Minnesota, since 1980. During this time, the church has grown from a congregation of 160 to 3,000 people. A much sought-after speaker, he is a graduate of Bethel College and received his theological training at Bethel Seminary and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His "Growing in Grace" radio broadcast is syndicated internationally. David and his family live in Minnesota.
"Jeff VanVonderen is an internationally known speaker on addictions and church and family wellness. He has worked as a counselor in both residential and outpatient treatment settings, as well as in the religious community, taught at the college level, and is the author of several books. He makes his home in California." -- Publisher's Annotation
"The difference between churches that use manipulation and those that practice grace is like night and day. . . .
"Van Vonderen and Johnson warn people who read the book not to use what they have learned as a weapon, but to take action only in the proper spirit. Of course, any time someone takes action in a church, real problems will become visible. My question in every case is: are those problems caused by those speaking out, or have they been there all along and are only now being exposed. . . ?
"It is fair, it is doctrinally solid, and it gives effective counsel. There is something beneficial for everyone. . . leader, wounded Christian, or loved ones of people in either group." -- Reader's Comment

The Journal of Biblical Counseling
http://www.ccef.org/html/biblicalcounselingjournal.html

Kandle, George C., and Henry H. Cassler, Ministering to Prisoners and Their Families (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1968).
Includes bibliography.

*Kantzer, Kenneth S. (editor), Applying the Scriptures: Papers From ICBI Summit III (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House).
"This book includes 17 papers and the responses given at the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy [infallibility] in December 1986. The debate is heated at times and offers a good representation from the evangelical community. The thrust of the book is the application of God's Word to all of life." -- GCB

Kopp, Ruth L., and Stephen Sorenson, When Someone You Love Is Dying: A Handbook for Counselors and Those Who Care (Ministry Resources Library. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1985, 1980).
"This remarkable book was first published in 1980 under the title ENCOUNTER WITH TERMINAL ILLNESS. As Haddon W. Robinson pointed out, `All life is terminal. Some arrive at the terminal before they know it. Others hear an announcement and anticipate death's coming. For such men and women going to death themselves, or traveling with others, Dr. Kopp provides practical counsel about how to make the journey'." -- Cyril J. Barber

*KNOX, JOHN (1505-1572), Select Practical Writings of John Knox Available on the SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"In this 1845 edition, we find some of Knox's writings addressed to individuals. Deep, experimental dealing with souls and consciences, high toned, manly and practical, all describe this work. Over 350 pages." -- SWRB

*KNOX, JOHN (1505-1572), and KEVIN REED (editor), The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment [government] of Women, With the "Summary of the Second Blast" appended, (Dallas, TX [Presbyterian Heritage Publications, P.O. Box 180922, 75218-0922]: Presbyterian Heritage Publications, 1993), trade paperback, 96 pages, marginal notes, scripture index, and subject index. This edition appears in three additional formats: SELECTED WRITINGS OF JOHN KNOX: PUBLIC EPISTLES, TREATISES, AND EXPOSITIONS TO THE YEAR 1559, pp. 370-436, the LIBRARY OF PRESBYTERIAN HERITAGE PUBLICATIONS AND PROTESTANT HERITAGE PRESS CD-ROM LIBRARY, and e-text that includes the marginal notes as endnotes, but does not include the scripture index, and subject index. Citations for these three additional formats are listed below.
"The text of this edition is based on the definitive edition of THE WORKS OF JOHN KNOX, edited by David Laing (Edinburgh, 1895).
"In this controversial work, John Knox contends that 'to promote a woman to bear rule, superiority, dominion, or empire above any realm, nation, or city, is repugnant to nature, contumely [insult] to God, a thing most contrary to his revealed will and approved ordinance; and finally, it is the subversion of good order, of all equity and justice'." -- Publisher's Annotation
Subheading used in this edition:

"The SUMMARY OF THE SECOND BLAST was originally appended to the APPELLATION FROM THE SENTENCE PRONOUNCED BY THE BISHOPS AND CLERGY: ADDRESSED TO THE NOBILITY AND ESTATES OF SCOTLAND (1558), published in KNOX'S WORKS, VOL. IV, pp. 539-40." (see citation below) -- Publisher's Annotation
Other publications of THE FIRST BLAST OF THE TRUMPET follow:
Gunn Productions,The Monstrous Regiment of Women, DVD (Gunn Productions, October 31, 2007), 54 minutes.
"Who is the monstrous regiment? Today, the feminists are our monstrous regiment!
To promote a woman to bear rule, superiority, dominion, or empire above any realm, nation, or city, is repugnant to nature . . . A thing most contrary to His revealed will and approved ordinance. -- John Knox
"The 16th century reformer John Knox wrote his famous tract THE FIRST BLAST OF THE TRUMPET AGAINST THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN to oppose a notorious European female tyrant who sought to stamp out biblical Christianity in his beloved Scotland.
"When we approach the issues of our day we wish to borrow his biblical perspective to apply his blast against those who rule in the wake of his monstrous queen. This group, we shall see, far surpasses the queen's iniquities in both kind and degree.
"Feminists tell women not to submit to a husband, to avoid having children, and that they should listen to their inner voice and chase a career to find true fulfillment. This twisted and irrational teaching has led to disaster for American women, leading many into a frustrating, isolated existence. With this film, we call women back to a life filled with joy and beauty that can only be found by following God's Word.
"Due to the subject matter this film is not suitable for children.
"Subjects Covered: | Who was John Knox? | What did he think of women? | What is Feminism? | Feminism and Socialism | Daycare | Modesty | Women in the Military | Women in the Workplace | Margaret Sanger | Planned Parenthood | Abortion | Hillary | Birth Control | Betty Friedan | Rock For Choice | Plus 26 minutes of unique interview footage
"Featuring: | Sharon Adams -- Historian, Edinburgh University | Jennie Chancey -- Ladies Against Feminism | Jane Doe -- Military Cadet | Carol Everett -- Former Abortion Provider | Dana Feliciano -- Homemaker | Carmon Friedrich -- Writer, Buried Treasure Books | F. Carolyn Graglia -- Author, Domestic Tranquility | Rosalind Marshall -- Knox Biographer | Stacey McDonald -- Author, Raising Maidens of Virtue | Phyllis Schlafly -- Eagle Forum | Denise Sproul -- Homemaker | Kathleen Smith -- Homemaker" -- Publisher's Annotation

*Kuhne, Gary W., The Dynamics of Personal Follow-Up (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1976), ISBN: 0310269512 9780310269519.
A scholarly work that is one of the foundational books for the nouthetic method of counseling. Includes bibliography.

Lester, Andrew D., Hope in Pastoral Care and Counseling, ISBN: 0664255884 9780664255886.

Lester, Andrew D., When Children Suffer: A Sourcebook for Ministry With Children in Crisis (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1987), ISBN: 0664213278 9780664213275.
"Focuses on the significant crises in childhood. Treats issues like unresolved grief, unnecessary fear, lack of trust, a low sense of worth, distorted ideas about the person of God and the world in which they live. Well-done; makes a valuable contribution." -- Cyril J. Barber

Levicoff, Steve, Christian Counseling and the Law (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, c1991).
Includes bibliographical references and index.

Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn, Healing and the Scriptures (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers), ISBN: 0840790112 9780840790118.
"The ten chapters in this book are excerpts from messages given by the Doctor to medical students and practicing M.D.'s. The subjects covered are many, among which are: The Supernatural in Medicine; On Treating the Whole Man; The Doctor as Counselor; Fullest Care; Medicine in Modern Society; Body, Mind, and Spirit; How to Combat the Demonic; Identifying Psychosomatic Illnesses; and The Moral Law.. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

*Luther, Martin (1483-1546), Tischreden (Aurifaber). [English selections], The Table Talk or Familiar Discourse of Martin Luther Additional title: DR MARTIN LUTHER'S DIVINE DISCOURSES AT HIS TABLE, &C. WHICH IN HIS LIFE TIME HE HELD WITH DIVERS LEARNED MEN (SUCH AS WERE PHILIP MELANCTHON, CASPARUS CRUCIGER, JUSTUS JONAS, PAULUS EBERUS, VITUS DIETERICUS, JOANNES BUGONHAGEN, JOANNES FORSTERUS, AND OTHERS) CONTAINING QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TOUCHING RELIGION, AND OTHER MAIN POINTS OF DOCTRINE, ALSO MANY NOTABLE HISTORIES, AND ALL SORTS OF LEARNING, COMFORTS, ADVISES, PROPHESIES, ADMONITIONS, DIRECTIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS. COLLECTED FIRST TOGETHER BY DR. ANTONIUS LAUTHERBACH, AND AFTERWARD DISPOSED INTO CERTAIN COMMON PLACES BY JOHN AURIFABER DR. IN DIVINITY. TRANSLATED OUT OF THE HIGH GERMAN INTO THE ENGLISH TONGUE BY CAPT. HENRY BELL (London: David Bogue, 1848). Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1.
The Table Talk of Martin Luther, translated and edited by William Hazlitt, with a memoir by Alexander Chalmers (London, G. Bell and Sons, 1902).
"In 1525 Luther married and settled down to family life in Wittenberg. Among his visitors were many poor students, and these fervent disciples wrote down all they remembered of their master's conversation. This TABLE TALK has always enjoyed great popularity for its refreshing unreserve and frequent brilliance. It shows Luther to have been a true child of his age. He must be judged by the mind of his times. We give some of his strong opinions that have not borne the wear and tear of later ages; but they are more than balanced by teaching that is beautiful as well as true." -- J.A. Hammerton, Outline of Great Books
The Table-talk of Martin Luther translated by William Hazlitt, Esq.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/luther/tabletalk.i.html
The Table-talk of Martin Luther translated by William Hazlitt, Esq.
This is e-text of The Lutheran Publication Society printing.
http://www.reformed.org/documents/Table_talk/table_talk.html

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

Martin, Grant, Counseling in Cases of Family Violence and Abuse (Resources in Christian Counseling Series, Vol. 6. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1987), ISBN: 0849905877 9780849905872.

*Martin, Robert P., A Guide to the Puritans: A Topical and Textual Index to the Writings of the Puritans and Some of Their Successors Recently in Print (Banner of Truth, 1997), 546 pages, ISBN: 0851517137 9780851517131.
"I owe an enormous debt to the Puritans, the most prolific and accurate expounders of the biblical principles upon which the Reformation was built. Their concern for vital godliness in every area of the Christian's experience has rightly earned for them the title 'theologians of the Christian life.' Their writings are a rich banquet table loaded with solid nourishment for God's people. . . .
There are many more qualified to index the Puritans than I. Had someone more acquainted with the Puritans' works and more schooled in their history and theology undertaken this project, the end product would have been vastly superior. My primary qualification is that I have been willing to undertake the task. I will not be surprised if those who use this volume find many things which could be done better, especially in the topical index. My hope, however, is that those who find flaws will favor me with their suggestions for improvement, so that if future editions come from the press, the people of God will be served better than at present.
"In determining which writers and works to index, I have been guided and restrained by several principles. First, I have deliberately chosen a broad definition of the term Puritan. Instead of the narrow ecclesiastical sense, i.e., of referring only to those in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries who desired reformation in the national church of England, I am using the term Puritan in the broader religious sense of those advocating the experimental, Calvinistic religion which the Puritans exemplified. Moreover, I have cast my net even farther to take in those who have looked to the Puritans as their nearest theological kin; thus including such men as Archibald Alexander, Charles Hodge, B.B. Warfield, W.G.T. Shedd, John Murray, and many other modern Puritans.
"Second, with reference to older writers, I have limited my efforts to recently republished works. Many valuable works, of course, have not reappeared in our day, but are available only in libraries and private collections. I have not tried to include any such items. A comprehensive index of the entire body of Puritan writings would be a wonderful resource, but it is quite beyond my ability to undertake such a project.
"Third, though I have tried to include all the older works currently available, I have indexed only a sampling of works from living writers. Some may question my choices or judge that I have overlooked important new works and authors in the Puritan mold. I sincerely regret overlooking any volume worthy of notice. My only defense is that my knowledge of living authors is much less than my awareness of the proven guides of the past. For the most part I have limited new works to those published by the Banner of Truth Trust, confident that these works have passed through a fine grid of review, and would not bear the Banner label if they were not clearly in the Puritan tradition.
"Fourth, doubtless some users of this index will be disappointed that several important precursors to the Puritans are missing. For example, except for the notice of a few well-known works, Calvin and Luther are not indexed. The same is true of Augustine. The contribution of these men to reformed and Puritan thinking cannot be overestimated. Including their works, however, was not possible, given my present constraints. I regret this greatly.
"Among nineteenth-century figures, the most prominent absence is that of C. H. Spurgeon. Spurgeon certainly is worthy of a place in this work; however, since a textual and topical index of his sermons already exists, I chose not to duplicate that work here.
"In our own century, the ministry of D. M. Lloyd-Jones has produced a large body of useful material in the Puritan tradition; however, unlike his contemporary, John Murray, no collection of Dr. Lloyd-Jones's writings is yet available. Much that Dr. Lloyd-Jones preached is now published in commentary form (e.g., his expositions of the Sermon on the Mount, Romans, Ephesians, etc.) and is not included in this index because of my decision not to index commentaries. I have indexed the Doctor's topical works that were available to me. Those wanting more information on Dr. Lloyd-Jones's writings should consult the bibliography found at the end of volume two of Iain Murray's biography [LLOYD-JONES, D. MARTYN: THE FIGHT OF FAITH, 1939-1981 -- sk].
"The Scripture Index was easy to produce. Where a specific text (or texts) of scripture served as the basis for a sermon or treatise, it is included in the Scripture Index at the appropriate place. This does not mean, however, that every work listed in the Scripture Index contains a detailed exegesis of the text to which it is attached. Often the Puritans used texts as the starting points for topical sermons or series. What follows is not so much an exposition of the text but an exposition of a theme which the text epitomizes. Such sermons do not always answer to the needs of the technical exegete, but they often serve as catalysts for doctrinal and practical observations on the text.
"A few whole commentaries are found in the Scripture Index. These are present only because they are included in an author's collected writings. Many more commentaries could have been included; however, those appearing before 1870 are catalogued already in Spurgeon's COMMENTING AND COMMENTARIES. Many fine commentaries in the Puritan tradition also have appeared since 1870; but I have made no effort to produce what would in fact have been an update of Spurgeon's work.
"The Topical Index was extremely difficult to construct. Two problems constantly intruded themselves into the process. First, when I began, no list of topics was ready at hand. My method therefore was to compile the list of topics as I went along. The end product doubtless is less accurate than if the topics had been set from the beginning. Second, Puritan sermons are not always capable of being reduced to one or two key ideas. Frequently the Puritans ranged across a wide field of related themes in a single sermon. Where this occurred, properly placing the sermon in the Topical Index was difficult. In most cases I was guided by either the author's title or his doctrine summary, i.e., a statement expressing the theme of the sermon. I have tried to exercise as much care as possible in indexing topically; however, those more familiar with individual sermons or treatises perhaps will question my decisions. Again, I hope that observations which may improve this work will be communicated to me. . . . I have included comments with some entries. It was not possible to do this for every entry. For the most part, I did this where I felt that a word was needed to clarify the emphasis of a given work. . . ." -- Robert P. Martin in the Preface, August 1996, Seattle, Washington

McElhinney, Glenn R., A Nouthetic Approach to Counseling Elementary School-age Children (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Theological Seminary, D.Min. thesis, 1986).
Includes bibliography.

McKnight, William John, The Scriptures the Supreme Guide in the Affairs of Men.

*Miller, C. John "Jack" (1928-1996), "Finding Healthy Self-esteem Through Being Completely Forgiven" (Quality Living Series. Jenkintown, PA [World Harvest, Box 2175, Jenkintown, 19046]: World Harvest, 1987).
"Do you feel inadequate? That you need to do more or be better in order to be happy and fulfilled? You may not realize it, but your biggest problem is . . . you don't feel completely forgiven."
World Harvest Mission
http://www.whm.org/home.htm

*Miller, C. John "Jack" (1928-1996) and Rose Marie Miller, Sonship Course: World Harvest Mission Leadership Training Program, Nurture Training for Ministry, Equipping Others for Ministry (Jenkintown, PA [World Harvest, Box 2175, Jenkintown 19046]: World Harvest, 1988).
This course was developed to prepare World Harvest missionaries to work in the field. The course includes small group participation and Biblical counseling.
"The first half of the Sonship track focuses on the doctrines of Justification, Sanctification, and Adoption. The last half lays the foundation for love. We look at how the Gospel affects the way we look at ourselves. Our goal was that increasingly your self-image should be rooted in God's view of you clothed in the perfect righteousness of Christ . . . What we aim at here is to encourage the trainee to learn from Christ how to build a holy life, a life of love to your neighbor. This is done self-consciously relying always on his or her free justification by faith. Sanctification by faith issues from knowing always that my standing as a son is assured by justification by Christ alone through faith alone. Thus the heart of our counseling on character development centers in affirmation of Christ's work for us, and Christ's work in us through the Spirit. But within that framework we attempt seriously to involve each trainee in ongoing repentance, putting off old habits and sins and putting on Christ-like love and faith. . . . Much focus is laid on teamwork. . . . The skill of evangelism . . . is the believer's primary emphasis in the course of training because the staff believes that evangelism is necessary for a healthy Christian life . . . Evangelism rightly understood affects both the faith and the Christian life of the one who shares Christ's message." -- C. John Miller and Rose Marie Miller
Miller, C. John (1928-1996), Rose Marie Miller, Paul Miller, Rick Downs, David M. Desforge, et al, Sonship, a set of 16 sound cassettes (audiobook on tape), (Oreland, PA: World Harvest Mission, 1997).
World Harvest Mission
http://www.whm.org/home.htm

Miller, David R., Breaking Free: Rescuing Families From the Clutches of Legalism.

Mitton, C. Leslie (editor), First Aid in Counseling (Edinburg, Scotland: Clark, 1968).
Includes bibliography.

Needham, David C., Birthright: Christian do you Know who you are? (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers).
"One of the finest books on the subject. Discover from the Bible who you are, and what your destiny is. This book could change your entire outlook on life." -- GCB

*Owen, John (1616-1683), Sin and Temptation: The Challenge to Personal Godliness. ISBN: 1556618301 9781556618307. A Christian classic.
"The concept of sin and personal responsibility has all but disappeared from our world. John Owen deals with the nature of sinful humanity as no writer since has done as keenly or thoroughly, arguing that sin is always a self-deceiving, blinding folly. Owen was a leading English statesman in the late 17th century and is considered `the John Calvin of England'." -- Ingram.

*Owen, John (1616-1683), Kelly M. Kapic (editor), Justin Taylor (editor), Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Crossway Books, September 25, 2006), ISBN: 1581346492 9781581346497.
"The writings of John Owen are a challenge to any reader, to say the least. His intricacy and complexity are intimidating and his language is downright befuddling at times. However, the depth of thought and the immense value of Owen's works cannot be quantified. His three classic works on sin and temptation are profoundly helpful to any believer who seeks to become more like Jesus Christ.
"In this volume, the editors have made updates to the language, translated the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew and footnoted difficult or unknown phrases, all without sacrificing any of the wonderful content of Owen's work. It is a uniquely accessible edition of John Owen's previously daunting work." -- Publisher's Annotation
"The editors of this volume have worked hard to make Owen's unrivalled insight into the Christian's inner war with sin accessible to all, and the result is truly a godsend." -- J.I. Packer, Professor of Theology, Regent College
"John Owen understood how the gospel makes us well. Three cheers for Kapic and Taylor for introducing a new generation to Owen's peerless works." -- Sinclair B. Ferguson, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, S.C.
"1. They have provided us with an unabridged but updated text. Spelling is modernized and Americanized, mistakes from previous editions are corrected, and archaic words are updated.
"2. The work is footnoted to define essential and difficult words. This will help the reader with comprehension.
"3. All the Greek, Hebrew, and Latin words and phrases and transliterated and translated for the reader. A great example of this is on page 48 where the reader who has no knowledge of Greek will be greatly helped in the discussion with the transliterations and translations.
"4. The General Index and Scripture Index at the end of the work is fabulous. All books ought to have indexes like this. Pastors and teachers will be well served in sermon and lesson preparation.
"5. The most important feature of this updated work are the outlines for all three of Owen's books at the end of this edition. The reader should begin here and orient himself to the flow of Owen's thought. In fact, much can be gained by reading just the outline." -- Reader's Comment

Paul, James L. (editor), The Exceptional Child: A Guidebook for Churches and Community Agencies

*Playfair, William L., The Useful lie: How the Recovery Industry has Entrapped America in a Disease Model of Addiction (Timeless Texts, July 2004), ISBN: 1889032379 9780891076377.
"Challenges the disease concept of alcoholism, the 'useful lie' of the recovery movement. This lie underlies the widespread mistreatment of alcoholism and of other fundamentally moral problems, e.g., 'codependency.' Posits biblically based intervention that treats such problems as sins to be repented of. Opposes sending a person to the recovery industry because 'He will be told his sin is a sickness; he will never be confronted with his real and most basic moral and spiritual problem. And he will more than likely be introduced to the any god of Twelve Stepdom, who is, by Biblical criteria, a false god'." -- David Powlison
"Dr. Playfair is a medical consultant to the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation/West in San Diego. He also is a board member of Family Research Institute. The theme and purpose of this book is to debunk the claims that alcoholism is a disease. This claim, says the doctor, contradicts science and medicine; it contradicts the Bible, which is more important; and it simply does not work in breaking the addiction of alcohol. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"This book provided all the necessary evidence to blow the whistle on the recovery industry and also points toward genuine freedom from addiction." -- GCB

Porter, Jack Nusan, Conflict and Conflict Resolution: A Historical Bibliography, ISBN: ISBN: 0824092872 9780824092870.
"As an introduction to the field of social conflict, this bibliography uses classical and contemporary sources to trace conflict theories from ancient times to the present. Though selective in its inclusion of more recent works, this book is comprehensive in its historical dimension, making it unique among sociological studies. With its categorizing of books, articles, and dissertations, it is a valuable handbook or text for research. It should prove invaluable to D.Min. students doing dissertation research in the area of interpersonal communication." -- Cyril J. Barber

Powell, Paul W., Basic Bible Sermons on Handling Conflict (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1992).

*Powlison, David (editor), Contemporary Biblical Counseling: An Annotated Bibliography Compiled and Annotated by David Powlison, editor of Journal of Biblical Counseling With 1995 Additions
http://www.lettermen2.com/powlison.html

*Powlison, David A.C., The History of Biblical Counseling, new edition. Alternate title: COMPETENT TO COUNSEL? THE HISTORY OF A CONSERVATIVE PROTESTANT ANTI-PSYCHIATRY MOVEMENT. (College Park, PA: University of Pennsylvania, Ph.D. thesis, 1996), ISBN: 0978556763 9780978556761.
David Powlison is editor of Journal of Biblical Counseling, a staff member of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation, Glenside, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Harvard University in 1972.

Powlison, David, Paul David Tripp, and Edward T. Welch, Domestic Abuse: How to Help, ISBN: 087552687X 9780875526874.

Pulaski, Adam, Biblical Counseling Manual: A Self Help Counseling Program Guide, ISBN: 1412038790 9781412038799
http://www.ecoin.net/bcbook/
Biblical Counseling On-line Workshop
http://www.immanuels.org/bc/bc_home.htmy

Rassieur, Charles L., The Problem Clergymen Don't Talk About (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1976), ISBN: 0664247903 9780664247904.
The problem is the danger of sexual involvement with female counselees. Includes bibliographical references.

Rushdoony, Rousas John, (1916-2001), The Necessity for Systematic Theology.

*Ryle, J.C., Home Truths, Volume I (Keyser, WV: Odom Publications, 1991). A Christian classic.
"This reprint of a classic is much needed in our day." -- CVBBS
Home truths, miscellaneous addresses and tracts
http://books.google.com/books?id=VwEDAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*Ryle, J.C., Home Truths, Volume II: Being Miscellaneous Addresses and Tracts (Keyser, WV: Odom Publications). A Christian classic.
The original publication of HOME TRUTHS included eight volumes.

*RYLE, J.C., Practical Religion: Being Plain Papers on the Daily Duties, Experience, Dangers and Privileges of Professing Christians (Cambridge, England: J. Clarke), ISBN: ISBN: 085234449X 9780852344491. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
Foreword by J.I. Packer. "Discusses: self-iniquity, self-exertion, reality, prayer, Bible reading, charity, zeal, happiness, formality, the world, riches and poverty, sickness, family of God, heirs of God, eternity, and others." -- GCB

*Ryle, J.C., The Upper Room: Being a few Truths for the Times (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1888), ISBN: 0851510175 9780851510170.
"This work is a treasure chest of insights and teaching on a wide variety of subjects and passages." -- GCB

*Sande, Ken, The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, ISBN: 0801064856 9780801064852.
"Lays out four phases of the reconciliation process: [1] glorify God; [2] get the log out of your own eye; [3] go and show your brother his fault; [4] go and be reconciled. The motivation and foundation for peacemaking lies in who God is, not in pragmatic self-interest. Self-examination and repentance lay the foundation for dealing well with the sins of others. Constructive confrontation involves both speaking the truth in love and listening in order to pursue understanding of the situation. Reconciliation and forgiveness are the culminating phase of peace making." -- David Powlison
"Treats conflict almost entirely from the context of believer against believer. Not much help surfaces for conflicts between believers and unbelievers. . . . In general the book rates as one of the best on the thorny subject of conflict. Professional church staff members and volunteer layperson can benefit immensely from this book." -- Samuel L. Canine. The indexes of topics and authors makes the book a good reference tool. Five appendixes.

*Sanderson, John W., The Fruit of the Spirit (Philadelphia, PA: The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co.).
"A Biblical study of genuine character growth in the life of the Christian, as set forth in Galatians 5." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Scott, Buddy, Counseling Teenagers.
"A complete text and tape instruction manual from a man who has dealt with hundreds of delinquent teens. A most useful Biblical treatment. Recommended as helpful by the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation."

Second Opinion, Dangerous Drugs (Atlanta, GA [Second Opinion, P.O. Box 467939, Atlanta 30346-9989]: Second Opinion, 1992).
"If you or anyone you love is taking medications, of any kind . . . even over-the-counter remedies . . . you must read this report!" -- William Campbell Douglass, MD
"Vital facts on 215 drugs in 15 different categories . . . many are household names, Harmful side effects -- headaches, heart spasms, senility, even sudden death, Important drug interaction information, Questions to ask your doctor about any new drug, Extra bonus: 12 safeguards you can use to protect against heart attack."
Subscriptions to Second Opinion, a ground-breaking alternative-medicine newsletter, are also available.

*Sell, Charles M., Family Ministry: The Enrichment of Family Life Through the Church, ISBN: 0310429102 9780310429104.

*SHEDD, W.G.T., Sermons to the Natural Man (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1871), ISBN: 0851512607 9780851512600. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"Dr. Shedd's SERMONS TO THE NATURAL MAN are, if not absolutely the best, yet of the very best doctrinal and spiritual sermons produced in this generation. We have known much of their power in convincing sinners, and in deepening and widening and exalting the experiences of true Christians. Doctrinal preaching, though not in fashion, is the preaching that we need, and the preaching which always best vindicates itself when put to the test of practice . . ." -- A.A. Hodge
Contents: Religious meditation (Psalm 104:34) -- Christian moderation (Proverbs 16:32) -- The supreme excellence of God (Matthew 19:16-17) -- The fatherhood of God (Luke 16:25) -- The future vision of God (2nd Corinthians 4:18) -- God the strength of man (Psalm 84:5) -- The glorification of God (Isaiah 42:8) -- The duty of reference to the divine will (James 4:13-15) -- The creature has no absolute merit (Luke 17:10) -- Faith with and without sight (John 20:29) -- The reality of heaven (John 14:2) -- Pure motives the light of the soul (Matthew 6:22) -- The law is light (Proverbs 6:23) -- The law is the strength of sin ( 1st Corinthians 15:56) -- The sense of sin leads to holiness, and the conceit of holiness leads to sin (John 9:41) -- The impression made by Christ's holiness (Luke 5:8) -- Christian humility (1st Peter 5:5) -- Pride vitiates religious knowledge (1st Corinthians 8:2) -- Connection between faith and works (James 2:24) -- The Christian imperfect, yet a saint (Colossians 3:12) -- Sanctification completed at death (1st Corinthians 2:9) -- Watchfulness and prayerfulness (1st Peter 4:7) -- Unceasing prayer (1st Thessalonians 5:17) -- The folly of ambition (Jeremiah 45:5) -- Every Christian a debtor to the pagan (Romans 1:14) -- The certain success of evangelistic labor (Isaiah 55:10-11).

Shelly, Judith A., Caring in Crisis: Bible Studies for Helping People, ISBN: 0877845638: 9780877845638.

Shelley, Marshall, Helping Those who Don't Want Help (Waco, TX: Word Books, 1986).
Includes bibliography.

Smick, Timothy S., et al., Eldercare for the Christian Family: What to do When a Loved one Becomes Dependent (Dallas, TX: Word Publishing), ISBN: 0849907195 9780849907197.
"This book explores all the dynamics of caregiving -- planning, financing, burnout, and blessing -- and enables grown children to select the most comprehensive care plan for their loved ones. It is full of practical advice and spiritual insights." -- GCB

*Spotts, Dwight, and David Veerman, Reaching out to Troubled Youth, ISBN: 0896932966 9780896932968.
"A very important book that those who work with children and youth will find extremely helpful. The material is arranged topically, shows evidence of extensive research, and provides helpful quotations of relevant material. A valuable resource." -- Cyril J. Barber
"This double-column book is a resource tool offering facts, figures, case studies, and practical advice for reaching out to young people who hurt. Advice is offered on how to: communicate, discipline, share the hope of the Gospel, and how to deal with special problems like substance abuse, child abuse, and homosexuality." -- GCB

*Spurgeon, C.H. (1834-1892), Spurgeon's Devotional Bible (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1975, 1974, 1964) and Spurgeon's Devotional Bible: Selected Passages From the Word of God With Running Comments, ISBN: 0852343434 0852340583 9780852340585 (paperback), (Evangelical Press, February 1996). Other title: THE INTERPRETER: SPURGEON'S MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONS FROM THE BIBLE.
"For anyone who wants to restore daily devotions on an individual or family basis, SPURGEON'S DEVOTIONAL BIBLE is the perfect answer. One can read through this book in a year when morning and evening devotions are maintained. . . .
"The gist of the entire Bible is found between the covers of this book. . . . some verses [and chapters] were omitted in whole or in part, but they are always summarized in such a way that the narrative or teaching remains clear. The emphasis is always on Scripture . . ." -- Publisher's Annotation
C.H. Spurgeon wrote, among other things:

Commenting on typology is a way to convince piers of the reality and immediacy of the Gospel. The concise, succinct, erudite comments point again and again to parallels in Scripture to the life and work of Christ. For example, see the comments on the life of Joseph, on the first Passover, and on God's provision of manna for Israel in the wilderness.
This work, by a modern Puritan, is preeminently practical. Spurgeon emphasizes application of Scripture to everyday life. Key verses appear at the top of each page.
Spurgeon's discerning mind has captured essential and profound lessons. He brings together Old and New Testament passages with similar lessons. Here is little known insight that should not be ignored or overlooked.
The Bible is full of wisdom on human behavior, real psychology, and Spurgeon points out these lessons everywhere.
The text is the Authorized King James Version.
A footnote at the bottom of page 643 (Baker Book House edition) states "In this reading the first five notes are from Lange's Commentary. All through the work we have gathered from every available source." Looking at other works by Spurgeon, for example, THE TREASURY OF DAVID, and knowing that he had a huge library, it could be expected he selected freely from the works of other authors. Poetry has been added after the Bible selection and notes. It would appear the notes and poetry have not been documented for practical purposes, to make the book seamless and uncluttered. It is a drawback, however, to not know which notes and poetry was from Spurgeon's pen and which he selected from other authors.
Pilgrim Publications
Sells new copies of SPURGEON'S DEVOTIONAL BIBLE.
http://www.pilgrimpublications.com/
Power BibleCD
Includes SPURGEON'S DEVOTIONAL BIBLE. This is the only e-text of the work that we know of.
http://www.powerbible.com/

Smith, Robert D., The Christian Counselor's Medical Desk Reference, ISBN: 1889032263 9781889032269.

Terkelsen, Helen E., I'm Going to Have a Baby and I'm not Married, ISBN: 0800619943.

Terrell, Hilton P., and Franklin E. Payne, (editors) Journal of Biblical Ethics in Medicine, Volumes 1-4: 1987-1990 (Augusta, GA: Covenant Books), 350 pages. Available from Covenant Enterprises, P.O. Box 14488, Augusta, GA 30919-0488.
"The JBEM was founded to bring biblical thinking to bear on medical issues. This book collects the first four years worth of articles, and includes a general index and an index of Scripture references. (A second volume, containing the next 4 years, is forthcoming.) Many articles are relevant to matters that come up in counseling ministry, matters about which counselors will want to offer informed advice." -- David Powlison
Journal of Biblical Ethics in Medicine
http://capo.org/jbem/intro_pa.htm

*Thompson, Frank Charles (editor) and Kirkbride Bible and Technology (other contributor), Thompson Chain Reference Bible, KJV, 5th edition, improved, leather bound (Kirkbride Bible Company, December 2005), some editions include a CD-ROM, language: English, French, and Spanish. Many editions and bindings are available.
"Dr. Frank C. Thompson, D.D., Ph.D., invested more than forty years in compiling and developing the remarkable Chain-Reference system that is the heart of the Bible that now bears his name." -- Publisher's Annotation
This is a huge body of work: the fully cross-referenced Bible, 1619 pages, plus Bible helps, 788 pages, for a total of 2417 pages. It may be used profitably in combination with THE NEW TREASURY OF SCRIPTURE KNOWLEDGE (1680 pages), THE NEW GENEVA STUDY BIBLE (THE REFORMATION STUDY BIBLE) (2220 pages), THE GENEVA BIBLE (648 pages), THE THOMPSON EXHAUSTIVE TOPICAL BIBLE: KING JAMES VERSION (1631 pages), and THE NEW NAVE'S TOPICAL BIBLE (1114 pages).
"The topics from the TOPICAL BIBLE can easily be found in the General Index of the THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE. In the General Index are found the chain-reference numbers that will guide the user into the biblical context for many of the topics. The many additional resources in the THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE . . . will greatly supplement any topical study." -- Introduction to the TOPICAL BIBLE
We feel that both THE THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE, KING JAMES VERSION, 5TH EDITION, and the THOMPSON EXHAUSTIVE TOPICAL BIBLE: KING JAMES VERSION has a part in every reference library, particularly the libraries of Biblical Counselors.
Remember the Thompson Chain-Reference System was developed for the Authorized King James Version. It is also available in New American Standard, New King James, and the New International versions.
"A THOMPSON STUDY BIBLE will help you in ways other Bibles can't. It's the unique Chain-Reference System that allows you to follow any subject, person, place or idea, from the front of your Bible to the end. THOMPSON users say it's the best way to study your Bible. No other Bible has this superb, patented, Thompson Chain Reference System developed by Dr. Frank C. Thompson in 1890. Since that time, thousands of additional topics and links have been added. The AKJV 4th edition has been out-of-print since 1988. The 5th edition began printing in 1988. The only way to find a 4th edition would be in the secondary market. . . ' -- Publisher's Annotation
"Some Thompson Bible Features [from among 75 additional study features]:

"The text is set in two columns for ease of reading. Cross-references are to the left and right of the respective columns immediately adjacent to the related verse. TCR cross-references are by subject. Each cross-reference contains a TCR Index number, the TCR subject, and the next Bible verse in the 'chain' for that subject. For example, if you were studying the gospel of 'John' at John 1:9 the TCR cross-reference reads '2168 Christ the Light, 8:12.' Thus the TCR index number is '2168,' the subject is 'Christ the Light,' and the next verse in the 'chain' is John 8:12. Going to John 8:12 you would find '2168 Christ the Light, 12:35' and so on to the end of the 'chain'. What makes this different than most other study Bibles is the 'TCR Numeric Index.' Looking up TCR Index number 2168 we find ALL references to subject 'Christ the Light' in order from Genesis to Revelation. You can also do a lookup using the subject. For example, say you are asked a question by an un-believer, 'Why was Jesus Christ called 'the Light of the world' and what does it mean?' First you would look up the subject 'Christ' or 'Jesus' in the 'TCR Alphabetic Index.' For example, in section 'C,' we find 'Christ,' under the 'Christ' entry we find 'Light, the . . . 2168.' Now we can look in the 'TCR Numeric Index' for the '2168' entry. Here we find the 'chain' of all relevant verses for further study. Why is this better than a 'Strong's' search? Using the latest 'Strongest Strong's . . .' under word 'light' we find 288 entries. The 'Strong's' search is less efficient because many of the 288 entries are not relevant to the subject in question. The full compliment of TCR Bible helps consists of the cross-references (100,000 entries), 'Alphabetic Index (8,000 entries)', 'Numerical Index (4,200 entries),' 'Outline Studies,' 'Bible Character Studies,' 'Bible Harmonies,' 'Archaeological Supplement,' 'Hebrew Calendar,' 'Concordance,' and 'Bible Maps.' At $36 you can not go wrong. If I could have only one study Bible, this would be it." -- Reader's Comment
Warning: Many editions and bindings are available, including CD-ROM software Bible research packages, and Palm or PocketPC devices. The website for Thompson Bibles is the best source of complete descriptions of the various editions.
"The 5th edition is the 4th edition expanded, and has everything the 4th had, plus more. While Kirkbride is always in production printing the Bibles with the current year's date, it is still the 1988 5th edition [this 5th edition was the last edition of THE THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE, anything published in 1988 or later is the 5th edition. -- sk]." -- Publisher's Annotation
Both the buyer and the seller can become confused about various editions because Kirbride Bible Company apparently has never printed the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) in the various editions and printings. Buyers will want to confirm the edition, version, and publisher with the seller.
There are numerous reader's comments about poor quality of paper, binding, and typography of TCR Bibles not printed by Kirkbride, so be sure to carefully inspect any non-Kirkbride edition before purchasing it.
Thompson apparently was a Methodist pastor. The first edition of 1908 was "published by Methodists Book Concern of Dobbs Ferry, New York." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Thompson, Frank Charles (author), Paul M. Hillman (editor), John Stephen Jauchen (editor) The Thompson Exhaustive Topical Bible: King James Version (Indianapolis, IN: Kirkbride Bible Company, Inc., 1997). Hardcover, 1631 pages.
This is a topical Bible compiled from the Thompson Chain-Reference System.
"NAVE'S TOPICAL BIBLE was edited into a Study Bible format shortly after the appearance of the original THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE. It is fitting for Thompson's Study Bible to be reformatted into a reference book. And where there is room in the marketplace and on every serious student's bookshelf for more than one Bible translation, so there is room for more than one Topical Bible -- and great value in the use of both Nave's and Thompson's work. . . ." -- John R. Kohlenbertger III, from the Foreword
"Now, the detailed and comprehensive topical and subject data that forms the heart of the unparalleled Thompson Chain-Reference system is offered in this -- the most exhaustive topical Bible currently available! Combining to make THE THOMPSON EXHAUSTIVE TOPICAL BIBLE unique are features which include:

"No other topical Bible can offer you the comprehensive collection of features or the exhaustive topical thoroughness of this exceptional Bible reference tool -- because there can only be one . . .THE THOMPSON EXHAUSTIVE TOPICAL BIBLE." -- Publisher's Annotation
It may be used profitably in combination with THE NEW TREASURY OF SCRIPTURE KNOWLEDGE (1680 pages), THE NEW GENEVA STUDY BIBLE (THE REFORMATION STUDY BIBLE) (2220 pages), THE GENEVA BIBLE (648 pages), THE THOMPSON EXHAUSTIVE TOPICAL BIBLE: KING JAMES VERSION (1631 pages), and THE NEW NAVE'S TOPICAL BIBLE (1114 pages).
"The topics from the TOPICAL BIBLE can easily be found in the General Index of the THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE. In the General Index are found the chain-reference numbers that will guide the user into the biblical context for many of the topics. The many additional resources in the THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE . . . will greatly supplement any topical study." -- Introduction to the Topical Bible

Thompson, Murray Stewart, Grace and Forgiveness in Ministry, ISBN: 0687156807 9780687156801.
Includes bibliography and references.

*THORNWELL, JAMES HENLEY (1812-1862), Whatsoever Things are True: Classic Discourses on Truth. Alternate titles: CLASSIC DISCOURSES ON TRUTH; DISCOURSES ON TRUTH, 166 pages, ISBN: 1932474781 9781932474787. Available [COLLECTED WRITINGS OF JAMES HENLEY THORNWELL] on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"These seven DISCOURSES ON TRUTH were written and preached in the Spring of 1851 from the text, 'Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, think on these things.' Philippians 4:8. They were delivered at the Chapel of the College at Columbia, South Carolina, by James Henley Thornwell, who was serving as both President and Chaplain." -- Publisher's Annotation
"First published 1855 by Messrs. Carter, New York, NY."
Contents: Discourse 1: The ethical system of the Bible -- Discourse 2: The love of truth -- Discourse 3: The love of truth -- Discourse 4: Sincerity -- Discourse 5: Faithfulness -- Discourse 6: Vows -- Discourse 7: Consistency.

*Tripp, Paul David, Contextualization of the Gospel in Counseling: A Biblical Rational for Person-Centered Ministry (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Theological Seminary, D.Min. thesis, 1988).
Available on microfiche from University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, MI. Includes bibliography.

Umbreit, Mark, Crime and Reconciliation: Creative Options for Victims and Offenders (New York, NY: Abingdon Press, 1985), ISBN: 0687098858 9780687098859.

Usdin, Earl, and Irene S. Forrest, Psychotherapeutic Drugs.

Vandeusen, Dayton, Redemptive Counseling: Relating Psychotherapy to the Personal Meanings in Redemption (Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press).
Includes bibliography.

Vila, Samuel, Handbook for Christian Counseling: Manual de Visitacion Pastoral (Fort Lauderdale, FL: TSELF, Incorporated), ISBN: 8472286002 9788472286009.

Wakefield, Norman, Solving Problems Before They Become Conflicts (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House), ISBN: 0310390915 9780310390916.
"This is a self-help book on problem solving. The author takes us from conflict, a destructive process, to problem solving, a constructive process, and he seeks to do so in a Biblical way." -- GCB

*Weeks, Noel, The Sufficiency of Scripture (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1988).
"Weeks is currently a Lecturer in History at the University of Sydney. He has a B.S. (Zoology), B.D., Th.M., and Ph.D. To be guilty of understatement, the man is highly and broadly educated.
"Weeks believes firmly that Scripture is sufficient for faith and practice. And he affirms that all disciplines of life are governed by the Lord Jesus Christ, and that His providential actions impact on every individual, and every area of knowledge. This rule is not only declared by the Scripture, but the Scriptures themselves enunciate the response due from each person. Whether it may be culture, or science, or nation, all are subject to the Scripture; that is, all will be judged by the Scriptures in the end. Therefore, it follows that we are daily to judge all things by the Scriptures.
"Weeks makes application of all this. And in doing so he again and again points out that the more we dilute the influence of the Scriptures, the further we go into doubt and confusion. The many apostasies which are today in evidence are the result of the diluting of, or the abandoning of, the authority of the Scriptures. . . .
"In the matter of translations, Weeks shows that there is no solid scriptural reason for the dynamic equivalence form of translation. Rather there is a great disservice to believers. He also shows that making the `receptor language' the governing language in translation is to subvert the original God-breathed words.
"His conclusion is excellent, in which he notes that we are acquiescing in a limitation of inspiration throughout our Christian practice. And this leaves a Christian without power; yea, and also without excuse before God. God's words are absolute, just as His power is absolute. To seek to accommodate the Christian message to what the world is willing to hear, is to doom it to failure, even ridicule. Paul and Barnabas confronted the Greeks with God's commands. And they turned the world upside down. We must return to this practice of announcing to the world what God has said, and present it as authoritative. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

Welch, Ed, Philosophy of Counseling (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette SC864.

Yarbrough, Tom, Call to Comfort: A Counseling Manual for Every Christian (San Jose, CA: Resource Publications, c1988), ISBN: 0893901199 9780893901196.
Includes bibliography.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Church discipline, Counseling and the local church, The free offer of the gospel message of salvation and the life to come: the means of grace, Book-length presentations of the gospel message of salvation and the life to come: the means of grace, Sharing christ with your children, Follow-up, Discipleship, The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, The ten commandments, the moral law, Idolatry, Trusting god, Covetousness, greed, selfishness, Theft, stealing and fraud: property rights, The westminster confession of faith (1646, the westminster standards) and related works: a study guide, Manuals and handbooks, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Ethics, Bible study, Bible magistracy turns back the wrath of god, Christ's kingdom, Lordship of jesus christ, The all-sufficiency of christ, Appendix a: words of Christ, Christ our example, The teaching of our lord jesus christ, Sermon on the mount, Parables of christ, Covenant theology, The covenant faithfulness of god, Believer's position in Christ and Sonship, The priesthood of believers, Holiness, Holy spirit and counseling, Love and counseling problems, Preaching and pastoral counseling, Healing of the mind, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Counseling for sex related problems, Justification, Justifying faith, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Hope, Wisdom, Proverbs, topical listings, Questions and answers, Pastoral counseling, Referral in pastoral counseling, Works by jay adams, Contemporary biblical counseling: an annotated bibliography compiled and annotated by david powlison, Biblical counseling reference works, Resources in christian counseling series, Biblical counsel by subject, Topical listings of Scripture, Commentaries containing biblical counsel, Practical expository sermons, General works on biblical counseling, Biblical counsel for women, Premarital counsel, Marital counseling, Counseling the family, Counseling the sick, Crisis counseling, Medical aspects of pastoral counseling, Physiological problems, Parenting, Counseling children, Counseling teens, Biblical counseling training, Christian counseling and educational foundation, Sound word associates, Audio cassette tapes on counseling subjects, Audio cassettes of ccef speakers, The national association of nouthetic counselors tape library, Westminster media, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Toleration, liberty of conscience, pluralism, and neutrality, Will and recalcitrance, Appendix c: psychology and psychiatry, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 791-799, 844, 845, 847, 848, 2356, 2482

Related WebLinks

On the Christian Life, John Calvin
On the Christian Life
http://www.ccel.org/calvin/christian_life/christian_life.html

The sum of Saving Knowledge, David Dickson and James Durham
http://www.covenanter.org/Westminster/sumofsavingknowledge.htm

Book-length Presentations of the Free Offer of The Gospel Message of Salvation and the Life to Come: The Means of Grace
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#blpoftf

He That Dwelleth in Love, John Love (1757-1825)
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/he-that-dwelleth-in-love.php

Powlison, David (editor), Contemporary Biblical Counseling: An Annotated Bibliography Compiled and Annotated by David Powlison, editor of Journal of Biblical Counseling With 1995 Additions
http://www.lettermen2.com/powlison.html

Biblical Counseling On-line Workshop
http://www.immanuels.org/biblical_counseling/

The Gideons International, Bible Helps
Includes: "Where to Find Help When," "Teachings About Some of Life's Problems," "Christian Virtues and Character," and so forth.
http://www.gideons.org/

A Table Illustrating God's Eternal Moral Law
http://www.dr-fnlee.org/docs/toc/toc.html

Life Change Presents Dr. Henry Brandt Biblical Counseling Series
http://www.aamedia.com/life/home2.htm

Letters to Church Members (1855)
Letter to one who travels on the Sabbath
Letter to one of a censorious spirit
Letter to one of a self-confident and unyielding spirit
Letter to one of a managing and disingenuous spirit
Letter to one of an impatient and complaining spirit
Letter to one who is lacking in reverence for the truth as a moral virtue
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/literature/godly-living.php

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html

Psychoheresy: The Church Weds the World
http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/chweds52.html



Peer Counseling, Peer Evangelism, One-on-one Evangelism

And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. (Romans 15:14)

Adams, Jay E., How to Help People Change: The Four-step Biblical Process, 203 pages.
"Unfolds the counseling process through an exposition of II Timothy 3:14-17. Bases all on the centrality of God and the vertical dimension for counseling: The Holy Spirit and the Word work in concert. Change unfolds through teaching, conviction, correction and training. 'Learn both how to launder your mind of pagan psychological and psychiatric theories and how to use the Bible cogently and effectively in its full strength.' Contains reprint of Adams's 1982 journal article on 'Integration'." -- David Powlison

*Adams, Jay E., Ready to Restore: The Layman's Guide to Christian Counseling, 111 pages.
"An introductory textbook in nouthetic counseling: accessible, compact, covering both conceptual and methodological matters. 'God calls every Christian to counsel some people, somewhere, at some time about something.' Galatians 6:1 provides the banner verse: the character of the counselor, the problems in view, the methods. Meant for individual study or for a class or Bible study group." -- David Powlison

Adams Jay E., Should a Christian be Able to Counsel? Instilling Hope in the Counselee (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA101.

Bryant, Marcus D., The Art of Christian Caring (St. Louis, MO: Bethany Press, 1979), ISBN: 0827200153 9780827200159.
"Then Bryant turns to specific target groups for ministry, such as nursing home residents, the retarded, prisoners, and mental patients, examining guidelines and background information. The final chapter discusses how to gather one's own resources for the helping process through worship, meditation, and spirituality, stressing as a general guideline that Christian caring is sustained by God's love and by our personal responses to that love as we experience it in our own lives. Underscoring the importance of commitment and self-discipline in relations with others, this is a good introductory guide that should be helpful to general readers."

Burchett, Harold E., People Helping People (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1979), ISBN: 0802464572 9780802464576.
How every Christian can counsel.

Egan, Gerard, The Skilled Helper: A Model for Systematic Helping and Interpersonal Relating, 8th edition, ISBN: 0495127957 9780495127956.
Also available, TRAINING THE SKILLED HELPER: AN INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL TO ACCOMPANY THE SKILLED HELPER, A MODEL FOR SYSTEMATIC HELPING AND INTERPERSONAL RELATING by James W. Bryer. This training manual also has a companion book, EXERCISE MANUAL.

Grantham, Rudolph E., Lay Shepherding: A Guide for Visiting the Sick, the Aged, the Troubled and the Bereaved (Valley Forge, PA: Judson, 1980).
"Beginning with a look at authority issues and the context for lay ministry, Grantham explores ways the Biblical, humanistic, and broadly spiritual perspectives relate to each other and looks at specific ministries lay people can engage in: crisis intervention, bereavement counseling, hospital/nursing home visiting, etc. Considers, too, the dynamics of healing, how to be an effective listener and to pray with the sick and personal lay evangelism of beneficial and destructive kinds. Appendix includes discussion questions and additional study resources." -- Publisher's Annotation

Sala, Harold J., Coffee Cup Counseling (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, c1989).
Includes bibliographical references.

Shelley, Marshall, Helping Those who Don't Want Help (Waco, TX: Word Books, 1986).
Includes bibliography.

Southard, Samuel, Theology and Therapy: The Wisdom of God in the Context of Friendship (Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1989).
Includes bibliographical references and index.

Sturkie, Joan, Listening With Love: True Stories From Peer Counseling, ISBN: 0893901512 9780893901516.
"LWL's stories are true stories from Joan Sturkie's peer counseling classes. Topics covered are suicide, incest, pregnancy, consequences of using drugs, etc. The stories present wonderful discussion topics for your group or class. Read it for yourself and make your own assessment." -- Reader's Comment

See also: For all counselors, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The teaching of our lord jesus christ, Appendix a: words of christ, For all counselors, Pastoral counseling, Manuals and handbooks, Topical listings of scripture useful in counseling, Trusting god, Christ our example, Biblical counsel by subject, Counseling and the local church, Counseling children, Biblical counseling training, The westminster confession of faith (1646, the westminster standards) and related works: a study guide
TCRB5: 1077, 2888, 3425, 3907, 3908

Related WebLinks

Stephen Ministries
http://www.stephenministries.org/



Questions and Answers

Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:7,8)

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Answers," and so forth, and so on.

*BAXTER, RICHARD (1615-1691), A Christian Directory: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1. Full title: A Christian Directory: or A Sum of Practical Theology, and Cases of Conscience. Directing Christians How to Use Their Knowledge and Faith; How to Improve all Helps and Means, and to Perform all Duties; How to Overcome Temptations, and to Escape or Mortify Every Sin. In Four Parts.
I. Christian Ethics (or Private Duties)
II. Christian Economics (or Family Duties)
III. Christian Ecclesiastics (or Church Duties)
IV. Christian Politics (or Duties to Our Rulers and Neighbours) (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, 1990, 1838, 1707, 1678, 1673), ISBN: 1877611131 9781877611131. Foreword by J.I. Packer (Soli Deo Gloria edition only). The Soli Deo Gloria publication is a facsimile reprint of the 19th century reprint by George Virtue, London, 1846. The original 1673 edition and the 1678 edition, both printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons. Bibliographic and scriptural footnotes. A Christian classic.
"The complete practical works of Richard Baxter are in print in four volumes entitled BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS. This volume (about 1 1/4 million words, 1028 pages) is volume one of the set. The editor's preface (1707), p. xiii, stated that the works of Richard Baxter are 'perhaps the best body of practical divinity that is extent in our own or any other tongue.' Richard Baxter lived from 1615-1691. The DIRECTORY was completed in 1665. Its scope was intended to cover all of practical theology, a summa of casuistry . . ." -- Don Kistler
"Baxter's series, which grew in range and scope as it proceeded . . . is a peak point in Puritan devotional writing, and remains a precious resource for all, in this or any age, who want to know what is involved in Biblical godliness. . . . A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY may justly be described as a landmark. It is the fullest, most thorough, and in this writer's judgment, most profound treatment of Christian spirituality and standards that has ever been attempted by an English-speaking Evangelical author. The fact that it embraces both spirituality and standards (the principles of communion with God plus the specifics of obedience to God) merits approving comment in itself; nowadays spirituality and ethics have become two distinct disciplines in the schools, and books written on either say virtually nothing about the other . . ." -- J.I. Packer
Timothy Keller calls it the greatest manual on Biblical counseling ever produced.
"There are many Puritan classics on this subject. Thomas Brooks' PRECIOUS REMEDIES FOR SATAN'S DEVICES, Thomas Goodwin's A CHILD OF LIGHT WALKING IN DARKNESS, William Bridge's A LIFTING UP FOR THE DOWNCAST, and many other similar works give evidence that the Puritans were. . . . masters at applying Biblical answers and principles to problems that can only be solved by spiritual means. No Puritan work, however, has ever approached the popularity, the scope, or the depth of Baxter's classic treatise. With the widespread interest in counseling in today's church, this reprint of Baxter's work should be a welcome addition to every pastor's library, or to anyone else who wishes to give solid Biblical answers to man's questions." -- Don Kistler
"We have long waited for a purely Biblical treatment of the spiritual ills and cures of men which is untainted by the views of psychology. Since Baxter lived about 200 years before psychology arrived, his deep work is completely void of its encroachment -- thankfully!" -- John MacArthur
"The kings men sought to arrest Richard Baxter, but he traveled ceaselessly from place to place, writing his sermons and his books even on horseback (he had an inkwell in his saddle) and preached over a wide area." -- Brian H. Edwards
"Baxter was a wonder of his age. His writings total 72 large volumes, much of it written on horseback as he traveled in his widespread preaching efforts. He seldom, if ever, edited anything he wrote. Knowing this any reader will be amazed at how well he communicated his deep love for his Savior. For 26 years he was public enemy No. 1 to the king, yet he lived to see the flight of the king in 1688." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
POOR MAN'S FAMILY BOOK (1674) and THE CATECHIZING OF FAMILIES (1683), found elsewhere in BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, are less detailed works. They are more suitable for family instruction than are the detailed presentation in A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY.
" Ptacek in Family Worship (p. 51-52), supplies the following information in regard to Baxter and this book. He notes that after the Episcopalians ejected numerous `nonconformists,' in what is know as the `great ejection,' in 1662, `Baxter pastored from house to house, visiting families of his parish in their homes. These visits contributed to Baxter's A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, a large and still very relevant manual of pastoral care.' Focusing on just one area of great importance, Ptacek demonstrates how this book's relevance is not limited by time or culture, though sometimes the use of specific words are. `Published in 1673, but written 1664-65, a large book-length part of Baxter's CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY is devoted to the family. It is entitled `Christian Economics' based on the archaic usage of the word, which reflects the proper sense of the Greek root oikonomos as the manager of a household, in the Christian case, the spiritual leader of the family. The family head is essential to Baxter's view of family worship and instruction. Baxter asserts that it is God's will that this instruction be carried out by the rulers of the families.' For a male head of the household to fail to do so, or to have another instruct in the family, is contrary to his position of authority.' This is the kind of book that can be passed on from generation to generation and still find much use in the service of the kingdom of God. . . .
"Though relatively weak on corporate sanctification, corporate faithfulness and some important areas of doctrine (such as justification), Baxter's work on subjects related to personal piety can be of good practical use to the Christian -- if one is careful to separate out his aberrant doctrinal views and any practical errors they may lead to." -- SWRB
This work is available in many editions, and in many formats.
Reformation Heritage Books has new copies of the Soli Deo Gloria edition as of March 2008, even though it is generally thought to be out of print. They acquired Soli Deo Gloria from Ligonier Ministries in late 2007. They may be the publisher who will eventually reprints the title.
http://www.heritagebooks.org/
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue is available as a Cerlox bound photocopy from Still Waters Revival Books, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
The reprint by George Virtue is available online and may be downloaded in PDF format at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/baxter/practical.toc.html
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue appears in full preview in Google Books but may not be downloaded. This Google Books scan includes the contents in detail on pages iii-xix. This contents in detail is not included in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library PDF files. About five other editions from libraries are available in Google Books, and may be downloaded (August 2008).
Notice that the e-text in Google Books has the advantage of being searchable. Searching an image-based PDF file is not possible, unless the user owns software such as Abode Acrobat Pro or Kirtas BookScan Editor. They both have an OCR (optical character recognition) feature that will search an image-based PDFs (bit-map scans). Searches appear to be perfect in this work, although one must know Baxter's vocabulary. Text can be cut and paste from image-based PDF format to OCR (character) format. This particular Google Books scan can not be cut and pasted or downloaded.
http://books.google.com/books?id=cyQFBOUHkaoC&dq=A+Christian+Directory+inpublisher:lettermen+inpublisher:associates&lr=&as_brr=0&ie=ISO-8859-1
One of the older, multi-volume editions of THE WORKS OF RICHARD BAXTER is available at Monergism.com in the "Puritan Library," "Richard Baxter." A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, volume 23. It can be downloaded.
http://www.puritanlibrary.com/
Another older edition is available on microfilm (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1970), 1 microfilm reel, 35 mm (Early English books, 1641-1700; 343:11).
The following three excerpts are included as bonus free books on Reformation Bookshelf CD #28, ISBN: 0921148267 9780921148265.
1. "The Duties of Parents for Their Children" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. X., pp. 449-454.
2. "The Special Duties of Children Towards Their Parents" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XI., pp. 454-457.
3. "The Special Duties of Children and Youth Towards God" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XII., pp. 457-458).
The Practical Works of Richard Baxter: A Christian Directory, Vol. 1
A summary of currently available publications.
http://www.lettermen2.com/pwrbcd.html

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Reformed Pastor: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000, 1992), ISBN: 1877611360.
"This is the fourth and final volume in this great set. Includes, [`Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men,' -- sk] `The Reformed Pastor' `Poor Man's Family Book,' `The Catechizing of Families,' and `The Mother's Catechism,' in all 25 sermons, treatises, and catechisms. Dr. J.I. Packer says, `For me, the great joy of this year is that it see the completion of Soli Deo Gloria's reprint of Baxter's incomparable PRACTICAL WORKS'." -- GCB
Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men (1681), by Richard Baxter
http://www.lettermen2.com/ccaym.html

Beers, V. Gilbert, The Discovery Bible Handbook: Finding God's Answers to Life's Questions (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1974).

Blanchard, John, Truth for Life (Darlington, Co., Durham, England: Evangelical Press and Services, Ltd.).
"A good-sized work of over 400 pages. A very practical commentary filled with just the kind of advice we all need for living the Christian life." -- GCB

*Dean, Hershel B., The Golden Treasury of Bible Wisdom (King James Version) (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour and Company, Incorporated, 1988).

Fitzgerald, Lawrence P., Questions That Bother me (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1967).

Grant, Dave, Heavy Questions (Glendale, CA: Regal Books, 1972).
Answers for youth.

Hill, Harold, Bible Answers for King's Kids
Compiled by Gretchen Zimmer Black with Irene Burk Harrell.

Kennedy, Larry, God's Answers to Human Dilemmas (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, c1980).
Includes bibliographical references.

*Morris, Henry, and Martin E. Clark, The Bible has the Answer, revised and expanded edition (San Diego, CA: Creation Life Publishers, 1992, 1987).
"One of the best works of its kind. Discusses hundreds of problems asked by inquiring minds. Provides candid, factual answers. Highly recommended." -- Cyril J. Barber

Myers, Bill, Hot Topics, Tough Questions (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, c1988).
"This book on Biblical answers to teen questions breaks into a twelve-session study. It deals with such topics as God's will, sex and dating, the media, cults, and emotion. A leader's guide is available."

Newport, John P., Life's Ultimate Questions (Dallas, TX: Word Publishing).
"This Baptist scholar answers the truly hard questions of life from the Bible with precision and competence. J.I. Packer wrote: `Cool, clear, comprehensive, and full of thoughtful wisdom, this book is a rich resource for exploring the responses of Christian faith to the knowledge, ignorance, and confusions of the modern world'." -- GCB

Palau, Luis, My Response (Beaverton, OR: The Luis Palau Evangelistic Association).
"Dr. Palau shares his clear, direct answers to a wide variety of questions on work, marriage, divorce, parenting, illness, alcoholism, suicide, dating, and morality." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Pink, Michael, Tough Questions, Straight Answers "A great topical arrangement of Scriptures on modern subjects that our children bump up against everyday. Just Bible passages. Highly recommended." -- GCB

Pruitt, Carl W., What the Bible Says About God's Answers to Personal Problems (Joplin, MO: College Press Publishing Co, 1982).
"In thirteen chapters the author covers the teaching of the Bible on the major topics of interest to pastoral counselors. A valuable distillation of the Biblical teaching." -- Cyril J. Barber

Shibley, David (compiler), Answers, Compiled by David Shibley (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973).
Bible selections that answer life's questions.

*Torrey, R.A., One Hundred Eighty-two Bible Questions Answered: Scriptural Solutions to Practical and Perplexing Questions (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1990).

See also: How to become a christian, Book-length presentations of the gospel message of salvation and the life to come: the means of grace, The teaching of our lord jesus christ, Christ our example, Topical listing of scripture helpful in counseling, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Ready reference, Biblical counsel by subject, The works of jay adams, Chapter 5: reference works, The combined contents for the web edition of biblical counsel: resources for renewal, For all counselors, Training in biblical counseling

Related WebLinks

The sum of Saving Knowledge, David Dickson and James Durham
http://www.covenanter.org/Westminster/sumofsavingknowledge.htm

ChristianAnswers.Net
http://www.christiananswers.net/



Audio CDs and MP3s on Counseling Subjects

Westminster Theological Seminary, Westminster Media Cassette Catalog
Sound Word Associates Library of Biblical Counselors
 http://www.soundword.com/ccon.html

Adams, Jay E., Accepting Retarded Children; Handling Troubles; and etc. (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA409.

Adams, Jay E., Am I too old to Change? (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA410.

Adams, Jay E., Christian Forgiveness: Responsibility or Blame-shifting? (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA407.

Adams, Jay E., Conflict and Rivalry in the Church (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
"Dr. Jay Adams teaches on how to be a peacemaker in the church and how to handle conflicts. Practical advice and examples are given as well as theological motivations." -- Westminster Media. A special set of eight audio cassettes.

Adams, Jay E., Counseling Workshop: Approaches to Discipleship; Women in Biblical Counseling (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA502.

Adams, Jay E., Counseling Workshop: An Alcoholic Partner; Long-Term Counseling; Suicide; Forgiveness; Larry Crabb's Approach (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA504.

Adams, Jay E., Counseling Workshop: Demon Possession; Divorce; Church Discipline (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA503.

Adams, Jay E., Counseling Workshop: Introduction; Counseling Principles; Counseling Non-Christians (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA501.

Adams, Jay E., Counseling Workshop: Multiple Persons; Unbeliever Doesn't Leave; Discipling Children; Obesity and Fatness (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA505.

Adams, Jay E., Crisis Counseling: Aid (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA201.

Adams, Jay E., Crisis Counseling: Analysis (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA202.

Adams, Jay E., Crisis Counseling: Direction (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA204.

Adams, Jay E., Crisis Counseling: Inventory (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA203

Adams, Jay E., Effective Communication; Disabled people; Inferiority complex; Unsaved wife; Be prepared! (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA406.

Adams, Jay E., Fear of Death; Church Discipline; Being in the Hospital (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA408.

Adams, Jay E., God's Standard and Program for Change; God's Methodology for Change (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA102.

Adams, Jay E., Managing the Time God Gives Us; Schizophrenia; Role-Play Cases and Critiques (part 1) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA106.

Adams, Jay E., Marriage and Family Life: Purpose of Companionship, Cleaving (part 1) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA401.

Adams, Jay E., Marriage and Family Life (part 2): Headship, Husband's Helper, Submission (part 2) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA402.

Adams, Jay E., Marriage and Family Life (part 3): Discipline, Motivation, Good for Evil (part 3) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA403.

Adams, Jay E., Ministering Series
Contents: The ministry of the church -- God is!! Stability we can count on -- The environment of God -- The balanced Christian -- The disciplined life -- Setting priorities -- Making plans Biblically -- Am I a winner? It's joys and responsibilities -- The pastor's wife and depression -- Christian forgiveness -- Pain, does it belong? -- Decisions, make them or they make you -- Worry, trouble, how to combat it -- The Biblical view of divorce -- Homosexuality, how to deal with it -- Overcoming depression -- Grading and degrading, Christian education -- Poles apart, who's a Christian? -- Baptism for infants.

Adams, Jay E., Proper Submission to the Proper Authorities (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA405.

Adams, Jay E., Q&A: Counseling Woman Whose Husband Abuses Her and Children (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
"How would you counsel a woman whose husband is physically abusive to his wife and children? How does inter-church discipline work?" Audio cassette JA209.

Adams, Jay E., Q&A: What Certain Gifts Are Required for Counseling? What if a Person Ignores his Problem? (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
"Are certain gifts specifically suited for counseling? What if a person has a problem and is not aware of it?" Audio cassette JA205.

Adams, Jay E., Question-asking Techniques; The Need for Homework in Counseling (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA103.

Adams, Jay E., Questions and Answers; How do you Counsel Deep Depression? (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette.

Adams, Jay E., Questions and Answers; What is Marriage? Marriage and Family Problems (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA104.

Adams, Jay E., Role-play and Critique (part 1); Wife Abandoned; Potential Suicide (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA210.

Adams, Jay E., Role-Play and Critique (part 2); Wife Won't Speak; Homosexuality; Wife With Cancer (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA211.

Adams, Jay E., Role-play and Critique (part 3) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
"Wife's Husband Dies; Mother's Baby Born Deformed; Pregnant Unwed Daughter." Audio cassette JA212.

Adams, Jay E., Role-play and Critique (part 4) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
"Husband Wants Wife-Swapping." Audio cassette JA213.

Adams, Jay E., Role-play Cases and Critiques (part 2) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA107.

Adams, Jay E., Sex Change; Division in Eldership; Children; Suicide; Paranoia; Repression; Forgetting; Death (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA506.

Adams Jay E., Should a Christian be Able to Counsel? Instilling Hope in the Counselee (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA101.

Adams, Jay E., Sovereignty of God in Counseling (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
"Dr. Adams' lecture upon his inauguration as full professor at Westminster Theological Seminary." Audio cassette JA301.

Adams, Jay E., The Bible in Counseling (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette NP119.

Adams, Jay E., The Role of Father in the Home (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JAR02.

Adams, Jay E., The Role of Husband in the Home (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JAR01.

Adams, Jay E., The use of Talk in Counseling (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA207.

Adams, Jay E., Winning Your Unsaved Husband (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA404.

Books-by-Ear, Books-by-Ear Catalog (Seattle, WA [Books-by-Ear, P.O. Box 75628, Seattle 98125]: Books-by-Ear).
Features audio cassettes of conservative, Reformed publications. "Discover the freedom of full-length and condensed books on audio cassettes." Includes index.

*Broger, John C. (developer/editor), Course I: The Self-Confrontation Syllabus for Biblical Counseling Training, ISBN: 1878114018 9781878114013 and Course I: Self-Confrontation Tapes (10 cassette tapes) (Rancho Mirage, CA: Biblical Counseling Foundation).
"Contains 24 weekly lessons intended to move a person through the change process personally as the foundation for working on becoming a counselor (Matthew 7:1-5). Intended for Sunday school and other classes or personal study. The first eight lessons lay the biblical foundation for change. The grace of the God in the gospel of Jesus Christ is spring of all true change, and it prompts a self-confrontation: 'Man's way is oriented to self: to please self, to comfort self, to rely on self, to fulfill self, to forgive self, to exalt self, and to love self. . . . [God's way] emphasizes that you are to live for Him.' The next thirteen lessons treat particular problem areas: selfishness, anger, interpersonal conflict, marriage and family, depression, fear, life-dominating sins. The final three lessons summarize and set the foundation for Course II, Biblical Counseling Training." -- David Powlison
"Helps Christians solve their personal problems Biblically and equips laymen and women to counsel others Biblically within the church." Particularly valuable for its system of identifying root problems in counseling cases. Some of the material presented is from various writings by Jay E. Adams. The audio cassette tape series by John Broger is designed to accompany the course and includes practical examples.
Biblical Counseling Foundation
http://www.bcfministries.org/aboutbcf.htm

*Broger, John C. (developer/editor), Course II: Nouthetic Counseling Study Guide and Course II: Self-Confrontation Tapes (8 cassette tapes) (Rancho Mirage, CA: Biblical Counseling Foundation).
Biblical Counseling Foundation
http://www.bcfministries.org/aboutbcf.htm

Mack, Wayne, Biblical Solutions to Life's Problems (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Media).
This book is accompanied by an audio cassette series of 24 tapes.

National Association of Nouthetic Counselors, What to do When: Addresses, Workshops; Brandt, Adams, et al. (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian Reformed Publishing Co., 1978).
Howard A. Eyrich, editor. Proceeding of the annual meeting, 1977.

Scourby, Alexander (narrator), The Bible Complete Old and New Testaments; Authorized King James Version, 12 sound cassette (Dallas, TX: Word Publishing).
A recording of the Bible on audio cassette tapes. Listen before sleep and in the car.

Scourby, Alexander (narrator), The Bible Complete Old and New Testaments; Authorized King James Version (CD-ROM), ISBN: 1930034598 9781930034594.
A recording of the Bible on compact disc (CD). Listen before sleep and in the car.

Tripp, Paul, Christ our Model (part 1) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates, 1991).
Cassette AC891.

Tripp, Paul, Christ our Model (part 2) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates, 1991).
Cassette AC892.

Tripp, Paul, When Things go From bad to Worse (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette HFTF08.

See also: The teaching of our lord jesus christ, Christ our example, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sound word associates, Audio cds and mp3s on counseling subjects, Christian counseling and educational foundation, Works of jay adams, Audio cassettes of CCEF speakers, The national association of nouthetic counselors tape library, Westminster media, Biblical counsel by subject, Training in Biblical counseling

Related WebLinks

The National Association of Nouthetic Counselors Tape Library
http://www.kyrios.com/soundword/nanc.html

Sound Word Associates Library of Biblical Counselors
http://www.soundword.com/ccon.html

National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC)
5526 State Road 26 East
Lafayette, IN 47905

Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation
http://www.ccef.org/
Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF)
1803 East Willow Grove Avenue
Glenside, PA 19038
Telephone: 215.884.7676

Institute of Biblical Counseling and Discipleship (formerly CCEF West)
http://www.ibcd.org/

Nouthetic Counseling Home Page -- Competent to Counsel
http://www.lifeisworship.com/nanc/index.htm

Westminster Theological Seminary Bookstore
http://www.wts.edu/bookstore/

Biblical Counseling Foundation
http://www.bcfministries.org/aboutbcf.htm

Still Waters Revival Books
http://www.puritandownloads.com/swrb-puritan-hard-drive.html/#4c3b4f2de8383



Legal Aspects of Counseling

Modern civil law foresees only civil enforcement. Biblical law requires civil enforcement and declares the certainty of ultimate divine judgment in history for failure to enforce His Laws [Isaiah 17:14; Jeremiah 17:11]. Biblical criminal law is thus essentially religious law, and it has in mind two courts, the God-ordained courts of the social order, and the Supreme Court of Almighty God.
Ehrlich's comment is to the point:
It is difficult to compare Biblical sins with statutory crimes since in the former all are based on moral and spiritual values whereas in the latter only that is a crime which fits into the structure of the statute sought to be enforced. (J.W. Ehrlich, The Holy Bible and The Law, p. 92.)
Precisely. Biblical law is the word of God; it therefore represents an ultimate order which is written into the texture of all creation and into the heart of man. Hence, a jury system is valid in terms of Biblical law, since the decision is in terms of a fundamental law which all men know, whether they acknowledge it or not. Civil statutes represent only the will of the state, not an objective and absolute moral order. Statutory law creates lawlessness, because society is then no longer governed by an absolute standard of justice but rather by the fiat will of the state. Like fiat money, fiat law lacks substance, and it quickly destroys itself, and all who rely on it. It is a form of fraud, and a major form. -- Rousas John Rushdoony, The Institutes of Biblical Law, pp. 498-499.

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Legal Matters," and so forth, and so on.

Clark, Homer H., Jr., The Law of Domestic Relations in the United States (St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Co., 1968).
"Focuses on marital problems and provides a comprehensive, nontechnical discussion of breach of promise suits, annulments, obligations to support the family, the legal status of women, tort liability, protection for rights of consortium, divorce, alimony, and custody, etc. Wherever the laws of a state differ from the general norm these variations appear in the footnotes. Pastors and counselors will find this an invaluable treatment." -- Cyril J. Barber

Eidsmoe, John, The Christian Legal Advisor (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1987), ISBN: 0880621184 9780880621182.
Includes bibliography.

Farris, Michael P., Where do I Draw the Line? When Your Legal Rights are Ignored or Violated (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers), ISBN: 155661229X 9781556612299.
What do I do "when my boss wants me to attend a New Age seminar? When my teen is required to view explicit materials in class? When home schooling my children is denied? And other situations where Christians' rights are ignored.
"Michael Farris is a constitutional lawyer who is on the cutting edge of what is happening to Christians in society today. He has represented Christians in many of the best-known religious freedom cases of the 1980's and early '90s.
"Farris alerts readers as to what they can expect to face in our society and provides practical suggestions and solid spiritual guidance on how to respond effectively." -- Publisher's Annotation

Joslin, G. Stanley, The Minister's Law Handbook (New York, NY: Channel Press, 1962).
"Alerts the pastor or counselor about possible legal complications." -- Cyril J. Barber

Levicoff, Steve, Christian Counseling and the Law (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, c1991), ISBN: 0802412394 9780802412393.
Includes bibliographical references and index.

Malony, A. Newton, Thomas L. Needham, and Samuel Southard, Clergy Malpractice (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1986), ISBN: 0664245919 9780664245917.
"Faces the dilemma of clergy malpractice suits realistically. Assesses the complexities arising from Nally vs. Grace Community Church of Sun Valley. Deals informatively with the law, offering encouragement as well as certain cautions to those involved in a counseling ministry." -- Cyril J. Barber



BIBLICAL COUNSEL BY SUBJECT

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him. -- God The Father (Matthew 17:5)

Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (Romans 7:12-14)

See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil. (Deuteronomy 30:15)

None of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. (Daniel 12:10)

It has been true from the beginning of the world, that obedience is better than any sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22) and is the parent of all virtues. -- John Calvin commenting on Genesis 4:2, Calvin's Commentary on Genesis, p. 118

A wealth of information on Biblical Counseling is found on audio CDs and MP3s on counseling subjects and are available at Sound Word Associates.

See also: For all counselors, Will and recalcitrance, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Audio cds and mp3s on counseling subjects, DVD and multi-media, Believer's position in Christ and Sonship, The priesthood of believers, Bible reference works, Biblical counseling training, Casuistry and conscience, Ethics, Church discipline, Christ and counseling, Christian classics containing biblical counsel, Christian counseling and educational foundation, Commentaries containing biblical counsel, Counseling and the local church, Counseling children, Counseling for sex related problems, Counseling teens, Counseling the family, Counseling the sick, Crisis counseling, Discipleship, General works on Biblical counseling, Holiness, Holy spirit and counseling, Index to authors and titles, Legal aspects of counseling, Love and counseling problems, Manuals and handbooks, Premarital counseling, Marital counseling, Counseling the family, Medical aspects of pastoral counseling, Parables of christ, Parenting, Pastoral counseling, Peer counseling, Physiological problems, Preaching and pastoral counseling, Premarital counsel, Proverbs, topical listings, Questions and answers, Referral in pastoral counseling, Resources in christian counseling series, Sermon on the mount, Sermons containing Biblical counsel, Teachings of our lord jesus christ, Topical listings of Scripture, Training in biblical counseling, Westminster media, Wisdom books, Women and counseling, Works of jay adams, Works by and about Puritans, and so forth, and so on.

Abstinence, Chastity

There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? (Genesis 39:9)

"Ultimately the Seventh Commandment (Exodus 20:14) is about our fidelity to Christ." To fracture the Seventh Commandment is to break covenant with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Sex," "Abortion," and so forth, and so on.

Ankerberg, John, and John Weldon The Myth of Safe Sex: The Devastating Consequences of Violating God's Plan. Alternate title: THE MYTH OF SAFE SEX: THE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLATING GOD'S PLAN, ISBN: 0802456391 9780802456397.

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

PRICE, GREG, Christian Education in the Home: Help! My Daughter Wants to Date. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"Contrasts the non-covenantal pagan view of dating with the covenantal Christian view of Biblical courtship. Shows how the world has insidiously invaded the church (through music, TV, movies, godless public education, etc.) and how this has impacted the raising of our children. Includes a lengthy list of questions for interviewing prospective suitors and an appendix on the Biblical role of women. A very practical, unique item, laying the foundation for blessed biblical marriages. Related item: Courtship Versus Dating by Greg Price." -- SWRB

See also: Sexual relationship, Sexual Wholeness, Spirituality and harlotry, Home schooling, Sex education, Evil, the problem of, avoiding, eschewing, shunning, Sexually transmitted diseases, Counseling for sex related problems, Protecting children from dangers, Sex, The wisdom books, Singleness, Counsel for young men, Counsel for young women, Abuse, Child abuse and pedophilia, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Abuse, Rape, Incest, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Adultery, Abortion, Homosexuality, Single parenting, Fatherlessness, Suffrage, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 3208, 3210, 3569, 3570

Related WebLinks

True Love Waits
http://www.truelovewaits.com/

Sex Respect
http://www.sexrespect.com/default2.html

Price, Greg, Dating or Courtship: Which Is Biblical? (1/2)

Justifying Faith
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#justfaith



Abortion and the Sanctity of Life

See the Theological Notes, "The Image of God," at Genesis 1:27 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them. (Psalm 106:37-41)

The Treasury of David, Psalm 106
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps106.htm

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. (Psalm 127:3)

For Thou -- Thou hast possessed my reins,
Thou dost cover me in my mother's belly.
I confess Thee, because that with wonders I have been distinguished.
Wonderful are Thy works,
And my soul is knowing it well.
My substance was not hid from Thee,
When I was made in secret,
Curiously wrought in the lower part of earth. (Psalm 139:13-15, YLTHB)

But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. (Proverbs 8:36)

See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil. (Deuteronomy 30:15)

If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. (Exodus 21:22-25)

Sanctity of Life is the basis of Western Civilization. In the Abortion Holocaust we are witnessing the destruction of Western Civilization. -- D. James Kennedy

The Journal of the American Medical Association reported (early 2001) a study of 247 women who died in pregnancy in the state of Maryland. The leading cause of death during pregnancy was murder. Twenty-one percent of the women studied were murdered.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. (Psalm 32:1-5)

For the Christian, the acknowledgment of God as the Creator of life, brings to bear one very significant life-transforming truth. The Bible makes it specific that God, in his love, created man. Thus, it is not life that precedes love, but love that precedes life. It is the love of God that gave us life in creation, just as it is the love of a mother that enables a child to live, in procreation. Any attempt to thwart the love of God, thwarts His design and brings discord in life because it rejects the very motivation in the creation of life.
"One can readily see how the failure to implement the role of love has resulted in modern man becoming the most abortive of life in all of history. The opposite of love is selfishness, and the rights of the one bearing the baby have now eradicated the love needed to give life. From `live and let live,' we have moved to `live and let die.' Love is creation's first law, and if love has preceded life, then for life to succeed, it must live within the boundaries of this love. -- Ravi Zacharias, A Shattered Visage: The Real Face of Atheism

Since 1973 there have been an estimated 40,740,000 abortions in The United States (2001 estimate). This approximates the number of legal and illegal immigrants to this country during that period.

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Abortion," and so forth, and so on.

*American Portrait Films, "Hard Truth: The Pro-life Tool of the Decade" (Cleveland, OH [American Portrait Films, Inc., P.O. Box 19266, Cleveland 44119]: American Portrait Films, Inc., 1992).
"I honestly have never seen anything quite so powerful -- or quite so anointed." -- George Grant
"The `Hard Truth" shatters the myth of choice." -- Carol Everett. A video cassette.
American Portrait Films
http://www.amport.com/

*American Portrait Films, For Life: A Catalog of Pro-life Video Titles (Cleveland, OH [American Portrait Films, Inc., P.O. Box 19266, Cleveland 44119]: American Portrait Films, Inc., 1992).
"This catalog represents pro-life titles we believe worthy of owning and sharing with others. You will find timely, related subjects here, from teenage sexuality, to the treatment of pro-life activists, to the advent of `mercy killing' in our hospitals and nursing homes.
"In the near future American Portrait Films will be carrying a large number of instructional and wholesome entertainment videos. . . ." -- John A. Hocevar
Select titles produced by American Portrait Films: "Hard Truth," "Parents' Rights Denied," "The Silent Scream," "The Brutal Truth," "Tell the Truth: Rally for Life '90," "America Speaks Up For Life," "No Alibis," "Your Crisis Pregnancy," "The Massacre of Innocence," "The Hidden Holocaust," and many more.
American Portrait Films
We now offer over 30 Christian creation science videos, young earth creationism videos, creation science videos, and videos on other creationist topics as well as 100 other thought provoking pro life, pro family videos.
http://www.amport.com/

*Anderson, James N.D., Issues of Life and Death (London, England: Hodder and Stoughton, 1976), ISBN: 0340231513 9780340231517.
"In this work Sir Norman presents his `Lectures on Contemporary Christianity,' University of London, 1975. He establishes his thesis for the development of ethical principles squarely on the sacredness of human life as presented in the Bible. While on the one hand this treatise is a valuable corrective for Ward's THE DIVINE IMAGE, on the other it is a bold attempt to provide a rational defense for a viable system of ethics. In this we believe Anderson has been most successful." -- Cyril J. Barber

Baker, Don, Beyond Choice: The Abortion Story no One Is Telling (Multnomah Pub, April 1990), ISBN: 0880701277 9780880701273.
"True and heart-breaking story of a young woman, her three abortions, her failed marriage, her depression and despair, the loss of her only child through the courts to grandparents, and her present infertility." -- GCB

*Beckwith, Francis J., Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Case Against Abortion Choice (Cambridge University Press, August 13, 2007), 312 pages, ISBN: 9780521870849 0521870844.
"DEFENDING LIFE is the most comprehensive defense of the prolife position on abortion ever published. It is sophisticated, but still accessible to the ordinary citizen. Without high-pitched rhetoric or appeals to religion, the author offers a careful and respectful case for why the prolife view of human life is correct. He responds to the strongest prochoice arguments found in law, science, philosophy, politics, and the media. He explains and critiques Roe v. Wade, and he explains why virtually all the popular prochoice arguments fail. There is simply nothing like this book.
"Francis J. Beckwith is Associate Professor of Church-State Studies, Baylor University, where he teaches in the departments of philosophy and political science and the J. M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies. A 2002-2003 Madison Research Fellow in the Politics Department at Princeton University, he is a graduate of Fordham University (Ph.D., philosophy) and the Washington University School of Law, St. Louis (M.J.S.), where he won the CALI Award for academic excellence in the Reproductive Control Seminar. His more than a dozen books include IS STATECRAFT SOULCRAFT? CHRISTIANITY AND POLITICS (forthcoming); TO EVERYONE AN ANSWER: A CASE FOR THE CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW (2004); LAW, DARWINISM, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION: THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THE CHALLENGE OF INTELLIGENT DESIGN (2003); DO THE RIGHT THING: READINGS IN APPLIED ETHICS AND SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY, Second Edition (2002); and THE NEW MORMON CHALLENGE: RESPONDING TO THE LATEST DEFENSES OF A FAST-GROWING MOVEMENT (2002), which was a finalist for the Gold Medallion Award in theology and doctrine. With interests in jurisprudence, politics, philosophy of religion, and public policy, Professor Beckwith has published in a wide variety of academic journals including the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Journal of Social Philosophy, International Philosophical Quarterly, Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly, Journal of Medicine & Philosophy, American Journal of Jurisprudence, Journal of Medical Ethics, Public Affairs Quarterly, Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy, Social Theory & Practice, Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, Christian Bioethics, Nevada Law Journal, Journal of Law & Religion, and Philosophia Christi. His website is http://www.francisbeckwith.com." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Brand, Paul, and Philip Yancey, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, September 1997), ISBN: 0802727654 9780802727657.
"The human body is an endlessly fascinating repository of secrets. The miracle of the skin, the strength and structure of the bones, the dynamic balance of the muscles . . .your physical being is knit according to a pattern of incredible purpose. In Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, renowned surgeon Dr. Paul Brand and best-selling writer Philip Yancey explore the human body. Join them in a remarkable journey through inner space -- a spellbinding world of cells, systems, and chemistry that bears the impress of a still deeper, unseen reality. This Gold medallion Award-winning book uncovers eternal statements that God has made in the very structure of our bodies, presenting captivating insights into the Body of Christ."
Dr. Paul Brand was a world-renowned hand surgeon and leprosy specialist. Co-author with Philip Yancey of THE GIFT OF PAIN and FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE. Philip Yancey serves as editor-at-large for Christianity Today magazine, has written twelve Gold Medallion Award-winning books, and two Kip Jordon ECPA Books of the Year, and lives with his wife in Colorado." -- Publisher's Annotation

Burtchaell, James T., Rachel Weeping: The Case Against Abortion (New York, NY: Harper and Row and Harpercollins, 1984), ISBN: 0919225349 9780919225343.
"Searing and impeccable documentation, five essays presenting a strong and consistent case against abortion. This book would not be classified as a Biblical presentation, but nevertheless his arguments are strong. What a storehouse of ammunition against abortionists." -- GCB

Curro, Ellen, Caring Enough to Help: Counseling at a Crisis Pregnancy Center (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group, April 1990), ISBN: 0801025516 9780801025518.
"Much valuable information for training volunteers to serve at a crisis pregnancy center is included here. The entire Christian community will see how it can make a difference by touching hurting lives." -- GCB

*Everett, Carol, with Jack Shaw, The Scarlet Lady: The Confessions of a Successful Abortionist. Alternate title: BLOOD MONEY: GETTING RICH OFF A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE. (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth and Hyatt Publishers, 1991), ISBN: 1561210730 9781561210732.
"Carol Everett's SCARLET LADY: CONFESSIONS OF A SUCCESSFUL ABORTIONIST convicted my wife and I that the abortion industry is the immoral and money hungry, multi-million dollar monster that we always believed it to be. Mrs. Everett puts her own reputation on the line by showing what she did during her tenure as an abortionist. Yes, she calls herself this, even though she never picked up the knife or suction tube. She explains how low this profession can go by falsifying pregnancy reports, using pressure tactics like how much more money it will cost for an abortion the longer they wait, and even participates in the illegal transportation and the cover-up of an abortion patient's death. She even brought her daughter into this life she led. Anyone interested in how the abortion industry lies and winds its way into every ones lives should consider this a must read! " -- Reader's Comment
Post-abortion syndrome affects abortion workers as well as mothers.

*Foreman, Joseph L., Shattering the Darkness: The Crisis of the Cross in the Church Today (Cooling Spring Press, April 1992), 186 pages, ISBN: 0935883037 9780935883039.
"Don't read this book if you are not willing to be heart-wrenchingly challenged. Foreman effectively makes the distinction between committing to a social cause and picking up one's cross. They are not necessarily one and the same thing. It will not be rallies or political strategies or demonstrations alone that will deliver the death blow to abortion. The call is to the church to embrace the cross. It is the power of the cross that revolutionizes the culture and transforms every facet of life from marriage to business to politics and so on, rescuing those areas from darkness. . . ." -- Reader's Comment

Fowler, Paul B., Abortion: Toward an Evangelical Consensus (Portland, OR: Multnomah Press, 1987), ISBN: 0880701730 9780880701730.
"It fills a critical gap by clarifying the scriptural, logical, and biological assumptions upon which the pro-life and pro-choice movements are based. Fowler insists that `not one can be neutral on this issue' and concludes that Christians can reach a consensus against abortion." -- Charles Swindoll

Ganz, Richard (editor), Thou Shalt Not Kill: The Christian Case Against Abortion (New Rochelle, NY: Arlington House, 1978), ISBN: 0870004069 9780870004063, 200 pages.
"Collected essays dealing with various facets of the struggle against abortion." -- David Powlison

Garton, Jean, Who Broke the Baby (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1979), ISBN: 0764220500 9780764220500.
"What you would want your daughter to know about abortion . . . intelligent, Biblical. . . . This is the book that Senator Hyde purchased and distributed to all the members of the legislature of the United States."

Grant, George, Grand Illusions: The Legacy of Planned Parenthood, ISBN: 1581820577 9781581820577.
Exposes the hidden agenda of Planned Parenthood.
"In the course of my research, I have found that the abortion industry's very existence depends on secrecy, deception, and distortion of information. For this very reason, I strongly recommend George Grant's book, GRAND ILLUSIONS, because it provides much needed information that I'm sure Planned Parenthood would rather no one knew!" -- Frank E. Peretti

Grant, George, with Gary North, Planned Parenthood: Your Tax Dollars at Work (Fort Worth, TX: Dominion Press), ISBN: 1888306521 9781888306521.
"A video cassette (VHS). How and why are American taxpayers subsidizing genocide today through the insidious program of Planned Parenthood?" -- Publisher's Annotation

*Grant, George, The Quick and the Dead: RU-486 and the New Chemical Warfare Against Your Family (Wheaton, IL: Good News Publishers [Crossway Books]), ISBN: 0891076646 9780891076643.
"Will Christians be asleep as the abortion pill RU-486 threatens human life as they were when Roe vs. Wade first appeared? We must become informed about the danger lurking before us as the pro-death forces spend millions to being the French abortion pill to America!" -- GCB
"It is must reading for the concerned Christians who want to stay informed about RU-486, the abortion pill. RU-486 proponents claim it to be a `safe and effective post-coital contraceptive method.' However, it is not safe, or effective; and it does not prevent conception. But it does destroy unborn babies." -- CRM

*Grant, George, Third Time Around: A History of the Pro-Life Movement From the First Century to the Present (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth and Hyatt Publishers, 1990), ISBN: 0943497655 9780943497655.
"You will be enriched and enlightened as you read about the pro-life successes of people from the past like J. Hudson Taylor, Theodore Roosevelt, Mother Theresa, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and others."

Hoffmeier, James K. (editor), Abortion: A Christian Understanding and Response (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House), ISBN: 0801043174 9780801043178.
"This book contains an extensive study of relevant Biblical teaching on the subject of abortion as well as an extended list of practical guidelines for Christians wrestling with this moral issue." -- GCB

Jackson, Mark, Newborn Child Murder: Women, Illegitimacy and the Courts in Eighteenth-Century England . . . , ISBN: 0719046076 9780719046070.
Of course, abortion is not unprecedented. Furthermore it is not unprecedented for man's law to be lenient toward mothers who murder their own children.
"Includes trials of eighteenth-century child murder cases."

*Johnston, George F. (compiler), Abortion From the Religious and Moral Perspective: An Annotated Bibliography (Bibliographies and Indexes in Religious Studies. Praeger Publishers, March 30, 2003), 264 pages, ISBN: 0313314020 9780313314025.
"Johnston begins by claiming this is not just another bibliography on the subject of abortion. What makes his different? It is narrow in scope, addressing only the religious and moral perspectives without attempting to cover legal, sociological, political, and medical aspects. It contains more entries and has greater depth, is ambitiously comprehensive and includes many important publications, and has citations from all points of view. . . .
"George F. Johnston is Cataloger at the Langsam Library at the University of Cincinnati. He formerly served as Assistant Librarian at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis." -- Publisher's Annotation

McDonagh, Josephine, Child Murder and British Culture, 1720-1900 (Cambridge University Press, December 8, 2003), 292 pages, ISBN: 0521781930 9780521781930.
"Josephine McDonagh examines the concept of child murder in British culture in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by analyzing texts drawn from economics, philosophy, law, and medicine, as well as literature. McDonagh highlights the ways in which child murder echoes and reverberates in a variety of cultural debates and social practices. She traces a trajectory from Swift's a MODEST PROPOSAL through the debates on the New Woman at the turn of the twentieth century by way of Burke, Wordsworth, Wollstonecraft, George Eliot, George Egerton, and Thomas Hardy, among others.
"Josephine McDonagh is Reader in Romantic and Victorian Culture in the School of English and Humanities at Birkbeck College, University of London. She is the author of DE QUINCEY'S DISCIPLINES (1994) and GEORGE ELIOT (1997) and co-editor of TRANSACTIONS AND ENCOUNTERS: SCIENCE AND CULTURE IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY BRITAIN (2001)." -- Publisher's Annotation

Michels, Nancy, Helping Women Recover From Abortion, ISBN: 0871236214 9780871236210.
"A poignant documentary of the pain-filled lives of many aborted women. It is essential reading for those who think that abortion is a solution to unplanned pregnancy and for those who would counsel the growing sisterhood of permanently scarred women - reveals the hidden horror of abortion and the healing help that is available." -- Reader's Comment
Includes bibliography.

*Miller, C. John "Jack" (1928-1996), "Finding Healthy Self-esteem Through Being Completely Forgiven" (Quality Living Series. Jenkintown, PA [World Harvest, Box 2175, Jenkintown, 19046]: World Harvest, 1987).
"Do you feel inadequate? That you need to do more or be better in order to be happy and fulfilled? You may not realize it, but your biggest problem is . . . you don't feel completely forgiven."
World Harvest Mission
http://www.whm.org/home.htm

Morecraft, Joe, III, With Liberty and Justice for All, 2nd edition, (Covenant House Books, 1995).
"Joe Morecraft, III, was the pastor of the late Senator Larry McDonald, who was killed when the Russians shot down his plane. This is Christian politics made simple. A very readable book that will help you to think through the place of the government in our lives, namely, the government's authority and limitations. All this is done with many passages quoted from Scripture. There is a chapter on the life of Larry McDonald. . . ." -- Footstool Publications
"What are Christians to do when the civil government is evil? Must they always obey the authorities? What are the origins of civil government? Does the Bible authorize the government to execute criminals? Is abortion murder if it is legal? Shouldn't Christians stay out of politics? This book answers these questions and many more. Dr. Morecraft, pastor of Chalcedon Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, seeks Biblical answers to these questions. An instructive book for today." -- GCB

*Nathansen, Bernard N., The Hand of God (Regnery Publishing, Inc., January 25, 2007), ISBN: 0895264633 9780895264633.
"Here is a man who was responsible for the legalization of abortion in the United States, coming to terms with the dreadful consequences of his actions, publicly sharing an obviously painful part of his life, and seeking forgiveness. . . .
"Especially chilling are Nathanson's predictions for the future. He predicts that just as we now have abortuaries one day we will have 'death with dignity centers' -- legalized places where we can bring our elderly to have them put to death. . . .
"Not long after the book was published, Dr. Nathanson [raised Jewish -- sk] entered the Catholic Church." -- Reader's Comment

*Nathansen, Bernard N., and Richard N. Ostling, Aborting America (Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Company, 1979), ISBN: 0523415389 9780523415383.
"Re-examines the abortion controversy, the abortion law, the theories behind the proabortionist lobby, and exposes the flagrant abuses being practiced in America today. Highlights the fact that socially this indicates a diminished respect for human life. Challenging." -- Cyril J. Barber

*Reagan, Ronald, Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1984).
"During the decade immediately following the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973, more than fifteen million unborn children were legally aborted. When one considers that this figure is ten times greater than the loss of all Americans in all of the nation's wars, some understanding of the enormity of the problem becomes apparent. In an unprecedented effort to make the public aware of the importance of the situation President Reagan addressed the volatile subject of abortion. `Afterwords' were supplied by the Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, and Malcolm Muggeridgge." -- Cyril J. Barber

Scott, Douglas, Bad Choices: A Look Inside Planned Parenthood (Brentwood, TN: Legacy Communications, 1992), ISBN: 1880692023 9781880692028.
"Doug, who is a pro-life veteran from the Christian Action Council and the Free Congress Federation, has really done his homework and has thus made an indispensable contribution to this important area of sociopolitical scholarship. He covers vastly different material in a profoundly different fashion than I do in my book. There can be no competition when it comes to stopping the hideous juggernaut of Planned Parenthood." -- George Grant

Smith, F. Legard, When Choice Becomes God (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, c1990), ISBN: 0890818282 9780890818282.
Exposes the falsehood in the arguments of the Pro-Choice movement.

*Terry, Randall A., Accessory to Murder: The Enemies, Allies and Accomplices to the Death of Our Culture (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth and Hyatt Publishers, 1990), ISBN: 0943497787 9780943497785.
"Randall Terry exposes the purposes and tactics of the ACLU, NOW, and Planned Parenthood from a perfect vantage point -- prison . . . . It draws the battle lines between life and death more clearly than you have ever seen them drawn before."

*Terry, Randall, Operation Rescue (Springdale, PA: Whitaker House, 1988), ISBN: 0883682095 9780883682098.
Randall Terry is the recognized leader in this expanding movement.
"I consider Operation Rescue a legitimate front-line force in the pro-life movement. Please prayerfully consider joining with me in supporting this organization to save the lives of the unborn and to stop the killing permanently." -- D. James Kennedy

White, Margaret, Two Million Silent Killings: The Truth About Abortion (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House), ISBN: 0551014024 9780551014022.
"An outspoken, moving and compelling work exposing the scandal of abortion and laying bare the ethical, scientific, and social impoverishment which abortion has brought in its train." -- GCB

*Young, Curt, The Least of These: What Everyone Should Know About Abortion (Chicago, IL: Moody Press), ISBN: 0802446248 9780802446244.
"This book is being called a battle hymn for the unborn. It may be the most comprehensive handbook on abortion currently available." -- GCB

See also: The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Post-abortion counseling, Covetousness, greed, and selfishness, The ten commandments, the moral law, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Abuse, Rape, Incest, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Suffrage and reproductive rights, Sexual wholeness, Abstinence, chastity, Ethics, Medical ethics, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Decline of American society, Modern myths and fallacies, Self-denial, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Dvd and multi-media, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 2449, 2452

Related WebLinks

Pro-life.org
http://www.prolife.org/

American Portrait Films
We now offer over 30 Christian creation science videos, young earth creationism videos, creation science videos, and videos on other creationist topics as well as 100 other thought provoking pro life, pro family videos.
http://www.amport.com/

LifeDynamics.com
Pro-life resource center
http://www.ldi.org/

Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States (05/2006)
Comprehensive documented statistics on legal abortions performed in the Unites States compiled by the Guttmacher Institute.
http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html

The Influence of a Godly Mother, a sermon by D. James Kennedy
"What is a mother's influence on society? Motherhood has been de-valued by our secular society. What you don't hear is how much influence mothers really have on the course of human events. James Kennedy brings light to the powerful influence of a Godly Mother on The Coral Ridge Hour."
Children who do not bond with their mother often have difficulty bonding with others in society.
http://store.coralridge.org/ProductDetails.aspx?pc=105305



Abuse

See the Theological Notes, "The Image of God," at Genesis 1:27 in The Reformation Study Bible.

I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. (Psalm 34:4,5)

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (Psalm 42:11)

Word: "disease;" Meaning; "disturb;" Sample location: "Luke 8:49" -- from the "Glossary," 1599 Geneva Bible. Tolle Lege edition DISEASE, n. Dizeze. [dis and ease.] 1. In its primary sense, pain, uneasiness, distress, and so used by Spenser; but in this sense, obsolete. 2. The cause of pain or uneasiness . . . disorder; any state of a living body in which the natural functions of the organs are interrupted or disturbed . . . The first effect of disease is uneasiness or pain, and the ultimate effect is death. . . . 3. A disordered state of the mind or intellect, by which the reason is impaired. 4. In society, vice; corrupt state of morals. Vices are called moral diseases. A wise man converses with the wicked, as a physician with the sick, not to catch the disease, but to cure it. 5. Political or civil disorder, or vices in a state; any practice which tends to disturb the peace of society, or impede or prevent the regular administration of government. The instability, injustice and confusion introduced into the public councils have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have every where perished. DISEASE, v.t. dizeze. 1. To interrupt or impair any or all the natural and regular functions of the several organs of a living body [i.e. robbing a neighbor of sleep -- sk]; to afflict with pain or sickness to make morbid . . . 2. To interrupt or render imperfect the regular functions of the brain, or of the intellect; to disorder; to derange. 3. To infect; to communicate disease to, by contagion. 4. To pain; to make uneasy. --1828 edition of Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language

The US Justice Department reports that women who live together with men are 76 times more likely to be physically abused, that is 7,600 percent more likely (2001 data).

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Abuse," "Sex," and so forth, and so on.

*Enroth, Ronald M., Churches That Abuse: Help for Those Hurt by Legalism, Authoritarian Leadership, Manipulation, Excessive Discipline (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992).
"What makes a church abusive? Usually it's not doctrinal deviation but intimidating behavior: legalism, authoritarian leadership, manipulation, and excessive discipline. Enroth names abusive groups, shows you how to recognize them, and lists `red flags' that may indicate when a church is drifting into trouble. Most importantly, Enroth offers help to Christians who've been hurt by abusive churches." -- CBD
"Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps; The Assembly; Body of Christ Fellowship (Piecemakers); Boston Church of Christ; Christian Growth Ministries; Church of Bible Understanding; Church of Jesus Christ Forever; Church of Our First Love; Church of the Great Shepherd; Christian Growth Ministries; Community of Jesus; Emmaus Christian Fellowship; Faith Assembly; Faith Tabernacle; Fellowship of Christian Churches and Ministries; Great Commission International; Maranatha Christian Ministries; No-Name Fellowship/C-U (Champaign-Urbana) Ministries; River of Life/Truth Station; Set Free; Two-by-Two's; University Bible Fellowship; Victory Chapel (Potter's House); Vineyard; Word of God Community."

*Finley, Martha [aka Martha Farquharson, a pen name] (1828-1909), The Elsie Books, (Bulverde, TX: Mantle Ministries, Elkton, MD: Holly Hall Publications, and various other publishers).
Originally written in the late 1800's for girls and young women, the Elsie Dinsmore books were bestsellers for over thirty years. When we are introduced to Elsie in the first book she is a sweet and humble eight-year-old whose great desire in life is to be reunited with her father, whom she has never met. Her faith and her obedience to God's commandments uphold her in the great troubles she often faces, and the drama to which we are spectators is as timely for today's girls as it was for the young ladies of the 19th century. A new edition of one of GCB's best sellers, the series offers Christian values and character building examples through stories that are compelling, heartwarming, and enduring. Ages 10 and up." -- GCB
"The Elsie Books -- 28 in all -- are some of the most widely read children's stories ever written. When they first came out more than a hundred years ago, the publisher could scarcely keep them in stock. . ." -- Publisher's Annotation
"Altogether Miss Finley's novels sold more than 28,000,000 copies in the last century. This made them among the best-selling novels of all time . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
*Finley, Martha [aka Martha Farquharson, a pen name] (1828-1909), Book 1: Elsie Dinsmore, ISBN: 158182064X 9781581820645. (Bulverde, TX: Mantle Ministries), ISBN: 1888306319.
"Set amid the sweet blossoms of a southern mansion, this timeless classic delves into the heart of Elsie -- by all counts, an extraordinary little girl. Share in Elsie's quest for love from her earthly father as it leads to a mature understanding of the love of her Father in Heaven. Join Elsie as she suffers through endless hours of scrutiny from Miss Day, her mean-spirited school teacher, taunting from her mischievous young Uncle Arthur, and scoldings from a cold-hearted father she so desires to please -- all with the peace and quiet countenance that comes from knowing she is God's child. This, the first of the heart-warming Elsie Books, will both challenge and inspire you." -- Publisher's Annotation
*Finley, Martha [aka Martha Farquharson, a pen name] (1828-1909), Book 1: Elsie Dinsmore, ISBN: 158182064X 9781581820645. (Bulverde, TX: Mantle Ministries), ISBN: 1888306319.
http://www.hshangout.com/elsie.html
*Book 2: Elsie's Holidays at Roselands. ISBN: 9781888306323 1888306327.
"When Elsie's father becomes ill, she takes on the job of nurse-companion, and all goes well until Elsie, because it is the Sabbath, as a matter of conscience refuses to read to him from a secular book. The battle of wills that ensues nearly causes first her father's death, and then Elsie's. Lonely Elsie -- punished, ostracized, and then abandoned by her father -- turns to her heavenly Father for comfort and assurance. Will her father realize that Elsie's obedience to God must be paramount, and submit himself to the same Divine Authority?" -- Publisher's Annotation
On an even more serious note, one moral of this story is the broader life and death struggle between Truth and Falsehood (see "Absolute Truth and Relativism," "Epistemology," "Christian Scholarship"). The consequence of conflict of will is death of the "One," or war of the "Many" (see Rushdoony, The One and the Many). Conflict of will (see "Will and Recalcitrance," "Rebellion and Lawlessness") may begin when one individual (see "The Doctrine of Man [Human Nature, Total Depravity])" or corporate body (see "Corporate Faithfulness and Sanctification") tries to usurping authority over another (see "Power," "Authority") -- tries to control and possess them (see "Tyranny," "Slavery"). The means of control may be either outward or occult (see "The Occult and Spiritism"): deceit, repression or suppression of the truth, replacing moral and ethical absolutes with relativism (see "Ethics," "Medical Ethics"), unfaithfulness to the highest ethical standards (see "The Ten Commandments, the moral law," "The Holy Bible"), apostasy, spirituality and harlotry (see "Idolatry," "Jeremiah"), invocation of the demonic, idolatry, ungodly alliance and secret societies (see "Carnality and Flesh Pleasing: Lust, Desires, Ambition," "Justice, Judgment, God's Final Judgment, The Great White Throne Judgment, The Day of the Lord"), attempts to take authority over another politically or by mental malpractice (see "Selection of Covenant Heads for Positions of Leadership"), "making up their own rules (see "Absolute Truth and Relativism)," ignoring or changing constitutional or creedal documents, unjust laws for the accumulation of wealth and power, indebtedness, disenfranchisement, denial of freedom (see "God the Author of Freedom"), soul-stealing, possessiveness, physical seduction and whoredom, political economic or sexual enslavement (see "Sexual Relationship" and "Spirituality and Harlotry"), and so forth, and so on.
This abuse, this soul-violence, quenches the Holy Spirit (see Owen, "God's Presence With a People the Spring of Their Prosperity; With Their Special Interest in Abiding in Him"). If either side is immovable, then death is the consequence (see "Soteriology," "The Atonement," "The Blood of Christ," "Hell" and "Heaven").
How are conflicts of will resolved? By submission to the Absolute Truths of God's word, the great common denominator (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6, KJV). All this bears a strain of the Gospel (see "Book-length Presentations of the Free Offer of The Gospel Message of Salvation and the Life to Come: The Means of Grace," "The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)").
Holidays at Roselands (Gutenberg text)
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=14280
Mantle Ministries (Elsie Dinsmore and Mildred Series)
http://www.mantlemin.com

*Foster, David Kyle, Sexual Healing: God's Plan for the Sanctification of Broken Lives: A Reference Manual for Ministering to Those Trapped in Sexual Sin and Brokenness (Jacksonville, FL [Mastering Life Ministries, P.O. Box 351149, Jacksonville 32235]: Mastering Life Ministries, 1997), ISBN: 0830737154 9780830737154 0830737340 9780830737345.
This is a unique work and the best resource known to the compiler offering biblical counsel for healing sexual brokenness. See "Foundations" and "Divine Intent for Sexuality" for a biblical explanation of the spiritual significance of sexuality. These two chapters alone make the purchase of the book worthwhile. Includes chapters, study guides, and exercises for Root sources for improper sexual development, Sexual identity confusion, Child sex abuse, Sexual addition, Pornography, Masturbation, voyeurism and exhibitionism, Why people remain in sexual sin and bondage, Failure and self-condemnation, A comprehensive game plan for sexual healing, and so forth. Indexed, 398 pages, includes bibliography.
Mastering Life Ministries
http://www.MasteringLife.org

Friesen, James G., Uncovering the Mysteries of MPD, ISBN: 1579100627 9781579100629, 300 pages.
Includes bibliographical references.

Heitritter, Lynn, and Jeanette Vought, Helping Victims of Sexual Abuse (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1989), ISBN: 0764202286 9780764202285.
"Sexual abuse is making headlines around America. . . . Many people secretly bear the scars of childhood abuse and desperately struggle with the hidden trauma that interferes with spiritual growth and normal human relationships. The church needs to understand genuine sexual abuse and what can be done about it under present civil constraints." -- Susan Alder
"What women should know about sexual assault."
"Heitritter and Vought have done an enormous service in demonstrating the extent of the problem in the local church. They give practical, tested advice about ministry to survivors of sexual abuse. Required reading for pastors, lay leaders and others who work everyday with victims of sexual abuse." -- Dale S. Ryan, Executive Director of The Recovery Partnership Foundation, Whittier, California

Hudson, Pamela S., Ritual Child Abuse: Discovery, Diagnosis and Treatment (Saratoga, CA: R&E Publishers, 1991), ISBN: 0882478672 9780882478678.
Includes bibliographical references.
"I am a psychotherapist who works with trauma. I used to believe that ritual abuse was an urban legend; now I know better. I've worked with enough survivors and specialists who treat Dissociative Identity Disorder, previously called Multiple Personality Disorder, that I know Satanic Ritual Abuse and many other forms of ritual abuse are very real. It is very real and survivors are typically afraid to seek out help from mental health professionals for it and are severely dis-served by the denial of mental health practitioners.
"This book is a little simplistic but is a good introduction to working with Ritual Abuse Survivors. I recommend reading this to help wrap your mind around ritual abuse, then, if you are a professional read Dee Brown's book on SATANIC RITUAL ABUSE. That is an excellent resource." -- Reader's Comment

*Hyde, Margaret O., Cry Softly! The Story of Child Abuse, revised and enlarged (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1986), ISBN: 0664327233.
Includes bibliography. Indexed.
"The rising tide of child abuse makes this book a must. Deals with the reasons, as well as the treatment. Provides information on `Hotlines,' `Suggestions for Further Reading,' and `National Organizations Concerned With Child Abuse'." -- Cyril J. Barber

Hyde, Margaret O., Sexual Abuse: Let's Talk About it, revised and enlarged edition (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1987), ISBN: 0664327257 9780664327255
"Draws attention to what is becoming a `national epidemic.' Points out how pastors may recognize the victims and deal with the trauma and anger of those who feel violated. Practical." -- Cyril J. Barber
"Discusses the sexual abuse of children, how they can protect themselves, where they can seek help, the kinds of help available, and how to increase public awareness of this problem."

*Johnson, David, and Jeff VanVonderen, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse: Recognizing and Escaping Spiritual Manipulation and False Spiritual Authority Within the Church (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, October 1, 2005), ISBN: 0764201379 9780764201370.
"Manipulation, shaming, `using' other people -- that's in the church, too. Spiritual abuse happens when authority figures use spiritual means to gratify their desires for importance, power, or intimacy. Because abusers use spiritual-sounding language, their followers are trapped in legalism, guilt performance, and begrudging service. Johnson and VanVonderen explain how to identify spiritual abuse, break the cycle of abusive spiritual dynamics, and encourage both abusers and victims to repent and recover." -- CBD
"In a breakthrough book first published in 1991, the authors address the dynamics in churches that can ensnare people in legalism, guilt, and begrudging service, keeping them from the grace and joy of God's kingdom. Written for both those who feel abused and those who may be causing it, THE SUBTLE POWER OF SPIRITUAL ABUSE shows how people get hooked into abusive systems, the impact of controlling leadership on a congregation, and how the abused believer can find rest and recovery.
"David Johnson has been the senior pastor at Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, Minnesota, since 1980. During this time, the church has grown from a congregation of 160 to 3,000 people. A much sought-after speaker, he is a graduate of Bethel College and received his theological training at Bethel Seminary and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His "Growing in Grace" radio broadcast is syndicated internationally. David and his family live in Minnesota.
"Jeff VanVonderen is an internationally known speaker on addictions and church and family wellness. He has worked as a counselor in both residential and outpatient treatment settings, as well as in the religious community, taught at the college level, and is the author of several books. He makes his home in California." -- Publisher's Annotation
"The difference between churches that use manipulation and those that practice grace is like night and day. . . .
"Van Vonderen and Johnson warn people who read the book not to use what they have learned as a weapon, but to take action only in the proper spirit. Of course, any time someone takes action in a church, real problems will become visible. My question in every case is: are those problems caused by those speaking out, or have they been there all along and are only now being exposed. . . ?
"It is fair, it is doctrinally solid, and it gives effective counsel. There is something beneficial for everyone. . . leader, wounded Christian, or loved ones of people in either group." -- Reader's Comment

Klempel, Richard, Lois Klempel, and Jay Adams (forword), Abused? How you can Find God's Help (Lima, OH: Fairway Press, 1991), 58 pages.
" 'Directs readers to biblical answers to questions and biblical solutions to problems' enabling people 'to avoid the all-too-frequently-encountered trap of building a lifestyle around the tragedy.' Workbook deals with reactions to abuse, God as Father, and practical steps to work through in order to change one's reactions to abuse." -- David Powlison

Martin, Grant, Counseling in Cases of Family Violence and Abuse (Resources in Christian Counseling Series, Vol. 6. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1987), ISBN: 0849905877 9780849905872.

Martin, Grant L., Please Don't Hurt Me: A Sensitive Look at the Growing Problem of Abuse in Christian Homes (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1987), ISBN: 0896937437 9780896937437.
"This adult `Bible study' elective focuses on the physical abuse of both children and adults. In each case Martin explores the origins of violence as well as how it may be stopped. This is a very commendable work for laypersons, and it is hoped that many will acquire it and read it carefully." -- Cyril J. Barber

Mawyer, Martin, Silent Shame: The Alarming Rise of Child Sexual Abuse and How to Protect Your Children From It, ISBN: 0891074198 9780891074199.
"This informative study provides an in-depth profile of sexual abusers -- their methods, motivations, strategies, hangouts -- so that parents can understand what makes a child vulnerable to their overtures. This work provides practical steps to take to prevent children from becoming victims of sexual abuse." -- GCB

*Miller, Wendell E. Forgiveness: The Power and the Puzzles, ISBN: 0964144115 9780964144118.
"Defines God's forgiveness in four ways: (1) initial forgiveness releases us from the penalty of sin and (2) restores us to fellowship with God, and (3) repetitive forgiveness releases us from the day by day penalty for fresh sins, and (4) restores us day by day to fellowship. Defines our forgiveness of others in two ways: (1) vertical forgiveness between us and God (Mark 11:25) releases others from the penalty of our wrath, and (2) horizontal forgiveness (Luke 17:3) restores the relationship between us and others who repent. Discusses flaws in such ideas as 'forgiving God' and 'forgiving oneself'." -- David Powlison
"It could have been called "The Anger Handbook" because it teaches how to overcome problems of hurt feelings, anger, and aggressive behavior. Overcoming problems of anger is crucial. Spouse abuse, failures in marriages, failures in child rearing, and even child abuse often erupt from anger. Parents who model angry behavior are likely to raise children with anger problems. And most importantly, God is not glorified by Christians who have anger problems.
"It teaches the kind of forgiveness that is nearly always an absolute necessity to becoming really free from the trauma of sexual abuse. . . .
"FORGIVENESS: THE POWER AND THE PUZZLES will add biblical power to the books that you already have on Christian living, discipleship, marriage, child rearing, anger, communications, forgiveness, and sexual abuse." -- Publisher's Annotation

Pellauer, Mary D., Barbara Chester, and Jane Boyajian (editors), Sexual Assault and Abuse: A Handbook for Clergy and Religious Professionals, ISBN: 0060665076 9780060665074.
"Illustrated with case histories this book, primarily by women (only two chapters are by men), helps counselors and therapists recognize the patterns of sexual assault and sexual abuse. From this premise the gears are switched and the contributors discuss the reasons for violence in our milieu, and the threat this poses to children, teens, and adults." -- Cyril J. Barber

Powlison, David, Paul David Tripp, and Edward T. Welch, Domestic Abuse: How to Help, ISBN: 087552687X 9780875526874.

*Reisman, Judith A., Soft Porn Plays Hardball, ISBN: 091031165X 9780910311656.
"Reisman demonstrates the tragic effects of `soft porn' on women, children, and the family." -- GCB

Schlesinger, Benjamin, Sexual Abuse of Children: A Resource Guide and Annotated Bibliography (Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1982), ISBN: 0802064817 9780802064813.
"An informative guide to the literature covering all aspects of sexual molestation -- including profiles of parents and siblings." -- Cyril J. Barber

Shogren, Gary, and Edward Welch, Running in Circles: How to Find Freedom From Addictive Behavior (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1995), ISBN: 0801083877 9780801083877, 96 pages.
"Companion volume to Welch's and Shogren's ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR. Intended as a practical guide to help those who struggle with 'addictive behavior:' drugs, alcohol, food, immorality, and so forth. Especially useful as a first introduction to biblical thinking for such people." -- David Powlison

Stratford, Lauren, and Johanna Michaelson (foreword), Satan's Underground: The Extraordinary Story of One Woman's Escape (Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Company, Incorporated), ISBN: 0882898760 9780882898766.
"Readers from coast to coast will be shocked and disturbed by the story told here. But most of all, they will come to care deeply for the many thousands of innocent children who are faced with unspeakable horrors at the hands of modern day satanists." -- Reader's Comment

Strom, Kay Marshall, In the Name of Submission: A Painful Look at Wife Battering (Portland, OR: Multnomah Press, 1986), ISBN: 0880701633 9780880701631.
"A very sensitive book. The author confronts the harsh reality in the best possible way. She assesses the complex personal, ethical, and spiritual dilemmas facing the victim of abuse and offers sage suggestions to ensure her personal safety and that of any children. Practical. Recommended." -- Cyril J. Barber
"This is the first book with a Christian perspective that I read which gave a basis for ending my abusive marriage. . . . A must for any woman who questions her husband's controlling, isolating or abusive behavior, especially if she is a Christian and believes in the sanctity of marriage." -- Reader's Comment

Welch, Edward, and Gary Shogren, Addictive Behavior (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1995), ISBN: 0801097371 9780801097379, 176 pages.
"Guides pastors and other counselors in understanding 'addictions' biblically, and takes them through five typical sessions of counseling. The prominent case study focuses on alcohol abuse in a church context, but the principles apply to other enslaving behaviors." -- David Powlison

Welch, Edward T., Living With an Angry Spouse: Help for Victims of Abuse, ISBN: 9781934885352 1934885355.

Welch, Edward T., Self-injury: When Pain Feels Good, a booklet, ISBN: 0875526977 9780875526973.

Young, Mary de, The Ritual Abuse Controversy: An Annotated Bibliography (North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers [Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640], 2002), 258 pp. appendix, indexes, softcover, ISBN: 0786412593 9780786412594.
"The ritual abuse of children is the most controversial issue in the child maltreatment field, but much of what has been written about ritual abuse over the past twenty years is in the form of unpublished and endlessly reproduced `stuff' -- curious mixture of conjecture, folkloric and pop-culture representations of satanism, devil worship, occultism and witchcraft, and Christian Fundamentalist images of premillennarian evil. What remains after this `stuff' is excluded is an intriguing body of international literature that seriously examines the controversy.
"This annotated bibliography dissects the literature, objectively and thoroughly annotates published articles, books and reports, legal opinions, and occasionally, thought-provoking newspaper and magazine articles.
"Chapters deal with the definition of ritual abuse, ritual abuse cases in the United States, cases in American families and neighborhoods, cases in Canada, Europe and Australasia, clinical features of ritual abuse in children and adults, the controversy's impact on professionals and systems, the controversy and American law, ritual abuse reports and narratives, and anthropological, folkloric and sociological perspectives.
"Mary de Young, a professor of sociology and chair of the Department of Sociology at Grand Valley State University, lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is the author of the forthcoming, THE DAY CARE RITUAL ABUSE MORAL PANIC, published by McFarland and Company." -- Publisher's Annotation
Compiler's comment: There may be something of interest here. We have not seen this bibliography. However, we feel it is highly unlikely that a secular compiler could produce an unbiased bibliography on ritual child abuse considering: 1) the most dangerous place for a child in America today is in their mother's womb, 2) most parents have given up their children's education to the public education system, and in 1983 The National Commission on Excellence in Education, in their report, A NATION AT RISK: THE IMPERATIVE FOR EDUCATIONAL REFORM, concluded that had public education been carried out by enemies of the United States, it could not be more harmful to the country, 3) The court system refuses to acknowledge the Ten Commandments (the summation of which is to love God and neighbor) as an ethical basis for modern, relative, arbitrary law, and 4) "although heterosexuals outnumber homosexuals by a ratio of at least 20 to 1, homosexual pedophiles commit about one-third of the total number of child sex offenses," and the courts are recognizing homosexual marriages as of equal status as heterosexual marriages, and so forth, and so on.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Marital counseling, Biblical counsel by subject, Counseling the family, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Church discipline, The covenant faithfulness of god, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Ethics, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Justification, Justifying faith, Abuse (women), Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Bitterness and resentment, Fatherlessness, Pre-marital counseling, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Child abuse and pedophilia, Soul-violence, Churches that abuse, Divorce, Hostility, Homosexuality, Incest, Rape, Sex education, Pornography, Drug abuse, Habits, The occult, Sorcery, Hostility and violence, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 385, 598, 599, 601, 1983, 2211, 2281, 2377, 3480

Related WebLinks

Mastering Life Ministries
http://www.MasteringLife.org

Massachusetts Attorney General, "The Sexual Abuse of Children in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston," Thomas F. Reilly, Massachusetts Attorney General
"The mistreatment of children was so massive and so prolonged that it borders on the unbelievable," says the July 23 [2003] report of Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly. More than 1,000 minors were likely abused by priests over the past six decades."
This is the 79-page report in its entirety.
http://www.votf.org/ago/archdiocese.pdf

Family Watchdog
This national website tracks sexual offenders in your area.
"Enter an address below to view a map of registered sex offenders near you."
While this is much needed data, and we commend efforts thus far, this map will not include the following sexual offenders who should (when known) be publicly identified until they repent of their sexual crimes:

  1. sexual offenders who have not been caught, tried, and convicted (the arrest/conviction ratio for all offenses was approximately 100/25 in the mid 90s);
  2. sexual offenders who have violated parole;
  3. sexual offenders who have failed to report their address or address change;
  4. sexual offenders using an alias (The FBI "believes 1 in 6 persons with a criminal record may be using alias names and identification." -- U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, OTA-TCT-497);
  5. sexual offenders who have been convicted on some other charge;
  6. ex-convicts and inmates who have committed sodomy in prison;
  7. offenders guilty of raping their spouse and the offense has gone unreported;
  8. wives who deliberately commit adultery as part of a "pre-planned divorce," that is, who married with plans to divorce for financial gain;
  9. offenders guilty of unreported incest;
  10. offenders guilty of unreported date rape;
  11. offenders who have committed unreported sexual offenses when drunk or under the influence of drugs;
  12. offenders who have committed unreported sexual offenses with mutual consent;
  13. individual members of Alcoholics Anonymous (who are frequently ex-convicts, mentally ill, and/or mentally retarded, and prefer to be identified as alcoholics to avoid the social stigma of the other categories) or other related 10-Step addiction treatment programs who have committed unreported sexual offenses with other members, or while being a sponsor of another member;
  14. individual members of Alcoholics Anonymous and related 10 Step codependent treatment programs who use the programs as vehicles to find new sexual partners;
  15. offenders who have committed unreported sexual offenses with other members of Alcoholics Anonymous or other related 10-Step addiction treatment programs while in a codependent relationship with another member;
  16. members of Sex Addicts Anonymous who have committed unreported sexual offenses;
  17. prostitutes still at-large in society;
  18. offenders who frequent prostitutes;
  19. men and women who are self-employed in the "sex industry" (professionals deliberately practicing prostitution within the business community);
  20. individuals employed in the pornography industry, including child pornography;
  21. individuals addicted to pornography or child pornography;
  22. individuals guilty of unreported sodomy and homosexuality;
  23. unreported homosexual pedophiles ("Homosexuals are over represented in child sex offenses: Individuals from the 1 to 3 percent of the population that is sexually attracted to the same sex are committing up to one-third of the sex crimes against children." -- Timothy J. Dailey, Phd. in "Homosexuality and Child Sexual Abuse");
  24. offenders guilty of unreported rape;
  25. offenders guilty of unreported fornication;
  26. offenders guilty of unreported adultery;
  27. offenders living in licentious cohabitation;
  28. offenders who are mentally retarded and promiscuous;
  29. offenders who have sever mental illness and are promiscuous;
  30. offenders with AIDS disease;
  31. offenders with any of the 30 other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States;
  32. individuals who dabble in, or actively participate in satanic cults, or related destructive cults that practice sexual rituals;
  33. offenders who are licensed mental health care professionals (Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Psych Nurses, Medical Doctors, Counselors, Priests, Pastors, and Churchmen, and so forth) who become sexually involved with their patients, clients, counselees, or church members;
  34. individuals in the legal profession who judged in favor of legalized abortion or who aided in the legal process;
  35. individuals participating in organized crime who run and profit from most of the abortion clinics in the United States;
  36. medical professionals who perform abortions;
  37. men who have paid for abortions performed on their daughters;
  38. men who have paid for abortions performed on their sexual partners;
  39. mothers who have aborted children from their wombs (any of the 43 million abortions performed in the United States since Roe vs. Wade in 1973);
  40. individuals in the drug industry who developed "the morning after pill;"
  41. druggists who sell "the morning after pill;"
  42. women who have used "the morning after pill;"
  43. and so forth, and so on.
http://www12.familywatchdog.us/

Mantle Ministries (Elsie Dinsmore and Mildred Series)
http://www.mantlemin.com

The Influence of a Godly Mother, a sermon by D. James Kennedy
"What is a mother's influence on society? Motherhood has been de-valued by our secular society. What you don't hear is how much influence mothers really have on the course of human events. James Kennedy brings light to the powerful influence of a Godly Mother on The Coral Ridge Hour."
Children who do not bond with their mother often have difficulty bonding with others in society.
http://store.coralridge.org/ProductDetails.aspx?pc=105305



Affliction, Adversity, Trials

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. (Deuteronomy 8:3)

The LORD [is] my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for thou [art] with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalm 23, A Palsm of David)

But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. (Psalm 37:39,40)

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19)

The Treasury of David, Psalm 62
"From him cometh my salvation. The good man will, therefore, in patience possess his soul till deliverance comes: faith can hear the footsteps of coming salvation, because she has learned to be silent. Our salvation in no measure or degree comes to us from any inferior source; let us, therefore, look alone to the true fountain, and avoid the detestable crime of ascribing to the creature what belongs alone to the Creator. If to wait on God be worship, to wait on the creature is idolatry; if to wait on God alone be true faith, to associate an arm of the flesh with him is audacious unbelief." -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting on verse 1 of Psalm 62 in The Treasury of David
 http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps062.htm

The Treasury of David, Psalm 120, C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps120.htm

The Treasury of David, Psalm 116, C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps116.htm

I am afflicted very much.
According to the last verse he had been sworn in as a soldier of the Lord, and in this next verse he is called to suffer hardness in that capacity. Our service of the Lord does not screen us from trial, but rather secures it for us. The Psalmist was a consecrated man, and yet a chastened man; nor were his chastisements light; for it seemed as if the more he was obedient the more he was afflicted. He evidently felt the rod to be cutting deep, and this he pleads before the Lord. He speaks not by way of murmuring, but by way of pleading; from the very much affliction he argues for very much quickening.
Quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word.
This is the best remedy for tribulation; the soul is raised above the thought of present distress, and is filled with that holy joy which attends all vigorous spiritual life, and so the affliction grows light. Jehovah alone can quicken: he has life in himself, and therefore can communicate it readily; he can give us life at any moment, yea, at this present instant; for it is of the nature of quickening to be quick in its operation. The Lord has promised, prepared, and provided this blessing of renewed life for all his waiting servants: it is a covenant blessing, and it is as obtainable as it is needful. Frequently the affliction is made the means of the quickening, even as the stirring of a fire promotes the heat of the flame. In their affliction some desire death, let us pray for life. Our foreboding under trial are often very gloomy, let us entreat the Lord to deal with us, not according to our fears, but according to his own word. David had but few promises to quote, and probably these were in his own psalms, yet he pleads the word of the Lord; how much more should we do so, since to us so many holy men have spoken by the Spirit of the Lord in that wonderful library which is now our Bible. Seeing we have more promises, let us offer more prayers. -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting on Psalm 119:107

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:16)

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:16)

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:28,29)

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:5)

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:9)

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:1-18) See the annotation in The Reformation Study Bible.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. -- Paul quoting Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
It is a faithful saying:

For if we be dead with him,
we shall also live with him:
If we suffer,
we shall also reign with him:
if we deny him,
he also will deny us:
If we believe not,
yet he abideth faithful:
he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:8-13,19)

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. (1 Peter 2:19-23)

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches, etc.
This clause ought to be carefully noticed; for we here learn that we ought to shun as a deadly poison whatever cannot be enjoyed without offending God; for the pleasures of sin he calls all the allurements of the world which draw us away from God and our calling. But the comforts of our earthly life, which we are allowed by pure conscience, and God's permission to enjoy, are not included here. Let us then ever remember that we ought to know and understand what God allows us. There are indeed some things in themselves lawful, but the use of which is prohibited to us, owing to circumstances as to time, place, or other things. Hence as to all the blessings connected with the present life, what is ever to be regarded is, that they should be to us helps and aids to follow God and not hindrances. And he calls these pleasures of sin temporary or for a time, because they soon vanish away together with life itself.
"In opposition to these he sets the reproach of Christ, which all the godly ought willingly to undergo. For those whom God has chosen, he has also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his own son; not that he exercises them all by the same kind of reproaches or by the same cross, but that they are all to be so minded as not to decline to undertake the cross in common with Christ. Let every one then bear in mind, that as he is called to this fellowship he is to throw off all hindrances. Nor must we omit to say, that he reckons among the reproaches of Christ all the ignominious trials which the faithful have had to endure from the beginning of the world; for as they were the member of the same body, so they had nothing different from what we have. As all sorrows are indeed the rewards of sin, so they are also the fruits of the curse pronounced on the first man: but whatever wrongs we endure from the ungodly on account of Christ, these he regards as his own. Hence Paul gloried that he made up what was wanting as to the sufferings of Christ. Were we rightly to consider this, it would not be so grievous and bitter for us to suffer for Christ.
"He also explains more fully what he means in this clause by the reproach of Christ, by what he has previously declared when he said, that Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God. He could not have otherwise avowed himself as one of God's people, except he had made himself a companion to his own nation in their miseries. Since, then, this is the end, let us not separate ourselves from the body of the Church: whatever we suffer, let us know that it is consecrated on account of the head. So on the other hand he calls those things the treasures of Egypt, which no one can otherwise possess than by renouncing and forsaking the Church. For he had respect unto the recompense of the reward, or for he looked to the remuneration. He proves by the description he gives, that the magnanimity of Moses' mind was owing to faith; for he had his eyes fixed on the promise of God. For he could not have hoped that it would be better for him to be with the people of Israel than with the Egyptians, had he not trusted in the promise and in nothing else.
By faith he forsook Egypt, etc.
This may be said of his first as well as of his second departure, that is, when he brought out the people with him. He then indeed left Egypt when he fled from the house of Pharaoh. Add to this, that his going out is recorded by the Apostle before he mentions the celebration of the Passover. He seems then to speak of the flight of Moses; nor is what he adds, that he feared not the wrath of the king, any objection to this, though Moses himself relates that he was constrained to do so by fear. For if we look at the beginning of his course he did not fear, that is, when he avowed himself to be the avenger of his people. However, when I consider all the circumstances, I am inclined to regard this as his second departure; for it was then that he bravely disregarded the fierce wrath of the king, being armed with such power by God's Spirit, that he often of his own accord defied the fury of that wild beast. It was doubtless an instance of the wonderful strength of faith, that he brought out a multitude untrained for war and burdened with many encumbrances, and yet hoped that a way would be opened to him by God's hand through innumerable difficulties. He saw a most powerful king in a furious rage, and he knew that he would not cease till he had tried his utmost. But as he knew that God had commanded him to depart, he committed the event to him, nor did he doubt but that he would in dug time restrain all the assaults of the Egyptians.
As seeing him who is invisible. Nay, but he had seen God in the midst of the burning bush: this then seems to have been said improperly, and not very suitable to the present subject. I indeed allow, that Moses was strengthened in his faith by that vision, before he took in hand the glorious work of delivering the people; but I do not admit that it was such a view of God, as divested him of his bodily senses, and transferred him beyond the trials of this world. God at that time only showed him a certain symbol of his presence; but he was far from seeing God as he is. Now, the Apostle means, that Moses so endured, as though he was taken up to heaven, and had God only before his eyes; and as though he had nothing to do with men, was not exposed to the perils of this world and had no contests with Pharaoh. And yet, it is certain, that he was surrounded with so many difficulties, that he could not but think sometimes that God was far away from him, or at least, that the obstinacy of the king, furnished as it was with so many means of resistance, would at length overcome him. In short, God appeared to Moses in such a way, as still to leave room for faith; and Moses, when beset by terrors on every side, turned all his thoughts to God. He was indeed assisted to do this, by the vision which we have mentioned; but yet he saw more in God than what that symbol intimated: for he understood his power, and that absorbed all his fears and dangers. Relying on God's promise, he felt assured that the people, though then oppressed by the tyranny of the Egyptians, were already, as it were, the lords of the promised land.
We hence learn, that the true character of faith is to set God always before our eyes; secondly, that faith beholds higher and more hidden things in God than what our senses can perceive; and thirdly, that a view of God alone is sufficient to strengthen our weakness, so that we may become firmer than rocks to withstand all the assaults of Satan. It hence follows, that the weaker and the less resolute any one is, the less faith he has. -- John Calvin commenting on Hebrew 11:25-27

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 3:19)

When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord's choicest wines. -- Samuel Rutherford

Look, as our greatest good comes through the sufferings of Christ, so God's greatest glory that He hath from His saints comes through their sufferings. -- Thomas Brooks

As the wicked are hurt by the best things, so the godly are bettered by the worst. -- William Jenkyn

The godly may sometimes be so overclouded with calumnies and reproaches as not to be able to find a way to clear themselves before men, but must content and comfort themselves with the testimony of a good conscience and with God's approbation of their integrity. -- David Dickson

The devil desires to winnow Peter, not Judas. The more faithful servants of God we be, the more doth Satan bruise us with the flail, or grate us with the fan. The thief does not break into an empty cottage, but into some furnished house or full granary, where the fatness of the booty is a fitness to his desires. The unclean spirit finds no rest in an atheist, usurer, drunkard, swearer, etc. He knows a canker has overrun their consciences already; and that they are as sure as temptation can make them. What need he tempt them that tempt themselves? -- Thomas Adams

They have the earth in their hands (Job 9:24), who have nothing of heaven in their hearts; they bear sway in the world who are slaves to the world; they govern and order others at their will who are led captive by Satan at his will. Be not offended and troubled to see the reins of government in their hands who know not how to govern themselves, or to see them rule in the world who are unworthy to live in the world. -- Joseph Caryl

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
Hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine: Let me find thy light in my darkness, thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty,
thy glory in my valley. -- A Puritan Prayer

No hypocrite can bear the cross. -- Henry Smith

Adams, Jay E., Accepting Retarded Children; Handling Troubles; and etc. (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA409.

Adams, Jay E., How to Handle Trouble (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1982), ISBN: 0875520766 9780875520766.
"Focuses on Philippians 1:12-26, where Paul views his hardships as opportunities to glorify Christ."
" 'A practical handbook that gives biblical directions to follow in times of trouble.' Where The Grand Demonstration works out the implications of God's decretive will, this book works out the implications of God's directive will by which he pastorally guides His people. Based on Philippians 1, it lays out six steps for handling trouble: recognize God is in the problem; remember God is up to something; believe that He is up to something good; discover where and how God is at work; get involved in what He is doing; expect good effects." -- David Powlison

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Affliction," "Adversity," "Temptation," "Testing," and so forth, and so on.

*Alexander, James W., Consolation: Addresses to the Suffering People of God (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1992), ISBN: 1877611530 9781877611537.
"Eighteen chapters and 448 pages on select topics by the eldest son of prominent theologian, Archibald Alexander. Charles Hodge said he was not the first of orators to hear on rare occasions, but the first of preachers to sit under, month after month, and year after year.
"The author stresses that it is the attributes of God -- His mercy, His providence, His omnipotence, His power, His goodness, His compassion, and many others -- which give consolation to those saints in need of it. This is a book for the weary soul who has been fighting the good fight and feeling the bruises of the conflict." -- GCB

*BOLTON, ROBERT, A Treatise on Comforting Afflicted Consciences (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1991, 1626). Available on the SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #9. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #27. A Christian classic.
"I do not know of a single book published in the past twenty years that explains in depth how to respond Biblically to a grieved or wounded conscience. Here's an ideal volume to fill that gap. Few books in history have treated the subject as completely or as clearly as Robert Bolton's classic work. . . . The book remains a definitive study on the issue of dealing with guilt. Practical, Biblical, meticulously precise, carefully reasoned, it maintains a straightforward simplicity that cannot fail to touch the sensitive reader's heart." -- John MacArthur

*Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), When God's Children Suffer. Alternate title: NIGHT OF WEEPING: WHEN GOD'S CHILDREN SUFFER (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1992), ISBN: 0879832452 9780879832452.
"Horatius Bonar excels in his ability to communicate the teachings of God in Christ. His language is so simple, so plain and to the point, that some will say to themselves, `he can't know much, if those are the biggest words he can use.' Be not deceived, for here is a brain energized by the Scriptures, and so he is able to communicate why God's children suffer, and what the suffering will bring, and where the suffering will lead them. It is a message of hope, a prayerful exploration of the reasons God brings suffering on His loved ones. If you do not know Bonar, be assured you will love him." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

*Bordwine, James E., A Guide to the Westminster Standards: Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism (Unicoi, TN: The Trinity Foundation, 1991), ISBN: 0940931303 9780940931305.
One way to be strengthened and encouraged in times of trouble, discouragement, and depressions is to read pure doctrine to remind oneself of what is in fact true.
"In this volume are the complete texts of the WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH (1646) (both the original and American versions) and the LARGER CATECHISM, together with Scripture proofs and a unique topical index to both the Confession and the Catechism. A GUIDE TO THE WESTMINSTER STANDARDS will be a great help in understanding the Bible and its most complete summaries, the Westminster Standards." -- Publisher's Annotation.
A Guide to the Westminster Standards: Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism, James Bordwine
Includes a unique, 100 page topical index to both the Confession and the Catechism.
http://www.thornwellhall.org/GuideFrame1Source1.htm

*BROOKS, THOMAS, The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod. Alternate title: THE MUTE CHRISTIAN UNDER THE SMARTING ROD WITH SOVERAIGN ANTIDOTES AGAINST THE MOST MISERABLE EXIGENTS, OR, A CHRISTIAN WITH AN OLIVE LEAF IN HIS MOUTH . . . Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. In THE WORKS OF THOMAS BROOKS. A Christian classic.
The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod, by Thomas Brooks
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/epl-10/web/brooks-mute-christian-00.html

*BUNYAN, JOHN (1628-1688), Advice to Sufferers (Sterling, VA: GAM Publications), ISBN: 0685198219. Available (WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available (THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1. A Christian classic.
Pilgrim's Page: A John Bunyan Archive
This is the complete set of THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN, George Offor edition, the edition reprinted by The Banner of Truth. It is free online, and is downloadable in the following formats: HTML, RTF, TEXT, and PDF.
http://www.mountzion.org/bunyan.html

*Burroughs, Jeremiah (1599-1646), Evil of Evils: The Exceeding Sinfulness of Sin (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1992), ISBN: 1877611484 9781877611483. A Christian classic.
"This treatise has one recurring theme: it is better to choose affliction than sin. In expounding Scripture, Burroughs shows that nothing is to be more avoided than sin, and nothing is to be more hated than sin. . . . Classic work by Burroughs (1599-1646) is a collection of his sermons on the subject of sin. This is a very rare book bringing well over a hundred dollars." -- GCB

Carson, Herbert M., Facing Suffering (Welwyn, England: Evangelical Press), 134 pages, ISBN: 0852341199 9780852341193.

Davis, Ron Lee, Courage to Begin Again (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, c1988), ISBN: 0890816077 9780890816073
Includes bibliography.

Erskine, Ebenezer, The Annals of Redeeming Love, With the Redeemer's Vengeance Upon the Grand Enemy of the Redeem'd. Being Several Sermons . . . By . . . Ebenezer Erskine, Edinburgh, 1738. In THE WORKS OF EBENEZER ERSKINE.

Edwards, Brian H., Not by Chance: Making Sense out of Suffering (Welwyn, England: Evangelical Press), ISBN: 0875529178 9780875529172.

*Fitch, William, God and Evil: Studies in the Mystery of Suffering and Pain (London, England: Pickering and Inglis, 1969), 183 pages, ISBN: 0720800404.
"A contemporary presentation of theodicy." -- Cyril J. Barber

*Goodwin, Thomas (1600-1680), The Return of Prayers, ISBN: 9780548039441 0548039445. In THE WORKS OF THOMAS GOODWIN. A Christian classic.

*GOUGE, WILLIAM (1578-1653), The Saints Sacrifice: or, A Commentarie on the CXVI. Psalme. Which is, a gratulatory psalme, for deliverance from deadly distresse, 1632, 144 pages. Available (THE WORKS OF WILLIAM GOUGE) on the SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available (THE WORKS OF WILLIAM GOUGE) on Puritan Bookshelf CD #7. Available (THE WORKS OF WILLIAM GOUGE) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #20.
" 'Sir, the last year, when the heavy hand of the righteous Lord lay upon this land and other parts of the Christian world, manifested by the three arrows of his anger, plague, famine, and sword, just cause was given to inquire after such means as might cure the wounds that were made by them, and move the Lord to withhold his hand from shooting abroad any more of them. Upon inquiry there was found in God's word (the treasury wherein all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid) fit remedies for all those maladies,' writes Gouge in his preface to the Earl of Warwick. In this book Gouge opens the Lord's treasure house (of Psalm 116) for deliverance from deadly distress and spiritual dilapidation." -- SWRB

Jeffrey, P., Our Present Sufferings (Bridgen, England: Evangelical Press of Wales), ISBN: 0900898763 9780900898761.

Knox, John (1505-1572), and Fleming, Abraham (1552?-1607), A Fort for the Afflicted. VVherin are ministred many notable & excellent remedies against the stormes of tribulation. Written chiefly for the comforte of Christes little flocke, which is the final number of the faithfull, by Iohn Knoxe, 1580. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #14.
A commentary on Psalm VI.

*Lockyer, Herbert, All the Promises of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1996, 1962), ISBN: 0310281318.
"A devotional expositional compilation of all the promises [about 3,300 of the approximate 8,810 promises - sk] that are found in Scripture." -- Synopsis
"Lockyers in-depth look at the scope of Gods promises arranges them in categories that cover the full array of human concerns, from the spiritual to the material and the corporate to the personal. As you come to understand Gods promises and how they apply to every aspect of your life, you'll gain a trust in God that will sustain you through the worst of times and be your source of rejoicing in the best.
"Dr. Herbert Lockyer was born in London in 1886, and held pastorates in Scotland and England for 25 years before coming to the United States in 1935. In 1937 he received the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Northwestern Evangelical Seminary. In 1955 he returned to England where he lived for many years. He then returned to the United States where he continued to devote time to the writing ministry until his death in November of 1984." -- Publisher's Annotation

Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn (1899-1981), The Miracle of Grace and Other Messages, ISBN: 0801056365 9780801056369.
"Fourteen (14) sermons published together for the first time as a book. These sermons originally appeared in the periodical The Christian World Pulpit. They cover a wide variety of topics such as hope, discipleship, suffering, sin, the Cross, the Resurrection, and more." -- GCB

*Luther, Martin, Commentary on Galatians, English translation by Erasmus Middleton, B.D., edited by John Prince Fallowes, M.A., Pembroke College, Cambridge (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1979, 1553), ISBN: 0825431247.
"I prefer this book of Martin Luther's (except the Bible) before all the books I have ever seen, as most fit for a wounded soul." -- John Bunyan
"This is a great, historic work, and is beyond criticism on account of its great usefulness. As a comment its accuracy might be questioned; but for emphatic utterances and clear statements of the great doctrine of the Epistle it remains altogether by itself, and must be judged per se." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"The reissue of a famous series of lectures delivered at Wittenberg University in 1553." -- Cyril J. Barber
Luther's Commentary on Galatians, "who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth." (Galatians 3:1 excerpt), English translation by Erasmus Middleton, B.D., edited by John Prince Fallowes, M.A., Pembroke College, Cambridge
http://www.lettermen2.com/luther1.html
Luther's Commentary on Galatians, "That He might deliver us from the present evil world." (Galatians 1:4 excerpt), English translation by Erasmus Middleton, B.D., edited by John Prince Fallowes, M.A., Pembroke College, Cambridge
http://www.lettermen2.com/luther2.html

*Macartney, Clarence E.N., Trials of Great Men of the Bible (New York, NY: Abingdon Press, 1946) ISBN: 1430474920.
"Covers material from Job to Paul. Shows the place and purpose of trials in the development of Christian character." -- Cyril J. Barber

Meyer, F.B., The Gift of Suffering (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications), ISBN: 0825432758 9780825432750.
"With deep spiritual insight, the author handles the subject of `why Christians suffer'."-- GCB

*Perkins, William (1558-1602), How to Liue, and That well in all Estates and Times, specially when helps and comforts faile, 1601.

*Perkins, William (1558-1602) and Rogers, Richard (1550?-1618), A Garden of Spirituall Flowers. Planted by Ri. Ro. Will. Per. Ri. Gree. M.M. and Geo. Web. [Ri. Ro. = Richard Rogers, Will. Per. = William Perkins, Ri. Gree. = Richard Greenham, M.M. = Miles Mosse (?), and Geo. Web. = George Webbe,] Corrected and inlarged, 1625. Additional title: TREATISE TENDING UNTO A DECLARATION. PART 7; CONSOLATIONS FOR THE TROUBLED CONSCIENCES.
An anthology. Perkins's "How to live well, and to die well", is part seven of his "A treatise tending unto a declaration" (STC 19752), where it bears the title "Consolations for the troubled consciences."

*Preston, John (1587-1628), The Golden Sceptre Held Forth to the Humble (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1990), ISBN: 1877611174 9781877611179. A Christian classic.
This book is comprised of six sermons on 2 Chronicles 7:14: `If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land,' just one verse that succinctly gives the Biblical solution to terrorism. Sermons are on Affliction, Humiliation, Seeking god's face, Turning from evil, Forgiveness to those who forsake sin, and Sin as the cause of all calamities.

SIBBES, RICHARD (1577-1635), The soul's conflict with itself, and victory over itself by faith. Being a treatise of the inward disquietments of distressed spirits, . . . To which is subjoined, The bruised reed and smoking flax. By Richard Sibbs, . . . The fifth edition. To which is prefixed, an account of the author's life. Glasgow, 1768. Available (THE WORKS OF RICHARD SIBBES) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

*SIBBES, RICHARD (1577-1635), Goodwin, Thomas (1600-1680), and Nye, Philip (1596?-1672), Christs Exaltation Purchast by Humiliation. Wherein you may see mercy and misery meete together. Very vsefull I. For instructing the ignorant. II. For comforting the weake. III. For confirming the strong. By R. Sibbs D.D. and preacher of Grayes-Inne, London. Published by T.G. and P.N., 1639. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"Notes: T.G. and P.N. = Thomas Goodwin and Philip Nye.
Three sermons on Romans XIV, 9."

Sibbes, Richard (1577-1635), Goodwin, Thomas (1600-1680), Nye, Philip (1596?-1672), Tvvo Sermons Vpon the First Words of Christs Last Sermon Iohn XIIII. I. Being also the last sermons of Richard Sibbs D.D. Preached to the honourable society of Grayes Inne, Iune the 21. and 28. 1635. Who the next Lords day follwing, died, and rested from all his labours, 1636.

*Spurgeon, C.H., Faith's Checkbook (Chicago, IL: Moody Press), ISBN: 0938453025.
"A promise from God may very instructively be compared to a check payable to order. It is given to the believer with the view of bestowing upon him some good thing. It is not meant that he should read it over comfortably and then have done with it. No, he is to treat the promises as a reality, as a man treats a check. He is to take the promise and endorse it with his own name by personally receiving it as true." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"In the Preface of his devotional volume containing 365 brief, experimental comments on the promises which Spurgeon has chosen, the renowned preacher tells us that so many of these promises are true because the were fulfilled in his own experience during a time of `wading in the surf of controversy,' and also when `sharp bodily pain succeeded mental depression, accompanied both by bereavement, and affliction in the person of one dear as life. Never were the promises of Jehovah so precious to me as at this hour.' Thus it was to help other sufferers that Spurgeon prepared this comforting book."
Faith's Checkbook, A Daily Devotional by C. H. Spurgeon
http://bible.christiansunite.com/faitharchive.shtmly

Tada, Joni Eareckson, and Steve Estes, A Step Further: Growing Closer to God Through Hurt and Hardship, updated and expanded HarperCollins Publishers Inc., September 26, 1991), ISBN: 0310239710 9780310239710.
"Joni has written candidly and simply about one of the knottiest questions of human existence, that of the meaning of suffering. Her own trust illuminates every page."-- Elisabeth Elliot

TRAILL, ROBERT (1642-1716), The Throne of Grace Discoursed of From Heb. IV, 16 / by Robert Trail . . . , 1696, ISBN: 085151393X. Available (THE WORKS OF ROBERT TRAILL) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available (SELECT PRACTICAL WRITINGS OF ROBERT TRAILL) on Reformation Bookshelf CD #19, ISBN: 092114895X 9780921148951.
Traill, Robert. Twenty nine sermons, viz. XIII. On the throne of Grace, . . . and XVI. On the Lord's prayer, . . . Together with the Protestant doctrine of justification vindicated. All by the late Revd. and learned Mr. Robert Trail . . .

*WATSON, THOMAS (1633-1686), All Things for Good: Romans 8:28, A Divine Cordial. Alternate title, A DIVINE CORDIAL in 1663. (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851514782 9780851514789. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2. A Christian classic.
"I would prescribe them to take, now and then, a little of this Cordial: all things work together for good to them that love God. To know that nothing hurts the godly, is a matter of comfort; but to be assured that all things which fall out shall cooperate for their good, that their crosses shall be turned into blessings, that showers of affliction water the withering root of their grace and make it flourish more; this may fill their hearts with joy till they run over." -- Thomas Watson, from the Preface
"Thomas Watson of St. Stephen's, Walbrook believed he faced two great difficulties in his pastoral ministry. The first was making the unbeliever sad, in the recognition of his need of God's grace. The second was making the believer joyful in response to God's grace. He believed the answer to the second difficulty could be found in Paul's teaching in Romans 8:28, God works all things together for good for his people.
"Watson's exposition is always simple, illuminating and rich in practical application. He explains that both the best and the worst experiences work for the good of God's people. He carefully analyses what it means to be someone who `loves God' and is `called according to his purpose.' ALL THINGS FOR GOOD provides the biblical answer to the contemporary question: `Why do bad things happen to good people'?" -- Publisher's Annotation

*Wilder-Smith, A.E., The Paradox of Pain (Wheaton, IL: Harold Shaw Publishers, 1971), ISBN: 0877886679 9780877886679.
"A detailed consideration of the problem of suffering, good and evil, and the Providence of God." -- Cyril J. Barber

See also: The sovereignty of God, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The attributes of God, The promises of Christ, Bible promises, Comfort, encouragement, Persecution, Bad relationships a cause of disease and death, The covenant faithfulness of god, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Affliction (women), Justice, judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Temptation, Worry and anxiety, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Christian history, Comfort, Death, Book-length presentations of the Gospel message of salvation and of the life to come, the means of grace, Grief, Hope, Persecution, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Sickness, Aged, Affliction (women), Christian history, Comfort, Death, How to become a christian, Resentment and bitterness, Anger, Emotions and health, Forgiveness of sin, Marriage, Stress, Fear, Reconciliation of relationships, Resentment, Worry and anxiety, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 489-499, 669, 970, 787, 1071, 1934, 1938, 1948, 2149, 2714, 2879, 2902, 3506, 3872, 3873, 4179
MGTP: Trials

Related WebLinks

The Consolation of the Sick
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/epl-05/consolat.txt

A Guide to the Westminster Standards: Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism, James Bordwine
Includes a unique, 100 page topical index to both the Confession and the Catechism.
http://www.thornwellhall.org/GuideFrame1Source1.htm



Adultery

See the Theological Notes, "The Image of God," at Genesis 1:27 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Q. 137. Which is the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.[766]
Q. 138. What are the duties required in the seventh commandment?
A. The duties required in the seventh commandment are, chastity in body, mind, affections,[767] words,[768] and behavior;[769] and the preservation of it in ourselves and others;[770] watchfulness over the eyes and all the senses;[771] temperance,[772] keeping of chaste company,[773] modesty in apparel;[774] marriage by those that have not the gift of continency,[775] conjugal love,[776] and cohabitation;[777] diligent labor in our callings;[778] shunning all occasions of uncleanness, and resisting temptations thereunto.[779]
Q. 139. What are the sins forbidden in the seventh commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the seventh commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required,[780] are, adultery, fornication,[781] rape, incest,[782] sodomy, and all unnatural lusts;[783] all unclean imaginations, thoughts, purposes, and affections;[784] all corrupt or filthy communications, or listening thereunto;[785] wanton looks,[786] impudent or light behaviour, immodest apparel;[787] prohibiting of lawful,[788] and dispensing with unlawful marriages;[789] allowing, tolerating, keeping of stews, and resorting to them;[790] entangling vows of single life,[791] undue delay of marriage,[792] having more wives or husbands than one at the same time;[793] unjust divorce,[794] or desertion;[795] idleness, gluttony, drunkenness,[796] unchaste company;[797] lascivious songs, books, pictures, dancings, stage plays;[798] and all other provocations to, or acts of uncleanness, either in ourselves or others.[799] -- The Larger Catechism

See the Theological Notes, "Marriage and Divorce," at Malachi 2:16 in The Reformation Study Bible

There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? (Genesis 39:9)

Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore. (Psalm 106:30,31)

Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, in so much that he abhorred his own inheritance.
And he gave them into the hands of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. (Psalm 106:40-42)

The Treasury of David, Psalm 106
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps106.htm

She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 8:11)

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:15-20)

Saul, by casting an amorous eye upon Agag, lost his crown and kingdom; Samson, by dallying with his Delilah, lost his strength, sight, light, liberty, and life. But what are the losses of spiritual strength, to thy loss of communion with God, to the loss of the Spirit of light, life, liberty, and glory; to thy loss of joy unspeakable, and peace that passeth understanding? -- Thomas Brooks

All the great fundamentals of Christian truth centre in this of justification. The trinity of persons in the Godhead; the incarnation of the only begotten of the Father; the satisfaction aid to the law and justice of God, for the sins of the world, by his obedience and sacrifice of himself in that flesh he assumed; and the divine authority of the Scriptures which reveal all this: these are all straight lines of truth that centre in this doctrine of justification of a sinner by the imputation and application of that satisfaction. There can be no justification without a righteousness; no righteousness can suffice but that which answers fully and perfectly the holy law of God; no such righteousness can be performed, but by a divine person; no benefit can accrue to a sinner unless it is in some way his, and applied to him; no application can be made of this but by faith in Jesus Christ. -- Robert Traill, from Justification Vindicated, first quoted by Puritanical

Adultery is a sin against the human spirit and spiritual life which produces traumatic results. It is also a sin against the family, which is the basic unit of society. It is the breaking of our conjugal vows, "Forsaking all others, I choose thee." It is a sin against our children. One of the most flagrant causes of divorce, adultery has produced millions of children who have grown up without a father and a mother in the home, and has created enormous problems in the lives of these children. Adultery and its consequent evils are sins against the nation and society. . . . -- D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, What if Jesus Had Never Been Born, p. 135

"In the Mosaic Law, adultery is a capital offense; but, as Derek Kidner has reminded us, `death' in Proverbs also means missing true life even before physical death catches up with us. It is a realm with many victims on both sides of the grave."

A tendency to adultery and a tendency to entertaining of unholy spirits is connected in Scripture.

Redbook magazine conducted a survey concerning sex in modern "liberated" America [Susan Sadd and Carol Tavris, The Redbook Report on Female Sexuality (New York, NY: Delacorte, 1977), pp. 97-106]. . . .
What did the survey reveal? Even more astounding than the number of women that replied [100,000] were the results. They discovered that women who were sexually liberated -- the feminists, the free modern women -- were the most dissatisfied kind of person sexually. The only person less satisfied was the nymphomaniac (who most men think is just the most sexual kind of woman), who is so sexually frustrated that she runs from here to there and back and forth everywhere trying to find some satisfaction, which, alas, she never finds.
But the more religious women indicated that they had more sexual satisfaction in their lives. The most religious category (women were to judge how much a part religion played in their lives -- i.e., whether they were most religious, more religious, least religious), whom the average enlightened American male has been told by the devil are sexually repressed, were the most orgasmic women in the country. And that turns the whole lot right on its head. -- D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, What if Jesus Had Never Been Born, p. 139

"Ultimately the Seventh Commandment (Exodus 20:14) is about our fidelity to Christ." To fracture the Seventh Commandment is to break covenant with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Adultery," "Marriage," "Justification," "Forgiveness," "Reconciliation," "Divorce," and so forth, and so on.

Ankerberg, John, and John Weldon The Myth of Safe Sex: The Devastating Consequences of Violating God's Plan. Alternate title: THE MYTH OF SAFE SEX: THE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLATING GOD'S PLAN, ISBN: 0802456391 9780802456397.

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

Petersen, J. Allan, The Myth of the Greener Grass (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers), 0842346511 9780842346511.
"Hope and counsel for couples dealing with adultery or desiring to `affair-proof' their marriage."
"This is a masterpiece of a work on marriage by one whom one quickly realizes has dealt with the realities of what good marriages rest on and what troubled ones lack. The analogy to keeping grass green is so useful in this case. Whatever the relationship, if attention and effort are not applied, only decay and defoilaging can occur. Thus, the phenomenon we see in society: individuals moving from one relationship to another, the grass always looking more attractive anywhere else but the one which has been deprived the proper attention. This book is not only a tremendous asset to those involved in the mire of affairism, but also for the rest of us who desire to insure ours against such common fare. Can not recommend this enough!" -- Readers's Comment

RAINOLDS, JOHN (RAYNOLDS), A Defense of the Judgment of the Reformed Churches That a man may Lawfully not Only put Away his Wife for Adultery, but Also Marry Another, 1609. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #25.
"This title defends the classic Reformed position and will be very useful in refuting the errors (on this point) of everyone from Rome and the Jesuits to the Protestant Reformed churches of our day. Compares the Reformed position with that of Rome, examines the Scriptures, the church fathers, and answers Romish objections. Also, refutes (in 70 pages) the Jesuit Bellarmine (and others), demonstrating how Bellarmine, 'depraveth Scriptures, misalleges Fathers, and abuses reason to the perverting of the truth of God, and poisoning of his church with error.'
"The historic Reformed position defended in this book was later summarized in the WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH (1646), (chapter 24),
'V. Adultery or fornication, committed after a contract, being detected before marriage, giveth just occasion to the innocent party to dissolve that contract. In the case of adultery after marriage, it is lawful for the innocent party to sue out a divorce, and after the divorce to marry another, as if the offending party were dead.
" 'VI. Although the corruption of man be such as is apt to study arguments, unduly to put asunder those whom God hath joined together in marriage; yet nothing but adultery, or such willful desertion as can no way be remedied by the Church or civil magistrate, is cause sufficient of dissolving the bond of marriage; wherein a public and orderly course of proceeding is to be observed; and the persons concerned in it, not left to their own wills and discretion in their own case'." -- SWRB

Unknown, A Treatise Concerning Adultery and Divorce. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #25.

See also: The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Idolatry, Covetousness, greed, and selfishness, Men, women, and God, Love and counseling problems, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Sanctification, Reconciliation of relationships, Counseling for sex related problems, Justification, Justifying faith, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Sexually transmitted diseases (see sex), Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Holiness, Problem solving in marriage, Incest, Rape, Abstinence, chastity, Sexual wholeness, Gratuitous sex, a cause of violence, Hostility and violence, Abuse, Child abuse and pedophilia, Pornography, Prostitution, Homosexuality, Divorce, Avoiding divorce, Abortion and the sanctity of life, Post-abortion counseling, Single parenting, Fatherlessness, Stepfamilies, Sexually transmitted diseases (see Sex education), Casuistry, cases of conscience, Ethics, The wisdom books, Counsel for young men, Counsel for young women, Suffrage and reproductive rights, Case studies, Protecting children against the dangers of the world, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 665, 1662, 1814

Related WebLinks

Justifying Faith
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#justfaith

Virginia Fornication Laws
http://members.icanect.net/~tincat/2000/lesson/fornication.htm

A Redneck Resolution Against Self-destruction
http://www.lettermen2.com/redneck.html



Alcoholism

Many persons who identify themselves as "alcoholics" are really "mentally ill," a term used by secular society for persons who are rebellious, unreasonable, irrational, have sever relationship problems, can not get along with anyone, and can not hold a job, and consequently are often homeless and destitute. These persons want to be identified as "alcoholics" to avoid the social stigma of being identified as "mentally ill." Many of the persons secular society identifies as "mentally ill" have the characteristics of wicked men: rebelliousness, disobedient, slouthful, dishonest, destructive, demon haunted, immoral, and self-destructive.

Adams, Jay E., Counseling Workshop: An Alcoholic Partner; Long-Term Counseling; Suicide; Forgiveness; Larry Crabb's Approach (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA504.

Adams, Jay Edward, Critical Issues #1: A 12-tape Album Briefly Covering Critical Issues Faced in Counseling (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
"This series is not meant to be an exhaustive study of each issue but to define it. Problems of worry and depression -- Group therapy and transactional analysis -- Masturbation, talking about problems -- Nervous breakdowns and marriage problems -- Conscience and self approval -- Drunkenness and suicide -- The disabled and the retarded child -- Inferiority and handling problems -- Devil made me do it/God pleasing work -- Communicating and fear of death -- Too old to change/Restoring brother -- Breaking old habits, why me?"

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Drunkenness," and so forth, and so on.

Almy, Gary, and Carol Tharp Almy, with Jerry Jenkins, Addicted to Recovery: Exposing the False Gospel of Psychotherapy: Escaping the Trap of Victim Mentality (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 1994), ISBN: 1565071859 9781565071858, 251 pages.
"The Almys are medical doctors who have written a polemic against the pop psychologies that have recently swept into the church. Through a series of detailed case studies, they portray the dynamics operative in therapeutically-induced false memories, the healing of memories, multiple personality disorder, unmet love needs, and codependency." -- David Powlison

Bobgan, Martin, and Deidre Bobgan, 12 Steps to Destruction: Codependency Recovery Heresies (Santa Barbara, California: EastGate, 1991), ISBN: 0941717054 9780941717052, 247 pages.
"The people labeled 'codependent' have serious problems and need help. 'However, we question the diagnoses, answers, formulas and systems that are being offered in the name of help, in the name of love, and even in the name of Christ. Beneath many programs that purport to be Christian lurk ideas, philosophies, psychologies, and religious notions that are antithetical to biblical Christianity.' Extensive criticism of 12 Step programs." -- David Powlison

Dunn, Jerry, and Bernard Palmer, God is for the Alcoholic (Moody Publishers, April 1, 1999), ISBN: 0946515832 9780946515837.
"This is a book written by someone who, through God's power, escaped the pit of alcoholism. Jerry Dunn helps you understand alcoholism, gives ways to help the alcoholic, and shows the alcoholic how he can help himself." -- Ingram
"The principles outlined in this book which helped Jerry Dunn to escape the hold of alcohol on his life are applicable to ANY dependence or addiction a person may have. The book reads well and holds your attention. You see, I have known Jerry personally for the past 20 years. I was fortunate enough to marry into his family and have had the pleasure of knowing that he did not merely "write" a book about what one should do, he lived it out in his own life. What a testimony! Thank you Jerry Dunn!" -- Michael L. Allen

Johnson, Vernon E., I'll Quit Tomorrow: A Practical Guide to Alcoholism Treatment (San Francisco, CA: Harper and Row, 1990), ISBN: 0062504339 9780062504333.
"Johnson has provided a manual for the understanding, intervention, and treatment of alcoholism and other mood-changing chemical dependencies in a clear, logical, and readable format; yet he has somehow managed to convey considerable psychological sophistication and scope. Accordingly, this is probably the best book of its kind for layman, paraprofessional, and professional alike." -- Addictions
Johnson is founder and president emeritus of the Johnson Institute in Minneapolis that offers one of the country's most successful training programs for treatment of alcoholism.

*Miller, C. John "Jack" (1928-1996), "Finding Healthy Self-esteem Through Being Completely Forgiven" (Quality Living Series. Jenkintown, PA [World Harvest, Box 2175, Jenkintown, 19046]: World Harvest, 1987).
"Do you feel inadequate? That you need to do more or be better in order to be happy and fulfilled? You may not realize it, but your biggest problem is . . . you don't feel completely forgiven."
World Harvest Mission
http://www.whm.org/home.htm

Page, Penny B., Alcohol use and Alcoholism: A Guide to the Literature (New York, NY: Garland Publishing, 1986), ISBN: 0824090209 9780824090203.
"This valuable compilation of material published from the 1960's to the present covers all facets of alcohol and its consumption, including alcohol use among youth, problems in the family, highway safety, education, effects on the body, and clinical treatment. Selected primary and secondary sources are organized under sixteen categories. An important resource." -- Cyril J. Barber

*Playfair, William L., The Useful Lie: How the Recovery Industry has Entrapped America in a Disease Model of Addiction (Timeless Texts, July 2004), ISBN: 1889032379 9780891076377.
"Challenges the disease concept of alcoholism, the 'useful lie' of the recovery movement. This lie underlies the widespread mistreatment of alcoholism and of other fundamentally moral problems, e.g., 'codependency.' Posits biblically based intervention that treats such problems as sins to be repented of. Opposes sending a person to the recovery industry because 'He will be told his sin is a sickness; he will never be confronted with his real and most basic moral and spiritual problem. And he will more than likely be introduced to the any god of Twelve Stepdom, who is, by Biblical criteria, a false god'." -- David Powlison
"Dr. Playfair is a medical consultant to the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation/West in San Diego. He also is a board member of Family Research Institute. The theme and purpose of this book is to debunk the claims that alcoholism is a disease. This claim, says the doctor, contradicts science and medicine; it contradicts the Bible, which is more important; and it simply does not work in breaking the addiction of alcohol. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"This book provided all the necessary evidence to blow the whistle on the recovery industry and also points toward genuine freedom from addiction." -- GCB

Sherouse, Deborah L., Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Abuse Handbook: For Parents and Professionals (Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas Publishers, 1986), ISBN: 0398051682 9780398051686.
"A must for parents, teachers, and pastors. Describes the symptoms of substance abuse and its effects on communication and relationships. Explains the path to recovery. Comprehensive in its treatment, with information on resources and state referral agencies." -- Cyril J. Barber

Sherouse, Deborah L. Professional's Handbook on Geriatric Alcoholism, ISBN: 0398048282 9780398048280.

*Welch, Edward T., Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave: Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel (Resources for Changing Lives), ISBN: 0875526063 9780875526065.
"A worship disorder: this is how Edward T. Welch views addictions. 'Will we worship ourselves and our own desires,' he writes, 'or will we worship the true God?'
"With this lens the author discovers far more in Scripture on addictions than passages on drunkenness. There we learn the addict's true condition: like guests at a banquet thrown by 'the woman Folly,' he is already in the grave (Prov. 9:13-18).
"Can we not escape our addictions? If we're willing to follow Jesus, the author says we have 'immense hope: hope in God's forgiving grace, hope in God's love that is faithful even when we are not, and hope that God can give power so that we are no longer mastered by the addiction.' Each chapter concludes with 'Practical Theology,' guidance 'As You Face Your Own Addictions' and 'As You Help Someone Else'." -- Publisher's Annotation
"By emphasizing the role of the heart in the worship of self and substance, Welch forces the addict to face the grim reality that who or what he worships will control his life. When he idolizes his selfish desire for a substance, then there can only be bondage, but when he worships God more than himself, then the liberating truth of the Gospel will always set him free. As a pastor, biblical counselor, and a redeemed (not recovering) ex-heroin addict, I believe Dr. Welch has finally given every pastor, theologian, layman, and anyone caught in the bondage of idolatry/addition a biblical road map to true and lasting freedom." -- Peter Garich, Pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship and Director of Dayspring Center for Biblical Counseling in San Diego, California

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Alcoholics anonymous and other 12-step recovery programs, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Physiological problems, Case studies, Abuse, Child abuse and pedophilia, Pornography, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Hostility and violence, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Prostitution, Adultery, Incest, Homosexuality, Incest, Rape, Crisis counseling, Pride, Jealousy, Envy, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Alcoholics Anonymous and Other 12 Step Recovery Programs, Appendix c: psychology and psychiatry, Case studies, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 3571-3573

Related WebLinks

Temperance. Excerpted from The Original Covenanter, Vol. II. June, 1880. No. 14.
http://www.truecovenanter.com/reformedpresbyterian/magazine/orig_cov_temperance.html

The Naltrexone (Brand Names: ReVia, Depade) Page
A new drug, approved by the FDA, that shows great promise for treatment of alcohol and opiate addiction, in combination with counseling for relationship problems, a major cause of stress leading to addiction.
http://www.well.com/user/woa/revia/revhome.htm
Reconciliation of Relationships
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr2chb.html#reconorel
Listmania! Reconciliation of Relationships
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/12IKF3FAKW3PC/ref=cm_aya_av.lm_more/102-1877593-9932911
Biblical Counsel: Resources for Renewal (The Web Edition)
The most important relationship is, of course, vertical, between the individual and his God.
The second most important relationship is, of course, horizontal, between the individual and society.
How the individual handles these relationships determines the outcome of their life, both temporal and eternal, and is interrelated with all other spheres of life. Learn more about these interrelationships at the following website.
http://www.lettermen2.com/
Repentance the key to Salvation and Change
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr2cha.html#rtktsac
Justification
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr6ch.html#jstfctn
The Shorter Catechism With Scripture Proofs (Carlisle, PA [P.O. Box 621, Carlisle 17013, USA]: The Banner of Truth Trust).
Arguably the greatest tract ever created, all factors considered.
http://www.reformed.org/documents/WSC_frames.html
The Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Assembly Explained and Proved From Scripture, by Thomas Vincent
http://www.bpc.org/resources/vincent/wsc_vi_001.html
Westminster Shorter Catechism Project
"Click on any of the individual questions below to get the answer and Biblical references, as well as links to works by John Flavel, Thomas Watson, Thomas Boston, James Fisher, and John Whitecross, and others."
http://www.shortercatechism.com/
See also: "The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) (The Westminster Standards) and Related Works: A Study Guide"
http://www.lettermen2.com/suggest.html

Beer, Booze, and Books: Resources for College Students
http://www.beerboozebooks.com/resources.htm



Anger

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. (Proverbs 16:32)

A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame. (Proverbs 12:16)

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26,37)

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. (James 1:19,20)

It is the great duty of all Christians to put off anger. It unfits for duty . . . a man cannot wrestle with God and wrangle with his neighbour at the same time. Short sins often cost us long and sad sorrows. -- Philip Henry

Adams, Jay E., Handling Anger God's Way; Dealing With Depression (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA105.

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Anger," "Rage," "Aggravation," and so forth, and so on.

Adams, Jay E., What do you do When Anger Gets the Upper Hand? Alternate title: YOU CAN DEFEAT ANGER, 8 pages.
" 'Anger, like a good horse, must be bridled.' Uncontrolled temper is a sin. You can learn to release the energies of anger productively and under control to solve problems." -- David Powlison
What do you do When Anger Gets the Upper Hand?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm
A tract by Jay Adams.

*Lockyer, Herbert, All the Promises of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1996, 1962), ISBN: 0310281318.
"A devotional expositional compilation of all the promises [about 3,300 of the approximate 8,810 promises - sk] that are found in Scripture." -- Synopsis
"Lockyers in-depth look at the scope of Gods promises arranges them in categories that cover the full array of human concerns, from the spiritual to the material and the corporate to the personal. As you come to understand Gods promises and how they apply to every aspect of your life, you'll gain a trust in God that will sustain you through the worst of times and be your source of rejoicing in the best.
"Dr. Herbert Lockyer was born in London in 1886, and held pastorates in Scotland and England for 25 years before coming to the United States in 1935. In 1937 he received the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Northwestern Evangelical Seminary. In 1955 he returned to England where he lived for many years. He then returned to the United States where he continued to devote time to the writing ministry until his death in November of 1984." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Miller, Wendell E. Forgiveness: The Power and the Puzzles, ISBN: 0964144115 9780964144118.
"Defines God's forgiveness in four ways: (1) initial forgiveness releases us from the penalty of sin and (2) restores us to fellowship with God, and (3) repetitive forgiveness releases us from the day by day penalty for fresh sins, and (4) restores us day by day to fellowship. Defines our forgiveness of others in two ways: (1) vertical forgiveness between us and God (Mark 11:25) releases others from the penalty of our wrath, and (2) horizontal forgiveness (Luke 17:3) restores the relationship between us and others who repent. Discusses flaws in such ideas as 'forgiving God' and 'forgiving oneself'." -- David Powlison
"It could have been called "The Anger Handbook" because it teaches how to overcome problems of hurt feelings, anger, and aggressive behavior. Overcoming problems of anger is crucial. Spouse abuse, failures in marriages, failures in child rearing, and even child abuse often erupt from anger. Parents who model angry behavior are likely to raise children with anger problems. And most importantly, God is not glorified by Christians who have anger problems.
"It teaches the kind of forgiveness that is nearly always an absolute necessity to becoming really free from the trauma of sexual abuse. . . .
"FORGIVENESS: THE POWER AND THE PUZZLES will add biblical power to the books that you already have on Christian living, discipleship, marriage, child rearing, anger, communications, forgiveness, and sexual abuse." -- Publisher's Annotation

Powlison, David, Anger: Escaping the Maze, ISBN: 0875526810 9780875526812, 28 pages.

Webster, W. (William), A Casuistical Essay on Anger and Forgiveness; Wherein the practice of duelling, and some defects in our laws, with regard to the punishment of crimes, are consider'd; . . . In three dialogues between a gentleman and a clergyman. London, 1750.

See also: The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Covetousness
, greed, and selfishness, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, Bitterness and resentment, Hostility and violence, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Forgiveness of sin, Reconciliation of relationships, Unforgiveness, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Jealousy, The promises of Christ, Bible promises, Emotions and health, Hypocracy, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Protecting children from dangers, Works by and for women, trials, Divorce, Emotions and health, Marriage, Parenting, Child abuse and pedophilia, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 2539, 2914, 3131, 3132, 3953, 3955-3959, 4133
MGTP: Anger, Self-Control

Related WebLinks

What do you do When Anger Gets the Upper Hand?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm
A tract by Jay Adams.



Apathy, Indifference

First, you will arouse them out of apathy. This age is more indifferent to true religion than almost any other. It is alive enough to error, but to the old faith it turns a deaf ear. Yet I have noticed persons captivated by the truth of substitution who would not listen to anything else. If any discourse can hold men, as the ancient mariner detained the wedding guest, it is the story of divine love, incarnate in the person of Jesus, bleeding and dying for guilty men. Try that story when attention flags. It has a fascination about it. The marvellous history of the Son of God, who loved his enemies, and died for them-this will arrest them. The history of the Holy One who stood in the sinners' place, and was in consequence put to shame, and agony, and death-this will touch them. The sight of the bleeding Saviour overcomes obduracy and carelessness. -- C.H. Spurgeon in a sermon, The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon

This blood overcomes the natural lethargy of men towards obedience; it stimulates them to holiness. If anything can make a man holy, it is a firm faith in the atoning sacrifice. When a man knows that Jesus died for him, he feels that he is not his own, but bought with a price, and therefore he must live unto him that died for him and rose again. In the atonement I see a motive equal to the greatest heroism; yes, a motive which will stimulate to perfect holiness. What manner of persons ought we to be for whom such a sacrifice has been presented! Now are we quickened into intensity of zeal and devotion. See, dear brothers, how to use the blood of the Lamb in this lower sphere while contending with evil among men. -- C.H. Spurgeon in a sermon, The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon

BAXTER, RICHARD (1615-1691), Making Light of Christ and Salvation, Too oft the Issue of Gospel Invitations. In THE PRACTICAL WORKS OF RICHARD BAXTER: WITH A PREFACE, GIVING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR, AND OF THIS EDITION OF HIS PRACTICAL WORKS, 4 volumes (4:808-818). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

Payson, Edward, The Guilt of Indifference to Divine Threatenings. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF EDWARD PAYSON, 3 volumes (2:444-55). Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2.

See also: How to become a christian, Book-length presentations of the free offer of the gospel message of salvation and the life to come: the means of grace, The covenant faithfulness of god, Laziness, slothfulness, idleness, indolence, slackness, sluggishness/sluggard, Justification, Justifying faith, Sanctification, Hope, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Soteriology, The Blood of Christ, The covenant faithfulness of god, Apologetics, Covenant Theology, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Fatalism, Lying, deceit, self-destructiveness, Depression, A theological interpretation of american history, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 1083

Related WebLinks

"The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) (The Westminster Standards) and Related Works: A Study Guide"
http://www.lettermen2.com/suggest.html



Assurance and Perseverance of the Saints

See: Assurance and Perseverance of the Saints
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr2cha.html#aapots



Atheism

Great and marvellous are thy works,
Lord God Almighty;
just and true are thy ways,
thou King of saints.
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?
for though only art holy:
for all the nations shall come and worship before thee;
for thy judgments are made manifest. (Revelation 15:3b,4)

The fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God.
They are corrupt,
they have done abominable works,
there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1)

See the Theological Notes, "Mankind's Guilty Knowledge of God" at Romans 1:29, and the note at Psalm 14:1 in The Reformation Study Bible

And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:40)

The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 53:11)
Being a fool, he reflects his nature, saying, "There is no God." Being a great fool, he meddles with a great subject and comes to wild conclusions. Morally, as well as mentally, the atheist is a fool. He is a fool in the heart as well as in the head, a fool in morals as well as in philosophy. With the denial of God as a starting point, we may conclude that the fool's progress is raid, riotous, raving, and ruinous. One beginning at impiety is ready for anything. "No God" properly interpreted means no law, no order, no restraint to lust, no limit to evil passion. Who but a fool would be of this mind? What would the world become if such lawless principles came to be universal? One who heartily entertains an irreligious spirit, and follows it out to its legitimate issues, is dangerous to the common welfare; he is not rational. By nature every man is more or less a denier of God. Practical atheism is the religion of humanity. It is idle to compliment them as sincere doubters and amiable thinkers; they are in fact rotten. There is too much dainty dealing nowadays with atheism. It is not a harmless error; it is an offensive, rotten sin. Righteous men should look on it in that light. All men being by nature atheistic, they are also in the same degree corrupt. Their heart is foul; their moral nature is decayed.
"Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity" -- bad principles soon lead to bad lives. One does not find virtue promoted by your Voltaires and Tom Paines. Those who talk so abominable as to deny their Maker will act abominable when it serves their turn. It is the denial and forgetfulness of God abounding among men which is the source of the unrighteousness and crime which we see around us. It all men are not outwardly vicious, it is to be accounted for by the power of other and better principles. Left to itself, the "No God" spirit would produce nothing but evil acts. -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting on Psalm 53:11 in Devotional Classics of C.H. Spurgeon, p. 270

And they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11)

The doctrine of the blood of the Lamb prevents or scatters error. I do not think that by reasoning we often confute error to any practical purpose. We may confute it rhetorically and doctrinally, but men still stick to it. But the doctrine of the precious blood, when it once gets into the heart, drives error out of it, and sets up the throne of truth. You cannot be clinging to an atoning sacrifice, and still delight in modern heresies. Those who deny inspiration are sure to get rid of the vicarious atonement, because it will not allow their errors. Let us go on proclaiming the doctrine of the great sacrifice, and this will kill the vipers of heresy. Let us uplift the cross, and never mind what other people say. Perhaps we have taken too much notice of them already. Let the dogs bark, it is their nature to. Go on preaching Christ crucified. God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ! -- C.H. Spurgeon in a sermon, The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon

If God does not exist, everything is permitted. -- Dostoevsky

Selfishness and pride will blind even the gifted and learned to the truth. Lust for power and the will to play God will blind us to the truth. Intense nationalistic pride, political bent, alienation during secular schooling, or personal ambitions blind us to the "evident connection between Absolute Truth, sovereign authority, holiness, life, loving obedience, moral behavior, sanctification, justice, freedom (political, economic, and individual), social stability, and real progress. . . ." -- Preface, Biblical Counsel: Resources for Renewal (The Web Edition).

Beisner, E. Calvin, Answers for Atheists: A Dialogue Between a Christian and a Skeptical Inquirer, revised edition, ISBN: 0891077006 9780891077008.
"In this unusual book, frank dialogues between a non-Christian and his Christian friend move intriguingly from topic to topic, covering such pertinent questions as: Is there a God? How do we know? So, why does evil exist? Why should modern man believe in the Bible rather than evolution or in miracles rather than scientific law? What are the evidences for Christianity? If Christianity is true, why has so much evil been done in its name? Can God really forgive me for what I've done?
"Calvin Beisner is associate professor of interdisciplinary studies at Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, Georgia, and a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. -- Publisher's Annotation

Berlinski, David, The Devil's Delusion: Atheism and its Scientific Pretensions, ISBN: 9780307396266 0307396266.

Downes, Stephen, Stephen Downes Guide to the Logical Fallacies.
"Lists all known logical fallacies, with definitions, examples, and the steps needed to prove that the fallacy is committed. Site also includes links to logic references and resources."
Stephen's Guide to Logical Fallacies
http://www.fallacies.ca/

Koster, John P., Jr., The Atheist Syndrome (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth and Hyatt Publishers), ISBN: 0943497337 9780943497334.
"Many of the people who founded the modern faith of faithlessness all shared certain common experiences: Nietzsche, Darwin, Hitler, Stalin, Freud, Sartre, Rullell, et al. Koster defines this `atheist syndrome' and then provides a means of recognizing it in our society today." -- GCB
"This hard-to-find book is an excellent introduction to social etiology of clinical psychosis and nuerocognitive behavior as they relate to atheism. It is the first work I've seen which convincingly demonstrates a direct causative bridge between an absence of faith in God to recognized symptoms of mental illness such as paranoia, loss of appetite, and bed-wetting. . . .
"The Atheist Syndrome" is definitely a useful first-year graduate text covering the inherent pitfalls of evolutionary theory and atheistic moral decomposition. Some of the more unique (and interesting) features of the book include a discussion of the impact of modern computer animation on atheism; a handy directory of atheists' homes and phone numbers; and a discussion of prominent modern atheists, ranging from Jacobi to Klismann and even De Llundum. . . ." -- Reader's Comment

Martin, Walter, "Evil and Human Suffering" (San Juan Capistrano, CA: Christian Research Institute International).
"Aimed at the atheist or agnostic, discusses the question of suffering and why God permits it."

*Morey, Robert, The New Atheism and the Erosion of Freedom (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, c1986), ISBN: 0875523625 9780875523620.
"Exposes the godless suppression of religious freedom today and presents effective ways to convert atheists to Christ. In case you have not noticed atheism/secular humanism is gaining ground. Are you grounded in what these philosophies teach? Can you refute them? Dr. Morey will show you how." -- GCB
The American Atheist Union has said this is the most dangerous book ever written about religion. Includes bibliography.

Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, Walter Kaufmann (translator), Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future, ISBN: 0585110875 9780585110875.
"Represents Nietzsche's attempt to sum up his philosophy. In nine parts the book is designed to give the reader a comprehensive idea of Nietzche's thought and style. With an inclusive index of subjects and persons." -- Publisher's Annotation
Non-dualism was a basic tenet of the philosophy of Nietzsche. See The Non-duality of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother: A Profile.

Warfield, Benjamin B. (1851-1921), Calvin's Doctrine of the Knowledge of God. In THE WORKS OF B.B. WARFIELD (5:29-130). Also in CALVIN AND AUGUSTINE. (29-130)

Rushdoony, R.J. (1916-2001), The Atheism of the Early Church (Vallecito, CA: Ross House Books), ISBN: 1879998181 9781879998186.
"Early Christians were called 'heretics' and 'atheists' when they denied the gods of Rome, in particular the divinity of the emperor and the statism he embodied in his personality cult. These Christians knew that Jesus Christ, not the state, was their Lord and that this faith required a different kind of relationship to the state than it demanded. Because Jesus Christ was their acknowledged Sovereign, they consciously denied such esteem to all other claimants. Today the church must take a similar stand before the modern state." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Zacharias, Ravi, The Real Face of Atheism. Alternate title: A SHATTERED VISAGE, THE REAL FACE OF ATHEISM (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth and Hyatt, Publishers, Inc.), 0801099382 9780801099380.
"The author presents a concise apologetic showing the glaring contradictions in this bankrupt world view. He contrasts the emptiness of atheism with the hope and fulfillment of Christianity, illustrating that atheism is a house divided against itself, destined for collapse. He has lectured in over 40 countries." -- GCB
"With a new introduction and revisions throughout, THE REAL FACE OF ATHEISM is the perfect text for pastors, students, and thinking laypeople who want to improve their apologetic skill and reach out to non-believers." -- Publisher's Annotation

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Christian Scholarship, The works of john w. robbins, The works of gordon haddon clark, The works of c. gregg singer, Logic, The works of Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Apologetics, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Christ's kingdom, Lordship of jesus christ, The all-sufficiency of christ, Trusting god, Idolatry, Covenant theology, Background and history of the covenanted reformation of scotland, The covenanted reformation, Covenanted reformation short title listing, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, The covenant faithfulness of god, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justification, Justifying faith, Evil, the problem of, Secret societies, ungodly alliances, voluntary associations, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Unfaithful reformed ministries, Politics, Conspiracy and corruption, Individual responsibility for corporate faithfulness and sanctification, The foundation of biblical counsel, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 1225

Related WebLinks

The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon
A sermon by C.H. Spurgeon delivered on Lord's-day morning, September 9, 1888, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Sermon no. 2043.
"This is the way in which you should use this plea. Say, 'My God, I am utterly unworthy, and I own it; but, I beseech thee, hear me for the honour of thy dear Son. By his agony and bloody sweat, by his cross and passion, by his precious death and burial, I beseech thee hear me! O Lord, let the blood of thine Only-begotten prevail with thee! Canst thou put aside his groans, his tears, his death, when they speak on my behalf?' If you can thus come to pleading terms with God upon this ground, you must and will prevail. Jesus must be heard in heaven. The voice of his blood is eloquent with God. If you plead the atoning sacrifice, you must overcome through the blood of the Lamb." -- C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.mountzion.org/fgb/Summer97/FgbS6-97.html

*Is Faith Delusional? (part 2 of 2) an address by Ravi Zacharias
"The attacks on Christianity from atheists have reached a new peak. In the past few months books have been written with titles like THE GOD DELUSION. Are Christians truly deluded? Ravi Zacharias answers the charge this week on "Let My People Think" (part 2 of 2). http://htod.cdncon.com/o2/rzimht/MP3/LMPT/LMP20100213.mp3

Appendix D: Pseudo-Christian Movements: A Selection of Works
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappd.html

The Non-duality of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother: A Profile
http://www.lettermen2.com/syncret.html



Betrayal

A Holy man knows that all sin strikes at the holiness of God, the glory of God, the nature of God, the being of God, and the law of God: and therefore his heart rises against all; he looks upon every sin as the Scribes and Pharisees that accused Christ; and as the Judas that betrayed Christ; and as the Pilate that condemned Christ; and as those soldiers that scourged Christ; and as those spears that pierced Christ. -- Thomas Brooks

There is some danger of falling into a soft and effeminate Christianity, under the plea of a lofty and ethereal theology. Christianity was born for endurance; not an exotic, but hardy plant, braced by the keen wind; not languid, nor childish, nor cowardly. It walks with strong step and erect frame; it is kindly, but firm; it is gentle, but honest; it is calm, but not facile; obliging, but not imbecile; decided, but not churlish. It does not fear to speak the firm word of condemnation against error, nor to raise it's voice against surrounding evils, under the pretext it is not of this world; it does not shrink from giving honest reproof, lest it come under the charge of displaying an unchristian spirit. It calls sin sin, in whomsoever it is found, and would rather risk the accusation of being actuated by a bad spirit than not to discharge an explicit duty. Let us not misjudge strong words used in honest controversy. Out of the heat a viper may come forth; but we shake it off and feel no harm. The religion of both the Old and New Testaments is marked by fervent testimonies against evil. To speak smooth things in such a case may be sentimentalism, but it is not Christianity. . . . It is a betrayal of truth and righteousness. I know that charity covers a multitude of sins; but it does not call evil good, because a good man has done it; it does not excuse inconsistencies, because the inconsistent brother has a high name and a fervent spirit; crookedness and worldliness are still crookedness, though exhibited in one who seems to have reached no common height of attainment. -- Horatius Bonar (1818-1889

Barnes, Harry Elmer, et al., Perpetual war for Perpetual Peace: A Critical Examination of the Foreign Policy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and its Aftermath, 724 pages, ISBN: 0837121442 9780837121444.
"Classic revisionist study of how FDR maneuvered America, against the wishes of most of its citizens, into war against Germany and Japan, and how FDR's war policy ended in betrayal, disillusion and endless conflict. Establishes convincingly that U.S. participation in World War II was neither necessary, nor desirable, nor just. Edited by one of this century's most influential American scholars, this is a work in the front rank of American historical scholarship. Eleven concise, scintillating essays on every aspect of FDR's secret diplomatic and military warpath, by eight giants of revisionist scholarship, including H. E. Barnes, Charles C. Tansill, F. R. Sanborn, W. L. Neumann, G. Morgenstern, Percy L. Graves, Wm. H. Chamberlin, and G. A. Lundberg. A measured and relentless exposé of the calculated deceit by which FDR overturned America's traditional neutrality policy, provoked Pearl Harbor, and waged a brutal, pointless war that culminated in mass slaughter at Dresden and Hiroshima, and betrayal -- of America and the West -- at Yalta and Potsdam. These are incisive, unmistakably American perspectives on how the US made a mockery of its own professed ideals during the 'Good War.' A virtual encyclopedia -- authoritative and comprehensive -- on the real causes and the actual results of America's entry into the Second World War. Indispensable as a history and a reference. Highly relevant for an understanding of how the United States came to its present-day policy of "New World Order" global military adventurism." -- Publisher's Annotation
"If you complain about and want to know why GWB lied us into war, you'd better prepare yourself for the fact that this has been going on for 100 and perhaps over 140 years.
"For the real story on WW II (and beyond) you can't do better than this classic revisionist tome. I would also recommend THE REAL LINCOLN, and WILSON'S WAR if you want to get a more balanced view of some of our 'great' presidents and the unnecessary wars they embroiled us in - all of which caused millions of deaths, huge federal deficits, aggrandized the central government and brought us into the Orwellian police state." -- Reader's Comment
"Harry Elmer Barnes was one of the most productive historians and social scientists of the 20th century. A bibliography of his books and monographs is about 50 pages and includes long tomes on various topics such as sociology, history, criminology, etc. His editing of PERPETUAL WAR FOR PERPETUAL PEACE shows Barnes' ability as both a historian and an editor of other men whose contributions to this book are well written and poignant.
"Barnes begins this book with an essay on the background of World War II by giving the reader a good summary of World War I and its aftermath. Barnes is clear that events before World War I were radically different than events during and after this war. He traces American policy from the end of World War I to World War II and beyond.
"Barnes' use of Percy Greaves' background to the attack on Pearl Harbor is effective. Greaves was an expert on what actually happened when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Greaves' account is no sanitized textbook report, but a carefully documented assessment that is basically unanswerable.
"The same could be said of Morgenstern's work mentioned in PERPETUAL WAR FOR PERPETUAL PEACE. Morgenstern's book PEARL HARBOR:THE STORY OF THE SECRET WAR is by far the best book written on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and when the 'experts' could not refute him, they resorted to smearing him.
"Charles Tansill's essay is well worth reading. In fact, Tansill's contribution to this book should be followed by a careful reading of his BACK DOOR TO WAR. Tansill had to resort to trickery to get the documents and sources for his BACK DOOR TO WAR.
"The essays in PERPETUAL WAR FOR PERPETUAL PEACE not only deal with the government's lying and manipulation to get Americans involved in a useless war, but the essays also indicate that the Americans got nothing out of the war. In fact, the only actual winners were the political leaders of Big Communism which expanded well into Eastern Europe and Asia. In fact, the phony "Cold War" was essentially the attempt to settle the accounts from World War II.
"Of particular interest is the essay on Orwellian trends. The government's use of war as a means to absorb unemployment by going to war and employing large numbers of people in war materials industries is instructive and should be read carefully. This essay makes clear that domestic problems and unemployment issues can resolved by long protracted wars with no clear winners or losers except for those who hold political power on both sides. This essay also shows how enemies and allies can change almost overnight.
"PERPETUAL WAR FOR PERPETUAL peace is a good start to learning a more comprehensive view on both the truth of the origins of World War II and the political and diplomatic trends thereafter. This book should be read by serious historians to correct the distortions in badly written textbooks and the phony presentations of politically correct teachers who are too timid to do any serious reading or thinking." -- Reader's Comment

Bovard, James, The Bush Betrayal (Palgrave-Macmillan, August 7, 2004), ISBN: 140396727X 9781403967275.
"In January 2001, George W. Bush assumed the Presidency of the United States promising peace, prosperity, and a renewed sense of integrity. In THE BUSH BETRAYAL, James Bovard vividly illustrates how Bush abandoned both his campaign promises an his oath to uphold the Constitution, leaving instead a nation at war, in massive debt, and in service to the special interests of big business. THE BUSH BETRAYAL is a seething indictment of a presidency far removed from the will of the people and is destined to be another classic from Washington's most outspoken critic." -- Publisher's Annotation
"Jim Bovard is a one-man policy think tank, or, rather, a one-man version of what a policy think tank ought to be. Instead of cozying up to the state, the Beltwayites ought to be trying to copy Bovard: doing meticulous and meticulously documented analysis of the crimes of government. Who ever looks, really looks, with the right attitude, at the budget and programs of a federal agency? Or records, with great wit, all the felonies against freedom of the Clinton and Bush administrations? Not that they could copy Bovard, but they ought to try. THE BUSH BETRAYAL is the handbook of our revolution." -- Lew Rockwell, www.lewrockwell.com
"Writing from a libertarian perspective, Bovard (Terrorism and Tyranny, etc.) offers a fierce critique of the presidency of George W. Bush, focusing on restrictions on liberty and expansion of government. After 9/11, he writes, "[t]he simple solution was to increase the power of good -- i.e., government -- to vanquish evil." By the fourth chapter, Bovard has moved on to Bush's gyrations on free trade, notably steel tariffs. By the fifth, he's on to No Child Left Behind, arguing that home schooling surpasses government schooling. Bovard takes swipes at AmeriCorps (a wasteful way for Bush to invoke virtue, he says), subsidies for sugar (an industry that gives huge political contributions), the Medicare bill (far more expensive than advertised), the prison industry and the drug war. He asserts that Attorney General John Ashcroft has "effectively encouraged agencies to deny FOIA [Freedom of Information Act] requests" and points out abuses of 9/11 detainees in New York. Americans, Bovard concludes, should cease looking to a president as a savior and instead view him as a hired hand -- though he doesn't exactly sketch out the boundaries of such limited government. The book, based on secondary sources, does not break much new ground. It is notable as a comprehensive attack on the administration from a less-often-heard place on the political spectrum." -- Publishers Weekly
Review of THE BUSH BETRAYAL by former Congressman Bob Barr (R-Ga., 1995-2003)
http://www.amconmag.com/2004_09_13/review.html

*Coral Ridge Ministries, "Taking Liberties: The Betrayal of Our Heritage" (Fort Lauderdale, FL: Coral Ridge Ministries, 1992).
A one-hour television special available in the form of a transcript, audio cassette, video cassette, or CD.
"Perhaps there is no other concept more important than liberty in understanding America."
A brilliant presentation of the concepts of liberty by a wide range of authorities.

Fransway, Rebecca (compiler), 12-Step Horror Stories: True Tales of Misery, Betrayal and Abuse in AA, NA and 12-Step Treatment (See Sharp Press, 1st edition, June 1, 2000), ISBN: 1884365248 9781884365249.
"I read 12-STEP HORROR STORIES because 12-Stepping is used by the co-dependent Shadow Priest to 'treat' the made-up co-dependent disorder. I was not prepared for the tales of misery that lie with in these pages. The mistreatment received by the unsuspecting victims of the 12-Steppers, as told by real people, who lived it, is unforgivable.
"To think that our courts and employers are forcing people into this 12-Stepping cult scares the hell out of me, and should you as well. For as shown in these pages anyone, even a non-user, and yes even you can be mandated to this nightmare. This book can help to open your eyes so you will know that there are other options to the 12-Stepping cult.
"This fine book talk mostly about AA and NA 12-Step groups where attendance is many times compulsory, nevertheless please understand that the made-up disorder they are calling co-dependency is, as well, under the control of the 12-Stepping cultist. No one is forced into the co-dependency 12-Step cult, thus I find it mind boggling that anyone would enthusiastically put on this coat of powerlessness, victimhood, and disease. Why would anyone willingly place their mind under a cult's mind control is beyond my ability to understand. All the same, they do by the millions.
"Read this book and armour yourself, for the 12-Step cult is waiting to consume your humanity." -- Rick Goodner, author of Co-dependent . . . What a Bore and Other Clinical Observations
"This book is going to cause a lot of controversy in AA and make a lot of AA members mad, because it's full of the truth about what really happens to a whole lot of people who unsuspectingly go to AA thinking they are going to get help. Yes, many do get help, but a lot of doctors who have lost their licenses have helped people too; that doesn't mean they can commit malpractice on some of them. The same rules we apply to other health care organizations need to be applied to AA and NA and the treatment centers that push AA and NA, as long as they call addiction a 'disease' they need to treat it like one and not like something hopeless that requires faith healing. This book points out the ridiculous stuff that goes on at treatment centers. People being forced to say they are powerless or they will lose their jobs. Verbal abuse, 13 stepping, suicides. None of these things are rare -- they happen in ever treatment center and group. Thank goodness someone is finally saying something about it. My father committed suicide after being harangued and harassed in a treatment center, then told by his employer since he did not cooperate with treatment (did not say he was powerless and work the steps) he lost his job. I wish he had been able to bring a book like this to his employer. I wish he had been able to read a book like this and get the help he really needed, not a bunch of people who can't even solve their own problems. As far as I'm concerned, his death is AA's fault. I'll bet there are thousands of stories just like his." -- Donna Ling
"This review is not meant to denounce the 12-Step AA program, I have seen many helped by it. I am writing this review to applaud this book for exposing the kinds of absolute power that have emerged from the 12-Step program and have formed a kind of hidden, frightening dictatorship that operates freely within our democratic society. This book also exposes our society's tacit assumption that the 12-Step program is the only one that works for addictions (the recent film Traffic is just one more example of this assumption). And, this book exposes the absolute power given by many treatment programs to untrained laypeople to diagnose and control others. The stories in this book are frightening and dramatic. Everyone who has ever taken a drink of alcohol for any reason will should read it and anyone who works as any kind of counselor should read it. But then, every parent of a child old enough to drink alcohol should read it and every volunteer or paid worker for an organized religion should read it. It's clear from their urgent tone that the people whose stories are told in this book have been desperate for someone to tell their shocking experiences to. Fransway has clearly provided them and the readers a great service by listening to presenting those stories here." -- Reader's Comment
"Editor Fransway pulls away the veil concealing the ugly side of 12-Step groups with true-life tales from that dark side. Usually seen as a helping hand to alcoholics, drug addicts, overeaters, smokers, survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and others, 12-Step groups can be ineffectual and even harmful to some. A satiric 12-Step glossary seemingly written in acid precedes the contributors' accounts of rejection, betrayal, cult like brainwashing, and even rape experienced in 12-Step programs. Some of the purportedly spiritual groups, based on the notion of a loving 'higher power,' have apparently condoned any number of questionable practices. Those include routine denunciation by a group of individual members' anger as being 'nonspiritual,' regardless of circumstances; a rigidly collective approach that put one contributor into a psych ward; and exploitation of newcomers' vulnerability, as in the case of the contributor who was raped. In an age when multitudes dance the 12-Step, these words of warning may help many avoid its pitfalls." -- Whitney Scott, from Booklist
"The official bedtime story book for 12-Step members. A collection of true tales of suffering endured by step group participants at the hands of sponsors, stepper gurus, fellow members and treatment providers. Makes a great gift for hardliners who insist: 'It works if you work it' by cleverly responding . . . ' unless of course your program, group, sponsor or treatment provider is sicker than you are'!" -- AA Deprogramming

Greider, William, Who Will Tell the People? The Betrayal of American Democracy (Touchstone Books, reprint edition, 1993), ISBN: 0671867407 9780671867409.
"An angry inquiry into the putative decline of democracy [democratic republic -- sk] in the US. Unlike many observers, Greider (SECRETS OF THE TEMPLE, 1987, etc.) goes beyond the manifest deficiencies of electoral campaigns to focus on the politics of governance -- and he concludes that so-called monied interests are ascendant in Washington's power centers. By the author's anecdotal account, the institutionalized intervention of these corporate advocates into administrative as well as legislative affairs costs ordinary citizens dearly -- from purposefully lax enforcement of federal law and indulgent treatment of casino capitalism through an inequitable tax system. In Greider's canon, the sorry state of the union does not lack for guilty parties. He blames the ebb of democracy in America on both major political parties (which cater to affluent elites), the press (which no longer mediates between the public and its representatives), big business (as exemplified by the awesome influence wielded by General Electric Co.), and even the populace (whose activism has been limited of late to grass-roots concerns). Greider goes on to argue that the cold war's end offers the US a historic opportunity to renew its democratic principles and to apply them on a global basis. For starters, he proposes that a citizenry committed to challenging the status quo could make multinational enterprises more accountable to society at large, if need be by denying them access to the vast domestic marketplace until they measure up to populist standards of responsibility. Whether the heterogeneous American people have an agenda as explicitly progressive as Greider assumes (and embraces) will strike many as a very open question. Still, a provocative and sobering assessment of how self-government's reach can exceed its grasp." -- Kirkus Reviews

Newfield, Jack, and Wayne Barrett, City for Sale: Ed Koch and the Betrayal of New York (Harpercollins, December 1, 1988), ISBN: 0060160608, ISBN: 0060160608 9780060160609.
"Investigative reporters Newfield (NY Daily News) and Barrett (Village Voice) attempt to expose the Koch administration's descent into corruption and criminality. No bibliography.

Peters, David B., A Betrayal of Innocence: What Everyone Should Know About Child Sexual Abuse (Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, c1986), ISBN: 0849905028 9780849905025.
"Covers what abuse is, the signs and effects it can have, what to do once abuse is discovered, how to question a child, precautionary measures every parent should take, whom to trust, whom not to trust, and how to overcome emotional trauma and live a happy life."

Stinnett, Robert B., Day of Deceit: The Truth About FDR and Pearl Harbor, ISBN: 0684853396 9780684853390.
Contents: The biggest story of my life -- FDR's back door to war -- The White House decides -- We are alert for an attack on Hawaii -- The splendid arrangement -- The outside man -- All clear for a surprise attack -- An unmistakable pattern -- Watch the wide sea -- A night with a princess -- War may come quicker than anyone dreams -- The Japs are blasting away on the frequencies -- A pretty cheap price -- This means war -- The escape was north -- Epilogue: Destroy anything in writing.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Hypocracy, Covetousness, greed, and selfishness, The covenant faithfulness of god, Covenant theology, Background and history of the covenanted reformation of scotland, The covenanted reformation, Covenanted reformation short title listing, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Toleration, liberty of conscience, pluralism, and neutrality, Treason and impeachment, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Adultery, Incest, Child abuse and pedophilia, Repentance the key to salvation and change, Justification, Justifying faith, Christ's kingdom, Lordship of jesus christ, The all-sufficiency of christ, Trusting god, Idolatry, Secret societies, ungodly alliances, voluntary associations, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Unfaithful reformed ministries, Politics, Conspiracy and corruption, Individual responsibility for corporate faithfulness and sanctification, Divorce, Unfaithful reformed ministries, Bad relationships a cause of disease and death, Bible promises, False gospels, Modern myths, Lying, deceit, self-deception, Ethics, Medical ethics, Foolishness, Security, Spiritual warfare, Vengeance and retaliation, The decline of american society, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 412

Related WebLinks

A Draft Resolution of Congressional Censure Against United States Supreme Court Justices Kennedy, O'Connor, Rehnquist, Scalia, and Thomas for Their Betrayal of the American People and the United States Constitution Displayed in the Decisions of Bush v. Gore
http://www.censurethefive.org/resolved.html

Betrayal of Trust: The Collapse of Global Public Health, by Laurie Garrett
http://www.usatoday.com/life/health/books/lhbook004.htm



Birth Control

Anderson, J.N.D, Issues of Life and Death: Abortion, Birth Control, Capital Punishment (InterVarsity Press, 1977), ISBN: 0877847215, 0340231513.

BARROW, REG, Birth Control, Christian Education and the Victory of Christ's Kingdom in two parts: 1. "Godless Public Education and Sin" and 2. "Why Satan Loves Birth Control." Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"The first section shows from Scripture how it is a mark of apostasy to send young children, especially during their formative years, to schools that do not make Christ the Lord of education. It also encourages family worship and outlines the elements of this sacred task; giving a helpful list of resources related to both family worship and Christian education. The second essay deals with the practical effects of the pagan practice of birth control upon the church and the growth of the kingdom of Christ." -- SWRB

Critchlow, Donald T. (editor), The Politics of Abortion and Birth Control in Historical Perspective, ISBN: 0271015705 9780271015705.

Heine, Max, Children: Blessing or Burden? (Old Tappan, NJ: Chosen Books), ISBN: 0884192318 9780884192312.
"This author ably seeks to explore seven myths of the small family that Christians have swallowed from the culture of the world. Since the Bible says children are a blessing, why do we feel that they are such a burden? Here is a clarion call for Christians to rethink the current trends toward small families and childlessness and, instead, begin to gain a Biblical perspective. Heine raises some searching questions about birth control and whether such practices are truly honoring to God." -- GCB

Hess, Rick, and Jan Hess, A Full Quiver: Family Planning and The Lordship of Christ (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth and Hyatt Publishers), ISBN: 0943497833 9780943497839.
"I promise you, this is NOT just another Christian book! `Life-changing' and `exciting' about sum it up -- as do `Biblical,' `refreshing,' and even `entertaining.' I don't endorse this book lightly. For one thing, I have been living it for the past thirteen years, before Rick and Jan even wrote it. From our experience and the experience of thousands of families that have written to us, my husband Bill and I can confidently assert that the fruit of this teaching is GOOD. Those who don't try it may knock it, but those who are willing to work at being good stewards of those blessings know better! What an effect this book could have on our churches, communities, social institutions, and families!" -- Mary Pride

Knudsen, Robert D., Ethics and Birth Control
Typescript (mimeographed) "The slightly revised form of a paper presented before the 16th annual convention of the American Scientific Affiliation in Houghton, New York, Aug. 22-25, 1961." Article published originally in The Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation; 14, no. 1. Description: 9 leaves ; 28 cm."

Montgomery, John Warwick, Slaughter of the Innocents: Abortion, Birth Control, and Divorce (Good News Pub., March 1981), 128 pages, ISBN: 0891072160 9780891072164.

Owen, Samuel A., Letting God Plan Your Family (Wheaton, IL: Good News Publishers [Crossway Books]), ISBN: 0891075852 9780891075851.

Payne, Franklin E., Biblical Healing for Modern Medicine: Choosing Life and Health or. . . Disease and Death, (Augusta, Georgia: Covenant Books, 1993), ISBN: 0962987611 9780962987618, 236 pp.
"Seeks to offer a comprehensive biblical philosophy of medicine. 'Christians continue to consider that medicine and faith are separate moral categories. This book aims to correct that false conception.' Initial chapters lay out biblical perspectives on life, death, illness, and healing. Subsequent chapters discuss the modern medical profession, financing of medical care, psychology, death and dying, abortion, infertility, birth control, the role of the state and the church in medical issues, and self-help medicine. 'I am convinced that everything that physicians do must be subjected to close scrutiny'." -- David Powlison
Contents: True wholistic medicine: a sound mind and a sound body -- The Bible and the practice of medicine -- Physician, heal thyself? (the goals of medicine) -- Why does medical care cost so much? -- The Trojan horse of Christianity: psychology and psychiatry -- "It is appointed for men to die once" -- Abortion: the killing fields -- Who are my mother and father? -- "World overpopulation" and birth control -- "No admittance, healing in progress" -- Medicine and the civil government -- The church and the practice of medicine -- Health starts with the individual and family -- A Bible study: health, healing, and medicine -- A special message to physicians and medical students.

*Payne, Franklin E., Making Biblical Decisions (Escondido, CA: Hosanna House), ISBN: 0962320404 9780962320408.
"Dr. Payne's book should be found on the shelf of every Christian home . . . it is bound to become a practical classic." -- Jay Adams
"Biblical perspective to inform a range of ethical decisions: birth control, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, genetic engineering, and death. 'We frequently overlook the fact that we live in a universe where the primary reality is supernatural.' 'My intent is to help all Christians know what is darkness and what is light within the practice of medicine'." -- David Powlison

PROVAN, CHARLES D., The Bible and Birth Control, ISBN: 9991799834. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"Martin Luther once proclaimed that 'the purpose of marriage is not pleasure and ease but the procreation and education of children and the support of a family. . . . People who do not like children are swine, dunces, and blockheads, not worthy to be called men and women, because they despise the blessing of God, the Creator and Author of marriage.' (Christian History, Issue 39, p. 24).
"Luther also said that birth control was the equivalent of sodomy (probably because of the likeness between homosexual wickedness and impotent sex). John Calvin declared that birth control was the murder of future persons and the Synod of Dort issued a Bible commentary which stated that contraception was the same as abortion. If you are shocked, by the strong statements from these Godly men, that really is not too surprising, because Protestant opposition to birth control has largely been forgotten in our decadent 21th century. If you want to know about Biblical principles which oppose contraception, or wish to know what the Reformers and their heirs thought about this important subject, we certainly hope that you will get this book!" -- SWRB
"Provan's task is to show that both the Scriptures and the Christian tradition are on the side of openness to children. . . .
"Provan walks the reader through a careful re-examination of the traditional 'prooftexts' against contraception ('Be fruitful and multiply,' 'Children are an heritage from the Lord,' the example of Onan) and finds modern exegesis falling woefully short of the standards set by Luther, Calvin, Chemnitz, et al. As Melanchthon argued in the APOLOGY FOR THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION, a confessional document, that God's command, 'Be fruitful and multiply,' applies only to Adam and Eve is akin to saying 'Let the land produce vegetation' applies only to the plants in Paradise. The command holds for all who share the nature of Adam and Eve, i.e., all mankind.
"And far from making the case for Roman Catholicism, Provan shows that Protestants have historically been more faithful to God's Word on the issue of openness to children than Roman Catholicism -- a point which the Roman Catholic historian and jurist John Noonan concedes in his monumental study, CONTRACEPTION. Indeed, as John Noonan argues, there is not a little to the conjecture that the pope would have gone the way of Margaret Sanger back in the sixteenth century had it not been for those stalwart Reformers (Jerome had already given the Church the argument that 'Be fruitful and multiply' was no longer relevant)." -- Reader's Comment
The Bible and Birth Control
http://www.swrb.com/Puritan/bible-birth-control.htm
The Bible and Birth Control, Charles Provan, five MP3 files
The Bible and Birth Control (1 of 5)
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonid=121303195832
The Bible and Birth Control (2 of 5)
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonid=121303224152
The Bible and Birth Control (3 of 5)
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonid=1214030509
The Bible and Birth Control (4 of 5)
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonid=121403155426
The Bible and Birth Control (5 of 5)
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonid=121403173550

Sutherland, Halliday G., Birth Control a Statement of Christian Doctrine Against the Neo-Malthusians (Hard Press, November 3, 2006), 140 pages, ISBN: 1406935913.

Wall, David, Crime and the Internet, 1st edition (Routledge, December 21, 2001), ISBN: 0415244285 9780415244282.
"We have seen the astounding potential of the Internet as an informational tool, but we are also beginning to encounter the infinite questions it unfurls about legal issues and crimes committed with its aid. David Wall and his stellar cast of contributors address the various criminological debates that are emerging over cybercrime. Essays examine the general problem of crime and the Internet, what is understood by the term 'cybercrime', the different types of cybercrimes, and the challenges they give rise to for both criminology and the criminal justice system.
"David Wall is the Director of the Center of Criminal Justice Studies, Department of Law at the University of Leeds." -- Publisher's Annotation
"David Wall is the pre-eminent cybercriminologist and he has assembled many of the world's most prolific writers on cybercrime for this book. You could not have a better line up." -- Charles Davis, University of Missouri

See also: Abstinence, chastity, Men, women and god, Marriage, Individual responsibility, Suffrage and reproductive rights, A theological interpretation of american history (timeline), Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Abortion and the sanctity of life, Post-abortion counseling, Child abuse and pedophilia, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Authority, Ethics, Medical ethics, Homosexuality, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, and so forth, and so on.



Blasphemy

BLAS'PHEMY, n. An indignity offered to God by words or writing; reproachful, contemptuous or irreverent words uttered impiously against Jehovah.
Blasphemy is an injury offered to God, by denying that which is due and belonging to him, or attributing to him that which is not agreeable to his nature.
In the middle ages, blasphemy was used to denote simply the blaming or condemning of a person or thing. Among the Greeks, to blaspheme was to use words of ill omen, which they were careful to avoid.
1. That which derogates from the prerogatives of God. Mark 2. -- Webster's 1828 Dictionary

See the Theological Notes, "The Unpardonable Sin," at Mark 3:29 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:22,23)

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy [against] the [Holy] Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come.
Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit.
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:31-37)

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. (Mark 7:21,22)

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:19-21)

To forsake Christ for the world is to leave a treasure for a trifle. . . . eternity for a moment, reality for a shadow. -- William Jenkyn

Blasphemy against the Almighty is denying his being or providence, or uttering contumelious reproaches on our Savior Christ. It is punished, at common law by fine and imprisonment, for Christianity is part of the laws of the land. -- William Blackstone

To make men or women our primary obligation (menpleasing) is worshipping man, a violation of the First Commandment, and breaks man's covenant relationship with God.

*BROWN, JOHN (of Haddington, 1722-1787), The Absurdity and Perfidy of all Authoritative Toleration of Gross Heresy, Blasphemy, Idolatry, Popery, in Britain. In two Letters to a friend in which the doctrine of the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) relative to Toleration of a False Religion, and the power of the civil magistrate about sacred matters; and the nature, origin, ends and obligation of the National Covenant and Solemn League are candidly represented and defended, 1797, 1803 edition Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #25. ISBN: 0921148208 9780921148203. A Christian classic.
"REFORMATION ATTAINMENTS VERSUS BACKSLIDING RELIGIOUS PROFESSORS
"Here Brown deals with three major Reformation attainments (anti-tolerationism, establishmentarianism and the obligations of lawful covenants as they biblically bind posterity) that Satan has always been especially concerned to overthrow -- in every major demonic move to open the floodgates of lawlessness, anarchy and misrule. Fletcher, in the preface to the 1797 edition, relates this truth as it comes to bear on various religious professors, stating, 'Papists were enemies to our covenants because they were a standard lifted up against their system of abominable idolatries. Episcopalians were enemies to them, because they were a standard lifted up against their anti-scriptural church-officers and inventions of men in the worship of God. Some Presbyterians are enemies to them in our day through ignorance of their nature and ends; and others through fear of being too strictly bound to their duty.' (Cited in Johnston, Still Waters Revival Books,ATLA 1988-6070, p. 486)." -- SWRB

KNOX, JOHN (1505-1572), The Execution of Servetus for Blasphemy, Heresy, Obstinate Anabaptism, Defended Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #1, ISBN: 0921148674 9780921148678. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #6.
The Execution of Servetus for Blasphemy, Heresy, Obstinate Anabaptism, Defended
http://books.google.com/books?id=jHwXHAAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Nash, David, Blasphemy in the Christian World: A History (Oxford University Press, USA, August 30, 2007), ISBN: 9781435609976 1435609972, 280 pages.
"Blasphemy -- the denial or denigration of God -- has a long history. Jesus was tried for blasphemy. Early Christians felt that the Jews in taking such action were themselves guilty of it. But it is not a story confined to the remote past. The publication in 2005 of 12 cartoons in a Danish newspaper linking the prophet Mohammed to terrorism sparked outrage in the global Islamic community. And that was not an instance of blasphemy intruding itself upon a Western society unused to such issues within Christianity. In many societies blasphemy remained an offence in law and the prosecution of artistic productions profaning the sacred was still a possibility.
"David Nash's new study focuses on the development of blasphemy in the Christian world. Tracing the subject from the Middle Ages to the present, he outlines the history of blasphemy as a concept, from a species of heresy to modern understandings of it as a crime against the sacred and individual religious identity. Investigating its appearance in speech, literature, popular publishing and the cinema, he disinters the likely motives and agendas of blasphemers themselves, as well as offering a glimpse of blasphemy's victims. In particular, he seeks to understand why this seemingly medieval offence has reappeared to become a distinctly modern presence in the West.
"David Nash is Reader in History at Oxford Brookes University. He has previously published on the secular and republican movements in England, specializing in the history of blasphemy, and appearing extensively in the media both Britain and America to speak on this subject. He has held visiting professorships in Utrecht and Buffalo, and is a permanent Visiting Research Fellow of the Center for Inquiry (Amherst, New York). In 2003 he was invited to give both verbal and written evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on religious offences." -- Publisher's Annotation

Simpson, Rick, Blasphemy and the Law in a Plural Society (Grove Books Ltd., July 1993), ISBN: 1851742417 9781851742417, 25 pages.

Smith, F. LaGard, Blasphemy and the Battle for Faith (Hodder and Stoughton Religious, March 1, 1990), ISBN: 0340522798 9780340522790, 208 pages.

See also: Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, atheism, Hypocracy, Lying and deceit, Betrayal, profanity, Spiritual blindness, Secular humanism, Absolute truth and relativism, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Treason and impeachment, Covenant faithfulness and sanctification, The counter-reformation, Secret societies, ungodly alliances, voluntary associations, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 473-479, 1608 1682, 3494

Related WebLinks

North, Gary, Blasphemy and Civil Rights
http://entrewave.com/freebooks/docs/html/gnbd/Chapter23.htm



Blindness, Spiritual

Edwards, Jonathan, Man's Natural Blindness in the Things of Religion. In THE WORKS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS (2:247-56).

Flavel, John (1628-1691), The Blinding Policies of Satan as the Cause of Unbelief and Forerunner of Destruction in THE WORKS OF JOHN FLAVEL, (2:451-74)

Flavel, John (1628-1691), The Method of Grace in the Gospel Redemption in THE WORKS OF JOHN FLAVEL, (2:3-474)

Newton, John, On Blindness. In WORKS OF JOHN NEWTON (1:282-89). Also in THE LETTERS OF JOHN NEWTON (35-40).

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Spiritual discernment, Foolishness, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Will and recalcitrance, Will and recalcitrance, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 500-501

Related WebLinks

Calvin's Commentary on Isaiah 29:1-24
14. Therefore, behold, I add to do. He threatens that he will punish by blinding not only the ignorant or the ordinary ranks, but those wise men who were held in admiration by the people. From this vengeance we may easily learn how hateful a vice hypocrisy is, and how greatly it is abhorred by God, as the Prophet spoke a little before about human inventions; for what kind of punishment is more dreadful than blindness of mind and stupidity? This indeed is not commonly perceived by men, nor are they aware of the greatness of this evil; but it is the greatest and most wretched of all. http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/comment3/comm_vol14/htm/xviii.htm



Bribery

To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress. (Proverbs 28:21) See the annotation in The Reformation Study Bible.

Exodus 23:8. And thou shalt take no gift. This kind of theft is the worst of all, when judges are corrupted either by bribes, or by affection, and thus ruin the fortunes which they ought to protect: for, since their tribunal is as it were a sacred asylum, to which those who are unjustly oppressed may fly, nothing can be more unseemly than that they should there fall amongst robbers. Judges are appointed to repress all wrongs and offenses; if therefore they shew favour to the wicked, they are harbourers of thieves; than which there is no more deadly pest. And besides, since their authority excludes every other remedy, they are themselves like robbers with arms in their hands. The greater, therefore, their power of injury is, and the greater the damage committed by their unjust sentences, the more diligently are they to be beware of iniquity; and thus it was necessary to keep them in the path of duty by special instructions, lest they should conceal and encourage thievery by their patronage. Now, as avarice is the root al all evils, when it thus lays hold of the mind of judges, no integrity can continue to exist. (John Calvin, from Calvin's Commentaries, III, Commentaries on the Four Last Books of Moses, [Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2003,] p. 136)

Moreover, He lays down this rule to these judges and officers: they are to judge justly, that is, according to the Law of God and not according to their own understanding. Then He forbids corrupt feelings; they are not to leave the Law behind and be led and motivated by the consideration of persons and bribes. These two things tend to distort and misdirect all justice, and therefore he here adds this aphorism: "Bribes blind the eyes of the wise and subvert the cause of the righteous" (v. 19). Partiality towards persons includes such things as these: fear of persons great, might, or wealthy; love of relatives; regard for friends; contempt for the lowly; sympathy toward those stricken by calamity; and fear of peril to one's own life, reputation, and property. "Bribes," however, include gain, advantage, ambition, and the insatiable and boundless gulf of greed. Therefore, in Exodus 18:21 Jethro advises Moses to choose men who are without greed, that is, birds that are as rare as a black swan. (Martin Luther, Deuteronomy, in Jeroslav Pelikan and Daniel Poellot, [editors] Luther's Works, [St. Louis: Concordia, 1960,] p. 163)

Borkin, Joseph, The Corrupt Judge: An Inquiry Into Bribery and Other High Crimes and Misdemeanors in the Federal Courts (World Pub. Co., 1966), 310 pages.

Heftel, Cecil, End Legalized Bribery: An Ex-Congressman's Proposal to Clean up Congress (Seven Locks Press, July 1998), ISBN: 0929765591 9780929765594, 135 pages.
"Only those who donate large sums of money to congressmen, senators and presidents get represented in our nation's capital. If you try to represent the American people you'll never get on a committee and you'll never receive any funds from your party for re-election. Large corporations and multi-million dollar lobbying groups rule this country. They write legislation, buy senators and congressmen, they destroy the careers of honest law-makers, alter the tax-code to suit their own selfish needs and keep useful products off the market, so that their own inferior products wont have any competition. The American Automotive industry even got a law passed that exempted them from being prosecuted if they built an unsafe or dangerous product. Why are your taxes so high? Because large corporations with millions or even billions of dollars in profits pay little to no taxes on those profits! These and other corrupt practices are heavily documented in this book. Your government is for sale and YOU can't afford it! YOU are not represented in the nation's capital and your congressman doesn't care about you. He cares about the NRA, Lockheed Martin, McDonnell Douglass, General Motors, Northrop Grumman and General Electric." -- Reader's Comment

Juettner, Bonnie, Blackmail and Bribery (Crime Scene Investigations. Lucent Books, November 14, 2008), ISBN: 9781420500684 1420500686.

Malone, Samuel A., Greed, Fraud, Lies, Bribery and Corruption: A Guide to Organizational Ethics (The Liffey Press, October 2005), ISBN: 9781852525774 1852525770, 250 pages.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Bribery in Public Procurement: Methods, Actors and Counter-measures (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Publishing, May 31, 2007), ISBN: 9789264013940 9264013946, 104 pages.
"Public works contracts mean big business. From road-building to high-tech communication infrastructure, public procurement averages 15 percent of GDP in OECD countries -- substantially more in non-OECD economies -- and it is a major factor in the world trade of goods and services. Given the growing complexity of bribe schemes in todays globalized markets, the problem is how to identify corruption in public procurement so governments can work toward effective prevention and apply sanctions if necessary. This report provides insights on all three fronts. Based on contributions from law enforcement and procurement specialists, the report describes how bribery is committed through the various stages of government purchasing; how bribery in public procurement is related to other crimes, such as fraud and money laundering; and how to prevent and sanction such crimes. The typical motivations and conduct of the various actors engaging in corruption are also highlighted, as well as ten case studies.
Table of Content: Executive Summary, Introduction, Part I. Analysis of Corruption in Public Procurement, Chapter 1. Public Procurement Rules, Procedures and Practices, Chapter 2. Vulnerabilities Relating to Project Size, Sector, or Tendering Administration, Chapter 3. Links to Other Offenses, Part II. Analysis of the Actors Engaging in Bribery and Typical Corruption Agreements, Chapter 4. Parties Involved in Bribery, Chapter 5. Content of the Bribery Agreements, Part III. Preventing, Detecting, and Sanctioning Bribery in Public Procurement, Chapter 6. Preventive Measures, Chapter 7. Controls, Chapter 8. Detection Mechanisms, Chapter 9. Investigation and Sanctions, Part IV. Ten Anonymous Studies on Bribery in Public Procurement Template for the Description of the Cases of Bribery in Public Procurement, I. A senior civil servant and a subcontractor from another state, II. Bribery relating to public procurement within a local authority, III. Bribery related to procurements within an international aid organization, IV. Fraudulent bid evaluation by an independent consultant in international limited bidding, V. Award of a consultancy contract to fellow national in exchange for bridges, VI. Susceptibility of international bidders to influence bidding and coercion in bid tendering, VII. Collusive bidding and overpricing in international shopping/international price quotations, VIII. Preferential treatment in exchange for gratuities and family member employment, IX. Bribes in exchange for rewarding contracts, X. Bribes from contractor to increase quantity of work, Annex A. The OECD Anti-Bribery Instruments: How They Address Public Procurement.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Implementing The OECD Anti-bribery Convention: The United States (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, May 30, 2007), ISBN: 9264017828 9789264017825, 116 pages.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), No Longer Business as Usual: Fighting Bribery and Corruption (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, February 2001), ISBN: 9264176608 9789264176607, 250 pages.
"Corruption respects no borders, knows no economic distinctions, and infects all forms of government. Today, corruption has moved to the top of the global political agenda as its dramatic impact on economic development and its corrosive effect on political stability and democratic political institutions has become increasingly obvious. In the new millennium, the OECD and associated governments, which account for over 75 percent of trade and investment worldwide, will play by stricter rules. The Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions will outlaw the practice of bribing foreign officials, making competition for international business much more fair and open. Bribery in commercial transactions is only part of the problem. A whole arsenal of legal instruments to combat corruption have now been developed to improve ethical standards in the public sector, to end tax deductibility for bribes, to curtail money laundering, and to clean up public procurement practices. This book provides the key elements needed to build and preserve corruption-free institutions, systems, and private enterprises."

Reisman, W. Michael, Folded Lies: Bribery, Crusades, and Reforms, ISBN: 0029262801 9780029262801.
"A comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon of business bribery in all its manifestations. It goes beyond the recent wave of popular books that have simply dramatized the extent to which bribery has become institutionalized. The significance of FOLDED LIES is in its very credible -- and persuasive -- analysis and synthesis of the dynamics of the bribery phenomenon and the societal reactions it will inevitably precipitate. FOLDED LIES should be important reading for the business community, policy makers, lawyers, social scientists, and the general reader." -- John A. Gardiner, author of Theft of the City
"This is a major contribution to the analysis of one type of white-collar crime. It lifts the veil on 'jurisprudence in the shadows' and analyzes a type of decision pathology. More than that -- the author places the timely topic of bribery in the context of timeless principles of myth systems and operational codes . . . .An incisive inquiry at a fundamental level of the policy alternatives for business and social order." -- Gerald M. Meier, Stanford University

Wrage, Alexandra Addison, Bribery and Extortion: Undermining Business, Governments, and Security (Praeger Security International, September 30, 2007), 176 pages, ISBN: 9780275996499 0275996492.
Bribery plays a significant role in international criminal activity. Terrorists pay bribes. Money-launderers pay bribes. Those who traffic in people, narcotics, and illegal arms pay bribes. People pay immigration officers not to ask, customs officials not to inspect, and police officers not to investigate. At corporate headquarters in the United States, it can be easy to dismiss modest bribes in distant countries as an unfortunate cost of doing business. Bribes follow patterns that are not at all mysterious to the officials, salesmen, and citizens who seek them and pay them. Using a series of international cases, Wrage examines bribery, peeling back the mystique and ambiguity and exposing the very simple transactions that lie beneath. She shows how these seemingly everyday transactions can affect security, democratization, and human aid around the globe. Bribery and Extortion presents a clear picture of the world of bribery and the havoc it can wreak on whole populations. Wrage covers commercial bribery, administrative and service-based bribery, and extortion. She considers bribery and extortion at both high levels of government and lower levels on "the street." Examples from around the world help to illustrate the nature of the problem and efforts at combating it. The book concludes with practical suggestions and an assessment of current efforts to stem the tide of bribery and restore transparency to everyday transactions in all realms.
"Alexandra Addison Wrage is an international attorney and President of TRACE International, a nonprofit, anti-bribery business association with over 1,000 corporate members in more than 100 countries. She has worked as in-house counsel for both Northrop Grumman Corporation and MCI Communications. She has written numerous articles on practical anti-bribery strategies and speaks frequently on topics of international law and the hidden costs of corruption." -- Publisher's Annotation

See also: The ten commandments, the moral law, Covetousness, greed, and selfishness, Theft, stealing and fraud: property rights, Conspiracy and corruption, The attributes of god, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The teaching of our lord jesus christ, Trusting god, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Idolatry, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Lust, Selfishness, Fearfulness, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Secret societies and ungodly alliance, The covenanted reformation, The counter reformation, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 2548, 2549

Related WebLinks

Theft: Commentary and Cases of Conscience. A Listing Excerpted From THE INSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW by Rousas John Rushdoony, 1973 edition
http://www.lettermen2.com/theft.html



Call Upon the Name of the Lord

See: Call Upon the Name of the Lord
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1chb.html#callnl



Calling, Christian

See the Theological Notes, "Effectual Calling and Conversion," at 2 Thessalonians 2:14 in The Reformation Study Bible.

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. -- 1 Samuel 15:22,23)

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. -- (Matthew 5:16)

BOSTON, THOMAS (1676-1732), Of Effectual Calling and Of the Benefits of Effectual Calling both in The Complete Works of the Reverend Thomas Boston.

Boice, James Montgomery, Ordinary Men Called by God: Abraham, Moses, and David (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1982), ISBN: 082542075X 9780825420757.

FLAVEL, JOHN (1628-1691), The Work of the Spirit as the Internal and Most Effectual Means of the Application of Christ (2:67-87). In THE METHOD OF GRACE IN THE GOSPEL REDEMPTION (2:3-474). Both found in The Works of John Flavel.

Hooker, Thomas (1586-1647), The Soules Vocation or Effectual Calling to Christ, 1638.

*Murray, John (1898-1975), Principles of Conduct (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.), ISBN: 0802811442 9780802811448.
"This is a far-ranging book with a recurring emphasis on the majestic moral demands of Scripture and the relation of the Gospel to those demands. Scripture teaching is lucidly brought to bear on vital ethical issues such as marriage, work as a calling, capital punishment, the sanctity of truth, and the fear of God. Undoubtedly this is the foremost contemporary book in the field." -- William J. Grier

Steele, Richard, Religious Tradesman (Harrisonburg, VA [Sprinkle Publications, P.O. Box 1094, Harrisonburg, 22803]: Sprinkle Publications).
"Work is considered as a calling of God." -- Lloyd T. Sprinkle

Strong, William, A Voice From Heaven Calling the People of God to a Perfect Separation From Mystical Babylon. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Six, CD #35.

*WATSON, THOMAS (1633-1686), All Things for Good: Romans 8:28, A Divine Cordial. Alternate title, A DIVINE CORDIAL in 1663. (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851514782 9780851514789. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2. A Christian classic.
"I would prescribe them to take, now and then, a little of this Cordial: all things work together for good to them that love God. To know that nothing hurts the godly, is a matter of comfort; but to be assured that all things which fall out shall cooperate for their good, that their crosses shall be turned into blessings, that showers of affliction water the withering root of their grace and make it flourish more; this may fill their hearts with joy till they run over." -- Thomas Watson, from the Preface
"Thomas Watson of St. Stephen's, Walbrook believed he faced two great difficulties in his pastoral ministry. The first was making the unbeliever sad, in the recognition of his need of God's grace. The second was making the believer joyful in response to God's grace. He believed the answer to the second difficulty could be found in Paul's teaching in Romans 8:28, God works all things together for good for his people.
"Watson's exposition is always simple, illuminating and rich in practical application. He explains that both the best and the worst experiences work for the good of God's people. He carefully analyses what it means to be someone who `loves God' and is `called according to his purpose.' ALL THINGS FOR GOOD provides the biblical answer to the contemporary question: `Why do bad things happen to good people'?" -- Publisher's Annotation

See also: The sovereign grace of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Spiritual discernment, How to become a christian, Book-length presentations of the gospel message of salvation and the life to come: the means of grace, Predestination, Trusting god, Loving and obeying god, Discipleship, Self-discipline, Discipleship, Lying, deceit and self-deception, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 622, 1789-1793, 2378, 3508, 3845, 3889, 3924
MGTP: Calling, Vocation or Calling



Carnality and Flesh Pleasing: Lust, Desires, Ambition

See the Theological Notes, "Christians in the World," at Colossians 2:20 in The Reformation Study Bible.

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. (Deuteronomy 8:3)

Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, in so much that he abhorred his own inheritance.
And he gave them into the hands of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. (Psalm 106:40-42)

The Treasury of David, Psalm 106, commentary by C.H. Spurgeon
Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt. (v. 7)
Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known. (v. 8)
And he saved them from the hand of them that hated them. (v. 10)
They soon forgat his works. (v. 13)
And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. (v. 15)
They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. (v. 19)
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. (v. 20)
They forgat God their saviour. (v. 21)
Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them. (v. 29)
Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed. (v. 30)
And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore. (v. 31)
They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them. (v. 34)
But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. (v. 35)
Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils. (v. 37)
Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions. (v. 39)
Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, in so much that he abhorred his own inheritance. (v. 40)
And he gave them into the hands of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.(v. 41)
Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. (v. 42)
Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. (v. 43)
Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry. (v. 44)
And he remembered for them his covenant. (v. 45)
Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise. (v. 47)
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord. (v. 48)
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps106.htm

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. (Isaiah 55:2,3)

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:27-30)

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:21)

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:30)

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:16)

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7)

Our Triune God has ordained that authority, power, and leadership devolves to those who know the most Truth (the Apostle Paul, Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, The Scots Worthies . . . ). Preeminent among those is the Lord Christ, the God Man, Our Righteousness. (John 1:1-18; Matthew 19:30; Matthew 28:18-20; Isaiah 49:7; Colossians 1:16-19; Colossians 2:9,10; Hebrews 12:1,2; Revelation 5:1-14; Revelation 19:11-15; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 22:12, and so forth, and so on.)

To serve God is to reign. -- Seneca

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Galatians 5:17)

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:1-11)

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. (1 Peter 2:5)

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches, etc.
This clause ought to be carefully noticed; for we here learn that we ought to shun as a deadly poison whatever cannot be enjoyed without offending God; for the pleasures of sin he calls all the allurements of the world which draw us away from God and our calling. But the comforts of our earthly life, which we are allowed by pure conscience, and God's permission to enjoy, are not included here. Let us then ever remember that we ought to know and understand what God allows us. There are indeed some things in themselves lawful, but the use of which is prohibited to us, owing to circumstances as to time, place, or other things. Hence as to all the blessings connected with the present life, what is ever to be regarded is, that they should be to us helps and aids to follow God and not hindrances. And he calls these pleasures of sin temporary or for a time, because they soon vanish away together with life itself.
"In opposition to these he sets the reproach of Christ, which all the godly ought willingly to undergo. For those whom God has chosen, he has also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his own son; not that he exercises them all by the same kind of reproaches or by the same cross, but that they are all to be so minded as not to decline to undertake the cross in common with Christ. Let every one then bear in mind, that as he is called to this fellowship he is to throw off all hindrances. Nor must we omit to say, that he reckons among the reproaches of Christ all the ignominious trials which the faithful have had to endure from the beginning of the world; for as they were the member of the same body, so they had nothing different from what we have. As all sorrows are indeed the rewards of sin, so they are also the fruits of the curse pronounced on the first man: but whatever wrongs we endure from the ungodly on account of Christ, these he regards as his own. Hence Paul gloried that he made up what was wanting as to the sufferings of Christ. Were we rightly to consider this, it would not be so grievous and bitter for us to suffer for Christ.
"He also explains more fully what he means in this clause by the reproach of Christ, by what he has previously declared when he said, that Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God. He could not have otherwise avowed himself as one of God's people, except he had made himself a companion to his own nation in their miseries. Since, then, this is the end, let us not separate ourselves from the body of the Church: whatever we suffer, let us know that it is consecrated on account of the head. So on the other hand he calls those things the treasures of Egypt, which no one can otherwise possess than by renouncing and forsaking the Church. For he had respect unto the recompense of the reward, or for he looked to the remuneration. He proves by the description he gives, that the magnanimity of Moses' mind was owing to faith; for he had his eyes fixed on the promise of God. For he could not have hoped that it would be better for him to be with the people of Israel than with the Egyptians, had he not trusted in the promise and in nothing else.
By faith he forsook Egypt, etc.
This may be said of his first as well as of his second departure, that is, when he brought out the people with him. He then indeed left Egypt when he fled from the house of Pharaoh. Add to this, that his going out is recorded by the Apostle before he mentions the celebration of the Passover. He seems then to speak of the flight of Moses; nor is what he adds, that he feared not the wrath of the king, any objection to this, though Moses himself relates that he was constrained to do so by fear. For if we look at the beginning of his course he did not fear, that is, when he avowed himself to be the avenger of his people. However, when I consider all the circumstances, I am inclined to regard this as his second departure; for it was then that he bravely disregarded the fierce wrath of the king, being armed with such power by God's Spirit, that he often of his own accord defied the fury of that wild beast. It was doubtless an instance of the wonderful strength of faith, that he brought out a multitude untrained for war and burdened with many encumbrances, and yet hoped that a way would be opened to him by God's hand through innumerable difficulties. He saw a most powerful king in a furious rage, and he knew that he would not cease till he had tried his utmost. But as he knew that God had commanded him to depart, he committed the event to him, nor did he doubt but that he would in dug time restrain all the assaults of the Egyptians.
As seeing him who is invisible. Nay, but he had seen God in the midst of the burning bush: this then seems to have been said improperly, and not very suitable to the present subject. I indeed allow, that Moses was strengthened in his faith by that vision, before he took in hand the glorious work of delivering the people; but I do not admit that it was such a view of God, as divested him of his bodily senses, and transferred him beyond the trials of this world. God at that time only showed him a certain symbol of his presence; but he was far from seeing God as he is. Now, the Apostle means, that Moses so endured, as though he was taken up to heaven, and had God only before his eyes; and as though he had nothing to do with men, was not exposed to the perils of this world and had no contests with Pharaoh. And yet, it is certain, that he was surrounded with so many difficulties, that he could not but think sometimes that God was far away from him, or at least, that the obstinacy of the king, furnished as it was with so many means of resistance, would at length overcome him. In short, God appeared to Moses in such a way, as still to leave room for faith; and Moses, when beset by terrors on every side, turned all his thoughts to God. He was indeed assisted to do this, by the vision which we have mentioned; but yet he saw more in God than what that symbol intimated: for he understood his power, and that absorbed all his fears and dangers. Relying on God's promise, he felt assured that the people, though then oppressed by the tyranny of the Egyptians, were already, as it were, the lords of the promised land.
We hence learn, that the true character of faith is to set God always before our eyes; secondly, that faith beholds higher and more hidden things in God than what our senses can perceive; and thirdly, that a view of God alone is sufficient to strengthen our weakness, so that we may become firmer than rocks to withstand all the assaults of Satan. It hence follows, that the weaker and the less resolute any one is, the less faith he has. -- John Calvin commenting on Hebrew 11:25-27

Keep a strict government and watch over your fleshly appetite and senses. (Romans 8:13; 13:13,14) For the loosing of the reins to carnal lusts, and yielding to the importunity of sensual desires, is the most ordinary way of wasting grace, and falling off from God. -- Richard Baxter

Selfishness and pride will blind even the gifted and learned to the truth. Lust for power and the will to play God will blind us to the truth. Intense nationalistic pride, political bent, alienation during secular schooling, or personal ambitions blind us to the "evident connection between Absolute Truth, sovereign authority, holiness, life, loving obedience, moral behavior, sanctification, justice, freedom (political, economic, and individual), social stability, and real progress. . . ." -- Preface, Biblical Counsel: Resources for Renewal (The Web Edition).

"Ultimately the Seventh Commandment is about our fidelity to Christ." To fracture the Seventh Commandment is to break covenant with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Adams, Jay E., Winning the War Within: A Biblical Strategy for Spiritual Warfare. Alternate title: THE WAR WITHIN: A BIBLICAL STRATEGY FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE, ISBN: 188903200X 9781889032009.
"The Christian life is war. The holy war between God and Satan gets played out within ourselves in the conflict between the Holy Spirit and the flesh. 'It is to the enemy within that Satan, the world, and the demons must make their appeal.' Describes Satan's tactics and power, and then the strategies for victory: the Spirit's sword, prayer, faith, the help of believers. 'The prime purpose of this book is to encourage faltering Christians'." -- David Powlison

*BAXTER, RICHARD (1615-1691), A Christian Directory: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1. Full title: A Christian Directory: or A Sum of Practical Theology, and Cases of Conscience. Directing Christians How to Use Their Knowledge and Faith; How to Improve all Helps and Means, and to Perform all Duties; How to Overcome Temptations, and to Escape or Mortify Every Sin. In Four Parts.
I. Christian Ethics (or Private Duties)
II. Christian Economics (or Family Duties)
III. Christian Ecclesiastics (or Church Duties)
IV. Christian Politics (or Duties to Our Rulers and Neighbours) (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, 1990, 1838, 1707, 1678, 1673), ISBN: 1877611131 9781877611131. Foreword by J.I. Packer (Soli Deo Gloria edition only). The Soli Deo Gloria publication is a facsimile reprint of the 19th century reprint by George Virtue, London, 1846. The original 1673 edition and the 1678 edition, both printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons. Bibliographic and scriptural footnotes. A Christian classic.
"The complete practical works of Richard Baxter are in print in four volumes entitled BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS. This volume (about 1 1/4 million words, 1028 pages) is volume one of the set. The editor's preface (1707), p. xiii, stated that the works of Richard Baxter are 'perhaps the best body of practical divinity that is extent in our own or any other tongue.' Richard Baxter lived from 1615-1691. The DIRECTORY was completed in 1665. Its scope was intended to cover all of practical theology, a summa of casuistry . . ." -- Don Kistler
"Baxter's series, which grew in range and scope as it proceeded . . . is a peak point in Puritan devotional writing, and remains a precious resource for all, in this or any age, who want to know what is involved in Biblical godliness. . . . A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY may justly be described as a landmark. It is the fullest, most thorough, and in this writer's judgment, most profound treatment of Christian spirituality and standards that has ever been attempted by an English-speaking Evangelical author. The fact that it embraces both spirituality and standards (the principles of communion with God plus the specifics of obedience to God) merits approving comment in itself; nowadays spirituality and ethics have become two distinct disciplines in the schools, and books written on either say virtually nothing about the other . . ." -- J.I. Packer
Timothy Keller calls it the greatest manual on Biblical counseling ever produced.
"There are many Puritan classics on this subject. Thomas Brooks' PRECIOUS REMEDIES FOR SATAN'S DEVICES, Thomas Goodwin's A CHILD OF LIGHT WALKING IN DARKNESS, William Bridge's A LIFTING UP FOR THE DOWNCAST, and many other similar works give evidence that the Puritans were. . . . masters at applying Biblical answers and principles to problems that can only be solved by spiritual means. No Puritan work, however, has ever approached the popularity, the scope, or the depth of Baxter's classic treatise. With the widespread interest in counseling in today's church, this reprint of Baxter's work should be a welcome addition to every pastor's library, or to anyone else who wishes to give solid Biblical answers to man's questions." -- Don Kistler
"We have long waited for a purely Biblical treatment of the spiritual ills and cures of men which is untainted by the views of psychology. Since Baxter lived about 200 years before psychology arrived, his deep work is completely void of its encroachment -- thankfully!" -- John MacArthur
"The kings men sought to arrest Richard Baxter, but he traveled ceaselessly from place to place, writing his sermons and his books even on horseback (he had an inkwell in his saddle) and preached over a wide area." -- Brian H. Edwards
"Baxter was a wonder of his age. His writings total 72 large volumes, much of it written on horseback as he traveled in his widespread preaching efforts. He seldom, if ever, edited anything he wrote. Knowing this any reader will be amazed at how well he communicated his deep love for his Savior. For 26 years he was public enemy No. 1 to the king, yet he lived to see the flight of the king in 1688." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
POOR MAN'S FAMILY BOOK (1674) and THE CATECHIZING OF FAMILIES (1683), found elsewhere in BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, are less detailed works. They are more suitable for family instruction than are the detailed presentation in A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY.
" Ptacek in Family Worship (p. 51-52), supplies the following information in regard to Baxter and this book. He notes that after the Episcopalians ejected numerous `nonconformists,' in what is know as the `great ejection,' in 1662, `Baxter pastored from house to house, visiting families of his parish in their homes. These visits contributed to Baxter's A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, a large and still very relevant manual of pastoral care.' Focusing on just one area of great importance, Ptacek demonstrates how this book's relevance is not limited by time or culture, though sometimes the use of specific words are. `Published in 1673, but written 1664-65, a large book-length part of Baxter's CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY is devoted to the family. It is entitled `Christian Economics' based on the archaic usage of the word, which reflects the proper sense of the Greek root oikonomos as the manager of a household, in the Christian case, the spiritual leader of the family. The family head is essential to Baxter's view of family worship and instruction. Baxter asserts that it is God's will that this instruction be carried out by the rulers of the families.' For a male head of the household to fail to do so, or to have another instruct in the family, is contrary to his position of authority.' This is the kind of book that can be passed on from generation to generation and still find much use in the service of the kingdom of God. . . .
"Though relatively weak on corporate sanctification, corporate faithfulness and some important areas of doctrine (such as justification), Baxter's work on subjects related to personal piety can be of good practical use to the Christian -- if one is careful to separate out his aberrant doctrinal views and any practical errors they may lead to." -- SWRB
This work is available in many editions, and in many formats.
Reformation Heritage Books has new copies of the Soli Deo Gloria edition as of March 2008, even though it is generally thought to be out of print. They acquired Soli Deo Gloria from Ligonier Ministries in late 2007. They may be the publisher who will eventually reprints the title.
http://www.heritagebooks.org/
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue is available as a Cerlox bound photocopy from Still Waters Revival Books, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
The reprint by George Virtue is available online and may be downloaded in PDF format at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/baxter/practical.toc.html
The reprint by George Virtue is included in
The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #21
The reprint by George Virtue appears in full preview in Google Books but may not be downloaded. This Google Books scan includes the contents in detail on pages iii-xix. This contents in detail is not included in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library PDF files. About five other editions from libraries are available in Google Books, and may be downloaded (August 2008).
Notice that the e-text in Google Books has the advantage of being searchable. Searching an image-based PDF file is not possible, unless the user owns software such as Abode Acrobat Pro or Kirtas BookScan Editor. They both have an OCR (optical character recognition) feature that will search an image-based PDFs (bit-map scans). Searches appear to be perfect in this work, although one must know Baxter's vocabulary. Text can be cut and paste from image-based PDF format to OCR (character) format. This particular Google Books scan can not be cut and pasted or downloaded.
http://books.google.com/books?id=cyQFBOUHkaoC&dq=A+Christian+Directory+inpublisher:lettermen+inpublisher:associates&lr=&as_brr=0&ie=ISO-8859-1
One of the older, multi-volume editions of THE WORKS OF RICHARD BAXTER is available at Monergism.com in the "Puritan Library," "Richard Baxter." A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, volume 23. It can be downloaded.
http://www.puritanlibrary.com/
Another older edition is available on microfilm (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1970), 1 microfilm reel, 35 mm (Early English books, 1641-1700; 343:11).
The following three excerpts are included as bonus free books on Reformation Bookshelf CD #28, ISBN: 0921148267 9780921148265.
1. "The Duties of Parents for Their Children" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. X., pp. 449-454.
2. "The Special Duties of Children Towards Their Parents" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XI., pp. 454-457.
3. "The Special Duties of Children and Youth Towards God" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XII., pp. 457-458).
The Practical Works of Richard Baxter: A Christian Directory, Vol. 1
A summary of currently available publications.
http://www.lettermen2.com/pwrbcd.html

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Reformed Pastor: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000, 1992), ISBN: 1877611360.
"This is the fourth and final volume in this great set. Includes, [`Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men,' -- sk] `The Reformed Pastor' `Poor Man's Family Book,' `The Catechizing of Families,' and `The Mother's Catechism,' in all 25 sermons, treatises, and catechisms. Dr. J.I. Packer says, `For me, the great joy of this year is that it see the completion of Soli Deo Gloria's reprint of Baxter's incomparable PRACTICAL WORKS'." -- GCB
Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men (1681), by Richard Baxter
http://www.lettermen2.com/ccaym.html

Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), Walking With God: The Description, Reasons and Reward of the Believer's Walking With God: On Genesis v. 24, ISBN: 1877611360.

BOLTON, ROBERT (1606-1654), The Carnal Professor and Thomas Goodwin, Christ set Forth (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1992), ISBN: 1877611468 9781877611469. Available (THE WORKS OF THE REVEREND, TRULY PIOUS AND JUDICIOUSLY LEARNED, ROBERT BOLTON) on the SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available (THE WORKS OF THE REVEREND, TRULY PIOUS AND JUDICIOUSLY LEARNED, ROBERT BOLTON) on Puritan Bookshelf CD #9. Available (THE WORKS OF ROBERT BOLTON) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #27.
"The first 156 pages is a heart-searching treatise directed at those who profess Christianity without necessarily possessing it. Goodwin's 384 pages is directed toward those who have embraced the principles of Christ, but have neglected Christ Himself in all of His glory. Both authors are Puritans of great renown." -- CBD

Bridge, William, The Carnality of Professors. In WORKS OF WILLIAM BRIDGE (5:117-32).

Burroughs, Jeremiah, A Treatise of Earthly-Mindedness and a Heavenly Conversation (Walking With God), ISBN: 1877611387.
"A comprehensive treatment of the nature and enticements of worldliness. It reflects the keen insight of Puritan Christianity." -- GCB

*LOVE, CHRISTOPHER (1618-1651), The Combate Between the Flesh and Spirit. As also the wofull with-drawing of the Spirit of God, with the causes thereof: and walking in, and after the Spirit, together with the blessednesse thereof. Being the summe and substance of XXVII. sermons: preached a little before his death, by that faithfull servant of Christ, Mr. Christopher Love, late minister of the Gospel at Lawrence Jury London. To which is added the Christians directory tending to direct him in the various conditions that God may cast him into. In XV. sermons, 1654. Available (MP3 audio file) on Reformation Bookshelf CD #4, ISBN: 0921148739 9780921148739. Available (THE SELECT WORKS OF THE REV. CHRISTOPHER LOVE) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

Lundgaard, Kris, The Enemy Within: Straight Talk About the Power and Defeat of Sin, ISBN: 0875522017 9780875522012.
"This book, based on John Owen's masterpiece entitled THE NATURE, POWER, DECEIT, AND PREVALENCY OF THE REMAINDERS OF INDWELLING SIN IN BELIEVERS, unpacks the truth found in the Scriptures for readers to help them get just that: victory! But victory over what? Satan? Yeah. Sin? Yeah. But more specifically, the flesh -- something that is overlooked as the source of the sin by many evangelicals today, yet cited by almost all biblical authors as the part of us that hates God and therefore sins. Lundgaard himself claims to have 'kidnapped Owen' (p. 14). This is not Lundgaard's wisdom, it is Owen's Bible-inspired wisdom converted into modern language with modern examples for modern readers." -- Reader's Comment

Manton, Thomas (1620-1677), Sermon Upon Deuteronomy 32:51. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THOMAS MANTON (16:387-96).
"The sins of God's children may cost them dear in this world."

*Pike, Samuel (1717-1773), and Samuel Hayward (1718-1757), Distinguishing Faith and Feelings. In RELIGIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER . . . TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION; OR, THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF GOD'S WORD; AND CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, 1866.
Distinguishing Faith and Feelings
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/distinguishing-faith-and-feelings.php

*Pike, Samuel (1717-1773), and Samuel Hayward (1718-1757), Spiritual Injury From Undue Pursuit of the Affairs of This Life. In RELIGIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER . . . TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION; OR, THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF GOD'S WORD; AND CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, 1866.
Spiritual Injury From Undue Pursuit of the Affairs of This Life
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/spiritual-injury-from-undue-pursuit-of-the-affairs-of-this-life.php

Perkins, William (1558-1602), Tvvo Treatises I. Of the Nature and Practise of Repentance. II. Of the Combat of the Flesh and Spirit, 1593.

Preston, John (1587-1628), Foure Godly and Learned Treatises. Intituled, I. A remedy against covetousnesse. II. An elegant and lively description of spirituall death and life. III. The doctrine of selfe-deniall. IV. Vpon the sacrament of the Lords Supper. Delivered in sundry sermons, by that late famous preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory, Iohn Preston, Doctor of Divinitie, chaplaine in ordinarie to his Majestie; master of Emanuel Colledge, and sometime preacher of Lincolnes Inne, 1633.

Preston, John, Hovv to Mortifie Covetousnesse (London: I. Beale, for Andrew Crooke . . ., 1633).

Reisinger, Ernest C., What Should We Think of the Carnal Christian? (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851513891 9780851513898.

Swinnock, George (1627-1673), The Fading of the Flesh and Flourishing of Faith, or, One Cast for Eternity with the only way to throw it vvell: as also the gracious persons incomparable portion / by George Swinnock . . . , 1662.
Psalm LXXIII, 26

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Menpleasing, Covetousness, greed, and selfishness, Self, Theft, stealing and fraud: property rights, Menpleasing, Casuistry and conscience, Bribery, Conspiracy and corruption, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 645, 2351-2359, 3187-3189, 3198, 3199, 3200-3204, 3208, 3914-3918, 4128
MGTP: Carnality, Ambition (Carnal), Ambition (Spiritual)

Related WebLinks

The Westminster Confession Larger Catechism, Questions 103-106
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wlc_w_proofs/WLC_frames.html

The Things of This World
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/the-things-of-this-world.php

The Temperate Life, Sherman Isbell
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/the-temperate-life.php



Casuistry, Cases of Conscience

See the Theological Notes, "The Wisdom and Will of God," at Daniel 2:20 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "Mankind's Guilty Knowledge of God," at Romans 1:29 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Conscience and the Law," at 1 Samuel 24:5 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "General Revelation," at Psalm 19:1 in The Reformation Study Bible.

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. -- 1 Samuel 15:22,23)

Casuistry: a method of doctrine dealing with cases of conscience and the resolution of questions of right or wrong in conduct.

Casuistic books, spelling out the standards of conduct set in God's law so that Christians might be able to live with a good conscience, knowing that they were doing God's will. The century that followed the Reformation was a great age of case-divinity among both Romans and Protestants, but whereas Jesuit casuistry was guidance for the priest in the confessional, that of the Puritans was for the ordinary Christian in everyday life. Perkins was the pioneer here, systematically reforming the medieval heritage on conscience and good works by the Bible; most of the contents of the three folio volumes of his works (1616-1618) prove on inspection to be case-divinity. Baxter's massive Directory sums up two generations of work in this field, and between Perkins and Baxter lie abundance of smaller books like the Plaine and Familiar Exposition of the Ten Commandments by John Dod and Thomas Cleaver (1603) (nineteen editions in thirty-two years), and many treatments of particular areas where problems of right conduct arose then, as they arise now (marriage and the family; work; the occult; the use of wealth; the stewardship of truth, etc). All this material remains enormously impressive in the depth of its insight into both biblical teaching and the paralogisms of the human heart. -- J.I. Packer

The fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God.
They are corrupt,
they have done abominable works,
there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1)
See the Theological Notes, "Mankind's Guilty Knowledge of God" at Romans 1:29, and the note at Psalm 14:1 in The Reformation Study Bible

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Having a good conscience. . . (I Peter 3:15,16a)
Oh how highly we are to be concerned that our conscience be tender, and yet how little care is taken of it! What has become of the authority of conscience, when your thoughts and your passions, when your eyes and your ears and your appetite and your tongue are left unbridled and unconquered? When every servant is set up to be master, to bear rule in you, where is your conscience? When your soul is no better kept, what poverty and leanness is growing on it, what a starveling it is both in grace and peace, eaten out with lust, evaporated into vanity, sunk into sensuality, your spirit even transubstantiated into perishing flesh, ready to die away, because you have not had a tender conscience. If you have not better kept your covenant with God, when you have not performed the duties you have vowed, when your hours of prayer are so short, your sabbaths such wintry, cold days, where has your conscience been? When your God is so shamefully neglected, never hears from you even when you have nothing else to do; yea, when your corn, your cattle, your pleasures, your friends (even those you vowed to renounce), are invited into your heart to steal it away from Heaven, then where is your conscience? When you lie asleep and allow God's enemies to sow tares in your field; when you are being a busy-body in other men's affairs, while your own vineyard is not being kept; when both your heart and your house are so much out of order, where is your conscience? When you leave your wife and your children and your servants to do all that is right in their own eyes; when you take care more for your possessions than for your sons and daughters, ready to die for lack of instruction, where is your conscience? And if you have no conscience, then where is your covenant? And if you have no covenant, then where is your God and your peace? -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting on 1 Peter 3:15,16a quoted in Morning and Evening II: A Second Year of Daily Devotions by C.H. Spurgeon, May 28, p. 149 found in Devotional Classics of C. H. Spurgeon

Positive good is the real moderating influence, not compromise with evil. -- Roger Pooley

*Abernetay, M.I., A Christian and Heavenly Treatise Containing Physicke for the Soule. Very Necessary, 1622.

*Ames, William, Conscience With the Power and Cases Thereof, ISBN: 9022107086. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #28.
William Ames was a student of William Perkins at Cambridge.
"Translated out of the Latin into English, this extremely rare item is in excellent condition (i.e. the print is very good, making it easy to read). The work is divided into five books, expanding on the second part of his famous Marrow of Divinity. Book one contains the definition of conscience. Book two deals with cases of conscience which concern the state of man. Book three expounds man's duty in general. Book four explains Ames' view concerning conscience and the duty of man towards God and book five treats of the duties of man towards his neighbor. For the Scottish Presbyterian view concerning these matters see Samuel Rutherford's amazing Free Disputation Against Pretended Liberty of Conscience." -- SWRB
The Works of the Reverend and Faithful Minister of Christ William Ames . . .
http://books.google.com/books?id=VhZSGwAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*BARROW, GREGORY, The Covenanted Reformation Defended Against Contemporary Schismatics, 318 pages. Available on the SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #1, #19, #23, #27, ISBN: 0921148674 9780921148678. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #1.
"A primer for the Covenanted Reformation, this is the best starting point for the new reader. It organizes the hundreds of Covenanted Reformation reprints into a logical defense of the theological landmarks established by our forefathers, with copious bibliographic references, many to e-text. An extraordinary document.
"Unsurpassed on points related to the Lord's Supper and covenanting (as set forth by the best Reformers and best Reformed churches). Especially strong on citations from Calvin and the Westminster Assembly. Deals with many foundational aspects of the Covenanted Reformation (which gave us the Westminster Standards and the Solemn League and Covenant) from numerous original source documents (from the Westminster Assembly's advice to the English Parliament on the Lord's Supper to the official records of Calvin's Covenanting in Geneva). Comprehensive and compelling, this is a shocking (and sometimes advanced) look at what really took place during both the first and second Reformations -- with extensive quotations from the writings of the major Reformers (not just quotes from what others have written about them). It conclusively and irrefutably demonstrates that those churches which today call themselves Presbyterian (and even many which claim a more general Reformed heritage) have seriously departed from the Scriptural standards, principles and worship of these previous Spirit-led Reformations. It is written in an easy-to-read and easy-to-understand format and is an unsurpassed work that should not be missed by anyone interested in real Reformation in our day. This is without a doubt the best book to read if you want to understand what it means to be a Covenanter and to walk in the blood-stained footsteps of the witnessing church (Christ's Covenanted and Reformed flock) (Song 1:8)!" -- SWRB
Publisher's Preface to The Covenanted Reformation Defended Against Contemporary Schismatics
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/pub_pref.htm
Eschewing Ecclesiastical Tyranny (Protestant Biblical Separation)
"1 Corinthians 2:15. The classic Reformation position on biblical separation, Protestant private judgment, the visible church, etc. -- contra Antichrist (the Papacy) and wayward liberal Protestants. This is Appendix G from THE COVENANTED REFORMATION DEFENDED: 'A brief examination of Mr. Bacon's principles regarding the visible church and the use of private judgment. Also, some observations regarding his ignoble attack upon Mr. Kevin Reed in his book entitled THE VISIBLE CHURCH IN THE OUTER DARKNESS'." -- SWRB
The Covenanted Reformation Defended, e-text
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/CovRefGB.htm
The Covenanted Reformation Defended, audio files
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=7702201426
The Covenanted Reformation Defended Against Contemporary Schismatics: A Response and Antidote Primarily to the Neopresbyterian Malignancy and Misrepresentations and the Manufactured 'Steelite' Controversy, Found in Richard Bacon's "A Defense Departed . . ."
http://books.google.com/books?id=LG5EHQAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*BAXTER, RICHARD (1615-1691), A Christian Directory: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1. Full title: A Christian Directory: or A Sum of Practical Theology, and Cases of Conscience. Directing Christians How to Use Their Knowledge and Faith; How to Improve all Helps and Means, and to Perform all Duties; How to Overcome Temptations, and to Escape or Mortify Every Sin. In Four Parts.
I. Christian Ethics (or Private Duties)
II. Christian Economics (or Family Duties)
III. Christian Ecclesiastics (or Church Duties)
IV. Christian Politics (or Duties to Our Rulers and Neighbours) (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, 1990, 1838, 1707, 1678, 1673), ISBN: 1877611131 9781877611131. Foreword by J.I. Packer (Soli Deo Gloria edition only). The Soli Deo Gloria publication is a facsimile reprint of the 19th century reprint by George Virtue, London, 1846. The original 1673 edition and the 1678 edition, both printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons. Bibliographic and scriptural footnotes. A Christian classic.
"The complete practical works of Richard Baxter are in print in four volumes entitled BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS. This volume (about 1 1/4 million words, 1028 pages) is volume one of the set. The editor's preface (1707), p. xiii, stated that the works of Richard Baxter are 'perhaps the best body of practical divinity that is extent in our own or any other tongue.' Richard Baxter lived from 1615-1691. The DIRECTORY was completed in 1665. Its scope was intended to cover all of practical theology, a summa of casuistry . . ." -- Don Kistler
"Baxter's series, which grew in range and scope as it proceeded . . . is a peak point in Puritan devotional writing, and remains a precious resource for all, in this or any age, who want to know what is involved in Biblical godliness. . . . A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY may justly be described as a landmark. It is the fullest, most thorough, and in this writer's judgment, most profound treatment of Christian spirituality and standards that has ever been attempted by an English-speaking Evangelical author. The fact that it embraces both spirituality and standards (the principles of communion with God plus the specifics of obedience to God) merits approving comment in itself; nowadays spirituality and ethics have become two distinct disciplines in the schools, and books written on either say virtually nothing about the other . . ." -- J.I. Packer
Timothy Keller calls it the greatest manual on Biblical counseling ever produced.
"There are many Puritan classics on this subject. Thomas Brooks' PRECIOUS REMEDIES FOR SATAN'S DEVICES, Thomas Goodwin's A CHILD OF LIGHT WALKING IN DARKNESS, William Bridge's A LIFTING UP FOR THE DOWNCAST, and many other similar works give evidence that the Puritans were. . . . masters at applying Biblical answers and principles to problems that can only be solved by spiritual means. No Puritan work, however, has ever approached the popularity, the scope, or the depth of Baxter's classic treatise. With the widespread interest in counseling in today's church, this reprint of Baxter's work should be a welcome addition to every pastor's library, or to anyone else who wishes to give solid Biblical answers to man's questions." -- Don Kistler
"We have long waited for a purely Biblical treatment of the spiritual ills and cures of men which is untainted by the views of psychology. Since Baxter lived about 200 years before psychology arrived, his deep work is completely void of its encroachment -- thankfully!" -- John MacArthur
"The kings men sought to arrest Richard Baxter, but he traveled ceaselessly from place to place, writing his sermons and his books even on horseback (he had an inkwell in his saddle) and preached over a wide area." -- Brian H. Edwards
"Baxter was a wonder of his age. His writings total 72 large volumes, much of it written on horseback as he traveled in his widespread preaching efforts. He seldom, if ever, edited anything he wrote. Knowing this any reader will be amazed at how well he communicated his deep love for his Savior. For 26 years he was public enemy No. 1 to the king, yet he lived to see the flight of the king in 1688." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
POOR MAN'S FAMILY BOOK (1674) and THE CATECHIZING OF FAMILIES (1683), found elsewhere in BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, are less detailed works. They are more suitable for family instruction than are the detailed presentation in A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY.
" Ptacek in Family Worship (p. 51-52), supplies the following information in regard to Baxter and this book. He notes that after the Episcopalians ejected numerous `nonconformists,' in what is know as the `great ejection,' in 1662, `Baxter pastored from house to house, visiting families of his parish in their homes. These visits contributed to Baxter's A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, a large and still very relevant manual of pastoral care.' Focusing on just one area of great importance, Ptacek demonstrates how this book's relevance is not limited by time or culture, though sometimes the use of specific words are. `Published in 1673, but written 1664-65, a large book-length part of Baxter's CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY is devoted to the family. It is entitled `Christian Economics' based on the archaic usage of the word, which reflects the proper sense of the Greek root oikonomos as the manager of a household, in the Christian case, the spiritual leader of the family. The family head is essential to Baxter's view of family worship and instruction. Baxter asserts that it is God's will that this instruction be carried out by the rulers of the families.' For a male head of the household to fail to do so, or to have another instruct in the family, is contrary to his position of authority.' This is the kind of book that can be passed on from generation to generation and still find much use in the service of the kingdom of God. . . .
"Though relatively weak on corporate sanctification, corporate faithfulness and some important areas of doctrine (such as justification), Baxter's work on subjects related to personal piety can be of good practical use to the Christian -- if one is careful to separate out his aberrant doctrinal views and any practical errors they may lead to." -- SWRB
This work is available in many editions, and in many formats.
Reformation Heritage Books has new copies of the Soli Deo Gloria edition as of March 2008, even though it is generally thought to be out of print. They acquired Soli Deo Gloria from Ligonier Ministries in late 2007. They may be the publisher who will eventually reprints the title.
http://www.heritagebooks.org/
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue is available as a Cerlox bound photocopy from Still Waters Revival Books, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
The reprint by George Virtue is available online and may be downloaded in PDF format at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/baxter/practical.toc.html
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue appears in full preview in Google Books but may not be downloaded. This Google Books scan includes the contents in detail on pages iii-xix. This contents in detail is not included in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library PDF files. About five other editions from libraries are available in Google Books, and may be downloaded (August 2008).
Notice that the e-text in Google Books has the advantage of being searchable. Searching an image-based PDF file is not possible, unless the user owns software such as Abode Acrobat Pro or Kirtas BookScan Editor. They both have an OCR (optical character recognition) feature that will search an image-based PDFs (bit-map scans). Searches appear to be perfect in this work, although one must know Baxter's vocabulary. Text can be cut and paste from image-based PDF format to OCR (character) format. This particular Google Books scan can not be cut and pasted or downloaded.
http://books.google.com/books?id=cyQFBOUHkaoC&dq=A+Christian+Directory+inpublisher:lettermen+inpublisher:associates&lr=&as_brr=0&ie=ISO-8859-1
One of the older, multi-volume editions of THE WORKS OF RICHARD BAXTER is available at Monergism.com in the "Puritan Library," "Richard Baxter." A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, volume 23. It can be downloaded.
http://www.puritanlibrary.com/
Another older edition is available on microfilm (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1970), 1 microfilm reel, 35 mm (Early English books, 1641-1700; 343:11).
The following three excerpts are included as bonus free books on Reformation Bookshelf CD #28, ISBN: 0921148267 9780921148265.
1. "The Duties of Parents for Their Children" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. X., pp. 449-454.
2. "The Special Duties of Children Towards Their Parents" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XI., pp. 454-457.
3. "The Special Duties of Children and Youth Towards God" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XII., pp. 457-458).
The Practical Works of Richard Baxter: A Christian Directory, Vol. 1
A summary of currently available publications.
http://www.lettermen2.com/pwrbcd.html

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Reformed Pastor: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000, 1992), ISBN: 1877611360.
"This is the fourth and final volume in this great set. Includes, [`Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men, -- sk'] `The Reformed Pastor' `Poor Man's Family Book,' `The Catechizing of Families,' and `The Mother's Catechism,' in all 25 sermons, treatises, and catechisms. Dr. J.I. Packer says, `For me, the great joy of this year is that it see the completion of Soli Deo Gloria's reprint of Baxter's incomparable PRACTICAL WORKS'." -- GCB
Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men (1681), by Richard Baxter
http://www.lettermen2.com/ccaym.html

BINNING, HUGH (1627-1653), An Useful Case Of Conscience learnedly and accuratly discussed and resolved, Edinburgh: s.n., 1693. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #8, ISBN: 092114881X 9780921148814. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #4. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #5.
"Dr. McCrie said of Binning, 'few writers please me more.' Binning was appointed Regent and Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Glasgow in his nineteenth year. An extremely popular preacher, his works continue to be highly esteemed to this day. He died in 1654 at the age of 29. Here he warns against joining oneself with any known enemies of truth and upholds the Biblical injuction, concerning secondary separation, to abstain from even the apperance of evil. Specifically, 'written to expose and counteract the purpose and proceeding of the Resolutioners. Binning was one of the band of Covenanters (i.e. a Protester -- RB) who deemed they would not be justified in fighting for Charles, without additional security being provided for the maintenance of their religious privileges, and unless some adequate restraint were imposed upon the exercise of the royal authority.' (Johnston, Treasury of the Scottish Covenant, p. 328). Excerpted from the 1858 edition of BINNING'S WORKS." -- SWRB
An Useful Case of Conscience, Learnedly and Accurately Discussed and Resolved, Concerning Associations and Confederacies with Idolaters, Infidels, Heretics, Malignants, or any Other Known Enemies of Truth and Godliness, by Hugh Binning
http://www.covenanter.org/HBinning/binningucc.html

*Brooks, Thomas, Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851510027 9780851510026. A Christian classic.
"The best Christian authors of former times treated the seductive influence and terrible power of Satan in a way `greatly more full and suggestive than in the literature of the present day'." -- William Grimshaw
" `The strange opposition that I met with from Satan, in the study of the following discourse, hath put an edge upon my spirit, knowing that Satan strives mightily to keep these things from seeing the light that tend eminently to shake and break his kingdom of darkness, and to lift up the kingdom and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the souls and lives of the children of men . . .' This is one of the seven reasons for writing his book which the author, Thomas Brooks, gives in his preface." -- Publisher's Annotation

Brooks, Thomas, The Crown and Glory of Christianity: or Holiness the Only Way to Happiness. Discovered in 58 sermons, from Heb. 12:14. Where you have the necessity, excellency, rarity, beauty and glory of holiness set forth: with the resolution of many weighty questions and cases. Also motives and means to perfect holiness: with many other things of very high and great importance to all the sons and daughters of men, that had rather be blessed than cursed, saved than damned. In THE WORKS OF THOMAS BROOKS, 1886 (4:1-446)

*BROWN, JOHN (of Wamphray, 1610-1679), Christ, the Way, and the Truth, and the Life, or a Short Discourse pointing forth the way of making use of Christ for justification, and especially and more particularly, for sanctification in all its parts from John 14:6, wherein several cases of conscience are briefly answered, chiefly touching sanctification, 1677. Available on the SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #8, #21 ISBN: 092114881X 9780921148814. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #5. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #14 and DVD One, CD #5.
"John Brown of Wamphray (1610-1679) has been rightly called the most important Scottish theologian of his day. He was especially gifted at merging profound doctrinal truth with warm Christ-centered zeal and godly piety. Samuel Rutherford wrote of him, 'I always [had] . . . a great love to dear Mr. John Brown because I thought I saw Christ in him more than in his brethren.' Brown's blending of doctrinal truth and Christ-centered piety is most clearly displayed in his CHRIST: THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. This is biblical, Reformed, Puritan spirituality at its best. Would you learn the art of continually fleeing to Christ by faith for your justification and sanctification? Read and reread this precious volume, filled with experimental truth about how to go to Christ continually for every spiritual need. Use it as a devotional gem, and pray for the Holy Spirit to grant you a growing, daily 'making use' of Christ by faith." -- Joel Beeke
"This book was written during Brown's time of banishment in Holland. Among its 29 chapters we find Brown dealing with justification, but especially focusing on sanctification. Chapters are given to 'crucifying the old man,' 'How to make use of Christ, as Truth, for comfort, when truth is oppressed and bornedown,' 'for steadfastness,' 'for encouragement,' and much more. A classic on practical godliness if there ever was one." -- SWRB

*BURGESS, ANTHONY (d. 1664?), Spiritual Refining, or, A Treatise of Grace and Assurance Part I: Wherein are handled, the doctrine of assurance, the use of signs in self-examination, how true graces may be distinguished from counterfeit, several true signs of grace, and many false ones, the nature of grace, under divers scripture-notions or titles, as regeneration, the new-creature, the heart of flesh, vocation, sanctification, &c.: many chief questions (occasionally) controverted between the orthodox and the Arminians: as also many cases of conscience, tending to comfort and confirm saints, [and] undeceive and convert sinners. Available on the SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available (SPIRITUAL REFINING, PART I AND PART II) on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #4. Available (SPIRITUAL REFINING, PART I AND PART II) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2.

*BURGESS, ANTHONY (d. 1664?), Spiritual Refining, Part II (Ames, IA: International Outreach). Available on the SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available (SPIRITUAL REFINING, PART I AND PART II) on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #4. Available (SPIRITUAL REFINING, PART I AND PART II) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2 and DVD Two, CD #9.
"The first section is on the deceitfulness and guile of the natural heart (Jeremiah 17:9). . . . Next he contrasts thee natural tendencies toward deceitfulness in all of us to the uprightness of the heart; or, the heart without guile (Psalm 32:2) . . . Section three deals with practical cases of conscience which regularly test our sincerity in seeking to be guileless . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

*Burgess, Anthony (d. 1664), and Samuel Clarke, (1599-1682) Golden Apples. Or Seaonable and Serious Counsel from the sanctuary to the rulers of the earth: held forth in the resolution of sundry questions and cases of conscience, 1659

CARTWRIGHT, CHRISTOPHER, A Commentary, or Exposition on the Whole Fifteenth Psalm, Wherein the text is learnedly and fruitfully explained, some controversies discussed, sundry cases of conscience are cleared, more especially the subject of usury. Many common places succinctly handled, and divers spiritual, holy, seasonable observations raised for the increase of Christian knowledge Available on the SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #23. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #29.

Cathcart, Dwight,Doubting Conscience: Donne and the Poetry of Moral Argument (University of Michigan Press, 1975), ISBN: 0472081985 9780472081981.

Clarke, Samuel (1599-1682), and Burgess, Anthony (d. 1664), Golden Apples. Or Seaonable and Serious Counsel from the sanctuary to the rulers of the earth: held forth in the resolution of sundry questions and cases of conscience, 1659

*DICKSON, DAVID (1583?-1663), Therapeutica Sacra, Shewing briefly the method of healing the diseases of the conscience, concerning regeneration, 1656 (Edinburgh: Printed by Evan Tyler, Printer to the King's most excellent Majesty, 1664). Available (THE WORKS OF DAVID DICKSON) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #20, ISBN: 0921148976 9780921148975. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #4. Available (SELECT PRACTICAL WRITINGS OF DAVID DICKSON) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #21.
Dickson, David, Therapeutica Sacra: Chapter 4
http://www.truecovenanter.com/dickson/dickson_therapeutica_sacra_04.html

DOD, JOHN, and THOMAS CLEAVER, Plaine and Familiar Exposition of the Ten Commandments, 1603. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #16. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Two, CD #12.
This work went through nineteen editions in thirty-two years.

DURHAM, JAMES (1622-1658), Heaven Upon Earth, in the serene tranquility, and calm composure; in the sweet peace and solid joy, of a good conscience; sprinkled with the blood of Jesus, and exercised always to be void of offence toward God and toward men. Brought down and holden forth in 22 very searching sermons on several texts of Scripture to that purpose. Wherein many weighty and momentous cases of conscience greatly influencing a tender Christian walk, are soberly, solidly, succinctly and satisfyingly discussed; several of which are not readily to be met with in the writings of other divines on this subject, 1688. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #17. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #13.

DURHAM, JAMES (1622-1658), Jenkyn, William (1613-1685), and John Owen (1616-1683), The Law Unsealed; or, a Practical Exposition of the Ten Commandments. With a Resolution of Several Momentous Questions and Cases of Conscience, 422 pages. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #32. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #13.
"Durham, a Scottish Covenanter, was known as a 'very candid and searching preacher,' who in an instant was 'in the inmost corners of your bosom,' though with the utmost 'caution and meekness, without giving any of his hearers the smallest ground to fret and repine at his freedom in dealing with them'" (Carstairs cited in the Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology, p. 266). John Owen, in his letter introducing the reader to this volume, writes, 'In the whole a full testimony is given, not only against the profligate lives of many, called Christians, but that barren careless profession also, which too many satisfy themselves withal, who pretend more unto the truth and power of religion. And as those who are sincere in their obedience may, in the examination of themselves, by the rules here laid down, discern the decays which possibly they have fallen under in this hour of temptation, which is come on the face of the earth, to try them that dwell therein, so also may they be directed in their Christian course unto the glory of God, and the comfort of their own souls.' Durham's lectures deal with each commandment in order and the volume contains 'An Alphabetical Table of the Principal Matters Handled in the Whole Book;' making it eminently practical, and a very useful aid to the study of God's holy, just, good and spiritual law (Rom. 7:12)." -- SWRB

FRASER, JAMES (of Brae), The Lawfulness and Duty of Separation From Corrupt Ministers and Churches Explained and Vindicated, 1744. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #27 ISBN: 0921148240 9780921148241.
"This is one of the most comprehensive treatises dealing with the lawfulness and duty of separation. It does not shy away from the hard biblical questions, but rather meets them head on. Fraser covers all the major biblical reasons for separation, both in general and in particular. Some of these Scriptural reasons for separation include (examples in parentheses are selected to fit our contemporary situation in accord with the general headings found in the book -- though a number of these specific errors are also dealt with in the book itself): 1.) Heresy, or error in doctrine (e.g. Arminianism, Pelagianism, Romanism, the denial of the regulative principle of worship, antinomianism, legalism, etc.); 2.) Idolatry in public worship (e.g. singing hymns of human composition, paedocommunion and open communion, the use of musical instruments, women speaking or preaching, anti-paedobaptism, Charismatic [or anabaptistic] folly and excesses, malignancy [anti-covenanting], etc.); 3.) Tyranny in government (e.g. Popery, Prelacy, Independency, etc.); 4.) Sinful terms of communion (e.g. any terms which deny or ignore the attainments of the covenanted Reformation or in any way contravene Scripture); 5.) Tolerationism (e.g. refusing to discipline the scandalous, open communion and countenancing false ministers or false governments or false doctrine, etc.). Many other areas are also dealt with, not the least of which include a strong testimony against the Prelatical Priest George Whitefield (who, as the preface notes, is 'a person leavened with gross errors, enthusiastic delusions, etc.'). In the publisher's original reasons for publication we read, 'In this book the case and nature of schism and separation is cleared, and the true scriptural terms of church-communion, and grounds of separation from corrupt churches and ministers, carrying on backsliding courses from the covenanted Reformation-principles . . . , are clearly handled, and the same proven to be just and warrantable grounds of separation, and many useful cases of conscience concerning separation; and what are just and warrantable grounds of separation and what are not, are solidly, learnedly, and accurately discussed and resolved, and the case of separation clearly stated, handled and determined; and separation from corrupt ministers and churches is fully vindicated; and the true Scripture marks of time-servers and hirelings, who should be separated from, are given from the Word of God.' Calvin, Knox, Rutherford, Gillespie, Durham, Owen (who repented of his Independency and embraced Presbyterianism just before he died) and a host of other notable Reformers are cited throughout. Occasional hearing and occasional communion are also exposed and rebuked from Scripture. Appended to the book is, 'The Reasons agreed upon by the Reformers of the Church of Scotland, For which the Book of Common Prayer, urged upon Scotland, Anno 1637 was refused. As also the Reasons agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, for laying aside the English Book of Common Prayer. Together with Mr. George Graham's Renunciation and Abjuration of Episcopacy.' This is an almost flawless photocopy of this exceedingly rare and valuable book (which was obtained at great expense from the Bodleian Library [Oxford University] in England). It is one of the major Reformed classics concerning the topics that it addresses and it answers many common questions which Christians raise today regarding church affiliation. It is also a much needed landmark of Reformation testimony against the white devils of Independency and sectarianism and the black devils of Popery and Prelacy -- which can be seen to be covering the land once again -- contrary to the teaching of the Word of God and the attainments fought (and died) for during the Second Reformation. 239 pages." -- SWRB

FRENCH REFORMED CHURCH NATIONAL COUNCILS, Synodicon in Gallia Reformata: Or, The Acts, Decisions, Decrees, and Canons of those Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France. Being
I. A Most Faithful and Impartial History of the Rise, Growth, Perfection, and Decay of the Reformation in that Kingdom, with its fatal Catastrophe upon the Revocation of the Edict of Nants, in the Year 1685.
II. The Confession of Faith and Discipline of Those Churches.
III. A Collection of Speeches, Letters, Sacred Politicks, Cases of Conscience, and Controversies in Divinity, determined and resolved by those grave Assemblies.
IV. Many excellent Expedients for preventing and healing Schisms in the Churches, and for re-uniting the dismembered Body of divided Protestants.
V. The Laws, Government, and Maintenance of their Colleges, Universities and Ministers, together with their Exercise of Discipline upon delinquent Ministers and Church-members.
VI. A Record of very many illustrious Events of Divine Providence relating to those Churches.
The whole Collected and Composed out of Original Manuscript Acts of those Renowned Synods.
A Work never before Extant in any Language. In Two Volumes. By John Quick, Minister of the Gospel in London, London, Printed for T. Parkhurst and J. Robinson, at the Three Bibles and Crown in Cheapside, and the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1692, 2 volumes (Cerlox Bound Photocopy Series. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Still Waters Revival Books). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

*GILLESPIE, GEORGE (1613-1648), A Treatise of Miscellany Questions Wherein Many Useful Cases of Conscience are Discussed and Resolved, for the Satisfaction of Those Who Desire Nothing More than to Search and Find Out Precious Truths in the Controversies of these Times, 1649. Available (THE WORKS OF GEORGE GILLESPIE) on the SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #4. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Two, CD #12.

Gouge, Thomas, Christian Directions Shewing how to Walk With God all the day Long, 1688.

*GOUGE, WILLIAM, Hebrews Commentary, 3 volumes. Alternate title: ORIGINALLY TITLED: 'A LEARNED AND VERY USEFUL COMMENTARY ON THE WHOLE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS; WHEREIN EVERY WORD AND PARTICLE IN THE ORIGINAL IS EXPLAINED, AND THE EMPHASIS THEREOF FULLY SHEWED; THE SENSE AND MEANING OF EVERY VERSE LOGICALLY AND EXACTLY ANALYZED; GENUINE DOCTRINES NATURALLY RAISED; THE MANIFOLD TYPES OF CHRIST UNVEILED, ETC. BEING THE SUBSTANCE OF THIRTY YEARS' WEDNESDAY'S LECTURES AT BLACKFRIARS, LONDON, 1866 EDITION. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #30. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #20.
"Darling calls this 'a labourious and valuable work, of very rare occurrence' (Cyclopaedia Bibliographica, p. 1295). 'We greatly prize Gouge,' writes Spurgeon of this commentary, 'upon any topic which he touches he gives outlines which may supply sermons for months.' (Commenting on Commentaries). Gouge was a leader among the Covenanted English Presbyterians, a respected member of the Westminster Assembly and one of its most active members. Some of his enemies vilified him as an 'Arch Puritan.' 1162 pages of the cream of Puritan-style commentating." -- SWRB

HALL, THOMAS, A Practical and Polemical Commentary, or Exposition Upon the Third and Fourth Chapters of the Latter Epistle of St. Paul to Timothy, Wherein the text is explained, some controversies discussed, sundry cases of conscience are cleared, many common places are succinctly handled, and divers useful, and seasonable observations raised, 1658. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #29. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Six, CD #34.

Hall, Thomas (1610-1665), and Swinnock, George (1627-1673), The beauty of magistracy in an exposition of the 82 Psalm, where is set forth the necessity, utility, dignity, duty, and mortality of magistrates: here many other texts of Scripture occasionally are cleared, many quaeries and cases of conscience about the magistrates power, are resolved, many anabaptistical cavils are confuted, and many seasonable observations containing many other heads of divinity, are raised: together with references to such authors as clear any point more fully / by Thomas Hall . . . ; with an additional sermon on verse 6, by George Swinnock, 1660.
"Notes: Added t.p. on p. [3] following p. 188: Men are gods, or, The dignity of magistracy . . . by George Swinnocke."

*Harrison, Roland Kenneth (editor), Encyclopedia of Biblical and Christian Ethics, revised and updated (Testament, March 4, 2003), 480 pages, ISBN: 0517222280
"A comprehensive reference work for everyone concerned with the complicated moral issues of this world, this unique volume clearly communicates what Scripture teaches about the ethical dilemmas facing our society. Biological warfare, corporate responsibility, human rights, computer ethics, and much more are discussed by over fifty scholars who explain the moral guidelines in the Bible and historic Christian teachings.
"R.K. Harrison, author and editor of over thirty books on biblical studies, has brought together a valuable A to B treasury of thought for every believer searching for guidance." -- Publisher's Annotation
"A compendium of reliable information. Arranged in dictionary format, 550 entries and 61 contributors. Goes beyond descriptive data to the practical application of truth to a variety of situations . . . . The book is well-indexed. . . . Treats ethical areas like apartheid and surrogate motherhood. Probably the best available evangelical treatment of this type." -- GCB

*HAYWARD, SAMUEL (1718-1757), and SAMUEL PIKE (1717-1773), Religious Cases of Conscience Answered in an Evangelical Manner . . . to Which is Added The Spiritual Companion; or, The Professing Christian Tried at the Bar of God's Word; and Character of the Happy Man, 1866. Alternate title: SOME IMPORTANT CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED, 1755, ISBN: 0902506005 9780902506008. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
Excerpts From Cases of Conscience and the Spiritual Companion, Samuel Pike and Samuel
"Renewal after a time of spiritual dullness, Living with the promises and threats of God's word, Distinguishing faith and feelings, Discerning providential guidance, Assurance of growth in grace, Discovering why the Spirit is grieved, How to perform serious meditation, Spiritual injury from undue pursuit of the affairs of this life, Self-examination, The character of an honest man."
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/literature/godly-living.php
Religious Cases of Conscience Answered, by S. Pike and S. Hayward. To which is added The spiritual companion. With The touchstone of saving faith
Full view in Google Books.
http://books.google.com/books?id=6toHAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

HEYWOOD, OLIVER, Closet-prayer: A Christian Duty, or A Treatise upon Matt 6:6, tending to prove that the worship of God in secret is the indispensable duty of all Christians, both by sundry examples and arguments, together with a severe rebuke of Christians for their neglect of, or negligence in the duty of closet prayer. And many directions for the managing thereof, exhortations to it, objections answered, cases of conscience cleared. 1687. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #16. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Six, CD #33.

Leites, Edmund (editor), Conscience and Casuistry in Early Modern Europe, ISBN: 0521301130 9780521301138.
"The eight contributors to this volume are philosophers, historians, and political theorists from six different countries, with a corresponding diversity of disciplines and national traditions. Yet their contributions show a remarkable convergence on three themes: changes in the modes of moral education in early modern Europe, the emergence of new relations between conscience and law (particularly the law of the state), and the shared continuities and discontinuities of both Roman Catholic and Protestant moral culture in relation to their medieval past." -- Publisher's Annotation

Lindsley, Arthur W., Jr., Conscience and Casuistry in the English Puritan Concept of Reformation (University of Pittsburgh, Ph.D. thesis, 1982).
"This study also argues that it is in the Puritan view of conscience and casuistry that we have a key to the uniqueness of Puritanism. The passion of Puritans like Perkins and Ames was the application of theology to life. It is in their view of conscience and casuistry that theology and practice meet. . . . It is also argued that there has been a failure to recognize the centrality of conscience in Puritan preaching. Preaching was directed at the conscience. The Puritan `plain' style was thought the most adequate method for penetrating the conscience. . . ." -- Dissertation Abstracts

Long, Edward Le Roy, Conscience and Compromise: An Approach to Protestant Casuistry (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1954).

LOVE, CHRISTOPHER, Sixteen Sermons Wherein is Plainly Shown True Grace, With its Different Degrees; -- and Several Important Cases of Conscience answered in the Course of the Work, 1651, 1792 edition, 244 pages. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"Classic Puritan preaching showing why the Puritans were masters of encouragement, especially to young and weak Christians with the smallest measures of grace. Here Love points out from numerous Scriptures how God Himself encourages even the weakest of His children! Sermon #1 includes a preface by several Westminster divines. There is also good material here to counter the errors of N.T. Wright, NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PAUL, also see pp. 84-92, in the free PDF -- which also counters Wright's false ecumenism), Norman Shepherd, Doug Wilson (see also http://www.swrb.com/newslett/FREEBOOK/DWilson.htm), Steve Schlissel (see also http://www.swrb.com/Puritan/steve-schlissel.htm), Steven Wilkins, John Barach and others who have fallen for the false teaching from the Auburn Avenue Pastors Conference (AAPC), or what has now become known as 'Federal Vision theology'." -- SWRB

May, William F., A Catalogue of Sins: A Contemporary Examination of Christian Conscience (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1967).

Miller, Richard B., Casuistry and Modern Ethics: A Poetics of Practical Reasoning, ISBN: 0226526364 9780226526362 0226526372 9780226526379.
"Did the Gulf War defend moral principle or Western oil interests? Is violent pornography an act of free speech or an act of violence against women? In CASUISTRY AND MODERN ETHICS, Richard B. Miller sheds new light on the potential of casuistry -- case-based reasoning -- for resolving these and other questions of conscience raised by the practical quandaries of modern life." -- Publisher's Annotation

*OWEN, JOHN, (1616-1683) The Complete Works of John Owen, 16 volumes, Alternate title: THE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851513921 9780851513928. A Christian classic. See Chapter 1 for annotation on all 16 volumes. Available (THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN including HEBREWS [OCR digital text]) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1. Many separate works by Owen may be found in the Reformation Bookshelf 30 CD Set, the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
John Owen (1616-1683) "is by common consent not the most versatile, but the greatest among Puritan theologians. For solidity, profundity, massiveness and majesty in exhibiting from Scripture God's ways with sinful mankind there is no one to touch him. . . ." -- J.I. Packer in A Quest for Godliness, p. 81
"To master his works is to be a profound theologian." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"The Banner of Truth Trust completed in May, 1968, the re-issue of the complete English works of Owen, his seven volumes on the Epistle of Hebrews excepted. All of these volumes `are of the greatest value' (Dr. Lloyd-Jones) but for newcomers to Owen we especially recommend the four volumes in the Practical Division (vols. 6-9.) . . ." -- William J. Grier
"His works on communion, Christian life, and the person and glory of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, etc. are of the utmost value to any serious-minded Christian." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
John Owen is an example of a great theologian who prescribed to independency, and was unable to attain to covenanted reformation. He was not a member of the Westminster Assembly of Divines.

*OWEN, JOHN (1616-1683), Hebrews, 7 Volume Set. Alternate title: AN EXPOSITION OF THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1999), ISBN: 085151619X 9780851516196. The same edition is available from (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc.). Available (THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN including HEBREWS [OCR digital text]), on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1. May of the individual works may be found on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"To master his works is to be a profound theologian." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"THE work on Hebrews is John Owen's massive 4000-page commentary." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"An exhaustive, Puritan work first published between 1668-84." -- Cyril J. Barber
Owen, John, J.I. Packer (introduction, series editor), Alister McGrath (series editor), Hebrews, an abridgement of the 7 volume work, paperback (Crossway Classic Commentaries series. Crossway Books, December 2, 1998), ISBN: 1581340265 9781581340266 1856841847 9781856841849, 272 pages.
"The author of Hebrews wanted his audience to know and understand one truth: Christ is superior, and therefore, so is Christianity. He demonstrates this by comparing the imperfect old covenant with the perfect new covenant. The person of Christ is better than prophets and angels, His priesthood is greater than that of Melchizedek and the line of Aaron, and His power within the believer's life is incomparable. Between these contrasts he exhorts the readers to persevere in their faith, be obedient, grow in their understanding, and not miss the grace of God. The lessons and admonitions of Hebrews have intensely practical application for all readers -- then and now.
"Know as the 'theologian's theologian' John Owen (1616-1683) was vice chancellor of Oxford University and served as advisor and chaplain to Oliver Cromwell. Among the most learned and active Puritans in seventeenth-century Europe, he was a erudite and accomplished theologian both in doctrine and practical theology." -- Publisher's Annotation
Owen, John. An exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews; with the preliminary exercitations. By John Owen, D.D. Revised and abridged; . . . By Edward Williams. In four volumes. . . . Vol. 2. London, 1790. 4 vols.

OWEN, JOHN (1616-1683), The Mortification of sin in Believers: Containing the necessity, nature, and means of it. With a resolution of sundry cases of conscience thereunto belonging. By John Owen, D.D. . . . A new edition London, 1783. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available (audio file readings) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
On the Mortification of Sin in Believers, John Owen (1 of 6)
An audio file reading. Currently (February 2009) there are 63 readings of John Owen by SWRB and Reformed Baptist of Holland (Michigan), (Thomas Sullivan) at SermonAudio available for listening online, downloading as MP3 files, and listening on iPhone or Mobile Phones.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=62906111628

OWEN, JOHN (1616-1683), The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of the Remainders of Indwelling-sin in Believers. Together with the ways of its working, and means of its prevention. Opened, evinced and applyed, with a resolution of sundry cases of conscience thereunto appertaining. By J. Owen, D.D. [London?], 1732. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

*Owen, John (1616-1683), Sermons to the Church. Alternate title: THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN VOLUME 9; THE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN, VOLUME 9. (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 9780851510651 0851510655. Available (THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN including HEBREWS, [OCR digital text]) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1. A Christian classic.
"Contains 83 sermons: Fourteen which resolve practical cases of conscience, twentyfive intended as preparations to the Lord's Table, and others of various Gospel subjects."

*Pascal, Blaise The Provincial Letters (Wipf & Stock Publishers), ISBN: 1579100961 9781579100964.
"In 1654, Pascal, a man of the world and a noted mathematician . . . . issued the famous LETTRES ECRITES PAR LOUIS DE MONTALTE A UN PROVINCIAL DE SES AMIS, eighteen tracts directed with the keenest irony against the casuistry of the Jesuits. These LETTERS appeared between January 23, 1656, and March 24, 1657. They were published without the author's real name, had a large circulation, and created an immense sensation throughout Europe."
"Containing an exposure of the reasoning and morals of the Jesuits."

*PERKINS, WILLIAM (1558-1602), The Whole Treatise of the Cases of Conscience . . . 1632). Alternate title: THE WHOLE TREATISE OF THE CASES OF CONSCIENCE DISTINGUISHED INTO THREE BOOKES: THE FIRST WHEREOF IS REVISED AND CORRECTED IN SUNDRIE PLACES, AND THE OTHER TWO ANNEXED. TAUGHT AND DELIUERED BY M.W. PERKINS IN HIS HOLY-DAY LECTURES, CAREFULLY EXAMINED BY HIS OWNE BRIEFES, AND NOW PUBLISHED TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD, BY T. PICKERING BACHELOUR OF DIUINITIE. WHEREUNTO IS ADIOYNED A TWOFOLD TABLE: ONE OF THE HEADS AND NUMBER OF THE QUESTIONS PROPOUNDED AND RESOLUED; ANOTHER OF THE PRINCIPALL TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE VVHICH ARE EITHER EXPLANED, OR VINDICATED FROM CORRUPT INTERPRETATION, ISBN: 9022104826 68113020. Available on the SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #9. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #20. "Called 'the principal architect of Elizabethan Puritanism' and 'the most important Puritan writer,' Perkins was the first theologian of the Reformed English church to gain an international reputation. His preaching manual, THE ART OF PROPHESYING (recently reprinted by the Banner of Truth Trust -- RB), is found on nearly every seventeenth century New England book list. . . . Perkin's theological legacy extended through his Cambridge students, most prominently William Ames . . . Perkins's Calvinist theology was presented according to the logic and method of Peter Ramus . . . Ramism helped Perkins maintain the unity of theology and ethics, provided an educational tool by streamlining logic, fostered plain-style preaching, enhanced the art of memory, provided a tool for biblical interpretation as well as supplying a secure philosophical base on which to build theology," notes the Encyclopedia of the Reformed Faith (p. 274). This book is no exception and beautifully illustrates the usefulness of the Ramist method. `Several of Perkins' works have been translated into Latin, French, Dutch, and Spanish' (Cyclopaedia Bibliographica, p. 2337)." -- SWRB
His Pioneer Works on Casuistry: "A Discourse of Conscience" and "The Whole Treatise of Cases of Conscience
http://books.google.com/books?id=NUAMHQAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Perkins, William (1558-1602), and Thomas F. Merrill (editor), William Perkins 1558-1602, English Puritanist -- His Pioneer Works on Casuistry: Discourse on Conscience and the Whole Treatise of Cases of Conscience (Philadelphia, PA: Coronet Books, 1966), ISBN: 68113020.
Edited with an introduction by Thomas F. Merrill. Includes bibliography.
His Pioneer Works on Casuistry: "A Discourse of Conscience" and "The Whole Treatise of Cases of Conscience".
http://books.google.com/books?id=NUAMHQAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Pierce, C.A., Conscience in the New Testament (London, England: SCM Press Ltd., 1958).

ROGER, RICHARD, Seven Treatises: The Practice of Christianity, 1630. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #17. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Six, CD #34.
Seven Treatises: Containing Such Direction as is Gathered Out of the Holy Scriptures, Leading and Guiding to True Happinesse, Both in this Life, and in the Life to Come: and May be Called the Practice of Christianity. Profitable for All Such as Heartily Desire the Same: in the Which, More Particularly True Christians May Learne how to Lead a Godly and Comfortable Life Every Day, Notwithstanding Their Tribulations. First Penned, and Now Set Forth the Fifth Time, Corrected and Enlarged by Richard Rogers, Preacher of the Word of God at Wethersfield in Essex
http://books.google.com/books?id=52HgIAAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*Rushdoony, Rousas J. (1916-2001), Institutes of Biblical Law, 3 volumes (Vallecito, CA: Ross House Books), ISBN: 1879998130.
Volume 1, INSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW, 890 pages, ISBN: 0875524109.
"A monumental volume . . . Deeply explores the meaning and application of the Ten Commandments for today in civil government, social ethics, and personal conduct." -- GCB
"Many consider this to be the author's most important work. With indices. -- Publisher's Annotation
Volume 2, LAW AND SOCIETY, 752 pages, ISBN: 1879998238.
"The relationship of Biblical Law to communion and community, the sociology of the Sabbath, the family and inheritance, and much more are covered in the second volume. Contains an appendix by Herbert Titus. With indices." -- Publisher's Annotation
Volume 3, THE INTENT OF THE LAW, 252 pages, ISBN: 1879998130.
" 'God's law is much more than a legal code; it is a covenantal law. It establishes a personal relationship between God and man.' The first section summarizes the case laws. The author tenderly illustrates how the law is for our good, and makes clear the difference between the sacrificial laws and those that apply today. The second section vividly shows the practical implications of the law. The examples catch the reader's attention; the author clearly has had much experience discussing God's law. The third section shows that would-be challengers to God's law produce only poison and death. Only God's law can claim to express God's 'covenant grace in helping us'. With indices." -- Publisher's Annotation
Theft: Commentary and Cases of Conscience. A Listing Excerpted From THE INSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW by Rousas John Rushdoony, 1973 edition
http://www.lettermen2.com/theft.html

*RUTHERFORD, SAMUEL (1600?-1661), A Free Disputation Against Pretended Liberty of Conscience, 1649 edition. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #9, #25, and #26, ISBN: 0921148836 9780921148838. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #21.
"Rutherford's FREE DISPUTATION, though scarce, is still one of his most important works with maybe only a few copies of the actual book left in existence. Though Rutherford is affectionately remembered in our day for his LETTERS, or for laying the foundations of constitutional government (against the divine right of kings) in his unsurpassed LEX, REX his FREE DISPUTATION should not be overlooked for it contains the same searing insights as LEX, REX. In fact, this book should probably be known as Rutherford's 'politically incorrect' companion volume to LEX, REX. A sort of sequel aimed at driving pluralists and antinomians insane. Written against 'the Belgick Arminians, Socinians, and other Authors contending for lawlesse liberty, or licentious Tolerations of Sects and Heresies,' Rutherford explains the undiluted Biblical solution to moral relativism, especially as it is expressed in ecclesiastical and civil pluralism! (Corporate pluralism being a violation of the first commandment and an affront to the holy God of Scripture). He also deals with conscience, toleration, penology (punishment), and the judicial laws, as related to both the civil and ecclesiastical realms. Excellent sections are also included which address questions related to determining the fundamentals of religion, how covenants bind us, the perpetual obligation of social covenants (with direct application to the Solemn League and Covenant and the covenant-breaking of Cromwell and his sectarian supporters), whether the punishing of seducing teachers be persecution of conscience, and much more. Walker adds these comments and context regarding Rutherford's FREE DISPUTATION, 'The principle of toleration was beginning to be broached in England, and in a modified shape to find acceptance there. Samuel Rutherford was alarmed, or rather, I should say, he was horrified, for he neither feared the face of man or argument. He rushed to the rescue of the good old view . . . It is not so easy to find a theoretical ground for toleration; and Rutherford has many plausible things to say against it. With the most perfect confidence, he argues that it is alike against Scripture and common sense that you should have two religions side by side. It is outrageous ecclesiastically, it is sinful civilly. He does not, however, take what I call the essentially persecuting ground. He does not hold that the magistrate is to punish religion as religion. Nay, he strongly maintains that the civil magistrate never aims at the conscience. The magistrate, he urges, does not send anyone, whether a heretic (who is a soul murderer -- RB) or a murderer, to the scaffold with the idea of producing conversion or other spiritual result, but to strengthen the foundations of civil order. But if he gives so much power to the king, he is no lover of despotism withal: the king himself must be under law. To vindicate this great doctrine is the object of another book, the celebrated LEX, REX; of which it has been said by one competent to judge, that it first clearly developed the constitutionalism which all men now accept' (Theology and Theologians . . . , pp. 11-12). In our day Francis Schaeffer, and numerous others, have critiqued many of the problems found in modern society, but most have spent little time developing explicitly Biblical solutions especially regarding the theoretical foundations that Rutherford addresses here. Rutherford's FREE DISPUTATION provides a detailed blueprint for laying the foundations that must be laid before any lasting, God-honoring solutions will be found. Furthermore, Rutherford and his writings were the enemies of all governments not covenanted with Christ. This book will give you a very clear picture as to why 'the beast' (civil and ecclesiastical) has reserved his special hatred for such teaching. As Samuel Wylie noted '[t]he dispute, then, will not turn upon the point whether religion should be civilly established . . . but it is concerning what religion ought to be civilly established and protected, -- whether the religion of Jesus alone should be countenanced by civil authority, or every blasphemous, heretical, and idolatrous abomination which the subtle malignity of the old serpent and a heart deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, can frame and devise, should be put on an equal footing therewith" (The Two Sons of Oil; or, the Faithful Witness for Magistracy and Ministry Upon a Scriptural Basis, softcover). Can our generation swallow Rutherford's hard, anti-pluralistic, Covenanter medicine, poured forth from the bottle of the first commandment, without choking on their carnal dreams of a free and righteous society divorced from God (and His absolute claims upon everyone and everything)? Not without the enabling power of the Holy Spirit -- that is for sure! In summary, this book answers all the hardest questions theonomists (and their wisest and best opponents) have been asking for the last 20-30 years (and these answers are much more in depth than any we have seen in the last couple of millennia [less about a century to account for the apostles]). As the reader will discover, Rutherford was a wealthy man when it came to wisdom (and much advanced theologically), and those who take the time to gaze into the King's treasure house, as exhibited in this book, will find that they are greatly rewarded. Furthermore, because of its uncompromising stand upon the Word of God, this book is sure to be unpopular among a wicked and adulterous generation. However, on the other hand, it is sure to be popular among the covenanted servants of King Jesus! This is one of the best books (in the top five anyway) for advanced study of the Christian faith. We have now obtained an easy-to-read, amazingly clear copy of this very rare, old treasure. Great price too, considering that a copy of the 1649 edition, containing this quality of print, would likely cost upwards of $1000 on the rare book market -- though it is unlikely you would ever see a copy for sale!" -- SWRB
The Covenant Between God and Kings, from A DEFENSE OF LIBERTY
http://www.constitution.org/vct/vindiciae1a.htm

*RUTHERFORD, SAMUEL (1600?-1661), Lex, Rex, or the Law and the Prince (Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle Publications), ISBN: 0873779517. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #10, #25 ISBN: 0921148852 9780921148852. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #18. A Christian classic.
Lex, rex is Latin for "law is king."
"LEX, REX is `the great political text of the Covenanters' (Johnston citing Innes in Treasury of the Scottish Covenant, p. 305.) `Rutherford was the first to formulate the great constitutional principle Lex est Rex -- the law is King . . . much of the doctrine has become the constitutional inheritance of all countries in modern times.' (Idem.)"
"Gilmour writes [in SAMUEL RUTHERFORD], 'that, as regards religious fervour, scholastic subtlety of intellect, and intensity of ecclesiastical conviction, Samuel Rutherford is the most distinctively representative Scotsman in the first half of the seventeenth century'." -- SWRB
"Without a doubt one of the greatest books on political philosophy ever written. Rutherford here has penned a great Christian charter of liberty against all forms of civil tyranny -- vindicating the Scriptural duty to resist tyrants as an act of loyalty to God." -- SWRB
"That resistance to lawful authority -- even when that authority so called has, in point of fact, set at nought all law -- is in no instance to be vindicated, will be held by those only who are the devotees of arbitrary power and passive obedience. The principles of Mr. Rutherford's LEX, REX, however obnoxious they may be to such men, are substantially the principles on which all government is founded, and without which the civil magistrate would become a curse rather than a blessing to a country. They are the very principles which lie at the basis of the British Constitution, and by whose tenure the House of Brunswick does at this very moment hold possession of the throne of these realms." -- Rev. Robert Burns, D.D., in his Preliminary Dissertation to WODROW'S CHURCH HISTORY
"Though Rutherford is affectionately remembered in our day for his Letters, or for laying the foundations of constitutional government (against the divine right of kings) in his unsurpassed LEX, REX, his Free Disputation should not be overlooked for it contains the same searing insights as Lex, Rex. In fact, this book should probably be known as Rutherford's 'politically incorrect' companion volume to LEX, REX. A sort of sequel aimed at driving pluralists and antinomians insane. Written against 'the Belgick Arminians, Socinians, and other Authors contending for lawlesse liberty, or licentious Tolerations of Sects and Heresies,' Rutherford explains the undiluted Biblical solution to moral relativism, especially as it is expressed in ecclesiastical and civil pluralism! (Corporate pluralism being a violation of the first commandment and an affront to the holy God of Scripture)." -- SWRB
"This [THE DUE RIGHT OF PRESBYTERIES OR A PEACEABLE PLEA FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND . . . ,] could be considered the LEX, REX of church government -- another exceedingly rare masterpiece of Presbyterianism! Characterized by Walker as sweeping `over a wider field than most'." -- SWRB
A HIND LET LOOSE by Alexander Shields is sometimes referred to as 'Lex, Rex volume two.'
Lex, Rex, or The Law and the Prince, Samuel Rutherford
"Rutherford is to be praised for his teaching that the king is subject to the law of God. The Bible has nothing but condemnation for those who 'frame mischief by a law' and declares rhetorically, 'Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee?' (Ps. 94:20). Deuteronomy 17 is the classic passage in defense of Lex, Rex, wherein the king is charged to '. . . read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law. . . .' (Deut. 17:19)."
http://www.natreformassn.org/lexrex/index.html
Lex, rex: the law and the prince, a dispute for the just prerogative of king and people, containing the reasons and causes of the defensive wars of the kingdom of Scotland, and of their expedition for the ayd and help of their brethren of England. In which a full answer is given to a seditious pamphlet, intituled, Sacro-sancta regum majestas, penned by J. Maxwell. By S. Rutherford. [Followed by] De jure regni apud Scotos; a dialogue, tr. by R. Macfarlan (repr. from the ed. of 1799).
http://books.google.com/books?id=jtYDAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html
Lex, Rex, "Lawfulness to Resist Tyranny" (Samuel Rutherford)
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/7947/LexRex.html
The Covenant Between God and Kings, from A DEFENSE OF LIBERTY
http://www.constitution.org/vct/vindiciae1a.htm

Shaw, Mark R., The Marrow of Practical Divinity: A Study in the Theology of William Perkins (Westminster Theological Seminary, Th.D. thesis, 1981).
"Chapters four and five concern the first two books of Perkins' CASES OF CONSCIENCE and cover the issues of conversion, assurance, and worship. . . . Chapter six focuses on Perkins' social, economic, and political thought. His views on such questions as the structure of the family, the power of government, the rise of capitalism and the proper use of wealth, food, clothing, arts and recreation are considered. . . . The final chapter evaluates Perkins' PRACTICAL DIVINITY as a force for renewal in the church. . . . -- Dissertation Abstracts

SHEPARD, THOMAS, Theses Sabbaticae. Alternate title: THESES SABBATICAE, OR THE DOCTRINE OF THE SABBATH, WHEREIN THE SABBATH'S MORALITY, CHANGE, BEGINNING AND SANCTIFICATION, ARE CLEARLY DISCUSSED. WHICH WERE FIRST HANDLED MORE LARGELY IN SUNDRY SERMONS IN CAMBRIDGE IN NEW-ENGLAND IN OPENING OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT. IN UNFOLDING WHEREOF MANY SCRIPTURES ARE CLEARED, DIVERS CASES OF CONSCIENCE RESOLVED, AND THE MORAL LAW AS A RULE OF LIFE TO A BELIEVER OCCASIONALLY AND DISTINCTLY HANDLED, 1650 Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #17. (Crown Rights Book Company, 2003, 1649).
"The author, who was founder of Harvard University and a Puritan minister at Cambridge in the early 1600s, has written four theses on the morality of the Sabbath, the change of the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first, the beginning of the Sabbath, and how the Sabbath is to be sanctified by God's people. This book should silence the cavils of those misguided souls who deny that the Fourth Commandment finds its New Testament fulfillment in the celebration of the Lord's Day.

Stanislaus, Woywod, and John Ambrose McHugh, The Casuist: A Collection of Cases in Moral and Pastoral Theology (New York, NY: J.F. Wagner, Inc., c1924-1925).

Starr, George A., Defoe and Casuistry, ISBN: 0691061920 9780691061924.

Toon, Peter, Your Conscience as Your Guide (Wilton, CT: Moorehouse-Barlow, 1984), 101 pages, ISBN: 081921339X 9780819213396.
"Meets a felt need for a reliable work that adheres to the Scriptures and at the same time interacts with non-Christian and anti-Christian systems of thought. . . ." -- Cyril J. Barber

TRAPP, JOHN, A Clavis to the Bible, or a New Comment upon the Pentateuch, or Five Books of Moses, Wherein are: 1. Difficult texts explained, 2. Controversies discussed, 3. Common places handled, 4. Cases of Conscience cleared, 5. Many remarkable matters hinted, that had by other interpreters been omitted, 6. Besides, divers texts of Scripture, which occasionally occur, are fully opened, 7. And the whole so intermixed with pertinent Histories, as will yield both pleasure, and profit to the judicious, pious reader, 1650 Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Puritan Bookshelf CD #20. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #15.

TRAPP, JOHN, Commentary on Hosea to Malachi, Volume 4 of 5, 1654, 1865-1868 edition. Alternate title: A COMMENTARY, OR EXPOSITION UPON THE 12 MINOR PROPHETS (HOSEA, JOEL, AMOS, OBADIAH, JONAH, MICAH, NAHUM, HABAKKUK, ZEPHANIAH, HAGGAI, ZECHARIAH, AND MALACHI), WHEREIN THE TEXT IS EXPLAINED, SOME CONTROVERSIES ARE DISCUSSED, SUNDRY CASES OF CONSCIENCE ARE CLEARED, AND MANY REMARKABLE MATTERS HINTED, THAT HAD BY FORMER INTERPRETERS BEEN PRETERMITTED. HEREUNTO IS ADDED A TREATISE CALLED, 'THE RIGHTEOUS MAN'S RECOMPENSE -- A TRUE CHRISTIAN CHARACTERIZED AND ENCOURAGED, OUT OF MALACHI 3:16-18,' AS WELL AS 'THEOLOGICIA THEOLOGIAE: THE TRUE TREASURE. A TREASURY OF THE HOLY TRUTHS TOUCHING GOD'S WORD, AND GOD THE WORD. DIGGED UP AND DRAWN OUT OF THAT INCOMPARABLE MINE OF UNSEARCHABLE MYSTERY, HEBREW 1: 1-3.' IN ALL WHICH DIVERSE TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE WHICH OCCASIONALLY OCCUR, ARE FULLY OPENED, AND THE WHOLE SO INTERMIXED WITH PERTINENT HISTORIES, AS WILL YIELD BOTH PLEASURE AND PROFIT TO THE JUDICIOUS READER. Indexed. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

*Turretin, Francis, Institutes of Elenctic Theology, Vols. 1, 2, and 3 (Philadelphia, PA: The Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1992). Volume 1: First Through Tenth Topics; Volume 2: Eleventh Through Seventeenth Topics; Volume 3: Eighteenth Through Twentieth Topics, ISBN: 0875524516 9780875524511 0875524524 9780875524528
These three volumes "mark the arrival of the first complete edition of the INSTITUTES OF ELENCTIC THEOLOGY to be published in the English language. Heartily recommended by James Montgomery Boice, Sinclair B. Ferguson, John H. Gerstner, Leon Morris, and others. Theologians, pastors, and students will welcome this treatise, which first develops and then contrast Reformed doctrines with Roman Catholic, Arminian, and Socinian views. . . ." -- Publisher's Annotation
Francis Turretin, excerpts
http://www.apuritansmind.com/FrancisTurretin/francisturretin.htm

*VINCENT, THOMAS (1634-1678), Shorter Catechism Explained From Scripture. Alternate title: THE SHORTER CATECHISM OF THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY EXPLAINED AND PROVED FROM SCRIPTURE (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 085151314X. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
"Forty Puritans including John Owen, Thomas Manton, Thomas Brooks and Thomas Watson recommended this useful volume as a very worth aid for family instruction. This volume gives parents very simple explanations to take their children through the Westminster Shorter Catechism."
Westminster Shorter Catechism With Proof Texts
http://www.reformed.org/documents/WSC_frames.html
Westminster Shorter Catechism Project: Body of Divinity Contained in Sermons Upon the Assembly's Catechism by the Rev. Thomas Watson
"Click on any of the individual questions below to get the answer and Biblical references, as well as links to works by John Flavel, Thomas Watson, Thomas Boston, James Fisher, and John Whitecross, and others."
http://www.shortercatechism.com/

Webster, W. (William), A Casuistical Essay on Anger and Forgiveness; Wherein the practice of duelling, and some defects in our laws, with regard to the punishment of crimes, are consider'd; . . . In three dialogues between a gentleman and a clergyman, London, 1750.

Willard, Samuel (1639-1707), The Duty of a People That Have Renewed Their Covenant With God: Opened and Urged in a Sermon preached to the Second Church in Boston in New-England, March 17, 1679[/]80, after that church had explicitly and most solemnly renewed the ingagement of themselves to God and one to another.

Willard, Samuel, Samuel Willard: Selected Works (AMS Press Reprints. New York, NY: AMS Press, Incorporated).

Willard, Samuel (1639-1707), Thomas Prince, and Joseph Sewall, A Compleat Body of Divinity in Two hundred and Fifty Expository Lectures on the Assembly's Shorter Catechism Wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are unfolded, their truth confirm'd, their excellence display'd, their usefulness improv'd; contrary errors & vices refuted & expos'd, objections answer'd, controversies settled, cases of conscience resolv'd; and a great light thereby reflected on the present age. By the Reverend & learned Samuel Willard, M.A. late Pastor of the South Church in Boston, and vice-president of Harvard College in Cambridge, in New-England. Prefac'd by the pastors of the same church.
Samuel Willard was pastor of a Church of Christ in Boston and Vice-President of Harvard College. See his other works on covenant-keeping.

*WYLIE, SAMUEL B. (1773-1852), The Two Sons of Oil; or, The Faithful Witness for Magistracy and Ministry Upon a Scriptural Basis (1850 edition, reprinted 1995). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #13, #26. ISBN: 0921148917 9780921148913. A Christian classic.
"A Covenanter classic opening Revelation 11:3-4 and Zechariah 4:14. It has been hailed as the 'best presentation of the position of the Covenanter Church that has been written.' Noting that the '[t]ime has been, when the whole body of Presbyterians, in Scotland, England, and Ireland, unanimously subscribed' to these principles, '[f]or civil and ecclesiastical reformation' and that thousands bled and died for the glorious covenanted cause of civil and ecclesiastical reformation; Wylie sets out to explain and defend 'that cause. Not because it is an ancient cause; not because many have sealed it with their blood; but, because,' as he says, 'I thought it the doctrine of the Bible, and the cause of Christ.' This book explains how to tell if a government (especially a civil government) is faithful to Christ and thus to be obeyed for conscience's sake. It also gives direction regarding when and how to resist (and disassociate) yourself from governments which get their power from 'the beast.' Moreover, this book gives clear testimony as to what the Bible requires of civil magistrates, noting 'that civil rulers should exercise their power in protecting and defending the religion of Jesus.' It also gives plain reasons why dissent from the government of the United States (and other covenant breaking nations) is the legitimate Scriptural pattern." -- SWRB
The Two Sons of Oil; or, the Faithful Witness for Magistracy and Ministry Upon a Scriptural Basis, Samuel B. Wylie
http://www.covenanter.org/Wylie/twosonsofoil.htm
The Two Sons of Oil; Or, The Faithful Witness for Magistracy and Ministry Upon a Scriptural Basis
http://books.google.com/books?id=nMO1JQAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, The ten commandments, Systematic theology, ethics, medical ethics, The westminster standards, Logic, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Epistemology, Resolutions, The right to petition, Referendum votes, Bible magistracy turns back the wrath of god, The government role of punishing wrongdoers, Toleration, liberty of conscience, pluralism, and neutrality, Unity and uniformity in the visible church: unity in the truth, National establishment of religion: establishmentarianism, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Expository bible commentaries, Biblical counsel by subject, Discipleship, Puritans, works by and about, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 824-826
MGTP: Conscience (Cases of), Conscience

Related WebLinks

Cases of Conscience Resolved, John Owen. Modernized by Richard J. Vincent
http://www.theocentric.com/originalarticles/owenconscience.html

The Two Sons of Oil; or, The Faithful Witness for Magistracy and Ministry Upon a Scriptural Basis by Samuel B. Wylie
http://www.covenanter.org/Wylie/twosonsofoil.htm

A Case of Conscience by David Steele
http://www.covenanter.org/Steele/taxation.htm

Theft: Commentary and Cases of Conscience. A Listing Excerpted From THE INSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW by Rousas John Rushdoony, 1973 edition
http://www.lettermen2.com/theft.html

Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits, Personating Men, Witchcrafts. Infallible Proofs of Guilt in Such as Are Accused With That Crime. All Considered According to the Scriptures, History, Experience, and the Judgment of Many Learned men, by Increase Mather, President of Harvard Colledge at Cambridge, and Teacher of a Church at Boston in New-England.
http://etext.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/speccol/



Cheerfulness

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:33)

Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:11,12)

God is a Spirit infinitely happy, therefore we must approach him with cheerfulness . . . -- Stephen Charnock

ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERY OF MIAMI, Amusements and Levity: A Pastoral Letter. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"Remembering that the word `amuse' literally means `no-think,' this is a very useful resource for our day -- when even ministers are found to publicly violate Ephesians 5:4. The authors, however, are careful to distinguish between cheerfulness and levity. They note, `We mean a spirit of levity, as engendered or fostered by indulgence in frivolous amusements. We wish not to be understood as setting ourselves against every species of youthful amusement. We do not look for the gravity of old age in the morning of life, not do we think that the religion of the Bible requires it. Christianity, rightly understood, has nothing to do with a demure preciseness of manner, or an affection of singularity, which God does not require. Cheerfulness, especially in youth, is perfectly compatible with spirit of the Bible; and as far as amusements are rational in their character, moral in their nature and tendency, rightly timed and enjoyed in moderation, we have nothing to object. But cheerfulness and levity belong to different families, and whenever the former is suffered to degenerate into the latter, the consequences must be evil (pp. 2-3)'." -- SWRB

*SCUDDER, HENRY, The Christian's Daily Walk in Holy Security and Peace. Alternate title: THE CHRISTIAN'S DAILY WALK, IN HOLY SECURITY AND PEACE, BEING AN ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS: 1. HOW A MAN MAY DO EACH PRESENT DAY'S WORK WITH CHRISTIAN CHEERFULNESS? 2. HOW TO BEAR EACH PRESENT DAY'S CROSS WITH CHRISTIAN PATIENCE? CONTAINING FAMILIAR DIRECTIONS 1. HOW TO WALK WITH GOD IN THE WHOLE COURSE OF A MAN'S LIFE 2. HOW TO BE UPRIGHT IN THE SAID WALKING 3. HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT TAKING CARE OR THOUGHT IN ANYTHING 4. HOW TO GET AND KEEP TRUE PEACE WITH GOD, WHEREIN ARE MANIFOLD HELPS TO PREVENT AND REMOVE DAMNABLE PRESUMPTION, ALSO TO QUIET AND EASE DISTRESSED CONSCIENCES, 1690. (Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle Publications). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #4. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #30. A Christian classic.
"I remember not any book which is written to be the daily companion of Christians, to guide them in the practice of a holy life, which I prefer before this . . . " -- John Owen
"We could say nothing more about this book than that it has been highly recommended by John Owen and Richard Baxter. Owen said it had been very effective for him in his youth and Baxter said there is no book better on the subject." -- GCB

Winslow, Octavius (d. 1878), Joel R. Beeke (foreword), Help Heavenward: Guidance and Strength for the Christian's Life-journey. Alternate title: HELP HEAVENWARD, OR, WORDS OF STRENGTH AND HEART-CHEER TO ZION'S TRAVELLERS. (Edinburgh; Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 2000 1869), 195 pages, ISBN: 0851517757.

SPURGEON, C.H., "Cheer up my Comrades! Encouragement for all Christians," a sermon. Available as an MP3 file at SermonAudio.com. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, The sovereign grace of god, The covenant faithfulness of god, The all-sufficiency of christ, Immanuel, christ's presence, christ in you, Eternal life, immortality, Heaven, Thanksgiving, Worship, Joy, Happiness and holiness, Comfort, encouragement, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 668, 669
MGTP: Blessedness, Joy, Salvation, Justification, Worship



Child Abuse and Pedophilia

See the Theological Notes, "The Image of God," at Genesis 1:27 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not. In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5,6, YLTHB)

Word: "disease;" Meaning; "disturb;" Sample location: "Luke 8:49" -- from the "Glossary," 1599 Geneva Bible. Tolle Lege edition DISEASE, n. Dizeze. [dis and ease.] 1. In its primary sense, pain, uneasiness, distress, and so used by Spenser; but in this sense, obsolete. 2. The cause of pain or uneasiness . . . disorder; any state of a living body in which the natural functions of the organs are interrupted or disturbed . . . The first effect of disease is uneasiness or pain, and the ultimate effect is death. . . . 3. A disordered state of the mind or intellect, by which the reason is impaired. 4. In society, vice; corrupt state of morals. Vices are called moral diseases. A wise man converses with the wicked, as a physician with the sick, not to catch the disease, but to cure it. 5. Political or civil disorder, or vices in a state; any practice which tends to disturb the peace of society, or impede or prevent the regular administration of government. The instability, injustice and confusion introduced into the public councils have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have every where perished. DISEASE, v.t. dizeze. 1. To interrupt or impair any or all the natural and regular functions of the several organs of a living body [i.e. robbing a neighbor of sleep -- sk]; to afflict with pain or sickness to make morbid . . . 2. To interrupt or render imperfect the regular functions of the brain, or of the intellect; to disorder; to derange. 3. To infect; to communicate disease to, by contagion. 4. To pain; to make uneasy. --1828 edition of Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language

Sexual abuse is making headlines around America. . . . Many people secretly bear the scars of childhood abuse and desperately struggle with the hidden trauma that interferes with spiritual growth and normal human relationships. The church needs to understand genuine sexual abuse and what can be done about it under present civil constraints. -- Susan Alder

Social researcher Dr. Judith Reisman says that the incidence of homosexuals molesting children is 40 times greater than the number of heterosexuals who molest children. In her study, `Crafting Gay Children,' Reisman notes that heterosexuals outnumber homosexuals by 44 to 1 in our culture. She also points out that 17-24 percent of boys are being abused by age 18 and 25 percent of girls. See Judith Reisman "Crafting Gay Children," a study.

"Ultimately the Seventh Commandment (Exodus 20:14) is about our fidelity to Christ." To fracture the Seventh Commandment is to break covenant with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Family Watchdog
This national website tracks sexual offenders in your area.
"Enter an address below to view a map of registered sex offenders near you."
While this is much needed data, and we commend efforts thus far, this map will not include the following sexual offenders who should (when known) be publicly identified until they repent of their sexual crimes:

  1. sexual offenders who have not been caught, tried, and convicted (the arrest/conviction ratio for all offenses was approximately 100/25 in the mid 90s);
  2. sexual offenders who have violated parole;
  3. sexual offenders who have failed to report their address or address change;
  4. sexual offenders using an alias (The FBI "believes 1 in 6 persons with a criminal record may be using alias names and identification." -- U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, OTA-TCT-497);
  5. sexual offenders who have been convicted on some other charge;
  6. ex-convicts and inmates who have committed sodomy in prison;
  7. offenders guilty of raping their spouse and the offense has gone unreported;
  8. wives who deliberately commit adultery as part of a "pre-planned divorce," that is, who married with plans to divorce for financial gain;
  9. offenders guilty of unreported incest;
  10. offenders guilty of unreported date rape;
  11. offenders who have committed unreported sexual offenses when drunk or under the influence of drugs;
  12. offenders who have committed unreported sexual offenses with mutual consent;
  13. individual members of Alcoholics Anonymous (who are frequently ex-convicts, mentally ill, and/or mentally retarded, and prefer to be identified as alcoholics to avoid the social stigma of the other categories) or other related 10-Step addiction treatment programs who have committed unreported sexual offenses with other members, or while being a sponsor of another member;
  14. individual members of Alcoholics Anonymous and related 10 Step codependent treatment programs who use the programs as vehicles to find new sexual partners;
  15. offenders who have committed unreported sexual offenses with other members of Alcoholics Anonymous or other related 10-Step addiction treatment programs while in a codependent relationship with another member;
  16. members of Sex Addicts Anonymous who have committed unreported sexual offenses;
  17. prostitutes still at-large in society;
  18. offenders who frequent prostitutes;
  19. men and women who are self-employed in the "sex industry" (professionals deliberately practicing prostitution within the business community);
  20. individuals employed in the pornography industry, including child pornography;
  21. individuals addicted to pornography or child pornography;
  22. individuals guilty of unreported sodomy and homosexuality;
  23. unreported homosexual pedophiles ("Homosexuals are over represented in child sex offenses: Individuals from the 1 to 3 percent of the population that is sexually attracted to the same sex are committing up to one-third of the sex crimes against children." -- Timothy J. Dailey, Phd. in "Homosexuality and Child Sexual Abuse");
  24. offenders guilty of unreported rape;
  25. offenders guilty of unreported fornication;
  26. offenders guilty of unreported adultery;
  27. offenders living in licentious cohabitation;
  28. offenders who are mentally retarded and promiscuous;
  29. offenders who have sever mental illness and are promiscuous;
  30. offenders with AIDS disease;
  31. offenders with any of the 30 other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States;
  32. individuals who dabble in, or actively participate in satanic cults, or related destructive cults that practice sexual rituals;
  33. offenders who are licensed mental health care professionals (Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Psych Nurses, Medical Doctors, Counselors, Priests, Pastors, and Churchmen, and so forth) who become sexually involved with their patients, clients, counselees, or church members;
  34. individuals in the legal profession who judged in favor of legalized abortion or who aided in the legal process;
  35. individuals participating in organized crime who run and profit from most of the abortion clinics in the United States;
  36. medical professionals who perform abortions;
  37. men who have paid for abortions performed on their daughters;
  38. men who have paid for abortions performed on their sexual partners;
  39. mothers who have aborted children from their wombs (any of the 43 million abortions performed in the United States since Roe vs. Wade in 1973);
  40. individuals in the drug industry who developed "the morning after pill;"
  41. druggists who sell "the morning after pill;"
  42. women who have used "the morning after pill;"
  43. and so forth, and so on.
http://www12.familywatchdog.us/

Adams, Jay E., Q&A: Counseling Woman Whose Husband Abuses Her and Children (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
"How would you counsel a woman whose husband is physically abusive to his wife and children? How does inter-church discipline work?" Audio cassette JA209.

Montgomery, John Warwick, Slaughter of the Innocents: Abortion, Birth Control, and Divorce (Good News Pub., March 1981), 128 pages, ISBN: 0891072160 9780891072164.

*Foster, David Kyle, Sexual Healing: God's Plan for the Sanctification of Broken Lives: A Reference Manual for Ministering to Those Trapped in Sexual Sin and Brokenness (Jacksonville, FL [Mastering Life Ministries, P.O. Box 351149, Jacksonville 32235]: Mastering Life Ministries, 1997), ISBN: 0830737154 9780830737154 0830737340 9780830737345.
This is a unique work and the best resource known to the compiler offering biblical counsel for healing sexual brokenness. See "Foundations" and "Divine Intent for Sexuality" for a biblical explanation of the spiritual significance of sexuality. These two chapters alone make the purchase of the book worthwhile. Includes chapters, study guides, and exercises for Root sources for improper sexual development, Sexual identity confusion, Child sex abuse, Sexual addition, Pornography, Masturbation, voyeurism and exhibitionism, Why people remain in sexual sin and bondage, Failure and self-condemnation, A comprehensive game plan for sexual healing, and so forth. Indexed, 398 pages, includes bibliography.
Mastering Life Ministries
http://www.MasteringLife.org

Friesen, James G., Uncovering the Mysteries of MPD, ISBN: 1579100627 9781579100629, 300 pages.
Deals with multiple personality development. Includes bibliographical references.

Hancock, Maxine, and Karen Burton Mains, Child Sexual Abuse: A Hope for Healing (Wheaton, IL: Harold Shaw Publishers), ISBN: 0877881626 9780877881629.
"This book is not only designed for survivors of early child sexual abuse but also to be used by helpers who compassionately seek to understand. A well researched book that clearly presents Christ as the one who heals. It sounds the alarm for the church and offers hope and healing for victims of sexual abuse." -- GCB

Heitritter, Lynn, and Jeanette Vought, Helping Victims of Sexual Abuse (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1989), ISBN: 0764202286 9780764202285.
"Sexual abuse is making headlines around America. . . . Many people secretly bear the scars of childhood abuse and desperately struggle with the hidden trauma that interferes with spiritual growth and normal human relationships. The church needs to understand genuine sexual abuse and what can be done about it under present civil constraints." -- Susan Alder
"What women should know about sexual assault."
"Heitritter and Vought have done an enormous service in demonstrating the extent of the problem in the local church. They give practical, tested advice about ministry to survivors of sexual abuse. Required reading for pastors, lay leaders and others who work everyday with victims of sexual abuse." -- Dale S. Ryan, Executive Director of The Recovery Partnership Foundation, Whittier, California

Hudson, Pamela S., Ritual Child Abuse: Discovery, Diagnosis and Treatment (Saratoga, CA: R&E Publishers, 1991), ISBN: 0882478672 9780882478678.
Includes bibliographical references.
"I am a psychotherapist who works with trauma. I used to believe that ritual abuse was an urban legend; now I know better. I've worked with enough survivors and specialists who treat Dissociative Identity Disorder, previously called Multiple Personality Disorder, that I know Satanic Ritual Abuse and many other forms of ritual abuse are very real. It is very real and survivors are typically afraid to seek out help from mental health professionals for it and are severely dis-served by the denial of mental health practitioners.
"This book is a little simplistic but is a good introduction to working with Ritual Abuse Survivors. I recommend reading this to help wrap your mind around ritual abuse, then, if you are a professional read Dee Brown's book on SATANIC RITUAL ABUSE. That is an excellent resource." -- Reader's Comment

*Hyde, Margaret O., Cry Softly! The Story of Child Abuse, revised and enlarged (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1986), ISBN: 0664327233.
Includes bibliography. Indexed.
"The rising tide of child abuse makes this book a must. Deals with the reasons, as well as the treatment. Provides information on `Hotlines,' `Suggestions for Further Reading,' and `National Organizations Concerned With Child Abuse'." -- Cyril J. Barber

Hyde, Margaret O., Sexual Abuse: Let's Talk About it, revised and enlarged edition (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1987), ISBN: 0664327257 9780664327255
"Draws attention to what is becoming a `national epidemic.' Points out how pastors may recognize the victims and deal with the trauma and anger of those who feel violated. Practical." -- Cyril J. Barber
"Discusses the sexual abuse of children, how they can protect themselves, where they can seek help, the kinds of help available, and how to increase public awareness of this problem."

Klempel, Richard, Lois Klempel, and Jay Adams (forword), Abused? How you can Find God's Help (Lima, OH: Fairway Press, 1991), 58 pages.
" 'Directs readers to biblical answers to questions and biblical solutions to problems' enabling people 'to avoid the all-too-frequently-encountered trap of building a lifestyle around the tragedy.' Workbook deals with reactions to abuse, God as Father, and practical steps to work through in order to change one's reactions to abuse." -- David Powlison

Mawyer, Martin, Silent Shame: The Alarming Rise of Child Sexual Abuse and How to Protect Your Children From It, ISBN: 0891074198 9780891074199.
"This informative study provides an in-depth profile of sexual abusers -- their methods, motivations, strategies, hangouts -- so that parents can understand what makes a child vulnerable to their overtures. This work provides practical steps to take to prevent children from becoming victims of sexual abuse." -- GCB

Peters, David B., A Betrayal of Innocence: What Everyone Should Know About Child Sexual Abuse (Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, c1986), ISBN: 0849905028 9780849905025.
"Covers what abuse is, the signs and effects it can have, what to do once abuse is discovered, how to question a child, precautionary measures every parent should take, whom to trust, whom not to trust, and how to overcome emotional trauma and live a happy life."

*Pride, Mary, The Child Abuse Industry (Wheaton, IL: Good News Publishers [Crossway Books]), ISBN: 0891074015 9780891074014.
"Last year over one million North American families were falsely accused of child abuse. Some of the definitions of child abuse make everyone who spanks guilty of child abuse!
You better read this book and then write your government representatives fast." -- GCB
"Mary Pride has written an insightful and prophetic book on the agenda of many who work behind a cover of child advocate while breaking up families and making the state into surrogate parents, much the way Hitler did.
"She made the strong point in her book that those who make themselves out to be self-styled `child advocates' turn out to be the real child abusers.
"She wrote this book long before Attorney General Janet Reno took it upon herself to rescue two dozen children from alleged child abuse at the Koresh Compound in Waco, resulting in their fiery and premature deaths. . . .
"Mary Pride's book is still very up-to-date. All who claim to be `child advocates' in today's climate of child abuse hysteria should be considered suspect since any well-adjusted person is by common sense interested in the nurture and admonition of children." -- Reader's Comment

Reisman, Judith, "Crafting Gay Children," a study.
"Social researcher Dr. Judith Reisman says that the incidence of homosexuals molesting children is 40 times greater than the number of heterosexuals who molest children. In her study, `Crafting Gay Children,' Reisman notes that heterosexuals outnumber homosexuals by 44 to 1 in our culture. She also points out that 17-24 percent of boys are being abused by age 18 and 25 percent of girls.
"In a 1991 population study by the Department of Commerce, statistics showed that 8 million girls were abused by age 18 by heterosexual men -- a ratio of 1 victim to 11 adult men. However, 6-8 million boys were abused by age 18 by 1-2 million adult homosexuals -- a ratio of 3-5 victims for every homosexual adult male.
"Dr. Reisman concludes that the Boy Scouts organization is correct to ban homosexuals from membership because of the high rate of molestations committed by homosexual males. To read more on this, go to: http://bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=11002

*Reisman, Judith A., Eunice V. Ray (editor), and Alfred Moreschi (illustrator) Kinsey: Crimes and Consequences the Red Queen and the Grand Scheme (Institute for Media Education), ISBN: 0966662415 9780966662412.
"Dr. Judith Reisman's new book, KINSEY: CRIMES AND CONSEQUENCES THE RED QUEEN AND THE GRAND SCHEME, presents sinister material on the man who seduced America.
"The 1960s' sexual revolution was based on the most elaborate and carefully crafted scientific fraud of this century, writes author Judith Reisman. Early sexologist Alfred C. Kinsey, with his two famous reports just 50 years ago, seemingly legitimized both profligacy and deviancy, and thus established 'the sexual license he [personally] espoused.' SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR IN THE HUMAN MALE (1948) and its female equivalent (1953) kicked off no-fault divorce, the wife-swapping era, the gay rights movement, classroom sex education, sex 'therapy' as a growth industry, explicit imagery in the media and entertainment industry, and an avalanche of pornography and obscenity.
"Although Kinsey was a sexual revolutionary, Dr. Reisman contends, he was falsely portrayed by Indiana University where he worked, and the Rockefeller Foundation which funded him, 'as just a normal American guy/husband/family man who simply "discovered" the "really" that most American men commonly engaged in sexually aberrant and outlaw behaviour.' Kinsey's 'research' alleged that 10 percent of American males were homosexual, that all of us were bisexual, that children were sexual from birth, and could engage in sexual activity with adults without harm, plus a whole broad spectrum of things taught today in our schools and practised today in courts of law as fact and as true . . . It was fraud then, it is fraud now, and it revolutionized this nation and turned us into Kinsey's [psychological] clones.
"His 'Grand Scheme' was to eliminate normal families in favour of selective breeding predicated upon racial and sexual eugenics, she charges, and his 'scientific conclusions' were concocted to advance it. The reference is to the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland who wanted the sentence (beheading) carried out first and the verdict pronounced afterwards.
"Disturbing information about Kinsey's work and private life has been accumulating since his death in 1956 at age 62. (The official cause was pneumonia due to overwork, but his extensive homosexual and sado-masochistic activities were likely contributors.) Dr. Reisman revealed much of it in 1990, for example, in KINSEY, SEX AND FRAUD. Even last year's resolutely non-condemnatory biography by fellow Indiana University scholar James H. Jones, ALFRED C. KINSEY: A PUBLIC/PRIVATE LIFE (Norton), is replete with gruesomely shocking details.
"KINSEY: CRIME AND CONSEQUENCES cannot be described as non-condemnatory. Its central figure, Dr. Reisman asserts, 'fits the classic definition of a sexual psychopath.' Had the public known that he 'and his male population were sexually abnormal, the popular use of their data to change [our] law, education and public policy would have come to a screeching halt.' He was able, however, to blackmail into silence associates who knew about 'his extensive use of deviants, his large prison population or, worse, his active child molesters.'
"Still, she thinks his 'findings' should have roused suspicion. 'When I first read Kinsey's research, I thought this man is not reporting on America -- he's reporting on himself and then projecting that onto the nation. Kinsey prostituted his own wife Clara . . . into acts of sodomy with fellow 'researchers,' which Kinsey filmed. He seduced his own students at Indiana University -- male, not female students. He devised sexual activities with his 'co-workers,' who then became his co-authors. He [personally] engaged in violent sadistic activity, in which he harmed himself terribly . . . and appears to have died, frankly, as a result of the trauma to his body.'
"But his famed reports were carefully phrased to obscure the fact that words like 'contacts,' 'partners' and 'sex play' could signify grown men sodomizing children. He was also both racist and cautious about his colleagues, avoiding Jews, blacks and moral traditionalists. Dr. Reisman quotes Kinsey co-author Wardell Pomeroy (KINSEY AND THE INSTITUTE FOR SEX RESEARCH, Harper & Row, 1972), on his hiring technique: 'As usual . . . we took his sexual history first . . . [Then] Kinsey put down his pen and said, "I don't think you want to work for us." "But I do," the researcher insisted. "Well," Kinsey observed, "you have just said that premarital intercourse might lead to later difficulties in marriage, that extramarital relations would break up a marriage, that homosexuality is abnormal, and intercourse with animals is ludicrous. Apparently you have all the answers. . . . Why do you want to do research'?"
"Biographer Jones describes Kinsey as 'one of the scholarly eugenicists of pre-WW II' who favoured mass sterilization for the lower classes and selective breeding for the 'better classes.' Moreover, Judith Reisman emphasizes, the Rockefeller Foundation was early interested in population control and in using the media to popularize it. The Reece Committee, investigating U.S. tax-exempt foundations in 1953-54, concluded that this 'plutocratic control' was accomplished by 'funding the "right" university research by the "right" researchers, then by funding mass media dissemination of the "right" science data to the public.' Kinsey's numbers made him a perfect fit for anyone eager to alter what he would call human 'breeding patterns.'
"Dr. Reisman, a specialist in content analysis studies of written and visual media, lost many family members in the Holocaust. In that context she raises further sinister questions about Kinsey's data. For instance, who was the 'lone pedophile,' the 'elderly gentleman' cited by Kinsey for his sexual molestation of 800 children? Who were 'The Children of Table 34' and what became of them? How did Kinsey's 'technically trained' observers gain access to the claimed 1,800 American children for illegal genital experiments? 'To this day,' she observes, 'the Kinsey Institute and Indiana University have repeatedly . . . refused to reveal any names of the subjects or the experimenters.' Nor has any one of these children ever come forward, although the institute seems an excellent target for lawsuits.
"Even in the destitute 1930s, at the cited rate of a dollar a day, she doubts that children as young as three months were obtainable in such numbers around Bloomington, Indiana. She suggests an ominous but credible alternative: a collaborative link between Kinsey and Nazi Germany, then a police state where such 'experimentation' could easily be conducted 'as part of an ongoing collegial, cross-cultural, multinational, "fact-finding" research project.' She cites significant links, such as one George Sylvester Viereck, who worked for the German embassy in Washington, D.C., in those years, setting up Nazi front groups, and who is known to have been a Kinsey correspondent. Furthermore, the Rockefeller Foundation was simultaneously funding eugenics projects in Berlin.
"Kinsey consistently kept secret his hypotheses and the basic facts upon which his conclusions rested, Dr. Reisman charges. 'Neither Kinsey nor any of his team can rightly be termed "scientists." Their methodology was not scientific, for it was neither able to be replicated nor validated. Their data was anonymous, forced, secretly altered at will, and fraudulent. With the aid of the elite academic world and institutions and the support of public funds and the social planning foundations, Kinsey and his associates, who served as his own private male harem, conducted thousands of sexual interviews to present a false view of American sexual behaviours.'
"Amazingly, however, use of Kinsey data as authoritative has never been seriously challenged -- until now. It must not continue, Dr. Reisman declares: 'There [must] be a full and open public investigation into Kinsey's fraudulent data and its impact upon lawmakers, the military, the church, the press, the academic world, the family and all our institutions'." -- Kevin E. Abrams, co-author of The Pink Swastika: Homosexuality In The Nazi Party

Schlesinger, Benjamin, Sexual Abuse of Children: A Resource Guide and Annotated Bibliography (Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1982), ISBN: 0802064817 9780802064813.
"An informative guide to the literature covering all aspects of sexual molestation -- including profiles of parents and siblings." -- Cyril J. Barber

Shane, Paul G., What About America's Homeless Children?: Hide and Seek (SAGE Sourcebooks for the Human Services. Sage Publications, Inc., September 10, 1996), ISBN: 0803949820 9780803949829.
"Who are the homeless children in America and what do we know about them? How does their being homeless affect them and society in general? What's being done to help them? WHAT ABOUT AMERICA'S HOMELESS CHILDREN? takes a multifaceted look at the growing, disturbing problem of children (including infants) in homeless families and abandoned and runaway children in America. The author examines the social factors that create homeless situations of children and personal and educational problems that can result from it. The health risks to this population, including unsanitary living conditions, poor nutrition, physical assault, and lack of access to health care are also explored. Author Paul G. Shane brings the problems and effects of homelessness to a personal level by presenting ethnographic case studies of individual children in urban shelters, families in a shelter program, and people who "survived" a homeless youth experience. The history of programs, both governmental and nongovernmental, and government policies for homeless youth are also examined. The book concludes with recommendations for policies and programs that can prevent homelessness for children. Human service professionals and policymakers who deal with children and families as well as those in the fields of public health, policy studies, and clinical and counseling psychology will find this book a stimulating summary of research findings and implications about this vulnerable population." -- Publisher's Annotation

Stratford, Lauren, and Johanna Michaelson (foreword), Satan's Underground: The Extraordinary Story of One Woman's Escape (Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Company, Incorporated), ISBN: 0882898760 9780882898766.
"Readers from coast to coast will be shocked and disturbed by the story told here. But most of all, they will come to care deeply for the many thousands of innocent children who are faced with unspeakable horrors at the hands of modern day satanists." -- Reader's Comment

Young, Mary de, The Ritual Abuse Controversy: An Annotated Bibliography (North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers [Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640], 2002), 258 pp. appendix, indexes, softcover, ISBN: 0786412593 9780786412594.
"The ritual abuse of children is the most controversial issue in the child maltreatment field, but much of what has been written about ritual abuse over the past twenty years is in the form of unpublished and endlessly reproduced `stuff' -- curious mixture of conjecture, folkloric and pop-culture representations of satanism, devil worship, occultism and witchcraft, and Christian Fundamentalist images of premillennarian evil. What remains after this `stuff' is excluded is an intriguing body of international literature that seriously examines the controversy.
"This annotated bibliography dissects the literature, objectively and thoroughly annotates published articles, books and reports, legal opinions, and occasionally, thought-provoking newspaper and magazine articles.
"Chapters deal with the definition of ritual abuse, ritual abuse cases in the United States, cases in American families and neighborhoods, cases in Canada, Europe and Australasia, clinical features of ritual abuse in children and adults, the controversy's impact on professionals and systems, the controversy and American law, ritual abuse reports and narratives, and anthropological, folkloric and sociological perspectives.
"Mary de Young, a professor of sociology and chair of the Department of Sociology at Grand Valley State University, lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is the author of the forthcoming, THE DAY CARE RITUAL ABUSE MORAL PANIC, published by McFarland and Company." -- Publisher's Annotation
Compiler's comment: There may be something of interest here. We have not seen this bibliography. However, we feel it is highly unlikely that a secular compiler could produce an unbiased bibliography on ritual child abuse considering: 1) the most dangerous place for a child in America today is in their mother's womb, 2) most parents have given up their children's education to the public education system, and in 1983 The National Commission on Excellence in Education, in their report, A NATION AT RISK: THE IMPERATIVE FOR EDUCATIONAL REFORM, concluded that had public education been carried out by enemies of the United States, it could not be more harmful to the country, 3) The court system refuses to acknowledge the Ten Commandments (the summation of which is to love God and neighbor) as an ethical basis for modern, relative, arbitrary law, and 4) "although heterosexuals outnumber homosexuals by a ratio of at least 20 to 1, homosexual pedophiles commit about one-third of the total number of child sex offenses," and the courts are recognizing homosexual marriages as of equal status as heterosexual marriages, and so forth, and so on.

See also: The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Hostility and violence, Homosexuality, Incest, Rape, Sexually transmitted diseases, Pornography, Childishness, Justification, Abuse, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Antichrist, The counter reformation, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Abuse (women), Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Adoptive parents, The fatherhood of God, Finding the perfect parent in God, Stepfamilies, Churches that abuse, The occult, Adultery, Divorce, Sex education, Wife abuse, and so forth, and so on.

Related WebLinks

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html

Massachusetts Attorney General, "The Sexual Abuse of Children in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston," Thomas F. Reilly, Massachusetts Attorney General
"The mistreatment of children was so massive and so prolonged that it borders on the unbelievable," says the July 23 [2003] report of Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly. More than 1,000 minors were likely abused by priests over the past six decades."
This is the 79-page report in its entirety.
http://www.votf.org/ago/archdiocese.pdf

Mastering Life Ministries
http://www.MasteringLife.org

The Code of Virginia: Select Sexual Offenses

  1. Obscenity
    http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-372
  2. Adultery and fornication by persons forbidden to marry: Incest
    http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-366
  3. Sexually explicit items involving children
    http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-374.1
  4. Taking indecent liberties with a child by person in custodial or supervisory relationship
    http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-370.1
  5. Crimes against nature
    http://www.sodomy.org/laws/virginia/sodomy.html
  6. Conspiring to cause spouse to commit adultery
    http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-367
  7. Rape
    http://www.sodomy.org/laws/virginia/rape.html
  8. Forcible sodomy
    http://www.sodomy.org/laws/virginia/forcible_sodomy.html
  9. Fornication
    http://www.sodomy.org/laws/virginia/fornication.html
  10. Being a prostitute or prostitution
    http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-346
  11. Virginia State Law: Pandering, Taking, detaining, etc., person for prostitution, etc., or consenting thereto.
    http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-355
  12. Employment for compensation of persons convicted of certain offenses prohibited; criminal records check required; suspension or revocation of license.
    http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+32.1-126.01
  13. Lewd and lascivious cohabitation
    http://www.sodomy.org/laws/virginia/cohabitation.html
Virginia State Police Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry
http://sex-offender.vsp.state.va.us/cool-ICE/

West Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry
http://www.wvstatepolice.com/sexoff/

Sex Offenders.com
http://www.sexualoffenders.com/

Stefieangel's HomePage - MPD/DID Resources
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/3885/DID_links.html

Sexual Assault Information Page
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~bartley/saInfoPage.html

Family Watchdog
This national website tracks sexual offenders in your area.
"Enter an address below to view a map of registered sex offenders near you."
While this is much needed data, and we commend efforts thus far, this map will not include the following sexual offenders who should (when known) be publicly identified until they repent of their sexual crimes:

  1. sexual offenders who have not been caught, tried, and convicted (the arrest/conviction ratio for all offenses was approximately 100/25 in the mid 90s);
  2. sexual offenders who have violated parole;
  3. sexual offenders who have failed to report their address or address change;
  4. sexual offenders using an alias (The FBI "believes 1 in 6 persons with a criminal record may be using alias names and identification." -- U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, OTA-TCT-497);
  5. sexual offenders who have been convicted on some other charge;
  6. ex-convicts and inmates who have committed sodomy in prison;
  7. offenders guilty of raping their spouse and the offense has gone unreported;
  8. wives who deliberately commit adultery as part of a "pre-planned divorce," that is, who married with plans to divorce for financial gain;
  9. offenders guilty of unreported incest;
  10. offenders guilty of unreported date rape;
  11. offenders who have committed unreported sexual offenses when drunk or under the influence of drugs;
  12. offenders who have committed unreported sexual offenses with mutual consent;
  13. individual members of Alcoholics Anonymous (who are frequently ex-convicts, mentally ill, and/or mentally retarded, and prefer to be identified as alcoholics to avoid the social stigma of the other categories) or other related 10-Step addiction treatment programs who have committed unreported sexual offenses with other members, or while being a sponsor of another member;
  14. individual members of Alcoholics Anonymous and related 10 Step codependent treatment programs who use the programs as vehicles to find new sexual partners;
  15. offenders who have committed unreported sexual offenses with other members of Alcoholics Anonymous or other related 10-Step addiction treatment programs while in a codependent relationship with another member;
  16. members of Sex Addicts Anonymous who have committed unreported sexual offenses;
  17. prostitutes still at-large in society;
  18. offenders who frequent prostitutes;
  19. men and women who are self-employed in the "sex industry" (professionals deliberately practicing prostitution within the business community);
  20. individuals employed in the pornography industry, including child pornography;
  21. individuals addicted to pornography or child pornography;
  22. individuals guilty of unreported sodomy and homosexuality;
  23. unreported homosexual pedophiles ("Homosexuals are over represented in child sex offenses: Individuals from the 1 to 3 percent of the population that is sexually attracted to the same sex are committing up to one-third of the sex crimes against children." -- Timothy J. Dailey, Phd. in "Homosexuality and Child Sexual Abuse");
  24. offenders guilty of unreported rape;
  25. offenders guilty of unreported fornication;
  26. offenders guilty of unreported adultery;
  27. offenders living in licentious cohabitation;
  28. offenders who are mentally retarded and promiscuous;
  29. offenders who have sever mental illness and are promiscuous;
  30. offenders with AIDS disease;
  31. offenders with any of the 30 other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States;
  32. individuals who dabble in, or actively participate in satanic cults, or related destructive cults that practice sexual rituals;
  33. offenders who are licensed mental health care professionals (Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Psych Nurses, Medical Doctors, Counselors, Priests, Pastors, and Churchmen, and so forth) who become sexually involved with their patients, clients, counselees, or church members;
  34. individuals in the legal profession who judged in favor of legalized abortion or who aided in the legal process;
  35. individuals participating in organized crime who run and profit from most of the abortion clinics in the United States;
  36. medical professionals who perform abortions;
  37. men who have paid for abortions performed on their daughters;
  38. men who have paid for abortions performed on their sexual partners;
  39. mothers who have aborted children from their wombs (any of the 43 million abortions performed in the United States since Roe vs. Wade in 1973);
  40. individuals in the drug industry who developed "the morning after pill;"
  41. druggists who sell "the morning after pill;"
  42. women who have used "the morning after pill;"
  43. and so forth, and so on.
http://www12.familywatchdog.us/

A Redneck Resolution Against Self-destruction
http://www.lettermen2.com/redneck.html

Mantle Ministries (Elsie Dinsmore and Mildred Series)
http://www.mantlemin.com



Childishness

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity. (1 Corinthians 13:11-13)

Griffin, Edward D. and William Buell Sprague, When I was a Child I Thought as a Child. In THE LIFE AND SERMONS OF EDWARD D. GRIFFIN (2:307-317), ISBN: 0851515134.
The Life and Sermons of Edward D. Griffin
http://books.google.com/books?id=a89hAAAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

A Redneck Resolution Against Self-destruction
http://www.lettermen2.com/redneck.html

See also: Sibling rivalry, The difficult child, Will and recalcitrance, Foolishness, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Covetousness, greed, and selfishness, Blindness, spiritual, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Christian character, Discipline, Self-denial, Ethics, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Servant leadership, Self-discipline, Self-denial, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 4006, 4135



Comfort, Encouragement

See the Theological Notes, "The Holy Spirit," at John 14:26 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "The Ascension of Jesus," at Luke 24:51 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Providence," at Proverbs 16:33 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:1,2)

For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings. (As Ahaz had refused a sign, God appointed one far above anything he could have imagined. A son would be born of a virgin, a divine child, whose name should be "God with us." Such a child would naturally reach years of discretion very early, but in even less space than it would take for this heaven-born son to arrive at a responsible age, the two enemies of Judah wouuld both be dethroned. Blessed be the Lord for granting to his people so glorious a sign of grace; nothing can afford such comfort to the troubled as the fact that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. (Isaiah 7:16) -- Spurgeon's Devotional Bible, p. 394

And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible. (Jeremiah 15:20,21)

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:16,17)

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:28,29)

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:12,13)

*Alexander, James W., Consolation: Addresses to the Suffering People of God (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1992), ISBN: 1877611530 9781877611537.
"Eighteen chapters and 448 pages on select topics by the eldest son of prominent theologian, Archibald Alexander. Charles Hodge said he was not the first of orators to hear on rare occasions, but the first of preachers to sit under, month after month, and year after year.
"The author stresses that it is the attributes of God -- His mercy, His providence, His omnipotence, His power, His goodness, His compassion, and many others -- which give consolation to those saints in need of it. This is a book for the weary soul who has been fighting the good fight and feeling the bruises of the conflict." -- GCB

Bergman, Nina Mason, Comfort From the Cross: Help for the Hurting From the Seven Last Words of Christ, ISBN: 0891092900 9780891092902.

*BOLTON, ROBERT, A Treatise on Comforting Afflicted Consciences (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1991, 1626). Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #9. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #27. A Christian classic.
"I do not know of a single book published in the past twenty years that explains in depth how to respond Biblically to a grieved or wounded conscience. Here's an ideal volume to fill that gap. Few books in history have treated the subject as completely or as clearly as Robert Bolton's classic work. . . . The book remains a definitive study on the issue of dealing with guilt. Practical, Biblical, meticulously precise, carefully reasoned, it maintains a straightforward simplicity that cannot fail to touch the sensitive reader's heart." -- John MacArthur

*Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), The Everlasting Righteousness or How Shall man be Just With God? (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1993). A Christian classic.
"First published in 1874, THE EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, may be the best book on the doctrine of justification by faith alone ever written.
"Since the seventeenth century, the church's adherence to the central doctrine of the Christian faith has been weakening; in the twentieth century it has all but disappeared. But to those who remain faithful -- to those who are called of God --justification by faith alone is the best news there could ever be: that Christ died for our sins, and we shall live forever because of Christ's righteousness.
"Justification by faith alone -- the `principal hinge of religion,' according to John Calvin, the `doctrine by which the church stands or falls,' according to Martin Luther -- is salvation. Without it, all hope is lost; with it, Heaven gained. Bonar's discussion is without equal in the English language." -- John W. Robbins
The Banner of Truth edition is available free as e-text.
The Everlasting Righteousness; or, How Shall man be Just With God?
The Everlasting Righteousness, Horatius Bonar
http://www.jude3.net/bertoc.htm
http://books.google.com/books?id=nQMDAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*Brown, Stephen W., God, are You There?: Hope in a Time of Crisis. Alternate title: WHEN YOUR ROPE BREAKS (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers), ISBN: 0800787072 9780800787073.
"This collection of gently supportive meditations on loss and pain has become a classic of counseling and assurance. The work promises healing and peace to those who need it most. It is not a glib, quick-fix manual. But there is hope for those who know where to look and listen for it." -- GCB

Buchanan, James, Comfort in Affliction, ISBN: 9780548130926 0548130922.
"This series of Scripture meditations, drawn from various Scripture passages, was first delivered in 1832. Believers today will be tempted by Satan and indwelling sin to fret, or complain, or doubt because of affliction. This book treats the subject expertly." -- GCB

*CARYL, JOSEPH (1602-1673), An Exposition With Practical Observations Upon . . . the Book of Job . . . 12 volumes (London, England: Printed by Matthew Simmons, 1649, 1669) and (Berkley, MI: Dust & Ashes Publications), ISBN: 1892777509. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #22. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Six, CD #32.
Caryl preached on Job for 20 years. Some have said his work is the only satisfactory commentary on the book of Job.
"The pinnacle of Puritan preaching and devotion, Joseph Caryl's 12 volume, 8600+ page exposition of Job is now heading for a limited edition printing. . . . These are the full 12 volumes totally unabridged.
"C.H. Spurgeon said, `Caryl will not exhaust the patience of a student who is a lover of every letter of the Word . . . it would be a mistake to suppose that he is at all prolix or redundant; he is only full. In the course of expounding he has illustrated a very large portion of Bible with great clearness and power. He is deeply devotional and spiritual. His work can scarcely be superseded or surpassed'." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Caryl, Joseph, Notes on Job (Lafayette, IN [The Sovereign Grace Trust Fund, 1274 Meadowbrook Drive, P.O. Box 4998, Lafayette 47905]: The Sovereign Grace Trust Fund, 1992). 30590
IBM-compatible software.

Coleman, Sarah Jepson (Sarah Ann Jepson) For the Love of Singles.

GOUGE, WILLIAM, The Saint's Support, set out in a Sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons assembled in Parliament. At a publick fast, 29. Iune, 1642, Nehemiah V, 19. Running title reads: A sermon preached at the late fast before the Commons House of Parliament. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #29, ISBN: 0921148283 9780921148289. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #22.

Job, John B., Job Speaks to us Today (Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press, 1980), ISBN: 0804201323 9780804201322.

Kuhatschek, Jack, Suffering, Receiving God's Comfort: 10 Studies for Individuals or Groups (A LifeGuide Bible Study. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press), ISBN: 0830810676 9780830810673.

*Owen, John (1616-1683), The Work of the Holy Spirit in Prayer, as a Comforter and as the Author of Spiritual Gifts. See THE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN. A Christian classic.

Pike, Samuel (1717-1773), and Samuel Hayward (1718-1757), Assurance of Growth in Grace. In RELIGIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER . . . TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION; OR, THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF GOD'S WORD; AND CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, 1866.
Assurance of Growth in Grace
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/assurance-of-growth-in-grace.php

*Pink, Arthur W., Comfort for Christians (Swengel, PA: Reiner Publications, 1952), ISBN: 0585074860 9780585074863.
"A timely work full of consolation. A valuable addition to the other books treating suffering. . . ." -- Cyril J. Barber
"Those shocked into wakefulness by Pink's book on THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD will be amazed at the different tone he displayed in this book. It is heart-warming." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Comfort for Christians, by Arthur W. Pink
http://www.ccel.org/p/pink/comfort/comfort.html

Power, Philip Bennett, A Book of Comfort for Those in Sickness, ISBN: 0851512038 9780851512037.
"When we are sick we are many times at our weakest. This book is perfect for those who are sick and suffering." -- GCB

*SIBBES, RICHARD (1577-1635), The Bruised Reed (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851517404 9780851517407. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
"Richard Sibbes, one of the most influential figures in the Puritan movement during the earlier years of the seventeenth century, was renowned for the rich quality of his ministry. THE BRUISED REED shows why he was known among his contemporaries as `the sweet dropper'." -- Publisher's Annotation
"If you have ever been (or are) discouraged in any way this is a book that will bring great encouragement and joy!" -- SWRB
"Sibbes never wastes the student's time, he scatters pearls and diamonds with both hands." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"A poor pedlar came to the door . . . and my father bought of him Sibb's Bruised Reed . . . It suited my state . . . and gave me a livelier apprehension of the mystery of redemption and how much I was beholden to Jesus Christ . . . Without any means but books was God pleased to resolve me to himself." -- Richard Baxter

*SIBBES, RICHARD (1577-1635), Goodwin, Thomas (1600-1680), and Nye, Philip (1596?-1672), Christs Exaltation Purchast by Humiliation. Wherein you may see mercy and misery meete together. Very vsefull I. For instructing the ignorant. II. For comforting the weake. III. For confirming the strong. By R. Sibbs D.D. and preacher of Grayes-Inne, London. Published by T.G. and P.N., 1639, Available (THE WORKS OF RICHARD SIBBES) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"Notes: T.G. and P.N. = Thomas Goodwin and Philip Nye.
Three sermons on Romans XIV, 9."

Trotter, D., Bearing one Another's Burdens (Galatians 6:1-10) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates, 1991).
Audio cassette BL04.

Various, Personal Suffering: Sermons on Job (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
A special collection of six audio cassette. Sermons given at 10th Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia by Dr. Fuller covering the entire book. Contains: Job 1 -- The Lord Has Taken Away: Receiving Suffering From God's Hand, Job 2,3 -- I Wish I Were Dead; Job 4,5 -- Job, You Must Have Sinned; Job 6,7 -- All I Want Is a Little Kindness; Job 8-10 -- God, You're So Far Away; Job 11-14 -- If Death Is All There Is; Job 15-17 -- God Has Worn Me Out; Job 18-21 -- My Redeemer Lives; Job 22-24 -- If Only I Could Find God; Job 35-41 -- God, Why?; Job 42 -- Thou Can't Do All Things.

*WATSON, THOMAS (1633-1686), All Things for Good: Romans 8:28, A Divine Cordial. Alternate title: A DIVINE CORDIAL IN 1663. (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851514782 9780851514789. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2. A Christian classic.
"I would prescribe them to take, now and then, a little of this Cordial: all things work together for good to them that love God. To know that nothing hurts the godly, is a matter of comfort; but to be assured that all things which fall out shall cooperate for their good, that their crosses shall be turned into blessings, that showers of affliction water the withering root of their grace and make it flourish more; this may fill their hearts with joy till they run over." -- Thomas Watson, from the Preface
"Thomas Watson of St. Stephen's, Walbrook believed he faced two great difficulties in his pastoral ministry. The first was making the unbeliever sad, in the recognition of his need of God's grace. The second was making the believer joyful in response to God's grace. He believed the answer to the second difficulty could be found in Paul's teaching in Romans 8:28, God works all things together for good for his people.
"Watson's exposition is always simple, illuminating and rich in practical application. He explains that both the best and the worst experiences work for the good of God's people. He carefully analyses what it means to be someone who `loves God' and is `called according to his purpose.' ALL THINGS FOR GOOD provides the biblical answer to the contemporary question: `Why do bad things happen to good people'?" -- Publisher's Annotation

Winslow, Octavius (d. 1878), Joel R. Beeke (foreword), Help Heavenward: Guidance and Strength for the Christian's Life-journey. Alternate title: HELP HEAVENWARD, OR, WORDS OF STRENGTH AND HEART-CHEER TO ZION'S TRAVELLERS. (Edinburgh; Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 2000 1869), 195 pages, ISBN: 0851517757.

Yarbrough, Tom, Call to Comfort: A Counseling Manual for Every Christian(San Jose, CA: Resource Publications, c1988), ISBN: 0893901199 9780893901196.
Includes bibliography.

See also: The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Bible reading and devotions, Christian fellowship, Prayer, Affliction, adversity, trials, The covenant faithfulness of god, Hope, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Bible magistracy turns back the wrath of god, The all-sufficiency of Christ, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 522, 523, 783-788, 849-859, 1614, 1696
MGTP: Hope, Strength (Spiritual)

Related WebLinks

"Come Unto Me, All Ye That Labour, Thomas Boston
http://members.wbs.net/homepages/j/o/h/johnowen/freeofer.htm

The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon
A sermon by C.H. Spurgeon delivered on Lord's-day morning, September 9, 1888, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Sermon no. 2043.
"This is the way in which you should use this plea. Say, 'My God, I am utterly unworthy, and I own it; but, I beseech thee, hear me for the honour of thy dear Son. By his agony and bloody sweat, by his cross and passion, by his precious death and burial, I beseech thee hear me! O Lord, let the blood of thine Only-begotten prevail with thee! Canst thou put aside his groans, his tears, his death, when they speak on my behalf?' If you can thus come to pleading terms with God upon this ground, you must and will prevail. Jesus must be heard in heaven. The voice of his blood is eloquent with God. If you plead the atoning sacrifice, you must overcome through the blood of the Lamb." -- C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.mountzion.org/fgb/Summer97/FgbS6-97.html



Communication

Let no corrupt word out of your mouth go forth, but what is good unto the needful building up, that it may give grace to the hearers. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and become one to another kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, according as also God in Christ did forgive you. (Ephesians 4:29,31,32, YLTHB)

Furnish yourselves beforehand with matter for the most edifying discourse, and never go abroad empty. And let the matter be usually, 1. Things of weight, and not small matters. 2. Things of certainty, and not uncertain things. Particularly the fittest subjects for your ordinary discourse are these: 1. God himself, with his attributes, relations, and works. 2. The great mystery of man's redemption by Christ; his person, office, sufferings, doctrine, example, and work; his resurrection, ascension, glory, intercession, and all the privileges of his saints. 3. The covenant of grace, the promises, the duties, the conditions, and the threatenings. 4. The working of the Spirit of Christ upon the soul, and every grace of the Spirit in us; with all the signs, and helps, and hinderances of it. 5. The ways and wiles of Satan, and all our spiritual enemies; the particular temptations which we are in danger of; what they are and how to avoid them, and what are the most powerful helps against them. 6. The corruption and deceitfulness of the heart; the nature and workings, effects, and signs of ignorance, unbelief, hypocrisy, pride, sensuality, worldliness, impiety, injustice, intemperance, uncharitableness, and every other sin; with all the helps against them. 7. The many duties of God and man which we have to perform, both internal and external, and how to do them, and what are the chiefest hinderances and helps. (As in reading, hearing, meditating, prayer, giving alms, etc.) And the duties of our relations, and several places, with the contrary sins. 8. The vanity of the world, and deceitfulness of all earthy things. 9. The powerful reasons used by Christ to draw us to holiness, and the unreasonable madness of all that is brought against it, by the devil or by wicked men. 10. Of the sufferings which we must expect and be prepared for. 11. Of death, and the preparations that will then be found necessary; and how to make ready for so great a change. 12. Of the day of judgment, and who will then be justified, and who condemned. 13. Of the joys of heaven, the employment, the company, the nature, and duration. 14. Of the miseries of the damned, and the thoughts that they then will have of their former life on earth. 15. Of the state of the church on earth, and what we ought to do i our places for its welfare. Is there not matter enough in all these great and weighty points, for your hourly meditation and conference? -- Richard Baxter

*Adams, Jay E., Christian Living in the Home (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1974), ISBN: 0801000513 9780801000515.
"His [Adam's] approach to family life is conditioned completely by the Bible. He writes, `A truly Christian home is a place where sinners live; but it is also a place where the members of that home admit the fact and understand the problem, know what to do about it, and as a result grow by grace'." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"This best-selling title will challenge, encourage, and aid the reader in the development of a truly Christian home. Christians will find this volume full of practical, biblical advice on Christ-centered family living, communication with family members, family guidance and discipline, living with an unbelieving spouse, and many other areas. Pastors and Christian counselors will value this work for its insight and faithfulness to God's Word." -- SWRB
"Written to check the erosion of the family as the basic foundation of society. Practical applications of Scripture to family living are given." -- GCB. A study guide is available.
Christian Living in the Home
http://www.nouthetic.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=82&Itemid=99
Adams, Jay E., Christian Living in the Home: Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic.
Barker, Dorothy Anderson, and Jay Adams, Leader`s Guide for Jay E. Adams's CHRISTIAN LIVING IN THE HOME. Alternate title: CHRISTIAN LIVING IN THE HOME (STUDY GUIDE). (Philadelphia: Great Commission Publications, 1977), 64 pages.
"Thirteen week guide for the leader of a Sunday school or Bible study class that utilizes Adams's book on marriage and family." -- David Powlison

Adams, Jay E., Communicating With 20th Century Man, 36 pages, ISBN: 0875520081 9780875520087.
"God calls Christians to evangelistic and apologetic encounters. Modern man is disillusioned with himself, and the strong biblical notes of God's authority and control will find fertile soil. The message must be robust and biblical. The form must communicate well: using communication technologies, the debate format and sociological studies to engage audiences. 'Many evangelistic plans are superficial. People have questions, problems, difficulties, which it takes time, prayer, and patience to solve'." -- David Powlison

Adams, Jay E., Effective communication; Disabled people; Inferiority complex; Unsaved wife; Be prepared! (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA406.

*Cedar, Paul A., Seven Keys to Maximum Communication (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1980), ISBN: 0842358757 9780842358750.
"Treats in simple terms the negative and positive feelings we all share that either erect walls between us or build bridges toward one another. Most helpful." -- Cyril J. Barber

Johnson, Rex, Communication: Key to Your Parents, ISBN: 0890811571 9780890811573.

Porter, Jack Nusan, Conflict and Conflict Resolution: A Historical Bibliography, ISBN: ISBN: 0824092872 9780824092870.

Soukup, Paul A. (compiler), Christian Communication (Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated, 1989), ISBN: 031325673X 9780313256738.
"CHRISTIAN COMMUNICATION is the first wide-ranging annotated bibliography of available books, articles, theses, and dissertations in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian that deals with all forms and aspects of Christian communication, even comic books and the computer. The bibliographies for this collection were drawn from several sources including the Library of Congress; several important computerized databases; manual searches of such institutions as the Billy Graham Center and the Graduate Theological Union, among others; and references in dissertations. Most importantly, only accessible items which could be checked and reviewed by Soukup and his research staff have been included here. The volume is arranged to maximize ease of access and use and is based on the general academic division of communication studies. The first chapter contains an introduction, cross-referenced to the bibliographies, that reviews the history of church communication, the major issues that characterize it, and suggests possibilities for future study. Next, a resource chapter lists periodicals which address specific areas of religious communication or frequently published articles of interest; cites bibliographic guides to the material and surveys directories of both personnel working in the field of Christian communication and of catalogs of relevant materials. The following seven chapters contain the major bibliographical sections that review communication theory, history, rhetoric, interpersonal communication, mass communication, intercultural communication, and other media. The volume closes with helpful name, title, and subject indexes that make this guide thoroughly user-friendly and an important research tool for church communicators, theological students, and communications scholars working in philosophical or qualitative areas.
"Paul A. Soukup is Assistant Professor of Communication at Santa Clara University." -- Publisher's Annotation "This annotated bibliography comprehensively indexes available books, articles, theses, and dissertations that deal with all forms and aspects of Christian Communication. . . .
A resource section surveys periodicals, bibliographic guides, and various directories, seven major bibliographical sections that address Communication Theory, History, Rhetoric, Interpersonal Communication, Mass Communication, Intercultural Communications, and Other Media are included." Paul A. Soukup is Assistant Professor of Communication at Santa Clara University." -- Publisher's Annotation

Tripp, Paul, Getting to the Heart of Communications (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette HFTF22.

See also: For all counselors, The web edition of biblical counsel resources for renewal, How to become a christian, Book-length presentations of the free offer of the gospel message of salvation and the life to come the means of grace, Sharing christ with your children, Teaching children, Training in biblical counseling, Preaching and pastoral counseling, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Gossip, Slander, Backbiting, The tongue, Evangelism, Revival, Dvd, multi-media, Christian biography, Home schooling, Reformed publishers online, Audio cds and mp3s on counseling subjects, Follow-up of inquirers, Testimonies, Gospel tracts and witnessing tools, Apologetics, Biblical counsel by subject, Ready reference immediate counsel on many subjects, and so forth, Translation of this website, and so forth, and so on.

Related WebLinks

Wycliffe Bible Translators
Probably the premier source of foreign language translations of the English Bible.
http://www.wycliffe.org/



Contagion of Sin, Imitation, Conformity

See the Theological Notes, "The Fall" at Genesis 3:6 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Syncretism and Idolatry," at Hosea 2:13 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "Hell," at Mark 9:43 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment. (Exodus 23:2)

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us. (1 Samuel 8:19) Men have little integrity and will imitate peers, good or bad. Even more tragic is man's tendency to imitate leaders in power. Witness the dramatic change in opinion polls when an administration changes. For example, in the case of abortion, polls will indicate a majority of the population in favor of abortion when a pro-abortion president is in office. When the administration changes and an anti-abortion president takes office, then the national opinion polls immediately shift.

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; [it] shall not cleave to me. (Psa 101:3) Fiction and entertainment very often involves immoral conduct.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:48)

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:21-23)

We tend to become like those things we love. See the Theological Note at 1 Corinthians 13:13, "Love" in The Reformation Study Bible.

Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)

In 1550, Calvin proudly wrote to Melancthon: "many, in order to avoid idolatry, are fleeing France and are coming to us in voluntary exile." (1)
Calvin often refers to idolatry as if were a plague: Once an area becomes infected with this virus, the only way the residents can escape contagion is by fleeing. Those who remain behind, surrounded by the disease, risk infection every day as long as they come into contact with its victims.
Calvin was aware that not everyone was free to emigrate, but he continually stressed that for those who found it possible, it was the wisest course to follow:

Now, consider whether you can have peace with God and your own conscience while you persevere in your present state . . . We have no direct revelation commanding us to leave the country, but since we have the commandment to honor God in body and soul, wherever we may be, what else could we do? It is certainly to us, then, that these words are also addressed, 'Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred' [Gen. 12:1]; as long as we are there constrained to act against our conscience, and cannot live for the glory of God. (2)
Calvin adds that one should regard as "filth and dung" everything which hinders one from being a good Christian; if anything separates one from God, who is the true life, then it can only lead to death. (3) -- Carlos Eire, in War Against the Idols: The Reformation of Worship from Erasmus to Calvin, 1990, pp. 260-261.
Footnotes:
1. Corpus Reformatorum: Joannis Calvini Opera quae supersuntomnia (CR hereafter), edited by W. Baum, E. Cunitz, and E. Reuss (Brunswick, 1863-80), 6.576. Also CR 55.280, CR 45.770.
2. CR 11.629-30
3. "Quatrieme Sermon," CR 8.437.

They were guilty of a great sin in the matter of Peor; and this was the sin of the new generation, when they were within a step of Canaan (v. 28): They joined themselves to Baal-peor, and so were entangled both in idolatry and in adultery, in corporeal and in spiritual whoredom, Num. 25:1-3. Those that did often partake of the altar of the living God now ate the sacrifices of the dead, of the idols of Moab (that were dead images, or dead men canonized or deified), or sacrifices to the infernal deities on the behalf of their dead friends. Thus they provoked God to anger with their inventions (v. 29), in contempt of him and his institutions, his commands, and his threatenings. The iniquity of Peor was so great that, long after, it is said, They were not cleansed from it, Jos. 22:17. God testified his displeasure at this, (1.) By sending a plague among them, which in a little time swept away 24,000 of those impudent sinners. (2.) By stirring up Phinehas to use his power as a magistrate for the suppressing of the sin and checking the contagion of it. He stood up in his zeal for the Lord of hosts, and executed judgment upon Zimri and Cozbi, sinners of the first rank, genteel sinners; he put the law in execution upon them, and this was a service so pleasing to God that upon it the plague was stayed, v. 30. By this, and some other similar acts of public justice on that occasion (Num. 25:4,5), the guilt ceased to be national, and the general controversy was let fall. When the proper officers did their duty God left it to them, and did not any longer keep the work in his own hands by the plague. Note, National justice prevents national judgments. But, Phinehas herein signalizing himself, a special mark of honour was put upon him, for what he did was counted to him for righteousness to all generations (v. 31), and, in recompence of it, the priesthood was entailed on his family. He shall make an atonement by offering up the sacrifices, who had so bravely made an atonement (so some read it, v. 30) by offering up the sinners. Note, It is the honour of saints to be zealous against sin. -- Matthew Henry in Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (unabridged)

The end of all learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love and imitate Him. -- John Milton

CASE, THOMAS, The Imitation of the Saints. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, Three, CD #14.

*Kempis, Thomas a' (Thomas, a' Kempis. c. 1380-1471), The Imitation of Christ, an electronic publication of the November 5, 1940 edition of The Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library), Translated by: Aloysius Croft, and Harold Bolton, ISBN: 0585035636 9780585035635. A Christian classic.
"For five hundred years, this gentle book, filled with the spirit of the love of God, has brought understanding and comfort to millions of readers in over fifty languages, and provided them with a source of heart-felt personal prayer. These meditations on the life and teachings of Jesus, written in times even more troubled and dangerous than our own, have become second only to the Bible as a guide and inspiration." -- CCEL
"The primary Protestant complaints about the book are with regard to what they might call medieval superstitions: the merit of good works and transubstantiation (IV:2 - i.e., volume IV, chapter 2), purgatory (IV:9), and the honoring of saints (I:13, II:9, III:6, III:59)." -- Wikipedia
http://www.worldcat.org/wcpa/oclc/56340258?page=frame&url=%3D%3FUTF-8%3FB%3FaHR0cDovL3d3dy5jY2VsLm9yZy9jY2VsL2tlbXBpcy9pbWl0YXRpb24uaHRtbA%3D%3D%3F%3D&title=&linktype=digitalObject&detail=

*NESS, CHRISTOPHER (1621-1705), An Antidote Against Arminianism, or, A Succinct Discourse to enervate and confute all the five points thereof to wit, predestination grounded upon man's foreseen works, universal redemption, sufficient grace is all, the power of man's free-will in conversion, and the possibility of true saints falling away totally and finally: all which are demonstrated here to be damnable errours, both by Scriptures and reason &c. . . . / published for the publick good by Christopher Ness, 1700, ISBN: 092114802X. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #19, ISBN: 092114895X 9780921148951. A Christian classic.
"First printed in 1700 by Christopher Ness, an English nonconformist preacher and author, it comes with a recommendation by John Owen." -- GCB. Includes a Scripture index.
An Antidote Against Arminianism, Christopher Ness 1700
http://members.wbs.net/homepages/j/o/h/johnowen/ness.htm

*Owen, John (1616-1683), A Cluster of the Fruit of Canaan: Rules of walking in fellowship, with reference to the pastor or minister that watcheth for our souls. Alternate title: ESHCOL: A CLUSTER OF THE FRUIT OF CANAAN; BROUGHT TO THE BORDERS, FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SAINTS, TRAVELLING THITHER-WARD, WITH THEIR FACES TOWARDS SYON. OR, RULES OF DIRECTION, FOR THE WALKING OF THE SAINTS IN FELLOWSHIP, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF THE GOSPEL. COLLECTED AND EXPLAINED FOR THE USE OF THE CHURCH AT COGGESHALL, BY JOHN OWEN THEIR PASTOR, 1648. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN Vol. 13. (13:1-49).

*Packer, J.I., A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life (Wheaton, IL: Good News Publishers [Crossway Books]), ISBN: 0891078193.
"Packer is a well-known author, lecturer, and theologian. He is currently Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Regent College, Vancouver, B.C.
"Packer writes of that golden age of Christian theology, when giants of the faith pursued holiness in life and practice like a hound follows a scent. Those Puritans of the 17th century (a little before and a little after) had as their aim to be fully conformed to the image of God, and to be seen at home and abroad as close imitators of Christ Jesus. . . .
"There are lessons for us in their passion for effective action. They had no time for lazy or passive persons. They were men of action in the pure Reformed mold -- crusading activists without a jot of self-reliance; workers for God who depended utterly on God to work in and through them. . . . There are lessons for us in their program for family stability. It is hardly too much to say that the Puritans created the Christian family in the English-speaking world. The Puritan ethic of marriage was to look not for a partner whom you do love passionately at this moment, but rather one whom you can love steadily as your best friend for life, and then to proceed with God's help to do just that. . . .
"In the introduction Packer gives his personal testimony as to how much he owes to the Puritans for his depth of knowledge, firmness of purpose, his dedication to fulfilling God's purposes in his life, and his love of the truth as revealed in the Scriptures. Because of his appreciation of this background of Puritan influence on his life, he has often written and lectured on the subject of the importance of the Puritans. Many of our freedoms and just laws can be traced to their influence on all our lives. This book contains the following themes: The Puritans in Profile; The Puritans and the Bible; The Puritans and the Gospel; the Puritans and the Holy Spirit; The Puritan Christian Life; The Puritans in Ministry. . . .
"This reviewer would love to persuade every single reader of these words to read this book. You would get a view of Christians which would inspire you, which would perhaps lead you, which would perhaps lead you to repentance, but also to heights of spirituality you would not enjoy without them. What Packer has said about their influence on his life can be repeated almost word for word in a resume of this reviewer's life. If you want to grow in grace, and in usefulness to God's cause, read the writing of the Puritans.
"We will repeat what we said in reviewing John Owen's THE DEATH OF DEATH IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST, that Packer's well balanced definition of Calvinism in the introduction to that volume is by far the best we have seen in 42 years of intensive reading. And that superb piece appears in this volume in full, which alone is worth the price of this book.
"The book jacket has these words: `Dr. Packer masterfully uncovers the hidden treasures of Puritan life and thought. With crystalline clarity he reveals the depth and breadth of Puritan spiritual life, contrasting it with the superficiality and deadness of modern Western Christianity. Drawing on a lifetime of study Dr. Packer takes the reader on a survey of the lives and teachings of great leaders such as John Owen, Richard Baxter, and Jonathan Edwards. He offers a close look at such subjects as the Puritan view of the Bible, spiritual gifts, the Sabbath, worship, social action, and the family. He concludes that a main difference between the Puritans and ourselves is spiritual maturity -- the Puritans had it; we do not. In a time of failing vision and decaying values, this powerful portrait of Puritans is a beacon of hope that calls us to radical commitment and action when both are desperately needed'." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"Contrary to popular opinion, the Puritans were no dour lot of killjoys. In fact, Packer says, there's a lot we can learn from them about truly authentic and joyous spirituality. In this book Packer explores the Puritans' own writings on the Bible, the Gospel, the Holy Spirit, Christian life, and ministry. For each topic he beautifully demonstrates how the Puritans can help us press on toward godliness. If you're intrigued by the Puritans but don't know where to start reading them, this book will be a valuable guide!" -- CBD
"In a resounding call to deepen our Christian life, Packer reveals the strength of the Puritan system of spiritual maturity." -- Publisher's Annotation
J.I. Packer's Introduction to The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/packer_intro.html
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, by John Owen
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/packer_intro.html
The Death of Death In the Death of Christ, John Owen (1 of 33)
An audio file reading by Still Waters Revival Books from THE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN, Redemption & Reconciliation That Is In the Blood of Christ (Limited Atonement). Currently (February 2009) there are 63 readings of John Owen by SWRB and Reformed Baptist of Holland (Michigan), (Thomas Sullivan) at SermonAudio available for listening online, downloading as MP3 files, and listening on iPhone or Mobile Phones.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=47081639571

PRICE, GREG, A Testimony Against the Unfounded Charges of Anabaptism. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #24. ISBN: 0921148186 9780921148180.
"This book teaches us that '[t]he heresy of Anabaptism lives today! It has infected the modern church with its cancerous errors and heresies: anti-creedalism, arminianism, dispensationalism, independency [sectarianism], anti-paedobaptism, will-worship [anti-regulativism], perfectionism, societal escapism, religious pluralism and tolerationism [anti-establishmentarianism], denial of the perpetual obligation of social covenanting, pacifism, pietism, socialism, premillennialism, and a refusal to recognize *lawful* civil government as the ordinance of God. These unbiblical positions of the Anabaptists were not tolerated by the Reformed Churches of the First and Second Reformations, and neither should they be tolerated by any Church today that claims to be Reformed or Presbyterian' [Greg Price]. Far to little contemporary Reformed writing has been directed against the Anabaptists, especially in light of the fact that many of their heresies have been generally adopted by professing Christians. Even the 'Reformed' community suffers from this contagion. Lord willing, this book with be an effective antidote to the 'AIDS' of Anabaptist thought and practice." -- Publisher's Annotation
A Testimony Against the Unfounded Charges of Anabaptism (1997) by Greg Price
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualNLs/anabapt.htm

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Sin and its consequences, Temptation, Evil, the problem of, avoiding, eschewing, shunning, Spirituality and harlotry, Foolishness, Childishness, Self-destruction, Self, selfishness, self-esteem, The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Christ our example, Covenant theology, Background and history of the covenanted reformation of scotland, The covenanted reformation, Covenanted reformation short title listing, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, The covenant faithfulness of god, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Ethics, Medical ethics, Justification, Justifying faith, Christ's kingdom, Lordship of jesus christ, The all-sufficiency of christ, Trusting god, Idolatry, Secret societies, ungodly alliances, voluntary associations, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Unfaithful reformed ministries, Politics, Conspiracy and corruption, Individual responsibility for corporate faithfulness and sanctification, Sonship, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 3916, 3918
MGTP: Imitation



Contentiousness

As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. (Proverbs 26:21)

See also: The attributes of god, Pride, Childishness, Self, selfishness, self-esteem, Feminism, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Sin and its consequence: physical and spiritual death, Envy, Jealousy, Adultery, Anger, Covetousness, Greed, and Selfishness, Effeminacy, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, The decline of american society, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, and so forth, and so on.
 TCRB5: 830, 3731-3735, 3879



Contentment

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Philippians 4:11)

*Burroughs, Jeremiah, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1979), ISBN: 0851510914 9780851510910. A Christian classic.
"Well-known Puritan author of THE RARE JEWEL OF CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT excels in deeply spiritual insights. Most authors writing today can't hold a candle to him!" -- CBD
"I am still reading this book, but I've read enough to have it significantly change my outlook on life and afflictions. I have learned in abundance what it means to trust the Lord in troubles and to realize that God will bring me out of them in His time, and it is my duty to praise the Lord and devote my heart to Him. My cup runs over when I read Jeremiah Burroughs." -- Reader's Comment

Sibbes, Richard (1577-1635), The Art of Contentment. In THE WORKS OF RICHARD SIBBES, (5:175-93)

*Watson, Thomas (d. 1686), and Don Kistler (editor), The Art of Divine Contentment, 2nd edition. Alternate title: AUTARKEIA. (Soli Deo Gloria Ministries, March 1, 2001), ISBN: 1573581135 9781573581134.
This is an exposition of Philippians 4:11.
"Like all the good Puritans he majored in the art of teaching humble hearts to live the Christ-like life. In this book it is the art of contentment that is pressed on all of us." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"Watson, one of the most understandable and practical of the Puritans, gives us a much needed remedy for the discontent that is rampant in our society today, even among Christians. He gives a warm and God-centered view of how contentment as a Christian is not only possible, but should be normal. His thesis is: 'That a gracious spirit is a contented spirit. The doctrine of contentment is very superlative; and til we have learned this, we have not learned to be Christians.' (p. 19). He rightly focuses the source of contentment on God's promises and His sovereign keeping of them. 'There is one promise brings much sweet contentment into the soul, "They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing", Ps. xxxiv. 10. If the thing we desire be good for us, we shall have it; if it be not good, then the not having it is good for us. The resting satisfied with this promise gives contentment.' (p. 108). "All Christians can benefit from this kind of work, that we might be different, and not live in the same discontent that we see all around us. If you're looking for a treatment for your heart, Watson is a fine physician of the soul. "-- Reader's Comment
The Art of Divine Contentment, Thomas Watson
http://www.ccel.org/w/watson/contentment/contentment.html
Watson, Thomas. The art of divine contentment. By Thomas Watson, . . . Revised and corrected, by Thomas Bennett, . . . The fifteenth edition London, 1793.

See also: The covenant faithfulness of god, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The providence of god, Worry and anxiety, Trusting god, The all-sufficiency of Christ, Heaven, Ecclesiastes, Casuistry, cases of conscience, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 829
MGTP: Contentment



Courage

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (Isaiah 41:10)

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:33)

Brethren, if we are to win great victories we must have greater courage. Some of you hardly dare speak about the blood of Christ in any but the most godly company; and scarcely there. You are very retiring. You love yourselves too much to get into trouble through your religion. Surely you cannot be of that noble band that love not their own lives unto the death! Many dare not hold the old doctrine nowadays because they would be thought narrow and bigoted, and this would be too galling. They call us old fools. It is very likely we are; but we are not ashamed to be fools for Christ's sake, and the truth's sake. We believe in the blood of the Lamb, despite the discoveries of science. We shall never give up the doctrine of atoning sacrifice to please modern culture. What little reputation we have is as dear to us as another man's character is to him; but we will cheerfully let it go in this struggle for the central truth of revelation. It will be sweet to be forgotten and lost sight of, or to be vilified and abused, if the old faith in the substitutionary sacrifice can be kept alive. This much we are resolved on, we will be true to our convictions concerning the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus; for if we give up this, what is there left?
God will not do anything by us if we are false to the cross. He uses the men who spare not their reputations when these are called for in defence of truth. Oh to be at a white heat! Oh to flame with zeal for Jesus! O my brethren, hold you to the old faith, and say, "As for the respect of men, I can readily forfeit it; but as for the truth of God, that I can never give up." This is the day for men to be men; for, alas! the most are soft, molluscous creatures. Now we need backbones as well as heads. To believe the truth concerning the Lamb of God, and truly to believe it, this is the essential of an overcoming life. Oh for courage, constancy, fixedness, self-denial, willingness to be made nothing of for Christ! God give us to be faithful witnesses to the blood of the Lamb in the midst of this ungodly world! -- C.H. Spurgeon in a sermon, The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon

ANDERSON, JAMES, Ladies of the Covenant, 1851. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #10, ISBN: 0921148852 9780921148852.
"Memoirs of distinguished Scottish female characters, embracing the period of the covenant and the persecution. The introduction notes the importance of the lives of these courageous women, when it states: `They have especially by the magnanimity with which they suffered in the cause of truth, emphatically taught us the important principle that we are in all things and at all times to do what is right; and as to the disapprobation, opposition, and persecution of men, in whatever way manifested, or to whatever extent, we are to let that take its chance, a principle, the importance of which it is difficult to over-estimate; which lies at the foundation of all that is great and good in character; which has enabled the greatest and the best men, by the blessing of God, to achieve the great purposes they have formed for advancing the highest interests of mankind, and upon which it is necessary for the good soldier of Christ to act in every age, in an age in which the church enjoys tranquillity, as well as when she suffers persecution.' Samuel Rutherford's (and others) correspondence with these exceptional Christian women is noted throughout. 494 pages of soul-stirring history!" -- SWRB

BURROUGHS, JEREMIAH (1599-1646), The Excellency of Holy Courage in Evil Times, in which, (besides many other seasonable truths) there is shewed: 1.That wicked men in power are fierce in their wrath 2. That faith will keep a gracious heart from immoderate fear of men of authority and power. 3. Directions in our fear of authority, etc., 1661. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #13.

*HOWIE, JOHN, The Scots Worthies. Biographia Scoticana: or, A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots Worthies . . . As also, an appendix, containing a short historical hint of the wicked lives . . . of the . . . apostates and . . . persecutors in Scotland . . . 2nd edition, corrected and enlarged, 1781 (Glasgow: Printed by John Bryce, and sold at his shop opposite Gibson's-Wynd, Salt-market, 1781).Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
The full book and the book series of 22 MP3 files, produced by Still Waters Revival Books, may be found on Reformation Bookshelf CD #1, ISBN: 0921148674 9780921148678.
This same book series of audio files is available at AudioSermons.com.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?seriesOnly=true&currSection=sermonstopic&sourceid=swrb&keyword=Book%3A+SCOTS+WORTHIES&keyworddesc=Book%3A+SCOTS+WORTHIES
Biographia Scoticana, John Howie
Original from Oxford University, published 1885, digitized May 22, 2006. Described as a reprint of the 1781 edition.
http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC34190563&id=5iwAAAAAQAAJ&q=Scots+Worthies+1781&dq=Scots+Worthies+1781&ie=ISO-8859-1&pgis=1
(Gale: Eighteenth Century Collection Online [ECCO.] Gale Document Number CW3300757473). English Short Title Catalog, ESTCT110333.
"Most commonly known as SCOTS WORTHIES, this edition contains Howie's footnotes (defending the Covenanters) and Howie's appendix titled `The Judgment and Justice of God' (which chronicles God's judgments upon Reformation apostates and those who persecuted the Covenanters). It is the only edition in print which contains both these sections intended for publication by the author (as later editors often removed either one or both of these parts of this book). BIOGRAPHIA SCOTICANA covers the history of `noblemen, gentlemen, ministers and others from Mr. Patrick Hamilton, who was born about the year of our Lord 1503, and suffered martyrdom at St. Andrews, Feb, 1527, to Mr. James Renwick, who was executed in the Grass-market of Edinburgh, Feb. 17, 1688. Together with a succinct account of the lives of other seven eminent divines, and Sir Robert Hamilton of Preston, who died about, or shortly after the Revolution.' This is one of our best history books (over 700 pages), covering all of the major Scottish Reformers. Howie summarizes his book as follows: `The design of the following was to collect, from the best authorities, a summary account of the lives, characters, and contendings, of a certain number of our most renowned SCOTS WORTHIES, who, for their faithful services, ardent zeal, constancy in sufferings, and other Christian graces and virtues, deserve honourable memorial in the Church of Christ; and for which their names have been, and will be savoury to all the true lovers of our Zion, while Reformation principles are regarded.' Furthermore, the momentous nature of the struggles chronicled in this book are succinctly noted when Howie writes: `the primitive witnesses had the divinity of the Son of God, and an open confession of Him, for their testimony. Our reformers from Popery had Antichrist to struggle with, in asserting the doctrines of the Gospel, and the right way of salvation in and through Jesus Christ. Again, in the reigns of James VI. and Charles I., Christ's REGALIA, and the divine right of Presbytery, became the subject matter of their testimony. Then, in the beginning of the reign of Charles II. (until he got the whole of our ancient and laudable constitution effaced and overturned), our Worthies only saw it their duty to hold and contend for what they had already attained unto. But, in the end of this and the subsequent tyrant's reign, they found it their duty (a duty which they had too long neglected) to advance one step higher, by casting off their authority altogether, and that as well on account of their manifest usurpation of Christ's crown and dignity, as on account of their treachery, bloodshed, and tyranny . . . which may be summed up. The Primitive martyrs sealed the prophetic office of Christ in opposition to Pagan idolatry. The reforming martyrs sealed His priestly office with their blood, in opposition to Popish idolatry. And last of all, our late martyrs have sealed His kingly office with their best blood, in despite of supremacy and bold Erastianism. They indeed have cemented it upon His royal head, so that to the world's end it shall never drop off again.' Moreover, the importance of this book can be clearly seen when Johnston, in Treasury of the Scottish Covenant, reports that, Walter Scott refers to Howie as `the fine old chronicler of the Cameronians'. . . Howie's book has been for upwards of a century a household word, occupying a place on the shelf beside THE BIBLE and THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.' Written for God, country and the covenanted work of Reformation. Stirring history!" -- SWRB
See also: Thomson, John Henderson (editor), A CLOUD OF WITNESSES FOR THE ROYAL PREROGATIVES OF JESUS CHRIST BEING THE LAST SPEECHES AND TESTIMONIES OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED FOR THE TRUTH IN SCOTLAND SINCE . . . 1680 (Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle Publications) and JOHN FOXE'S BOOK OF MARTYRS. ACTES AND MONUMENTS OF MATTERS MOST SPECIALL AND MEMORABLE, the second edition of Foxe's Book of Martyrs Variorum Edition Online (version 1.1 - summer 2006).

*Lucas, J.R., Parenting of Champions: Raising Godly Children in an Evil Age (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth and Hyatt, 1990), ISBN: 094349785X 9780943497853.
"The evils of our culture are attacking our families from every side -- with the biggest guns aimed straight at our children. . . . First step is for parents to set a championship example, to actually become what they want their children to become." -- GCB
"This is one of the most honest, courageous parenting books you will ever read." -- CRM

Potter, William, The Boy's Guide to the Historical Adventures of G.A. Henty (Vocabulary of a Warrior) (The Vision Forum, Inc., July 3, 2000), ISBN: 1929241151 9781929241156.
"This unique book charts Henty's works of historical fiction chronologically and provides both a plot summary and an historical overview of over 70 of his classic tales." -- Publisher's Annotation
"HOME EDUCATORS: If you are trying to put together a history-based curriculum, this volume is very helpful! You can gauge which time periods in your student's course of study need some bolstering up (or livening up) and search in this book for the proper Henty novel to introduce. For example, to bulk up our study on 'Ancient Times,' I needed a novel about Hannibal. This terrific reference book tells me to get Henty's 'The Young Carthaginian' to meet that requirement.
"Another problem it solves is that sometimes a history-based curriculum can get predictable. Everyone seems to be covering the same things and the only variance is how deeply they're studied. This guide covers all of Henty's books and makes it easy to locate his books on obscure subjects and events which you can tantalize your children with. Children seem to love citing these forgotten tales and bedazzling their peers and family with them!
"This volume will also prove invaluable to PEOPLE EDUCATING THEMSELVES. As an adult who is battling her 'learning gaps,' I just page through this reference until I find something that doesn't ring ANY bells! By reading a Henty, I enjoy a terrific adventure (which I can later discuss with my children), educate myself and, if I want to, pursue the subject more deeply later on." -- Reader's Comment
"G.A. Henty wrote around 144 books. Many of the books revolve around a fictional character who interacts with real persons from that historical period. Heroism, honor, courage, and leadership are integral characteristics of the main protagonists. I have trouble putting down a Henty story. I highly recommend this resource." -- Reader's Comment

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Immanuel, christ with us, Bible promises, Justification, Justifying faith, Christ's kingdom, Lordship of jesus christ, The all-sufficiency of christ, Immanuel, christ in you, Trusting god, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Covenant theology, Background and history of the covenanted reformation of scotland, The covenanted reformation, Covenanted reformation short title listing, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, The covenant faithfulness of god, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Christian Biography, Fear and anxiety, Power, Cowardice, Worry and anxiety
TCRB5: 522, 523, 849-859
MGTP: Courage

Related WebLinks

Courage, Martyrdom and the Triumph of Truth a sermon on Matthew 10 by Greg Price
A definition of Biblical courage and an exposure of the false courage of the faithless.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonsspeaker&sermonID=11501182424



The Covenant Faithfulness of God

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:22-26)

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100:5)

I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. (Psalm 89: 3,4)

See the Theological Notes, "God's Covenant of Grace," at Genesis 12:1 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Note, "God is Love: Divine Goodness and Faithfulness" at Psalm 136:1 in The Reformation Study Bible (The New Geneva Study Bible).

See the Theological Notes, "True Knowledge of God," at Jeremiah 9:24 in The Reformation Study Bible.

In Scripture, religion means covenant. By His Word, God called into being an order of creation culminating in man. By that Word He also gave man His favor and brought him into a life of conscious covenantal fellowship with Himself. As De Graaf himself puts it: "Without covenant, there is no religion, no conscious fellowship between man and God, no exchange of love and faithfulness. Without the covenant, man would be just an instrument in God's hand. When God created man, He had more than an instrument in mind: He made a creature that could respond to Him . . . ." -- H. Evan Runner

Beisner, E. Calvin, Psalms of Promise: Celebrating the Majesty and Faithfulness of God, ISBN: 087552107X 9780875521077

FLEMING, ROBERT, The Faithfulness of God Considered and Cleared in the Great Events of His Word, or A Second Part of the Fulfilling of the Scripture, where its convincing and near approach before men's eyes, with some clear discovery thereof in the work and conduct of providence this day about the church, is shewed forth, 1674. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Puritan Bookshelf CD #6 Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #17.

*Graaf, Simon Gerrit, de Promise and Deliverance, 4 volumes (Scarsdale, NY [Westminster Discount Book Service, P.O. Box 125H, Scarsdale 10583]: Westminster Discount Book Service, 1977). Translated from the Dutch by H. Evan Runner and Elisabeth Wichers Runner. A Christian classic.
"In Scripture, religion means covenant. By His Word, God called into being an order of creation culminating in man. By that Word He also gave man His favor and brought him into a life of conscious covenantal fellowship with Himself. As De Graaf himself puts it: `Without covenant, there is no religion, no conscious fellowship between man and God, no exchange of love and faithfulness. Without the covenant, man would be just an instrument in God's hand. When God created man, He had more than an instrument in mind: He made a creature that could respond to Him. . . .'
"This renewed insight into Biblical revelation is the perspective undergirding De Graaf's treatment of all Bible stories. It makes his book a unique presentation of God's revelation of Himself in the covenant and keeps his interpretations of the stories from degenerating into mere moralizing. Religion is not morality." -- H. Evan Runner
"I highly recommend this book. One of the best books available." -- R.C. Sproul
"A landmark in interpreting the simple stories of the Bible." -- Christianity Today

*ROBERTS, WILLIAM L. (1798-1864), The Duty of Covenanting, and the Permanent Obligation of Religious Covenants, 1853. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #27 ISBN: 0921148240 9780921148241.
"Excerpted from the Reformed Presbyterian Catechism below, this book deals with an almost forgotten ordinance of God. It explains what covenants are, while contrasting them with oaths, vows and law. Furthermore, it distinguishes between civil and religious covenants and shows how the individual, family, church or nation can (and should) enter into covenants -- especially religious covenants. Explains why, when and how covenants are binding on posterity, citing abundant Scriptural proof for each assertion made. Here is a sample argument from this book, demonstrating how even covenants made between men are viewed as binding upon posterity by God himself: 'Another instance in which posterity is recognized in covenant obligation is found in Joshua 9:15. This covenant was made between the children of Israel and the Gibeonites. Between four and five hundred years after that time, the children of Israel are visited with a very severe famine, in the days of David. 2 Sam. 21:1. And it is expressly declared by the Lord that, 'It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.' And at the same time, v. 2, that very covenant is recognized, and the breach of it is stated, as being the formal reason of the divine displeasure. Now, had it not been for this covenant, the extirpation of the Gibeonites would not have been imputed to Israel as a thing criminal; for they were comprehended in Canaanitish nations, which God had commanded them to root out' (pp. 139-140). Take the time to look these verses up. This subject has great bearing on the unity of the church, the Christian's response to godless covenant-breaking nations, hermeneutics, the family and general faithfulness to God (because many today -- individually, ecclesiastically, and nationally -- are breaking covenants which God still views as binding though they are oblivious to this obligation)." -- SWRB
On the Duty of Covenanting and the Permanent Obligations of Religious Covenants" being section 11 in the Reformed Presbyterian Catechism, 1853
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/PresCatCov.htm
Reformed Presbyterian Catechism, William L. Roberts D.D.
http://www.covenantedreformation.com/EssaysCR/RP%20Catechism/RP%20Index.html

See also: The sovereignty of god, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The all-sufficiency of christ, Trusting god, Christ's kingdom, Lordship of jesus christ, Covenant theology and the ordinance of covenanting, The covenant of redemption, The covenant faithfulness of god, God's deliverance of nations, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Oaths, ensnaring (vows, promises, covenants) and bonds with the ungodly, Background and history of the covenanted reformation of scotland, The national covenant, The solemn league and covenant, The covenanted reformation of scotland, The covenanted reformation of scotland short title listing, Biography of covenanters, Acts of faithful assemblies, Covenanting in america, The scottish covenanting struggle, alexander craighead, and the mecklenburg declaration, Confession of national sin and covenant renewal, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Justification, Justifying faith, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 306, 307, 1228, 1229, 2297, 2300, 2911
MGTP: God -- Faithfulness of



Covenants

See the Theological Notes, "The Wisdom and Will of God," at Daniel 2:20 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "God's Covenant of Grace" at Genesis 12:1 in The Reformation Study Bible.

*Moore, Edwin Nisbet, Our covenant Heritage: The Covenanters' Struggle for Unity in Truth as Revealed in the Memoir of James Nisbet (1667-1728) and Sermons of John Nevay (d. 1672), illustrated by Brenda Newman and Linda Rhoden (Tain [Ross-shire:] Christian Focus Publications, c2000), ISBN: 1857926188, includes bibliographical references and index.
"A new book, OUR COVENANT HERITAGE, examines the rise and fall of the Scottish Church. It rose when men placed the rights of God above the rights of man. It fell when men abandoned unity in truth. It is written by Ed Moore, who spent several years examining why the Covenanters, particularly those who lived near Loudoun Castle, were willing to die for their understanding of God's truth. The answer is found in the sermons of their minister John Nevay on God's Covenant of Grace and in the Memoirs of James Nisbet, one of their number who survived their epic battle for truth only to face the age-old struggle of Christ's church for unity in truth." -- Publisher's Annotation
Our Covenant Heritage, Edwin Nesbet Moore
http://www.covenanters.com/

*SIBBES, RICHARD (1577-1635), The Faithful Covenanter, 1639 Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #29, ISBN: 0921148283 9780921148289. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2.
"An amazing sermon opening the narrow road of faithful covenanting -- as seen first and foremost in the Lord Jesus Christ, our perfect covenant keeper! Expounds on the four periods of time relating to the renewing of the covenant of grace in history. Shows that 'whatsoever we give the supremacy of the inward man to, whatsoever we love most, whatsoever we trust most, whatsoever we fear most, whatsoever we joy and delight in most, whatsoever we obey most -- that is our God.' Applies this to the first commandment, as a part of the law of the covenant, and works out the implications (which involve numerous areas). Goes on to give Scriptural marks whereby covenant keepers can be distinguished from covenant breakers and connects the everlasting covenant with the sacraments and their meaning. A meaty meal, recommended for those who are willing to advance theologically and practically." -- SWRB

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The covenant faithfulness of god, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, God's deliverance of nations, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Covenant theology and the ordinance of covenanting, The covenant of redemption, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Oaths, ensnaring (vows, promises, covenants) and bonds with the ungodly, Background and history of the covenanted reformation of scotland, The national covenant, The solemn league and covenant, The covenanted reformation of scotland, The covenanted reformation of scotland short title listing, Biography of covenanters, Acts of faithful assemblies, Covenanting in america, The scottish covenanting struggle, alexander craighead, and the mecklenburg declaration, Confession of national sin and covenant renewal, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 877-883, 1232, 1234
MGTP: Covenant



Covetousness, Greed, and Selfishness

Q. 146. Which is the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shall not covet they neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.[910]
Q. 147. What are the duties required in the tenth commandment?
A. The duties required in the tenth commandment are, such a full contentment with our own condition,[911] and such a charitable frame of the whole soul toward our neighbour, as that all our inward motions and affections touching him, tend unto, and further all that good which is his.[912]
Q. 148. What are the sins forbidden in the tenth commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the tenth commandment are, discontentment with our own estate;[913] envying[914] and grieving at the good of our neighbour,[915] together with all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.[916]

Q. 140. Which is the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.[800]
Q. 141. What are the duties required in the eighth commandment?
A. The duties required in the eighth commandment are, truth, faithfulness, and justice in contracts and commerce between man and man;[801] rendering to everyone his due; restitution of goods unlawfully detained from the right owners thereof;[802] giving and lending freely, according to our abilities, and the necessities of others;[803] moderation of our judgments, wills, and affections concerning worldly goods;[804] a provident care and study to get,[805] keep, use, and dispose these things which are necessary and convenient for the sustentation of our nature, and suitable to our condition;[806] a lawful calling,[807] and diligence in it;[808] frugality;[809] avoiding unnecessary lawsuits,[810] . and suretiship, or other like engagements;[811] and an endeavor, by all just and lawful means, to procure, preserve, and further the wealth and outward estate of others, as well as our own.[812]
Q. 142. What are the sins forbidden in the eighth commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the eighth commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required,[813] are, theft,[814] robbery,[815] man-stealing,[816] and receiving any thing that is stolen;[817] fraudulent dealing,[818] false weights and measures,[819] removing landmarks,[820] injustice and unfaithfulness in contracts between man and man,[821] or in matters of trust;[822] oppression,[823] extortion,[824] usury,[825] bribery,[826] vexatious lawsuits,[827] unjust inclosures and depopulations;[828] ingrossing commodities to enhance the price;[829] unlawful callings,[830] and all other unjust or sinful ways of taking or withholding from our neighbour what belongs to him, or of enriching ourselves;[831] covetousness;[832] inordinate prizing and affecting worldly goods;[833] distrustful and distracting cares and studies in getting, keeping, and using them;[834] envying at the prosperity of others;[835] as likewise idleness,[836] prodigality, wasteful gaming; and all other ways whereby we do unduly prejudice our own outward estate,[837] and defrauding ourselves of the due use and comfort of that estate which God hath given us. [838] -- The Larger Catechism

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 22:38-40)

See the Theological Notes, "Love," at 1 Corinthians 13:13 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "The Fall" at Genesis 3:6 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Pleasing God," at 1 Thessalonians 2:6 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "The Law of God," at Exodus 20:1 in The Reformation Study Bible.

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. (1 Timothy 1:8-11)
One of the besetting sins of mankind is to use the law to oppress and steal from his fellowman. Frederic Bastiat unfolds this sin in, The Law.

He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. (Proverbs 28:8) See the annotation in The Reformation Study Bible.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:19,20)

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:24-27)

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:30)

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. -- (1 Timothy 3:6)

Our Triune God has ordained that authority, power, and leadership devolves to those who know the most Truth (the Apostle Paul, Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, The Scots Worthies . . . ). Preeminent among those is the Lord Christ, the God Man, Our Righteousness. (John 1:1-18; Matthew 19:30; Matthew 28:18-20; Isaiah 49:7; Colossians 1:16-19; Colossians 2:9,10; Hebrews 12:1,2; Revelation 5:1-14; Revelation 19:11-15; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 22:12, and so forth, and so on.)

To serve God is to reign. -- Seneca

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 6:38)

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:13-15)

The fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God.
They are corrupt,
they have done abominable works,
there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1)
See the Theological Notes, "Mankind's Guilty Knowledge of God" at Romans 1:29 and the note at Psalm 14:1 in The Reformation Study Bible

Soul-violence begins when one individual tries to usurping authority over another, to control and possess them. The means of control may be either outward or occult: possessiveness, deceit, repression or suppression of the truth, soul stealing, attempts to take authority over another politically or by mental malpractice, denial of freedom, indebtedness, whoredom, and so forth. Abuse of the soul quenches the Holy Spirit.
If either side is immovable, then death is the result of the conflict of will. How are conflicts of will resolved? By submission to the absolute truth of God's word. These observations bear a strain of the Gospel.

Covetousness seems to be the besetting sin of mankind. Notice the first nine of the Ten Commandments have to do with taking something that is not ours. The first table has to do with taking from God what is His. The second table has to do with taking from man what is not ours. And the tenth commandment is a summation of the previous nine.

Take note of the fact that it is not possible to desire something that one already possess.

Adams, Jay, Sibling Rivalry in the Household of God (Denver: Accent Books, 1988), ISBN: 0896362361 9780896362369.
"About 'the causes and effects of rivalry among brothers and sisters in Christ and what can be done about it. . . .' 'Sibling rivalry in the household of faith -- just like at home -- is due entirely to sin.' Other supposed causes are not causes but occasions for our self-centered human nature to act. The Holy Spirit gives practical guidance in His Word for solving rivalry and conflict through repentance, faith and obedience." -- David Powlison

Adams, Jay E., A Thirst for Wholeness: How to Gain Wisdom From the Book of James (Victor Books [Scripture Press], 1988), ISBN: 0964355698 9780964355699, 143 pages.
"A study of the inner dynamics of human life from the book of James. Meant to be used personally or in a study group or class. Works thematically, covering anger, desires, doubt, prayer, peacemaking, sickness, among other things. The section on the 'inner/outer aspects of sin' (Chapter 3) rebuts a host of misconceptions of nouthetic counseling as externalistic: 'The struggle for mastery over one's desires must be achieved. . . . Christian, resist sin at the start, as Jesus did. Abort inner sin before it is born. Augustine encourages us with these words: `Pray that God may make you conqueror of yourself. . . not the enemy without, but of your own soul within. . . . Let no enemy from without be feared: conquer yourself, and the whole world is conquered'." -- David Powlison A Thirst for Wholeness
http://www.nouthetic.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=82&Itemid=99

*Callahan, David, The Cheating Culture: Why More Americans are Doing Wrong to get Ahead, Updated with a new Afterword, 366 pages, ISBN: 0156030055 9780156030052.
"While there have always been those who cut corners, the author shows that cheating on every level -- from the highly publicized corporate scandals to Little League fraud -- has risen dramatically in the last two decades. Why all the cheating? Why now? Callahan pins the blame on the dog-eat-dog economic climate of the past two decades. An unfettered market and unprecedented economic inequality have corroded our values, he argues -- and ultimately threaten the level playing field so central to American democracy itself. Through revealing interviews and extensive data, he takes us on a gripping tour of cheating in America and offers a powerful argument for why it matters.
"David Callahan is cofounder and director of research at the public policy center Demos. The author of five books, he has published articles in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and USA Today, and has been a frequent commentator on CNN, MSNBC, and NPR. He received a Ph.D. in politics from Princeton University and lives in New York City." --Publisher's Annotation
"I recommend that this book be read together with John Perkins, CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HIT MAN and William Greider's, THE SOUL OF CAPITALISM: OPENING PATHS TO A MORAL ECONOMY. As a pre-amble, I would note that a Nobel Prize was given in the late 1990's to a man that demonstrates that trust lowers the cost of doing business. Morality matters -- immorality imposes a pervasive sustained, insidious, long-term, and ultimately fatal cost on any community, any Republic, and that is the core message of this book that most reviewers seem to be missing.
"Any student of national security can tell you that one of the most important sources of national power is the population, followed by the economy, natural resources, and then the more traditional sources of national power: diplomacy, military, law enforcement, and government policies generally.
"What this author makes clear is that our population has become a cheating population, one that cheats in school, cheats their employer, and cheats their clients (lawyers, accountants, doctors, all cheating). Such a population is literally undermining national security by creating false values, and undermining true values. Some simple examples: an estimated $250 Billion a year in individual tax avoidance; an estimated $600 Billion a year in theft from employers; an estimated $250 Billion a year in legalized corporate tax avoidance and investor fraud; and an additional $250 Billion a year in legalized theft form the individual taxpayers through Congressional support for unnecessary and ill-advised 'subsidies' for agriculture, fishing, and forestry, as well as waivers of environmental standards that ultimately result in long-term external diseconomies . . .
"At root, the author observes that pervasive cheating ensues from the perception by the majority that 'everyone does it' and that the rules are not being enforced -- that 'the system' lacks legitimacy. In other countries, illegitimacy might lead to revolution, a revolt of the masses. In the USA, still a very rich country, the poor are cheating on the margins while the rich are looting the country, and we are not yet at a 'tipping point' [This book was written before the Meltdown of 2008. -- sk] such as a new Great Depression might inspire. . . .
"Cheating diminishes trust and reduces value. America has become corrupt across all the professions, within Congress, within the media, within the political level of government (the civil service remains a bastion of propriety).
"What price freedom? What price the Republic? You may or may not choose to agree with this author's diagnosis and prescription, but in my view, he gets to the heart of the matter. It's about integrity. We've lost it. [Callahan's solutions come from a liberal, humanistic position, nevertheless the bulk of the book is an extensive analysis of cheating in society that is well documented -- 32 pages of endnotes -- and should be enlightening to most readers. -- sk]
"See also, with reviews: THE BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF CAPITALISM: HOW THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM UNDERMINDED SOCIAL IDEALS, DAMAGED TRUST IN THE MARKETS, ROBBED INVESTORS OF TRILLIONS - AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT; THE FIFTY-YEAR WOUND: HOW AMERICA'S COLD WAR VICTORY HAS SHAPED OUR WORLD; THE GLOBAL CLASS WAR: HOW AMERICA'S BIPARTISAN ELITE LOST OUR FUTURE - AND WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO WIN IT BACK; WAR ON THE MIDDLE CLASS: HOW THE GOVERNMENT, BIG BUSINESS, AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ARE WAGING WAR ONTHE AMERICAN DREAM AND HOW TO FIGHT BACK; THE WORKING POOR: INVISIBLE IN AMERICA; and OFF THE BOOKS: THE UNDERGROUND ECONOMY OF THE URBAN POOR." -- Reader's Comment

Capel, Richard (1586-1656), and Sibbes, Richard (1577-1635), Tentations [Temptations]: Their Nature, Danger, Cure. By Richard Capel, sometimes fellow of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford. To which is added a briefe dispute, as touching restitution in the case of vsury, 1635.

*Hightower, Jim Thieves in High Places: They've Stolen Our Country -- And Its Time to Take it Back (Viking Press: August 14, 2003), ISBN: 0670031410 9780670031412.
"Hightower defines `Kleptocrat Nation' as `a body of people ruled by thieves . . . a government characterized by the practice of transferring money and power from the many to the few . . . [and] a ruling class of moneyed elites that usurps liberty, justice, sovereignty, and other, democratic rights from the people.' His catalogue of corporate greed and governmental complicity is breathtaking in scope, and though he admits that the fusion of business and government is not new, he persuasively states that `never have so few done so much for so few.' Unfortunately, Hightower's serious message is delivered in such a `down home' style, it may lose its impact on the more brainy among us. Also, one wishes there were more documentation for the copious examples and facts in the book. Still, Hightower's call to action is sincere, and his descriptions of the triumphs of average people over corporate power might give some fledgling activists some hope. THIEVES IN HIGH PLACES urges Americans to reclaim control of our government -- Hightower thinks we can with community organization and grass-roots movements. However, judging from his description of the current power structure, we are going to need all the help we can get." -- Silvana Trop
"While he covers much that is available in the public domain, he covers in a comprehensive way the whole set of misdeeds perpetrated by Walmart on its employees and those who make its products. You will come away wanting to do something about the behavior of the world's largest corporation after reading it. That alone is worth the price of the book." -- Reader's Comment

Huffington, Arianna Pigs at the Trough: How Corporate Greed and Political Corruption are Undermining America (Crown Publishing Group, January 14, 2003), ISBN: 1400047714 9781400047710.
"Who filled the trough? Who set the table at the banquet of greed? How has it been possible for corporate pigs to gorge themselves on grossly inflated pay packages and heaping helpings of stock options while the average American struggles to make do with their leftovers?
"Provocative political commentator Arianna Huffington yanks back the curtain on the unholy alliance of CEOs, politicians, lobbyists, and Wall Street bankers who have shown a brutal disregard for those in the office cubicles and on the factory floors. As she puts it: `The economic game is not supposed to be rigged like some shady ring toss on a carnival midway.' Yet it has been, allowing corporate crooks to bilk the public out of trillions of dollars, magically making our pensions and 401(k)s disappear and walking away with astronomical payouts and absurdly lavish perks-for-life.
"The media have put their fingers on pieces of the sordid puzzle, but Pigs at the Trough presents the whole ugly picture of what's really going on for the first time -- blistering, wickedly witty portrait of exactly how and why the worst and the greediest are running American business and government into the ground.
"Tyco's Dennis Kozlowski, Adelphia's John Rigas, and the Three Horsemen of the Enron Apocalypse -- Ken Lay, Jeff Skilling, and Andrew Fastow -- are not just a few bad apples. They are manifestations of a megatrend in corporate leadership -- the rise of a callous and avaricious mind-set that is wildly out of whack with the core values of the average American. WorldCom, Enron, Adelphia, Tyco, AOL, Xerox, Merrill Lynch, and the other scandals are only the tip of the tip of the corruption iceberg.
"Making the case that our public watchdogs have become little more than obedient lapdogs, unwilling to bite the corporate hand that feeds them, Arianna Huffington turns the spotlight on the tough reforms we must demand from Washington. We need, she argues, to go way beyond the lame Corporate Responsibility Act if we are to stop the voracious corporate predators from eating away at the very foundations of our democracy.
"Devastatingly funny and powerfully indicting, PIGS AT THE TROUGH is a rousing call to arms and a must-read for all those who are outraged by the scandalous state of corporate America." -- Publisher's Annotation
"The gluttony continues! Every day brings another jaw-dropping new example of precisely the kind of political and corporate outrages that prompted me to write Pigs at the Trough. As I wrote in the book, our representatives in Washington have tried to fool us with a Madison Avenue version of reform, featuring glitzy bill signings and execs-in-chains photo-ops but pitifully little substance. The president's assertion in his State of the Union address that one of the greatest accomplishments of his presidency was reforming corporate America was outrageous. The ongoing march of corporate sleaze proves otherwise.
"In just the last few weeks alone, as we prepare our own taxes, we've learned that the Wall Street firms who've agreed to pay $1.5 billion to settle conflict-of-interest charges will actually be able to claim the vast majority of those payments as tax deductions. Think of that: not only do these financial flimflam artists escape criminal indictment, they get a massive write-off to boot! Then there's the astounding story of how Sprint's top two executives paid no taxes on $288 million in stock-option profits thanks to highly imaginative tax shelters dreamed up by the accounting alchemists at Ernst & Young. And you were worried about whether you could deduct that $42 dollar business lunch you had with a friend?
"PIGS AT THE TROUGH shows how and why such appalling abuses continue to happen - and why Washington continues to turn a blind eye.
"Normally, it's satisfying to be right. But in this case, it's just plain nauseating." -- Arianna Huffington, the author

Leach, William, Land of Desire: Merchants, Power, and the Rise of a New American Culture (Vintage Books, 1994), ISBN: 0679754113 9780679754114.
"An extraordinary work of history, imaginatively conceived, thoroughly researched and absorbingly written. William Leach allows us to see the production of mass consumer culture and to see it whole, in its richness and its poverty. It is a fascinating and troubling tale, and Leach tells it with exceptional skill and sensitivity." -- Jean-Christophe Agnew, Yale University

*Mokhiber, Russell, and Robert Weissman, Corporate Predators: The Hunt for Mega-profits and the Attack on Democracy, ISBN: 1567511589 9781567511581
"For the past twenty years, after a decade and a half of populist resurgence against corporate abuses by consumer, environmental, women's rights and civil rights forces, big business has been on a rampage to control our society. Whether these business supremacies are called corporatization, commercialism, monopolies or the corporate state, the overall concentration of power and wealth in ever fewer multinational corporate centers is a matter of record.
"In arena after arena -- government, workplace, marketplace, media, environment, education, science, technology -- the dominant players are large corporations. What countervailing forces that our society used to depend upon for some balance are not in retreat against the aggressive expansion of corporate influence far beyond its traditional mercantile boundaries?
"The enlarged power that corporations deploy to further increase their revenues and socialize their costs comes from many sources -- old and new. Roughly eighty percent of the money contributed to federal candidates come from business interests. The mobility to export capital has given transnational companies major leverage against local, state and federal officials, not to mention against organized and unorganized labor. The swell of corporate welfare handouts has reached new depths. The contrived complexity of many financial and other services serves to confuse, deplete and daunt consumers who lose significant portions of their income in a manipulative marketplace. Alliances, joint ventures and other complex collaborations between should-be competitors have made a mockery of what is left of antitrust enforcement.
"The opportunities to control or defeat governmental attempts for corporate accountability that flow from transcending national jurisdictions into globalized strategies to escape taxation and pit countries and their workers against one another appear to be endless. The autocratic systems of governance called GATT and NAFTA reflect to the smallest detail ways that giant corporations wish to control the world. These firms are on a collision course against democratic processes, and the merging of states and businesses, to the latter's advantage, weakens relentlessly both the restraints of the law and the willingness of legislators to do anything about it.
"Taken together, the world is witnessing its subjugation to the large corporate model of economic development, the large corporate model of technology and the large corporate model of culture itself. These accelerating trendlines invite accelerating comprehension and response. History demonstrates that commercialism knows few boundaries that are not externally imposed. All the major religions have warned their adherents against the excesses of commercial value systems, albeit with different languages, images and metaphors.
"Specific descriptions of corporate misbehavior do nourish proper generalizations that in turn lead to more just movements and practices. Here, columnists Russell Mokhiber and Robert Weissman provide a distinct service in CORPORATE PREDATORS. It is not just the versatility of their writings -- covering bribery, pollution, corporate crime, fraud and abuse, failure of law enforcement, union-busting, the mayhem inflicted by product defects and toxics, the deep gap between the rich and the rest of America, corporate front groups, the media censorship and self-censorship, the profiteering, the pillaging overseas and more -- but it is also the impact on the reader that comes from aggregating evidence. Our country does not collect statistics on corporate crime the way it does on street crime. For it to do so would begin to highlight a little-attended agenda for law enforcement and other corporate reforms. Neither Congress nor the White House and its Justice Department have made any moves over the years to assemble from around the country the abuses of corporations in quantifiable format so as to drive policy.
"So, description -- accurate, representational description -- must now suffice. As the editor of the Corporate Crime Reporter (Mokhiber) and the editor of the Multinational Monitor (Weissman), the authors know well the difference between anecdotes that are illustrative and that are idiosyncratic. This volume of their weekly columns carries the evidence that illustrates patterns of continuing corporate derelictions, not lonely deviations from a more congenial norm.
"The authors' experience over the years with the impact of disclosures has led them to the conclusion that the facts must be linked to civic engagement and democratic activity for change. If disclosure produced its own dynamic imperatives for change, the recurrent exposure of corporate abuses in such mainstream publications as the Wall Street Journal, Business Week and some national television programs like 'Sixty Minutes' would have caused these changes. Such, unfortunately has not been the case. The linkages between knowledge and action have not been sufficient. But readers of Common Courage Press published books tend towards citizen activism. They want to know because they want to do. Some may even agree with the ancient Chinese saying that 'To know and not to do is not to know.'
"So, go forward readers who wish to be leaders in the advancement of justice -- what Daniel Webster once called 'the great work of men on Earth' -- and savor the writings that will motivate more and more women and men to band together in organizations that build a more just democracy [Constitutional Republic -- sk]." -- Ralph Nader, 1999

*Pike, Samuel (1717-1773), and Samuel Hayward (1718-1757), Self-examination. In RELIGIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER . . . TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION; OR, THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF GOD'S WORD; AND CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, 1866.
Self-examination
http://www.westm/insterconfession.org/godly-living/self-examination.php/

*Pike, Samuel (1717-1773), and Samuel Hayward (1718-1757), Spiritual Injury From Undue Pursuit of the Affairs of This Life. In RELIGIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER . . . TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION; OR, THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF GOD'S WORD; AND CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, 1866.
Spiritual Injury From Undue Pursuit of the Affairs of This Life
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/spiritual-injury-from-undue-pursuit-of-the-affairs-of-this-life.php

Perkins, William (1558-1602), The Reformation of Couetousnesse. Written vpon the 6. chapter of Mathew, from the 19. verse to the ende of the said chapter. By William Perkins, 1603.

Preston, John (1587-1628), Foure Godly and Learned Treatises. Intituled, I. A remedy against covetousnesse. II. An elegant and lively description of spirituall death and life. III. The doctrine of selfe-deniall. IV. Vpon the sacrament of the Lords Supper. Delivered in sundry sermons, by that late famous preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory, Iohn Preston, Doctor of Divinitie, chaplaine in ordinarie to his Majestie; master of Emanuel Colledge, and sometime preacher of Lincolnes Inne, 1633.

Preston, John, Hovv to Mortifie Covetousnesse (London: I. Beale, for Andrew Crooke . . . , 1633).

*Robbins, John W. (1949-2008), Ecclesiastical Megalomania: The Economic and Political Thought of the Roman Catholic Church (Unicoi, TN: The Trinity Foundation), ISBN: 0940931753 9780940931756.
"This book is a detailed examination of the official statements of the Vatican on economic and political matters. It demonstrates the collectivism and totalitarianism of the Roman Catholic Church-State. It is the only such book written by a Christian in the twentieth century.
"This book explores the conflict between Roman Catholic social thought and human freedom, relying on official pronouncements from the Vatican to show that the political and economic theory of the Roman Church-State justifies feudalism, corporativism, liberation theology, the welfare state, and fascism.
"Dr. John W. Robbins attended Grove City College (A.B. 1969) and The Johns Hopkins University (M.A. 1970, Ph.D. 1973). He has served as chief of staff for a Member of Congress [Ron Paul of Texas], editor of The Freeman magazine, Economist for The Heritage Foundation, and Professor of Political Philosophy in The Freedom School." -- Publisher's Annotation
Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, Samuel Rutherford, John Owen, Thomas Manton, The Westminster Assembly, James Renwick, Archibald Mason, Christopher Ness, Francis Turretin, The Reformed Presbytery, David Steel, James R. Willson, Alexander M'Leod, William L. Roberts, James Aiken Wylie, Andrew Wilet, Henry Wilkinson, James Wylie, Patrick Fairbairn, James Aiken, Andrew Wilet, Alexander Hislop, Francis Nigel Lee, Arthur W. Pink, and so forth, and so on, have all believed and argued in print that the seated Pope is the Antichrist of the Bible.
The Roman Church-State is "the world's oldest, largest, most powerful and most influential politico-ecclesiastical institution" and it "may also be the world's wealthiest."

*Tocqueville, Alexis de, Seymour Drescher (translator), Gertrude Himmelfarb (introduction) Memoir on Pauperism (Ivan R Dee, Inc.), ISBN: 156663167X 9781566631679.
"In this neglected memoir, written just after the first volume of DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA, Tocqueville seeks to understand why the most impoverished countries of Europe in his time had the fewest paupers, while the most opulent nation -- England -- had the most." -- Publisher's Annotation

Walters, Richard P., Jealousy, Envy, Lust: The Weeds of Greed (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House), ISBN: 0310425913 9780310425915.
"Walters explains how to overcome the deadly trilogy of jealousy, envy, and lust. Allowed to grow and fester they will consume anyone involved with them." -- GCB

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The ten commandments, the moral law, Self, selfishness, self-esteem, Works by and for women, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Bribery, Theft, stealing and fraud: property rights, Conspiracy and corruption, The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Will and recalcitrance, Covetousness, greed, and selfishness, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Ethics, Medical ethics, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, State sovereignty and corporate immunity: reform of corporations, Theft, stealing and fraud: property rights, Conspiracy and corruption, Prosperity and wealth, the snare of, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Self, Pride, Envy, Jealousy, Sin and its consequences, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 481, 1232, 2129-2133, 2806, 3198-3214, 3222-3227, 4070
MGTP: Covetousness, God -- Law of [Ten Commandments]

Related WebLinks

Theft: Commentary and Cases of Conscience. A Listing Excerpted From THE INSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW by Rousas John Rushdoony, 1973 edition
http://www.lettermen2.com/theft.html

The Commandments of Jesus, J.S. McConnell (1925)
http://www.wowzone.com/commandm.htm

The Teaching of Our Lord Jesus Christ
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr2cha.html#teachljc

The Temperate Life, Sherman Isbell
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/the-temperate-life.php

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Cowardice

Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars. (Nahum 3:13)
Thy people in the midst of thee are women; they have no wisdom, no courage; they shall be fickle, feeble, and faint-hearted, as women commonly are in such times of danger and distress; they shall be at their wits' end, adding to their griefs and fears by the power of their own imagination, and utterly unable to do any thing for themselves; the valiant men shall become cowards. -- Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible

The wicked is a very coward, and is afraid of everything; of God, because He is his enemy; of Satan, because he is his tormentor; of God's creatures, because they, joined with their Maker, fight against him: of himself, because he bears about with him his own accuser and executioner. The godly man contrarily is afraid of nothing; not of God, because he knows Him his best friend, and will not hurt him; not of Satan, because he cannot hurt him; not of afflictions, because he knows they come from a loving God, and end in his good; not of the creatures, since `the very stones in the field are a league with Him;' not of himself, since his conscience is at peace. -- Joseph Hall

Cowards never won heaven. Do not claim that you are begotten of God and have His royal blood running in your veins unless you can prove your lineage by this heroic spirit; to dare to be holy in spite of men and devils. . . .
The soldier is summoned to a life of active duty and so is the Christian. -- William Gurnall

It is a marvel that men will readily enough continue in vain and sinful courses, and yet to persevere in grace is so great a difficulty as to be an impossibility, were it not for divine assistance. The persistency of those who oppose the people of God is so strange that we may well expostulate with them and say, "How long will ye thus display your malice?" A hint is given in the text as to the cowardliness of so many pressing upon one man; but none are less likely to act a fair and manly part than those who are opposed to God's people for righteousness' sake. Satan could not enter into combat with Job in fair duel, but must needs call in the Sabeans and Chaldeans, and even then must borrow the lightning and the wind before his first attack was complete. If there were any shame in him, or in his children, they would be ashamed of the dastardly manner in which they have waged war against the seed of the woman. Ten thousand to one has not seemed to them too mean an advantage; there is not a drop of chivalrous blood in all their veins. -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting on verse 3 of Psalm 62 in The Treasury of David

"Cowardice possesses the effeminate man."

"One Protestant minister declared Adam an 'effeminated apple eater' because he was soft."

As we grow older and scriptural truths become more real, we are amazed at the cowardice of the wicked man. In many ways he is essentially a coward, incompetent in his manhood.

The feminine characteristics are gentleness, abundance, generosity, love, nurture, tolerance, acceptance, encouragement, and so forth. If male leadership becomes effeminate, then they may gain political favor with women and effeminate men, but their enemies will destroy them and the society they lead. (Isaiah 3:12; 19:16; Nahum 3.13; Jeremiah 50:37; 51:30) If too many effeminate individuals have the vote, then society becomes immoral, destabilizes, and goes into decline. (See the cross references at the end of this listing.)

Omodeo, Adolfo, The Spiritual Cowardice of the Nazis.

*Robbins, John W. (1949-2008, editor), The Church Effeminate and Other Essays (Unicoi, TN: The Trinity Foundation, 2002), ISBN: 0940931540 9780940931541.
Contents: Robbins: The Church; Witherow: The Apostolic Church; Ryle: The True Church; Lloyd-Jones: The Primacy of Preaching; Adams: Preaching to the Heart; Ryle: The Fallibility of Ministers; Crampton: Exclusive Psalmody; The Geneva Service Book of 1556: Scripture and the Ordering of Worship; Miller: The Christian Education of the Children and Youth in the Presbyterian Church; Calvin: The Teachers of the Church; Clark: The Presbyterian Doctrine of Ordination; Warfield: Paul on Women Speaking in Church; Clark: The Ordination of Women; Robbins: The Church Effeminate; Luther: On the Councils and the Church; Hodge: The Relation of Church and State; Calvin: The Roman Church-State; Dostoyevsky: The Grand Inquisitor; Burroughs: Episcopacy; Witherspoon: Secrets of Church Polity; McFetridge: Calvinism and the Church; Chan: The New Babylonian Captivity of the Church; Robbins: The Reconstructionist Road to Rome; a Lasco: The Abolition of Vestments; Hanko: Ought the Church to Pray for Revival? Hodge: The Great Revival of Religion, 1740-1745; Luther: The Power of the Word; Clark: What Is Evangelism? Clark: Art and the Gospel; Calvin: The Necessity of Reforming the Church; Ryle: Idolatry; Ryle: Pharisees and Sadducees; Machen: The Good Fight of Faith; Ryle: Apostolic Fears; Machen: The Separateness of the Church; Robbins: The Sin of Signing Ecumenical Declarations; M'Crie: Fundamentalism and Ecumenism; Calvin: The Unity of the Church; Robbins: The Church Irrational; Index; Scripture Index.
The Necessity of Reforming the Church (1543), by John Calvin
This is an online document.
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/NRC_ch00.htm
Calvin's Commentary on Hosea
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/m.sion/calvhose.htm

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Christ our example, Idolatry, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Fear, anxiety, Blasphemy, Foolishness, Menpleasing, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Manhood, Laziness, slothfulness, idleness, indolence, slackness, sluggishness/sluggard, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, State sovereignty and corporate immunity: reform of corporations, Theft, stealing and fraud: property rights, Feminism, effeminacy, A theological interpretation of american history (time-line), Terrorism, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 853, 855, 859, 2675, 3802

Related WebLinks

The Imperial Judiciary, Rep. Ron Paul, MD
"The ultimate solution to the problem of unbridled judicial activism at the federal level is clear: Congress must reassert its constitutional authority to define and restrict the jurisdiction of federal courts. This power is plainly granted in Article III, and no constitutional amendments are required. On the contrary, any constitutional amendment addressing judicial activism would only grant legitimacy to the dangerous idea that social issues are federal matters. Remember, when social issues are federalized, conservatives always lose. Giving more authority over social matters to any branch of the federal government is a mistake, because a centralized government is unlikely to reflect local sentiment for long. If anything, the marriage amendment would have given the secular left an excuse to impose gay marriage on all of us in future years, as the issue would have been irrefutably federalized.
"Congressional cowardice enables judicial activism. Just as Congress ceded far too much legislative authority to presidents throughout the 20th century, it similarly has allowed federal judges to operate wildly beyond their constitutional role. In fact, many current members of Congress apparently accept the false notion that federal court judgments are superior to congressional statutes. Unless and until Congress asserts itself by limiting federal court jurisdiction, judges will continue to act as de facto lawmakers."
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul208.html

A Walk on the Dark Side, Butler Shaffer
"Shakespeare expressed our dilemma as succinctly as any: 'The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.' The moral slugs who fabricated the excuses for this war, and who helped to mobilize weak-souled men and women into a mindless support for it, are certainly accountable for their wrongs. But instead of focusing our anger upon them -- which would be but another act of projection of our own "dark side" onto them -- we would be better advised to confront our own existential cowardice. Political leaders amass power only through our moral exhaustion; they are strong only because we have allowed ourselves to become weak. Perhaps in our willingness to get acquainted with our 'shadow,' we may discover the best defense against those who have mastered the art of manipulating men and women into the subservient but malignant herds that are destroying mankind."
http://www.lewrockwell.com/shaffer/shaffer108.html

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Crisis Counseling

Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)

Adams, Jay E., Coping With Counseling Crisis: First Aid for Christian Counselors. Alternate title: LECTURES ON COUNSELING. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1976), ISBN: 0801001129 9780801001123, 92 pages.
" 'A good crisis counselor is one who has enough courageous concern to take a different and more biblical view of the crisis than the counselee, yet he will always reach his conclusions in the matter by examination of carefully collected data.' Here are three key elements of crisis counseling: [1] analyze the situation; [2] take an inventory of the state and resources of a counselee; [3] be able to give biblical direction about the proper response to a crisis. Closes with ten crisis case studies to help you think your way through potential problem situations." -- David Powlison

Adams, Jay E., Crisis Counseling: Aid (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA201.

Adams, Jay E., Crisis Counseling: Analysis (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA202.

Adams, Jay E., Crisis Counseling: Inventory (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA203

Adams, Jay E., Crisis Counseling: Direction (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA204.

Campbell, Donald K., Judges: Leaders in Crisis Times, ISBN: 0896937410 9780896937413.

Davis, Billie, Teaching to Meet Crisis Needs (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, c1984), ISBN: 0882436090 9780882436098.
Includes bibliographies.

Davis, Creath, How to Win in a Crisis (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House).
"Our lives will encompass a series of changes, and if we want to remain vitally alive, we must discover how to survive courageously and creatively the crises that inevitably come. This book points the way toward discovery and growth by outlining workable ways to handle conflict and cope with tough circumstances." -- GCB

*Dowdy, Augustus W., Jr., Phone Power (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1975), ISBN: 0817006524 9780817006525.
"Brief but very helpful, with practical ideas on communication by phone and many practical ways to use the phone within the local ministry of the church. Has a helpful appendix on where to go for information on hotlines and telephone ministries." -- Robert B. Somerville

*Hyde, Margaret O., Cry Softly! The Story of Child Abuse, revised and enlarged (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1986), ISBN: 0664327233.
Includes bibliography. Indexed.
"The rising tide of child abuse makes this book a must. Deals with the reasons, as well as the treatment. Provides information on `Hotlines,' `Suggestions for Further Reading,' and `National Organizations Concerned With Child Abuse'." -- Cyril J. Barber

Hyde, Margaret Oldroyd, Hotline! ISBN: 0070315663 9780070315662.

Hyde, Margaret O., Sexual Abuse: Let's Talk About it, revised and enlarged edition (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1987), ISBN: 0664327257 9780664327255
"Draws attention to what is becoming a `national epidemic.' Points out how pastors may recognize the victims and deal with the trauma and anger of those who feel violated. Practical." -- Cyril J. Barber
"Discusses the sexual abuse of children, how they can protect themselves, where they can seek help, the kinds of help available, and how to increase public awareness of this problem."

Ishee, John A. (compiler), When Trouble Comes (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1970).
Includes bibliographical references.

Lawhead, Steve, and Karl Slaikeu, Up From the Ashes. Alternate title: THE PHOENIX FACTOR. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1985), ISBN: 0310355419 9780310355410.
"This book is designed as a guide to personal crises management whether it be loss of a job, injury, illness, stress, financial setback, or death of a loved one. Includes discussion guide for groups. Published in 1985 as THE PHOENIX FACTOR." -- GCB

Lester, Andrew D., When Children Suffer: A Sourcebook for Ministry With Children in Crisis (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1987), ISBN: 0664213278 9780664213275.
"Focuses on the significant crises in childhood. Treats issues like unresolved grief, unnecessary fear, lack of trust, a low sense of worth, distorted ideas about the person of God and the world in which they live. Well-done; makes a valuable contribution." -- Cyril J. Barber

McGee, Richard K., Crisis Intervention in the Community (Baltimore, MD: University Park Press, 1974), ISBN: 0839107226 9780839107224.
"Excellent overall treatment of crisis intervention counseling and practical instructions for setting up a program." -- Robert B. Somerville

Rightor, Henry Haskell, Pastoral Counseling in Work Crises: An Introduction for Both Lay and Ordained Ministers (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, c1979), ISBN: 0817008144 9780817008147.
Includes bibliography and index.

Scott, Latayne C., Crisis: Crucible of Praise, ISBN: 1878990225 9781878990228.

Shelly, Judith A., Caring in Crisis: Bible Studies for Helping People, ISBN: 0877845638: 9780877845638.

ISBN: 9781416551218 1416551212 OCLC Number: 81861215 The power of a positive mom Author: Karol Ladd Publisher: West Monroe, La. : Howard Books, ©2007 Stone, Howard W., Crisis Counseling (Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press, c1976), ISBN: 0800627601 9780800627607
Includes bibliography.

Strom, Kay M., Helping Women in Crisis: A Handbook for People Helpers, ISBN: 0310336414 9780310336419.
"Covers all the bases -- alcohol and drug abuse, child abuse, sexual molestation, incest, infidelity, rape, suicide, teenage pregnancy, wife abuse. Each chapter summarizes the major issues involved. This is a very helpful book, and lay counselors will appreciate the author's candor and practical ideas. Here is a work pastors can use in their lay counseling program." -- Cyril J. Barber

Swihart, Judson J., and Gerald C. Richardson, RCC, Vol. 7: Counseling in Times of Crisis (Resources for Christian Counseling. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1987), ISBN: 0849905893 9780849905896.
"Of much practical value. Lays a solid, scriptural foundation for understanding respective crises. This is followed by a description of the kinds of problems people face. Finally, the authors point out how others may help those facing the vicissitudes of life. Insightful."-- Cyril J. Barber
"Crisis counseling is a unique ministry with particular goals and techniques. This book presents the dynamics of a crisis, a scriptural view of crises, and then an overview of various categories of crises. The book is written to help one better understand the issues confronting those going through a crisis." -- GCB

Swinnock, George (1627-1673), The Fading of the Flesh and Flourishing of Faith, or, One cast for eternity with the only way to throw it vvell: as also the gracious persons incomparable portion / by George Swinnock . . . , 1662.
Psalm LXXIII, 26

See also: Topical listing of scripture helpful in counseling, Ready reference: immediate counsel, Counseling teens, Crisis counseling, Phone counseling, Suicide, Depression, Teens, Teens coping with the world, The works of jay adams, Chapter 5: reference works, The combined contents for the web edition of biblical counsel: resources for renewal, For all counselors, Training in biblical counseling, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Ministering to the dying, For all counselors, and so forth, and so on.

Related WebLinks

The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon.
A sermon by C.H. Spurgeon delivered on Lord's-day morning, September 9, 1888, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Sermon no. 2043.
"This is the way in which you should use this plea. Say, 'My God, I am utterly unworthy, and I own it; but, I beseech thee, hear me for the honour of thy dear Son. By his agony and bloody sweat, by his cross and passion, by his precious death and burial, I beseech thee hear me! O Lord, let the blood of thine Only-begotten prevail with thee! Canst thou put aside his groans, his tears, his death, when they speak on my behalf?' If you can thus come to pleading terms with God upon this ground, you must and will prevail. Jesus must be heard in heaven. The voice of his blood is eloquent with God. If you plead the atoning sacrifice, you must overcome through the blood of the Lamb." -- C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.mountzion.org/fgb/Summer97/FgbS6-97.html



Deceit, Lying, Self-deception

See the Theological Notes, "Satan," at Job 1:6 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Honest Speech, Oaths, and Vows," at Nehemiah 5:12 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Hell," at Mark 9:43 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Lying lips are abominaton to the Lord, but they that deal truly are His delight. (Proverbs 12:22)

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. (Proverbs 26:28) (Proverbs 26:24-28) See the annotation in The Reformation Study Bible.

Calvin's Commentaries: Jeremiah 14:15-16
It is certain that except the world winingly sought falsehoods, the power of the devil to deceive would not be so great. When men therefore are led astray by impostures, it happens through their own fault, inasmuch as they are more ready to embrace vanity than to submit to God and his word. [No one is ever deceived except by his own will.] And we must remember that saying of Paul, that all the reprobate are blinded and given up to a reprobate mind, because they wailfully seek falsehood, and will not obey the truth. (Romans 1:28) And on this account God declares that he tries the hearts of men, whenever false prophets come abroad; for every one who really fears God shall by no means be led away by the deceits of Satan and of impostors. Hence, whenever men are too credulous and readily embrace deceptions, it is certain that their hypocrisy is thus justly punished by God. And it was well known to the Prophet, that the Jews ever wished for such prophets as soothed their ears and promised them an abundant harvest and a fruitful vintage. (Micah 2:11) As then they had itching ears, a liberty was justly given to Satan to deluge the whole land with falsehood; and so indeed it happened. There is then no wonder that the Lord was so severe in chastising the people; for they had not been deceived except through their own fault. The same thing happens at this day. Though we are touched with pity when we see the ministers of Satan prevail in deceiving the common people: yet we must remember that a reward is rendered by heaven for the impiety of men, who either extinguish or smother the light of God as much as they can, and seek to plunge into darkness. -- Calvin commenting on Jeremiah 14:15-16
http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/comment3/comm_vol18/htm/vi.xi.htm

Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor; for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25)

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:4)

Malone, Samuel A., Greed, Fraud, Lies, Bribery and Corruption: A Guide to Organizational Ethics (The Liffey Press, October 2005), ISBN: 9781852525774 1852525770, 250 pages.

Patterson, James, and Peter Kim The day America Told the Truth: What People Really Believe About Everything That Really Matters (New York, NY: Prentice-Hall, 1991), ISBN: 0134634802 9780134634807.
"In effect, we're all making up our own moral codes."

Perkins, William (1558-1602), A Direction for the Governement of the Tongue, According to Gods VVorde, 1593. Additional Title: THE GOUERNEMENT OF THE TONGUE.

Perkins, William (1558-1602), A Treatise of Mans Imaginations. Shewing his naturall euill thoughts: His want of good thoughts: The way to reforme them. Framed and preached by M. Wil. Perkins, 1607.

*Pike, Samuel (1717-1773), and Samuel Hayward (1718-1757), The Character of an Honest Man. In RELIGIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER . . . TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION; OR, THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF GOD'S WORD; AND CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, 1866.
The Character of an Honest Man
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/the-character-of-an-honest-man.php

*Pike, Samuel (1717-1773), and Samuel Hayward (1718-1757), Discovering Why the Spirit is Grieved. In RELIGIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER . . . TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION; OR, THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF GOD'S WORD; AND CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, 1866.
Discovering Why the Spirit is Grieved
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/discovering-why-the-spirit-is-grieved.php

*Pike, Samuel (1717-1773), and Samuel Hayward (1718-1757), Self-examination. In RELIGIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER . . . TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION; OR, THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF GOD'S WORD; AND CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, 1866.
Self-examination
http://www.westm/insterconfession.org/godly-living/self-examination.php/

Reisman, W. Michael, Folded Lies: Bribery, Crusades, and Reforms, ISBN: 0029262801 9780029262801.
"A comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon of business bribery in all its manifestations. It goes beyond the recent wave of popular books that have simply dramatized the extent to which bribery has become institutionalized. The significance of FOLDED LIES is in its very credible -- and persuasive -- analysis and synthesis of the dynamics of the bribery phenomenon and the societal reactions it will inevitably precipitate. FOLDED LIES should be important reading for the business community, policy makers, lawyers, social scientists, and the general reader." -- John A. Gardiner, author of Theft of the City
"This is a major contribution to the analysis of one type of white-collar crime. It lifts the veil on 'jurisprudence in the shadows' and analyzes a type of decision pathology. More than that -- the author places the timely topic of bribery in the context of timeless principles of myth systems and operational codes . . . .An incisive inquiry at a fundamental level of the policy alternatives for business and social order." -- Gerald M. Meier, Stanford University

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Ethics, Medical ethics, Bribery, The character and attributes of God, The teaching of our lord jesus christ, Textual criticism, Epistemology, Ethics, Secular humanism, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Biblical magistracy, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Hypocracy, Self-justification, self-righteousness, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Mind control, Spiritual warfare, The ten commandments, the moral law, The antichrist, Politics, Modern myths and fallacies, Creation verses evolution, Abortion and the sanctity of life, Meltdown, 2008, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 1728, 1731, 1796, 2353, 2689, 3196, 3219, 3313, 3350, 3702, 3703, 3705-3707, 3855-3857
MGTP: False Teachers and False Doctrine

Related WebLinks

The Things of This World, John Owen
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/the-things-of-this-world.php

The Deceitfulness of the Heart, David Black (1762-1806)
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/the-doctrines-of-grace/the-deceitfulness-of-the-heart.php

Self-examination, Thomas Chalmers
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/the-doctrines-of-grace/essay-on-guthries-the-christians-great-interest.php

*On Secret Faults, Samuel Stanhope Smith (1750-1819)
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/on-secret-faults.php

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html

A Resolution to Combat Mind Control With Truth
http://www.lettermen2.com/mindc.html



Depression

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. (Psalm 42:5)

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4,5)

How wonderfully this same blood of the Lamb overcomes despair. Have you never seen a man shut up in the iron cage? It has been my painful duty to talk with several of such prisoners. I have seen the captive shake the iron bars, but he could not break them, or break from them. He has implored us to set him free by some means; but we have been powerless. Glory be to God, the blood is a universal solvent, and it has dissolved the iron-bars of despair, until the poor captive conscience has been able to escape. How sweet for the desponding to sing -- The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon

When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord's choicest wines. -- Samuel Rutherford

Soul-violence begins when one individual tries to usurping authority over another, to control and possess them. The means of control may be either outward or occult: possessiveness, deceit, repression or suppression of the truth, soul stealing, attempts to take authority over another politically or by mental malpractice, denial of freedom, indebtedness, whoredom, and so forth. Abuse of the soul quenches the Holy Spirit.
If either side is immovable, then death is the result of the conflict of will. How are conflicts of will resolved? By submission to the absolute truth of God's word. These observations bear a strain of the Gospel.

Adams, Jay E., Handling Anger God's Way; Dealing With Depression (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA105.

Adams, Jay E., What do you do When you Become Depressed? Alternate title: YOU CAN CONQUER DEPRESSION.
"You must know God personally before you can expect Him to give you the help that you need. You must not put the alleviation of depression first as your goal, but rather the desire to please God by doing what He says. You must do exactly as He says regardless of how you feel." -- David Powlison
What do you do When you Become Depressed?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm

Adams, Jay E., You can Conquer Depression, ISBN: 0801000947 9780801000942.
"You must know God personally before you can expect Him to give you the help that you need. You must not put the alleviation of depression first as your goal, but rather the desire to please God by doing what He says. You must do exactly as He says regardless of how you feel." -- David Powlison

Barrett, Roger, Depression: What it is and What to do (Elgin, IL: David C. Cook Publishing Co., 1977).

BAXTER, RICHARD (1615-1691), Preservatives Against Melancholy and Over-much Sorrow; or The Cure of Both. Written above thirty years ago, by the Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter, . . . London, 1716. Alternate title: WHAT ARE THE BEST PRESERVATIVES AGAINST MELANCHOLY AND OVERMUCH SORROW? LEST PERHAPS SUCH AN ONE SHOULD BE SWALLOWED UP WITH OVERMUCH SORROW. -- 2 CORINTHISNS II. 7. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

*BRIDGE, WILLIAM, A Lifting up for the Downcast (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1995, 1979), ISBN: 0851512984. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
"These thirteen sermons on Psalm 42:11, preached at Stepney, London, in the year 1648 are the work of a true physician of souls. In dealing with believers suffering from spiritual depression, Bridge manifests great insight into the causes of the saints' discouragements, such as, great sins, weak grace, failure in duties, want of assurance, temptation, desertion, and affliction. A correct diagnosis is more than half the cure but Bridge does not leave his readers there. He gives directions for applying the remedy. . . .
"The general causes of spiritual depression are the same in every age. Downcast Christians of the twentieth century can find help here as surely as did past generations." -- Publisher's Annotation
"Here is true help for those suffering from spiritual depression. Better than a room filled with psychologists." -- GCB

Horwitz, Allan V., Jerome C. Wakefield, and Robert L. Spitzer (Foreword), The Loss of Sadness: How Psychiatry Transformed Normal Sorrow Into Depressive Disorder (Oxford University Press, USA, 1st edition, May 18, 2007), ISBN: 9780195313048 0195313046.
"Depression has become the single most commonly treated mental disorder, amid claims that one out of ten Americans suffer from this disorder every year and 25 percent succumb at some point in their lives. Warnings that depressive disorder is a leading cause of worldwide disability have been accompanied by a massive upsurge in the consumption of antidepressant medication, widespread screening for depression in clinics and schools, and a push to diagnose depression early, on the basis of just a few symptoms, in order to prevent more severe conditions from developing. In THE LOSS OF SADNESS, Allan V. Horwitz and Jerome C. Wakefield argue that, while depressive disorder certainly exists and can be a devastating condition warranting medical attention, the apparent epidemic in fact reflects the way the psychiatric profession has understood and reclassified normal human sadness as largely an abnormal experience. With the 1980 publication of the landmark third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III), mental health professionals began diagnosing depression based on symptoms -- such as depressed mood, loss of appetite, and fatigue -- that lasted for at least two weeks. This system is fundamentally flawed, the authors maintain, because it fails to take into account the context in which the symptoms occur. They stress the importance of distinguishing between abnormal reactions due to internal dysfunction and normal sadness brought on by external circumstances. Under the current DSM classification system, however, this distinction is impossible to make, so the expected emotional distress caused by upsetting events -- for example, the loss of a job or the end of a relationship -- could lead to a mistaken diagnosis of depressive disorder. Indeed, it is this very mistake that lies at the root of the presumed epidemic of major depression in our midst. In telling the story behind this phenomenon, the authors draw on the 2,500-year history of writing about depression, including studies in both the medical and social sciences, to demonstrate why the DSM's diagnosis is so flawed. They also explore why it has achieved almost unshakable currency despite its limitations. Framed within an evolutionary account of human health and disease, THE LOSS OF SADNESS presents a fascinating dissection of depression as both a normal and disordered human emotion and a sweeping critique of current psychiatric diagnostic practices. The result is a potent challenge to the diagnostic revolution that began almost thirty years ago in psychiatry and a provocative analysis of one of the most significant mental health issues today.
"Allan V. Horwitz is Professor of Sociology and Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Rutgers University. He is the author of many articles and a number of books on various aspects on mental illness, including The Social Control of Mental Illness, The Logic of Social Control, and Creating Mental Illness. Jerome C. Wakefield is University Professor and Professor of Social Work at New York University, and he has also taught at the University of Chicago, Columbia University, and Rutgers University. He is an authority on the intersection between philosophy and the mental health professions and the author of many articles on diagnosis of mental disorder." -- Publisher's Annotation
"Depression is the mental health problem of our generation. In this important and penetrating book, Horwitz and Wakefield show that psychiatry no longer clearly differentiates between normal sadness and depressive disorder. A must read for anyone who wants to understand how so much "depression" has become medicalized."-- Peter Conrad, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, Brandeis University, and author of The Medicalization of Society
"With superb scholarship and crisp prose, Horwitz and Wakefield examine the fatal flaw at the core of depression diagnosis. This book describes, with devastating clarity, why the DSM went off track and how the resulting scientific train wreck slows research and distorts our experience of our own sadness. If the DSM was based on biology, this book would signal a new beginning." -- Randolph Nesse, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, and author of Why We Get Sick: The New Science of Darwinian Medicine
"Not another hackneyed anti-psychiatry polemic, THE LOSS OF SADNESS is a brilliant analysis of how mental health professionals can avoid pathologizing normal, emotional responses to life's stressors while accurately identifying those suffering from genuine depressive disorders. Erudite and engagingly written, THE LOSS OF SADNESS is destined to have a major impact on our field." -- Richard J. McNally, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of Remembering Trauma

Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn (1899-1981), Joy Unspeakable: Power and Renewal in the Holy Spirit, ISBN: 085476514X 9780854765140.
"The world is not going to pay much attention to all the organized efforts of the Christian church. The one thing she will pay attention to is a body of people filled with a spirit of rejoicing. `When the Holy Spirit is operating, this is the inevitable result, a joy which is unspeakable and full of glory,' so writes `the Doctor!' J.I. Packer states that `anyone who is spiritually alive will gain enormously from this magisterial and challenging recall to the inner realities of true Christian experience'." -- GCB

*Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn (1899-1981), Spiritual Depression (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.), ISBN: 0551025492 9780551025493.
"A physician turned preacher deals with the scriptural causes of spiritual depression and show how it may be cured. Aims at developing an effective, healthy Christian life." -- Cyril J. Barber
"Believing that Christian joy was one of the most potent factors in the spread of Christianity in the early centuries, Lloyd-Jones not only lays bare the causes that have robbed many Christians of spiritual vitality, but also points the way to the cure." -- Publisher's Annotation

Love, Christopher (1618-1651), Don Kistler, The Dejected Soul's Cure: Tending to support poor, drooping sinners with rules, comforts, and cautions in several cases, in seventeen sermons, and A treatise of angels Alternate title: THE DEJECTED SOULES CURE: TENDING TO SUPPORT POOR DROOPING SINNERS. WITH RULES, COMFORTS, AND CAUTIONS IN SEVERALL CASES. IN DIVERS SERMONS, BY MR. CHRISTOPHER LOVE, LATE MINISTER OF LAURENCE JURY. TO WHICH IS ADDED, I. THE MINISTRY OF THE ANGELS TO THE HEIRS OF SALVATION. II. GODS OMNIPRESENCE. III. THE SINNERS LEGACY TO THEIR POSTERITY, 1657, ISBN: 1573581127 9781573581127.

Mack, Wayne, You can Overcome Despondency (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1981), ISBN: 0801061024 9780801061028.
"Describes many of the circumstantial causes of depression, but 'though our circumstances may be very severe, we don't need to be depressed!' God gives a way to handle problems. Joy and sorrow may coexist. Unfolds Philippians 4:4 as a key to learning how to overcome despondency. 'By God's power, we can conquer depression by consciously, continually, and deliberately making ourselves look at all of life from a God-centered point of view.' Includes study guide and suggested assignments." -- David Powlison

Miller, C. John (1928-1996), Youth Evangelism: Dealing With Depression and Suicide (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette CM101.

*SIBBES, RICHARD (1577-1635), The Bruised Reed (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851517404 9780851517407. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
"Richard Sibbes, one of the most influential figures in the Puritan movement during the earlier years of the seventeenth century, was renowned for the rich quality of his ministry. THE BRUISED REED shows why he was known among his contemporaries as `the sweet dropper'." -- Publisher's Annotation
"If you have ever been (or are) discouraged in any way this is a book that will bring great encouragement and joy!" -- SWRB
"Sibbes never wastes the student's time, he scatters pearls and diamonds with both hands." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"A poor pedlar came to the door . . . and my father bought of him Sibb's Bruised Reed . . . It suited my state . . . and gave me a livelier apprehension of the mystery of redemption and how much I was beholden to Jesus Christ . . . Without any means but books was God pleased to resolve me to himself." -- Richard Baxter

SIBBES, RICHARD (1577-1635), The Soul's Conflict With Itself, and Victory Over Itself by Faith. Being a treatise of the inward disquietments of distressed spirits, . . . To which is subjoined, The bruised reed and smoking flax. By Richard Sibbs, . . . The fifth edition. To which is prefixed, an account of the author's life. Glasgow, 1768. Available [THE WORKS OF RICHARD SIBBES] on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

*Whitefield, George, Soul Dejection
Found in THE WORKS OF REVEREND G.W. (New York, NY: AMS Press, Incorporated).

See also: The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The covenant faithfulness of god, The all-sufficiency of christ, Trusting god, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Bad relationships as a cause of disease, Suicide, Physical health, Physiolocial problems, What your doctor may not tell you (blanchard, shomon), Suicide, Stress, Worry and Anxiety, Homelessness, Psychopharmacology, Soul-violence, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 493, 669, 1018, 1694, 1697-1699, 3284
MGTP: Depression (Spiritual)

Related WebLinks

What do you do When you Become Depressed?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm
A tract by Jay Adams.

The Anguish and Agonies of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Dr. Darrel W. Amundsen
"Spurgeon's last years of physical suffering must be seen through the grid of the Down-Grade Controversy Down-Grade Controversy (begun in 1887). Early in this controversy he commented that he had
". . . suffered the loss of friendships and reputation, and the infliction of pecuniary withdrawments and bitter reproach. . . . But the pain it has cost me none can measure."
(To a friend in May 1891 he said)
"Goodbye; you will never see me again. This fight is killing me."
http://66.49.209.54/agonies.htm

Pike, Samuel (1717-1773), and Samuel Hayward (1718-1757), Renewal After a Time of Spiritual Dullness.
In RELIGIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER . . . TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION; OR, THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF GOD'S WORD; AND CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, 1866.
Renewal After a Time of Spiritual Dullness
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/renewal-after-a-time-of-spiritual-dullness.php

National Institute of Mental Health -- Depression
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm

Psychopharmacology
http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/00213/index.htm

St. John's Wort: Hypericum Perforatum
http://209.41.60.2/sj/index.html
A plant-based substitute for Prozac.



The Difficult Child

*Findley, Martha, Book 2: Elsie's Holidays at Roselands. ISBN: 9781888306323 1888306327.
"When Elsie's father becomes ill, she takes on the job of nurse-companion, and all goes well until Elsie, because it is the Sabbath, as a matter of conscience refuses to read to him from a secular book. The battle of wills that ensues nearly causes first her father's death, and then Elsie's. Lonely Elsie -- punished, ostracized, and then abandoned by her father -- turns to her heavenly Father for comfort and assurance. Will her father realize that Elsie's obedience to God must be paramount, and submit himself to the same Divine Authority?" -- Publisher's Annotation
On an even more serious note, one moral of this story is the broader life and death struggle between Truth and Falsehood (see "Absolute Truth and Relativism," "Epistemology," "Christian Scholarship"). The consequence of conflict of will is death of the "One," or war of the "Many" (see Rushdoony, The One and the Many). Conflict of will (see "Will and Recalcitrance," "Rebellion and Lawlessness") may begin when one individual (see "The Doctrine of Man (Human Nature, Total Depravity)" or corporate body (see "Corporate Faithfulness and Sanctification") tries to usurping authority over another (see "Power," "Authority") -- tries to control and possess them (see "Tyranny," "Slavery"). The means of control may be either outward or occult (see "The Occult and Spiritism"): deceit, repression or suppression of the truth, replacing moral and ethical absolutes with relativism (see "Ethics," "Medical Ethics"), unfaithfulness to the highest ethical standards (see "The Ten Commandments, the Moral Law" "The Holy Bible"), apostasy, spirituality and harlotry (see "Idolatry," "Jeremiah"), invocation of the demonic, idolatry, ungodly alliance and secret societies (see "Carnality and Flesh Pleasing: Lust, Desires, Ambition," "Justice, Judgment, God's Final Judgment, The Great White Throne Judgment, The Day of the Lord"), attempts to take authority over another politically or by mental malpractice (see "Selection of Covenant Heads for Positions of Leadership"), "making up their own rules (see "Absolute Truth and Relativism)," ignoring or changing constitutional or creedal documents, unjust laws for the accumulation of wealth and power, indebtedness, disenfranchisement, denial of freedom (see "God the Author of Freedom"), soul-stealing, possessiveness, physical seduction and whoredom, political economic or sexual enslavement (see "Sexual Relationship" "Spirituality and Harlotry"), and so forth, and so on.
This abuse, this soul-violence, quenches the Holy Spirit (see Owen, "God's Presence With a People the Spring of Their Prosperity; With Their Special Interest in Abiding in Him"). If either side is immovable, then death is the consequence (see "Soteriology," "The Atonement," "The Blood of Christ," "Hell" and "Heaven").
How are conflicts of will resolved? By submission to the Absolute Truths of God's word, the great common denominator (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6, KJV). All this bears a strain of the Gospel (see "Book-length Presentations of the Free Offer of The Gospel Message of Salvation and the Life to Come: The Means of Grace," "The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)").
Holidays at Roselands (Gutenberg text)
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=14280

Glasser, Howard, and Jennifer Easley Transforming the Difficult Child: The Nurtured Heart Approach (Center for the Difficult Child), ISBN: 0967050707 9780967050706.
"After reading Howard Glasser and Jennifer Easley's excellent book, TRANSFORMING THE DIFFICULT CHILD, I felt a surge of hope for the more problematic children in our world. Finally, someone had discovered how to help parents manage difficult children in a positive, loving way and without medication!
"Most of the children Glasser and Easley have worked with were taking medication when they arrived at the Nurtured Heart Approach center. These same children are no longer medicated into submission but living bright, successful lives. These children needed a little or a lot more attention than the average child but were being raised with traditional parenting skills that were rendered ineffective because of their ultra-sensitive natures. The parents of these children needed to learn to apply another set of rules to their kids to help them become the wonderful people they were destined to be.
"The Nurtured Heart Approach is an easy, rational, beautiful and loving method of building on the successes of children while not giving energy to the negative aspects of their character. This is an approach that can be used on difficult or "normal" kids. I have begun applying these principles to my own methods of child rearing. They work quickly and magnificently! It's brilliant in its simplicity and effectiveness.
"If you have a difficult child or even if you would like to learn a new positive, ingenious parenting approach, I urge you to read Glasser and Easley's book." -- Reader's Comment

Thomas, Nancy L., When Love is Not Enough: A Guide to Parenting Children with RAD -- Reactive Attachment Disorder, ISBN: 0970352549 9780970352545.
"When we adopted our two youngest children, we thought our training had prepared us for just about anything that might surface. We had not considered Reactive Attachment Disorder. Nancy Thomas' booklet is a must read for any parent who hopes to bring a child back from the desolation of Attachment Disorder. Her methods have restored peace and sanity to our household. Her contagious "attitude" for loving the children most people find unlovable has empowered us to reclaim our family. If you are dealing with RAD, you MUST have this book." -- Reader's Comment

See also: Love and counseling problems, Counseling children, Will and recalcitrance, Child abuse and pedophilia, Incest, Homosexuality, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Sexual relationship, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Covetousness, self, selfishness, Counseling the family, Counseling teens, Case studies, Crisis counseling, Casuistry, cases of conscience, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 993, 1234, 1236-1238, 1273, 2620, 2621, 2745, 2966, 3047, 3048, 3067-3074, 3231, 3356, 3618
MGTP: Rebellion Against Authority

Related WebLinks

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Discipline

See Discipline
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr6ch.html#dscpln



Drug Abuse and Addiction

And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 8:36)

Adams, Jay E., You can Kick the Drug Habit.
"If you are hooked on alcohol or other drugs you must learn to put off the old behavior and attitudes and put on the new. Repent of your sin. List ways you are failing God and others. Work with someone who practices biblical counseling to restructure your entire life. Cut off all connections with people who are negative influences. Restructure your life concretely." -- David Powlison
What do you do When you Know That You're Hooked?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm

Falkowski, Carol, Dangerous Drugs: An Easy to Use Reference for Parents and Professionals, 2nd edition (Hazelden, February 25, 2003), 1568389817 9781568389813.
"In a world where the drug abuse scene is more confusing and dangerous than ever, the second edition of DANGEROUS DRUGS: AN EASY TO USE REFERENCE FOR PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS is the answer. Now with color photos of drugs and paraphernalia, DANGEROUS DRUGS is a concise, comprehensive, clear, and handy reference that answers your questions at a glance, with: - Up-to-date information on drugs of abuse - Demographics of users. - Explanations of how a drug is used; where it's found and how it affects the mind and body - The names and forms under which drugs are sold - Their addictive, lethal, and overdose potential - Signs of drug abuse and where/how to seek help, and more. Written in clear language, Dangerous Drugs provides straightforward, authoritative, comprehensive, and up-to-the-minute information. It covers the full range of drugs of abuse, whether illegal (marijuana, heroin, cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, etc.) or legal (alcohol, prescription, tobacco, or Internet-marketed, herbal remedies). Dangerous Drugs is written for professionals and non-professionals alike, and is a book that no one concerned about drug use can afford to be without.
"Carol Falkowski, Director of Research Communications at the Hazelden Foundation, is author of the new reference book, Dangerous Drugs: An Easy-to-Use Reference for Parents and Professionals.For nearly 20 years she has monitored drug abuse trends at the national level, as one of 20 researchers in the country who participates in a drug abuse monitoring network of the National Institute of Drug Abuse.Falkowski advised the US Food and Drug Administration (1995 - 1999) regarding the safety, efficacy, and abuse potential of certain drugs, and has provided consultation to the National Institute of Justice, the National Drug Intelligence Center, Join Together, and numerous states. Before coming to Hazelden in 1997, she was research coordinator at the Minnesota state alcohol and drug abuse authority for 15 years.Falkowski was featured in the 1999 Showtime documentary by Robert Zemeckis, "Smoking, Drinking, and Drugging in the Twentieth Century." -- Publisher's Annotation

Benavie, Arthur, Drugs: America's Holy War, 178 pages, ISBN: 0789038404 9780789038401.
"Using the best scientific evidence, DRUGS: AMERICA'S HOLY WAR explores the impact and cost of America's 'War on Drugs' -- both in public spending and in human terms. Is it possible that US drug policies are helping to proliferate, not prevent, a multitude of social ills including: homicide, property crime, the spread of AIDS, the contamination of drugs, the erosion of civil liberties, the punishment of thousands of non-violent people, the corruption of public officials, and the spending of billions of tax dollars in an attempt to prevent certain drugs from entering the country? Arthur Benavie analyzes the research findings and argues that an end to the 'War on Drugs,' much as we ended alcohol prohibition, would yield enormous international benefits, destroy dangerous and illegal drug cartels, and allow the American government to refocus its attention on public well-being." -- Publisher's Annotation

Johnson, Vernon E., I'll Quit Tomorrow: A Practical Guide to Alcoholism Treatment (San Francisco, CA: Harper and Row, 1990), ISBN: 0062504339 9780062504333.
"Johnson has provided a manual for the understanding, intervention, and treatment of alcoholism and other mood-changing chemical dependencies in a clear, logical, and readable format; yet he has somehow managed to convey considerable psychological sophistication and scope. Accordingly, this is probably the best book of its kind for layman, paraprofessional, and professional alike." -- Addictions
Johnson is founder and president emeritus of the Johnson Institute in Minneapolis that offers one of the country's most successful training programs for treatment of alcoholism.

Kuhn, Cynthia; Swartzwelder, Scott, Ph.D.; Wilson, Wilkie, Ph.D.; Wilson, Leigh Heather; Foster, Jeremy, Buzzed The Straight Facts About the Most Used and Abused Drugs From Alcohol to Ecstasy, ISBN: 9781435298408 1435298403.
"I am a health care professional who just started working with patients in a hospital detox setting. This book was exactly what I was looking for as a review and primer on the effects different drugs had on the brain and body. The book is in two parts. Part one is basically a quick reference to the different classes of addictive substances, how they affect the brain, how the body disposes of them, the type of withdrawal someone will experience, etc. Part two covers some basics of neuropharmacology which you will need to understand some of the technical info in part one, and also goes into things as varied as the addictive process and social and legal issues involved with drug use. There is a good bibliography and a great index with many of the common street names for a variety of drugs and drug related activities.
"I would highly recommend this to anyone in health care, education, or any type of drug counseling or rehab. Great tool for patient/client/student education about drugs that is factual and easy to understand." -- Reader's Comment

*Morey, Robert, How to Keep Your Kids Drug Free (Southbridge, MA: Crown Publications Inc. [Crown MA]), ISBN: 092570301X 9780925703019.
"We can highly recommend this title as the best book on the subject we offer." -- GCB

*Playfair, William L., The Useful Lie: How the Recovery Industry has Entrapped America in a Disease Model of Addiction (Timeless Texts, July 2004), ISBN: 1889032379 9780891076377.
"Challenges the disease concept of alcoholism, the 'useful lie' of the recovery movement. This lie underlies the widespread mistreatment of alcoholism and of other fundamentally moral problems, e.g., 'codependency.' Posits biblically based intervention that treats such problems as sins to be repented of. Opposes sending a person to the recovery industry because 'He will be told his sin is a sickness; he will never be confronted with his real and most basic moral and spiritual problem. And he will more than likely be introduced to the any god of Twelve Stepdom, who is, by Biblical criteria, a false god'." -- David Powlison
"Dr. Playfair is a medical consultant to the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation/West in San Diego. He also is a board member of Family Research Institute. The theme and purpose of this book is to debunk the claims that alcoholism is a disease. This claim, says the doctor, contradicts science and medicine; it contradicts the Bible, which is more important; and it simply does not work in breaking the addiction of alcohol. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"This book provided all the necessary evidence to blow the whistle on the recovery industry and also points toward genuine freedom from addiction." -- GCB

Second Opinion, Dangerous Drugs (Atlanta, GA [Second Opinion, P.O. Box 467939, Atlanta 30346-9989]: Second Opinion, 1992).
"If you or anyone you love is taking medications, of any kind . . . even over-the-counter remedies . . . you must read this report!" -- William Campbell Douglass, MD
"Vital facts on 215 drugs in 15 different categories . . . many are household names, Harmful side effects -- headaches, heart spasms, senility, even sudden death, Important drug interaction information, Questions to ask your doctor about any new drug, Extra bonus: 12 safeguards you can use to protect against heart attack."
Subscriptions to Second Opinion, a ground-breaking alternative-medicine newsletter, are also available.

Shogren, Gary, and Edward Welch, Running in Circles: How to Find Freedom From Addictive Behavior (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1995), ISBN: 0801083877 9780801083877, 96 pages.
"Companion volume to Welch's and Shogren's ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR. Intended as a practical guide to help those who struggle with 'addictive behavior:' drugs, alcohol, food, immorality, and so forth. Especially useful as a first introduction to biblical thinking for such people." -- David Powlison

*Welch, Edward T., Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave: Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel (Resources for Changing Lives), ISBN: 0875526063 9780875526065.
"A worship disorder: this is how Edward T. Welch views addictions. 'Will we worship ourselves and our own desires,' he writes, 'or will we worship the true God?'
"With this lens the author discovers far more in Scripture on addictions than passages on drunkenness. There we learn the addict's true condition: like guests at a banquet thrown by 'the woman Folly,' he is already in the grave (Prov. 9:13-18).
"Can we not escape our addictions? If we're willing to follow Jesus, the author says we have 'immense hope: hope in God's forgiving grace, hope in God's love that is faithful even when we are not, and hope that God can give power so that we are no longer mastered by the addiction.' Each chapter concludes with 'Practical Theology,' guidance 'As You Face Your Own Addictions' and 'As You Help Someone Else'." -- Publisher's Annotation
"By emphasizing the role of the heart in the worship of self and substance, Welch forces the addict to face the grim reality that who or what he worships will control his life. When he idolizes his selfish desire for a substance, then there can only be bondage, but when he worships God more than himself, then the liberating truth of the Gospel will always set him free. As a pastor, biblical counselor, and a redeemed (not recovering) ex-heroin addict, I believe Dr. Welch has finally given every pastor, theologian, layman, and anyone caught in the bondage of idolatry/addition a biblical road map to true and lasting freedom." -- Peter Garich, Pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship and Director of Dayspring Center for Biblical Counseling in San Diego, California

Welch, Edward, and Gary Shogren, Addictive Behavior (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1995), ISBN: 0801097371 9780801097379, 176 pages.
"Guides pastors and other counselors in understanding 'addictions' biblically, and takes them through five typical sessions of counseling. The prominent case study focuses on alcohol abuse in a church context, but the principles apply to other enslaving behaviors." -- David Powlison

Wilder-Smith, A.E., Causes and Cure of the Drug Epidemic, ISBN: 0936728531 9780936728537.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Child abuse and pedophilia, Divorce, Stepfamilies, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Bad relationships a cause of disease and death, Habits, Alcoholism, drug abuse and addiction, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, The occult, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Self-destruction, Homosexuality, Imprisonment, Alcoholics anonymous and other 12 step recovery programs, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Spirituality and harlotry, Casuistry, cases of conscience, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 1473, 3571-3573

Related WebLinks

What do you do When you Know That You're Hooked?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm
A tract by Jay Adams.

The GOD14 Program (Getting Off Drugs In 14 Weeks)
"GOD14 is a proven, 14-week, recovery program which specializes in:

They report a 90% success rate (2007). Includes regular attendance in a support group such as a Christian AA or NA group, which can provide emotional support on a 24-hour basis.
http://www.hisclinic.org/DrugAlcohol%20Recovery.htm

Psychopharmacology
http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/00213/index.htm

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html

Jorge Valdez, Cocain Drug Lord
http://www.comingclean.net/



Effeminacy, The Effeminate

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9,10)

As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. (Isaiah 3:12)
Because the wicked people were more addicted to their princes than to the commandments of God, he shows that he would give them such princes, by whom they would have no help, but that they would be manifest tokens of his wrath, because they would be fools and effeminate. -- Geneva Study Bible commentary

Oppressors -- literally "exactors," that is, exacting princes (Isaiah 60:17). They who ought to be protectors are exactors; as unqualified for rule as "children," as effeminate as "women." Perhaps it is also implied that they were under the influence of their harem, the women of their court. -- Jamieson, Fausset, Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars. (Nahum 3:13)
"Thy people in the midst of thee are women; they have no wisdom, no courage; they shall be fickle, feeble, and faint-hearted, as women commonly are in such times of danger and distress; they shall be at their wits' end, adding to their griefs and fears by the power of their own imagination, and utterly unable to do any thing for themselves; the valiant men shall become cowards." -- Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible

"Cowardice possesses the effeminate man."

"One Protestant minister declared Adam an 'effeminated apple eater' because he was soft."

When men do not get their theology right, then they begin to worship women. The prime example of this is Romanism and their Maryology. There is a tendency for men to leave churches that get woman pastors. The membership of many of these churches over time becomes all women. The feminine characteristics are gentleness, abundance, generosity, love, nurture, tolerance, acceptance, encouragement, and so forth. If men are effeminate, then they may gain political favor with women and effeminate men, but their enemies will destroy them. (Isaiah 3:12; 19:16; Nahum 3.13; Jeremiah 50:37; 51:30)

I am convinced that the Lord will not bless a church at peace with his enemies. -- Edwin Nesbit Moore, from the conclusion to Our Covenant Heritage

*Robbins, John W. (1949-2008, editor), The Church Effeminate and Other Essays (Unicoi, TN: The Trinity Foundation, 2002), ISBN: 0940931540 9780940931541.
Contents: Robbins: The Church; Witherow: The Apostolic Church; Ryle: The True Church; Lloyd-Jones: The Primacy of Preaching; Adams: Preaching to the Heart; Ryle: The Fallibility of Ministers; Crampton: Exclusive Psalmody; The Geneva Service Book of 1556: Scripture and the Ordering of Worship; Miller: The Christian Education of the Children and Youth in the Presbyterian Church; Calvin: The Teachers of the Church; Clark: The Presbyterian Doctrine of Ordination; Warfield: Paul on Women Speaking in Church; Clark: The Ordination of Women; Robbins: The Church Effeminate; Luther: On the Councils and the Church; Hodge: The Relation of Church and State; Calvin: The Roman Church-State; Dostoyevsky: The Grand Inquisitor; Burroughs: Episcopacy; Witherspoon: Secrets of Church Polity; McFetridge: Calvinism and the Church; Chan: The New Babylonian Captivity of the Church; Robbins: The Reconstructionist Road to Rome; a Lasco: The Abolition of Vestments; Hanko: Ought the Church to Pray for Revival? Hodge: The Great Revival of Religion, 1740-1745; Luther: The Power of the Word; Clark: What Is Evangelism? Clark: Art and the Gospel; Calvin: The Necessity of Reforming the Church; Ryle: Idolatry; Ryle: Pharisees and Sadducees; Machen: The Good Fight of Faith; Ryle: Apostolic Fears; Machen: The Separateness of the Church; Robbins: The Sin of Signing Ecumenical Declarations; M'Crie: Fundamentalism and Ecumenism; Calvin: The Unity of the Church; Robbins: The Church Irrational; Index; Scripture Index.
The Necessity of Reforming the Church (1543), by John Calvin
This is an online document.
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/NRC_ch00.htm
Calvin's Commentary on Hosea
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/m.sion/calvhose.htm

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Suffrage and reproductive rights, Abortion and the sanctity of life, Fear and anxiety, Trusting god, Contentiousness, Covetousness, self, selfishness, Manhood, Bible magistracy turns back the wrath of god, Liberalism and neo-liberalism, Sin and its consequence: physical and spiritual death, Menpleasing, Men and women, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Femininism, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Homosexuality, Cowardice, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Works by and for women, The new age and women, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 359, 852, 3802



Envy, Jealousy

See the Theological Notes, "The Glory of God," at Ezekiel 1:28 in The Reformation Study Bible

Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. (Though signally disappointed on former occasions [see 1 Samuel 18:8,9,16,28-30 -- sk], the envious king must needs be at his cruel work again. No matter where David might conceal himself, or how quiet he might remain, Saul would not let him alone. Envy can never be quiet till it has glutted its revenge.) -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting on 1 Samuel 24:2 in Spurgeon's Devotional Bible

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? (Adam and Satan both fell by envy of God, and it will surely blot our hapiness if we indulge in it. Envy spits its venom on the best of men, and is a horrible and devilish passion, to be fought with and overcome by all who follow the loving Jesus.) -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting on Proverbs 27:4 in Spurgeon's Devotional Bible

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. (1 Corinthians 13:4)

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. (James 3:16) See the annotation in The Reformation Study Bible. See also the annotation for James 4:1-3.

Do you think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (The testimony of Scripture concerning man's nature is manifestly true. We are by nature selfish and envious; but grace will enable us to conquer our inbred sins, if we humbly own them, and ask for help to overcome them.) -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting on James 4:5,6in Spurgeon's Devotional Bible

Q. 148. What are the sins forbidden in the tenth commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the tenth commandment are, discontentment with our own estate; envying and grieving at the good of our neighbour, together with all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his. -- The Larger Catechism

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:16-21)

Gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride, and lust -- these are the seven deadly sins.

Bernhard, Kathleen F., Jealousy: Its Nature and Treatment (Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas Publishers, 1986), ISBN: 0398052433 9780398052430.
"A remarkably condensation of the available literature. Provides a valuable synthesis that counselors and pastors will find most helpful. Recommended." -- Cyril J. Barber

McDonald, Forrest, and Russell Kirk, We the People: The Economic Origins of the Constitution (Library of Conservative Thought. Transaction Pub, reprint edition, March 1992), ISBN: 1560005742 9781560005742.
"Few vices are easier to arouse than envy. Politicians and ideologues have had great success exploiting the resentment that arises when pitting rich against the poor.
"From the time of its publication in 1913 until the 1960s, Charles Beard's thesis dominated discussion of the founders' motives. In the mode of the Marxist interpretation of history as class struggle, Beard argued that economic self-interest, rather than concern for the general good, determined the writing and outcome of the Constitution.
"Interestingly, Beard asserted his system of alignment without actually proving it, admitting that his work was fragmentary because it failed to fill in the blanks. The real legwork of research wasn't done until over fifty years later, when historian Forrest McDonald put Beard's thesis to the test. McDonald dug through numerous public records to write economic biographies of the delegates (the 55 who attended the Constitutional Convention and the 1,750 members at the state conventions), analyzing their occupations, income, and assets. By comparing these to how the delegates voted, he found that Beard's thesis was incompatible with the facts.
"In We the People McDonald analyzed the geographical and political factions represented by delegates, their property holdings and occupations, their voting patterns, if any, and whether they benefited directly from the proposed Constitution. For the state conventions he divided chapters into states favorable, divided, and opposed to the Constitution. At the end he re-evaluated Beard's thesis and discussed whether any economic interpretation could be applied to our founding given the complexity and variety of occupations and opinions that existed.
"The result was a remarkable, though at times necessarily tedious, bit of historical detective work. Very likely it came as a great relief to many Americans to learn that the founders had something other than their own economic gain at heart. Probably few were surprised that the founders were a much more diverse group than Beard had realized.
"We may find that independence difficult to believe today, when the forces of selfishness, materialism, and special interest seem so dominant, not merely among political and business leaders but among the general populace. Today propagandists still want to align people into absolutes, much like trial lawyers who portray their clients as angels and their opponents as devils. Our shallow political debates revolve around false dichotomies such as the Party of Business and the Party of the Common Man. But I imagine this adversarial, intellectually dishonest approach will continue to be used as an effective tool as long as there is envy to be harvested in the heart of man. -- Reader's Comment

Melville, Herman, Billy Bud (Blue Unicorn Editions, July 7, 2000), ISBN: 1583960961.
"Billy Budd is a novelette by the American seagoing author, Herman Melville, who also wrote MOBY DICK. BILLY BUDD was written just before his death in 1891, however, was not published until 1924.
"Billy Budd is the typical Handsome Sailor of 18th Century balladry and, because of his innocence and beauty, is hated by Claggart, a dark, demon-haunted petty officer. In his simplicity, Billy cannot understand why Claggart should hate him, why evil should desire to destroy good. Claggart concocts a fantastic story of mutiny, supposely plotted by Billy, whom he accuses to the Captain. Billy, unable to speak, in his only act of rebellion, strikes Claggart a fatal blow. Captain Vere, who sympathizes with Billy and recognizes his essential innocence, is nevertheless forced to comdemn him, and though Billy is hanged he lives on as a legend among sailors." -- A table setting at the old Howard Johnston's Restaurant, Staunton, Virginia, 1973.

Walters, Richard P., Jealousy, Envy, Lust: The Weeds of Greed (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House), ISBN: 0310425913 9780310425915.
"Walters explains how to overcome the deadly trilogy of jealousy, envy, and lust. Allowed to grow and fester they will consume anyone involved with them." -- GCB

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The covenant faithfulness of god, Sexual relationship, Covetousness, self, selfishness, Bitterness and resentment, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Trusting god, The covenant faithfulness of god, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Anger, Envy, Pride, The local church, Sibling rivalry, Self, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Lust, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 1137, 1138, 1850, 1851
MGTP: Envy

Related WebLinks

Nave's Topical Bible -- Jealousy
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Concordances/NavesTopicalBible/ntb.cgi?word=jealousy&search=Lookup

Joy Sabotaged by Envy
A sermon by Greg Price on Ecclesiastes 4:4-6, delivered Februrary 19, 2006.
http://www.albanycrpc.org/sermons.php



Ethics, Computer Ethics, Cyberethics

See the Theological Notes, "The Wisdom and Will of God," at Daniel 2:20 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "The Authority of Scripture," at 2 Timothy 3:16 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "The Law of God," at Exodus 20:1 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "The Three Purposes of the Law," at Deuteronomy 13:10 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Mankind's Guilty Knowledge of God," at Romans 1:29 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "The Teaching of Jesus," at Matthew 7:28 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "Conscience and the Law," at 1 Samuel 24:5 in The Reformation Study Bible.

The prophets brought instruction and rebuke to people at all levels of society, denouncing every kind of sin. Religiously, they are "ethical monotheists"; socially, they are the unquenchable conscience of the just, spiritually, they are the precursors of the kingdom of God, announcing Jesus Christ to the world. -- from "Introduction to the Prophets," page 1019, The Reformation Study Bible

Psalm 15, the Decalogue of Conduct.

Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. (Titus 1:11-13)

Christianity is the source of truth and life and the highest ethical standard known to mankind.

A republic once equally poised must either preserve its virtue or lose its liberty. . . . He is the best friend of American liberty who is most sincere and active in promoting pure and undefiled religion. -- John Witherspoon

Strive greatly to have and to exercise a good conscience towards God, and men; to commit thy soul, life, and cause to the Lord; and then expect the worst of men, and the best of Christ. -- Vavasor Powell

Positive good is the real moderating influence, not compromise with evil. -- Roger Pooley

Even as he who is troubled with a buringin fever is hotter than he who is parched with the sun; so is that man more troubled who hath a guilty conscience than a good man by all outward afflictions. -- Daniel Cawdray

Abshire, Gary M., Ethics, Society and Computers: A Bibliography (University of Southwestern Louisiana. Computer Science Department).

American Medical Association (AMA) Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, Code of Medical Ethics: Current Opinions With Annotations, 2004-2005 (American Medical Association; August 1, 2004), ISBN: 1579477771 9781579477776.
"For more than 155 years, the AMA Code of Medical Ethics has been considered the most comprehensive ethics guide for physicians, covering a wide range of issues related to the patient-physician relationship, such as confidentiality and end-of-life care. It also addresses social policy issues that affect medical practice matters as well as medical records, fees and charges, professional rights and more. This edition features:

  1. More than 185 ethical opinions of the AMA's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs
  2. Clarification of opinions on gifts to physicians from industry and sales of goods from physician's offices 12 new opinions including those on privacy, genomic research, electronic mail, errors, health-related Web sites and cloning
  3. Includes the revised copy of the Principles of Medical Ethics
  4. Detailed annotations of case law and journal articles to speed and assist research
"CODE OF MEDICAL ETHICS: CURRENT OPINIONS WITH ANNOTATIONS 2004-2005 is the definitive authority on medical professionalism and is especially valuable as the legal system is showing a greater willingness to look to the Principles and Opinions as a basis for health care law." -- Publisher's Annotation http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2512.html

*Ames, William, Conscience With the Power and Cases Thereof, ISBN: 9022107086. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #28.
A summa of casuistry. William Ames was a student of William Perkins at Cambridge.
"Translated out of the Latin into English, this extremely rare item is in excellent condition (i.e. the print is very good, making it easy to read). The work is divided into five books, expanding on the second part of his famous Marrow of Divinity. Book one contains the definition of conscience. Book two deals with cases of conscience which concern the state of man. Book three expounds man's duty in general. Book four explains Ames' view concerning conscience and the duty of man towards God and book five treats of the duties of man towards his neighbor. For the Scottish Presbyterian view concerning these matters see Samuel Rutherford's amazing Free Disputation Against Pretended Liberty of Conscience." -- SWRB
The Works of the Reverend and Faithful Minister of Christ William Ames . . .
http://books.google.com/books?id=VhZSGwAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*Anderson, James N.D., Issues of Life and Death (London, England: Hodder and Stoughton, 1976), ISBN: 0340231513 9780340231517.
"In this work Sir Norman presents his `Lectures on Contemporary Christianity,' University of London, 1975. He establishes his thesis for the development of ethical principles squarely on the sacredness of human life as presented in the Bible. While on the one hand this treatise is a valuable corrective for Ward's THE DIVINE IMAGE, on the other it is a bold attempt to provide a rational defense for a viable system of ethics. In this we believe Anderson has been most successful." -- Cyril J. Barber

*Anderson, James N.D., Morality, Law and Grace (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1971), ISBN: 0877845468 9780877845461.
"Faces the pressing problems of the present day and provides perceptive counsel and sane solutions to the moral confusion of our contemporary society. Also underscores the relevancy of the Christian message, the uniqueness of its ethic, and the richness of its liberty. An admirable blending of scientific logic, legal expertise, and Biblical knowledge." -- Cyril J. Barber

Archer, Gleason L., Ethical Obligations of the Lawyer (Littleton, CO: Rothman, Fred B., and Company, 1981), ISBN: 0837702070 9780837702070.

Barna, George, The Barna Report 1992-93: America Renews its Search for God (Ventura, CA: Gospel Light [Regal]).
"Barna's WHAT AMERICANS BELIEVE captures a snapshot of American Christianity in 1991. This totally-new election-year edition updates the picture! . . . Vital information is easy to grasp with key charts and graphs (more detailed tables appear in the appendix) and easy to apply practical action steps." -- CBD

*Barna, George, What Americans Believe: An Annual Survey of Values and Religious Views in the United States (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1991), ISBN: 0830715053 9780830715053.
"Our society is changing in ways that have dramatic implications for the future of morality, ethics, and the Christian church. Three quarters of young adults in this country believe there is no absolute truth -- a major change from older generations which tend to believe in absolute truth. WHAT AMERICANS BELIEVE gives a clear, up-to-the-minute picture of the mores, beliefs, and religious attitudes of Americans. It is based on an annual survey conducted by the Barna Research Group and covers 65 questions about values, life-style, and religious beliefs." A tool to reshape ministerial strategies.

Bauckham, Richard J. (editor), The Nuclear Weapons Debate: Theological and Ethical Issues (Philadelphia, PA: Trinity Press International, 1989), ISBN: 033401140X 9780334011408.

*Bell, Robert, Impure Science: Fraud, Compromise, and Political Influence in Scientific Research (New York: Wiley, 1992), ISBN: 0471529133 9780471529132, 320 pages.
"The author lifts the veil of secrecy from scientific research conducted in this country. He presents a shattering indictment of the scientific community from the halls of government to the research centers at major universities and corporations. Documents case after case of influence peddling, doctored research and outright fraud, and reveals how the twin forces of money and status compromise and corrupt the pursuit of scientific truth." -- Publisher's Annotation

Bloesch, Donald George, Freedom of Obedience: Evangelical Ethics in Contemporary Times (San Francisco, CA: Harper and Row, 1987), ISBN: 1579109322 9781579109325.
"Among my reasons for writing this book is the desire to present an evangelical alternative to the situationist and naturalist ethics that presently dominate the discussion in this field. While the primary focus of the book is on theological ethics, frequently references are made to current social issues; the last chapter is devoted to the intractable problem of war." -- Publisher's Annotation

Bologna, G. Jack, and Robert J. Lindquist, Fraud Auditing and Forensic Accounting: New Tools and Techniques, 2nd edition (Wiley, January 15, 1995), 249 pages, ISBN: 0471106461 9780471106463.
"Fraud, in the words of the authors, is no simple vice. Recent years have seen it grow both in size and complexity, to the point where some estimates place losses due to fraud at well over $100 billion a year. And, with the increasing complexity of financial structures and the intensity of business competition, fraud has become harder to detect and more tempting to commit.
"Since much of the responsibility for detecting fraud has been assumed by the accounting profession, accountants need to learn how to recognize its signs and investigate it. FRAUD AUDITING AND FORENSIC ACCOUNTING, SECOND EDITION focuses on the investigation, detection, documentation, and prevention of accounting frauds, stock frauds, and employee theft and embezzlement. Written by recognized experts in the field of white-collar crime, this comprehensive book provides an incisive, in-depth analysis of how fraud occurs within an organization and explains the latest techniques for fighting it. The authors have brought together up-to-date material to show practicing professionals how to:

"G. JACK BOLOGNA, BBA, JD, CFE, is President of Computer Protection Systems, Inc., and Associate Professor of Management at Siena Heights College. Among his numerous publications are THE ACCOUNTANT'S HANDBOOK OF FRAUD AND COMMERCIAL CRIME (Wiley), FORENSIC ACCOUNTING HANDBOOK, and HANDBOOK ON CORPORATE FRAUD. He is also editor of two newsletters, Forensic Accounting Review and Computer Security Digest. Mr. Bologna is a recipient of the Thomas J. Fitzgerald Award for significant contribution to the field of information security.
"Robert J. Lindquist, BCOMM, CA, CFE, is CEO of Lindquist, Avey, Macdonald, Baskerville, Inc., a leading North American forensic and investigative accounting firm based in Washington, D.C. Previously, he was Partner and National Director of the forensic accounting services division of a 'Big Six' accounting firm. In addition to writing and lecturing on forensic accounting, he has served as the Chairman of the National Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (1993)." -- Publisher's Annotation

Borkin, Joseph, The Corrupt Judge: An Inquiry Into Bribery and Other High Crimes and Misdemeanors in the Federal Courts (World Pub. Co., 1966), 310 pages.

*Callahan, David, The Cheating Culture: Why More Americans are Doing Wrong to get Ahead, Updated with a new Afterword, 366 pages, ISBN: 0156030055 9780156030052.
"While there have always been those who cut corners, the author shows that cheating on every level -- from the highly publicized corporate scandals to Little League fraud -- has risen dramatically in the last two decades. Why all the cheating? Why now? Callahan pins the blame on the dog-eat-dog economic climate of the past two decades. An unfettered market and unprecedented economic inequality have corroded our values, he argues -- and ultimately threaten the level playing field so central to American democracy itself. Through revealing interviews and extensive data, he takes us on a gripping tour of cheating in America and offers a powerful argument for why it matters.
"David Callahan is cofounder and director of research at the public policy center Demos. The author of five books, he has published articles in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and USA Today, and has been a frequent commentator on CNN, MSNBC, and NPR. He received a Ph.D. in politics from Princeton University and lives in New York City." --Publisher's Annotation
"I recommend that this book be read together with John Perkins, CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HIT MAN and William Greider's, THE SOUL OF CAPITALISM: OPENING PATHS TO A MORAL ECONOMY. As a pre-amble, I would note that a Nobel Prize was given in the late 1990's to a man that demonstrates that trust lowers the cost of doing business. Morality matters -- immorality imposes a pervasive sustained, insidious, long-term, and ultimately fatal cost on any community, any Republic, and that is the core message of this book that most reviewers seem to be missing.
"Any student of national security can tell you that one of the most important sources of national power is the population, followed by the economy, natural resources, and then the more traditional sources of national power: diplomacy, military, law enforcement, and government policies generally.
"What this author makes clear is that our population has become a cheating population, one that cheats in school, cheats their employer, and cheats their clients (lawyers, accountants, doctors, all cheating). Such a population is literally undermining national security by creating false values, and undermining true values. Some simple examples: an estimated $250 Billion a year in individual tax avoidance; an estimated $600 Billion a year in theft from employers; an estimated $250 Billion a year in legalized corporate tax avoidance and investor fraud; and an additional $250 Billion a year in legalized theft form the individual taxpayers through Congressional support for unnecessary and ill-advised 'subsidies' for agriculture, fishing, and forestry, as well as waivers of environmental standards that ultimately result in long-term external diseconomies . . .
"At root, the author observes that pervasive cheating ensues from the perception by the majority that 'everyone does it' and that the rules are not being enforced -- that 'the system' lacks legitimacy. In other countries, illegitimacy might lead to revolution, a revolt of the masses. In the USA, still a very rich country, the poor are cheating on the margins while the rich are looting the country, and we are not yet at a 'tipping point' [This book was written before the Meltdown of 2008. -- sk] such as a new Great Depression might inspire. . . .
"Cheating diminishes trust and reduces value. America has become corrupt across all the professions, within Congress, within the media, within the political level of government (the civil service remains a bastion of propriety).
"What price freedom? What price the Republic? You may or may not choose to agree with this author's diagnosis and prescription, but in my view, he gets to the heart of the matter. It's about integrity. We've lost it. [Callahan's solutions come from a liberal, humanistic position, nevertheless the bulk of the book is an extensive analysis of cheating in society that is well documented -- 32 pages of endnotes -- and should be enlightening to most readers. -- sk]
"See also, with reviews: THE BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF CAPITALISM: HOW THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM UNDERMINDED SOCIAL IDEALS, DAMAGED TRUST IN THE MARKETS, ROBBED INVESTORS OF TRILLIONS - AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT; THE FIFTY-YEAR WOUND: HOW AMERICA'S COLD WAR VICTORY HAS SHAPED OUR WORLD; THE GLOBAL CLASS WAR: HOW AMERICA'S BIPARTISAN ELITE LOST OUR FUTURE - AND WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO WIN IT BACK; WAR ON THE MIDDLE CLASS: HOW THE GOVERNMENT, BIG BUSINESS, AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS ARE WAGING WAR ON THE AMERICAN DREAM AND HOW TO FIGHT BACK; THE WORKING POOR: INVISIBLE IN AMERICA; and OFF THE BOOKS: THE UNDERGROUND ECONOMY OF THE URBAN POOR." -- Reader's Comment

Carden, Allen, Puritan Christianity in America: Religion and Life in Seventeenth-Century Massachusetts, ISBN: 0801025435 9780801025433. "After exploring the Biblical basis of the Puritan movement, Carden's thematic study examines all aspects of Puritan theology as well as the Puritan's approach to the Christian life, social ethics, politics, family life, education, and culture. He concludes with an overview of the legacy bequeathed to American culture." -- GCB

Cheney, Darwin, Ethical Issues in Research (Frederick, MD: University Pub. Group, 1993), ISBN: 9781555720162 1555720161.

*Childress, James F. and John Macquarrie, The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Ethics (Westminster John Knox Press: revised edition, March 1, 1986), ISBN: 0664227678 9780664227678.
"With Childress as primary editor, this work revises Macquarrie's well-known DICTIONARY OF CHRISTIAN ETHICS (Westminster, 1967). The new edition has many additional entries, such as "Death, Determination of" and "Deprogramming." Where possible, the original contributors have updated their own articles, and entries are generally longer than before, with revised bibliographies and more cross-references. The major omission is biographical entries, though movements associated with individuals remain. Recommended. -- Richard S. Watts, San Bernardino Cty. Lib., Cal. in Library Journal

Chilton, Bruce, Jesus and the Ethics of the Kingdom (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.), ISBN: 0802803539 9780802803535.

*EDWARDS, JONATHAN, The Nature of True Virtue. Alternate title: AN ESSAY ON THE NATURE OF TRUE VIRTUE, ISBN: 9781846857591 1846857597. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available (THE WORKS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1 and DVD Four, CD #21 (18 volumes). A Christian classic.
"A systematic treatise on the nature of true ethics. Modern writers have much to learn from this reprint from Edwards' works." -- Cyril J. Barber

*Ellul, Jacques, Ethics of Freedom (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1976), ISBN: 0802834728 9780802834720.
"Ellul examines political freedom, but also talks about working it out in all human relationships. In a kind of dialogue with the Bible, he relates the Christian concept of freedom as rooted in the liberating work of Christ . . ." -- Vernon Grounds

Ellul, Jacques, Money and Power (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1984), ISBN: 0551013923 9780551013926.
Translated by L. Neff. "Discusses the ethics of wealth and incidentally elucidates the Biblical teaching on money and its use. . . ." -- Cyril J. Barber
"In this one of many brilliant books by Ellul, he exposes the folly of a purely collective, societal approach, such as that offered by communism, or capitalism. Instead, through a study of various Biblical references in the Old and New Testament, puts the responsibility on the individual. The new covenant of Jesus is compared to the Old Testament pattern of wealth as a sign of blessing. He examines the teaching of Jesus on God and Mammon. Contemporary models of stewardship are exposed as inadequate. Further, he clearly shows the underlying power money has over a person, despite any feelings of control we may think we have. The teachings of Jesus about giving and trusting provide the path to freedom -- every hair is numbered. Only by God's grace and transforming love are we able to overcome this subtle and insidious power. Highly recommended, especially at a time in our history when many have lost faith in the market." -- Reader's Comment

Ermann, M. David (editor), Michele S. Shauf (editor), Computers, Ethics, and Society, 3 edition, 256 pages, ISBN: 0195143027 9780195143027.
"As computers have become increasingly important in our everyday lives, their potential to strip away our privacy and autonomy increases exponentially. This book offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary set of readings on the ethical and social implications of computer technology. Taking into account technical, social, and philosophical issues, the contributors consider topics such as the work-related ramifications of automation, the ethical obligations of computer specialists, and the threats to privacy that come with increased computerization.
"M. David Ermann is at University of Delaware. Michele S. Shauf is at Georgia Institute of Technology." -- Publisher's Annotation
"Very resourceful and insightful. This book should be cited frequently during discussions of: the legal and ethical parameters of computer use; society's perceptions of the proper use of computers; and the social and professional responsibilities of those individuals and organizations that employ computers in information-mediated environments." -- John O. Omachonu, Fort Valley State University

Estes, Ralph W., Tyranny of the Bottom Line: Why Corporations Make Good People do Bad Things (Berrett-Koehler, January 1996), ISBN: 1881052753 9781881052753.
"TYRANNY OF THE BOTTOM LINE tells how the corporate system, originally created to serve the public interest, has acquired immense power over the public. Largely unconstrained by a captive regulatory bureaucracy, corporations today exercise a silent dominance over much of our society. This dominion can produce substantial good, but can also bring injury and death to employees, financial and personal loss to customers, desolation to communities, poisonous pollution and hazardous waste to the nation.
"In TYRANNY OF THE BOTTOM LINE, Ralph Estes tells the story of corporate power gone awry: permanent layoffs affecting millions of people while CEO salaries go through the roof; toxic waste poisoning the land, water, and air; unhealthy and dangerous products on the market; injury and death on the job; white-collar hustles in the S&Ls and on Wall Street that ultimately cost us all.
"Emphasizing the notion that all of us are stakeholders in the large corporation-with an investment, an interest in its performance, and a right to accountability -- Ralph Estes offers proposals for creating more effective and humane companies, restoring the original public purpose of the corporate system, and allowing managers to make choices that effectively and ethically balance the interests of everyone. Estes lays out a practical, specific plan for the development of a new, fair score-keeping system that shows the effects of a corporation's actions on all its stakeholders, not merely its stockholders, and then tells managers that they will be responsible for these effects.
"Based on the author's many years of research and experience, TYRANNY OF THE BOTTOM LINE lays out this prescription in an effective and workable program that can make corporations safer and more rewarding for all of us, and more enjoyable, more honorable, for the people who run them. -- Midwest Book Review

*FAIRBAIRN, PATRICK, The Revelation of Law in Scripture (Winnona Lake, IN: Alpha Publications, 1979, 1869), ISBN: 0875528686 9780875528687. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"Fairbairn expounds the biblical teaching dealing with the law of God in creation, throughout the Mosaic administration, in the teaching of our Lord, and in the life of the Christian believer. John Murray said of this book, 'THE REVELATION OF LAW IN SCRIPTURE places the law of God in its proper perspective. The careful perusal of this volume should correct the misconceptions which have afflicted the thought of many, and should promote the understanding of the sanctity of God's law without which the gospel of grace is meaningless'." -- SWRB
"These lectures, first published in 1869, treat the moral law implanted in the heart of man and trace its use throughout the Bible. Complete with supplementary dissertations. Excellent. Reformed." -- Cyril J. Barber

*Finley, Martha [aka Martha Farquharson, a pen name] (1828-1909), The Elsie Books, 4 book set (Books 1-4) (Elkton, MD: Holly Halls Publications, 1998).
"Originally written in the late 1800's for girls and young women, the Elsie Dinsmore books were bestsellers for over thirty years. When we are introduced to Elsie in the first book she is a sweet and humble eight-year-old whose great desire in life is to be reunited with her father, whom she has never met. Her faith and her obedience to God's commandments uphold her in the great troubles she often faces, and the drama to which we are spectators is as timely for today's girls as it was for the young ladies of the 19th century. A new edition of one of GCB's best sellers, the series offers Christian values and character building examples through stories that are compelling, heartwarming, and enduring. Ages 10 and up." -- GCB
"The Elsie Books -- 28 in all -- are some of the most widely read children's stories ever written. When they first came out more than a hundred years ago, the publisher could scarcely keep them in stock. . ." -- Publisher's Annotation
"Altogether Miss Finley's novels sold more than 28,000,000 copies in the last century. This made them among the best- selling novels of all time. . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Gutenberg, Project
http://www.gutenberg.org/
ClassicReader.com
http://www.classicreader.com/
*Book 2: Elsie's Holidays at Roselands. ISBN: 9781888306323 1888306327.
"When Elsie's father becomes ill, she takes on the job of nurse-companion, and all goes well until Elsie, because it is the Sabbath, as a matter of conscience refuses to read to him from a secular book. The battle of wills that ensues nearly causes first her father's death, and then Elsie's. Lonely Elsie -- punished, ostracized, and then abandoned by her father -- turns to her heavenly Father for comfort and assurance. Will her father realize that Elsie's obedience to God must be paramount, and submit himself to the same Divine Authority?" -- Publisher's Annotation
On an even more serious note, one moral of this story is the broader life and death struggle between Truth and Falsehood (see "Absolute Truth and Relativism," "Epistemology," "Christian Scholarship"). The consequence of conflict of will is death of the "One," or war of the "Many" (see Rushdoony, The One and the Many). Conflict of will (see "Will and Recalcitrance," "Rebellion and Lawlessness") may begin when one individual (see "The Doctrine of Man (Human Nature, Total Depravity)" or corporate body (see "Corporate Faithfulness and Sanctification") tries to usurping authority over another (see "Power," "Authority") -- tries to control and possess them (see "Tyranny," "Slavery"). The means of control may be either outward or occult (see "The Occult and Spiritism"): deceit, repression or suppression of the truth, replacing moral and ethical absolutes with relativism (see "Ethics," "Medical Ethics"), unfaithfulness to the highest ethical standards (see "The Ten Commandments, the Moral Law" "The Holy Bible"), apostasy, spirituality and harlotry (see "Idolatry," "Jeremiah"), invocation of the demonic, idolatry, ungodly alliance and secret societies (see "Carnality and Flesh Pleasing: Lust, Desires, Ambition," "Justice, Judgment, God's Final Judgment, The Great White Throne Judgment, The Day of the Lord"), attempts to take authority over another politically or by mental malpractice (see "Selection of Covenant Heads for Positions of Leadership"), "making up their own rules (see "Absolute Truth and Relativism)," ignoring or changing constitutional or creedal documents, unjust laws for the accumulation of wealth and power, indebtedness, disenfranchisement, denial of freedom (see "God the Author of Freedom"), soul-stealing, possessiveness, physical seduction and whoredom, political economic or sexual enslavement (see "Sexual Relationship" "Spirituality and Harlotry"), and so forth, and so on.
This abuse, this soul-violence, quenches the Holy Spirit (see Owen, "God's Presence With a People the Spring of Their Prosperity; With Their Special Interest in Abiding in Him"). If either side is immovable, then death is the consequence (see "Soteriology," "The Atonement," "The Blood of Christ," "Hell" and "Heaven").
How are conflicts of will resolved? By submission to the Absolute Truths of God's word, the great common denominator (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6, KJV). All this bears a strain of the Gospel (see "Book-length Presentations of the Free Offer of The Gospel Message of Salvation and the Life to Come: The Means of Grace," "The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)").
Holidays at Roselands (Gutenberg text)
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=14280
Mantle Ministries (Elsie Dinsmore and Mildred Series)
http://www.mantlemin.com

Floridi, Luciano, The Cambridge Handbook of Information and Computer Ethics (Cambridge Univ Pr 2010), ISBN: 9780521888981 0521888980.

Forsyth, Peter Taylor, Christ on Parnassus: Lectures on Art, Ethic, and Theology (London, New York, Toronto: Hodder and Stroughton), ISBN: 1579100147 9781579100148.

Gill, David W., The Word of God in the Ethics of Jacques Ellul (Monograph Series, No. 20. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, Incorporated, 1984), ISBN: 0810816679 9780810816671.

Grenz, Stanley, Sexual Ethics: A Biblical Perspective (Dallas, TX: Word Publishing), ISBN: 0853648697 9780853648697.
"Grenz probes theology, ethics, and medical research to present a thorough, contemporary discussion of human sexuality from a Biblical, Christian viewpoint." -- GCB

Guinn, David E., Handbook of Bioethics and Religion, ISBN: 0195178734 9780195178739.

*Hammon, T.C., Perfect Freedom: An Introduction to Christian Ethics.

*Harrison, Roland Kenneth (editor), Encyclopedia of Biblical and Christian Ethics, revised and updated (Testament, March 4, 2003), 480 pages, ISBN: 0517222280
"A comprehensive reference work for everyone concerned with the complicated moral issues of this world, this unique volume clearly communicates what Scripture teaches about the ethical dilemmas facing our society. Biological warfare, corporate responsibility, human rights, computer ethics, and much more are discussed by over fifty scholars who explain the moral guidelines in the Bible and historic Christian teachings.
"R.K. Harrison, author and editor of over thirty books on biblical studies, has brought together a valuable A to B treasury of thought for every believer searching for guidance." -- Publisher's Annotation
"A compendium of reliable information. Arranged in dictionary format, 550 entries and 61 contributors. Goes beyond descriptive data to the practical application of truth to a variety of situations . . . . The book is well-indexed. . . . Treats ethical areas like apartheid and surrogate motherhood. Probably the best available evangelical treatment of this type." -- GCB

Henry, Carl F.H., Christian Personal Ethics (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1971).

Henry, Carl F.H. (editor), Wycliffe Dictionary of Christian Ethics (Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.), ISBN: 1565635604 9781565635609.

Himma, Herman T. (editor), Herman T. Tavani (editor), The Handbook of Information and Computer Ethics, 704 pages, ISBN: 0471799599 9780471799597.
"This handbook provides an accessible overview of the most important issues in information and computer ethics. It covers: foundational issues and methodological frameworks; theoretical issues affecting property, privacy, anonymity, and security; professional issues and the information-related professions; responsibility issues and risk assessment; regulatory issues and challenges; access and equity issues. Each chapter explains and evaluates the central positions and arguments on the respective issues, and ends with a bibliography that identifies the most important supplements available on the topic.
"Discover how developments in information technology are raising new ethical debates
"Information and computer ethics has emerged as an important area of philosophical and social theorizing, combining conceptual, meta-ethical, normative, and applied elements. As a result, academic interest in this area has increased dramatically, particularly in computer science, philosophy, and communications departments; business schools; information and library schools; and law schools.
"THE HANDBOOK OF INFORMATION AND COMPUTER ETHICS responds to this growing interest with twenty-seven chapters that address both traditional and current issues in information and computer ethics research. It is organized into six parts:
Foundational Issues and Methodological Frameworks
Theoretical Issues Affecting Property, Privacy, Anonymity, and Security
Professional Issues and the Information-Related Professions Responsibility Issues and Risk Assessment
Regulatory Issues and Challenges
Access and Equity Issues
"Each chapter, written by one or more of the most influential ethicists in their fields of expertise, explains and evaluates the central positions and arguments on the respective issues. Chapters end with a bibliography that identifies the most important supplementary books and papers available on the topic.
"This handbook provides an accessible, yet sophisticated, overview of the most important issues we face in information and computer ethics today. It is an ideal supplemental text for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in information and computer ethics, and is also of interest to readers who are involved in library science, computer science, or philosophy.
"Kenneth Einar HIMMA, PhD, JD, is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Seattle Pacific University. His research interests include legal philosophy, applied ethics, information ethics, and computer ethics. Dr. Himma has authored more than 100 scholarly articles, encyclopedia entries, book reviews, and op-ed newspaper pieces, as well as a book, INTERNET SECURITY: HACKING, COUNTERHACKING, AND SOCIETY.
Herman T. Tavani, PhD, is Professor of Philosophy at Rivier College (New Hampshire) and President of the International Society for Ethics and Information Technology (INSEIT). He also holds appointments as a visiting lecturer at Boston College and as a visiting scholar at the Harvard School of Public Health. Professor Tavani is the author, editor, or coeditor of five books, including ETHICS AND TECHNOLOGY (Wiley), now in its second edition." -- Publisher's Annotation

Holmes, Arthur (editor), War and Christian Ethics: Classic Readings on the Morality of War (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1991), ISBN: 0801041708 9780801041709.

Hopkins, Mark, The Law of Love and Love as a Law: Or, Christian Ethics (Ams Pr, 3rd edition, December 1, 1991), ISBN: 0404591973.

*Hopkins, Rev. Mark, D.D., The Sabbath and Free Institutions. A Paper read before the National Sabbath Convention, Saratoga, Aug. 13, 1863. On invitation of the New York Sabbath Committee (New York: Edward O. Jenkins, 1863). Pamphlet, 9X6, 20 pages.
"Hopkins argues three points, 1. That a religious observance of the Sabbath, or, as it may be called by way of distinction, the religious Sabbath, would secure the permanence of free institutions [civil governments], 2. That without the Sabbath religiously observed, the permanence of free institutions cannot be secured, and 3. That the civil, as based on the religious Sabbath, is an institution to which society has a natural right, precisely as it has to property." -- Wurth Books
"These propositions were demonstrated by a process of reasoning simple and irresistible, and, we may add, majestic. The third of these propositions, viz.: That society has a natural right to the civil Sabbath, is one of special interest and importance. It furnishes a firm foundation on which to rest rights and duty of the community to protect the Sabbath by civil legislation." -- Charles Hodge, D.D., of Princeton, reporting to The National Sabbath Convention, 1863, p. 19, "The Sabbath and Free Institutions." Charles Hodge and his son, A.A. Hodge, are considered to be two of the finest theologians produced by America.
"Mark Hopkins, educator, b. in Stockbridge, Mass., 4 Feb., 1802; d. in Williamstown, Mass., 17 June, 1887. He was a grandson of Col. Mark, of the Revolutionary army, a graduate of Yale, and the first lawyer in Berkshire county, who was a younger brother of Dr. Samuel, the theologian, and married to a half-sister of Ephraim Williams, the founder of Williams College. He was graduated at Williams in 1824, with the valedictory, was a tutor in that college in 1825-7, studied medicine at the same time, and was graduated at the Berkshire medical school in 1829. He began practice in New York city, but in 1830 was called to the chair of moral philosophy and rhetoric at Williams. He was licensed to preach in 1832. In 1836 he succeeded Dr. Edward D. Griffin as president of the college, which post he held until 1872, when he resigned, though retaining the chair of moral and intellectual philosophy, which was established for him in 1836, and that of Christian theology, which he assumed in 1858. The pastorate of the college church, on which he entered in 1836, he retained till 1883. He became president of the American board of commissioners for foreign missions in 1857. He received the degree of D.D. from Dartmouth in 1837, and Harvard in 1841, and that of LL.D. from the University of the state of New York in 1857, and from Harvard at its 259th anniversary in 1886.
"President Hopkins had a large influence for good, and was much beloved by his pupils, many of whom became eminent men, among them James A. Garfield. He was one of the most acute students of moral science that this country has produced since Jonathan Edwards. The last and fullest expression of his philosophical system is found the works entitled THE LAW OF LOVE AND LOVE AS THE LAW [CHRISTIAN ETHICS], ISBN: 9781429017824 1429017821, and AN OUTLINE STUDY OF MAN [AN OUTLINE STUDY OF MAN, or, THE BODY AND MIND IN ONE SYSTEM WITH ILLUSTRATIVE DIAGRAMS, AND A METHOD FOR BLACKBOARD TEACHING, New York: Scribner, 1887, c1886.], both extensively used as textbooks, and the latter illustrating his methods in the classroom." -- Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1888.
The Sabbath and Free Institutions
http://www.lettermen2.com/hopkins.html

*Kaiser, Walter C., Jr., Toward Old Testament Ethics (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House).
"Part 1 deals with definition and methodology. Part 2 summarizes texts in Old Testament ethics. Part 3 deals with the content of Old Testament ethics. Part 4 probes the moral difficulties in the Old Testament. Part 5 covers Old testament ethics and New Testament applications." -- GCB

Keen, Michael, and Stephen Smith, VAT Fraud and Evasion: What do we Know, and What can be Done? (International Monetary Fund. Fiscal Affairs Dept).

*Kevan, Ernest F., Moral Law (Philadelphia, PA: The Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.), ISBN: 0875522998 9780875522999.

*Leith, John H., John Calvin's Doctrine of the Christian Life (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press), ISBN: 1579100473 9781579100476.
"This work provides a thorough analysis of Calvinist doctrine, defining Christian life in relation to four aspect of Calvinist thought: justification by faith, providence and predestination, history and the transhistorical, and church and society. The relationship between God and man is seen as the most central." -- GCB

Lewis, Paul, 40 Ways to Teach Your Child Values: Honesty, Managing Money, Making Good Choices, Controlling TV, Courage, ISBN: 0310216990 9780310216995.

Lindsley, Arthur W., Jr., Conscience and Casuistry in the English Puritan Concept of Reformation (University of Pittsburgh, Ph.D. thesis, 1982).
"This study also argues that it is in the Puritan view of conscience and casuistry that we have a key to the uniqueness of Puritanism. The passion of Puritans like Perkins and Ames was the application of theology to life. It is in their view of conscience and casuistry that theology and practice meet. . . . It is also argued that there has been a failure to recognize the centrality of conscience in Puritan preaching. Preaching was directed at the conscience. The Puritan `plain' style was thought the most adequate method for penetrating the conscience. . . ." -- Dissertation Abstracts

Long, Edward Le Roy, Conscience and Compromise: An Approach to Protestant Casuistry.

Long, Edward Le Roy, A Survey of Recent Christian Ethics, ISBN: 0195031598 9780195031591.

Long, Edward Le Roy, War and Conscience in America.

Malone, Samuel A., Greed, Fraud, Lies, Bribery and Corruption: A Guide to Organizational Ethics (The Liffey Press, October 2005), ISBN: 9781852525774 1852525770, 250 pages.

Maston, Thomas B., Biblical Ethics (Cleveland, OH: World Publishing Co., 1967), ISBN: 0865543127 9780865543126.
"A thoughtful and comprehensive survey of Biblical ethics, with the major emphasis on the ethical unity of the Bible. The author is convinced that the dynamic and ethical unity of the Bible are derived from the nature of God, whose grace and truth are discoverable in the message and ministry of Christ." -- Cyril J. Barber

McChesney, Fred S., Money for Nothing: Politicians, Rent Extraction, and Political Extortion (Harvard University Press, May 30, 1997), ISBN: 0674583302 9780674583306, 240 pages.
"Surveys reveal that a majority of Americans believe government is run for special interests, not public interest. The increased presence and power of lobbyists in Washington and the excesses of PAC and campaign contributions, in-kind benefits, and other favors would seem to indicate a government of weak public servants corrupted by big private-interest groups.
"But as Fred McChesney shows, this perspective affords only a partial understanding of why private interests are paying, and what they are paying for. Consider, for example, Citicorp, the nation's largest banking company, whose registered lobbyists spend most of their time blocking legislation that could hurt any one of the company's credit-card, loan, or financial-service operations. What this scenario suggests, the author argues, is that payments to politicians are often made not for political favors, but to avoid political disfavor, that is, as part of a system of political extortion or 'rent extraction.'
"The basic notion of rent extraction is simple: because the state can legally take wealth from its citizens, politicians can extort from private parties payments not to expropriate private wealth. In that sense, rent (that is, wealth) extraction is 'money for nothing' -- money paid in exchange for politicians' inaction. After constructing this model of wealth extraction, McChesney tests it with many examples, including several involving routine proposals of tax legislation, followed by withdrawal for a price. He also shows how the model applies more generally to regulation. Finally, he examines how binding contracts are written between private interests and politicians not to extract wealth.
"This book, standing squarely at the intersection of law, political science, and economics, vividly illustrates the patterns of legal extortion underlying the current fabric of interest-group politics.
"Fred S. McChesney is Professor of Law at the Cornell Law School." -- Publisher's Annotation "To support his view that rent extraction imposes enormous costs on the economy, McChesney provides a wealth of evidence from recent policy debates. For example, he cites the United States Federal Trade Commission's efforts - at the request of Congress - to impose warranty and defect disclosure requirements on used car dealers as an attempt by individual members of Congress to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for voiding the rules. In this instance, he provides statistics on contributions made by the National Auto Dealers' Association to members of Congress who voted to repeal the regulations. In discussing the Supreme Court's response to the wheeling and dealing, he points out that the dealers were essentially tricked into paying to repeal legislation that Congress never intended to enact anyway.
"On the Clinton health care plan, he states that stock prices of pharmaceutical firms began to fall before the policy was formally proposed. He emphasizes that investors knew that once price controls became an issue, the firms involved would have to spend money fighting the legislation by making campaign contributions. Thus, the firms were expected to lose enormous sums of money whether or not the bill was actually passed. Most importantly, he points out that the firms were never able to recover any of the money they lost in the process.
"In addition to legislative threats to impose price caps, he cites situations in which politicians threaten to repeal existing price caps to obtain contributions. For example, he states that proposals to raise admission fees at Yellowstone National Park have met with resistance from local merchants and users who benefit from lower prices. In other words, politicians can even threaten regulatory systems that they inherited from previous regimes in order to extract contributions from the firms that benefit from those systems. . . ." -- Reader's Comment

McQuilkin, Robertson, An Introduction to Biblical Ethics, 2nd edition (Tyndale House Publishers, May 5, 1995), ISBN: 0842317317 9780842317313, 560 pages.
"McQuilkin encourages Christians and nonChristians alike to avoid the trap of seeing the Bible as dry history or 'nice words.' God's Word should be the driving force behind morality." -- Publisher's Annotation

Meeks, Wayne, A., The Moral World of the First Christians (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1988), ISBN: 0664250149 9780664250140.
"Anyone wishing to do constructive Christian ethics cannot help but be informed by this substantial contribution." -- GCB

*Murray, John (1898-1975), Principles of Conduct (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.), ISBN: 0802811442 9780802811448.
"This is a far-ranging book with a recurring emphasis on the majestic moral demands of Scripture and the relation of the Gospel to those demands. Scripture teaching is lucidly brought to bear on vital ethical issues such as marriage, work as a calling, capital punishment, the sanctity of truth, and the fear of God. Undoubtedly this is the foremost contemporary book in the field." -- William J. Grier

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Bribery in Public Procurement: Methods, Actors and Counter-measures (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Publishing, May 31, 2007), ISBN: 9789264013940 9264013946, 104 pages.
"Public works contracts mean big business. From road-building to high-tech communication infrastructure, public procurement averages 15 percent of GDP in OECD countries -- substantially more in non-OECD economies -- and it is a major factor in the world trade of goods and services. Given the growing complexity of bribe schemes in todays globalized markets, the problem is how to identify corruption in public procurement so governments can work toward effective prevention and apply sanctions if necessary. This report provides insights on all three fronts. Based on contributions from law enforcement and procurement specialists, the report describes how bribery is committed through the various stages of government purchasing; how bribery in public procurement is related to other crimes, such as fraud and money laundering; and how to prevent and sanction such crimes. The typical motivations and conduct of the various actors engaging in corruption are also highlighted, as well as ten case studies.
Table of Content: Executive Summary, Introduction, Part I. Analysis of Corruption in Public Procurement, Chapter 1. Public Procurement Rules, Procedures and Practices, Chapter 2. Vulnerabilities Relating to Project Size, Sector, or Tendering Administration, Chapter 3. Links to Other Offenses, Part II. Analysis of the Actors Engaging in Bribery and Typical Corruption Agreements, Chapter 4. Parties Involved in Bribery, Chapter 5. Content of the Bribery Agreements, Part III. Preventing, Detecting, and Sanctioning Bribery in Public Procurement, Chapter 6. Preventive Measures, Chapter 7. Controls, Chapter 8. Detection Mechanisms, Chapter 9. Investigation and Sanctions, Part IV. Ten Anonymous Studies on Bribery in Public Procurement Template for the Description of the Cases of Bribery in Public Procurement, I. A senior civil servant and a subcontractor from another state, II. Bribery relating to public procurement within a local authority, III. Bribery related to procurements within an international aid organization, IV. Fraudulent bid evaluation by an independent consultant in international limited bidding, V. Award of a consultancy contract to fellow national in exchange for bridges, VI. Susceptibility of international bidders to influence bidding and coercion in bid tendering, VII. Collusive bidding and overpricing in international shopping/international price quotations, VIII. Preferential treatment in exchange for gratuities and family member employment, IX. Bribes in exchange for rewarding contracts, X. Bribes from contractor to increase quantity of work, Annex A. The OECD Anti-Bribery Instruments: How They Address Public Procurement.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Report on the United States (Implementing the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention) (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, September 2004), 117 pages, ISBN: 9264101144.

*Owen, John (1616-1683), Hebrews, 7 Volume Set (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1999), ISBN: 085151619X, ISBN 9780851516196. The same edition is available from (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc.). Alternate title: AN EXPOSITION OF THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. Available (THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN including HEBREWS [OCR digital text]) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"To master his works is to be a profound theologian." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"THE work on Hebrews is John Owen's massive 4000-page commentary." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"An exhaustive, Puritan work first published between 1668-84." -- Cyril J. Barber
Owen, John, J.I. Packer (introduction, series editor), Alister McGrath (series editor), Hebrews, an abridgement of the 7 volume work, paperback (Crossway Classic Commentaries series. Crossway Books, December 2, 1998), ISBN: 1581340265 9781581340266 1856841847 9781856841849, 272 pages.
"The author of Hebrews wanted his audience to know and understand one truth: Christ is superior, and therefore, so is Christianity. He demonstrates this by comparing the imperfect old covenant with the perfect new covenant. The person of Christ is better than prophets and angels, His priesthood is greater than that of Melchizedek and the line of Aaron, and His power within the believer's life is incomparable. Between these contrasts he exhorts the readers to persevere in their faith, be obedient, grow in their understanding, and not miss the grace of God. The lessons and admonitions of Hebrews have intensely practical application for all readers -- then and now.
"Know as the 'theologian's theologian' John Owen (1616-1683) was vice chancellor of Oxford University and served as advisor and chaplain to Oliver Cromwell. Among the most learned and active Puritans in seventeenth-century Europe, he was a erudite and accomplished theologian both in doctrine and practical theology." -- Publisher's Annotation
Owen, John. An exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews; with the preliminary exercitations. By John Owen, D.D. Revised and abridged; . . . By Edward Williams. In four volumes. . . . Vol. 2. London, 1790. 4 vols.

Panel, Recovering From Divorce; Biblical Ethics of Divorce and Remarriage (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette AC872.

Parker, Samuel, (1640-1688), A Demonstration of the Divine Authority of the Law of Nature and of the Christian Religion (The Philosophy of John Locke) (1640-1688) (Taylor & Francis, June 1, 1984), ISBN: 0824056094 9780824056094.

*PERKINS, WILLIAM (1558-1602), The Whole Treatise of the Cases of Conscience . . . 1632). Alternate title: THE WHOLE TREATISE OF THE CASES OF CONSCIENCE DISTINGUISHED INTO THREE BOOKES: THE FIRST WHEREOF IS REVISED AND CORRECTED IN SUNDRIE PLACES, AND THE OTHER TWO ANNEXED. TAUGHT AND DELIUERED BY M.W. PERKINS IN HIS HOLY-DAY LECTURES, CAREFULLY EXAMINED BY HIS OWNE BRIEFES, AND NOW PUBLISHED TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD, BY T. PICKERING BACHELOUR OF DIUINITIE. WHEREUNTO IS ADIOYNED A TWOFOLD TABLE: ONE OF THE HEADS AND NUMBER OF THE QUESTIONS PROPOUNDED AND RESOLUED; ANOTHER OF THE PRINCIPALL TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE VVHICH ARE EITHER EXPLANED, OR VINDICATED FROM CORRUPT INTERPRETATION, ISBN: 9022104826 68113020. Available on the SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #9. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #20. "Called 'the principal architect of Elizabethan Puritanism' and 'the most important Puritan writer,' Perkins was the first theologian of the Reformed English church to gain an international reputation. His preaching manual, THE ART OF PROPHESYING (recently reprinted by the Banner of Truth Trust -- RB), is found on nearly every seventeenth century New England book list. . . . Perkin's theological legacy extended through his Cambridge students, most prominently William Ames . . . Perkins's Calvinist theology was presented according to the logic and method of Peter Ramus . . . Ramism helped Perkins maintain the unity of theology and ethics, provided an educational tool by streamlining logic, fostered plain-style preaching, enhanced the art of memory, provided a tool for biblical interpretation as well as supplying a secure philosophical base on which to build theology," notes the Encyclopedia of the Reformed Faith (p. 274). This book is no exception and beautifully illustrates the usefulness of the Ramist method. `Several of Perkins' works have been translated into Latin, French, Dutch, and Spanish' (Cyclopaedia Bibliographica, p. 2337)." -- SWRB
His Pioneer Works on Casuistry: "A Discourse of Conscience" and "The Whole Treatise of Cases of Conscience
http://books.google.com/books?id=NUAMHQAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*PERKINS, WILLIAM (1558-1602), Works of William Perkins (New York, NY: AMS Press, Incorporated), ISBN: 0404050506. Available (THE WORKS OF THAT FAMOUS AND WORTHY MINISTER OF CHRIST, MR. W. PERKINS, PART 1 AND PART 2) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #9. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #20.
The Works of that Famous and Worthy Minister of Christ in the Universitie of Cambridge: M. William Perkins. Newly Corrected According to His Own Copies
http://books.google.com/books?id=i84KHQAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Pierce, C.A., Conscience in the New Testament (London, England: SCM Press Ltd., 1958).

Piper, Otto A., Christian Ethics

Quigley, Marian, Encyclopedia of Information Ethics and Security, 661 pages, ISBN: 159140987X 9781591409878.
"Rapid technological advancement has given rise to new ethical dilemmas and security threats, while the development of appropriate ethical codes and security measures fail to keep pace, which makes the education of computer users and professionals crucial. THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF INFORMATION ETHICS AND SECURITY is an original, comprehensive reference source on ethical and security issues relating to the latest technologies. Covering a wide range of themes, this valuable reference tool includes topics such as computer crime, information warfare, privacy, surveillance, intellectual property and education. This encyclopedia is a useful tool for students, academics, and professionals.
"Marian Quigley, PhD (Monash University); BA (Chisholm Institute of Technology); Higher Diploma of Teaching Secondary (Art and Craft) is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University. Her research interests include the social effects of technology and animation. Her recent publications include the books WOMEN DO ANIMATE: INTERVIEWS WITH 10 AUSTRALIAN ANIMATORS (Insight Publications, 2005) and INFORMATION SECURITY AND ETHICS: SOCIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES (IRM Press, 2004)." -- Publisher's Annotation

Richter, Robert, A Plague on Our Children: Dioxins, PCBs and Public Health v. Profit, a DVD by Robert Richter
"Corporate defenders, scientists and victims appear, including U.S. veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam war, factory workers exposed to PCBs, housewives exposed to toxic spray in logging areas, people exposed to the poisons at Love Canal and other waste disposal sites.
"Part One focuses on dioxin. 57 minutes.
"Part Two focuses on PCBs. 57 minutes.
http://www.richtervideos.com/APlagueonOurChildren/

*RIDGELEY, THOMAS, Commentary on the Larger Catechism. Alternate title: A BODY OF DIVINITY . . . , ISBN: 0921148305 9780921148302. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"Originally entitled: A Body of Divinity: Wherein the Doctrines of the Christian Religion are Explained and Defended. Being the Substance of Several Lectures on the Assembly's Larger Catechism, we have re-titled it to better reflect its contents for contemporary readers. Consisting of over 1300 pages, this massive and extensive two-volume commentary on the Westminster Larger Catechism is unrivaled in scope or extensiveness. Ridgeley himself notes, in 'The Author's Preface' (p. ix), 'The work is large, but the vast variety of subjects will render it more tolerable. . . . especially since it is rather designed to be read in families than committed to memory . . .' The editor of this edition, John Wilson, pronounces Ridgeley's work as 'the best book of its class,' stating, 'no book in the English language, or, so far as I know, in any other, will serve so efficiently the purposes of a daily companion to a reflecting Christian in his inquiries into Divine truth, or a guide to a candidate for the Christian ministry in introducing him to his theological studies (p. xi). 'In 1731 appeared the first edition of Mr. Ridgeley's great work -- that in connection with which chiefly his name lives in history, and whose influence, as an instrument of good, will probably render him celebrated and useful for generations to come . . .(p. xxii).' Moreover he continues, 'a taste, however, for the racy and substantial theological writings of the days of Britain's moral giants has of late revived; and it will scarcely fail to adopt, as one of the richest dishes of its multifarious banquet for the intellect and the soul, Dr. Ridgeley's Body of Divinity (p. xxi).' Additionally, Wilson concludes his 'Life of the Author' with these words, 'His method of reasoning he has adapted to the capacities of those who are unacquainted with the abstruse terms made use of by metaphysicians and schoolmen, and when introduced into subjects of theology, have a tendency rather to perplex than to improve the mind. His scheme of divinity is evidently Calvinistic; but; then, he has explained his subjects with so much moderation and latitude, as to obviate many of the objections raised against the system of doctrines that passes under that name. Upon the whole, it is probable that the English language does not furnish a work of this nature that, for perspicuity of language, extent of research, accuracy of judgment, and judicious description of the numerous subjects that fall under examination, any way equals this work of Dr. Ridgeley . . . he was accounted one of the most considerable divines of his age' (emphasis added, p. xxiii)." -- SWRB
Westminster Larger Catechism With Proof Texts
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wlc_w_proofs/WLC_frames.html

*RUTHERFORD, SAMUEL, (1600?-1661), The Glory, Majesty, Dominion and Power of Jesus Christ, 1643. Alternate title: A SERMON PREACHED TO THE HONORABLE HOUSE OF COMMONS: AT THEIR LATE SOLEMNE FAST, WEDNESDAY, JANU. 31. 1643. BY SAMUEL RUTHERFURD, PROFESSOR OF DIVINITIE IN THE UNIVERSITIE OF ST. ANDREWS. PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. [Daniel 6:26] (Printed at London by Richard Cotes, for Richard Whittakers & Andrew Crooke, and are to bee sold at their shops in Pauls Church-Yard, 1644), 66 pages. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #9, #25, and #29, ISBN: 0921148836 9780921148838. Available on the Amazing Christian Library, DVD Two, CD #7, 64 pages. A Christian classic.
"Here Rutherford covers a wide range of topics including Christ's kingship and dominion over civil governments, what lawful power (civil and ecclesiastical) is, God's providence, suffering (especially among those covenanted to Him), the oppression and martyrdom of the saints, the wrath of God, apologetics, the fear of God, the visible church, assurance and the weak believer, the free offer of the Gospel, the sovereignty of God, antinomianism, Arminianism, and much more. However, whatever the subject, Rutherford can be found focusing on and exalting the Lord Jesus Christ and His truth in a way that few others have been granted the ability to do -- notwithstanding the fact that he himself wrote, 'I have neither tongue nor pen to express to you the happiness of such as are in Christ' (Letters of Samuel Rutherford, p. 47). Classic Rutherford, preached before some of the most powerful civil leaders of his day!" -- SWRB "It hath been the sin of this Land, that when Episcopacy, Antichristian Ceremonies, Superstition, and Will-worship were enjoined by Law, to pleasure an earthly King, you willingly followed after the command, against the direction of the King of Kings: and now hath the Lord delivered the people of the Land into the hand of their KING. And for this the Sword of the Lord hath gone through the Land." -- Samuel Rutherford

Schenck, Ferdinand S., Christian Evidences and Ethics (New York: Young Men's Christian Association Press, 1910).

Shaw, Mark R., The Marrow of Practical Divinity: A Study in the Theology of William Perkins (Westminster Theological Seminary, Th.D. thesis, 1981).
"Chapters four and five concern the first two books of Perkins' CASES OF CONSCIENCE and cover the issues of conversion, assurance, and worship. . . . Chapter six focuses on Perkins' social, economic, and political thought. His views on such questions as the structure of the family, the power of government, the rise of capitalism and the proper use of wealth, food, clothing, arts and recreation are considered. . . . The final chapter evaluates Perkins' PRACTICAL DIVINITY as a force for renewal in the church. . . . -- Dissertation Abstracts

Seibert, Donald V., and William Proctor, The Ethical Executive: A Top C.E.O.'s Program for Success With Integrity in the Corporate World (Simon and Schuster), ISBN: 0346124506 9780346124509.

Simpson, Rick, Blasphemy and the Law in a Plural Society (Grove Books Ltd., July 1993), ISBN: 1851742417 9781851742417, 25 pages.

Smith, Russell G., Peter Grabosky, Gregor Urbas, Cyber Criminals on Trial (Cambridge University Press (October 25, 2004), 262 pages, ISBN: 0521840473 9780521840477
"This book comprises an international study of the manner in which cyber criminals are currently handled by the judicial system. As computer-related crime becomes more important globally, both scholarly and journalistic accounts tend to focus on the ways in which the crime has been committed and how it could have been prevented. Very little has been written about the capture, possible extradition, prosecution, sentencing and incarceration of the cyber criminal -- until now.
"Russell G. Smith, BA (honors), LLM, DipCrim (Melborne), PhD (London), Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and the Federal Courts of Australia, is Deputy Director of Research at the Australian Institute of Criminology. He is co-author of the books ELECTRONIC THEFT: UNLAWFUL ACQUISITION IN CYBERSPACE and CRIME IN THE DIGITAL AGE.
"Peter Grabosky, BA (Colby), MA, PhD (Northwestern), FASSA, is a Professor in the Regulatory Institutions Network at the Australian National University, a former Deputy Director at the Australian Institute of Criminology, and current Deputy Secretary General of the International Society of Criminology. He is a co-author of ELECTRONIC THEFT: UNLAWFUL ACQUISITION IN CYBERSPACE and CRIME IN THE DIGITAL AGE, and co-editor of THE CAMBRIDGE HANDBOOK OF AUSTRALIAN CRIMINOLOGY.
"Gregor Urbas, BA (Honors), LLB (Honors), PhD (ANU), Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory and the Federal Courts of Australia, is a Lecturer in Law at the Australian National University and a former Research Analyst at the Australian Institute of Criminology. With Russell Smith, he is a co-author of CONTROLLING FRAUD ON THE INTERNET." -- Publisher's Annotation
"I am convinced that every prosecutor should read it, whether he or she is directly concerned by the issue or not, since even in cases where cybercrime is not directly involved, some techniques related to it may have been used or may have triggered off the commission of other offences." -- International Association of Prosecutors Newsletter
"Definitely a reference book giving us a thorough analysis of cybercrime. I am convinced that every prosecutor should read it, whether he or she is directly concerned by the issue or not, since even in cases where cybercrime is not directly involved, some techniques related to it may have been used or may have triggered off the commission of other offences." -- International Association of Prosecutors

Southard, Samuel, Ethics for the Executive (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1975), ISBN: 0840755880 9780840755889.

Spinello, Richard, Cyberethics: Morality And Law in Cyberspace, 272 pages, ISBN: 0763737836 9780763737832.
"CYBERETHICS: MORALITY AND LAW IN CYBERSPACE, third edition takes an in-depth look at the social costs and moral problems that have arisen by the expanded use of the Internet, and offers up-to-date legal and philosophical perspectives. The text focuses heavily on content control and free speech, intellectual property, privacy and security, and has added NEW coverage on Blogging. Case studies featured throughout the text offer real-life scenarios and include coverage of numerous hot topics, including the latest decisions on digital music and movie downloads, the latest legal developments on the Children's Internet Protection Act, and other Internet governance and regulation updates. In the process of examining these issues, the text identifies some of the legal disputes that will likely become paradigm cases for more complex situations yet to come. -- Publisher's Annotation "The murky waters of online ethics are aptly navigated by Spinello in this brief work. The presentational format of providing background and then analyzing each side of an issue enhances the understanding of the material while provoking further thought for the reader. Case studies are also interlaced into the material, providing ample ground for discussion. This would serve well as a college supplemental reading for any truly in-depth analysis of morality and cyberspace. It also remains enjoyable and understandable for the pleasure reader who has little background in this field. A must-read for anyone hoping to understand where government and society stands on difficult ethical and legal dilemmas created by cyberspace. -- Reader's Comment

Stamatellos, Giannis, Computer Ethics: A Global Perspective, 160 pages, ISBN: 0763740845 9780763740849
"The rapid advancement of information technology in modern societies affects the way we live, communicate, work, and entertain. Computers and computer networks formulate an information age in which traditional ethical questions are reexamined and new questions arise concerning moral standards for human behavior. COMPUTER ETHICS: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE presents a clear and concise introduction to the ethical and social issues sparked by our ever-growing information society at the local and global level. Designed for use as a main text in undergraduate and graduate courses that focus on computer, business, and applied ethics, the text is also ideal for the Information Technology in a Global Society course for the International Baccalaureate diploma. The text considers the impact of digitized information on individuals and societies and includes discussions on privacy, reliability, security, intellectual property, control, equality of access, and authenticity, with insights from the scientists and philosophers who have attempted to evaluate, explain, and resolve these issues. The text also discusses the social impact of information technology in different areas of human life such as business, health, education, entertainment and politics." -- Publisher's Annotation

Tavani, Herman T., Ethics and Technology: Ethical Issues In An Age of Information and Communication Technology, third edition , 432 pages, ISBN: 0470509503 9780470509500.
Contents: Introduction To Cyberethics -- Concepts, Perspectives, and Methodological Frameworks; Ethical Concepts and Ethical Theories - Establishing and Justifying a Moral System; Critical Thinking Skills and Logical Arguments - Tools for Evaluating Cyberethics Issues; Professional Ethics, Codes of Conducts, and Moral Responsibility; Privacy and Cyberspace; Security in Cyberspace; Cybercrime and Cyberrelated Crimes; Intellectual Property Disputes in Cyberspace; Regulating Commerce and Speech in Cyberspace; Social Inclusion, The Digital Divide, and the Transformation of Work - The Impact for Class, Race, and Gender; Community and Identity in Cyberspace - Ethical Aspects of Virtual-Reality and Artificial-Intelligence Technologies; Pervasive Computing and Converging Technologies - Ethical Aspects of Ambient Intelligence, Bioinformatics, and Nanocomputing; Glossary; Index
"Information technology professionals must not only have a strong understanding of the latest technology, but they also need to be grounded in ethics. The third edition provides them with the information they need to succeed in the field. Each chapter is updated with new case studies and scenarios to provide the most current information. Review and discussion questions are included to reinforce key concepts. The in-text citations and references are revised to offer additional resources. Updated material is also presented on online communities and democracy, globalization and job outsourcing, security for wireless networking, and international cybercrime legislation. This enables information technology professionals to apply the concepts with a focus on ethics.
"How is your on-line personal privacy threatened by computer technology?
"Should sharing music on-line be illegal?
"When is it permissible to blow the whistle on unreliable software?
"Offering thought-provoking insights into these questions and more, Herman Tavanis ETHICS AND TECHNOLOGY: ETHICAL ISSUES IN AN AGE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY introduces readers to the most current issues in the field of cyberethics. The book then goes on to analyze the practical, moral, and legal implications associated with each issues. This book will be of interest to anyone concerned with how ethics plays a role in todays technologically dependent society.
"Herman Tavani is Co-Executive Director of the International Society for Ethics and Information Technology (INSEIT) and Secretary/Treasurer of the ACM Special Interest Group on Computers and Society (SIGCAS). Before becoming a full-time professor at Rivier College in New Hampshire, Tavani worked in the computer industry as a software technical writer and writing supervisor. -- Publisher's Annotation

Thielicke, Helmut, Sex: Theological Ethics.
"A scholarly examination of human sexuality in light of . . . doctrines of creation and redemption."

Thornwell, James Henley (1812-1862), The Ethical System of the Bible. In COLLECTED WRITINGS OF JAMES HENLEY THORNWELL (2:453-75).

*THORNWELL, JAMES HENLEY, Whatsoever Things are True: Classic Discourses on Truth. Alternate titles: CLASSIC DISCOURSES ON TRUTH; DISCOURSES ON TRUTH, ISBN: 1932474781 9781932474787, 166 pages. Available (COLLECTED WRITINGS OF JAMES HENLEY THORNWELL) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"These seven DISCOURSES ON TRUTH were written and preached in the Spring of 1851 from the text, 'Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, think on these things.' Philippians 4:8. They were delivered at the Chapel of the College at Columbia, South Carolina, by James Henley Thornwell, who was serving as both President and Chaplain." -- Publisher's Annotation
"First published 1855 by Messrs. Carter, New York, NY."
Contents: Discourse 1: The ethical system of the Bible -- Discourse 2: The love of truth -- Discourse 3: The love of truth -- Discourse 4: Sincerity -- Discourse 5: Faithfulness -- Discourse 6: Vows -- Discourse 7: Consistency.

Toon, Peter, Your Conscience as Your Guide (Wilton, CT: Moorehouse-Barlow, 1984), 101 pages, ISBN: 081921339X 9780819213396.
"Meets a felt need for a reliable work that adheres to the Scriptures and at the same time interacts with non-Christian and anti-Christian systems of thought. . . ." -- Cyril J. Barber

US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Multinationals and the National Interest: Playing by Different Rules (US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, 1993), OTA-ITE-569, NTIS order #PB93-231314, ISBN: 0160419433 9780160419430.
Multinationals and the National Interest: Playing by Different Rules
http://www.wws.princeton.edu/~ota/ns20/alpha_f.html

Verhey, Allen, Living the Heidelberg, ISBN: 0930265211 9780930265212.

*Wallace, Ronald, Calvin's Doctrine of the Christian Life (Tyler, TX: Geneva Divinity School Press, c1982), ISBN: 1579100473 9781579100476.
"This renowned student of Calvin's theology says that the great Reformer did not hold that the doctrine of the priesthood of believers was an individualistic idea apart from the Church. Also sets forth Calvin's views on prayer, ethics, and other Christian disciplines. Always the idea of assurance, achievement, and hope was present because of our union with Christ." -- GCB

Wells, Joseph T., Encyclopedia of Fraud, 2005 Edition, loose leaf (Obsidian Pub. Co., January 1, 2002), 916 pages, ISBN: 1889277371 9781889277370.
"A wealth of anti-fraud information exists today, but until now the material was scattered in thousands of sources and locales. Written for practitioners, academics and anyone with an interest in fraud, the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FRAUD, 2005 EDITION provides the user with easy access to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners' vast body of fraud knowledge.
"Organized by both topic and type of fraud scheme, users will find:

"Available in print and on CD-ROM, THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FRAUD, 2005 EDITION is an essential reference tool for every anti-fraud professional's library.
"Joseph T. Wells, CFE, CPA, is the founder and Chairman of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), and a professor of fraud examination at the University of Texas at Austin. He writes, researches, and lectures to business and professional groups on fraud-related issues and is frequently quoted in the national and international media. He has won top writing awards from both Internal Auditor and the Journal of Accounting magazines, and he is a winner of the Innovation in Accounting Education Award presented by the American Accounting Association. Mr. Wells is a member of both the Journal Accountancy Hall of Fame and the AICPA Hall of Fame, and for the last seven years in a row, he has been named to Accounting Today's list of top 100 most influential people in accounting." -- Publisher's Annotation

*WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY (1643-1652), The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) (Glasgow, Scotland [Free Presbyterian Publications, 133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow G3 6LE]: Free Presbyterian Publication, 1994), ISBN: 0902506080 (casebound) and ISBN: 0902506358 (paperback). Available from Crown and Covenant Publications. Also, available from Still Waters Revival Books). A Christian classic.
" 'The product of Puritan conflict,' stated Shedd, reaching 'a perfection of statement never elsewhere achieved.' All that learning the most profound and extensive, intellect the most acute and searching, and piety the most sincere and earnest, could accomplish, was thus concentrated in the Westminster Assembly's Confession of Faith, which may be safely termed the most perfect statement of Systematic Theology ever framed by the Christian Church,' writes Hetherington (The History of the Westminster Assembly of Divines,) p. 345. Concerning the Shorter Catechism, which is one of the items also included in this book, Mitchell notes: 'it is a thoroughly Calvinistic and Puritan catechism, the ripest fruit of the Assembly's thought and experience, maturing and finally fixing the definitions of theological terms to which Puritanism for half a century had been leading up and gradually coming closer and closer to in its legion of catechisms' (Westminster Assembly: Its History and Standards, p. 431). THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH (1646) is the greatest of all the creeds of the Christian church. The church of Christ cannot be creedless and live. Especially in an age of doubt and confusion, it is her duty to define and proclaim the one true faith. Nowhere has the Reformed church done this so effectively as in the WESTMINSTER CONFESSION [1646] and family of documents. This book represents Reformed thinking at its purest and best. It was intended, as part of the Covenanted Reformation taking place during its compilation, to be adopted as the binding confessional standard for every individual, family, court, church, and legislature in the British Isles." -- SWRB
This is considered to be the definitive publication of the Westminster family of documents. It includes the following:

  1. To the Christian Reader, Especially Heads of Families, Mr. Thomas Manton's Epistle to the Reader,
  2. The Confession of Faith (1646), the full and original edition with Scripture proofs written out,
  3. The Larger Catechism with Scripture proofs written out,
  4. The Shorter Catechism with Scripture proofs written out,
  5. The Sum of Saving Knowledge,
  6. The National Covenant,
  7. The Solemn League and Covenant,
  8. A Solemn Acknowledgement of Publick Sins and Breaches of the Covenant; and a Solemn Engagement to all the Duties Contained Therein is available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #1, ISBN: 0921148674 9780921148678,
  9. The Directory for the Public Worship of God,
  10. The Form of Presbyterial Church Government, and
  11. The Directory for Family Worship.
THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH (1646) is said to be the finest summary of THE HOLY BIBLE available. It is recommended for daily devotions. Among the ten greatest works in the English language.
The Significance of The Westminster Standards as a Creed
http://www.fpcr.org/blue_banner_articles/signific.htm
Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) With Scripture Proofs
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/
Scripture Index to the Westminster Standards (The complete Scripture index to the Westminster Confession (1646), Larger and Shorter Catechisms.) Available on Library of Presbyterian Heritage Publications [and] Protestant Heritage Press Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/index01.htm
THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH (1646) with all its subordinate documents in searchable format is available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #1, ISBN: 0921148674 9780921148678.
Westminster Assembly and Related Documents
http://www.covenanter.org/Westminster/westminsterhome.htm
For commentaries on THE WESTMINSTER OF FAITH (1646) see the following topical listing:
"The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) (The Westminster Standards) and Related Works"
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr9cha.html#wcf
Bordwine, James, A Guide to the Westminster Standards: Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism (Unicoi, TN: (The Trinity Foundation, 1996), ISBN: 0940931303 9780940931305.
Includes a unique, 100-page topical index to both the Confession and the Catechism.
Westminster Divines, The Shorter Catechism With Scripture Proofs (Carlisle, PA [P.O. Box 621, Carlisle 17013, USA]: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851512658.
Arguably the greatest tract ever created, all factors considered.
http://www.reformed.org/documents/WSC_frames.html
Westminster Shorter Catechism Project
"Click on any of the individual questions below to get the answer and Biblical references, as well as links to works by John Flavel, Thomas Watson, Thomas Boston, James Fisher, and John Whitecross, and others."
http://www.shortercatechism.com/
Westminster Larger Catechism With Proof Texts
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wlc_w_proofs/WLC_frames.html
"The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) (The Westminster Standards) and Related Works: A Study Guide"
http://www.lettermen2.com/suggest.html
Heresies Defined and the Necessity of Heresies Explained, by George Gillespie, Scottish Commissioner to the Assembly of Divines at Westminster
http://www.truecovenanter.com/gillespie/ggilles09.html

Wolterstorff, Nicholas P., Educating for Responsible Action (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1980), ISBN: 0802818579 9780802818577.
"Helpful theories and strategies for moral education." -- Mark Branson

Wright, Christopher, J.H., An Eye for an Eye: The Place of Old Testament Ethics Today (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press), ISBN: 0877848211 9780877848219.
"Wright develops a comprehensive and systematic view of Old Testament Law. Some say only the moral is still valid, we can disregard the ceremonial and civil law. Others say we must build a New Testament ethic only. Neither approach, argues Wright, gives the Old Testament its due in Christian thinking." -- GCB

See also: The ten commandments, the moral law, Appendix a: the words of christ, The westminster standards, The larger catechism (also commentaries on the larger catechism), Casuistry and conscience, Systematic theology, Medical ethics, Computer crime, Bribery, Lying and deceit, self-deceit, Toxic and harmful substances, Sin and its consequences, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Systematic theology, ethics, medical ethics, The westminster standards, Logic, Casuistry and conscience, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Epistemology, Resolutions, The right to petition, Referendum votes, Bible magistracy turns back the wrath of god, The government role of punishing wrongdoers, Toleration, liberty of conscience, pluralism, and neutrality, Unity and uniformity in the visible church: unity in the truth, National establishment of religion: establishmentarianism, The covenant faithfulness of god, Covenant Theology and Covenanting, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Healthcare reform, Christian character, Toleration and Liberty of Conscience, Oaths, secret societies and ungodly alliance, Conspiracy and corruption, Christianity in the workplace, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 481, 1337, 1338, 1975-1985, 2148, 2527, 2798, 3054, 3077-3080, 3737, 4127, 4177
MGTP: Ethics

Related WebLinks

Theft: Commentary and Cases of Conscience. A Listing Excerpted From THE INSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW by Rousas John Rushdoony, 1973 edition
http://www.lettermen2.com/theft.html

Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) With Scripture Proofs
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/

Statements Supporting the Original Consensus That Christianity is the Highest Ethical Standard Known to Mankind and, Therefore, Should be the Basis of Law and Government
http://www.lettermen2.com/agc002.html

Computer Crime and Corporate Crime
http://www.lettermen2.com/ccrime.html

Religious Test Clauses in Colonial and State Constitutions and Other Documents and Statements Supporting the Original Consensus That There Should Be a Religious Test For Positions of Authority and Trust
http://www.lettermen2.com/agc001.html

Trinitarianism Verses Polytheism: Unresolved Questions of Article VI, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution
http://www.lettermen2.com/pvtpa001.html

The Biblical Test of Character for Candidates for Public Office, all Civil Servants, Magistrates, Judges, and all Lawyers
http://www.lettermen2.com/pvtpa002.html

Hippocratic Oath
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_Oath

The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity (CBHD)
http://www.bioethix.org

Corporate Faithfulness and Sanctification (part 2)
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr9chb.html

Business Ethics at Business.com
http://www.business.com/directory/management/business_ethics/

Business Ethics Magazine
http://www.business-ethics.com/

Codes of Conduct
http://www.iit.edu/departments/csep/PublicWWW/codes/codes.html

American Medical Association (AMA) Code of Medical Ethics
"The medical profession has long subscribed to a body of ethical statements developed primarily for the benefit of the patient. As a member of this profession, a physician must recognize responsibility to patients first and foremost, as well as to society, to other health professionals, and to self. The following Principles adopted by the American Medical Association are not laws, but standards of conduct which define the essentials of honorable behavior for the physician."
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2512.html

American Academy of Medical Administrators Code of Ethics
http://www.aameda.org/AboutAAMA/codeofethics.html

Ethics Codes and Practice Guidelines for Assessment, Therapy, Counseling, and Forensic Practice
"This page presents links to therapy, counseling, forensic, and related ethics (and practice) codes developed by professional organizations (e.g., of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, marriage and family counselors). Codes are listed only if they appear online.
"Links to related resources are listed at the end." http://kspope.com/ethcodes/index.php

The Non-duality of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother: A Profile
http://www.lettermen2.com/syncret.html

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Excellence

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. (Philippians 3:8,9)

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23)

God is a Spirit infinitely happy, therefore we must approach him with cheerfulness; he is a Spirit of infinite majesty, therefore we must come before him with reverence; he is a Spirit infinitely high, therefore we must offer up our sacrifices with deepest humility; he is a Spirit infinitely holy, therefore we must address him with purity; he is a Spirit infinitely glorious, we therefore must acknowledge his excellency . . . he is a Spirit infinitely provoked by us, therefore we must offer up our worship in the name of a pacifying mediator and intercessor. -- Stephen Charnock

True worship is due only to One who by reason of His infinite perfections deserves our supreme love, honor, and trust. Angels are the highest order of creatures, yet we are forbidden to worship them. (Deut. 17:3) It is the lack of this knowledge that has caused unbelievers to idolize creatures. For wherever they found any virtue or excellency in the creature, presently they adored and worshipped it. -- William Gurnall

Another rule is, that the difficulty of obtaining shows the excellency: and, surely, if you consider but what it cost Christ to purchase it; what it costs the Spirit to bring men's hearts to it; what it costs ministers to persuade to it; what it costs christians, after all this, to obtain it; and what it costs many a half-christian, that, after all, goes without it; you will say, that here is difficulty, and therefore excellency. -- Richard Baxter

The roots of liberty and limited government are in the Protestant Reformation. We believe the key to the maintenance of liberty and limited government are to be found in the Scottish covenanting struggle.

God loves adverbs better than nouns; not praying only but praying well; not doing good but doing it well. -- Thomas Brooks

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), A Treatise of Knowledge and Love Compared in THE REFORMED PASTOR: BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, VOL. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, 1990, 1838, 1707, 1678, 1673).
Long title: A Treatise of Knowledge and Love Compared. In two Parts: 1. Of Falsely Pretended Knowledge. II. Of True Saving Knowledge and Love. I. Against Hasty Judging, and False Conceits of Knowledge; and for Necessary Suspension. II. The Excellency of Divine Love, and the Happiness of Being Known and Loved of God. Written as greatly necessary to the safety and peace of every Christian, and of the Church: the only certain way to escape false religions, heresies, sects, and malignant prejudices, persecutions, and sinful wars; all caused by falsely pretended knowledge, and hasty judging, by proud, ignorant men, who know not their ignorance.

*Brooks, Thomas, The Crown and Glory of Christianity: or Holiness the Only Way to Happiness. Discovered in 58 sermons, from Heb. 12:14. Where you have the necessity, excellency, rarity, beauty and glory of holiness set forth: with the resolution of many weighty questions and cases. Also motives and means to perfect holiness: with many other things of very high and great importance to all the sons and daughters of men, that had rather be blessed than cursed, saved than damned. In THE WORKS OF THOMAS BROOKS, 1886 (4:1-446)

BUNYAN, JOHN (1628-1688), The Acceptable Sacrifice: The Excellency of a Broken Heart (Sterling, VA: GAM Publications). Available (THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN) in The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
Based on Psalm 51:17.
Pilgrim's Page: A John Bunyan Archive
This is the complete set of THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN, George Offor edition, the edition reprinted by The Banner of Truth. It is free online, and is downloadable in the following formats: HTML, RTF, TEXT, and PDF.
http://www.mountzion.org/bunyan.html
The Excellency of a Broken Heart, Psalm 51:17, John Bunyan (1628-1688)
http://www.wwd.net/user/ront/155.htm

CASE, THOMAS, The Excellent Woman, A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Scott, Dec 16, 1658. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #6. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #14. "THE EXCELLENT WOMAN examines the book of Proverbs to teach of the value and character of the virtuous woman. In the forward Dr. William Sprague writes, 'This is a work that will bear to be read more than once, and each successive reading will be likely to reveal some new gem of thought, which, in the general mass of excellence, had been overlooked before. It is a book suitable for the husband to present to his wife, the mother to her daughter, and the brother to his sister; and the more widely it is circulated, the better for the country and the world'." -- Publisher's Annotation

Clarkson, David. The Excellent Knowledge of Christ. In THE WORKS OF DAVID CLARKSON (1:247-72).
Contents: Vol. 1. Of original sin, Ps. LI.5 -- Of repentance, Luke XIII.3 -- Of faith, Mark XVI.16 -- Of living by faith, Heb. X.38 -- Faith in prayer, James I.6 -- Of dying in faith, Heb. XI.13 -- Of living as strangers, Heb. XI.13 -- The excellent knowledge of Christ, Philip. III.8 -- Justification by the righteousness of Christ, Philip. III.9 -- Men by nature unwilling to come to Christ, John v. 40 -- The Lord the owner of all things; an inducement from earthly-mindedness, I Chron. XXIX.11 -- Hearing the Word, Luke VIII.18 -- Of taking up the cross, Luke XIv. 27 -- Vol. 2. The new creature Gal. VI.15 --Christ's gracious invitation to sinners, Rev. III.20 -- Man's insufficiency to do anything of himself, John Xv. 5 -- Against anxious carefulness, Philip. Iv. 6 -- Pray for everything, Philip. Iv. 6 -- God's end in sending calamities and afflictions on His people, Isa. XXVII.9 -- The conviction of hypocrites, Mat. VII.22,23 -- Soul idolatry excludes men out of heaven, Eph. V.5 -- The children of God should not be partakers with others in their sins, Eph. V.7 -- Unconverted sinners are darkness, Eph. V.8 -- Of Christ seeking fruit, and finding none, Luke XIII.6 -- The Lord rules over all, Ps. CIII.19 -- Sinners under the curse, Gal. III.10 -- Vol. 3. The love of Christ, Eph. V.2 -- Christ's sacrifice, Eph. V.2 -- Christ's dying for sinners, Rom. V.8 -- Christ touched with the feeling of our infirmities, Heb.IV.15 -- Of coming boldly unto the throne of grace, Heb. IV.16 -- Of Christ's making intercession, Heb. VII.25 -- Believers' communion with the Father and Son, I John I.3 -- Public worship to be preferred before private, Ps. LXXXVII.2-- The practical divinity of the papists discovered to be destructive of Christianity and men's souls.

DAVIES, SAMUEL, The Necessity and Excellence of Family Religion. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #22, ISBN: 0921148143 9780921148142. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #24.
"Promotes daily family worship based on an indirect application of 1 Tim. 5:8, 'But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel'." -- SWRB

Edwards, Jonathan, and Don Kistler, Altogether Lovely: Jonathan Edwards on the Glory and Excellency of Jesus Christ (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997), ISBN: 1573580716.

*EDWARDS, JONATHAN, The Religious Affections. Alternate title: A TREATISE CONCERNING RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS, IN THREE PARTS; PART I. CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THE AFFECTIONS, AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN RELIGION. PART II. SHEWING WHAT ARE NO CERTAIN SIGNS THAT RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS ARE GRACIOUS, OR THAT THEY ARE NOT. PART III. SHEWING WHAT ARE DISTINGUISHING SIGNS OF TRULY GRACIOUS AND HOLY AFFECTIONS. BY JONATHAN EDWARDS, A.M. AND PASTOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN NORTHAMPTON. [TWELVE LINES OF SCRIPTURE TEXTS] (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1986), ISBN: 0851514855 9780851514857. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999. An 18 volume edition of THE WORKS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS is available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1 and DVD Four, CD #21 (18 volumes).
RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS is volume two of The works of Jonathan Edwards, 26 volumes (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1957-2006), ISBN: 0300022824 9780300022827 0300060599 9780300060591.
A Christian classic.
Edwards "sets forth 12 distinguishing signs of truly gracious and holy affections: (1) [those] truly spiritual affections which arise from spiritual, supernatural, Divine influences on the heart; (2) those affections grounded in the intrinsic excellence of Divine things, without relating to our self-interest; (3) those primarily founded on the loveliness of the moral excellency of Divine things. . . ." -- William Young
This treatise soberly, thoroughly, and scripturally covers hypocracy within the Christian church. We recommend it to everyone in full-time Christian service, and to anyone who may be discouraged by hypocracy among professing Christians.
"It is by the mixture of counterfeit religion with true, not discerned and distinguished, that the devil has had his greatest advantage against the cause and kingdom of Christ. [For Edward's work on the positive side of the revival in New England see THE DISTINGUISHING MARKS OF A WORK OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD, APPLIED TO THAT UNCOMMON OPERATION THAT HAS LATELY APPEARED ON THE MINDS OF MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN NEW-ENGLAND -- sk] It is by this means, principally, that he has prevailed against all revivings of religion, since the first founding of the Christian church. . . . By this, Satan prevailed against the reformation, began by Luther. Zwinglius, etc., to put a stop to its progress, and bring it into disgrace, ten times more than by all those bloody and cruel persecutions of the church of Rome. By this, principally, has he prevailed against revivals of religion in our nation. By this he prevailed against New England, to quench the love and spoil the joy of her espousals, about a hundred years ago. And I think, I have had opportunity enough to see plainly, that by this the devil has prevailed against the late great revival of religion in New England, so happy and promising in its beginning." -- Jonathan Edwards, in the Preface to The Religious Affections
Religious Affections, by Jonathan Edwards
http://www.ccel.org/edwards/religious_affections/religious_affections.html
This work also appears full-view in Google Books.

Greenhill, William (1591-1671) and Jeremiah Burroughs (1599-1646), The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit Delivered in a Treatise vpon the 14. of Numbers, Vers. 24.: together with Moses his self-deniall / by Jer. Burroughes . . . ISBN: 1573580244 9781573580243.
The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit . . .
http://books.google.com/books?id=Va3nGwAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Inrig, Gary, The Call to Excellence(Wheaton, IL: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.), ISBN: 089693523X 9780896935235.
"The author issues a call for all Christians to take up the cause of Biblical excellence. This is a calling which shapes character and gives every area of life new significance." -- GCB

*United States. National Commission on Excellence in Education, A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform: A Report to the Nation and the Secretary of Education, United States Department of Education by the National Commission on Excellence in Education (Washington, DC: The Commission: [Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office distributor], 1983).

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The covenant faithfulness of god, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Appendix a: the words of christ, Christ our example, Calvinism, Christian scholarship, Discipline, Self-Denial, Discipleship, Knowledge and virtue, Christian scholarship, Immanuel, christ in you, Reform of the church, The covenanted reformation (considered to the highest attainment of christianity), Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, The courts and the law base, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 1083, 1084, 2728-2734
MGTP: Vocation or Calling

Related WebLinks

*National Association of Nouthetic Counselors
"The National Association of Nouthetic Counselors is a fellowship of Christian pastors and laymen who have banded together to promote excellence in biblical counseling. NANC was founded in 1975 in service to Christ to address several needs in the biblical counseling community."
Nouthetic Counseling Home Page -- Competent to Counsel
http://www.nanc.org
The National Association of Nouthetic Counselors Tape Library
http://www.kyrios.com/soundword/nanc.html
National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC)
5526 State Road 26 East
Lafayette, IN 47905

URAC, American Accreditation HealthCare Commission, Inc. (formerly Utilization Review Accreditation Commission)
"URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation and certification programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry.
"For those unfamiliar with URAC, we are an independent, nonprofit organization committed to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and other quality improvement activities. Today, URAC's accreditations help protect 140 million Americans.
"In recent years, URAC has become a nationally recognized quality improvement leader by reviewing and auditing a broad array of health care service functions and systems. Quality benchmarking activities cover health plans, preferred provider organizations, medical management systems, health technology services, health call centers, specialty care, workers' compensation, Web sites, and HIPAA privacy and security compliance, among other areas."
http://www.urac.org/



Extortion

Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate;
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. (Proverbs 22:22,23)

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9,10)

The Israelites not being commercial people, money was not often loaned for the purpose of business, but rather to aid the struggling poor. This last is the only kind of interest forbidden in the law, and the avoiding of this is sometimes given among the characteristics of the godly man (Ps. 15:5; Jer. 15:10).
The practice of mortgaging lands, sometimes at exorbitant interest, grew up among the Jews during the captivity, in direct violation of the law (Lev. 25:36; Ezek. 18:8,13,17); and Nehemiah exacted an oath to insure its discontinuance (Neh. 5:3-13). Jesus denounced all extortion, and promulgated a new law of love and forbearance (Luke 6:30,35). The taking of usury in the sense of a reasonable rate of interest for the use of money employed in trade is different, and is nowhere forbidden; and is referred to in the New Testament as a perfectly understood and allowable practice (Matt. 25:27; Luke 19:23). (Unger's Bible Dictionary, p. 1129)

The inability of the unregenerate to trust the Lord to set a table before them (Psalm 23, see Trusting and obeying god, Faith, God's deliverance of nations, and so forth) results in untold evil committed by leaders through hapless proxy subordinates (Matthew 16:24-27).
Centralization of power in government and other spheres of society, power that controls the means of production, in the absence of constitutional law and strict justice, forces subordinates to submit for fear of losing their livelihood and life. This is a type of extortion. (See Covetousness, greed, and selfishness, Theft, stealing and fraud: property rights, Liberalism, Tyranny, Treason, Impeachment, Restoring constitutional government), and so forth, and so on.
Abusive leaders that break covenant with God unseat themselves and should be further punished.

Management demanding that employees carry out ungodly policy is a type of extortion and bribery. It bears a resemblance to the abuses of absentee management and corporate immunity. If a leader has a proxy do what he himself would be unwilling to do, then extortion is involved.

Anastasia, George Blood and Honor: Inside the Scarfo Mob -- The Mafia's Most Violent Family, ISBN: 0688092608 9780688092603.
"Up-close and personal perspectives on a consequential Mafia family that law-enforcement agencies and turncoats have all but put out of business. Drawing mainly on interviews with Nick Caramandi (a confessed killer, loan shark, and extortionist now in the Federal Witness Protection Program), Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Anastasia offers a tellingly detailed rundown on a fiefdom encompassing not only his hometown but also Atlantic City from the late 1970's through the mid-1980's. . . ." -- From Kirkus Reviews

Confederate States of America, Presbyterian Church in the, Extortion (Presbyterian Committee of Publication).

Jacoby, Neil H., Peter Raymond Nehemkis, Richard Sedric Fox Eells, Bribery and Extortion in World Business: A Study of Corporate Political Payments Abroad, ISBN: 0029160006 9780029160008.

KITCHEN, JOHN, How Must We Reprove, That We may not Partake of Other Men's Sins, 1661, reprinted 1844. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"Deals with the question in the title as it pertains to the church, the nation, and especially the family. An important sermon dealing with an almost forgotten duty for all Christians that seek to remain faithful to Christ. Shows how '(b)y delightful society and company with wicked men to countenance them, so we become partakers of their sins: But now I have written unto you, not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.' (1 Cor. 5:11,13). Also demonstrates that '(i)f we would not partake of the sins of others, we must reprove the sins of others' (Lev. 19; Ezk. 33:7-9). So the apostle is expressly (Eph. 5:11) intimating that you do certainly approve them, if you do not reprove them. Contains an interesting aside that provides an answer to the philosophical questions raised by the existence of evil. Strong teaching." -- SWRB

McChesney, Fred S., Money for Nothing: Politicians, Rent Extraction, and Political Extortion(Harvard University Press, May 30, 1997), ISBN: 0674583302 9780674583306, 240 pages.
"Surveys reveal that a majority of Americans believe government is run for special interests, not public interest. The increased presence and power of lobbyists in Washington and the excesses of PAC and campaign contributions, in-kind benefits, and other favors would seem to indicate a government of weak public servants corrupted by big private-interest groups.
"But as Fred McChesney shows, this perspective affords only a partial understanding of why private interests are paying, and what they are paying for. Consider, for example, Citicorp, the nation's largest banking company, whose registered lobbyists spend most of their time blocking legislation that could hurt any one of the company's credit-card, loan, or financial-service operations. What this scenario suggests, the author argues, is that payments to politicians are often made not for political favors, but to avoid political disfavor, that is, as part of a system of political extortion or 'rent extraction.'
"The basic notion of rent extraction is simple: because the state can legally take wealth from its citizens, politicians can extort from private parties payments not to expropriate private wealth. In that sense, rent (that is, wealth) extraction is 'money for nothing' -- money paid in exchange for politicians' inaction. After constructing this model of wealth extraction, McChesney tests it with many examples, including several involving routine proposals of tax legislation, followed by withdrawal for a price. He also shows how the model applies more generally to regulation. Finally, he examines how binding contracts are written between private interests and politicians not to extract wealth.
"This book, standing squarely at the intersection of law, political science, and economics, vividly illustrates the patterns of legal extortion underlying the current fabric of interest-group politics.
"Fred S. McChesney is Professor of Law at the Cornell Law School." -- Publisher's Annotation "To support his view that rent extraction imposes enormous costs on the economy, McChesney provides a wealth of evidence from recent policy debates. For example, he cites the United States Federal Trade Commission's efforts - at the request of Congress - to impose warranty and defect disclosure requirements on used car dealers as an attempt by individual members of Congress to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for voiding the rules. In this instance, he provides statistics on contributions made by the National Auto Dealers' Association to members of Congress who voted to repeal the regulations. In discussing the Supreme Court's response to the wheeling and dealing, he points out that the dealers were essentially tricked into paying to repeal legislation that Congress never intended to enact anyway.
"On the Clinton health care plan, he states that stock prices of pharmaceutical firms began to fall before the policy was formally proposed. He emphasizes that investors knew that once price controls became an issue, the firms involved would have to spend money fighting the legislation by making campaign contributions. Thus, the firms were expected to lose enormous sums of money whether or not the bill was actually passed. Most importantly, he points out that the firms were never able to recover any of the money they lost in the process.
"In addition to legislative threats to impose price caps, he cites situations in which politicians threaten to repeal existing price caps to obtain contributions. For example, he states that proposals to raise admission fees at Yellowstone National Park have met with resistance from local merchants and users who benefit from lower prices. In other words, politicians can even threaten regulatory systems that they inherited from previous regimes in order to extract contributions from the firms that benefit from those systems. . . ." -- Reader's Comment

Wrage, Alexandra Addison, Bribery and Extortion: Undermining Business, Governments, and Security (Praeger Security International, September 30, 2007), 176 pages, ISBN: 9780275996499 0275996492.
Bribery plays a significant role in international criminal activity. Terrorists pay bribes. Money-launderers pay bribes. Those who traffic in people, narcotics, and illegal arms pay bribes. People pay immigration officers not to ask, customs officials not to inspect, and police officers not to investigate. At corporate headquarters in the United States, it can be easy to dismiss modest bribes in distant countries as an unfortunate cost of doing business. Bribes follow patterns that are not at all mysterious to the officials, salesmen, and citizens who seek them and pay them. Using a series of international cases, Wrage examines bribery, peeling back the mystique and ambiguity and exposing the very simple transactions that lie beneath. She shows how these seemingly everyday transactions can affect security, democratization, and human aid around the globe. Bribery and Extortion presents a clear picture of the world of bribery and the havoc it can wreak on whole populations. Wrage covers commercial bribery, administrative and service-based bribery, and extortion. She considers bribery and extortion at both high levels of government and lower levels on "the street." Examples from around the world help to illustrate the nature of the problem and efforts at combating it. The book concludes with practical suggestions and an assessment of current efforts to stem the tide of bribery and restore transparency to everyday transactions in all realms.
"Alexandra Addison Wrage is an international attorney and President of TRACE International, a nonprofit, anti-bribery business association with over 1,000 corporate members in more than 100 countries. She has worked as in-house counsel for both Northrop Grumman Corporation and MCI Communications. She has written numerous articles on practical anti-bribery strategies and speaks frequently on topics of international law and the hidden costs of corruption." -- Publisher's Annotation

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The ten commandments, the moral law, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Covenant theology, Background and history of the covenanted reformation of scotland, The covenanted reformation, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, Sexual relationship, The covenant faithfulness of god, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Lordship of jesus christ, The all-sufficiency of christ, Theft, stealing and fraud: property rights, Bribery, Taxation, property and liberty, Conspiracy and corruption, Pseudo-christian movements, Covetousness, Greed, and Selfishness, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 578

Related WebLinks

Theft: Commentary and Cases of Conscience. A Listing Excerpted From THE INSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW by Rousas John Rushdoony, 1973 edition
http://www.lettermen2.com/theft.html



Evil, The Problem of, Avoiding, Eschewing, Shunning

Christianity is the only religion that provides a solution to the problem of evil.

See the Theological Notes, "Salvation," at Acts 4:12 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Election and Reprobation," at Romans 9:18 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Church Discipline and Excommunication," at Matthew 18:15 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "Providence," at Proverbs 16:33 in The Reformation Study Bible.

As for you, ye devised against me evil -- God devised it for good, in order to do as at this day, to keep alive a numerous people. (Genesis 50:20, YLTHB)

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalm 1:1,2)

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:13)

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29b)

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:14-21)

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:6,7)

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 3:21)

If God does not exist, everything is permitted. -- Dostoevsky

Word: "disease;" Meaning; "disturb;" Sample location: "Luke 8:49" -- from the "Glossary," 1599 Geneva Bible. Tolle Lege edition DISEASE, n. Dizeze. [dis and ease.] 1. In its primary sense, pain, uneasiness, distress, and so used by Spenser; but in this sense, obsolete. 2. The cause of pain or uneasiness . . . disorder; any state of a living body in which the natural functions of the organs are interrupted or disturbed . . . The first effect of disease is uneasiness or pain, and the ultimate effect is death. . . . 3. A disordered state of the mind or intellect, by which the reason is impaired. 4. In society, vice; corrupt state of morals. Vices are called moral diseases. A wise man converses with the wicked, as a physician with the sick, not to catch the disease, but to cure it. 5. Political or civil disorder, or vices in a state; any practice which tends to disturb the peace of society, or impede or prevent the regular administration of government. The instability, injustice and confusion introduced into the public councils have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have every where perished. DISEASE, v.t. dizeze. 1. To interrupt or impair any or all the natural and regular functions of the several organs of a living body [i.e. robbing a neighbor of sleep -- sk]; to afflict with pain or sickness to make morbid . . . 2. To interrupt or render imperfect the regular functions of the brain, or of the intellect; to disorder; to derange. 3. To infect; to communicate disease to, by contagion. 4. To pain; to make uneasy. --1828 edition of Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language

*Adams, Jay E., The Grand Demonstration: A Biblical Study of the So-Called Problem of Evil (Santa Barbara, CA: EastGate Publishers, 1991), ISBN: 0941717062 9780941717069.
"Answers the large and primary question of why human beings have become objects of divine wrath. Why does a good God plan evil, and, having planned it, why does He complain when men sin, and consign those who fail to repent to an eternity in hell? Romans 9:22f describes the 'grand demonstration' of God's grandeur and glory in revealing His holy wrath and power. 'To accept the teaching of Romans 9 requires a radical reorientation of one's perspective on the ways of God and man. . . . . The thrust of this book runs counter to almost everything you have ever heard, not only outside, but also inside of the church.' Grasping it should humble, thrill and motivate you." -- David Powlison "Penetrates deeply into the scriptural teaching about the nature of God and the existence of evil."

Adams, Jay E., How to Handle Trouble God's Way (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1982), ISBN: 0875520766 9780875520766.
"Focuses on Philippians 1:12-26, where Paul views his hardships as opportunities to glorify Christ."
" 'A practical handbook that gives biblical directions to follow in times of trouble.' Where THE GRAND DEMONSTRATION works out the implications of God's decretive will, this book works out the implications of God's directive will by which he pastorally guides His people. Based on Philippians 1, it lays out six steps for handling trouble: recognize God is in the problem; remember God is up to something; believe that He is up to something good; discover where and how God is at work; get involved in what He is doing; expect good effects." -- David Powlison

Adams, Jay E., How to Overcome Evil (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1978), ISBN: 0801001269 9780801001260.
"Learn to assess yourself and the situation accurately in the light of who God is, in order that you might repent and trust Christ. Make plans for how you will obey Christ in tough situations. Pray to God for the Holy Spirit. Act to Christ's glory." -- David Powlison
"A series of lectures which shows how to `put off' evil and `put on' good. For counselors and counselees." A practical exposition of Romans 12:14-21.

Adams, Jay E., Marriage and Family Life (part 3): Discipline, Motivation, Good for Evil (part 3) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA403.

BARROW, GREGORY, Eschewing Ecclesiastical Tyranny (Protestant Biblical Separation), (debate with Richard Bacon), 1 Corinthians 2:15, narrated by Larry Burger. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #24, ISBN: 0921148186 9780921148180.
"The classic Reformation position on biblical separation, Protestant private judgment, the visible church, etc. -- contra Antichrist (the Papacy) and wayward liberal Protestants. This is Appendix G from THE COVENANTED REFORMATION DEFENDED: 'A brief examination of Mr. Bacon's principles regarding the visible church and the use of private judgment. Also, some observations regarding his ignoble attack upon Mr. Kevin Reed in his book entitled THE VISIBLE CHURCH IN THE OUTER DARKNESS'." -- SWRB
The Covenanted Reformation Defended, e-text
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/CovRefGB.htm
The Covenanted Reformation Defended, audio files
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=7702201426
The Covenanted Reformation Defended Against Contemporary Schismatics: A Response and Antidote Primarily to the Neopresbyterian Malignancy and Misrepresentations and the Manufactured 'Steelite' Controversy, Found in Richard Bacon's "A Defense Departed . . ."
http://books.google.com/books?id=LG5EHQAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*Berkouwer, G.C., The Providence of God (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.).

*Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), The Everlasting Righteousness or How Shall man be Just With God? (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1993). A Christian classic.
"First published in 1874, THE EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, may be the best book on the doctrine of justification by faith alone ever written.
"Since the seventeenth century, the church's adherence to the central doctrine of the Christian faith has been weakening; in the twentieth century it has all but disappeared. But to those who remain faithful -- to those who are called of God --justification by faith alone is the best news there could ever be: that Christ died for our sins, and we shall live forever because of Christ's righteousness.
"Justification by faith alone -- the `principal hinge of religion,' according to John Calvin, the `doctrine by which the church stands or falls,' according to Martin Luther -- is salvation. Without it, all hope is lost; with it, Heaven gained. Bonar's discussion is without equal in the English language." -- John W. Robbins
The Banner of Truth edition is available free as e-text.
The Everlasting Righteousness; or, How Shall man be Just With God?
The Everlasting Righteousness, Horatius Bonar
http://www.jude3.net/bertoc.htm
http://books.google.com/books?id=nQMDAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Boston, Thomas (1676-1732), Departing From Iniquity the Duty of all who Name the Name of Jesus. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THE REVEREND THOMAS BOSTON (10:9-55)

Hocking, David Lee, Who am I and What Difference Does it Make? ISBN: 0880701021 9780880701020.

Ishee, John A. (compiler), When Trouble Comes (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1970).
Includes bibliographical references.

Johnston, Olaf R., Christianity in a Collapsing Culture (Exeter, England: Paternoster Press, 1976), ISBN: 0853642001 9780853642008.
"Faces squarely the disintegration of Western civilization, and advocates a cultural renewal based on a clear differentiation between good and evil, and a strong infusion of the Spirit's power into the life of every believer. Persuasive and Biblical." -- Cyril J. Barber

*Macartney, Clarence E.N., Trials of Great Men of the Bible (New York, NY: Abingdon Press, 1946) ISBN: 1430474920.
"Covers material from Job to Paul. Shows the place and purpose of trials in the development of Christian character." -- Cyril J. Barber

Martin, Walter, "Evil and Human Suffering" (San Juan Capistrano, CA: Christian Research Institute International).
"Aimed at the atheist or agnostic, discusses the question of suffering and why God permits it."

Morecraft, Joe, III, With Liberty and Justice for All, 2nd edition, (Covenant House Books, 1995).
"Joe Morecraft, III, was the pastor of the late Senator Larry McDonald, who was killed when the Russians shot down his plane. This is Christian politics made simple. A very readable book that will help you to think through the place of the government in our lives, namely, the government's authority and limitations. All this is done with many passages quoted from Scripture. There is a chapter on the life of Larry McDonald. . . ." -- Footstool Publications
"What are Christians to do when the civil government is evil? Must they always obey the authorities? What are the origins of civil government? Does the Bible authorize the government to execute criminals? Is abortion murder if it is legal? Shouldn't Christians stay out of politics? This book answers these questions and many more. Dr. Morecraft, pastor of Chalcedon Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, seeks Biblical answers to these questions. An instructive book for today." -- GCB

Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, Walter Kaufmann (translator), Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future, ISBN: 0585110875 9780585110875.
"Represents Nietzsche's attempt to sum up his philosophy. In nine parts the book is designed to give the reader a comprehensive idea of Nietzche's thought and style. With an inclusive index of subjects and persons." -- Publisher's Annotation
Non-dualism was a basic tenet of the philosophy of Nietzsche. See The Non-duality of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother: A Profile.

Packer, J.I., Doctrine of God: Providence (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JP414.

Packer, J.I., Doctrine of God: Providence (cont.); Problem of Evil (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JP415.

*Wilder-Smith, A.E., The Paradox of Pain (Wheaton, IL: Harold Shaw Publishers, 1971), ISBN: 0877886679 9780877886679.
"A detailed consideration of the problem of suffering, good and evil, and the Providence of God." -- Cyril J. Barber

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Idolatry, Separation, Spiritual warfare, Covetousness, self, self-righteousness, Lying, deceit, self-deception, Sexual relationship, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Spirituality and harlotry, Theft, stealing and fraud: property rights, Bribery, Extortion, Laziness, slothfulness, idleness, indolence, slackness, sluggishness/sluggard, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Hostility, violence, Abuse, Child abuse and pedophilia, The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The ten commandments, the moral law, Casuistry, cases of conscience, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The covenant faithfulness of god, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Terrorism, Secret societies, ungodly alliances, voluntary associations, Toleration, liberty of conscience, pluralism, and neutrality, Holiness and happiness, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 17, 276-397, 1183, 1797, 1798, 3350, 4452

Related WebLinks

The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon
A sermon by C.H. Spurgeon delivered on Lord's-day morning, September 9, 1888, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Sermon no. 2043.
"This is the way in which you should use this plea. Say, 'My God, I am utterly unworthy, and I own it; but, I beseech thee, hear me for the honour of thy dear Son. By his agony and bloody sweat, by his cross and passion, by his precious death and burial, I beseech thee hear me! O Lord, let the blood of thine Only-begotten prevail with thee! Canst thou put aside his groans, his tears, his death, when they speak on my behalf?' If you can thus come to pleading terms with God upon this ground, you must and will prevail. Jesus must be heard in heaven. The voice of his blood is eloquent with God. If you plead the atoning sacrifice, you must overcome through the blood of the Lamb." -- C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.mountzion.org/fgb/Summer97/FgbS6-97.html

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Fatalism

Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? (Jeremiah 5: 25-31) See the annotation in The Reformation Study Bible.

First, you will arouse them out of apathy. This age is more indifferent to true religion than almost any other. It is alive enough to error, but to the old faith it turns a deaf ear. Yet I have noticed persons captivated by the truth of substitution who would not listen to anything else. If any discourse can hold men, as the ancient mariner detained the wedding guest, it is the story of divine love, incarnate in the person of Jesus, bleeding and dying for guilty men. Try that story when attention flags. It has a fascination about it. The marvellous history of the Son of God, who loved his enemies, and died for them-this will arrest them. The history of the Holy One who stood in the sinners' place, and was in consequence put to shame, and agony, and death-this will touch them. The sight of the bleeding Saviour overcomes obduracy and carelessness. -- C.H. Spurgeon in a sermon, The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon

Reformed theologians consider Islam to be the quintessence of fatalism. God's decrees and predestination refut both Arminianism and fatalism.

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

Warfield, Benjamin B. and John E. Meeter (editor), Selected Shorter Writings of Benjamin B. Warfield, Vol. 1, (Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Company, 1970).
Includes "What Fatalism Is," an article originally appearing in The Presbyterian, Mar. 16, 1904, pp. 7-8.
Benjamin B. Warfield
http://reformedperspectives.org/newfiles/bb_warfield/Warfield.Fatalism.html

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The ten commandments, the moral law, Casuistry, cases of conscience, The attributes of God, The covenant faithfulness of god, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Lying, deceit, self-deception, Self-destruction, Self-justification, self-righteousness, How to become a christian, Book-length presentations of the gospel message of salvation, Justifying faith, Justification, Hope, The counter reformation, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Apathy, indifference, Predestination, Islam (muslim/moslim), muhammadanism/mohammadanism, The new age, hinduism, and sikhism, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Laziness, slothfulness, idleness, indolence, slackness, sluggishness/sluggard, Suicide, Hope, Ready reference: immediate counsel, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 432, 1694, 2037-2040, 3070, 3357, 4168

Related WebLinks

A Redneck Resolution Against Self-destruction
http://www.lettermen2.com/redneck.html

Rebellion and Lawlessness: Wickedness, Demonic Possession, Substance Abuse, Abnormal Behavior, Insanity, Mental Illness, Mental Retardation
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappd.html#rlinsane

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Fatherlessness

He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:9b)

I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:18)

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. (Psalm 27:10)

Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:32b)

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. (Psalm 103:13)

"Ultimately the Seventh Commandment (Exodus 20:14) is about our fidelity to Christ." To fracture the Seventh Commandment is to break covenant with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

*Finley, Martha [aka Martha Farquharson, a pen name] (1828-1909), Book 1: Elsie Dinsmore, ISBN: 158182064X 9781581820645. (Bulverde, TX: Mantle Ministries), ISBN: 1888306319.
"Set amid the sweet blossoms of a southern mansion, this timeless classic delves into the heart of Elsie -- by all counts, an extraordinary little girl. Share in Elsie's quest for love from her earthly father as it leads to a mature understanding of the love of her Father in Heaven. Join Elsie as she suffers through endless hours of scrutiny from Miss Day, her mean-spirited school teacher, taunting from her mischievous young Uncle Arthur, and scoldings from a cold-hearted father she so desires to please -- all with the peace and quiet countenance that comes from knowing she is God's child. This, the first of the heart-warming Elsie Books, will both challenge and inspire you." -- Publisher's Annotation

Lidgett, J.S., The Fatherhood of God, condensed edition (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers), ISBN: 0871239884 9780871239884.
"Lidgett's book, appearing here in an edited and condensed edition (first published in 1902), addresses the Fatherhood of God Biblically, historically, and philosophically. It deals with God's relationship to mankind as seen in Jesus' relationship to His Father." -- GCB

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, The fatherhood of god, The lord jesus christ, The sufficiency of christ, Repentance the key to salvation and change, Justifying Faith, Justification, How to become a christian, Book-length presentations of the free offer of the gospel message of salvation and the life to come: the means of grace, Adoption into god's family, Christian fiction -- martha finley Manhood, Womenhood, Men and women, Men, Men, women and god, Fatherhood, Gratuitous Sex, a Cause of Violence, Abuse, Adultery, Incest, Child abuse and pedophilia, Homosexuality, Feminism, Spirituality and Harlotry, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 3829, 3830

Related WebLinks

Effects of Fatherlessness, US DATA
http://www.massey.ac.nz/~kbirks/gender/econ/nodad.htm

Fatherlessness
http://fatherhood.about.com/parenting/fatherhood/msubfatherless.htm?once=true&

National Fatherhood Initiative
http://fatherhood.org/

The War Against Fathers, Tom Barrett
http://www.conservativetruth.org/article.php?id=503



Fear, Anxiety

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalm 23)

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. (Psalm 56:3)

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (Isaiah 41:10)

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:27)

See the Theological Notes, "Salvation," at Acts 4:12 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (Philippians 2:3)

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6,7)

But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. (1 Peter 3:14)

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:8,18)

Yet when Jesus said, Be not afraid, their fears vanished. All the comfort, then, that any troubled heart wants, it can find in Christ. -- C.H. Spurgeon in a sermon entitled http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols16-18/chs924.pdf p. 646

Word: "disease;" Meaning; "disturb;" Sample location: "Luke 8:49" -- from the "Glossary," 1599 Geneva Bible. Tolle Lege edition DISEASE, n. Dizeze. [dis and ease.] 1. In its primary sense, pain, uneasiness, distress, and so used by Spenser; but in this sense, obsolete. 2. The cause of pain or uneasiness . . . disorder; any state of a living body in which the natural functions of the organs are interrupted or disturbed . . . The first effect of disease is uneasiness or pain, and the ultimate effect is death. . . . 3. A disordered state of the mind or intellect, by which the reason is impaired. 4. In society, vice; corrupt state of morals. Vices are called moral diseases. A wise man converses with the wicked, as a physician with the sick, not to catch the disease, but to cure it. 5. Political or civil disorder, or vices in a state; any practice which tends to disturb the peace of society, or impede or prevent the regular administration of government. The instability, injustice and confusion introduced into the public councils have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have every where perished. DISEASE, v.t. dizeze. 1. To interrupt or impair any or all the natural and regular functions of the several organs of a living body [i.e. robbing a neighbor of sleep -- sk]; to afflict with pain or sickness to make morbid . . . 2. To interrupt or render imperfect the regular functions of the brain, or of the intellect; to disorder; to derange. 3. To infect; to communicate disease to, by contagion. 4. To pain; to make uneasy. --1828 edition of Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language

The wicked is a very coward, and is afraid of everything; of God, because He is his enemy; of Satan, because he is his tormentor; of God's creatures, because they, joined with their Maker, fight against him: of himself, because he bears about with him his own accuser and executioner. The godly man contrarily is afraid of nothing; not of God, because he knows Him his best friend, and will not hurt him; not of Satan, because he cannot hurt him; not of afflictions, because he knows they come from a loving God, and end in his good; not of the creatures, since `the very stones in the field are a league with Him;' not of himself, since his conscience is at peace. -- Joseph Hall

Adams, Jay E., What do you do When Fear Overcomes you? Alternate title: YOU CAN OVERCOME FEAR, ISBN: 0875520464 9780875520469, 24 pages.
"You must learn to commit yourself prayerfully to doing what God requires of you whether or not you will have a fear experience by doing so. That is the key that will unlock your prison."
What do you do When Fear Overcomes you?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm

Adams, Jay E., You can Overcome Fear. Alternate title: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN FEAR OVERCOMES YOU? (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House), ISBN: 0801000939 9780801000935.
What do you do When Fear Overcomes you?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm

DeBardeleben, Martha Graves, and Jay Adams (foreword), Fear's Answers: Case History in Nouthetic Counseling (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1980), 159 pages, ISBN: 087552236X 9780875522364.
" 'It was the summer of 1970. I had already discarded my faith in psychology as the source of truth and remedy for the human dilemma. I was more and more finding in God's Word the answers. I was introduced to Jay Adams and his systematizing of Scripture as it applies to the problems of everyday living. I was thrilled to find that Dr. Adams' discoveries both paralleled and went far beyond my own.' Then in 1978 a 78 year old woman with pain, fear, depression, manipulation, hallucinations comes to live with the author. They speak biblically about pride, anger, fear, self-centeredness and lack of trust in God, instead of saying she needs her delusions and is too old for truth. 'What was most crucial in her recovery was that because she had a loving Savior, she could dare face the truth about herself'." -- David Powlison

*Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), God's Way of Peace: A Book for the Anxious (Philadelphia, PA: The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1984), ISBN: 0585036004 9780585036007. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2.
"Horatius Bonar was a pastor in Scotland for over fifty years. He was one of the brightest lights in the 19th century, with not only many books to his credit, but also the editing of the excellent IMPERIAL BIBLE DICTIONARY, and a delightful and useful monthly magazine. . . . This book is another evidence that Bonar is able to write the deepest truths in the clearest and most understandable way . . . Simplicity is his style, but declaring the whole counsel of God is his aim. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
God's Way of Peace: A Book for the Anxious, Horatius Bonar
http://www.ccel.org/b/bonar/way_of_peace/way_of_peace.htm

Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation, Running Scared Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest.

*Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn (1899-1981), Faith Tried and Triumphant (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House), ISBN: 0801056497 9780801056499.
"This book is a combined edition of two previously published works of Lloyd-Jones, FROM FEAR TO FAITH (sermons on the book of Habakkuk) and FAITH ON TRIAL (sermons on Psalm 73)." -- GCB

*Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn (1899-1981), From Fear to Faith (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press), ISBN: 0851116906 9780851116907.
"Expounds most helpfully the message of the prophet Habakkuk for our time." -- William J. Grier

*Lockyer, Herbert, All the Promises of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1996, 1962), ISBN: 0310281318 9780310281313.
"A devotional expositional compilation of all the promises [about 3,300 of the approximate 8,810 promises - sk] that are found in Scripture." -- Synopsis
"Lockyers in-depth look at the scope of Gods promises arranges them in categories that cover the full array of human concerns, from the spiritual to the material and the corporate to the personal. As you come to understand Gods promises and how they apply to every aspect of your life, you'll gain a trust in God that will sustain you through the worst of times and be your source of rejoicing in the best.
"Dr. Herbert Lockyer was born in London in 1886, and held pastorates in Scotland and England for 25 years before coming to the United States in 1935. In 1937 he received the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Northwestern Evangelical Seminary. In 1955 he returned to England where he lived for many years. He then returned to the United States where he continued to devote time to the writing ministry until his death in November of 1984." -- Publisher's Annotation

Mack, Wayne A, and Joshua Mack, The Fear Factor: What Satan Doesn't Want You to Know, ISBN: 1563220822 9781563220821.

MacArthur, John, Anxiety Attacked. Alternate title: ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING: GOD'S CURE FOR THE CARE OF YOUR SOUL, 2nd edition (a revised edition of ANXIETY ATTACKED), (Victor Books [Scripture Press], 1993), ISBN: 1564761282 9781564761286, 188 pages.
"Practical helps for anxious people. A series of applied Bible studies from Matthew 6, Philippians, I Peter 5, Hebrews 11-12 attack anxiety to solve it, focusing especially on who God is, on prayer, and on transforming thinking and actions. Includes a twenty page appendix that excerpts psalms relevant to anxiety. The last 35 pages contain a study guide for individual or group use." -- David Powlison

MacArthur, John, Anxious for Nothing: God's Cure for the Care of Your Soul, 2nd edition (a revised edition of ANXIETY ATTACKED), ISBN: 0781443385 9780781443388.

Tripp, Paul, Anxiety (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette HFTF30.

Welch, Edward T., When People are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of man, ISBN: 0875526004 9780875526003.

See also: The attributes of god, The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Worry and anxiety, The ten commandments, the moral law, Casuistry, cases of conscience, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The promises of Christ, Bible promises, The covenant faithfulness of god, Trusting god, Loneliness, Christian fellowship, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Worry and anxiety, Ready reference: immediate counsel on many subjects, Depression, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 851, 859, 1020, 3020, 3034, 3036
MGTP: Fear(s), Worry, Fear (of men)

Related WebLinks

The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon
A sermon by C.H. Spurgeon delivered on Lord's-day morning, September 9, 1888, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Sermon no. 2043.
"This is the way in which you should use this plea. Say, 'My God, I am utterly unworthy, and I own it; but, I beseech thee, hear me for the honour of thy dear Son. By his agony and bloody sweat, by his cross and passion, by his precious death and burial, I beseech thee hear me! O Lord, let the blood of thine Only-begotten prevail with thee! Canst thou put aside his groans, his tears, his death, when they speak on my behalf?' If you can thus come to pleading terms with God upon this ground, you must and will prevail. Jesus must be heard in heaven. The voice of his blood is eloquent with God. If you plead the atoning sacrifice, you must overcome through the blood of the Lamb." -- C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.mountzion.org/fgb/Summer97/FgbS6-97.html

What do you do When Fear Overcomes you?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm



Fellowship

See: CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1chb.html#cfellow



Foolishness

The fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God.
They are corrupt,
they have done abominable works,
there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1) See the annotation in The Reformation Study Bible.
See the Theological Notes, "Mankind's Guilty Knowledge of God" at Romans 1:29 and the note at Psalm 14:1 in The Reformation Study Bible

The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 53:11)
Being a fool, he reflects his nature, saying, "There is no God." Being a great fool, he meddles with a great subject and comes to wild conclusions. Morally, as well as mentally, the atheist is a fool. He is a fool in the heart as well as in the head, a fool in morals as well as in philosophy. With the denial of God as a starting point, we may conclude that the fool's progress is raid, riotous, raving, and ruinous. One beginning at impiety is ready for anything. "No God" properly interpreted means no law, no order, no restraint to lust, no limit to evil passion. Who but a fool would be of this mind? What would the world become if such lawless principles came to be universal? One who heartily entertains an irreligious spirit, and follows it out to its legitimate issues, is dangerous to the common welfare; he is not rational. By nature every man is more or less a denier of God. Practical atheism is the religion of humanity. It is idle to compliment them as sincere doubters and amiable thinkers; they are in fact rotten. There is too much dainty dealing nowadays with atheism. It is not a harmless error; it is an offensive, rotten sin. Righteous men should look on it in that light. All men being by nature atheistic, they are also in the same degree corrupt. Their heart is foul; their moral nature is decayed.
"Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity" -- bad principles soon lead to bad lives. One does not find virtue promoted by your Voltaires and Tom Paines. Those who talk so abominable as to deny their Maker will act abominable when it serves their turn. It is the denial and forgetfulness of God abounding among men which is the source of the unrighteousness and crime which we see around us. It all men are not outwardly vicious, it is to be accounted for by the power of other and better principles. Left to itself, the "No God" spirit would produce nothing but evil acts. -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting on Psalm 53:11 in Devotional Classics of C.H. Spurgeon, p. 270

Through thy precepts I get understanding.
God's direction is our instruction. Obedience to the divine will begets wisdom of mind and action. As God's way is always best, those who follow it are sure to be justified by the result. If the Lawgiver were foolish his law would be the same, and obedience to such a law would involve us in a thousand mistakes; but as the reverse is the case, we may count ourselves happy to have such a wise, prudent, and beneficial law to be the rule of our lives. We are wise if we obey and we grow wise by obeying! -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting on Psalm 119:104

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)

The words of wise [men are] heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. (Ecclesiastes 9:17)

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. (Mark 7:21,22)

In the words of St. Paul, Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools (Rom. 1:22). Professing themselves to be lovers of life and mankind, they revealed themselves as haters and murderers of men. -- Rousas John Rushdoony in The Institutes of Biblical Law, 1973 edition, pp. 649, 650. the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. (1 Corinthians 3:19)

See also: Proverbs 1:10-19; Proverbs 5; 6:24-7:27; Proverbs 6:6-11; Proverbs 10:19; Proverbs 17:12; 26:1-11; Proverbs 17:4-9 Proverbs 23:9; 26:4-5; 29:9; Romans 1:18-23; Proverbs. 10:19; Proverbs. 26; 2 Tim. 2; Ps. 14; Romans 1; Matthew 25:1-13; Luke 12:13-34; 1 Corinthians 1:10-25; 1 Corinthians 1:10-25; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 1 Corinthians 3:18-23; Proverbs. 27:22; Proverbs. 3:1-10; Proverbs. 3:11-20; Proverbs. 3:11-20, and so forth, and so on.

Pride setteth up the wisdom of a foolish man against the infinite wisdom of God; it makes men presume to judge their Judge, and judge his laws, before they understand them; and to quarrel with all that they find unsuitable to their own conceits; and say, How improbable is this or that! and how can these things be? . . . Proud men think they could mend God's word, and they could better have ordered matters in the world, and for the church, and for themselves, and for their friends, than the providence of God hath done. -- Richard Baxter

To me it is enough to say that black is not white, and man's tyranny and foolishness is not God's perfect ordinance. -- John Knox

The basic problem of the Christians in this country in the last eighty years or so, in regard to society and in regard to government, is that they have seen things in bits and pieces instead of totals.
They have very gradually become disturbed over permissiveness, pornography, the public schools, the breakdown of the family, and finally abortion. But they have not seen this as a totality -- each thing being a part, a symptom, of a much larger problem. They have failed to see that all of this has come about due to a shift in world view -- that is, through a fundamental change in the overall way people think and view the world and life as a whole. . . .
We have been utterly foolish in our concentration on bits and pieces, and in our complete failure to face the total world view that is rooted in a false view of reality. And we have not understood that this view of reality inevitably brings forth totally different and wrong and inhuman results in all of life. This is nowhere more certain than in law and government -- where law and government are used by this false view of reality as a tool to force this false view and its results on everyone.
It is time we consciously realize that when an office commands what is contrary to God's Law, it abrogates its authority. And our loyalty to the God who gave this law then requires that we make the appropriate response in that situation to such a tyrannical usurping of power. . . . -- Francis Schaeffer

There is no imagination wherewith man is besotted, more foolish, none so pernicious, as this -- that persons not purified, not sanctified, not made holy in their life, should afterwards be taken into that state of blessedness which consists in the enjoyment of God. Neither can such person enjoy God, nor would God be a reward to them. Holiness indeed is perfected in heaven: but the beginning of it is invariably confined to this world. -- John Owen

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Foolishness," and so forth, and so on.

TEELINCK, WILLIAM, The Resting Place of the Mind, that is a propounding of the wonderful providence of God whereupon a Christian man ought to rest and repose himself even when all our outward means of helps are cut off from him. 1622, 48 pages. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on the Puritan Bookshelf CD #3. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Six, CD #36. "According to Joel Beeke in THE QUEST FOR FULL ASSURANCE: THE LEGACY OF CALVIN AND HIS SUCCESSORS, 'What William Perkins was to English Puritanism, Willem Teellinck was to the Dutch Second Reformation.' (p. 98).
"Furthermore, Beeke notes that 'Teellinck's lifelong goal was to bring English-style, pietistic Puritanism to the Dutch. He succeeded in doing that. More than any other divine of his day, he contributed to the Dutch Second Reformation. That movement was so like English Puritanism that it is often called Dutch Puritanism.' (p. 99).
"This little book was written to encourage Christians to trust in the Lord in the midst of their trials. Even when the ordinary outward means that we need to solve our problems are unavailable, God can still easily rescue us from our predicament. Indeed, sometimes He removes those means so that He will receive all the glory:

The means which commonly God doth use, in giving us His blessing, are indeed but as curtains, and drawing clothes, after, or under the which, God so doth hide Himself, that His working cannot be seen, but by the eye of faith: wherefore also the Lord God, when he hath been pleased sometimes to manifest Himself, in some work which he intended to do, hath taken express order, that the ordinary means should be removed, that so all the world might see the finger of God therein, and acknowledge that it was He that had done it (p. 18).
Loe, thus doth the Lord strip His people often times of all outward means, when His purpose is to help them, to the end that His finger might the better be seen in giving them victory. . . . (p. 19)
No child of God then ought to be faint-hearted, though he be stripped of all outward means, for the Lord who is with him, is not bound to any means, His hand is not shortened that He should not be able to help, though the means be shortened, yea quite cut off. (p. 24).
"Too often people trust in the outward means rather than God. But this is foolish because 'tis most certain, that all our well-being is not shut up in the outward means, it lieth not wound up in the bread we eat, but in the hand of God, and the word of His blessing'." (p. 29). -- SWRB

See also: The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, theopneustia, sufficiency of scripture), Textual criticism, Epistemology, The westminster confession of faith (1646), The holy bible, Absolute truth and relativism, Apologetics, Trusting god, Laziness, slothfulness, idleness, indolence, slackness, sluggishness/sluggard, Self-destruction, Suicide, The religion of secular humanism, The wisdom books, Will and recalcitrance, Pride, Atheism, Unfaithful reformed ministries, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Lying, deceit, self-deception, Gossip, slander, backbiting, the tongue, Wealth and prosperity, the snare of, Gratuitous sex, Adultery, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 3852, 3853, 3855

Related WebLinks

Luther's Commentary on Galatians, "who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth." (Galatians 3:1 excerpt), English translation by Erasmus Middleton, B.D., edited by John Prince Fallowes, M.A., Pembroke College, Cambridge
http://www.lettermen2.com/luther1.html
Luther's Commentary on Galatians, "That He might deliver us from the present evil world." (Galatians 1:4 excerpt), English translation by Erasmus Middleton, B.D., edited by John Prince Fallowes, M.A., Pembroke College, Cambridge
http://www.lettermen2.com/luther2.html

"The Fourfold Treasure"
A sermon by C.H. Spurgeon delivered on Thursday Evening, April 27th, 1871, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Sermon No. 991.
A sermon on 1 Corinthians 1:30,31, Christ is "made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."
"This is to be wise, to have Christ's teaching, Christ's example, and above all, Christ's presence; so may the poorest find the Lord Jesus made of God unto them wisdom.
"Pause just a minute. Let none of us ever be so foolish as to suppose that when we have received Jesus and his gospel, we have occasion to blush when we are in the company of the very wisest of the present day. Carry a bold face when you confront the brazen faced philosophy which insults your Lord. The man who does not believe the Bible does not know so much as thou dost. Blush not, though with mimic wisdom the unbeliever tries to laugh or argue thee down. He who knows not Christ, though he propounds wonderful theories as to the creation of mankind and the formation of the world, and though he has a glib tongue, is only an educated fool, a learned idiot, who thinks his own rushlight brighter than God's own sun. "Ah! but he has been to college, and he has a degree, and he is esteemed by men; for he has written books that nobody can comprehend." "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God;" and I do not care even if he be a Solon, if he has said that there is no God, he is a fool. Do not blush, then, if you find yourself in his company, do not make yourself the blushing one because the fool is there. Self-conceit were to be avoided and loathed; but this is not self-conceit, but a holy courage in a case which demands of you to be courageous. To know Christ is the best of all philosophy, the highest of all sciences. [emphasis added -- sk] Angels desire to look into this; but I do not know that they care a fig for half the sciences so valued among men. If you know Christ you never need be afraid of being ashamed and confounded whatever company you may be in. If you stood in a senate of emperors, or amidst a parliament of philosophers, and only told them of the God that came in human flesh, and loved, and lived, and died to redeem mankind, you would have told them a greater mystery and a profounder secret than reason could discover. Be not ashamed, then, amid the intellectual pride of this boastful age."
http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0991.htm

Horror Files
"The Horror Files consist of quotations from famous and semi-famous (usually religious) personalities taken from our files [The Trinity Foundation -- sk] -- quotations that are sometimes humorous, sometimes outrageous, sometimes surprising, sometimes entertaining, but always foolish, and always revealing."
http://www.trinityfoundation.org/horror_file.php

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Forgetfulness of God

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. (Deuteronomy 8:3)

Deuteronomy 6:10-12

The authority of monarchs and governments is derived from God. (Romans 13:1) "Proud" is the most frequent description in the Old Testament of the sins of kings and nations. Upon first settlement of their Promised Land, the Israelites were forcefully reminded that it was all God's doing. Forever afterwards, the prophets found it regularly necessary to remind king and nation that their achievements were primarily God's achievements. (Amos 2:10; Micah 6:4) To forget this is to deny God. "Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God. . . . Lest, . . . when . . . thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage." (Deuteronomy 8:11-14) -- John Harris

And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 8:17-20)

Q. Are not the nations threatened with destruction if they do not render this national homage?
A. Yes. Ps. ix. 17, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." Men are contemplated in this passage individually, and in their associated capacity, as moral persons compacted by civil bonds, or organized national bodies; God is to be remembered by man both in his individual and national capacity. To remember God is plainly to recognise his being and authority, and to be obedient to his will. To forget God is not to recognise his being and authority, and to refuse obedience to his will. Every wicked individual that does so shall be literally turned into hell. Every nation that does so shall meet the like most terrible retribution -- shall be cut off from the living, and covered in the grave." -- William L. Roberts in The Reformed Presbyterian Catechism, Section VI, p. 76

The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 53:11)
Being a fool, he reflects his nature, saying, "There is no God." Being a great fool, he meddles with a great subject and comes to wild conclusions. Morally, as well as mentally, the atheist is a fool. He is a fool in the heart as well as in the head, a fool in morals as well as in philosophy. With the denial of God as a starting point, we may conclude that the fool's progress is raid, riotous, raving, and ruinous. One beginning at impiety is ready for anything. "No God" properly interpreted means no law, no order, no restraint to lust, no limit to evil passion. Who but a fool would be of this mind? What would the world become if such lawless principles came to be universal? One who heartily entertains an irreligious spirit, and follows it out to its legitimate issues, is dangerous to the common welfare; he is not rational. By nature every man is more or less a denier of God. Practical atheism is the religion of humanity. It is idle to compliment them as sincere doubters and amiable thinkers; they are in fact rotten. There is too much dainty dealing nowadays with atheism. It is not a harmless error; it is an offensive, rotten sin. Righteous men should look on it in that light. All men being by nature atheistic, they are also in the same degree corrupt. Their heart is foul; their moral nature is decayed.
"Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity" -- bad principles soon lead to bad lives. One does not find virtue promoted by your Voltaires and Tom Paines. Those who talk so abominable as to deny their Maker will act abominable when it serves their turn. It is the denial and forgetfulness of God abounding among men which is the source of the unrighteousness and crime which we see around us. It all men are not outwardly vicious, it is to be accounted for by the power of other and better principles. Left to itself, the "No God" spirit would produce nothing but evil acts. -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting on Psalm 53:11 in Devotional Classics of C.H. Spurgeon, p. 270

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD. Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. (Hosea 4:6-11)

Q. Is not this principle of the continuously transmissible obligation of covenants highly advantageous in its tendency?
A. Yes. 1. "It strengthens that sense of gratitude to God by which men are stimulated to obedience, by leading the children to reflect on his goodness, in having regard to their welfare in the covenant made with their fathers, and comprehending them in the same federal transaction. Thus Peter reminds the Jews, Acts iii. 28, 'Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers.' 2. It inspires confidence in the promised mercies of God, and affords ground to hope that he who has been gracious, in times that are past, to the fathers, will be gracious still to their children. Thus Moses encouraged the people of Israel. Deut. iv. 32: 'He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers, which he sware unto them.' 3. It furnishes a powerful argument in pleading with God at a throne of grace, as we find exemplified and confirmed in Jeremiah's expostulation with God concerning the state of his nation; xiv. 22, 'Do not abhor us for thy name's sake; do not disgrace the throne of thy glory; remember, break not thy covenant with us.' 4. It throws a shield over a people by which the wrath of God is averted. Lev. xxvi. 44, 45: 'Yet for all that,' says the Lord, 'when they lie in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God. But I will, for their sakes, remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt.' 5. It is not less fitted to keep up a remembrance of the wonderful things done by God on behalf of a people, by forming a record of them, and furnishing a medium for their transmission from generation to generation. Accordingly we find the command, 1 Chron. xvi. 12-l5, 'Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,' connected with the injunction, 'Be ye mindful always of his covenant, the word which he commended to a thousand generations.' 6. Above all, it is eminently fitted, by begetting a delightful mutual interest between fathers and children, to promote and display the UNITY of the church. The fathers, by being required to transact for the children, and the children, by being required to recognise the deeds of the fathers, must be inspired with a double and most salutary interest in each other. All selfish and exclusive feeling is in this way rebuked. The present generation are taught to look back to the past, as the past are supposed to have looked forward to the future. Distant periods are united, and the interests of different generations concentrated.' Jno. xvii. 11: 'Holy Father, keep through thine own name, those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are'." -- William L. Roberts in The Reformed Presbyterian Catechism, Section XI, p. 142

Prosperity is no friend to a sanctified memory, and therefore we are cautioned, when we are full, lest we forget God. Noah, who had seen the whole world drowned in water, was no sooner safe on shore, and in the enjoyment of plenty, than he forgot God, and drowned himself in wine. -- William Gurnall

Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is impossible that a nation of infidels or idolators should be a nation of freemen. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated [defective] state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, are incompatible with freedom. -- Patrick Henry

In fact, most Christians awaken to the realization that they have re-lived in their own lives the experience of Israel in the Old Testament. Our tendency is to forget God when he blesses us -- when times are good.

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Forgetfulness," "Idolatry," and so forth, and so on.

*FOXE, JOHN, John Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Actes and Monuments of Matters Most Speciall and Memorable, the second edition of Foxe's Book of Martyrs Variorum Edition Online (version 1.1 - summer 2006). A Christian classic.
This is "the revised version (v.1.1) of Foxe's Book of Martyrs Variorum Edition Online. This [free online] edition contains the full text of three of the four editions (1563, 1570, 1583). The 1570 edition is missing books 3 and 4. These will be added in subsequent versions."
http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/johnfoxe/index.html
Foxe, John, John Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Actes and Monuments of Matters Most Speciall and Memorable, ISBN: 0197262252 9780197262252.
"This CD-ROM combines readable and printable images of 2,200 pages of text and woodcut engravings from the 1583 edition, the last for which Foxe was personally responsible."
Other editions: Acts and Monuments or Foxe's Book of Martyrs, 1554, 1843-49 edition, 8 volumes. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
" 'No book ever inflicted a wound so deep and incurable on the Romish system of superstition and bloody persecution . . . (it) was placed in . . . all churches and chapels throughout the kingdom, by order of Queen Elizabeth.' (Smith, Select Memoirs, p. 245). Contains much information not found in any of the liberally edited and severely shortened editions of this classic work which are in print today. Covering martyrs from the early church through to Foxe's day, it was one of the most influential books of the sixteenth century! It overflows with faith building testimony of the power of God to overcome the most cruel and barbarous acts of human depravity and demonic cruelty. 6890 pages. A very rare set, now back in print after 150 years!" -- SWRB
"After the Bible itself, no book so profoundly influenced early Protestant sentiment as the BOOK OF MARTYRS. Even in our time it is still a living force. It is more than a record of persecution. It is an arsenal of controversy, a storehouse of romance, as well as a source of edification." -- James Miller Dodds, English Prose
"When one recollects that until the appearance of the PILGRIM'S PROGRESS the common people had almost no other reading matter except the BIBLE and FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS, we can understand the deep impression that this book produced; and how it served to mold the national character. Those who could read for themselves learned the full details of all the atrocities performed on the Protestant reformers; the illiterate could see the rude illustrations of the various instruments of torture, the rack, the gridiron, the boiling oil, and then the holy ones breathing out their souls amid the flames. Take a people just awakening to a new intellectual and religious life; let several generations of them, from childhood to old age, pore over such a book, and its stories become traditions as individual and almost as potent as songs and customs on a nation's life." -- Douglas Campbell, The Puritan in Holland, England, and America
"If we divest the book of its accidental character of feud between churches, it yet stands, in the first years of Elizabeth's reign, a monument that marks the growing strength of a desire for spiritual freedom, defiance of those forms that seek to stifle conscience and fetter thought." -- Henry Morley, English Writers
"John Foxe was a prince among believers. He had his printing press on a cart, and had often to print at night, moving his press before dawn to escape capture and burning at the stake. He never faltered in his purpose to leave a voluminous written witness to the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep His saints in love and peace." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Idolatry, Sexual relationship, Pride, Self-righteousness, Self-deception, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Self, selfishness, covetousness, The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Covenant theology, Background and history of the covenanted reformation of scotland, The covenanted reformation short title listing, The covenanted reformation, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, The covenant faithfulness of god, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Justification, Justifying faith, Christ's kingdom, Lordship of jesus christ, The all-sufficiency of christ, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Pride, The westminster confession of faith (1646, westminster standards) and related works, The decline of american society, Meltdown 2008, the greatest depression in history, The lose of american liberty, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 2999, 3002, 3003

Related WebLinks

The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 53:11)
Being a fool, he reflects his nature, saying, "There is no God." Being a great fool, he meddles with a great subject and comes to wild conclusions. Morally, as well as mentally, the atheist is a fool. He is a fool in the heart as well as in the head, a fool in morals as well as in philosophy. With the denial of God as a starting point, we may conclude that the fool's progress is raid, riotous, raving, and ruinous. One beginning at impiety is ready for anything. "No God" properly interpreted means no law, no order, no restraint to lust, no limit to evil passion. Who but a fool would be of this mind? What would the world become if such lawless principles came to be universal? One who heartily entertains an irreligious spirit, and follows it out to its legitimate issues, is dangerous to the common welfare; he is not rational. By nature every man is more or less a denier of God. Practical atheism is the religion of humanity. It is idle to compliment them as sincere doubters and amiable thinkers; they are in fact rotten. There is too much dainty dealing nowadays with atheism. It is not a harmless error; it is an offensive, rotten sin. Righteous men should look on it in that light. All men being by nature atheistic, they are also in the same degree corrupt. Their heart is foul; their moral nature is decayed.
"Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity" -- bad principles soon lead to bad lives. One does not find virtue promoted by your Voltaires and Tom Paines. Those who talk so abominable as to deny their Maker will act abominable when it serves their turn. It is the denial and forgetfulness of God abounding among men which is the source of the unrighteousness and crime which we see around us. It all men are not outwardly vicious, it is to be accounted for by the power of other and better principles. Left to itself, the "No God" spirit would produce nothing but evil acts. -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting on Psalm 53:11 in Devotional Classics of C.H. Spurgeon, p. 270

The Treasury of David, Psalm 93, C.H. Spurgeon
"It is the Psalm of Omnipotent Sovereignty: Jehovah, despite all opposition, reigns supreme. Possibly at the time this sacred ode was written, the nation was in danger from its enemies, and the hopes of the people of God were encouraged by remembering that the Lord was still King. What sweeter and surer consolation could they desire?" -- C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps093.htm



Forgiveness of Sin

See the Theological Notes, "Repentance," at Acts 26:20 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29b)

See the Theological Notes, "Atonement," at Romans 3:25 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "The Resurrection of Jesus," at Luke 24:2 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Justification and Merit," at Galatians 3:11 in The Reformation Study Bible.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:44,45)

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:14)

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19)

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 23:34)

If the son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 8:36)

All the great fundamentals of Christian truth centre in this of justification. The trinity of persons in the Godhead; the incarnation of the only begotten of the Father; the satisfaction aid to the law and justice of God, for the sins of the world, by his obedience and sacrifice of himself in that flesh he assumed; and the divine authority of the Scriptures which reveal all this: these are all straight lines of truth that centre in this doctrine of justification of a sinner by the imputation and application of that satisfaction. There can be no justification without a righteousness; no righteousness can suffice but that which answers fully and perfectly the holy law of God; no such righteousness can be performed, but by a divine person; no benefit can accrue to a sinner unless it is in some way his, and applied to him; no application can be made of this but by faith in Jesus Christ. -- Robert Traill, from Justification Vindicated, first quoted by Puritanical

Our forgiving of others will not procure forgiveness for ourselves; but our not forgiving others proves that we ourselves are not forgiven. -- John Owen

Adams, Jay E., Christian Forgiveness: Responsibility or Blame-Shifting? (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA407.

Adams, Jay Edward, A Counseling Seminar a 12-tape Album for Laymen and Pastors Covering the Basic Reasons, Methods and Purpose of Nouthetic counseling as Based on the Scriptures
Contents: Hope & counseling (3 tapes) -- Christian forgiveness (2 tapes) -- Change (2 tapes) -- The husband (2 tapes) -- The wife (2 tapes) -- Questions & answers.
Search the series "Jay Adams Tape Library" in WorldCat (OCLC) for a listing of 21 audio tapes.

Adams, Jay E., Counseling Workshop: An Alcoholic Partner; Long-Term Counseling; Suicide; Forgiveness; Larry Crabb's Approach (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA504.

Adams, Jay E., Effective communication; Disabled people; Inferiority complex; Unsaved wife; Be prepared! (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA406.

*Adams, Jay E., From Forgiven to Forgiving: Discover the Path to Biblical Forgiveness (Wheaton, IL: Scripture Press Publishers, Incorporated), ISBN: 1879737124 9781879737129.
"For the 'average Christian,' to shed light on all aspects of forgiveness seeking and granting, and to counter erroneous views. How do forgiven persons -- God's children -- become forgiving persons? Defines, illustrates, motivates and challenges people to deal with forgiveness issues biblically. Clear thinking is essential: 'Labels are important not only as signs of the thing they signify but also as signposts that point to solutions to the problems they categorize.' Tackles unbiblical concepts such as forgiving self, forgiving God, apologizing, 'forgive and forget'." -- David Powlison
"A detailed look at forgiveness from the Bible. He finds that much of what passes for Biblical teaching on this subject just plain misses the mark." -- GCB

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Forgiveness," "Repentance," "Confession," "Reconciliation," "Justification," "Santification," "Apology," and so forth, and so on.

*BOLTON, ROBERT, A Treatise on Comforting Afflicted Consciences (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1991, 1626). Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #9. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #27. A Christian classic.
"I do not know of a single book published in the past twenty years that explains in depth how to respond Biblically to a grieved or wounded conscience. Here's an ideal volume to fill that gap. Few books in history have treated the subject as completely or as clearly as Robert Bolton's classic work. . . . The book remains a definitive study on the issue of dealing with guilt. Practical, Biblical, meticulously precise, carefully reasoned, it maintains a straightforward simplicity that cannot fail to touch the sensitive reader's heart." -- John MacArthur

Boston, Thomas (1676-1732), The Fifth Petition. (2:612-19) In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THE REVEREND THOMAS BOSTON, VOLUMES 1-12.

Buchanan, James, Not Guilty (Welwyn, England: Evangelical Press), ISBN: 0946462224 9780946462223.

Clowney, E., The Stairway of God; God Among Us; Getting Even; Bitterness (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette EC201.

Davis, D. Clair, Resolving Conflict (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette WW102.

Horner, Bob, and Jan Horner, Resolving Conflict in Marriage (Leader's Guide), ISBN: 084998341X 9780849983412.

Horner, Bob, and Jan Horner, Resolving Conflict in Marriage (Study Guide) (Dallas, TX: Word Publishing), ISBN: 084998338X 9780849983382.
"Six lessons covering: areas of potential conflict, develop transparency, listening skills, confront, forgiveness, blessing, and grow together." -- GCB

Langberg, D., How To Deal With Hurts (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette WW402.

Lotter, George A., Counseling Divorcees on Forgiveness (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Theological Seminary, D.Min. thesis, 1987).
Includes bibliography.

Love, Christopher (1618-1651), The Penitent Pardoned a Treatise Wherein is handled the duty of confession of sin and the priviledge of the pardon of sin: together with a discourse of Christs ascension into heaven and of his coming again from heaven: wherein the opinion of the Chiliasts is considered and solidly confuted / being the sum and substance of several sermons preached by that faithful servant of Christ, Mr. Christopher Love . . . , 1657.

Manton, Thomas (1620-1677), A Sermon on Micah 7:18. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THOMAS MANTON (15:438-49). "God's chief glory consists in the pardon of sins."

*Miller, C. John "Jack" (1928-1996), "Finding Healthy Self-Esteem Through Being Completely Forgiven," a tract, (Quality Living Series. Jenkintown, PA [World Harvest, Box 2175, Jenkintown, 19046]: World Harvest, 1987).
"Do you feel inadequate? That you need to do more or be better in order to be happy and fulfilled? You may not realize it, but your biggest problem is . . . you don't feel completely forgiven."
World Harvest Mission
http://www.whm.org/home.htm

*Miller, Wendell E. Forgiveness: The Power and the Puzzles, ISBN: 0964144115 9780964144118.
"Defines God's forgiveness in four ways: (1) initial forgiveness releases us from the penalty of sin and (2) restores us to fellowship with God, and (3) repetitive forgiveness releases us from the day by day penalty for fresh sins, and (4) restores us day by day to fellowship. Defines our forgiveness of others in two ways: (1) vertical forgiveness between us and God (Mark 11:25) releases others from the penalty of our wrath, and (2) horizontal forgiveness (Luke 17:3) restores the relationship between us and others who repent. Discusses flaws in such ideas as 'forgiving God' and 'forgiving oneself'." -- David Powlison
"It could have been called "The Anger Handbook" because it teaches how to overcome problems of hurt feelings, anger, and aggressive behavior. Overcoming problems of anger is crucial. Spouse abuse, failures in marriages, failures in child rearing, and even child abuse often erupt from anger. Parents who model angry behavior are likely to raise children with anger problems. And most importantly, God is not glorified by Christians who have anger problems.
"It teaches the kind of forgiveness that is nearly always an absolute necessity to becoming really free from the trauma of sexual abuse. . . .
"FORGIVENESS: THE POWER AND THE PUZZLES will add biblical power to the books that you already have on Christian living, discipleship, marriage, childrearing, anger, communications, forgiveness, and sexual abuse." -- Publisher's Annotation

Morison, Patrick H., Forgive! As the Lord Forgave You (Philadelphia, PA: The Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.), ISBN: 0875522939 9780875522937.
"By shedding light on six aspects of the forgiving process, this 30-page pamphlet shows what forgiveness involves and how crucial a forgiving spirit is to our walk with God and our relationships with others." -- GCB

Owen, John (1616-1683), A Practical Exposition Upon Psalm 130; Wherein the nature of the forgiveness of sin is declared; the truth and reality of it asserted; and the case of a soul distressed with the guilt of sin, and relieved by a discovery of forgiveness with God, is at large discovered. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN, (6:323-648)

Owen, John (1616-1683), A Treatise of the Dominion of sin and Grace. . . . By the late pious and learned minister of the gospel, John Owen, D.D. Edinburgh, 1739.

*Preston, John (1587-1628), The Golden Sceptre Held Forth to the Humble (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1990), ISBN: 1877611174 9781877611179. A Christian classic.
This book is comprised of six sermons on 2 Chronicles 7:14: `If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land,' just one verse that succinctly gives the Biblical solution to terrorism. Sermons are on Affliction, Humiliation, Seeking god's face, Turning from evil, Forgiveness to those who forsake sin, and Sin as the cause of all calamities.

*SIBBES, RICHARD (1577-1635), The Bruised Reed (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851517404 9780851517407. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
"Richard Sibbes, one of the most influential figures in the Puritan movement during the earlier years of the seventeenth century, was renowned for the rich quality of his ministry. THE BRUISED REED shows why he was known among his contemporaries as `the sweet dropper'." -- Publisher's Annotation
"If you have ever been (or are) discouraged in any way this is a book that will bring great encouragement and joy!" -- SWRB
"Sibbes never wastes the student's time, he scatters pearls and diamonds with both hands." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"A poor pedlar came to the door . . . and my father bought of him Sibb's Bruised Reed . . . It suited my state . . . and gave me a livelier apprehension of the mystery of redemption and how much I was beholden to Jesus Christ . . . Without any means but books was God pleased to resolve me to himself." -- Richard Baxter

Sibbes, Richard (1577-1635), The Matchless Mercy. (7:151-64) The Saint's Comforts: An Exposition Upon Psalm 130. (6:159-80) Sin's Antidote. (7:261-79) In THE WORKS OF RICHARD SIBBES.

Thompson, Murray Stewart, Grace and Forgiveness in Ministry, ISBN: 0687156807 9780687156801.
Includes bibliography and references.

Walter, Richard P., Forgive and be Free: Healing the Wounds of Past and Present, ISBN: 0310426111 9780310426110.

See also: The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Soteriology, The covenant faithfulness of god, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Gossip, slander, backbiting, the tongue, Works by and for women, Reconciliation of relationships, Marriage, Reconciliation of marriage partners, Unforgiveness, Justification, Justifying faith, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 1314-1316, 2300, 3345
MGTP: Forgiveness

Related WebLinks

The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon
A sermon by C.H. Spurgeon delivered on Lord's-day morning, September 9, 1888, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Sermon no. 2043.
"This is the way in which you should use this plea. Say, 'My God, I am utterly unworthy, and I own it; but, I beseech thee, hear me for the honour of thy dear Son. By his agony and bloody sweat, by his cross and passion, by his precious death and burial, I beseech thee hear me! O Lord, let the blood of thine Only-begotten prevail with thee! Canst thou put aside his groans, his tears, his death, when they speak on my behalf?' If you can thus come to pleading terms with God upon this ground, you must and will prevail. Jesus must be heard in heaven. The voice of his blood is eloquent with God. If you plead the atoning sacrifice, you must overcome through the blood of the Lamb." -- C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.mountzion.org/fgb/Summer97/FgbS6-97.html

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Friendship

Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not. (Proverbs 27:10a) See the annotation in The Reformation Study Bible.

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. (Proverbs 27:17) See the annotation in The Reformation Study Bible.

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)

Whom we associate with is highly important.

God is the true medium of true friendship. -- Montaigne

All company with unbelievers or misbelievers is not condemned. We find a Lot in Sodom, Israel with the Egyptians, Abraham and Isaac with their Abimelechs; roses among thorns, and pearls in mud; and Jesus Christ among publicans and sinners. So neither we be infected, nor the name of the Lord wronged, to converse with them, that we may convince them, is a holy course. But still we must be among as strangers: to pass through an infected place is one thing, to dwell in it another. -- Thomas Adams

Too much friendship makes way for hatred. Yea, in truth there is no enmity so dangerous as that which has its foundations upon the ruins of love. And as in nature, the purest substance is turned into the most loathsome corruption; so the hottest love, which has no other ground but carnal respect, degenerates oftentimes into the most deadly and hurtful enmity. For being privy to all their friends' secrets, counsels, and conditions, they are the more enabled thereby to do them the greater mischief when their love is turned to malice. Even as a traitor is much more dangerous than a professed enemy. -- George Downame

All company with unbelievers or misbelievers is not condemned. We find a Lot in Sodom, Israel with the Egyptians, Abraham and Isaac with their Abimelechs; roses among thorns, and pearls in mud; and Jesus Christ among publicans and sinners. So neither we be infected, nor the name of the Lord wronged, to converse with them, that we may convince them, is a holy course. But still we must be among as strangers: to pass through an infected place is one thing, to dwell in it another. -- Thomas Adams

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Friendship," "Fellowship," "Associations," and so forth, and so on.

Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Christian's Converse With God: or, The Insufficiency and Uncertainty of Human Friendship; and the improvement of solitude in converse with God. In THE PRACTICAL WORKS OF RICHARD BAXTER: WITH A PREFACE, GIVING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR, AND OF THIS EDITION OF HIS PRACTICAL WORKS, (3:852-78)

*Bernard of Clairvaux, The Love of God and Spiritual Friendship (Portland, OR: Multnomah Press, 1983), ISBN: 0880700173 9780880700177. A Christian classic.
Abridged and edited by J.M. Houston. "Houston provides his readers with a careful introduction to the times of Bernard and his importance in the history of the Christian church. He then furnishes a carefully edited version of this greatest devotional treatise on the love of God . . ." -- Cyril J. Barber
On Loving God by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
http://www.ccel.org/bernard/loving_God/loving_God.html

*Black, Hugh, Friendship (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1986, 1898), ISBN: 0890815135 9780890815137.
"A magnificent blend of wise counsel with mature understanding of the human condition. Admonishes and encourages his readers to cultivate good friendships, while at the same time benefiting from the fruits of growing relationships. First published in 1898. Recommended." -- Cyril J. Barber

Brestin, Dee, The Friendship of Women, ISBN: 1564764079 9781564764072. "You will grow as she opens God's Word to reveal a pattern for friendship that can unleash and channel your gift for intimacy and help you be the redemptive agent God planned you to be." -- GCB

*BUNYAN, JOHN (1628-1688), All Loves Excelling (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth), ISBN: 0851517390 9780851517391. Available (WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
Pilgrim's Page: A John Bunyan Archive
This is the complete set of THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN, George Offor edition, the edition reprinted by The Banner of Truth. It is free online, and is downloadable in the following formats: HTML, RTF, TEXT, and PDF.
http://www.mountzion.org/bunyan.html
All Loves Excelling: The Saints' Knowledge of Christ's Love
http://books.google.com/books?id=hiIIAAAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Grant, George, and Karen B. Grant, Best Friends: The Ordinary Relationships of Extraordinary People (Cumberland House), ISBN: 1888952717 9781888952711.

Newton, John, On the Comforts and Snares of Social and Relative Affections. In WORKS OF JOHN NEWTON (6:480-89).

*Nicholson, William R., Popular Studies in Colossians: Oneness With Christ. Alternate title: ONENESS IN CHRIST (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, reprint).
"Formerly published under the title ONENESS IN CHRIST, this study combines outstanding scholarship with a deeply devotional spirit." -- Cyril J. Barber

Shaw, Jean, Greater Love: A Woman's Workshop on Friendship (with Leader's Guide) (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House), ISBN: 0310435315 9780310435310.
"Many times we have lots of acquaintances but no special friend. Or perhaps our friendship is stagnating. Maybe we have a friendship in which we feel exploited and we want out. Shaw looks at God's Word so we can learn what the Bible says about friendship." -- GCB

Tripp, Paul, How to be a Friend Who can Make a Difference (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette HFTF14.

See also: Loneliness, The teaching of our lord jesus christ, Christ our example, Christian fellowship, The local church, Small groups, Neighbors, Family, Child abuse and pedophilia, Sexual relationship, Sonship, The priesthood of believers, Christian biography, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Love and counseling problems, The love and justice of God, Reconciliation of relationships, Bad relationships a cause of disease and death, Fellowship, Small Groups, Index of subjects, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 551, 1322-1331, 1998, 1999, 2200-2202, 3393
MGTP: Friendship

Related WebLinks

The Influence of a Godly Mother, a sermon by D. James Kennedy
"What is a mother's influence on society? Motherhood has been de-valued by our secular society. What you don't hear is how much influence mothers really have on the course of human events. James Kennedy brings light to the powerful influence of a Godly Mother on The Coral Ridge Hour."
Children who do not bond with their mother often have difficulty bonding with others in society.
http://store.coralridge.org/ProductDetails.aspx?pc=105305



Gambling

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

There is a fool born every day. -- P.T. Barnum

Yes, AIG (American International Group) should be left to fail.
In the eyes of the educated citizen, the Federal Government's bailout of AIG is outrageous, as is the incredible lack of prior regulation. Outrageous! Trillions of dollars are changing hands, and we see nothing but incompetence and corruption on all sides -- the greatest theft in human history.
The use of "financial innovation," namely "derivatives" and "hedge funds" by AIG, an international corporation, amounts to "Casino Economics" and "Gaming the System." The practice has brought the world to a global financial crisis.
We see the Federal Government as culpable for both the AIG debauchal and the broader Global Depression, in which AIG is a kingpin.
Arguing that there is no connection between the "Casino Economics" of AIG, the syndicate's control of the gambling industry, organized crime "following the money," the legalization of gambling in the United States to augment tax revenues, and the foolishness of "the powers that be" in dealing with this global economic crisis by "pouring good money after bad," -- arguing that there is no connection between all this -- would be very difficult.
Considering the power of leadership by example, we respectfully recommend that the Federal Government immediately repeal all laws that legalized gambling of any type in the past, especially government sponsored gambling. This would go a long way toward ending our "culture of gambling." We hold that repealing these laws is prerequisite to Federal Government attempts to remedy the banking crisis by rewriting regulations for investment institutions and banks of the future.
The startling irony is that America's OUTRAGE at the incompetence and corruption, on all sides, is probably akin to the outrage of terrorist extremist who targeted the Twin Towers.

*Bookstaber, Richard, A Demon of our own Design: Markets, Hedge Funds, and the Perils of Financial Innovation (Wiley, April 6, 2007), 288 pages, ISBN: 9780470393758 0470393750.
"Why do markets keep crashing and why are financial crises greater than ever before? As the risk manager to some of the leading firms on Wall Street -- from Morgan Stanley to Salomon and Citigroup -- and a member of some of the world's largest hedge funds, from Moore Capital to Ziff Brothers and FrontPoint Partners, Rick Bookstaber has seen the ghost inside the machine and vividly shows us a world that is even riskier than we think. The very things done to make markets safer, have, in fact, created a world that is far more dangerous. From the 1987 crash to Citigroup closing the Salomon Arb unit, from staggering losses at UBS to the demise of Long-Term Capital Management, Bookstaber gives readers a front row seat to the management decisions made by some of the most powerful financial figures in the world that led to catastrophe, and describes the impact of his own activities on markets and market crashes. Much of the innovation of the last 30 years has wreaked havoc on the markets and cost trillions of dollars. A Demon of Our Own Design tells the story of man's attempt to manage market risk and what it has wrought. In the process of showing what we have done, Bookstaber shines a light on what the future holds for a world where capital and power have moved from Wall Street institutions to elite and highly leveraged hedge funds.
"Richard Bookstaber runs an equity hedge fund in Greenwich, Connecticut. He was the director of risk management at Ziff Brothers Investments and at Moore Capital Management, one of the largest hedge funds in the world. He served as the managing director in charge of firm-wide risk management at Salomon Brothers and was a member of Salomon's powerful Risk Management Committee. Mr. Bookstaber also spent ten years at Morgan Stanley in quantitative research and as a proprietary trader, concluding his tenure there as Morgan Stanley's first market risk manager. He is the author of three books and scores of articles on finance topics ranging from options theory to risk management. Bookstaber received a Ph.D. in economics from MIT.
"In recounting his time as risk manager at a number of prominent houses (Morgan Stanley, Salomon Brothers, Citigroup etc.), Bookstaber completes the i-banking trifecta. First there was the Michael Lewis classic, Liar's Poker, detailing the juvenile bravado and macho antics of the trading floor. Then Jonathan Knee gave an intimate portrait of the i-banker deal making culture with The Accidental Investment Banker." -- Publisher's Annotation
"Bright sparks like Mr Bookstaber ushered in a revolution that fuelled the boom in financial derivatives and Byzantine 'structured products.' The problem, he argues, is that this wizardry has made markets more crisis-prone, not less so. It has done this in two ways: by increasing complexity, and by forging tighter links between various markets and securities, making them dangerously interdependent." -- The Economist
"Like many pessimistic observers, Richard Bookstaber thinks financial derivatives, Wall Street innovation and hedge funds will lead to a financial meltdown. What sets Mr. Bookstaber apart is that he has spent his career designing derivatives, working on Wall Street and running a hedge fund." -- The Wall Street Journal
"Exactly WHY do markets misbehave? Rick Bookstaber draws on his extensive knowledge of today's complex financial markets to set forth many of the reasons endogenous risk is so large AND so ominous. He understands one of the most sobering aspects of this risk: its sources are far too complex to be meaningfully assessed. This gives lie to current regulatory bromides that 'everything will be OK provided that we better assess and manage risk,' for the risks that matter most are non-assessable!" -- "Woody" Brock, President, Strategic Economic Decisions, Inc.

*Durbin, Michael, All About Derivatives (McGraw-Hill, August 24, 2005), 240 pages, ISBN: 0071451471 978-0071451475.
"The answer to trading profit growth lies in derivatives. ALL ABOUT DERIVATIVES explains the major derivatives and their key features of each; vital mechanical issues such as storage, settlement, valuation, and payoff; and common types of risk and how to effectively hedge against them. Michael Durbin is known as a derivatives trader and manager for one of the world's largest, most high-profile hedge funds.
"Everything you need to know about derivatives -- what they are, how they work, and how they can enhance profits and control market risk. Financial derivatives, from standard put and call options to more complex strategies and combinations, are among the most versatile, powerful, and valuable tools available to investors. ALL ABOUT DERIVATIVES introduces you to the many different types of derivatives, providing simple explanations and easy-to-follow methods for using each. . . .
"Whatever your level of investing expertise, from beginner to veteran, All About Derivatives will give you the information you need to know:
Contracts -- forwards, futures, swaps, options, and credit derivatives
Terms -- volatility, arbitrage, the greeks, and many more
Key mechanics -- storage, settlement, valuation, and payoff
Pricing methods and mathematics for determining fair value
Hedging strategies for managing different types of risk
Leverage -- why it can be your best friend or worst enemy
And more
"Michael Durbin is a veteran business systems analyst and project manager specializing in financial derivative trading systems. His projects include high-performance systems for Bank of America, Bank One, and a leading global hedge fund." -- Publisher's Annotation

Eidsmoe, John, Legalized Gambling: America's bad bet (Resource Publications (OR), June 2001), ISBN: 1579105688 9781579105686.
"Gambling has been a hot issue in nearly every state today. Gambling interests tell your state legislature that legalized gambling will bring jobs, revenue, and prosperity for all. John Eidsmoe does an outstanding job destroying all the flimsy claims of gambling advocates by pointing out such factors as gambling addiction, bankruptcy, cruelty to animals in pari-mutual betting, how gambling preys upon the lower class as a regressive form of taxation. The book also tells about how gambling at the least does nothing for a state economy, at the worst it hurts businesses. Most importantly is the fact that gambling is linked to organized crime and the mob's insidious tactics to subterfuge legal gambling operations. This book is well written and detailed, yet an easy read for anyone who wonders what as to how gambling would do to their community. It should be required reading for all state legislators who are struggling with the gambling issue in their state." -- Reader's Comment

Evans, Tony, Tony Evans Speaks out on Gambling (Tony Evans Speaks Out Booklet Series. Moody Publishers, October 24, 2000), ISBN: 0802425623 9780802425621.
"What a great resource for a study group on this issue. I used this book as a source for presenting Biblical guidance on gambling and the lottery. The material was very straight-forward and easy to understand. The Bible is very clear on the issue and Dr. Evans brought what the Bible has to say to us on this in a way that any layperson could understand. There should be no question as to what our Father expects from us after reading this book and following up with the Biblical references that were cited in the book." -- Reader's Comment

Goodman, Robert, The Luck Business: The Devastating Consequences and Broken Promises of America's Gambling Explosion, ISBN: 0684831821 9780684831824.

Grinols, Earl L., Gambling in America: Costs and Benefits (Cambridge University Press, January 12, 2004), ISBN: 0521830133 9780521830133.
"The public decision-making process governing the issue of casino gambling tends to lead to wrong outcomes, and the studies typically provided to justify the phenomenon are conceptually flawed. Seeking to describe what true economic development is, this study establishes the framework for a valid cost-benefit analysis to assess whether it actually occurs and its methods can be applied to the casino industry in America. Accounting for a wide range of economic and social factors, Earl Grinols concludes that the social costs of casino gambling considerably outweigh their social benefits." -- Publisher's Annotation

Haugen, David M., Legalized Gambling (Library in a Book) (Facts on File, January 30, 2006), ISBN: 0816060541 9780816060542.
"LEGALIZED GAMBLING by David M. Haugen is an excellent reference to the diverse issues surrounding the legal aspects of gambling. Providing a complete chronology of important events, a glossary of terms, bibliographical listings [fully annotated bibliography], and a comprehensive index. LEGALIZED GAMBLING offers readers a compendium of the essential information relevant to the complex workings of gaming casinos, the legal premises of gambling, ethical questions and analysis of gambling, and a great deal more useful, critically important information. With the increasing popularity and availability of gambling in America today, LEGALIZED GAMBLING is very strongly recommended for all readers as a thorough guide to the manifold issues of gambling and its history in America." -- Midwest Book Review

Hyde, Margaret O., Gambling: Winners and Losers, grades 6-9, ISBN: 1562945327 9781562945329.
"In her latest book, Hyde focuses on gambling as a sociopolitical issue. The information is clearly laid out, with Hyde providing some basic historical perspective before exploring contemporary aspects of the subject. She looks briefly at gambling in both its legal and illegal forms, does some speculating on its rise among teens, and takes a look at the characteristics of a pathological gambler. Personal histories are concrete but too few and rather dry, and although Hyde does attempt to present both sides of the issue, her negative arguments are more fully developed. Turn to Edward Dolan's TEENAGERS AND COMPULSIVE GAMBLING (1994) for a much better, more detailed discussion of gambling among YAs; use this book as a general overview and a consciousness raiser. Unfortunately, the further readings are mostly adult." -- Stephanie Zvirin

Livingstone, Charles Henry, An Imaginary Economy: Gambling, Commodity, Meaning (PhD Thesis, University of Melbourne, Ashworth Program in Social Theory, Dept. of History and Philosophy of Science, 2006).

LeSourd, Sandra Simpson, The Compulsive Woman (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell, 1987), ISBN: 0884199452 9780884199458. "Mrs. LeSourd avoids psychologizing and instead gets down to specifics: obsessions with work, religion, sex, alcohol, and/or drugs, eating, gambling, and so forth. . . ." -- Cyril J. Barber

MacDougall, Ernest David, Speculation and Gambling, 1936.

Partnoy, Frank, FIASCO: Blood in the Water on Wall Street (W.W. Norton & Co., April 6, 2009), 272 pages, ISBN: 9780393336818 0393336816.
" 'Applies an intelligent, clinical eye to [an] excruciatingly complex corner of the financial world.' -- New York Times
"A classic of its kind, Frank Partnoy's best-selling FIASCO takes readers inside the rollicking world of derivatives on Wall Street during the mid-1990s. The book tracks Partnoy's success as a young Morgan Stanley employee who quickly becomes steeped in a culture that treats client as targets to be 'blown up' or have their faces 'ripped off.' A decade later FIASCO remains one of the most damning and prescient pictures of the speculative frenzies that grip Wall Street and the victims they can leave in their wake. In Partnoy's case they include well-publicized losses at Orange County, Barings, and Procter & Gamble, among others. A new epilogue written for this edition brings Partnoy's story -- as well as the story of derivatives -- up to the present.
"Frank Partnoy is the author of INFECTIOUS GREED and THE MATCH KING. He has written for the Financial Times, the New York Times, and Portfolio. He teaches law at the University of San Diego, where he lives." -- Publisher's Annotation
"There are several very interesting parts of this book, the most notable being the chapters (4, 7 - 10) in which Mr. Partnoy gives a high level description of some of the transactions that he was involved in. Some of his anecdotes, particularly those in which he discusses the atmosphere in an investment bank around bonus time (pg.40 - 42, 202 - 205), are pretty amusing and dead on accurate. The author's descriptions of some of his deals are clearly told from a junior banker's perspective, but they do a good job of putting forth what was being done, how it was being done, what everyone's perceived incentives for the transaction were, the work required to get the deal done, what kind of money, and importantly what kind of fees were involved. In this regard, the book offers more than both LIAR'S POKER by Lewis and WHEN GENIUS FAILED by Lowenstein.
"Like all books written by former investment bankers the book contains liberally sprinkled anecdotes regarding job interviews from hell, the ridiculous daily escapades that can occur on a trading floor, strip clubs, the lack of personal lives, gambling trips and other stories which could easily have been pulled from the pages of Mr. Lewis's book or MONKEY BUSINESS by Rolfe and Troob. All of these shenanigans culminate around the bank's (in this case Morgan Stanley), or more specifically, his group's annual sporting clay outing, FIASCO. The book also suffers from a somewhat poorly defined timeline and the lack of a defining event which drives the story. Due to these faults, it is at times little more than a book about the evils of investment bankers, the ignorance of their customers, all put forward to enforce Mr. Partnoy's somewhat guarded thesis; Derivatives are used by organizations that are legally prevented from investing in certain areas in order to skirt those laws." -- Reader's Comment

Rogers, Rex M., Gambling: Don't bet on it (Kregel Publications, July 19, 2005), ISBN: 082543646X 9780825436468.
"Now in a newly revised and updated edition, GAMBLING: DON'T BET ON IT is Cornerstone University President Rex Rogers' response to the shifts in modern American culture that celebrate legalized gambling more than ever. GAMBLING: DON'T BET ON IT examines the history of gambling in America and observes its present-day impact, including the money it siphons from individuals and households, moral and economic arguments against it, 'harmless' forms of gambling such as the office pool, gambling demographics, negative impacts it has on modern culture, and more. Though the religious dimension of gambling as a sin is examined, GAMBLING: DON'T BET ON IT is not primarily a Christian book, but rather a social issues book sounding a crucial wake-up call to gambling's harmful effects. Extensively researched and persuasively argued in terms accessible to lay readers, GAMBLING: DON'T BET ON IT makes a singularly powerful and compelling argument." Midwest Book Review
"Rex M. Rogers (Ph.D., University of Cincinnati) is president of Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich. He is the author and voice of the daily radio program Making a Difference. Rex writes and speaks on Christian higher education, conservative politics, free enterprise economics, and sociocultural trends." -- Publisher's Annotation

TIME Magazine, "Gambling Goes Legit," December 06, 1976.

Watson, Tom, Jr., Don't bet on it (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1987), ISBN: 0830710132: 9780830710133.
"This book is about gambling. It is an expos‚ of a plot that exploits human weakness in a transfer of wealth from those who cannot afford the loss to those who purpose to have it all. It shows the often irreversible and debilitating effects on the society we share and the faith that binds us to God." -- GCB

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Covetousness, self, selfishness, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The ten commandments, the moral law, Foolishness, Self-destruction, Trusting god, Laziness, slothfulness, idleness, indolence, slackness, sluggishness/sluggard, Self-destruction, Suicide, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Meltdown 2008, the greatest depression in history, The federal reserve, The banking system, Taxation, property and liberty, Conspiracy and corruption, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Prostitution, Drug abuse and addiction, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 648, 1423, 2199, 2985, 4181

Related WebLinks

The Christian and the use of the lot for Gaming
http://www.covenanter.org/Practical/TheLot/cardandlothomepage.htm

National Commission Against Legalized Gambling (NCALG) Home Page
"Since 1978, gambling casinos, Indian gambling, lotteries, slot machines and Internet gambling have attacked American families. The average American adult now spends more on gambling than on television, movies, theatre, sporting events and all other entertainment combined. Each year the gambling industry does more damage to the American economy than did Hurricane Andrew. This damage is in the form of crime, corruption, addiction and their attending social impacts. As children follow their parents, gambling is now the fastest growing addiction among American teenagers and college students."
http://www.ncalg.org

Gamblers Anonymous Official Home Page
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/

Gambling on a New Life
http://www.midtod.com/highlights/gambling.html

"You Bet Your Life"
"You Bet Your Life" explores the social costs and real risks of legalized gambling's current unprecedented popularity in our nation. You'll learn the magnitude of America's gambling addiction and why it destroys families, increases crime and entraps youth and minorities.
http://www.family.org/resources/itempg.cfm?itemid=453&refcd=1CEECZL&tvar=no



Gossip, Slander, Backbiting, The Tongue

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Gossip," "Lying," and so forth, and so on.

BOSTON, THOMAS (1676-1732), The Distinguishing Characteristics of True Believers. Available (THE WORKS OF THOMAS BOSTON, VOLUME 5) on Reformation Bookshelf CD #5, ISBN: 0921148755 9780921148753.
"Seventeen sermons (254 pages) relating to nine major areas pinpointing the marks of salvation. Includes loving your enemies, conduct in times of general declension, keeping Christ's commandments, the use of the tongue, friendship with Christ, meekness, etc." -- SWRB

Manton, Thomas (1620-1677), Sermon Upon Romans 1:29-30. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THOMAS MANTON (2:275-84).
"Wisperers, backbiters."

Watson, Thomas, The Tongue a World of Iniquity. In A PLEA FOR THE GODLY AND OTHER SERMONS (195-215).

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The ten commandments, the moral law (especially the 9th), Casuistry, cases of conscience, Lying, deceit, self-deception, The shorter catechism, Envy, jealousy, Covetousness, greed, and selfishness, Spiritual warfare, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 3303-3313
MGTP: Tongue



Glory in Iniquity, the Temptation of

Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts: he is the King of glory. (Psalm 24:7-10)

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:3b)

See the Theological Notes, "The Glory of God," at Ezekiel 1:28 in The Reformation Study Bible

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. (Hosea 4:6,7)

Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men. (Luke 2:14)

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 26:18)

`For of him, and through him, and to him are all things; to whom be the glory forever. Amen' (Romans 11:36)

See the Theological Notes, "Resurrection and Glorification," at 1 Corinthians 15:21 in The Reformation Study Bible.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Galatians 6:14a)

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. -- (1 Timothy 3:6)

The city of man seeks the praise of men, whereas the height of glory for the other is to hear God in the witness of conscience. The one lifts up its head in its own boasting; the other says to God: 'Thou art my glory, thou liftest up my head.' (Psalm 3.4) In the city of the world both the rulers themselves and the people they dominate are dominated by the lust for domination; whereas in the City of God all citizens serve one another in charity. . . . XIV:28 -- Reader's Comment on Augustine's The City of God

Augustine's final sentence of THE CITY OF GOD is "All things must be referred to the Glory of God."

Question. What is the chief end of man?
Answer. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. -- Westminster Shorter Catechism, 1648, Question 1

The purpose of the elect is to glorify god. But the purpose of the unregenerate, like the purpose of their "father," is to aggrandize power and glory unto themselves, and that by taking it from God, placing themselves in competition with God.
This is brought into startling contrast in the case of the hit-man (hired killer).
"During his incarceration, Kuklinski [Richard Kuklinski, a hired killer that murdered over 200 without remorse -- sk ] granted interviews to prosecutors, psychiatrists, criminologists, writers, and television producers about his criminal career, upbringing, and personal life. Two documentaries, featuring interviews of Kuklinski by Dr. Park Dietz (best-known for his interviews with and analysis of Jeffrey Dahmer) aired on HBO after interviews in 1991 and 2001. Philip Carlo also wrote a book in 2006, entitled THE ICE MAN."
While in prison he [Kuklinski -- sk] was interviewed by HBO for a documentary called "The Iceman Confesses," then later by author Anthony Bruno, who wrote the book THE ICEMAN, as a follow-up to the documentary. In 2001, he was interviewed again by HBO for another documentary called, "The Iceman Tapes: Conversations With a Killer."
When questioned Kuklinski said he had continued to murder because it gave them a feeling of glory. For him money was not the biggest factor. There is the vain glory of depraved man, and then there is the Glory of God.

Worthy is the lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by his blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation V:9,12-14)

II. God has all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself; and is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which He has made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; and has most sovereign dominion over them; to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever Himself pleases. In His sight all things are open and manifest, His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent, or uncertain. He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands. To Him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience He is pleased to require of them. -- The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), Chapter II, Of God and of the Holy Trinity

BROWN, JOHN (of Wamphray, 1610-1679), Christ in Believers, the Hope of Glory; Being the Substance of Several Sermons. By Mr. John Brown, . . . Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #5. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #14.

*Calvin, John (1509-1564), "Prefatory Address to His Most Christian Majesty, The Most Mighty and Illustrious Monarch, Francis, King of the French, His Sovereign." Found in THE INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, 2 volumes (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1960). A Christian classic.
"Indeed, this consideration makes a true king: to recognize himself a minister of God in governing his kingdom. Now, that king, who in ruling over his realm does not serve God's glory, exercises not kingly rule but brigandage. [Footnote: 'Nec iam regnum ille sed latrocinium exercet.' An echo of Augustine's famous phrase: 'When justice is taken away, what are kingdoms [[regna]] but a vast banditry [[magna latocinia]]?' City of God IV. iv (MPL [[Migne, J.P., Patrologiae cursus completus, series Latina]] 41. 115; tr. NPNF [[A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series]] II. 66).] Furthermore, he is deceived who looks for enduring prosperity in his kingdom when it is not ruled by God's scepter, that is, his Holy Word; for the heavenly oracle that proclaims that 'where prophecy fails the people are scattered' [Prov. 29:18] cannot lie." -- John Calvin (Battles translation)
"The characteristic of a true sovereign is, to acknowledge that, in the administration of his kingdom, he is a minister of God. He who does not make his reign subservient to the divine glory, acts the part not of a king, but a robber. He, moreover, deceives himself who anticipates long prosperity to any kingdom which is not ruled by the sceptre of God, that is, by his divine word. For the heavenly oracle is infallible which has declared, that where there is no vision the people perish (Prov. 29:18). -- John Calvin (Beveridge translation)"
See the entire Prefatory Address, Beveridge translation:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.ii.viii.html

CASE, THOMAS, The Vanity of Vain Glory, Opened in a Sermon Preached at the Funeral of Kingsmel Lucy, Esq, 1655. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #6. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #14.

Erskine, Ebenezer, The Believer Exalted in Imputed Righteousness. A Sermon preached at a sacramental occasion. By the late Rev. Mr. Ebenezer Erskine, ... Glasgow, [1782?].

*FLAVEL, JOHN (1628-1691), The Fountain of Life Opened Up, or, A Display of Christ in his Essential and Mediatorial Glory. Available (JOHN FLAVEL'S WORKS) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2.
http://www.ccel.org/flavel/fountain/flavfoun.txt

*FOXE, JOHN, John Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Actes and Monuments of Matters Most Speciall and Memorable, the second edition of FOXE'S BOOK OF MARTYRS VARIORUM EDITION ONLINE (version 1.1 - summer 2006). A Christian classic.
This is "the revised version (v.1.1) of FOXE'S BOOK OF MARTYRS VARIORUM EDITION ONLINE. This [free online] edition contains the full text of three of the four editions (1563, 1570, 1583). The 1570 edition is missing books 3 and 4. These will be added in subsequent versions."
http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/johnfoxe/index.html
Foxe, John, John Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Actes and Monuments of Matters Most Speciall and Memorable, ISBN: 0197262252 9780197262252.
"This CD-ROM combines readable and printable images of 2,200 pages of text and woodcut engravings from the 1583 edition, the last for which Foxe was personally responsible."
Other editions: Acts and Monuments or Foxe's Book of Martyrs, 1554, 1843-49 edition, 8 volumes. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
" 'No book ever inflicted a wound so deep and incurable on the Romish system of superstition and bloody persecution . . . (it) was placed in . . . all churches and chapels throughout the kingdom, by order of Queen Elizabeth.' (Smith, Select Memoirs, p. 245). Contains much information not found in any of the liberally edited and severely shortened editions of this classic work which are in print today. Covering martyrs from the early church through to Foxe's day, it was one of the most influential books of the sixteenth century! It overflows with faith building testimony of the power of God to overcome the most cruel and barbarous acts of human depravity and demonic cruelty. 6890 pages. A very rare set, now back in print after 150 years!" -- SWRB
"After the Bible itself, no book so profoundly influenced early Protestant sentiment as the BOOK OF MARTYRS. Even in our time it is still a living force. It is more than a record of persecution. It is an arsenal of controversy, a storehouse of romance, as well as a source of edification." -- James Miller Dodds, English Prose
"When one recollects that until the appearance of the PILGRIM'S PROGRESS the common people had almost no other reading matter except the BIBLE and FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS, we can understand the deep impression that this book produced; and how it served to mold the national character. Those who could read for themselves learned the full details of all the atrocities performed on the Protestant reformers; the illiterate could see the rude illustrations of the various instruments of torture, the rack, the gridiron, the boiling oil, and then the holy ones breathing out their souls amid the flames. Take a people just awakening to a new intellectual and religious life; let several generations of them, from childhood to old age, pore over such a book, and its stories become traditions as individual and almost as potent as songs and customs on a nation's life." -- Douglas Campbell, The Puritan in Holland, England, and America
"If we divest the book of its accidental character of feud between churches, it yet stands, in the first years of Elizabeth's reign, a monument that marks the growing strength of a desire for spiritual freedom, defiance of those forms that seek to stifle conscience and fetter thought." -- Henry Morley, English Writers
"John Foxe was a prince among believers. He had his printing press on a cart, and had often to print at night, moving his press before dawn to escape capture and burning at the stake. He never faltered in his purpose to leave a voluminous written witness to the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep His saints in love and peace." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

Love, Christopher (1618-1651), Heavens Glory, Hells Terror, or, Two Treatises: the one concerning the glory of the saints with Jesus Christ as a spur to duty: the other of the torments of the damned as a preservative against security / by that late faithfull servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. Christopher Love . . . (London: Printed for John Rothwell . . . , 1665).
Sermons on Matthew 10:38 and Colossians 3:4.

*Owen, John (1616-1683), The Glory of Christ (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851511236, 9780851511238. The Glory of Christ (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851516610 9780851516615. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN.
Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1. Available [THE GLORY OF CHRIST] on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
"In THE GLORY OF CHRIST . . . we have the great Puritan pastor and theologian, John Owen, at his richest and most mature. Here he writes about Jesus Christ, the heart of the Gospel, with biblical insight and understanding that is at times almost overwhelming for a contemporary reader.
"These chapters were written during the final period of Owen's life, and began simply in his personal meditation and study, before being shared with others in public ministry. Deep love for, and fervent devotion to Christ, is evident on every page. Owen had already seen the glory of Christ from afar and pondered long on its significance. Here he speaks from his proximity to eternity, and teaches us how to see Christ more clearly and to serve him more faithfully.
"The publishers are convinced that THE GLORY OF CHRIST is a spiritual treasure-cave to which many readers will return again and again throughout the whole of their lives. Its sole purpose is to renew and deepen devotion to Jesus Christ." -- Publisher's Annotation
Contains: Life of Owen, the Person of Christ, Glory of Christ, and two short catechisms.
The Glory of Christ, by John Owen
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/epl-owglory.html
A Brief Declaration and Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity and also of the Person and Satisfaction of Christ, by John Owen
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/epl-owtrinity.html

Rigge, Ambrose (1635?-1705), The Banner of Gods Love, and Ensign of Righteousness Spread Over His People in These Later Dayes. Wherein the true light shineth, and the mysterie that hath been hid from ages and generations, is revealed to the saints, which is, Christ in us the hope of glory, as our forefathers witnessed, read Col. I. 26,27,28,29. Also, a testimony against them who formerly hath tasted of the good word of God, and of the power of the world to come, who hath cast the law of God behind their backs, and hath trodden under foot the blood of the covenant. . . . most especially, those that are called Anabaptists and Independents. Also, a few words in warning to the priests, professors, and people of the town and county of Southhampton. With a few quaeries to the rulers and magistrates of England, to try their fruits whether they be according to the Christian magistrates recorded in the Scripture of truth, . . . . Set forth most especially for the sake of the honest-hearted, who are not wholly given up to believe lyes, that they may come to know the way of life and peace. Written by me who are called Ambrose Rigge, 1657.

*RUTHERFORD, SAMUEL, (1600?-1661), The Glory, Majesty, Dominion and Power of Jesus Christ, 1643. Alternate title: A SERMON PREACHED TO THE HONORABLE HOUSE OF COMMONS: AT THEIR LATE SOLEMNE FAST, WEDNESDAY, JANU. 31. 1643. BY SAMUEL RUTHERFURD, PROFESSOR OF DIVINITIE IN THE UNIVERSITIE OF ST. ANDREWS. PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. [Daniel 6:26] (Printed at London by Richard Cotes, for Richard Whittakers & Andrew Crooke, and are to bee sold at their shops in Pauls Church-Yard, 1644), 66 pages. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #9, #25, and #29, ISBN: 0921148836 9780921148838. Also available on the Amazing Christian Library, DVD Two, CD #7, 64 pages. A Christian classic.
"Here Rutherford covers a wide range of topics including Christ's kingship and dominion over civil governments, what lawful power (civil and ecclesiastical) is, God's providence, suffering (especially among those covenanted to Him), the oppression and martyrdom of the saints, the wrath of God, apologetics, the fear of God, the visible church, assurance and the weak believer, the free offer of the Gospel, the sovereignty of God, antinomianism, Arminianism, and much more. However, whatever the subject, Rutherford can be found focusing on and exalting the Lord Jesus Christ and His truth in a way that few others have been granted the ability to do -- notwithstanding the fact that he himself wrote, 'I have neither tongue nor pen to express to you the happiness of such as are in Christ' (Letters of Samuel Rutherford, p. 47). Classic Rutherford, preached before some of the most powerful civil leaders of his day!" -- SWRB "It hath been the sin of this Land, that when Episcopacy, Antichristian Ceremonies, Superstition, and Will-worship were enjoined by Law, to pleasure an earthly King, you willingly followed after the command, against the direction of the King of Kings: and now hath the Lord delivered the people of the Land into the hand of their KING. And for this the Sword of the Lord hath gone through the Land." -- Samuel Rutherford

See also: The glory of the lord jesus christ, Pride, Hypocracy, Politics, Church leadership, Power religion, Power, Authority, and so forth, and so on.



Gratuitous Sex, a Cause of Violence

See: Gratuitous Sex, a Cause of Violence
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr7cha.html#gsacov



Grief

See: Grief
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr8ch.html#grief



Guilt

See the Theological Notes, "Mankind's Guilty Knowledge of God," at Romans 1:29 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Conscience and the Law," at 1 Samuel 24:5 in The Reformation Study Bible.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)

The fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God.
They are corrupt,
they have done abominable works,
there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1)
See the Theological Notes, "Mankind's Guilty Knowledge of God" at Romans 1:29 and the note at Psalm 14:1 in The Reformation Study Bible

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Guilt," and so forth, and so on.

Aden, LeRoy, and David G. Benner (editors), Counseling and the Human Predicament: A Study of Sin, Guilt and Forgiveness, ISBN: 0801002184 9780801002182.

*BOLTON, ROBERT, A Treatise on Comforting Afflicted Consciences (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1991, 1626). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #9. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #27. A Christian classic.
"I do not know of a single book published in the past twenty years that explains in depth how to respond Biblically to a grieved or wounded conscience. Here's an ideal volume to fill that gap. Few books in history have treated the subject as completely or as clearly as Robert Bolton's classic work. . . . The book remains a definitive study on the issue of dealing with guilt. Practical, Biblical, meticulously precise, carefully reasoned, it maintains a straightforward simplicity that cannot fail to touch the sensitive reader's heart." -- John MacArthur

*Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), The Everlasting Righteousness or How Shall man be Just With God? (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1993). A Christian classic.
"First published in 1874, THE EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, may be the best book on the doctrine of justification by faith alone ever written.
"Since the seventeenth century, the church's adherence to the central doctrine of the Christian faith has been weakening; in the twentieth century it has all but disappeared. But to those who remain faithful -- to those who are called of God --justification by faith alone is the best news there could ever be: that Christ died for our sins, and we shall live forever because of Christ's righteousness.
"Justification by faith alone -- the `principal hinge of religion,' according to John Calvin, the `doctrine by which the church stands or falls,' according to Martin Luther -- is salvation. Without it, all hope is lost; with it, Heaven gained. Bonar's discussion is without equal in the English language." -- John W. Robbins
The Banner of Truth edition is available free as e-text.
The Everlasting Righteousness; or, How Shall man be Just With God?
The Everlasting Righteousness, Horatius Bonar
http://www.jude3.net/bertoc.htm
http://books.google.com/books?id=nQMDAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Buchanan, James, Not Guilty (Welwyn, England: Evangelical Press), ISBN: 0946462224 9780946462223.

*EDWARDS, JONATHAN, Total Depravity, Obtaining Salvation and Miscellaneous Discourses Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #19, ISBN: 092114895X 9780921148951. Available (THE WORKS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1.
"Includes a warning to professors concerning the great guilt of those who take part in the ordinances of divine worship and yet allow themselves to be snared in any known wickedness. A work on temptation and deliverance and numerous other topics of great value." -- SWRB

*Goodwin, Thomas, Man's Guiltiness Before God (Wilmington, DE: Classic-A-Month Club, c1964). In THE WORKS OF THOMAS GOODWIN. A Christian classic.

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

LOVE, CHRISTOPHER, The Soul's Cordial, 1653. Additional title: THE SOULS CORDIALL IN TWO TREATISES. I. TEACHING HOW TO BE EASED OF THE GUILT OF SIN. II. DISCOVERING ADVANTAGES BY CHRISTS ASCENSION. BY THAT FAITHFULL LABOURER IN THE LORDS VINEYARD MR. CHRISTOPHER LOVE, PASTOR OF LAWRENCE JURY, LONDON. THE THIRD VOLUME. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"Part one is titled "Teaching How To Be Eased of the Guilt of Sin" and consists of 191 pages. Part two, "The Saints Advantage, By Christ's Ascension," deals (in 194 pages) with our Lord's words comforting 'his disciples both against their fears of persecution in the world, as also against their sorrows' (p. 1). Many subjects are touched upon, including numerous very helpful practical applications following from the assurance of the believer's freedom from the guilt of sin, the truth of Christ's ascension, and the comfort and joy that both these topics bring to the followers of the Lamb. Indexed." SWRB

*Perkins, William (1558-1602) and Rogers, Richard (1550?-1618), A Garden of Spirituall Flowers. Planted by Ri. Ro. Will. Per. Ri. Gree. M.M. and Geo. Web. [Ri. Ro. = Richard Rogers, Will. Per. = William Perkins, Ri. Gree. = Richard Greenham, M.M. = Miles Mosse [?], and Geo. Web. = George Webbe,] Corrected and inlarged, 1625. Additional title: TREATISE TENDING UNTO A DECLARATION. PART 7; CONSOLATIONS FOR THE TROUBLED CONSCIENCES.
An anthology. Perkins's "How to live well, and to die well", is part seven of his "A treatise tending unto a declaration" (STC 19752), where it bears the title "Consolations for the troubled consciences."

Pierce, C.A., Conscience in the New Testament (London, England: SCM Press Ltd., 1958).

Wilson, Earl, RCC, Vol. 8: Counseling and Guilt (Resources in Christian Counseling. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing), ISBN: 0849905915 9780849905919.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Scapegoating and blame shifting, Self-righteousness, self-justification, Unforgiveness, Bad relationships a cause of disease and death, Contentiousness, Abortion and the sanctity of life, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The ten commandments, the moral law, Casuistry, cases of conscience, The free offer of the gospel message of salvation and the life to come, Repentance the key to salvation and change, Forgiveness of sin, Justifying Faith, Justification, Sanctification, Comfort, encouragement, Discipline, The Holy Spirit, Reconciliation of relationships, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Spirituality and harlotry, Self-destruction, Pride, Self, Selfishness, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 826, 856, 1762, 1763
MGTP: Guilt

Related WebLinks

The Doctrine of Man (Human Nature, Total Depravity)
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr2cha.html#domhntd

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Habits

See the Theological Notes, "Salvation," at Acts 4:12 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Sanctification: The Spirit and the Flesh," at 1 Corinthians 6:11 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:7,8)

*BAXTER, Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Habit," "Put on/Put off Dynamic," "Radical Amputation," and so forth, and so on.

RICHARD (1615-1691), A Christian Directory: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1. Full title: A Christian Directory: or A Sum of Practical Theology, and Cases of Conscience. Directing Christians How to Use Their Knowledge and Faith; How to Improve all Helps and Means, and to Perform all Duties; How to Overcome Temptations, and to Escape or Mortify Every Sin. In Four Parts.
I. Christian Ethics (or Private Duties)
II. Christian Economics (or Family Duties)
III. Christian Ecclesiastics (or Church Duties)
IV. Christian Politics (or Duties to Our Rulers and Neighbours) (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, 1990, 1838, 1707, 1678, 1673), ISBN: 1877611131 9781877611131. Foreword by J.I. Packer (Soli Deo Gloria edition only). The Soli Deo Gloria publication is a facsimile reprint of the 19th century reprint by George Virtue, London, 1846. The original 1673 edition and the 1678 edition, both printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons. Bibliographic and scriptural footnotes. A Christian classic.
"The complete practical works of Richard Baxter are in print in four volumes entitled BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS. This volume (about 1 1/4 million words, 1028 pages) is volume one of the set. The editor's preface (1707), p. xiii, stated that the works of Richard Baxter are 'perhaps the best body of practical divinity that is extent in our own or any other tongue.' Richard Baxter lived from 1615-1691. The DIRECTORY was completed in 1665. Its scope was intended to cover all of practical theology, a summa of casuistry . . ." -- Don Kistler
"Baxter's series, which grew in range and scope as it proceeded . . . is a peak point in Puritan devotional writing, and remains a precious resource for all, in this or any age, who want to know what is involved in Biblical godliness. . . . A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY may justly be described as a landmark. It is the fullest, most thorough, and in this writer's judgment, most profound treatment of Christian spirituality and standards that has ever been attempted by an English-speaking Evangelical author. The fact that it embraces both spirituality and standards (the principles of communion with God plus the specifics of obedience to God) merits approving comment in itself; nowadays spirituality and ethics have become two distinct disciplines in the schools, and books written on either say virtually nothing about the other . . ." -- J.I. Packer
Timothy Keller calls it the greatest manual on Biblical counseling ever produced.
"There are many Puritan classics on this subject. Thomas Brooks' PRECIOUS REMEDIES FOR SATAN'S DEVICES, Thomas Goodwin's A CHILD OF LIGHT WALKING IN DARKNESS, William Bridge's A LIFTING UP FOR THE DOWNCAST, and many other similar works give evidence that the Puritans were. . . . masters at applying Biblical answers and principles to problems that can only be solved by spiritual means. No Puritan work, however, has ever approached the popularity, the scope, or the depth of Baxter's classic treatise. With the widespread interest in counseling in today's church, this reprint of Baxter's work should be a welcome addition to every pastor's library, or to anyone else who wishes to give solid Biblical answers to man's questions." -- Don Kistler
"We have long waited for a purely Biblical treatment of the spiritual ills and cures of men which is untainted by the views of psychology. Since Baxter lived about 200 years before psychology arrived, his deep work is completely void of its encroachment -- thankfully!" -- John MacArthur
"The kings men sought to arrest Richard Baxter, but he traveled ceaselessly from place to place, writing his sermons and his books even on horseback (he had an inkwell in his saddle) and preached over a wide area." -- Brian H. Edwards
"Baxter was a wonder of his age. His writings total 72 large volumes, much of it written on horseback as he traveled in his widespread preaching efforts. He seldom, if ever, edited anything he wrote. Knowing this any reader will be amazed at how well he communicated his deep love for his Savior. For 26 years he was public enemy No. 1 to the king, yet he lived to see the flight of the king in 1688." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
POOR MAN'S FAMILY BOOK (1674) and THE CATECHIZING OF FAMILIES (1683), found elsewhere in BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, are less detailed works. They are more suitable for family instruction than are the detailed presentation in A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY.
" Ptacek in Family Worship (p. 51-52), supplies the following information in regard to Baxter and this book. He notes that after the Episcopalians ejected numerous `nonconformists,' in what is know as the `great ejection,' in 1662, `Baxter pastored from house to house, visiting families of his parish in their homes. These visits contributed to Baxter's A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, a large and still very relevant manual of pastoral care.' Focusing on just one area of great importance, Ptacek demonstrates how this book's relevance is not limited by time or culture, though sometimes the use of specific words are. `Published in 1673, but written 1664-65, a large book-length part of Baxter's CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY is devoted to the family. It is entitled `Christian Economics' based on the archaic usage of the word, which reflects the proper sense of the Greek root oikonomos as the manager of a household, in the Christian case, the spiritual leader of the family. The family head is essential to Baxter's view of family worship and instruction. Baxter asserts that it is God's will that this instruction be carried out by the rulers of the families.' For a male head of the household to fail to do so, or to have another instruct in the family, is contrary to his position of authority.' This is the kind of book that can be passed on from generation to generation and still find much use in the service of the kingdom of God. . . .
"Though relatively weak on corporate sanctification, corporate faithfulness and some important areas of doctrine (such as justification), Baxter's work on subjects related to personal piety can be of good practical use to the Christian -- if one is careful to separate out his aberrant doctrinal views and any practical errors they may lead to." -- SWRB
This work is available in many editions, and in many formats.
Reformation Heritage Books has new copies of the Soli Deo Gloria edition as of March 2008, even though it is generally thought to be out of print. They acquired Soli Deo Gloria from Ligonier Ministries in late 2007. They may be the publisher who will eventually reprints the title.
http://www.heritagebooks.org/
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue is available as a Cerlox bound photocopy from Still Waters Revival Books, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
The reprint by George Virtue is available online and may be downloaded in PDF format at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/baxter/practical.toc.html
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue appears in full preview in Google Books but may not be downloaded. This Google Books scan includes the contents in detail on pages iii-xix. This contents in detail is not included in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library PDF files. About five other editions from libraries are available in Google Books, and may be downloaded (August 2008).
Notice that the e-text in Google Books has the advantage of being searchable. Searching an image-based PDF file is not possible, unless the user owns software such as Abode Acrobat Pro or Kirtas BookScan Editor. They both have an OCR (optical character recognition) feature that will search an image-based PDFs (bit-map scans). Searches appear to be perfect in this work, although one must know Baxter's vocabulary. Text can be cut and paste from image-based PDF format to OCR (character) format. This particular Google Books scan can not be cut and pasted or downloaded.
http://books.google.com/books?id=cyQFBOUHkaoC&dq=A+Christian+Directory+inpublisher:lettermen+inpublisher:associates&lr=&as_brr=0&ie=ISO-8859-1
One of the older, multi-volume editions of THE WORKS OF RICHARD BAXTER is available at Monergism.com in the "Puritan Library," "Richard Baxter." A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, volume 23. It can be downloaded.
http://www.puritanlibrary.com/
Another older edition is available on microfilm (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1970), 1 microfilm reel, 35 mm (Early English books, 1641-1700; 343:11).
The following three excerpts are included as bonus free books on Reformation Bookshelf CD #28, ISBN: 0921148267 9780921148265.
1. "The Duties of Parents for Their Children" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. X., pp. 449-454.
2. "The Special Duties of Children Towards Their Parents" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XI., pp. 454-457.
3. "The Special Duties of Children and Youth Towards God" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XII., pp. 457-458).
The Practical Works of Richard Baxter: A Christian Directory, Vol. 1
A summary of currently available publications.
http://www.lettermen2.com/pwrbcd.html

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Reformed Pastor: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000, 1992), ISBN: 1877611360.
"This is the fourth and final volume in this great set. Includes, [`Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men,' -- sk] `The Reformed Pastor' `Poor Man's Family Book,' `The Catechizing of Families,' and `The Mother's Catechism,' in all 25 sermons, treatises, and catechisms. Dr. J.I. Packer says, `For me, the great joy of this year is that it see the completion of Soli Deo Gloria's reprint of Baxter's incomparable PRACTICAL WORKS'." -- GCB
Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men (1681), by Richard Baxter
http://www.lettermen2.com/ccaym.html

Calvin, John, On the Christian Life
http://www.ccel.org/calvin/christian_life/christian_life.html

*Calvin, John, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2 volumes (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1960). A Christian classic.
"Edited by John McNeill and translated by Ford Lewis Battles, this is the definitive English language edition of one of the monumental works of the Christian church -- Calvin's INSTITUTES.
"Still considered by many to be the finest explanation and defense of the Protestant Reformation available.
"The work is divided into four books: I. The Knowledge of God the Creator, II. The Knowledge of God the Redeemer in Christ, III. The Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ, IV. The External Means or Helps by Which God Allures Us Into Fellowship With Christ and Keeps Us in It. . . . THE INSTITUTES is praised by the secular philosopher, Will Durant, as one of the ten books that shook the world." -- GCB
Calvin spent a lifetime writing and perfecting INSTITUTES OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION. His Prefatory Address makes it clear that he intended the work to be a defense of Christianity to the King of France.
Therefore, plainly stated, one of the most influential works ever published in the English language is a defense of Christianity to leaders of State.
Prefatory Address to His Most Christian Majesty, The Most Mighty and Illustrious Monarch, Francis, King of the French, His Sovereign, John Calvin
"Indeed, this consideration makes a true king: to recognize himself a minister of God in governing his kingdom. Now, that king, who in ruling over his realm does not serve God's glory, exercises not kingly rule but brigandage. [Footnote: 'Nec iam regnum ille sed latrocinium exercet.' An echo of Augustine's famous phrase: 'When justice is taken away, what are kingdoms [[regna]] but a vast banditry [[magna latocinia]]?' City of God IV. iv (MPL [[Migne, J.P., Patrologiae cursus completus, series Latina]] 41. 115; tr. NPNF [[A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series]] II. 66).] Furthermore, he is deceived who looks for enduring prosperity in his kingdom when it is not ruled by God's scepter, that is, his Holy Word; for the heavenly oracle that proclaims that 'where prophecy fails the people are scattered' [Prov. 29:18] cannot lie." (Battles translation)
"The characteristic of a true sovereign is, to acknowledge that, in the administration of his kingdom, he is a minister of God. He who does not make his reign subservient to the divine glory, acts the part not of a king, but a robber. He, moreover, deceives himself who anticipates long prosperity to any kingdom which is not ruled by the sceptre of God, that is, by his divine word. For the heavenly oracle is infallible which has declared, that where there is no vision the people perish (Prov. 29:18). (Beveridge translation)"
See the entire Prefatory Address, Beveridge translation:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.ii.viii.html
"The doctrines of covenant liberty were rediscovered in the Reformation. John Calvin went further than anyone else in defining liberty and what Christians need to do to maintain it. Includes bibliographies."
It is recommended that INSTITUTES OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION be used for daily devotions and may be used in combination with Ford Lewis Battles and John Walchenbach, AN ANALYSIS OF THE INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION OF JOHN CALVIN (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House) and with CALVIN'S COMMENTARIES.
Nelson's Ultimate Bible Reference Library, Logos Library System format (LLS) (CD-ROM)
This library systems includes CALVIN'S INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, THE HOLY BIBLE KING JAMES VERSION, THE NEW TREASURY OF SCRIPTURE KNOWLEDGE, AUGUSTINE'S CONFESSIONS, WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH (1646), WESTMINSTER LARGER CATECHISM, WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM, MATTHEW HENRY'S COMMENTARY, NEW NAVE'S TOPICAL BIBLE, PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, and other classic Bible study aids. THE REFORMATION STUDY BIBLE (Other title: THE NEW GENEVA STUDY BIBLE), in LLS format, may be added to this library. Therefore, all the above works may be used in combination with each other in Bible study.
http://www.logos.com/products/details/3247
Calvin, Spurgeon and International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) (LLS)
Contains Calvin's Commentaries.
http://www.logos.com/products/details/889
Calvin's Commentaries (22 Volumes) (LLS)
http://www.logos.com/products/details/887
The Comprehensive John Calvin Collection CD-ROM in Logos Library System (LLS) format
http://www.logosbiblesoftware.com/logosbiblesoftware/calcom.html
Calvin's Commentaries (online)
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom
One Hundred Aphorisms, Containing, Within a Narrow Compass, the Substance and Order of the Four Books of THE INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION
http://www.lettermen2.com/pringle.html
The Comprehensive John Calvin Collection
From Ages Software. Includes both the Battles and the Beveridge translation of THE INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, CALVIN'S COMMENTARIES, and other works by Calvin.
http://www.ageslibrary.com/ages_calvin_collection_1.html
Institutes of the Christian Religion (Beveridge translation online)
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.i.html

*Foster, David Kyle, Sexual Healing: God's Plan for the Sanctification of Broken Lives: A Reference Manual for Ministering to Those Trapped in Sexual Sin and Brokenness (Jacksonville, FL [Mastering Life Ministries, P.O. Box 351149, Jacksonville 32235]: Mastering Life Ministries, 1997), ISBN: 0830737154 9780830737154 0830737340 9780830737345.
This is a unique work and the best resource known to the compiler offering biblical counsel for healing sexual brokenness. See "Foundations" and "Divine Intent for Sexuality" for a biblical explanation of the spiritual significance of sexuality. These two chapters alone make the purchase of the book worthwhile. Includes chapters, study guides, and exercises for Root sources for improper sexual development, Sexual identity confusion, Child sex abuse, Sexual addition, Pornography, Masturbation, voyeurism and exhibitionism, Why people remain in sexual sin and bondage, Failure and self-condemnation, A comprehensive game plan for sexual healing, and so forth. Indexed, 398 pages, includes bibliography.
Mastering Life Ministries
http://www.MasteringLife.org

*Playfair, William L., The Useful Lie: How the Recovery Industry has Entrapped America in a Disease Model of Addiction (Timeless Texts, July 2004), ISBN: 1889032379 9780891076377.
"Challenges the disease concept of alcoholism, the 'useful lie' of the recovery movement. This lie underlies the widespread mistreatment of alcoholism and of other fundamentally moral problems, e.g., 'codependency.' Posits biblically based intervention that treats such problems as sins to be repented of. Opposes sending a person to the recovery industry because 'He will be told his sin is a sickness; he will never be confronted with his real and most basic moral and spiritual problem. And he will more than likely be introduced to the any god of Twelve Stepdom, who is, by Biblical criteria, a false god'." -- David Powlison
"Dr. Playfair is a medical consultant to the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation/West in San Diego. He also is a board member of Family Research Institute. The theme and purpose of this book is to debunk the claims that alcoholism is a disease. This claim, says the doctor, contradicts science and medicine; it contradicts the Bible, which is more important; and it simply does not work in breaking the addiction of alcohol. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"This book provided all the necessary evidence to blow the whistle on the recovery industry and also points toward genuine freedom from addiction." -- GCB

Shogren, Gary, and Edward Welch, Running in Circles: How to Find Freedom From Addictive Behavior (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1995), ISBN: 0801083877 9780801083877, 96 pages.
"Companion volume to Welch's and Shogren's ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR. Intended as a practical guide to help those who struggle with 'addictive behavior:' drugs, alcohol, food, immorality, and so forth. Especially useful as a first introduction to biblical thinking for such people." -- David Powlison

Welch, Edward, and Gary Shogren, Addictive Behavior (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1995), ISBN: 0801097371 9780801097379, 176 pages.
"Guides pastors and other counselors in understanding 'addictions' biblically, and takes them through five typical sessions of counseling. The prominent case study focuses on alcohol abuse in a church context, but the principles apply to other enslaving behaviors." -- David Powlison

See also: Alcoholism, Drug abuse and addiction, Workaholics, Will and recalcitrance, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Homosexuality, The occult, Discipleship, Self-destruction, Self-denial, Self-discipline, Christian fellowship, Friendship, Loneliness, Fear and anxiety, Small groups, Alcoholics anonymous and other 12 step recovery programs, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 1473

Related WebLinks

The Temperate Life, Sherman Isbell
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/the-temperate-life.php



Happiness, Holiness

See the Theological Notes, "The Image of God," at Genesis 1:27 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Sanctification: The Spirit and the Flesh," at 1 Corinthians 6:11 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea: Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me. (Isaiah 48:17-19) See the annotation in The Reformation Study Bible.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout O daughter of Jerusalem, behold thy king cometh unto thee. He is the righteous Saviour and he shall speak peace unto the heathen. (Zechariah 9:9,10)

Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:6)

Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:8)

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:23)

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. (Romans 10:4)

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. (Ephesians 1:4)

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. (Philippians 3:8,9)

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16,17,18)

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:17)

If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. (1 John 2:29)

There is no imagination wherewith man is besotted, more foolish, none so pernicious, as this -- that persons not purified, not sanctified, not made holy in their life, should afterwards be taken into that state of blessedness which consists in the enjoyment of God. Neither can such person enjoy God, nor would God be a reward to them. Holiness indeed is perfected in heaven: but the beginning of it is invariably confined to this world. -- John Owen

God, the author of happiness, can alone certainly inform us what true happiness is, and how true happiness is to be obtained.
In the passage before us [John 7:37,38], "God in Christ," "God manifest in flesh," appears unfolding to us the true nature of happiness -- informing us that it is in him, in him alone -- explaining to use the means by which it may be secured -- inviting us to come to him that we may obtain it, and assuring us that if we do come to him for this purpose, we shall not come in vain: -- "In the last days, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." What subject can be more truly, more universally, interesting than this? Oh, let us "incline our ears and come to HIM; let us hear that our souls may live!" -- Brown, John (of Edinburgh, 1784-1858)

Nothing else but the habitual and predominant devotion and dedication of soul, and body, and life, and all that we have to God; and esteeming, and loving, and serving, and seeking Him, before all the pleasures and prosperity of the flesh. -- Richard Baxter

The whole frame of a believer's life should be so holy, and heavenly, and mortified, and above the world, as may amount to a serious profession that he liveth in confident hope of the life to come, and may show the world the difference between a worldling and an heir of heaven; between corrupted nature and true grace. The professors of godliness must be a peculiar people, zealous of good works, and adorned with them. -- Richard Baxter

A man must first love that he would be, before he can be that which he loveth. -- Andrew Willet

In a word, there is a divine knowledge, which is part of man's felicity, as it promoteth love and union; and there is a solid knowledge of God's word and works, a valuable grammatical knowledge, and a true philosophy, which none but ignorant person will despise. But the vain philosophy, and pretended wisdom or learning of the world, hath been, and is, the cheat of souls, and the hinderer of wisdom, and a troubler of the church and world. -- Richard Baxter (4:557)

God hath in Himself all power to defend you, all wisdom to direct you, all mercy to pardon you, all grace to enrich you, all righteousness to cloth you, all goodness to supply you, and all happiness to crown you. -- Thomas Brooks

It may be you have been more earnest and vehement for assurance, and the effects of it, viz., joy, comfort, and peace, than you have been for grace and holiness, for communion with God, and conformity to God. It may be your requests for assurance have been full of life and spirits, when your requests for grace and holiness, for communion with God, and conformity to God, have been lifeless and spiritless. If so, no wonder that assurance is denied you. Assurance makes most of your comfort, but holiness makes most for God's honour. Man's holiness is now his greatest happiness, and in heaven man's greatest happiness will be his perfect holiness. -- Thomas Brooks

Pray against the power of your lusts by calling on the gospel covenant. God was not bound by the first covenant to stir a foot for man's help. Man by his own accord went over into the Devil's camp. He deserted God, and chose a new lord. And God may have left him there, without offering any help for his rescue from his rebellion, as he did in leaving the fallen angels without a Savior. It was only by free grace that God undertook the recovery of men through the gospel covenant. So then, if you are a covenanter with God by accepting the terms on which God offers to save us in the gospel covenant -- that is by faith and repentance -- then call upon God to remember His covenant, and to cause you to renounce your sins, those armies of lusts which war against your soul. Then you shall find that those with you are greater than those that are against you, that sin shall no more have dominion over you." Why? Because "you are not under law, but under grace," -- Romans 6:14. That is, you are not under the law covenant which God made with Adam, but are under the gospel covenant that God made with the Second Adam, Christ, and through Him to all believers. Oh, how many lose their prayers against sin because they do not have the gospel covenant to plead against them! They do not stand in federal relation to God, and they do not take care to get into it. -- William Gurnall

To solve the problems of life we must determine to live a more Godly life. Godliness means right relationship: allegiance, loyalty to the true and living God, a personal relationship with God through Christ Jesus, the imputed righteousness of Christ in every believer's life, the enablement of the Holy Spirit that delivers the upright from temptation. Christ overcame the world and he can overcomes the world through us, if we lead holy lives. And a righteous nation is a moral and stable society in which leaders are covenant heads.

The only way for man and wife and children and society to live together happily is to pursue holiness through Christ Jesus. The Everlasting Righteousness or How Shall man be Just With God? Horatius Bonar.

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Joy," "Contentment," "Godliness," and so forth, and so on.

*BAXTER, RICHARD (1615-1691), A Christian Directory: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1. Full title: A Christian Directory: or A Sum of Practical Theology, and Cases of Conscience. Directing Christians How to Use Their Knowledge and Faith; How to Improve all Helps and Means, and to Perform all Duties; How to Overcome Temptations, and to Escape or Mortify Every Sin. In Four Parts.
I. Christian Ethics (or Private Duties)
II. Christian Economics (or Family Duties)
III. Christian Ecclesiastics (or Church Duties)
IV. Christian Politics (or Duties to Our Rulers and Neighbours) (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, 1990, 1838, 1707, 1678, 1673), ISBN: 1877611131 9781877611131. Foreword by J.I. Packer (Soli Deo Gloria edition only). The Soli Deo Gloria publication is a facsimile reprint of the 19th century reprint by George Virtue, London, 1846. The original 1673 edition and the 1678 edition, both printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons. Bibliographic and scriptural footnotes. A Christian classic.
"The complete practical works of Richard Baxter are in print in four volumes entitled BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS. This volume (about 1 1/4 million words, 1028 pages) is volume one of the set. The editor's preface (1707), p. xiii, stated that the works of Richard Baxter are 'perhaps the best body of practical divinity that is extent in our own or any other tongue.' Richard Baxter lived from 1615-1691. The DIRECTORY was completed in 1665. Its scope was intended to cover all of practical theology, a summa of casuistry . . ." -- Don Kistler
"Baxter's series, which grew in range and scope as it proceeded . . . is a peak point in Puritan devotional writing, and remains a precious resource for all, in this or any age, who want to know what is involved in Biblical godliness. . . . A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY may justly be described as a landmark. It is the fullest, most thorough, and in this writer's judgment, most profound treatment of Christian spirituality and standards that has ever been attempted by an English-speaking Evangelical author. The fact that it embraces both spirituality and standards (the principles of communion with God plus the specifics of obedience to God) merits approving comment in itself; nowadays spirituality and ethics have become two distinct disciplines in the schools, and books written on either say virtually nothing about the other . . ." -- J.I. Packer
Timothy Keller calls it the greatest manual on Biblical counseling ever produced.
"There are many Puritan classics on this subject. Thomas Brooks' PRECIOUS REMEDIES FOR SATAN'S DEVICES, Thomas Goodwin's A CHILD OF LIGHT WALKING IN DARKNESS, William Bridge's A LIFTING UP FOR THE DOWNCAST, and many other similar works give evidence that the Puritans were. . . . masters at applying Biblical answers and principles to problems that can only be solved by spiritual means. No Puritan work, however, has ever approached the popularity, the scope, or the depth of Baxter's classic treatise. With the widespread interest in counseling in today's church, this reprint of Baxter's work should be a welcome addition to every pastor's library, or to anyone else who wishes to give solid Biblical answers to man's questions." -- Don Kistler
"We have long waited for a purely Biblical treatment of the spiritual ills and cures of men which is untainted by the views of psychology. Since Baxter lived about 200 years before psychology arrived, his deep work is completely void of its encroachment -- thankfully!" -- John MacArthur
"The kings men sought to arrest Richard Baxter, but he traveled ceaselessly from place to place, writing his sermons and his books even on horseback (he had an inkwell in his saddle) and preached over a wide area." -- Brian H. Edwards
"Baxter was a wonder of his age. His writings total 72 large volumes, much of it written on horseback as he traveled in his widespread preaching efforts. He seldom, if ever, edited anything he wrote. Knowing this any reader will be amazed at how well he communicated his deep love for his Savior. For 26 years he was public enemy No. 1 to the king, yet he lived to see the flight of the king in 1688." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
POOR MAN'S FAMILY BOOK (1674) and THE CATECHIZING OF FAMILIES (1683), found elsewhere in BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, are less detailed works. They are more suitable for family instruction than are the detailed presentation in A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY.
" Ptacek in Family Worship (p. 51-52), supplies the following information in regard to Baxter and this book. He notes that after the Episcopalians ejected numerous `nonconformists,' in what is know as the `great ejection,' in 1662, `Baxter pastored from house to house, visiting families of his parish in their homes. These visits contributed to Baxter's A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, a large and still very relevant manual of pastoral care.' Focusing on just one area of great importance, Ptacek demonstrates how this book's relevance is not limited by time or culture, though sometimes the use of specific words are. `Published in 1673, but written 1664-65, a large book-length part of Baxter's CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY is devoted to the family. It is entitled `Christian Economics' based on the archaic usage of the word, which reflects the proper sense of the Greek root oikonomos as the manager of a household, in the Christian case, the spiritual leader of the family. The family head is essential to Baxter's view of family worship and instruction. Baxter asserts that it is God's will that this instruction be carried out by the rulers of the families.' For a male head of the household to fail to do so, or to have another instruct in the family, is contrary to his position of authority.' This is the kind of book that can be passed on from generation to generation and still find much use in the service of the kingdom of God. . . .
"Though relatively weak on corporate sanctification, corporate faithfulness and some important areas of doctrine (such as justification), Baxter's work on subjects related to personal piety can be of good practical use to the Christian -- if one is careful to separate out his aberrant doctrinal views and any practical errors they may lead to." -- SWRB
This work is available in many editions, and in many formats.
Reformation Heritage Books has new copies of the Soli Deo Gloria edition as of March 2008, even though it is generally thought to be out of print. They acquired Soli Deo Gloria from Ligonier Ministries in late 2007. They may be the publisher who will eventually reprints the title.
http://www.heritagebooks.org/
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue is available as a Cerlox bound photocopy from Still Waters Revival Books, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
The reprint by George Virtue is available online and may be downloaded in PDF format at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/baxter/practical.toc.html
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue appears in full preview in Google Books but may not be downloaded. This Google Books scan includes the contents in detail on pages iii-xix. This contents in detail is not included in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library PDF files. About five other editions from libraries are available in Google Books, and may be downloaded (August 2008).
Notice that the e-text in Google Books has the advantage of being searchable. Searching an image-based PDF file is not possible, unless the user owns software such as Abode Acrobat Pro or Kirtas BookScan Editor. They both have an OCR (optical character recognition) feature that will search an image-based PDFs (bit-map scans). Searches appear to be perfect in this work, although one must know Baxter's vocabulary. Text can be cut and paste from image-based PDF format to OCR (character) format. This particular Google Books scan can not be cut and pasted or downloaded.
http://books.google.com/books?id=cyQFBOUHkaoC&dq=A+Christian+Directory+inpublisher:lettermen+inpublisher:associates&lr=&as_brr=0&ie=ISO-8859-1
One of the older, multi-volume editions of THE WORKS OF RICHARD BAXTER is available at Monergism.com in the "Puritan Library," "Richard Baxter." A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, volume 23. It can be downloaded.
http://www.puritanlibrary.com/
Another older edition is available on microfilm (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1970), 1 microfilm reel, 35 mm (Early English books, 1641-1700; 343:11).
The following three excerpts are included as bonus free books on Reformation Bookshelf CD #28, ISBN: 0921148267 9780921148265.
1. "The Duties of Parents for Their Children" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. X., pp. 449-454.
2. "The Special Duties of Children Towards Their Parents" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XI., pp. 454-457.
3. "The Special Duties of Children and Youth Towards God" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XII., pp. 457-458).
The Practical Works of Richard Baxter: A Christian Directory, Vol. 1
A summary of currently available publications.
http://www.lettermen2.com/pwrbcd.html

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), Dying Thoughts: Christian Hope for the Life Hereafter (Philadelphia, PA: The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co.), ISBN: 0801006015: 9780801006012.
"It deals with the Christian life, and it intends to encourage the believer to live a holy life with eternity constantly in view. It presents a challenge, developing the Scriptures that promise the joy, peace, and delight for those who go to be with Christ. It will be a help to those who are facing bereavement. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr. A Christian classic.
The Saints' Everlasting Rest, Richard Baxter, edited by Benjamin Fawcett
http://www.ccel.org/b/baxter/everlasting_rest/saints_rest.html

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Reformed Pastor: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000, 1992), ISBN: 1877611360 9781877611360.
"This is the fourth and final volume in this great set. Includes, [`Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men,' -- sk] `The Reformed Pastor' `Poor Man's Family Book,' `The Catechizing of Families,' and `The Mother's Catechism,' in all 25 sermons, treatises, and catechisms. Dr. J.I. Packer says, `For me, the great joy of this year is that it see the completion of Soli Deo Gloria's reprint of Baxter's incomparable PRACTICAL WORKS'." -- GCB
"Dr. J.I. Packer describes him as `the most outstanding pastor, evangelist, and writer on practical and devotional themes that Puritanism produced. . . ." in the words of his contemporary, Thomas Manton, he `came nearer the apostolic writings than any man in the age. . . ." Today, Baxter's principles, drawn from Scripture, and re-applied in terms of modern circumstances, will provide both ministers and other Christians with challenge, direction, and help." -- Publisher's Annotation, Banner of Truth edition of The Reformed Pastor
Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men (1681), by Richard Baxter
http://www.lettermen2.com/ccaym.html

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Saint's Everlasting Rest: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 3 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000), ISBN: 187761128X 9781877611285. A Christian classic.
"Third in the four-volume set. Includes The Saint's Everlasting Rest; Treatise of Self-Denial; The Life of Faith; Obedient Patience, and many more. Over 1000 pages." -- GCB
The Saints' Everlasting Rest, (singly) Richard Baxter, edited by Benjamin Fawcett
"Discusses the nature, excellencies, design, rejection, necessity, of the Saints' rest. Calls us to live the heavenly life now." -- GCB
"This is the greatest treatment on Heaven ever to appear! . . ." -- Wilbur M. Smith. A Christian classic.
http://www.ccel.org/b/baxter/everlasting_rest/saints_rest.html
Available (THE SAINT'S EVERLASTING REST, singly) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Two, CD #11.
Translations: The Saint's Everlasting Rest (singely), French; Danish; Dutch.

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), A Treatise of Knowledge and Love Compared in THE REFORMED PASTOR: BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, VOL. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000, 1992), ISBN: 1877611360.
Long title: A Treatise of Knowledge and Love Compared. In two Parts: 1. Of Falsely Pretended Knowledge. II. Of True Saving Knowledge and Love. I. Against Hasty Judging, and False Conceits of Knowledge; and for Necessary Suspension. II. The Excellency of Divine Love, and the Happiness of Being Known and Loved of God. Written as greatly necessary to the safety and peace of every Christian, and of the Church: the only certain way to escape false religions, heresies, sects, and malignant prejudices, persecutions, and sinful wars; all caused by falsely pretended knowledge, and hasty judging, by proud, ignorant men, who know not their ignorance.

Baxter, James Sidlow, Christian Holiness: Restudied and Restated (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1977).

Beeke, Joel R., Holiness: God's Call to Sanctification, ISBN: 0851516718 9780851516714.

*Bernard de Clairvaux, On Loving God: Selections From Sermons by St. Bernard of Clairvaux (A Treasury of Christian Books. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, Incorporated, 1981), ISBN: 0313207879 9780313207877.
On Loving God by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
http://www.ccel.org/bernard/loving_God/loving_God.html

Blair, Hugh. The Importance of Religious Knowledge to the Happiness of Mankind. A Sermon preached before the Society for propagating Christian Knowledge: at their anniversary meeting in the High Church of Edinburgh, on Monday, January 1. 1750. . . . By Hugh Blair . . . To which is subjoin'd a short account of the present state of the society. Edinburgh, 1750.

*Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), The Everlasting Righteousness or How Shall man be Just With God? (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1993). A Christian classic.
"First published in 1874, THE EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, may be the best book on the doctrine of justification by faith alone ever written.
"Since the seventeenth century, the church's adherence to the central doctrine of the Christian faith has been weakening; in the twentieth century it has all but disappeared. But to those who remain faithful -- to those who are called of God --justification by faith alone is the best news there could ever be: that Christ died for our sins, and we shall live forever because of Christ's righteousness.
"Justification by faith alone -- the `principal hinge of religion,' according to John Calvin, the `doctrine by which the church stands or falls,' according to Martin Luther -- is salvation. Without it, all hope is lost; with it, Heaven gained. Bonar's discussion is without equal in the English language." -- John W. Robbins
The Banner of Truth edition is available free as e-text.
The Everlasting Righteousness; or, How Shall man be Just With God?
The Everlasting Righteousness, Horatius Bonar
http://www.jude3.net/bertoc.htm
http://books.google.com/books?id=nQMDAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), Free-will. A Christian classic.

*Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), God's Way of Holiness (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.), ISBN: 085234130X 9780852341308.
"He describes the new life; the indwelling of Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Then he clarifies what is the root and soil of holiness. He shows us the Cross and its power, and expounds how the saint is not under the law, but under grace. Then a look at Romans 7 shows us how far we must go after we have the new life. We must have a true creed in our true life. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"Covers such things as: the new life, the Spirit in us, root and soil of holiness, strength against sin, the cross and its power, the saint and the law, the saint and Romans 7, and more." -- GCB
God's Way of Holiness, by Horatius Bonar
http://www.pionet.net/~cultrsch/bgwhtoc.htm

Boston, Thomas (1676-1732), Departing From Iniquity the Duty of all who Name the Name of Jesus. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THE REVEREND THOMAS BOSTON (10:9-55)

*Bridges, Jerry, The Pursuit of Holiness; The Pursuit of Holiness Bible Study; The Practice of Godliness. Alternate titles: PRACTICE OF GODLINESS., PURSUIT OF HOLINESS BIBLE STUDY, ISBN: 1576833275 9781576833278.
"Notes: Reprint of three books which were originally published separately."
"The best modern book on the subject of holiness. It also happens to be our best-seller on the subject. Looking for a book for your next Bible study? Go no further. This author is similar in his theology to such men as Ryle, Bonar, Charnock, Pink, Brown, et al." -- GCB
"Bridges says that godliness is not a spiritual luxury enjoyed only by saints of the past and superstars of today. It is rather the privilege and duty of every Christian. Godliness is devotion to God which results in a life that is pleasing to Him." -- GCB
Contents: The pursuit of holiness -- The pursuit of holiness Bible study -- The practice of godliness.

Brooks, Thomas, The Crown and Glory of Christianity: or Holiness the Only Way to Happiness. Discovered in 58 sermons, from Heb. 12:14. Where you have the necessity, excellency, rarity, beauty and glory of holiness set forth: with the resolution of many weighty questions and cases. Also motives and means to perfect holiness: with many other things of very high and great importance to all the sons and daughters of men, that had rather be blessed than cursed, saved than damned. In THE WORKS OF THOMAS BROOKS, 1886 (4:1-446)

BUNYAN, JOHN (1628-1688), The Acceptable Sacrifice: The Excellency of a Broken Heart (Sterling, VA: GAM Publications). Available (THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN) in The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
Based on Psalm 51:17.
Pilgrim's Page: A John Bunyan Archive
This is the complete set of THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN, George Offor edition, the edition reprinted by The Banner of Truth. It is free online, and is downloadable in the following formats: HTML, RTF, TEXT, and PDF.
http://www.mountzion.org/bunyan.html
The Excellency of a Broken Heart, Psalm 51:17, John Bunyan (1628-1688)
http://www.wwd.net/user/ront/155.htm

BUNYAN, JOHN (1628-1688), Holy Life: The Beauty of Christianity, ISBN: 9992345179. Available (THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN) in The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
Pilgrim's Page: A John Bunyan Archive
This is the complete set of THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN, George Offor edition, the edition reprinted by The Banner of Truth. It is free online, and is downloadable in the following formats: HTML, RTF, TEXT, and PDF.
http://www.mountzion.org/bunyan.html

*BURGESS, ANTHONY (d. 1664?), Spiritual Refining, Part II (Ames, IA: International Outreach). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #4. Available (SPIRITUAL REFINING, PART I AND PART II) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Two, CD #9. Available (SPIRITUAL REFINING, PART I AND PART II) on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
"The first section is on the deceitfulness and guile of the natural heart (Jeremiah 17:9). . . . Next he contrasts thee natural tendencies toward deceitfulness in all of us to the uprightness of the heart; or, the heart without guile (Psalm 32:2) . . . Section three deals with practical cases of conscience which regularly test our sincerity in seeking to be guileless . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

*Burroughs, Jeremiah, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1979). A Christian classic.
"Well-known Puritan author of THE RARE JEWEL OF CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT excels in deeply spiritual insights. Most authors writing today can't hold a candle to him!" -- CBD
"I am still reading this book, but I've read enough to have it significantly change my outlook on life and afflictions. I have learned in abundance what it means to trust the Lord in troubles and to realize that God will bring me out of them in His time, and it is my duty to praise the Lord and devote my heart to Him. My cup runs over when I read Jeremiah Burroughs." -- Reader's Comment

*Burroughs, Jeremiah, The Saint's Happiness: Together With the Several Steps Leading Thereunto Delivered in Divers Lectures on the Beatitudes; Being Part of Christ's Sermon on the Mount, Contained in the Fifth of Matthew. Alternate title: BURROUGHS ON THE BEATITUDES (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1988) ISBN: 187761100X.
Forty-one sermons on The Beatitudes.
"Well-known Puritan author of THE RARE JEWEL OF CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT excels in deeply spiritual insights. Most authors writing today can't hold a candle to him!" -- CBD

Burroughs, Jeremiah, A Treatise of Earthly-Mindedness and A Heavenly Conversation (Walking With God), ISBN: 1877611387.
"A comprehensive treatment of the nature and enticements of worldliness. It reflects the keen insight of Puritan Christianity." -- GCB

*Chafer, Lewis S., He That Is Spiritual (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1965), ISBN: 0310223415 9780310223412.
"A definitive exposition of true Christian living based on a clear exposition of selected Biblical passages." -- Cyril J. Barber

*Chafer, Lewis S., True Evangelism: Winning Souls by Prayer, ISBN: 0825423457 9780825423451.

*Chantry, Walter J., God's Righteous Kingdom: The Law's Connection With the Gospel (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851513107 9780851513102.

*CHARNOCK, STEPHEN (1628-1680), Knowledge of the Holy (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851514480 9780851514482. Available (THE WORKS OF STEPHEN CHARNOCK) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #27 Available (WORKS OF STEPHEN CHARNOCK) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #8. A Christian classic.

Clowney, E., Personal Holiness: Fulfilling Your Ministry (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette PHC05.

Edwards, Jonathan, Images or Shadows of Divine Things, ISBN: 0837169526 9780837169521.

*EDWARDS, JONATHAN, The Nature of True Virtue. Alternate title: AN ESSAY ON THE NATURE OF TRUE VIRTUE, ISBN: 9781846857591 1846857597. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available (THE WORKS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1 and DVD Four, CD #21 (18 volumes). A Christian classic.
"A systematic treatise on the nature of true ethics. Modern writers have much to learn from this reprint from Edwards' works." -- Cyril J. Barber

EDWARDS, JONATHAN, The Portion of the Righteous. In SELECTED WORKS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS (Banner of Truth, 1965), (2:888-905). Available (THE PORTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
Contents: A narrative of surprising conversions -- The distinguishing marks of a work of the spirit of God -- An account of the revival of religion in Northampton 1740-1742 -- Sermons.
"On the happiness which God gives to good men.

Erskine, Ebenezer, The Believer Exalted in Imputed Righteousness. A Sermon preached at a sacramental occasion. By the late Rev. Mr. Ebenezer Erskine, ... Glasgow, [1782?].

*FLAVEL, JOHN (1628-1691), The General Use of the Whole, Pressing to Holiness, Which is the Main scope of the Doctrine of Redemption. (1:536-61) In THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE OPENED UP, OR, A DISPLAY OF CHRIST IN HIS ESSENTIAL AND MEDIATORIAL GLORY. (1:17-561)

James, John Angell, A Help to Domestic Happiness (Soli Deo Gloria Publications), ISBN: 1573580058 9781573580052.
"This is James' book on how to rightly order the family, which originated from sermons preached on Ephesians. James emphasizes that the chief end of every Christian parent must be the spiritual interests, religious character, and eternal salvation of their children. Here is just one quote from the book that will give an idea of its content and depth: "The secret of happiness lies folded up in the leaves of the Bible, and is carried in the bosom of religion." -- Publisher's Annotation

Keller, Timothy J., Sinclair B. Ferguson, C. John Miller, Glenn Blossom, Benjamin Smith, Studies in Personal Holiness, 5 sound cassettes.

*Knox, David B., Not by Bread Alone (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth), ISBN: 0851515657 9780851515656.
"The theme of this book is the absolute necessity of the Word of God to maintain spiritual health, happiness, and balance. To demonstrate this Knox shows that the Scriptures have words of guidance for us in such diverse matters of the present as money, abortion, punishment, race, women's liberation, sex, censorship, homosexuality, and much more. `As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.' (Proverbs 23:7) From this text Knox shows us that there is a continuous battle for the mind between the absolutes of the Bible, and the lack of standards of public opinion. The bent of depraved human society is ever downward. The only cure for this is knowledge of the Bible, and God's providential care that such knowledge is effective in salting down the nation, the province, or the community where it is upheld." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

*Law, William, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1948), ISBN: 0664248330.
John Wesley said on reading it, "The light flowed so mightily upon my soul that everything appeared in a new view." This book was "the first impulse [to the evangelical revival of the eighteenth century] and came from the school of the Non-Jurors, and especially from Williams Law's SERIOUS CALL." -- Publisher's Annotation
Whitefield declared that through it "God worked powerfully on my soul, as He has since upon many others." Introduction by J.V. Moldenhawer.
A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life William Law
http://www.ccel.org/l/law/a_serious_call/a_serious_call.html

Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn (1899-1981), Enjoying the Presence of God, ISBN: 0892837578 9780892837571.

*Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn (1899-1981), Growing in the Spirit: Assurance of Our Salvation (John 17:20-26), ISBN: 0891075356 9780891075356.

*Luther, Martin, Letters of Spiritual Counsel (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1955), ISBN: 9780664230852 0664230857.
Edited and translated by Theodore G. Tappert. Includes bibliography.

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

*Martin, Hugh, The Abiding Presence (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984),
ISBN: 0310289211 9780310289210.
"Focuses on the presence of Christ in the world and in the believer. These deeply devotional studies expound a facet of Christology and illustrate the way in which a believer is conformed to the image of Christ." -- Cyril J. Barber
"Prof. John Duncan said this book is fitted to promote `both the doctrine which is according to godliness and the godliness which is according to doctrine'." -- William J. Grier

Miller, C. John (1928-1996), Personal Holiness: No Cross, No Crown (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates). 30303
Audio cassette PHC04.

Miller, C. John (1928-1996), Personal Holiness: Take Time to Be Holy (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates). 30304
Audio cassette PHC02.

Owen, John (1616-1683), Holiness Urged From the Liability of all Things to Dissolution. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN, (16:456-69)

*Owen, John (1616-1683), Kelly M. Kapic (editor), Justin Taylor (editor), Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Crossway Books, September 25, 2006), ISBN: 1581346492 9781581346497.
"The writings of John Owen are a challenge to any reader, to say the least. His intricacy and complexity are intimidating and his language is downright befuddling at times. However, the depth of thought and the immense value of Owen's works cannot be quantified. His three classic works on sin and temptation are profoundly helpful to any believer who seeks to become more like Jesus Christ.
"In this volume, the editors have made updates to the language, translated the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew and footnoted difficult or unknown phrases, all without sacrificing any of the wonderful content of Owen's work. It is a uniquely accessible edition of John Owen's previously daunting work." -- Publisher's Annotation
"The editors of this volume have worked hard to make Owen's unrivalled insight into the Christian's inner war with sin accessible to all, and the result is truly a godsend." -- J.I. Packer, Professor of Theology, Regent College
"John Owen understood how the gospel makes us well. Three cheers for Kapic and Taylor for introducing a new generation to Owen's peerless works." -- Sinclair B. Ferguson, Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, S.C.
"1. They have provided us with an unabridged but updated text. Spelling is modernized and Americanized, mistakes from previous editions are corrected, and archaic words are updated.
"2. The work is footnoted to define essential and difficult words. This will help the reader with comprehension.
"3. All the Greek, Hebrew, and Latin words and phrases and transliterated and translated for the reader. A great example of this is on page 48 where the reader who has no knowledge of Greek will be greatly helped in the discussion with the transliterations and translations.
"4. The General Index and Scripture Index at the end of the work is fabulous. All books ought to have indexes like this. Pastors and teachers will be well served in sermon and lesson preparation.
"5. The most important feature of this updated work are the outlines for all three of Owen's books at the end of this edition. The reader should begin here and orient himself to the flow of Owen's thought. In fact, much can be gained by reading just the outline." -- Reader's Comment

*Owen, John (1616-1683), Sin and Temptation: The Challenge to Personal Godliness. ISBN: 1556618301 9781556618307. A Christian classic.
"The concept of sin and personal responsibility has all but disappeared from our world. John Owen deals with the nature of sinful humanity as no writer since has done as keenly or thoroughly, arguing that sin is always a self-deceiving, blinding folly. Owen was a leading English statesman in the late 17th century and is considered `the John Calvin of England'." -- Ingram.

*Packer, J.I., A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life (Wheaton, IL: Good News Publishers [Crossway Books]), ISBN: 0891078193.
"Packer writes of that golden age of Christian theology, when giants of the faith pursued holiness in life and practice like a hound follows a scent. Those Puritans of the 17th century (a little before and a little after) had as their aim to be fully conformed to the image of God, and to be seen at home and abroad as close imitators of Christ Jesus. . . .
"There are lessons for us in their passion for effective action. They had no time for lazy or passive persons. They were men of action in the pure Reformed mold -- crusading activists without a jot of self-reliance; workers for God who depended utterly on God to work in and through them. . . . There are lessons for us in their program for family stability. It is hardly too much to say that the Puritans created the Christian family in the English-speaking world. The Puritan ethic of marriage was to look not for a partner whom you do love passionately at this moment, but rather one whom you can love steadily as your best friend for life, and then to proceed with God's help to do just that. . . .
"In the introduction Packer gives his personal testimony as to how much he owes to the Puritans for his depth of knowledge, firmness of purpose, his dedication to fulfilling God's purposes in his life, and his love of the truth as revealed in the Scriptures. Because of his appreciation of this background of Puritan influence on his life, he has often written and lectured on the subject of the importance of the Puritans. Many of our freedoms and just laws can be traced to their influence on all our lives. This book contains the following themes: The Puritans in Profile; The Puritans and the Bible; The Puritans and the Gospel; the Puritans and the Holy Spirit; The Puritan Christian Life; The Puritans in Ministry. . . .
"This reviewer would love to persuade every single reader of these words to read this book. You would get a view of Christians which would inspire you, which would perhaps lead you, which would perhaps lead you to repentance, but also to heights of spirituality you would not enjoy without them. What Packer has said about their influence on his life can be repeated almost word for word in a resume of this reviewer's life. If you want to grow in grace, and in usefulness to God's cause, read the writing of the Puritans.
"We will repeat what we said in reviewing John Owen's THE DEATH OF DEATH IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST, that Packer's well balanced definition of Calvinism in the introduction to that volume is by far the best we have seen in 42 years of intensive reading. And that superb piece appears in this volume in full, which alone is worth the price of this book.
"The book jacket has these words: `Dr. Packer masterfully uncovers the hidden treasures of Puritan life and thought. With crystalline clarity he reveals the depth and breadth of Puritan spiritual life, contrasting it with the superficiality and deadness of modern Western Christianity. Drawing on a lifetime of study Dr. Packer takes the reader on a survey of the lives and teachings of great leaders such as John Owen, Richard Baxter, and Jonathan Edwards. He offers a close look at such subjects as the Puritan view of the Bible, spiritual gifts, the Sabbath, worship, social action, and the family. He concludes that a main difference between the Puritans and ourselves is spiritual maturity -- the Puritans had it; we do not. In a time of failing vision and decaying values, this powerful portrait of Puritans is a beacon of hope that calls us to radical commitment and action when both are desperately needed'." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"Contrary to popular opinion, the Puritans were no dour lot of killjoys. In fact, Packer says, there's a lot we can learn from them about truly authentic and joyous spirituality. In this book Packer explores the Puritans' own writings on the Bible, the Gospel, the Holy Spirit, Christian life, and ministry. For each topic he beautifully demonstrates how the Puritans can help us press on toward godliness. If you're intrigued by the Puritans but don't know where to start reading them, this book will be a valuable guide!" -- CBD
"Packer is a well-known author, lecturer, and theologian. He is currently Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Regent College, Vancouver, B.C." -- Publisher's Annotation
J.I. Packer's Introduction to The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/packer_intro.html
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, by John Owen
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/packer_intro.html
The Death of Death In the Death of Christ, John Owen (1 of 33)
An audio file reading by Still Waters Revival Books from THE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN, Redemption & Reconciliation That Is In the Blood of Christ (Limited Atonement). Currently (February 2009) there are 63 readings of John Owen by SWRB and Reformed Baptist of Holland (Michigan), (Thomas Sullivan) at SermonAudio available for listening online, downloading as MP3 files, and listening on iPhone or Mobile Phones.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=47081639571

*Perkins, William, 1558-1602, The True Gaine More in Worth Then all the Goods in the World, 1601. Additional title: CHRIST THE TRUE AND PERFECT GAINE.

ROGER, RICHARD, Seven Treatises: The Practice of Christianity, 1630. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #17. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Six, CD #34.
Seven Treatises: Containing Such Direction as is Gathered Out of the Holy Scriptures, Leading and Guiding to True Happinesse, Both in this Life, and in the Life to Come: and May be Called the Practice of Christianity. Profitable for All Such as Heartily Desire the Same: in the Which, More Particularly True Christians May Learne how to Lead a Godly and Comfortable Life Every Day, Notwithstanding Their Tribulations. First Penned, and Now Set Forth the Fifth Time, Corrected and Enlarged by Richard Rogers, Preacher of the Word of God at Wethersfield in Essex
http://books.google.com/books?id=52HgIAAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*Ryle, J.C., Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots (London, England: Evangelical Press), ISBN: 0852341369. A Christian classic.
"Ryle, like his great masters, has no easy way to holiness to offer us, and no `patent' method by which it can be obtained; but he invariably produces that `hunger and thirst after righteousness' which is the only indispensable condition to being `filled'." -- D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
"Newly typeset edition from Evangelical Press with preface done by J.I. Packer. Complete and unabridged." -- GCB
Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, J.C. Ryle
http://www.e4.net

*RYLE, J.C., and J.I. Packer (foreword), Practical Religion: Being Plain Papers on the Daily Duties, Experience, Dangers and Privileges of Professing Christians (Cambridge, England: J. Clarke), ISBN: 085234449X 9780852344491. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
"Discusses: self-iniquity, self-exertion, reality, prayer, Bible reading, charity, zeal, happiness, formality, the world, riches and poverty, sickness, family of God, heirs of God, eternity, and others." -- GCB

*Scougal, Henry, The Life of God in the Soul of Man and Rules and Instructions for a Holy Life by Robert Leighton (Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle Publications), ISBN: 1857921054. A Christian classic.
"The young man who wrote this book died in his 28th year, 1678. He achieved more in those 28 years than many strong Christians do in 80. He was one of the brightest lights Scotland has ever seen." -- GCB
"I never knew what true religion was till God sent me this excellent treatise." -- George Whitefield
This was the book used of God in the conversion of George Whitefield.

SHEPARD, THOMAS, Parable of the Ten Virgins, ISBN: 1877611166 9781877611162. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Six, CD #34. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #1.

*Storms, C. Samuel, Healing and Holiness: A Biblical Response to the Faith Healing Phenomenon, ISBN: 087552446X 9780875524467.
"J.I. Packer says `Sam Storms' book . . . impresses me as soundly Biblical in its perspective and pastorally wholesome in its thrust. Not everyone will love him for writing in these terms, but everyone will benefit from weighing his arguments. I commend HEALING AND HOLINESS most heartily.' Praised by Dr. Ed Payne, founder of the Journal of Biblical Ethics in Medicine. Dr. Storms sheds light on a topic clouded by controversy, and examines the Biblical teaching on suffering, divine healing, and holiness." -- GCB

*Thomas, William H.G. (W.H. Griffith Thomas), Grace and Power (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1984) ISBN: 0840759347. A Christian classic.
"This is one of the great books of Christendom. It deals concisely with the problems Christians face in every age: how to make time for prayer, why we often hinder our spiritual growth, the manner in which we may develop our inner resources so as to be able to meet the contingencies of life, and the means God has provided for the development of the spiritual life. . . ." -- Cyril J. Barber

Vincent, Thomas (1634-1678), Godlinesse in principle and conversation a necessary preparative to the worlds dissolution and the escaping of future burnings / by Thomas Vincent, 1670.

*Watson, Thomas (d. 1686), and Don Kistler (editor), The Art of Divine Contentment, 2nd edition. Alternate title: AUTARKEIA. (Soli Deo Gloria Ministries, March 1, 2001), ISBN: 1573581135 9781573581134.
This is an exposition of Philippians 4:11.
"Like all the good Puritans he majored in the art of teaching humble hearts to live the Christ-like life. In this book it is the art of contentment that is pressed on all of us." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"Watson, one of the most understandable and practical of the Puritans, gives us a much needed remedy for the discontent that is rampant in our society today, even among Christians. He gives a warm and God-centered view of how contentment as a Christian is not only possible, but should be normal. His thesis is: 'That a gracious spirit is a contented spirit. The doctrine of contentment is very superlative; and til we have learned this, we have not learned to be Christians.' (p. 19). He rightly focuses the source of contentment on God's promises and His sovereign keeping of them. 'There is one promise brings much sweet contentment into the soul, "They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing", Ps. xxxiv. 10. If the thing we desire be good for us, we shall have it; if it be not good, then the not having it is good for us. The resting satisfied with this promise gives contentment.' (p. 108). "All Christians can benefit from this kind of work, that we might be different, and not live in the same discontent that we see all around us. If you're looking for a treatment for your heart, Watson is a fine physician of the soul. "-- Reader's Comment
The Art of Divine Contentment, Thomas Watson
http://www.ccel.org/w/watson/contentment/contentment.html
Watson, Thomas. The art of divine contentment. By Thomas Watson, . . . Revised and corrected, by Thomas Bennett, . . . The fifteenth edition London, 1793.

*WATSON, THOMAS (d. 1686) and JOEL R. BEEKE, Heaven Taken by Storm: Showing the Holy Violence a Christian is to put Forth in the Pursuit After Glory. Alternate title: CHRISTIAN SOLDIER, HOLY VIOLENCE A CHRISTIAN IS TO PUT FORTH IN THE PURSUIT AFTER GLORY, HAPPINESS OF DRAWING NEAR TO GOD, HOW WE MAY READ THE SCRIPTURES WITH MOST SPIRITUAL PROFIT (Ligonier, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1992), ISBN: 1877611506 9781877611506. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999. Available (THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER, OR, HEAVEN TAKEN BY STORM) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #22.
"The Christian life is a battle and this battle will only be won by those that avail themselves of all the weapons and strength that God gives. Watson, a master teacher concerning the practical aspects of the Christian's 'heart life,' explains how to vigorously pursue the high calling of the Christian life, and how to win the war with the world, the flesh and the devil." -- Publisher's Annotation
"Puritan Thomas Watson describes how the Christian is to take the Kingdom of Heaven by holy violence through the reading and exposition of Scripture, prayer, meditation, self-examination, conversation, and the sanctification of the Lord's Day. He is also to offer violence towards himself, Satan, and the world. Watson is always easy to read." -- GCB

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The ten commandments, the moral law, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Ethics, The holy spirit, Knowledge of god and virtue, Christian fellowship, Justifying faith, Justification, How to become a christian, Book-length presentations of the free offer of the Gospel message of salvation and the life to come: the means of grace, Bible reading and devotional guides, Christian classics, Trusting god, Love and obedience, Discipleship, Christian character, Thanksgiving, Security, Joy, Christian life, Immanuel, christ with us, Believer's position in Christ and Sonship, Sanctification, Mind control, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Marriage, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Works by and about puritans, Physical health, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership,
TCRB5: 1081, 1596-1598, 1600, 1937, 1938, 1940
MGTP: Holiness, Sanctification, Blessedness

Related WebLinks

A Table Illustrating God's Eternal Moral Law
http://www.dr-fnlee.org/docs/toc/toc.html

Vital Piety, Archibald Alexander
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/the-doctrines-of-grace/vital-piety.php

Family Worship, The Christian Home, Family Alter, Family Devotion
An online library of articles.
http://www.graceonlinelibrary.org/articles/subcats.asp?id=49%7C57

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Healing of the Mind

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalm 1:1,2)

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:4-6)

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. (Proverbs 16:3)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8,9) See the annotation in The Reformation Study Bible.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 6:63)

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:23)

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:22,23)

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:8,9)

There is no imagination wherewith man is besotted, more foolish, none so pernicious, as this -- that persons not purified, not sanctified, not made holy in their life, should afterwards be taken into that state of blessedness which consists in the enjoyment of God. Neither can such person enjoy God, nor would God be a reward to them. Holiness indeed is perfected in heaven: but the beginning of it is invariably confined to this world. -- John Owen

Bath your mind in the Word of God.

Adams, Jay E., The Language of Counseling. Alternate title: THE LANGUAGE OF COUNSELING and THE CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR'S WORDBOOK: A PRIMER OF NOUTHETIC COUNSELING (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1981), ISBN: 0310510619 9780310510611.
" 'One of the major unifying themes in my rather zigzag career has been the central place language holds in all the activities in which I have been involved.' Language and labels matter, because in the battle for men's minds language and ideas are the principal weapons: 'Ideological attack, rather than physical attack, has been Satan's most successful ploy.' The words counselors and counselees use matter, and this book pushes you to take stock of the words you say and hear. Counselors must 'deliberately adopt new words and constructions that more aptly express the biblical facts in each counseling situation'." -- David Powlison

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Thought," "Think List," "Godliness," and so forth, and so on.

Bobgan, Martin, The Psychological Way/The Spiritual Way, ISBN: 0871230267 9780871230263.
"The cure of minds through psychotherapy ('psychological way') has almost totally displaced the cure of souls through biblical counseling ('spiritual way'). 'Psychotherapy is questionable at best, detrimental at worst, and a spiritual counterfeit at least'." -- David Powlison

Boice, James Montgomery, Renewing Your Mind in a Mindless Age: Learning to Think and ACT Biblically, ISBN: 0825420717 9780825420719.

*BROWN, JOHN (OF EDINBURGH, 1784-1858) Discourses and Sayings of Our Lord Jesus Christ, 3 volumes (London, England: Banner of Truth Trust, 1990, 1967, 1852). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
"Spurgeon says of this great commentary: `Of the noblest order of exposition. Procure it.' Elsewhere in COMMENTING AND COMMENTARIES, he wrote, `Dr. Brown's work must be placed among the first of the first-class. He is a great expositor.' Again, `Brown is a modern Puritan. All his expositions are of the utmost value.'
"These volumes cover much of the Gospel of John, plus many portions of the other three Gospels. In them he reveals his encyclopedic mind, and a profound regard for the Bible and the very Word of God. In addition, it is seen why it was said that he had the best clerical library in the whole nation of Scotland.
"There is little doubt in the mind of this reviewer that any reader of these volumes will become possessor of myriads of new insights into the Scriptures, and what they reveal of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is indispensable to the student of the Gospels." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"Based upon the revised and enlarged edition of 1852. Rich in thought. Pastors will appreciate the writer's application of spiritual truths to the needs of men and women." -- Cyril J. Barber
Recommended for daily devotions, as are all the books in the listing of "Books Considered To Be Among the Ten Greatest in the English Language."
Also available in Google Books, full view, Discourses and Sayings of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Illustrated in a Series of Expositions. ... by John Brown, published 1856 [Complete in 2 volumes. New York: Robert Carter and Brothers] original from the University of Michigan, digitized Feb. 17, 2006.
http://books.google.com/books?id=SZl9u8v0Yi8C&dq=Discourses+and+Sayings+of+Our+Lord+Jesus+Christ&ie=ISO-8859-1&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0
This University of Michigan digitized edition, that appears in Google Books, is available in paper from two publishers: (Scholarly Publishing Office, University of Michigan Library, November 30, 2006 [Gardners Books, 2006]), 652 pages.
"This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's preservation reformatting program." -- Publisher's Annotation
And (Hard Press, November 26, 2007), 652 pages.

Charnock, Stephen (1628-1680), The Sinfulness and Cure of Thoughts. In PURITAN SERMONS 1659-1689: BEING THE MORNING EXERCISES AT CRIPPLEGATE, ST. GILES IN THE FIELDS, AND IN SOUTHWARK BY SEVENTY-FIVE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL IN OR NEAR LONDON WITH NOTES AND TRANSLATIONS BY JAMES NICHOLS. (2:386-420)

CLARKSON, DAVID, "What Must Christians Do, That The Influence of The Ordinances May Abide Upon Them?" a sermon found in London Ministers, James Nichols, editor, Puritan Sermons 1659-1689: Being the Morning Exercises at Cripplegate, St. Giles in the Fields, and in Southwark by Seventy-Five Ministers of the Gospel in or Near London with Notes and Translations by James Nichols (In Six Volumes). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee. -- 1 Chronicles xxix. 18."

Fuller, Andrew, God' Approbation of our Labours Necessary to the Hope of Success. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF ANDREW FULLER, (1:183-96)

Fuller, Andrew, On the Influence of Satan Upon the Human Mind. (3:610-15) In STRICTURES ON SOME OF THE LEADING SENTIMENTS OF MR. R. ROBINSON. (3:588-615) May also be in THE COMPLETE WORKS OF ANDREW FULLER.

Fuller, Andrew, The Vanity of the Human Mind. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF ANDREW FULLER.

*Fuller, Thomas, Good Thoughts in Bad Times (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms International), ISBN: 9780548089347 0548089345. A Christian classic.
Good Thoughts in Bad Times, and Other Papers
http://books.google.com/books?id=_PRPBG3BiJkC&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Goodwin, Thomas, The Vanity of Thoughts Discovered. (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1985), ISBN: 1892777916. In THE WORKS OF THOMAS GOODWIN.
The Works of Thomas Goodwin
http://books.google.com/books?id=xCNPAwAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Jacobson, Steven, Mind Control in the United States, ISBN: 0911485007 9780911485004.

*Knox, David B., Not by Bread Alone (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth), ISBN: 0851515657 9780851515656.
"The theme of this book is the absolute necessity of the Word of God to maintain spiritual health, happiness, and balance. To demonstrate this Knox shows that the Scriptures have words of guidance for us in such diverse matters of the present as money, abortion, punishment, race, women's liberation, sex, censorship, homosexuality, and much more. `As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.' (Proverbs 23:7) From this text Knox shows us that there is a continuous battle for the mind between the absolutes of the Bible, and the lack of standards of public opinion. The bent of depraved human society is ever downward. The only cure for this is knowledge of the Bible, and God's providential care that such knowledge is effective in salting down the nation, the province, or the community where it is upheld." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

Murray, John (1898-1975), Let This Mind be in you (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates, 1991).
Audio cassette JM201.

*Owen, John (1616-1683), Sin and Grace (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 9780851511276 0851511279. A Christian classic.
"Contains: Nature and causes of apostasy from the Gospel, duty of being spiritually minded, treatise on the dominion of Sin, and Grace."
Owen, John, A Treatise of the Dominion of sin and Grace. . . . By the late pious and learned minister of the gospel, John Owen, D.D. Edinburgh, 1739.

*Perkins, William (1558-1602), A Treatise of Mans Imaginations. Shewing his naturall euill thoughts: His want of good thoughts: The way to reforme them. Framed and preached by M. Wil. Perkins, 1607.

Rockstad, Ernest B., The Healing of the Mind (Andover, KS: Faith and Life Publications).
In "The Mind: Satan's Base of Operations" (2 Corinthians 11:3), four audio cassettes.
A booklet explaining how to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2). Filled with references to Scripture.

*THORNWELL, JAMES HENLEY (1812-1862), Whatsoever Things Are True: Classic Discourses on Truth. Alternate titles: CLASSIC DISCOURSES ON TRUTH; DISCOURSES ON TRUTH, ISBN: 1932474781 9781932474787, 166 pages. Available (COLLECTED WRITINGS OF JAMES HENLEY THORNWELL) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"These seven DISCOURSES ON TRUTH were written and preached in the Spring of 1851 from the text, 'Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, think on these things.' Philippians 4:8. They were delivered at the Chapel of the College at Columbia, South Carolina, by James Henley Thornwell, who was serving as both President and Chaplain." -- Publisher's Annotation
"First published 1855 by Messrs. Carter, New York, NY."
Contents: Discourse 1: The ethical system of the Bible -- Discourse 2: The love of truth -- Discourse 3: The love of truth -- Discourse 4: Sincerity -- Discourse 5: Faithfulness -- Discourse 6: Vows -- Discourse 7: Consistency.

Vandegriff, John, and Jay Adams (foreword), In the Arena of the Mind: Philippians 4:8 (Howell, NJ: Ask, Seek, and Knock Publishing, 1992), ISBN: 0963172506 9780963172501, 186 pages.
"Identifies many areas of sinful thinking: hurtful thoughts about others, self-pity, fear, lust, pride. Lays out a model for turning thinking around: sorrow, choice, change. The second half of the book seeks to fill the mind with various Philippians 4:8 good things." -- David Powlison

Watson, David, The Hidden Battle (Wheaton, IL: Harold Shaw Publishers), ISBN: 0877883432 9780877883432.
"Your mind is a battleground. David Watson shows you how to identify the enemy's nature, disguises, tactics, and weapons -- including the earmarks of a cult. Packed with concise help and practical illustrations, this book is a must for all Christians." -- GCB

*Woodbridge, John D. (editor), Renewing Your Mind in a Secular World (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1985), ISBN: 0802403840 9780802403841.
"The subtle attacks against authority, and in particular Biblical authority, have taken a toll. This book assess the issues and summons Christians to return to a distinctive life-style in which the Word of God is known and its truth applied to all areas of life. . . ." -- Cyril J. Barber

See also: The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Casuistry, cases of conscience, Worship, Forgiveness of sin, Psalms in worship, Mind control, intimidation, and coercion, Healing of the mind, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Media, Theater, sports, and entertainment, Modern myths and fallacies, Politics, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, Pornography, The environment, Conspiracy and corruption, The counter reformation, Systematic theology, Scripture memory systems, Books considered to be among the ten greatest in the english language, Christian classics short title list, The best books in this bibliography, Bad relationships a cause of disease and death, Reconciliation of relationships, Christian fellowship, Loneliness, Fear and anxiety, Justification, Forgiveness, Sanctification, Physical healing, Appendix c: the words of christ, Bible promises, The promises of christ, Memorization of scripture, Bibliotherapy, Christian classics: a short title listing, Spiritual warfare, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 2351-2359, 3616, 4065, 4066, 4162
MGTP: Thoughts

Related WebLinks

The Things of This World
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/the-things-of-this-world.php

"Jesus Christ Himself" (Ephesians 2:20)
A sermon by C.H. Spurgeon delivered on Lord's-day morning, December 9, 1877, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Sermon no. 1388.
"Beyond all argument or miracle, Jesus Christ Himself is the proof of His own Gospel. And as He is the proof of it, so, Beloved, He is the marrow and essence of it. When the Apostle Paul meant that the Gospel was preached, He said, Christ is preached, for the Gospel is Christ Himself! If you want to know what Jesus taught, know Him! He is the incarnation of that Truth of God which by Him and in Him is revealed to the sons of men. Did He not, Himself say, I am the way, the truth, and the life? You have not to take down innumerable books, nor to pore over mysterious sentences of double meaning in order to know what our great Teacher has revealed. You have but to turn and gaze upon His countenance, behold His actions and note His spirit and you know His teaching. He lived what He taught. If we wish to know Him, we may hear His gentle voice saying, Come and see. Study His wounds and you understand His innermost philosophy. To know Him and the power of His Resurrection is the highest degree of spiritual learning. He is the end of the Law and the soul of the Gospel -- and when we have preached His Word to the fullest, we may close by saying, Now, of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum -- we have an High Priest who is set on the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the heavens."
http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols22-24/chs1388.pdf

"The Law of a Sound Mind," Peter Masters
"By discarding the law of a sound mind (the protection provided by the reasoning faculty) Charismatics have rendered themselves highly gullible in the face of false teaching, exaggeration, and lies. They have become notably vulnerable to religious charlatans and rogues, as the 1987 crisis in American religious television (which is predominantly Charismatic) has demonstrated. Emotionalism is rampant among them, and because all are free to do whatever seems right in their own eyes, serious spiritual lawlessness is widespread. These things are the inevitable result of laying aside the objective standard of God's Word, the faculty of judgment, and the power of self-control, all of which are brought into play by the sound mind." -- Peter Masters
http://www.trinityfoundation.org/PDF/Review_272_masters.pdf

The Brain Fitness Program, a DVD (Michael Merzenich)
A PBS documentary.
"This program presents a workout to help viewers get their brains in better shape. The Brain Fitness Program is based on neuro-plasticity, the ability of the brain to change and adapt -- even rewire itself. In the past two years, a team of scientists has developed computer-based stimulus sets that drive beneficial chemical, physical and functional changes in the brain. Dr. Michael Merzenich of the University of California San Francisco and his colleagues around the world have been leading this effort; he brings the research findings, along with a scientifically based set of brain exercises, to PBS viewers in this innovative and life-altering program. Peter Coyote narrates." -- Publisher's Annotation
http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=2966842&siteID=m4l4q2SmprQ-NDN5uceDVUeJkLbMXBtqIA

A Resolution to Combat Mind Control With Truth
http://www.lettermen2.com/mindc.html

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Heaven

See: Heaven
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#hvn



Hell

See the Theological Notes, "The Final Judgment," at Matthew 25:41 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Hell," at Mark 9:43 in The Reformation Study Bible

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell; for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:23)

Men that believe not another world, are the ready actors of any imaginable mischiefs and tragedies in this. -- John Howe

The damned shall live as long in hell as God Himself shall live in heaven. -- Thomas Brooks

God made not death, but Christ overcame it, when sin had introduced it. Death is from ourselves, but life from the Author and Lord of life. The devil had the power of death till he was overcome by death, Heb. ii. 14, 15; but he that liveth and was dead, and is alive for evermore, hath now the keys of death and hell, Rev. i. 18. That the very damned live, is to be ascribed to him; that they live in misery, is long of themselves. Not that it is more desirable to them to live miserably, as there they must do, than not to live; but as God's glory is his chief, if not only, end, in all his works, so was it the Mediator's chief end in the world's reparation. They shall, therefore, live, whether they will or no, for God's glory, though they live not to their own comfort, because they would not. -- Richard Baxter

Some thing never change.

Benton, John, How Can a God of Love Send People to Hell? (Welwyn, England: Evangelical Press), ISBN: 0852342160 9780852342169.

Boston, Thomas (1676-1732), Of Hell. In HUMAN NATURE IN ITS FOURFOLD STATE (8:347-75). In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THE REVEREND THOMAS BOSTON (8:9-375)

Brooks, Thomas, The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures. Or, several great points, that refer to the saints' present blessedness, and their future happiness, with the resolution of several important questions. In THE WORKS OF THOMAS BROOKS, 1886 (5:1-261)
"On the existence, torments, and location of hell, see (5:113-145)." BUNYAN, JOHN (1628-1688), A Few Sighs From Hell; or, the Groans of a Damned Soul. In THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN. (3:666-724) Available (WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

*Buis, Harry, The Doctrine of Eternal Punishment (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.).
"A candid, forthright witness to the reality of hell." -- John Murray

Dabney, Robert L., The Popular Arguments Against Endless Punishment Unsatisfactory as a Sure Ground of Hope. In DISCUSSIONS: EVANGELICAL AND THEOLOGICAL, (1:654-69)

Edwards, Jonathan, Concerning the Endless Punishment of Those Who Die Impenitent. In SELECTED WORKS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS (Banner of Truth, 1965), (2:515-25)

Love, Christopher (1618-1651), Heavens glory, Hells terror, or, Two treatises: the one concerning the glory of the saints with Jesus Christ as a spur to duty: the other of the torments of the damned as a preservative against security / by that late faithfull servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. Christopher Love . . . (London: Printed for John Rothwell . . . , 1665).
Sermons on Matthew 10:38 and Colossians 3:4.

Morey, Robert A., Death and the Afterlife (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers), ISBN: 0871234335 9780871234339.
"Coming with recommendations by Walter Martin, Vernon Grounds, and Roger Nicole, this is the most comprehensive modern treatment to be found. Since the beginning of time the doctrine of eternal punishment has been fiercely attacked. This study provides answers to just about every question on the subject." -- GCB

Morris, Leon, The Biblical Doctrine of Judgment (London, England: Tyndale Press, 1960), ISBN: 159752817X 9781597528177.
"An analysis of the teaching contained in the Old Testament and New Testament on the present reality and future certainty of judgment." -- Cyril J. Barber

Pache, Ren‚, The Future Life (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1962).
Translated by Helen I. Needham. "A companion volume to THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST, this extensive and thorough treatment covers the entire Biblical teaching on man and his destiny, death, the world of spirits, the resurrection, eternal perdition, and heaven. Excellent." -- Cyril J. Barber

*Shedd, W.G.T., The Doctrine of Endless Punishment (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0865240191 9780865240193.
"Shedd carefully expounds the Biblical teaching on divine judgment, and sets it in the context of the history of Christian doctrine. He deals carefully and cogently with objections to it." -- GCB
"This book will have a profoundly sobering effect on its readers; but its lasting impression will be to cause a new concern for men and women without Christ, and undying gratitude for Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come." -- Publisher's Annotation

SPROULL, THOMAS, (1803-1892), Shall all be Saved? The Doctrine of Endless Punishment Proved and Objections To It Answered in Two Sermons, 1856. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

Strong, William (d. 1654), The Worm That Dyeth not, or Hell Torments in the certainty and eternity of them plainly discovered in several sermons preached on Mark, chap. the 9th and the 48. v. by that painful and laborious minister of the gospel, William Strong ; and now published by his own notes, as a means to deter from sin and to stir up to mortification, 1672.

Swinnock, George (1627-1673), and Thomas Manton (1620-1677), The Sinners Last Sentence to Eternal Punishment, for sins of omission wherein is discovered, the nature, causes, and cure of those sins / by Geo. Swinnock, 1675.

*Toon, Peter, Heaven and Hell: A Biblical and Theological Overview (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986), ISBN: 0840759673 9780840759672.
"Designed as a basic introductory text for theological students as well as a handbook for pastors, preachers, and teachers, this study explores exactly what is meant in Scripture by `heaven' and `hell'." -- Cyril J. Barber

See also: The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Idolatry, Spirituality and harlotry, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The covenant faithfulness of god, The resurrection, Pseudo-christian movements, Sexual relationship, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 291, 1368-1375, 3650
MGTP: Hell, World to Come

Related WebLinks

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Homelessness

Grant, George, The Dispossessed: Homelessness in America (Wheaton, IL: Good News Publishers [Crossway Books], August 1986), ISBN: 0891074112: 9780891074113.
"Grant has a solution to the problem of the homeless that really works. How does he know his ideas work; he practices them. He says that the Bible speaks directly to this problem. The answer is not more government control. His ideas on homelessness and social policy are really different." -- Publisher's Annotation
Institute for Christian Economics Freebooks.com
http://www.freebooks.com/

Hyde, Margaret O., The Homeless: Profiling the Problem (Issues in Focus), ISBN: 0894901591 9780894901591.

Shane, Paul G., What About America's Homeless Children?: Hide and Seek (SAGE Sourcebooks for the Human Services. Sage Publications, Inc., September 10, 1996), ISBN: 0803949820 9780803949829.
"Who are the homeless children in America and what do we know about them? How does their being homeless affect them and society in general? What's being done to help them? WHAT ABOUT AMERICA'S HOMELESS CHILDREN? takes a multifaceted look at the growing, disturbing problem of children (including infants) in homeless families and abandoned and runaway children in America. The author examines the social factors that create homeless situations of children and personal and educational problems that can result from it. The health risks to this population, including unsanitary living conditions, poor nutrition, physical assault, and lack of access to health care are also explored. Author Paul G. Shane brings the problems and effects of homelessness to a personal level by presenting ethnographic case studies of individual children in urban shelters, families in a shelter program, and people who "survived" a homeless youth experience. The history of programs, both governmental and nongovernmental, and government policies for homeless youth are also examined. The book concludes with recommendations for policies and programs that can prevent homelessness for children. Human service professionals and policy makers who deal with children and families as well as those in the fields of public health, policy studies, and clinical and counseling psychology will find this book a stimulating summary of research findings and implications about this vulnerable population." -- Publisher's Annotation

Snider, Noah, When There's No Place Like Home (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers), ISBN: 0840733240 9780840733245.
"Snider, once a homeless individual, writes of the plight of the homeless and presents some solutions." -- GCB
The Homeless Handbook
http://www.infoxchange.net.au/hhb/index.html

Temple, Gary Jr., 52 Ways to Help Homeless People (Nashville, TN: Oliver Nelson, 1991), ISBN: 0840795947 9780840795946.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The fatherhood of god, The providence of god, Bible promises, The promises of christ, Trusting god, Contentment, Hope, Ready reference: immediate counsel on many subjects, Crisis counseling, Ready reference: immediate counsel, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The ten commandments, the moral law, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Covenanted reformation: the application of scripture to the corporate bodies of church and state, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, War, Christianity in the workplace, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 1673

Related WebLinks

The Homeless Handbook
http://www.infoxchange.net.au/hhb/index.html

PFNC Global Communities, Shipping Container Homes for the Homeless, Tina Kells
"A company out of New Mexico, PFNC Global Communities, has come up with a novel solution to the growing homeless problem; turn shipping containers into social housing. Career homebuilder Brian McCarthy came up with the innovative solution while on vacation in Juaraez, Mexico."
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/pfnc-global-communities-shipping-container-homes-homeless

PFNC Global Communities
"PFNC stands for 'Por Fin Nuestra Casa.' Translated in English this simply means 'Finally, a home of our own.' These words are the foundation of PFNC, whose goal is to provide housing to those who most desperately need it around the globe.
"PFNC utilizes surplus shipping containers resulting from the United States' consistent trade deficit. These containers serve as the building block of PFNC housing, but go through an extensive conversion process to make them a home. PFNC offers an affordable housing solution that is scalable and fully portable. Each PFNC unit includes 1st world amenities for a price of less than $10,000 (US)."
http://www.pfnc.net/

Blue Ridge Yurts
"Yurts are one of the oldest indigenous forms of shelter still in use today . . Fast, Affordable, Environmentally friendly."
http://www.blueridgeyurts.com

DuraKit Shelters
Pre-fabricated housing for $15/sq.ft. anywhere in the world.
http://www.durakit.com/

Habitat for Humanity International
"If your family, or a family you know, is in need of decent, affordable housing, contact the Habitat affiliate nearest you. If you're not sure where a local Habitat affiliate might be, use our search engine to find the names and phone numbers of affiliates in your area, or contact the Habitat help line at (800) 422-4828, Ext. 2551 or 2552. Your local affiliate can give you information on the availability, size, costs and sweat-equity requirements for Habitat houses in your area, as well as information on the application process."
http://www.habitat.org/how/default.aspx



Homosexuality

Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.
Were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils.
Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, in so much that he abhorred his own inheritance.
And he gave them into the hands of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them. (Psalm 106:30,31,35,37,39,40,41)

Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, in so much that he abhorred his own inheritance.
And he gave them into the hands of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. (Psalm 106:40-42)

The Treasury of David, Psalm 106
 http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps106.htm

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. (Romans 1:24-27)

Rates of domestic violence involving same-sex partners are high. The rates of violence are far higher than the alleged epidemic of "hate crimes" perpetrated by heterosexuals against homosexuals.

"A random survey of high school seniors conducted by Zogby International for Hamilton College in New York indicates that these teens have far more liberal views on homosexuality than their parents. The poll found that 85 percent of those surveyed thought homosexuals should be accepted by society; two-thirds thought homosexual marriages should be legal; 88 percent supported hate crime legislation. Eighty-eight percent also said that the phrase, `That's so gay' is used to describe something that is not liked. Thirty percent of the students were characterized as `anti-homosexual.' These were predominantly evangelical Christians. According to the professor conducting the survey, `Their views are firmly rooted, and unlikely to change real soon.' He noted, however, that among the Christian students, 80 percent supported hate crime legislation and half said homosexuals should be accepted by society."

Homosexuals are over represented in child sex offenses: Individuals from the 1 to 3 percent of the population that is sexually attracted to the same sex are committing up to one-third of the sex crimes against children. -- Timothy J. Dailey, Ph.D. in "Homosexuality and Child Sexual Abuse"

"Social researcher Dr. Judith Reisman says that the incidence of homosexuals molesting children is 40 times greater than the number of heterosexuals who molest children. In her study, `Crafting Gay Children,' Reisman notes that heterosexuals outnumber homosexuals by 44 to 1 in our culture. She also points out that 17-24 percent of boys are being abused by age 18 and 25 percent of girls." See Judith Reisman "Crafting Gay Children," a study.

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Abomination," "Associations," and so forth, and so on.

Adams, Jay E., Role-Play and Critique (part 2); Wife Won't Speak; Homosexuality; Wife With Cancer (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA211.

Baker, Don, Beyond Rejection: The Church, Homosexuality and Hope (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers), ISBN: 0880701080 9780880701082.
"The book is about a man who was a practicing homosexual most of his life. Even in seminary and marriage this practice continued. The sin is finally overcome, but not without heart rending struggle. This man has helped many hundreds turn from homosexuality since he himself gave it up." -- GCB

Boswell, John, Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe From the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century, ISBN: 0226067114 9780226067117.

Bray, J., Christ and the Homosexual (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JB102.

Consultation on Theology and the Homosexual: Bibliography on Theology and the Homosexual.

Dallas, Joe, Desires in Conflict: Answering the Struggle for Sexual Identity (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1991), ISBN: 0736912118 9780736912112.
"This book offers a workable approach to sexual and emotional sanctification illuminating the power of God's Grace at work in the sincerely repentant soul." -- GCB
Joe Dallas operates Genesis Counseling in Orange County, California, and is president of Exodus International, an organization that has helped countless thousands out of homosexuality. For more information write to the "Truths That Transform" radio program and ask for the "Joe Dallas Actions Sheet."

*Foster, David Kyle, Sexual Healing: God's Plan for the Sanctification of Broken Lives: A Reference Manual for Ministering to Those Trapped in Sexual Sin and Brokenness (Jacksonville, FL [Mastering Life Ministries, P.O. Box 351149, Jacksonville 32235]: Mastering Life Ministries, 1997), ISBN: 0830737154 9780830737154 0830737340 9780830737345.
This is a unique work and the best resource known to the compiler offering biblical counsel for healing sexual brokenness. See "Foundations" and "Divine Intent for Sexuality" for a biblical explanation of the spiritual significance of sexuality. These two chapters alone make the purchase of the book worthwhile. Includes chapters, study guides, and exercises for Root sources for improper sexual development, Sexual identity confusion, Child sex abuse, Sexual addition, Pornography, Masturbation, voyeurism and exhibitionism, Why people remain in sexual sin and bondage, Failure and self-condemnation, A comprehensive game plan for sexual healing, and so forth. Indexed, 398 pages, includes bibliography.
Mastering Life Ministries
http://www.MasteringLife.org

Geneva College. Center for Law and Public Policy, The homosexuality debates: an evangelical perspective and response. by Geneva College. Center for Law and Public Policy.
"Contents: I. General and overview materials. Consultation schedule -- Consultation focus & assumptions -- Christian perspective on gay rights / Bradley P. Jacob -- Biography of speakers -- II. Homosexuality: a theological perspective. Content & context in Romans 1:26-27 / Thomas E. Schmidt -- Homosexuality in theological perspective / R. Albert Mohler -- III. Psychology, genetics and homosexuality. The loving opposition / Stanton L. Jones -- IV. Homosexuality, religion and the law. Law: the dominating, but fragile source of human obligation / Lynn R. Buzzard -- Gay rights and religious liberty / Richard F. Duncan -- Knowing rights from wrong / P. Jacob Bradley -- V. Homosexuality in government and military policy. The Bible in the moral war over the rejection of homosexuality by the military service / Daniel R. Heimbach -- NAE resolution concerning homosexuals in the military -- VI. Issues in public education -- VII. Issues in Christian higher education. The legal landscape / Timothy C. Klenk -- VIII. Issues in family law and policy -- IX. Pastoral ministry to the homosexual community. Harvest News -- X. Homosexuality in churches and denominations. Cultures wars 1993: a report from the Presbyterian front / Parker T. Williamson -- XI. Advocacy and public policy work. Homosexuality, civil rights and justice: a Christian dilemma / Case Hoogendoorn -- Homosexuality and the Christian advocate / Paul J. McNulty -- XII. Summaries and commentary. Suggested bibliography -- Homeosexual rights issues: sources / Family Research Council -- The social significance of homosexuality: questions and answers / Lawrence F. Burtoft."

*Grant, George, and Mark Horne, Unnatural Affections: The Impuritan Ethic of Homosexuality and the Modern Church (Brentwood, TN: Legacy Communications), ISBN: 1880692007 9781880692004.
"This is a historical overview and Biblical response to the crisis within the Christian Church in regard to sexual behavior. In this brief summary, it expounds the scriptural teaching on sexual ethics and the historic Christian position. UNNATURAL AFFECTIONS offers advice on how Christians can combat this crisis, based firmly on the Bible." -- GCB

Hafer, Dick, Homosexuality: Legitimate, Alternate Deathstyle (Boise, ID: Paradigm Company), ISBN: 0914981110 9780914981114.
"This author takes the view that what consenting adults do in the privacy of their homes CAN hurt you! Want a light, easy to understand bombshell against homosexuality? This is it! Chapters are short, text is brief, and the method is cartoons. No one will get bored reading this book!" -- GCB

Horner, Tom, Homosexuality and the Judeo-Christian Tradition: An Annotated Bibliography (ATLA Bibliography Series, No. 5. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, Incorporated, 1981), ISBN: 0810814129 9780810814127.

IMP, Homosexuality: Understanding Homosexuality and the Reality of Change (Jeremiah Films), ISBN: 1882773004 9781882773008.

Keysor, Charles (editor), What You Should Know About Homosexuality (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1979), ISBN: 0310382319 9780310382317.
A thoughtful study from a Christian viewpoint.

Lively, Scott and Kevin E. Abrams Pink Swastika: Homosexuality in the Nazi Party (Abiding Truth Ministries), ISBN: 0964760975 9780964760974.
"This book gives ample evidence that the sexual perversion of homosexuality easily lends itself to authoritarian impulses. Not only do the authors make a strong case that homosexuals played a critical role in the formation of the Nazi Party, but they also show how many Nazi leaders in Europe and the USA also came from the gay movement. The myth that all gays were persecuted by the Nazis is demolished in this book -- most of the camp guards were sadistic gays. The underlying theme is that when a society accepts a moral relativistic philosophy (leading to acceptance of homosexuality) it could very well lead to the eventual destruction of our constitutional rights. The authors show that the reason why the Nazis were so anti-semitic had to with historical reasons. The Jewish culture -- with its old testament ethical system -- brought an end to the macho-gay/Warrior mentality that dominated so much of ancient Europe, especially ancient Rome and Greece. These ancient pagan cultures, which glorified sex between warriors, were worshiped by the Nazis who blamed the Jews for the introduction of biblical morality which, of course, condemned homosexuality and ended much of the pagan lifestyle in Europe." -- Steve Baldwin, California State Assemblyman

Magnuson, Roger J., Are Gay Rights Right? (Portland, OR: Multnomah Press), ISBN: 0880703369 9780880703369.
"Magnuson is a trial lawyer in Minneapolis. He has authored a 3-volume legal treatise, SHAREHOLDER LITIGATION, this is used in law schools. He often is called on to debate homosexuals. It is to the shame of everyone of us that homosexuals have come to the point where they can flaunt their perversion, and call on the courts to protect their imaginary `rights.' In God's law they have no rights, but instead are condemned to be executed.
"In Maine and in Oregon this book was consulted by legislators before rejecting a so-called `gay rights bill.' Now we have an updated edition, and it is hoped it will continue to be of use in defeating the aims of these vicious and abusive persons. For they are everywhere attempting to intimidate city councils, state and federal legislatures. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

McIhenny, Charles, and Donna McIhenny with Frank York, When the Wicked Seize a City (Lafayette, LA: Huntington House), ISBN: 0595154328 9780595154326.
"Pastor Chuck McIhenny is a San Francisco minister whose opposition to `gay rights' has aroused the anger of homosexual activists. This account, both compassionate and uncompromising, will open your eyes to the threat posed by the militant advocates of `gay rights' and what loving and courageous Christians can do."

Horner, Tom, Homosexuality and the Judeo-Christian Tradition: An Annotated Bibliography, ISBN: 0810814129 9780810814127.

Parker, William, Homosexuality: A Selective Bibliography of Over 3,000 Items,ISBN: 0810804255 9780810804258.
"3188 entries to English-language and translated foreign literature. Includes pamphlets, government documents, theses, dissertations, journal articles (religious, popular, medical, scientific, and legal), court cases, newspaper items, literary works, and audiovisuals. Arranged according to kind of publication. Entry gives bibliographical information. Appendix of American laws applicable to homosexuality. Subject, author indexes."

Parker, William, Homosexuality Bibliography: Supplement, 1970-1975 (Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1977), ISBN: 0810810506 9780810810501.
"Containing more than 3,000 [SUPPLEMENT, 1970-1975 -- sk] entries respectively, these bibliographies arrange the material in twelve categories according to the kind of publication in which they appear. In addition, books, pamphlets, and dissertations are included, together with religious, legal, and medical information. This is a most comprehensive work and should serve will the needs of the person doing research in this area." -- Cyril J. Barber

Parker, William, Homosexuality Bibliography: Second Supplement, 1976-1982 (Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1977), ISBN: 0810817535 9780810817531.
"Listing of 3600 entries to publications from 1976-1982. Includes books, articles, court cases, dissertations, pamphlets, and documents, all in English or translated into English. Does not include literary works. Arranged according to format. Each entry contains bibliographical information. Miscellaneous appendixes. Subject, author indexes."

Reisman, Judith, "Crafting Gay Children," a study.
"Social researcher Dr. Judith Reisman says that the incidence of homosexuals molesting children is 40 times greater than the number of heterosexuals who molest children. In her study, `Crafting Gay Children,' Reisman notes that heterosexuals outnumber homosexuals by 44 to 1 in our culture. She also points out that 17-24 percent of boys are being abused by age 18 and 25 percent of girls.
"In a 1991 population study by the Department of Commerce, statistics showed that 8 million girls were abused by age 18 by heterosexual men -- a ratio of 1 victim to 11 adult men. However, 6-8 million boys were abused by age 18 by 1-2 million adult homosexuals -- a ratio of 3-5 victims for every homosexual adult male.
"Dr. Reisman concludes that the Boy Scouts organization is correct to ban homosexuals from membership because of the high rate of molestations committed by homosexual males. To read more on this, go to: http://bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=11002

Rueda, Enrique, The Homosexual Network: Private Lies and Public Policy (Old Greenwich, CT: Devin Adain Company, c1982), ISBN: 0815957149: 9780815957140.
Explains the relationship between organized religion and homosexuals. Includes bibliographical references and index.

Whitehead, Neil, and Blair Whitehead, My Genes Made me do it! A Scientific Look at Sexual Orientation (Lafayette, LA: Huntington House), ISBN: 1563841657 9781563841651.
"We believe the book is the most current, thorough, and clear account, of the extent to which homosexuality is inborn. It also explains how we become heterosexual. Subjects include incidence, brain studies, hormone studies, twin studies, and culture. It summarizes 8 years study on 1700 books, chapters and papers. The first author has 30 years research experience." -- Dr. Neil Whitehead
"Co-author, Dr. Neil Whitehead (Ph.D. Biochemistry), has worked as a research scientist in New Zealand for 25 years. This book presents objective scientific findings into the debate about homosexual orientation and its true origins. It examines the widely-publicized "gay gene" and twin studies and shows why they don't prove what is often claimed.
"The Whiteheads present the most detailed and current arguments available on this important topic. This would be a powerful book to hand anyone involved in gay behavior who thinks change is not possible." -- Reader's Comment
My Genes Made me do it!
http://www.mygenes.co.nz/

Wilson, Earl, RCC, Vol. 15: Counseling and Homosexuality (Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1989), ISBN: 0849905907 9780849905902.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The ten commandments: the moral law, Proverbs, Will and recalcitrance, Child abuse and pedophilia, Sexual relationship, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Hostility and violence, Fatherlessness, Abuse, Abuse (women), Incest, Rape, Spirituality and harlotry, Idolatry, Pornography, The occult, Drug abuse and addiction, Aids, Sexually transmitted diseases, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Manhood, Effeminacy, Feminism, Sexual wholeness, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, God's deliverance of nations, Covenant theology and the ordinance of covenanting, The covenant of redemption, The covenant faithfulness of god, Oaths, ensnaring (vows, promises, covenants) and bonds with the ungodly, Confession of national sin and covenant renewal, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Modern myths, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 645, 665, 955, 1009, 1014, 1234, 1237, 2354, 2545, 2685, 3184, 3185, 3188, 3198, 3931
MGTP: Sexual Immorality

Related WebLinks

Exodus International
Exodus International is an umbrella organization of dozens of ministries that reach out with the love of Christ to those struggling with homosexual feelings and behaviors.
http://www.exodusnorthamerica.org

Homosexuality and Child Sexual Abuse, Timothy J. Dailey, Ph.D
http://www.frc.org/get/is02e3.cfm?CFID=83969&CFTOKEN=41639053

Caouette, Jonathan, Tarnation, 2004.
We recommend this documentary to mature individuals who are concerned about Mental Health Policy in his country, but who have never had the experience of caring for persons who are emotionally disturbed, having them as neighbors, or working with them. It will educate the viewer on the nature of the problem of "mental illness." Part of the problem is their characteristic appeal for respectability and sympathy. I sense this was a subliminal motivation for the documentary. Caouette turned out a homosexual, and seems to be accepting it as an alternative life style.
Caouette videoed his life and edited his archives to tell the story of growing up with a schizophrenic mother. So this is a glimpse of the reality of growing up in an emotionally disturbed and dysfunctional family.
It also dramatizes the failure of psychiatry.
"A multitude of family snapshots, Super-8 home movies, old answering machine messages, video diaries, early short films, snippets of '80s pop culture, and dramatic reenactments are used to create an epic portrait of an American family travesty. Begins in 2003 when Jonathan learns that his schizophrenic mother, Renee, overdoses on her lithium medication. He is shot back into his real and horrifying family legacy of rape, abandonment, promiscuity, drug addiction, child abuse and pedophilia, and psychosis. He grows up on camera and finds his escape in musical theater and B-horror movies. A look into the future shows Jonathan as he confronts the almost unbearable love he shares with his tragically damaged mother."

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



HOPE

See the Theological Notes, "God's Covenant of Grace" at Genesis 12:1 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Resurrection and Glorification," at 1 Corinthians 15:21 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Hope," at Hebrews 6:18 in The Reformation Study Bible

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19)

The Lord Jesus Christ our hope . . . (1 Timothy 1:1b, YLTHB)

Read the Gospel of John, chapters 14 through 16, for comfort in time of crisis or distress.

The Treasury of David, Psalm 62, C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps062.htm

The Treasury of David, Psalm 85, C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps085.htm

For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. (Psalm 119:89-90)

The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. (Psalm 121:8)

The Treasury of David, Psalm 130, C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps130.htm

The Treasury of David, Psalm 131, C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps131.htm

The Treasury of David, Psalm 136, C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps136.htm

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
(Lest they should grow dejected at the low estate of the nation, they are bidden to remember whence it came. One man was chosen, and one woman, they were both old before a child was born to them, they were a lone family in the earth; yet out of them sprang a great nation; nothing could be more apparently hopeless, yet the covenant was fulfilled, and therefore the like could and would be done again, and poor, downtrodden Israel would yet arise.)
For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody (Isaiah 51:1-4). -- Spurgeon's Devotional Bible

Isaiah 51:1-6. See the annotation in The Reformation Study Bible

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:30)

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:30)

I am that bread of life. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 6:48)

I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine.
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 10:14,15)

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 11:25b)

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 11:26a)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 10:27-30)

I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:5)

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:33)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28, KJV)

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5a)

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:13-16)

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11)

Whatever our changes may be, inward or outward, yet Christ changing not, our eternal condition is secured, and relief provided against all present troubles and miseries. The immutability and eternity of Christ are the spring of our consolation and security in every condition. Such is the frailty of the nature of man, and such the perishing condition of all created things, that none can ever obtain the least stable consolation but what ariseth from an interest in the omnipotency, sovereignty, and eternity of Jesus Christ. -- John Owen

This is the way in which you should use this plea. Say, "My God, I am utterly unworthy, and I own it; but, I beseech thee, hear me for the honour of thy dear Son. By his agony and bloody sweat, by his cross and passion, by his precious death and burial, I beseech thee hear me! O Lord, let the blood of thine Only-begotten prevail with thee! Canst thou put aside his groans, his tears, his death, when they speak on my behalf?" If you can thus come to pleading terms with God upon this ground, you must and will prevail. Jesus must be heard in heaven. The voice of his blood is eloquent with God. If you plead the atoning sacrifice, you must overcome through the blood of the Lamb. -- C.H. Spurgeon in a sermon, The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon

"Jesus Only"
A sermon by C.H. Spurgeon delivered on Lord's-day morning, April 3, 1870, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Sermon no. 924.
A sermon on the text "And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only." (Matthew 17:8)
"Jesus only could cleanse them, and did. Christ could lead them on, and did. Ah, Brethren, all the Savior we want we find in Jesus only. The priests of Rome and their Anglican mimics officiously offer us their services. How glad they would be if we would bend our necks once again to their yoke! But we thank God we have seen 'Jesus only,' and if Moses has gone, and if Elijah has gone, we are not likely to let the fools of Rome come in and fill up the vacancy. 'Jesus only,' is enough for our comfort, without either Anglican, Mosaic, or Roman priest-craft. . .
"He was enough as their power for future life, as well as their Master. They needed not ask Moses to lend them official dignity, nor to ask Elijah to bring them fire from Heaven. Jesus would give them His Holy Spirit, and they should be strong enough for every enterprise. And, Brethren, all the power you and I want to preach the Gospel, and to conquer souls for the Truth, we can find in Jesus only. You want no sacred State prestige, no pretended Apostolic succession, no prelatic unction -- Jesus will anoint you with His Holy Spirit, and you shall be plenteously endowed with power from on high, so that you shall do great things and prevail. 'Jesus only.' Why, they wanted no other motive to constrain them to use their power aright. It is enough incentive to a man to be allowed to live for such a One as Christ. Only let the thought of Christ fill the enlightened intellect, and it must conquer the sanctified affections! Let but Jesus be well understood as the everlasting God who bowed the heavens and came down and suffered shame, and ignominy, that He might redeem us from the wrath to come. Let us get but a sight of the thorncrowned head and those dear eyes all red with weeping, and those sweet cheeks bruised and battered by the scoffers' fists.
"Let us but look into the tender heart that was broken with griefs unutterable for our sakes -- and the love of Christ must constrain us -- and we shall thus, judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not, therefore, live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again. In the point of motive, Believers do not need the aid of Moses. That you ought to do such a thing because otherwise you will be punished will but little strengthen you. Nor will you be much aided by the spirit of prophecy which leads you to hope that in the millennial period you will be made a ruler over many cities.
"It will be enough for you that you serve the Lord Christ. It will be enough for you if you may be enabled to honor Him, to deck His crown, to magnify His name. Here is stimulus sufficient for martyrs and confessors -- 'Jesus only'. " p. 647
http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols16-18/chs924.pdf

The spiritual need is overwhelming, but -- praise God -- there is an answer in the person of Jesus Christ. He alone can meet any need man faces. The Gospel is `Good News' for people to hear and understand. God's Word is Truth and it sets man free. . . . -- Charles Riggs

Our Triune God has ordained that authority, power, and leadership devolves to those who know the most Truth (the Apostle Paul, Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, The Scots Worthies . . . ). Preeminent among those is the Lord Christ, the God Man, Our Righteousness. (John 1:1-18; Matthew 19:30; Matthew 28:18-20; Isaiah 49:7; Colossians 1:16-19; Colossians 2:9,10; Hebrews 12:1,2; Revelation 5:1-14; Revelation 19:11-15; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 22:12, and so forth, and so on.)

To serve God is to reign. -- Seneca

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

God be merciful unto us, and bless us: and cause his face to shine upon us: That they way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. (Psalm 67:1,2)

*Adams, Jay E., Christ and Your Problems (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1973), ISBN: 0875520111 9780875520117. A booklet.
Exposits I Corinthians 10:13 for the benefit of counselees. 'At bottom all men in all times face the same basic problems.' You are responsible. God is faithful, therefore you have hope. However difficult the pressures seem, you can make godly choices through Jesus Christ." -- David Powlison
"A Biblical exegesis of I Corinthians 10:13, showing that a Christian's problems are not unique, and that God will not allow a Christian to be tested beyond his strength, and will always make a way of escape. Should be given to all counselees who need hope." -- Robert B. Somerville

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Hope," and so forth, and so on.

Adams Jay E., Should a Christian Be Able to Counsel? Instilling Hope in the Counselee (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA101.

Armey, Dick, The Freedom Revolution (Washington, DC, Regnery Publishing, Inc., 1995), ISBN: 0895264692 9780895264695.
"The new Republican House Majority Leader tells why big government failed, why freedom works, and how we will rebuild America."

Bainton, Ronald H., Yesterday, Today and What Next? Reflections on History and Hope, ISBN: 0806616709 9780806616704.

Baker, Don, Beyond Rejection: The Church, Homosexuality and Hope (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers), ISBN: 0880701080 9780880701082.
"The book is about a man who was a practicing homosexual most of his life. Even in seminary and marriage this practice continued. The sin is finally overcome, but not without heart rending struggle. This man has helped many hundreds turn from homosexuality since he himself gave it up." -- GCB

*New Testament King James Version, The Precious Promises Edition (Lake Wylie, SC: Christian Heritage Publishing Co. Inc., 1991).
A pocket New Testament with the words of Christ in red and the promises screened in red. This edition is out-of-print.

*Boettner, Loraine, Immortality, 7th edition (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co), ISBN: 0875521274.
"A clear-cut evangelical presentation of physical death, immortality, and the intermediate state. Includes a discussion of soul sleep, annihilation, purgatory, spiritism, prayers for the dead, cremation, and so on. A valuable work." -- Cyril J. Barber

*Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), The Everlasting Righteousness or How Shall man be Just With God? (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1993), ISBN: 0851516556 9780851516554. A Christian classic.
"First published in 1874, THE EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, may be the best book on the doctrine of justification by faith alone ever written.
"Since the seventeenth century, the church's adherence to the central doctrine of the Christian faith has been weakening; in the twentieth century it has all but disappeared. But to those who remain faithful -- to those who are called of God -- justification by faith alone is the best news there could ever be: that Christ died for our sins, and we shall live forever because of Christ's righteousness.
"Justification by faith alone -- the `principal hinge of religion,' according to John Calvin, the `doctrine by which the church stands or falls,' according to Martin Luther -- is salvation. Without it, all hope is lost; with it, Heaven gained. Bonar's discussion is without equal in the English language." -- John W. Robbins
The Banner of Truth edition is available free as e-text.
The Everlasting Righteousness; or, How Shall man be Just With God?
The Everlasting Righteousness, Horatius Bonar
http://www.jude3.net/bertoc.htm
http://books.google.com/books?id=nQMDAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*Bridges, Jerry, Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God's Unfailing Love (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress), ISBN: 9781600063039 1600063039.
"The fruit of over 10 years of Bible study, it's the kind of book that will make a profound difference in how you go about living your life -- and loving your Gracious Redeemer."-- Publisher's Annotation

*Brown, John (of Edinburgh, 1784-1858), Hints on Christian Hope (Edinburgh: printed by J. Thomson, 1845?).

Burroughs, Jeremiah (1599-1646), Gospel reconciliation, or, Christ's trumpet of peace to the world wherein is shewed (besides many other gospel truth) . . . that there was a breach made between God and man . . . to which is added two sermons (London: Printed by Peter Cole. . . , 1657), ISBN: 1567690661 9781567690668.
"Notes: Published with a testimony by Thomas Goodwin, William Bridge, William Greenhil, Sydrach Sympson, Philip Nye, John Yates, William Adderley."
"Gods present mercies to his people are arguments of future mercies, preached at Saviors Southward, May 2, 1641; Old age is a crown of glory. . . , preached before the Company of Mercers at their chappel, May 20, 1641."

Campbell, Ross, How to Keep Going When the Storms Keep Coming, ISBN: 0842313761 9780842313766.
"This is neither an autobiography nor a self-help manual, but rather, varied, intensely autobiographical episodes of how the author, after much stumbling found spiritual perspective in the midst of crisis. These real life episodes will refresh and recharge us for our own journey." -- GCB

*De Graaf, Simon Gerrit, Promise and Deliverance, 4 volumes (Scarsdale, NY [Westminster Discount Book Service, P.O. Box 125H, Scarsdale 10583]: Westminster Discount Book Service, 1977). Translated from the Dutch by H. Evan Runner and Elisabeth Wichers Runner. A Christian classic.
"In Scripture, religion means covenant. By His Word, God called into being an order of creation culminating in man. By that Word He also gave man His favor and brought him into a life of conscious covenantal fellowship with Himself. As De Graaf himself puts it: `Without covenant, there is no religion, no conscious fellowship between man and God, no exchange of love and faithfulness. Without the covenant, man would be just an instrument in God's hand. When God created man, He had more than an instrument in mind: He made a creature that could respond to Him. . . .'
"This renewed insight into Biblical revelation is the perspective undergirding De Graaf's treatment of all Bible stories. It makes his book a unique presentation of God's revelation of Himself in the covenant and keeps his interpretations of the stories from degenerating into mere moralizing. Religion is not morality." -- H. Evan Runner
"I highly recommend this book. One of the best books available." -- R.C. Sproul
"A landmark in interpreting the simple stories of the Bible." -- Christianity Today

De Witt, John Richard (John R. DeWitt), Amazing Love: The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 085151328X 9780851513287.
A professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Seminary in Jackson.

Ellul, Jacques, Hope in Time of Abandonment (New York: Seabury Press, 1973), ISBN: 0816421382 9780816421381.
Translated by C.E. Hopkin. "Written with conviction and insight, this book exposes a host of false hopes that are common to our age. It warns against a false optimism and urges readers to place their confidence solely in God's lovingkindness and providence. . . ." -- Cyril J. Barber

*FLAVEL, JOHN (1628-1691), Mystery of Providence (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 085151104X. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
"The Puritans were exceptionally good on this subject. They write with a warmth and depth rarely reached in our day. Flavel shines with insights and encouragements just not found in other books." -- GCB

*Fuller, Thomas, Good Thoughts in Bad Times (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms International), ISBN: 9780548089347 0548089345. A Christian classic.
Good Thoughts in Bad Times, and Other Papers
http://books.google.com/books?id=_PRPBG3BiJkC&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*Gill, John, The Doctrine of God's Everlasting Love to His Elect, and Their Eternal Union With Christ
"Gill is the most famous, and the most learned, of the Baptists. . . . In this book he follows the teaching of the Scriptures, that life always precedes faith, and he shows that both life and faith proceed from the eternal counsels of God: `You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,' (John 15:16) `I have loved thee with an everlasting love.' (Jeremiah 31:3) Gill's teaching is very similar to that of Thomas Goodwin, and we feel sure that he had read Goodwin thoroughly. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

Harris, Murray J., Raised Immortal: Resurrection and Immortality in the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.), ISBN: 080280053X 9780802800534.
"A detailed exploration of resurrection and immortality and the relationship of these two Biblical teachings to each other." -- GCB

*Hebblethwaite, Brian, The Christian Hope (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1985), ISBN: 0802800548 9780802800541.
"This is a definitive work. It looks at the background of Christian hope in the Old Testament and New Testament. Important facts are drawn from incidents beginning with the faith of Abraham all the way through to the teachings of Christ. . . ." -- Cyril J. Barber

Johnson, Paul, Conquering Cancer: An Invitation to Hope, ISBN: 0310537819 9780310537816.
"This book tells the person with cancer just what he or she can expect at each stage of diagnosis and treatment, explores medical discoveries that gives people real hope of recovery from cancer, and includes excerpts from Dr.Paul Johnson's cancer diary and selected readings on a dozen topics designed to build a cancer patient's confidence." -- Synopsis
"A doctor with 40 years service in medicine, a weekly medical radio program . . . now offers hope to those suffering with cancer. If you have cancer or know someone who does GET THIS BOOK." -- GCB

Keller, Philip, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, ISBN: 9780310291428 0310291429.

Kinnaird, William M., Promise of Hope: Coping When Life Caves In (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1981), ISBN: 0687343305 9780687343300.

Lester, Andrew D., Hope in Pastoral Care and Counseling, ISBN: 0664255884 9780664255886.

Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn (1899-1981), The Miracle of Grace and Other Messages, ISBN: 0801056365 9780801056369.
"Fourteen (14) sermons published together for the first time as a book. These sermons originally appeared in the periodical The Christian World Pulpit. They cover a wide variety of topics such as hope, discipleship, suffering, sin, the Cross, the Resurrection, and more." -- GCB

*Lockyer, Herbert, All the Promises of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1996, 1962), ISBN: 0310281318.
"A devotional expositional compilation of all the promises [about 3,300 of the approximate 8,810 promises - sk] that are found in Scripture." -- Synopsis
"Lockyers in-depth look at the scope of Gods promises arranges them in categories that cover the full array of human concerns, from the spiritual to the material and the corporate to the personal. As you come to understand Gods promises and how they apply to every aspect of your life, you'll gain a trust in God that will sustain you through the worst of times and be your source of rejoicing in the best.
"Dr. Herbert Lockyer was born in London in 1886, and held pastorates in Scotland and England for 25 years before coming to the United States in 1935. In 1937 he received the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Northwestern Evangelical Seminary. In 1955 he returned to England where he lived for many years. He then returned to the United States where he continued to devote time to the writing ministry until his death in November of 1984." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Luther, Martin, Commentary on Galatians, English translation by Erasmus Middleton, B.D., edited by John Prince Fallowes, M.A., Pembroke College, Cambridge (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1979, 1553), ISBN: 0825431247.
"I prefer this book of Martin Luther's (except the Bible) before all the books I have ever seen, as most fit for a wounded soul." -- John Bunyan
"This is a great, historic work, and is beyond criticism on account of its great usefulness. As a comment its accuracy might be questioned; but for emphatic utterances and clear statements of the great doctrine of the Epistle it remains altogether by itself, and must be judged per se." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"The reissue of a famous series of lectures delivered at Wittenberg University in 1553." -- Cyril J. Barber
Luther's Commentary on Galatians, "who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth." (Galatians 3:1 excerpt), English translation by Erasmus Middleton, B.D., edited by John Prince Fallowes, M.A., Pembroke College, Cambridge
http://www.lettermen2.com/luther1.html
Luther's Commentary on Galatians, "That He might deliver us from the present evil world." (Galatians 1:4 excerpt), English translation by Erasmus Middleton, B.D., edited by John Prince Fallowes, M.A., Pembroke College, Cambridge
http://www.lettermen2.com/luther2.html

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

Morris, Leon, and Robert J. Banks (editor), Reconciliation and Hope: New Testament Essays on Atonement and Eschatology Presented to L.L. Morris on his 60th Birthday (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.), ISBN: ISBN: 9780802833495 0802833497.
Banks was Chairman of the 1968 Melbourne Crusade of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is principal of Ridley College, and has been a visiting professor at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Trinity Divinity School, and Westminster Theological Seminary. Includes bibliography.

Mostrom, Donald G., Spiritual Privileges You Didn't Know Were Yours, ISBN: 087784982X: 9780877849827.

*Murray, Iain, The Puritan Hope: A Study in Revival and the Interpretation of Prophesy (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1971), ISBN: 085151247X.
"Murray is an English pastor, founder of, and currently CEO of Banner of Truth Trust.
"If you are in any way interested in Puritan thought, revival or the interpretation of prophecy, you will probably find this book to be delightful reading. Iain Murray has gathered copious quotations documenting the source and strength of one of the great movements in Church history. The footnotes, which would almost make an interesting small booklet in themselves, run for 21 pages.
"The Puritans were an intelligent and scholarly people, who's hope was solidly based upon the exegesis of Scripture. Their optimistic interpretation of prophecy, mingled with their strong assertion of the sovereignty of God, led to many desirable and godly consequences. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"A postmillennial treatment of missions, evangelism, the Puritans, and eschatology. Interesting and instructive. In our day this eschatological view is gaining ground. Men such as Hodge, Warfield, Edwards, and John Murray have held the same view." -- GCB
Murray "explains how and why the Puritans came to their eschatological beliefs; how these were perverted, primarily in modern times, by men like Edward Irving and J.N. Darby; why we've stopped thinking critically about these theories; and how we must recapture the confident expectation of Christ's triumphant end-time revival of Gentiles, then all Israel, before his return in glory. Excellent and thought-provoking." -- Reader's Comment
The Puritan Hope, Iain Murray
http://www.revival-library.org/catalogues/puritan/murrayi-puritanhope/contents.htm

*Owen, John (1616-1683), The Death of Christ (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 9780851510644 0851510647. (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1648).
This work is also found in THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN, Volume 10: The Death of Christ. A Christian classic.
"Greatest Biblical apologetic on the specific and limited nature of the atoning work of Christ in print. Contains discussions on Arminianism, the death of death in the death of Christ, Divine justice, and also discusses, in detail, many views of the atonement that certain men and groups held (and still hold)." -- Publisher's Annotation.
"The Death of Death in the Death of Christ is a polemical work, designed to show, among other things, that the doctrine of universal redemption is unscriptural and destructive of the gospel. . . . Those who see no need for doctrinal exactness and have no time for theological debates which show up divisions between so-called Evangelicals may well regret its reappearance. Some may find the very sound of Owen's thesis so shocking that they will refuse to read his book at all. . . . But . . . there are signs today of a new upsurge of interest in the theology of the Bible: a new readiness to test traditions, to search the Scriptures and to think through the faith. It is to those who share this readiness that Owen's treatise is now offered, in the belief that it will help us in one of the most urgent tasks facing evangelical Christendom today - the recovery of the gospel.
It is safe to say that no comparable exposition of the work of redemption as planned and executed by the Triune Jehovah has ever been done since Owen published his in 1684. None has been needed.
Owen's interpretation of the texts . . . is sure; his power of theological construction is superb; nothing that needs discussing is omitted, and . . . no arguments for or against his position have been used since his day which he has not himself noted and dealt with. . . . Owen's work is a constructive, broad-based biblical analysis of the heart of the gospel, and must be taken seriously as such. . . Nobody has a right to dismiss the doctrine of the limitedness . . . of the atonement as a monstrosity of Calvinistic logic until he has refuted Owen's proof that it is part of the uniform biblical presentation of redemption, clearly taught in plain text after plain text. And nobody has done that yet." -- J.I. Packer, from the Introduction
"Packer's well balanced definition of Calvinism in the introduction to that volume [John Owen's THE DEATH OF DEATH IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST] is by far the best we have seen in 42 years of intensive reading." -- Jay P. Green, Sr. A Christian classic.
J.I. Packer's Introduction to The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/packer_intro.html
Owen, John. Salus electorum, sanguis Jesu: or the death of death in the death of Christ. Being a treatise of the redemption and reconciliation that is in the blood of Christ; wherein the whole controversy about universal redemption is fully discussed: in four parts; . . . By John Owen, D.D. Carefully revised and corrected. Edinburgh, 1755.

*OWEN, JOHN (1616-1683), "God's Presence With a People the Spring of Their Prosperity; With Their Special Interest in Abiding in Him." Alternate title: "GOD'S PRESENCE WITH A PEOPLE, THE SPRING OF THEIR PROSPERITY; WITH THEIR SPECIALL INTEREST IN ABIDING WITH HIM. A SERMON, PREACHED TO THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND, AT WESTMINSTER, OCTOB. 30. 1656. A DAY OF SOLEMN HUMILIATION. BY JOHN OWEN, D.D. A SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST, IN THE WORK OF THE GOSPEL. PRINTED BY ORDER OF PARLIAMENT, 1656. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #25, ISBN: 0921148208 9780921148203. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #20. Available in various editions of THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN. Available (THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN including HEBREWS [OCR digital text]) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1. A Christian classic.
Owen preaches at length, 21 pages, on God's presence with a people, both individually and corporately, in a sermon on the text "And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you." (2 Chronicles 15:2) delivered to Parliament October 30, 1656.
"The great concernment of any people or nation is, to know that all their prosperity is from the presence of God amongst them, and to attend to that which will give continuance thereunto. . . .
"There is a presence of God in respect of providential dispensations. . . . -- attended with peculiar love, favor, good-will, special care towards them with whom he is so present. So Abimelech observed that he was with Abraham, Genesis 21:22, "God is with thee in all that thou doest," -- with thee to guide thee, bless thee, preserve thee, as we shall see afterward. So he promised to be with Joshua, "I will be with thee," Joshua 1:5; and so he was with Gideon, "The Lord is with thee," Judges 6:12, -- to bless him in his great undertaking; and so with Jeremiah, "I am with thee," Jeremiah 15:20. This is fully expressed, Isaiah 43:1,2, "I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." And this is the presence of God here intimated, -- his presence with the people as to special providential dispensations, as is manifest from the whole discourse of the prophet; and wherein this consists, shall be afterward at large declared. . . .
"There is an abiding with God in national administrations; -- this is a fruit of the other, in those who are called to them. And that this is principally here intended is evident from that use that Asa made of this information and exhortation of the prophet. He did not only look to his personal walking thereupon, but also immediately set upon the work of ordering the whole affairs of the kingdom so as God might be glorified thereby. How this may be effected, shall at large afterward be declared. What hath already been spoken may suffice for a foundation of that proposition which I shall this day insist upon; and it is this, --
"The presence of God with a people, in special providential dispensations for their good, depends on their obediential presence with him in national administrations to his glory: "The Lord is with you, while ye be with him. . . ."
"What is the rule and measure of God's continuance with his people in the covenant of grace? Plainly this, -- that he will never forsake them; and, on that account, will take care that they shall never forsake him, but abide with him forever. It is not whilst they do so and so, he will abide with them; and when they cease so to do, he will forsake them, as to his federal and covenant presence; -- there is not such a sandy foundation left us of our abiding with God in Christ. See the tenor of the covenant, Jeremiah 31:33, 32:38-40. The sum is, that God will be with them, and take care that they always abide with him; and therefore hath he provided for all interveniences imaginable, that nothing shall violate this union. God lays his unchangeableness as the foundation of the covenant, Malachi 3:6, and he therein makes us unchangeable; -- not absolutely so, for we change every moment; but with respect to the terms and bounds of the covenant, he hath undertaken that we shall never leave him. The law of God's presence in respect of providential dispensations, and all special privileges attending it, is quite of another importance: it is purely conditional, as you may see in my text. The tenor of it is expressed to the height, 1 Samuel 2:30, "I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me forever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed." Here is no alteration of counsel or purpose in God; but merely an explanation of the rule, law, and tenor of providential dispensations; -- no interpretation of the covenant of grace (Eli held not the priesthood by that covenant); but an explication of the tenor of a privilege given in special providence, Psalm 89:32,33. Hence is that variety of God's dealings with men mentioned in the Scripture; which yet are always righteous, according to one or other of these rules and laws. . . .
"I suppose I need not go for proof beyond the observation of the constant tenor of God's proceedings with his people of old. When did he not deal thus with them? What instance can be given of transgressing this rule? Is the whole story of the nation of the Jews any thing but the illustration of this proposition? Some ruled well, and sought the Lord; and the Lord was with them, and prospered them in all their ways; -- some fell from him, and walked according to their own imaginations; and the Lord cut them short on that account; -- yea, sometimes the same man, as Solomon, Asa, Uzziah, experienced both these states and conditions. Hath not the state of all nations, since they came into the power of men professing the knowledge of him, been the same? Look on the Roman empire; did it not flourish under the hand of men who ruled with God, and were faithful with the saints? Is not the present distraction of it, under the fury and cruelty of Turk and Pope, the issue of the violence, unrighteousness, idolatry, luxury, and persecution of ill governors? Doth not the demonstration of all God's people in the world -- the consideration whereof, in particular, might be insisted on as the ground and reason of the truth insisted on -- require that it should be thus Leviticus 26:1, and almost the whole book of Deuteronomy, are sermons on this text; and every verse, almost, in them would afford a new confirmation of the truth in hand. . . .
"The second use of this pillar was, to give them protection and defense in their ways; so Exodus 14:19,20,24. This protected them from the Egyptians; -- and from thence God troubled their enemies out of the pillar; that is, from his especial presence. This use of it is insisted on, Isaiah 4:5,6. The cloud, that was as smoke by day, and as fire by night, was also a shadow, a place of refuge, and a covert; in one word, a protection or a defense. And this is a second thing which is in God's special presence, -- he will protect or defend them with whom he is so present. He is their dwellingplace, Psalm 90:1, then, when in this world they have none; their refuge in the time of trouble: so Isaiah 25:4, 26:1, 31:4. Promises and instances to make this good abound; -- they are known to all; the time would fail me to insist upon them. I might go over all the causes, means, and ways of the fears, dangers, ruin of such a people, and show you how a defense is provided against them all. Are their fears from themselves, because of their folly, weakness, and division? or from pretended friends, because of their envy and desertion? or from open enemies, because of their power, cruelty, malice, and revenge? A defense is provided on every account. Heat, rain, tempests, storms, adversity, prosperity, -- all are provided against, where God is present, Isaiah 32:1,2.
"And if any people in the world have experience of this truth, we have it this day. Had not the Lord been with us, who had not destroyed us? Enemies, friends, abroad, at home, our own follies, -- all, any of them, had done the work, had not the Lord himself been with us. . . .
"That we may abide with God, this is indispensably required, -- that we may have peace with him in Jesus Christ. If we are never with him, we cannot abide with him; no man can abide where he never cornea The acceptance of our persons lies at the bottom of the acceptance of our duties. As the special presence of God with any, is in and by Christ, and no otherwise, so is our abiding with God in and through him. "God with us" is the name of Christ: our being with God is in him who is our peace. Two cannot walk together, unless they be agreed, Amos 3:3.
"Now, because this is not to be expected from all the individuals of a nation, yet this thing is to be endeavored, -- that the rulers of it be such as have this interest. I do not divest of a share in government, those who have no share in Christ, if lawfully called thereunto; but I say, when God gives governors whom he intends to make a blessing unto a people, they shall be such as are blessed of him in Christ. And if ever the government of this nation, in this present constitution, -- suppose it the most exactly framed and balanced, in the several parts of it, for the furtherance of public good, -- be devolved into the hands of men not interested in God by Christ, though the constitution may be absolutely good, yet the government will not be blessed, and the nation will be ruined; for God and his glory will depart, Micah 5:5,6. It is Christ that is our peace, even in outward troubles. . . .
"This, then, I say, is pre-required, as a qualification of any person to the performance of this duty of abiding with God. It is the psalmist's advice, Psalm 2:11,12. Let this principle be always owned amongst you; by it honor Christ in the world. Give him the pre-eminence; it is the Father's will he should have it in all things. Expect not the presence of God, but upon this account. Bear testimony herein against the world of profane men, who despise these things. Seeing, then, it cannot be expected to have this qualification diffused universally, as yet, through the body of the people, let the rulers take care that they be not the cause of God's departure from us. . . ." -- John Owen
God's Presence With a People, the Spring of Their Prosperity: With Their Speciall Interest in Abiding With Him. A Sermon, Preached to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, at Westminster, Octob. 30. 1656. A Day of Solemn Humiliation.
http://books.google.com/books?id=yLsKGgAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*Pink, Arthur W., Comfort for Christians (Swengel, PA: Reiner Publications, 1952), ISBN: 0585074860 9780585074863.
"A timely work full of consolation. A valuable addition to the other books treating suffering. . . ." -- Cyril J. Barber
"Those shocked into wakefulness by Pink's book on THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD will be amazed at the different tone he displayed in this book. It is heart-warming." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Comfort for Christians, by Arthur W. Pink
http://www.ccel.org/p/pink/comfort/comfort.html

Pippert, Rebecca M., Hope has its Reason: Surprised by Faith in a Broken World (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House), ISBN: 0891096523 9780891096528.
"Part of evil's nature is to keep sin hidden. But it's not a sin to admit we're sinners. Rebecca Manley Pippert openly discusses our true condition. She also reminds us of the freedom and transparency available to the believer because of the cross." -- Publisher's Annotation

Power, Philip Bennett (1822-1899), The "I Wills" of the Psalms (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851514456 9780851514451.
"Author examines the Psalms to bring home an important aspect of the Christian experience, that of acting. He discusses I will trust, I will speak, I will call upon God, I will go in the strength of the Lord, and I will praise God. Power lived from 1822-1899." -- GCB

*Ridderbos, Herman N., The Coming of the Kingdom (Philadelphia, PA: The Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1962), ISBN: 0875524087.
"A thorough treatment of the teaching pertaining to the Kingdom. Amillennial." -- Cyril J. Barber

*Salmond, Stewart D.F., The Biblical Doctrine of Immortality (Minneapolis, MN: Klock and Klock Christian Publishers, 1984) ISBN: 0865241643 9780865241640.
This "excellent study deserves an honored place in every Christian's library. What [Salmond] has written underscores the believer's hope. His work, therefore, should be studied by all who wish to be faithfully instructed in the Bible's teaching on this important subject." -- Publisher's Annotation

*SIBBES, RICHARD (1577-1635), The Bruised Reed (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851517404 9780851517407. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
"Richard Sibbes, one of the most influential figures in the Puritan movement during the earlier years of the seventeenth century, was renowned for the rich quality of his ministry. THE BRUISED REED shows why he was known among his contemporaries as `the sweet dropper'." -- Publisher's Annotation
"If you have ever been (or are) discouraged in any way this is a book that will bring great encouragement and joy!" -- SWRB
"Sibbes never wastes the student's time, he scatters pearls and diamonds with both hands." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"A poor pedlar came to the door . . . and my father bought of him Sibb's Bruised Reed . . . It suited my state . . . and gave me a livelier apprehension of the mystery of redemption and how much I was beholden to Jesus Christ . . . Without any means but books was God pleased to resolve me to himself." -- Richard Baxter

*Spurgeon, C.H., Exposition of the Doctrines of Grace. Alternate title: C.H. SPURGEON'S BIBLE CONFERENCE AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE ON THE THEME, EXPOSITION OF THE DOCTRINES OF GRACE. (Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications).
A booklet.

*SPURSTOWE, WILLIAM (1605-1666), The Wells of Salvation Opened: or, A Treatise Discovering the Nature, Preciousness, Usefulness of Gospel Promises, and Rules for the Right Application of Them (Edmonton, AB Canada: Still Waters Revival Books, 2001, 1655). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Also found on Puritan Bookshelf CD #17, and available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #16. A Christian classic.
"THE WELLS OF SALVATION . . . may well we the best book ever written on God's promises. The book contains the main content of several sermons which are introduced by Spurstowe in a preface. He writes, `The promises are a large field in which the wise Merchant may find more pearls hidden, than are yet espied: A rich mine in which the diligent laborer may dig forth more fine gold, than any yet have taken from them'." -- Joel Beeke, from the foreword

Thomas, Derek, Help for Hurting Christians (Darlington, Co., Durham, England: Evangelical Press and Services, Ltd.), ISBN: 0852342845 9780852342848.
"Thomas examines nine Psalms and draws from them practical help and encouragement for many different aspects of the Christian's daily walk with God." -- GCB

*Thomas Nelson Publishers, Precious Bible Promises (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983), 367 pages, ISBN: 0840753543 9780840753540.
Some of the 37,000 promises from the Word of God arranged by theme. Convenient for use in counseling. Good when you need help fast. Text is the New King James Version, pocket size.

Van Buren, James G., and Don DeWelt, What the Bible Says About Praise and Promise, ISBN: 0899000789 9780899000787.

*WATSON, THOMAS (1633-1686), All Things for Good: Romans 8:28, A Divine Cordial. Alternate title, A DIVINE CORDIAL. (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0851514782 9780851514789. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
"I would prescribe them to take, now and then, a little of this Cordial: all things work together for good to them that love God. To know that nothing hurts the godly, is a matter of comfort; but to be assured that all things which fall out shall cooperate for their good, that their crosses shall be turned into blessings, that showers of affliction water the withering root of their grace and make it flourish more; this may fill their hearts with joy till they run over." -- Thomas Watson, from the Preface
"Thomas Watson of St. Stephen's, Walbrook believed he faced two great difficulties in his pastoral ministry. The first was making the unbeliever sad, in the recognition of his need of God's grace. The second was making the believer joyful in response to God's grace. He believed the answer to the second difficulty could be found in Paul's teaching in Romans 8:28, God works all things together for good for his people.
"Watson's exposition is always simple, illuminating and rich in practical application. He explains that both the best and the worst experiences work for the good of God's people. He carefully analyses what it means to be someone who `loves God' and is `called according to his purpose.' ALL THINGS FOR GOOD provides the biblical answer to the contemporary question: `Why do bad things happen to good people'?" -- Publisher's Annotation

Winter, Richard, The Roots of Sorrow: Reflections on Depression and Hope.

*WITSIUS, HERMAN (1636-1708), The Economy of the Covenants. Alternate title: THE OECONOMY OF THE COVENANTS BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, COMPREHENDING A COMPLETE BODY OF DIVINITY. BY HERMAN WITSIUS, . . . FAITHFULLY TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN, AND CAREFULLY REVISED, BY WILLIAM CROOKSHANK, D.D. TO WHICH IS PREFIXED THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. . . . VOL. 1. DUBLIN, 1774. 3 VOLS. (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.) ISBN: 0875528708. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #27 ISBN: 0921148240 9780921148241. A Christian classic.
Witsius is considered to be the father of Covenant Theology.
"Witsius (1636-1708) was a Dutch theologian, professor of Divinity at the Universities of Frankes, Utrecht, and Leyden. . . . In the very full introduction by J.I. Packer, you can get a very good overview. And at the same time you will get a succinct but amazingly appropriate overview of the scriptural covenants. . . . Packer compares Witsius to John Owen as a thorough, meticulous scholar who thought through everything before he set his pen to paper. It was this reviewer's blessing to obtain a set of Witsius in his early Christian life, and can testify to much help from them." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Witsius, Herman, Of Election From Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man
http://www.truecovenanter.com/gospel/witsius_election.html
Witsius, Herman, Of the Violation of the Covenant of Works on the Part of Man from Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man
http://www.truecovenanter.com/gospel/witsius_violation_of_the_Covenant_of_Works.html
Witsius, Herman, Of Justification, From Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man
http://www.truecovenanter.com/gospel/witsius_justification.html
The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man: Comprehending a Complete Body of Divinity . . .
http://books.google.com/books?id=FJ8PAAAAIAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Repentance, the key to salvation and change, The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The promises of Christ, Bible promises, Immanuel, christ with you, christ in you, Appenix c, the words of Christ, Comfort, encouragement, Immortality, everlasting life, Soteriology, Angels, Ready reference, immediate counsel, The cross of christ, The resurrection, Heaven, The covenant faithfulness of god, Revelation, The love and justice of God, Forgiveness of sin, Justifying faith, Justification, Sanctification, Glorification, Attributes of God, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The ten commandments, the moral law, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Comfort, encouragement, The teaching of our lord jesus christ, Christ our example, Corporate Faithfulness, Christ's influence on western civilization, A theological interpretation of american history, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, How to become a christian, Book-length presentations of the free offer of the Gospel message of salvation and the life to come, Bible magistracy turns back the wrath of god, Affliction, adverstiy, trials, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 1191, 1691-1699, 3719, 4186
MGTP: Hope

Related WebLinks

Words of Christ Appearing in Biblical Counsel: Resources for Renewal (The Web Edition)
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappa.html

Justifying Faith
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#justfaith

A Resolution to Combat Mind Control With Truth
http://www.lettermen2.com/mindc.html

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Hostility and Violence

Whosoever hateth is brother is a murderer, and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15)

Let no corrupt word out of your mouth go forth, but what is good unto the needful building up, that it may give grace to the hearers. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and become one to another kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, according as also God in Christ did forgive you. (Ephesians 4:29,31,32, YLTHB)

In all times of danger from men our wisest course is to fly to the Lord our helper. He has ways and means for delivering us which we know not of. He can either turn our enemies into friends, or else so check all their efforts that they shall do us no real injury. Blessed are those men whose trust in the Lord never wavers. -- C.H. Spurgeon, commenting on Psalm 124 and Genesis 31:36-44 in Spurgeon's Devotional Bible, p. 45

Anthropologists tell us that one-third of all human beings who have lived on this planet have died at the hands of their brothers -- that fully one-third of the human race have died through war, violence, crime, and sudden death at the hands of another human being. -- D. James Kennedy

Word: "disease;" Meaning; "disturb;" Sample location: "Luke 8:49" -- from the "Glossary," 1599 Geneva Bible. Tolle Lege edition DISEASE, n. Dizeze. [dis and ease.] 1. In its primary sense, pain, uneasiness, distress, and so used by Spenser; but in this sense, obsolete. 2. The cause of pain or uneasiness . . . disorder; any state of a living body in which the natural functions of the organs are interrupted or disturbed . . . The first effect of disease is uneasiness or pain, and the ultimate effect is death. . . . 3. A disordered state of the mind or intellect, by which the reason is impaired. 4. In society, vice; corrupt state of morals. Vices are called moral diseases. A wise man converses with the wicked, as a physician with the sick, not to catch the disease, but to cure it. 5. Political or civil disorder, or vices in a state; any practice which tends to disturb the peace of society, or impede or prevent the regular administration of government. The instability, injustice and confusion introduced into the public councils have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have every where perished. DISEASE, v.t. dizeze. 1. To interrupt or impair any or all the natural and regular functions of the several organs of a living body [i.e. robbing a neighbor of sleep -- sk]; to afflict with pain or sickness to make morbid . . . 2. To interrupt or render imperfect the regular functions of the brain, or of the intellect; to disorder; to derange. 3. To infect; to communicate disease to, by contagion. 4. To pain; to make uneasy. --1828 edition of Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Hostility," "Testing," and so forth, and so on.

Adams, James E., War Psalms (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.), ISBN: 0875520936 9780875520933.
Foreword by Jay Edward Adams, not to be confused with the author, James E. Adams.
"As to the number of imprecatory Psalms, there are differing opinions. Some scholars see as few as three, others as many as twenty. The reason for this difference is that there are a number of Psalms that contain elements of malediction. It seems to this writer that there are at least ten such Psalms: 7, 35, 55, 58, 69, 79, 83, 109, 137, and 139. -- W. Gary Crampton in "What About the Imprecatory Psalms?"
Other Psalms that might be considered imprecatory: Psalm 3, 6, 17, 28, 56, 64, 73, 83, 86, 90, 94, 102, 105, 140, and 142.

*FOXE, JOHN, John Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Actes and Monuments of Matters Most Speciall and Memorable, the second edition of Foxe's Book of Martyrs Variorum Edition Online (version 1.1 - summer 2006). A Christian classic.
This is "the revised version (v.1.1) of Foxe's Book of Martyrs Variorum Edition Online. This [free online] edition contains the full text of three of the four editions (1563, 1570, 1583). The 1570 edition is missing books 3 and 4. These will be added in subsequent versions."
http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/johnfoxe/index.html
Foxe, John, John Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Actes and Monuments of Matters Most Speciall and Memorable, ISBN: 0197262252 9780197262252.
"This CD-ROM combines readable and printable images of 2,200 pages of text and woodcut engravings from the 1583 edition, the last for which Foxe was personally responsible."
Other editions: Acts and Monuments or Foxe's Book of Martyrs, 1554, 1843-49 edition, 8 volumes. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
" 'No book ever inflicted a wound so deep and incurable on the Romish system of superstition and bloody persecution . . . (it) was placed in . . . all churches and chapels throughout the kingdom, by order of Queen Elizabeth.' (Smith, Select Memoirs, p. 245). Contains much information not found in any of the liberally edited and severely shortened editions of this classic work which are in print today. Covering martyrs from the early church through to Foxe's day, it was one of the most influential books of the sixteenth century! It overflows with faith building testimony of the power of God to overcome the most cruel and barbarous acts of human depravity and demonic cruelty. 6890 pages. A very rare set, now back in print after 150 years!" -- SWRB
"After the Bible itself, no book so profoundly influenced early Protestant sentiment as the BOOK OF MARTYRS. Even in our time it is still a living force. It is more than a record of persecution. It is an arsenal of controversy, a storehouse of romance, as well as a source of edification." -- James Miller Dodds, English Prose
"When one recollects that until the appearance of the PILGRIM'S PROGRESS the common people had almost no other reading matter except the BIBLE and FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS, we can understand the deep impression that this book produced; and how it served to mold the national character. Those who could read for themselves learned the full details of all the atrocities performed on the Protestant reformers; the illiterate could see the rude illustrations of the various instruments of torture, the rack, the gridiron, the boiling oil, and then the holy ones breathing out their souls amid the flames. Take a people just awakening to a new intellectual and religious life; let several generations of them, from childhood to old age, pore over such a book, and its stories become traditions as individual and almost as potent as songs and customs on a nation's life." -- Douglas Campbell, The Puritan in Holland, England, and America
"If we divest the book of its accidental character of feud between churches, it yet stands, in the first years of Elizabeth's reign, a monument that marks the growing strength of a desire for spiritual freedom, defiance of those forms that seek to stifle conscience and fetter thought." -- Henry Morley, English Writers
"John Foxe was a prince among believers. He had his printing press on a cart, and had often to print at night, moving his press before dawn to escape capture and burning at the stake. He never faltered in his purpose to leave a voluminous written witness to the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep His saints in love and peace." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

*Hassan, Steven, Combating Cult Mind Control: The #1 Best-Selling Guide to Protection, Rescue and Recovery From Destructive Cults (Rochester, VT: Park Street Press, 1988), ISBN: 0892814225 9780892814220.
Recognize the signs of destructive organizations and protect yourself from psychological manipulation.
"Remarkably useful and important. I heartily recommend this book to anyone affected by the cult experience. Hassan's work will be valuable to health professionals, clergy, attorneys, and all those involved with cults, their members, and the families whose lives they touch." -- Louis Jolyon West, M.D., Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, UCLA School of Medicine.
Chapter 4, "Understanding Mind Control," explains how to recognize mind control activities.
Includes bibliography, bibliographical footnotes, index, and an appendix of resource organizations. Recommended as a valuable reference work. A secular author.
An Understanding of Cult Mind Control
http://www.shassan.com/

Hefley, James, and Marti Hefle, By Their Blood: Christian Martyrs of the 20th Century (Milford, MI: Mott Media), ISBN: 0915134284 9780915134281.
"Too often we forget that God's people are suffering and being martyred. Here in a vivid book we are awakened. What FOXE'S BOOK OF MARTYRS did for generations past this book does for our generation." -- GCB
"The book begins with accounts of the martyrs during the Boxer Rebellion in China, continues with martyrs in Japan and Korea, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Nazi Germany, and of the Soviet Union and its communist regimes. Then there are martyrs from the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and from Latin America. . . .
"The stories themselves are gruesome. There is no viciousness like the viciousness of those who worship humanly-conceived gods. Like the Roman Catholic inquisitors in the sixteenth century, men in all nations have at one time or another sought to physically torture Christians to make them recant their testimonies. It is said that for every Christian Stalin murdered in Russia, two or more were raised up by God, until Stalin ordered the killing stopped for fear the whole nation would become Christians. Despite the lurid details of the torture, we recommend that everyone read the books that tell of martyrs dying for the cause of God and truth. This goes for children. Before you cry out, remember what they are watching on television, and seeing in movies, yes, and reading in Stephen King books, and others of that kind. Horror stories are best-sellers in our times. Let the children learn what horrible things are being done to Christians merely because they believe and obey God's word, and because of it worship the Lord Jesus Christ. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

Hudson, Pamela S., Ritual Child Abuse: Discovery, Diagnosis and Treatment (Saratoga, CA: R&E Publishers, 1991), ISBN: 0882478672 9780882478678.
Includes bibliographical references.
"I am a psychotherapist who works with trauma. I used to believe that ritual abuse was an urban legend; now I know better. I've worked with enough survivors and specialists who treat Dissociative Identity Disorder, previously called Multiple Personality Disorder, that I know Satanic Ritual Abuse and many other forms of ritual abuse are very real. It is very real and survivors are typically afraid to seek out help from mental health professionals for it and are severely dis-served by the denial of mental health practitioners.
"This book is a little simplistic but is a good introduction to working with Ritual Abuse Survivors. I recommend reading this to help wrap your mind around ritual abuse, then, if you are a professional read Dee Brown's book on SATANIC RITUAL ABUSE. That is an excellent resource." -- Reader's Comment

*Hyde, Margaret O., Cry Softly! The Story of Child Abuse, revised and enlarged (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1986), ISBN: 0664327233.
Includes bibliography. Indexed.
"The rising tide of child abuse makes this book a must. Deals with the reasons, as well as the treatment. Provides information on `Hotlines,' `Suggestions for Further Reading,' and `National Organizations Concerned With Child Abuse'." -- Cyril J. Barber

Hyde, Margaret O., Sexual Abuse: Let's Talk About it, revised and enlarged edition (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1987), ISBN: 0664327257 9780664327255
"Draws attention to what is becoming a `national epidemic.' Points out how pastors may recognize the victims and deal with the trauma and anger of those who feel violated. Practical." -- Cyril J. Barber
"Discusses the sexual abuse of children, how they can protect themselves, where they can seek help, the kinds of help available, and how to increase public awareness of this problem."

*Johnston, Jerry, with Bill Stern, The Edge of Evil: The Rise of Satanism in North America (Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1989), ISBN: 0849906687 9780849906688.
Foreword by Geraldo Rivera. "Amid the hoopla and shock of occult mysteries and Jerry Johnston's trans-continental investigation he ferrets out the truth. The intoxication of satanic power, the mind-warping of Satan's new children isn't easy reading, but it is must reading for every parent, educator, and teenager desiring to be protected. . . . Jerry Johnston's profound impact on young people and their parents has been acclaimed by educators, clergy, mayors, media personalities, politicians, and President Reagan coast-to-coast
. . . . Johnston is considered an expert on youth culture and trends. . . ." -- Publisher's Annotation

Mack, Wayne A., Where are You in Relation to God? (Mack Publishing Co., 1973), 18 pages.
"Shows the diverse ways people express their hostility and alienation from God. Then shows how God in Jesus Christ reconciles people to himself. Closes with a call and challenge: 'Are you looking to Jesus Christ alone for salvation? Have you been reconciled and are you enjoying fellowship and communion with God?. Well, if not, I challenge you to consider your condition, for you are still in a state of alienation from God. You are alienated from God by your sinful attitudes and by your sinful activities, and God is angry with you. come to God. Confess your sins. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved'." -- David Powlison

Martin, Grant, Counseling in Cases of Family Violence and Abuse (Resources in Christian Counseling Series, Vol. 6. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1987), ISBN: 0849905877 9780849905872.

*Miller, Wendell E. Forgiveness: The Power and the Puzzles, ISBN: 0964144115 9780964144118.
"Defines God's forgiveness in four ways: (1) initial forgiveness releases us from the penalty of sin and (2) restores us to fellowship with God, and (3) repetitive forgiveness releases us from the day by day penalty for fresh sins, and (4) restores us day by day to fellowship. Defines our forgiveness of others in two ways: (1) vertical forgiveness between us and God (Mark 11:25) releases others from the penalty of our wrath, and (2) horizontal forgiveness (Luke 17:3) restores the relationship between us and others who repent. Discusses flaws in such ideas as 'forgiving God' and 'forgiving oneself'." -- David Powlison
"It could have been called "The Anger Handbook" because it teaches how to overcome problems of hurt feelings, anger, and aggressive behavior. Overcoming problems of anger is crucial. Spouse abuse, failures in marriages, failures in child rearing, and even child abuse often erupt from anger. Parents who model angry behavior are likely to raise children with anger problems. And most importantly, God is not glorified by Christians who have anger problems.
"It teaches the kind of forgiveness that is nearly always an absolute necessity to becoming really free from the trauma of sexual abuse. . . .
"FORGIVENESS: THE POWER AND THE PUZZLES will add biblical power to the books that you already have on Christian living, discipleship, marriage, child rearing, anger, communications, forgiveness, and sexual abuse." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Morey, Robert, The New Atheism and the Erosion of Freedom (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, c1986), ISBN: 0875523625 9780875523620.
"Exposes the godless suppression of religious freedom today and presents effective ways to convert atheists to Christ. In case you have not noticed atheism/secular humanism is gaining ground. Are you grounded in what these philosophies teach? Can you refute them? Dr. Morey will show you how." -- GCB
The American Atheist Union has said this is the most dangerous book ever written about religion. Includes bibliography.

Nason-Clark, Nancy, Catherine Clark Kroeger, No Place for Abuse: Biblical and Practical Resources to Counteract Violence (InterVarsity Press, May 2001), ISBN: 083082295X 9780830822959.

Pellauer, Mary D., Barbara Chester, and Jane Boyajian (editors), Sexual Assault and Abuse: A Handbook for Clergy and Religious Professionals, ISBN: 0060665076 9780060665074.
"Illustrated with case histories this book, primarily by women (only two chapters are by men), helps counselors and therapists recognize the patterns of sexual assault and sexual abuse. From this premise the gears are switched and the contributors discuss the reasons for violence in our milieu, and the threat this poses to children, teens, and adults." -- Cyril J. Barber

*Scheneman, Mark A., The Identification of Models of Ministry for Clergy and Congregations to Confront the Destructive Cults (The Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, D.Min. thesis, 1983).
"This project undertook the task of identifying and suggesting models of ministry which clergy and congregations might find appropriate and helpful in dealing with destructive cults. . . . It was argued that destructive cults ought to be confronted on moral and procedural grounds, rather than for theological considerations." -- Dissertation Abstracts

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The ten commandments, the moral law, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Heaven, Hell, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, War, Anger, Gratuitous sex, a cause of violence, Abortion and the sanctity of life, Abuse, Adultery, Child Abuse, Divorce, Homosexuality, Incest, Rape, Sexually transmitted diseases, Pornography, Emotions and health, Hypocracy, New Age, Persecution, Pseudo-Christian movements, The courts and the law base, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Envy and jealousy, Vengeance and retaliation, Bad relationships a cause of disease and death, Psychology and psychiatry, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 2213, 3350

Related WebLinks

The Doctrine of Man (Human Nature, Total Depravity)
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr2cha.html#domhntd

Rebellion and Lawlessness: Wickedness, Demonic Possession, Substance Abuse, Abnormal Behavior, Insanity, Mental Illness, Mental Retardation
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappd.html#rlinsane

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html

An Understanding of Cult Mind Control
http://www.shassan.com/

The Biblical Solution to Terrorism
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappd.html#terror



Human Rights

Western society has given itself the organization best suited to its purposes, based, I would say, on the letter of the law. The limits of human rights and righteousness are determined by a system of laws; such limits are very broad. People in the West have acquired considerable skill in using, interpreting and manipulating law, even though laws tend to be too complicated for an average person to understand without the help of an expert. Any conflict is solved according to the letter of the law and this is considered to be the supreme solution. If one is right from a legal point of view, nothing more is required, nobody may mention that one could still not be entirely right, and urge self-restraint, a willingness to renounce such legal rights, sacrifice and selfless risk: it would sound simply absurd. One almost never sees voluntary self-restraint. Everybody operates at the extreme limit of those legal frames. An oil company is legally blameless when it purchases an invention of a new type of energy in order to prevent its use. A food product manufacturer is legally blameless when he poisons his produce to make it last longer: after all, people are free not to buy it.
I have spent all my life under a communist regime and I will tell you that a society without any objective legal scale is a terrible one indeed. But a society with no other scale but the legal one is not quite worthy of man either. A society which is based on the letter of the law and never reaches any higher is taking very scarce advantage of the high level of human possibilities. The letter of the law is too cold and formal to have a beneficial influence on society. Whenever the tissue of life is woven of legalistic relations, there is an atmosphere of moral mediocrity, paralyzing man's noblest impulses. And it will be simply impossible to stand through the trials of this threatening century with only the support of a legalistic structure. -- Alexander Solzhenitsyn, from A World Split Apart, a commencement speech given at Harvard University, June 8, 1978

A fundamental tenet of Western civilization is that government is supposed to protect the weakest among us -- not just the healthy, the strong and the rich. It is the job of the President to use the bully pulpit and the power of his office to reinforce this principle time and time again. -- Steve Forbes in "The Moral Basis of a Free Society," an address to The Heritage Foundation, Washington, D.C., October 21, 1997

Persecution of Christians is the leading human rights problem in the world today, and militant Islamics are at the forefront of the bloody persecution worldwide. The Islamic Jehad is currently responsible for some of the most horrible persecution of Christians in the world in Sudan, Lebanon, and Indonesia.

Black, John, Divine and Human Rights, or, The Westminster Confession and the Constitution of the United States Tested by the Holy Scripture. In MISCELLANEOUS, VOL. 6, 1819-1849.

Chomsky, Noam, and Edward S. Herman, The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism (Political Economy of Human Rights, Vol 1) (South End Press, May 1980), ISBN: 0896080919 9780896080911.
"Chomsky and Herman present a brilliant, shattering, and convincing account of United States-backed suppression of political and human rights in the Third World. The 'best and brightest' pundits of the status quo emerge from this book thoroughly denuded of their credibility." -- Ingram

Donohue, William A., The New Freedom: Individualism and Collectivism in the Social Lives of Americans (New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 1989), ISBN: 0887382983 9780887382987.
"How liberals are unraveling our social fabric via loose morals, the `rights industry,' and big government."

*Harrison, Roland Kenneth (editor), Encyclopedia of Biblical and Christian Ethics, revised and updated (Testament, March 4, 2003), 480 pages, ISBN: 0517222280
"A comprehensive reference work for everyone concerned with the complicated moral issues of this world, this unique volume clearly communicates what Scripture teaches about the ethical dilemmas facing our society. Biological warfare, corporate responsibility, human rights, computer ethics, and much more are discussed by over fifty scholars who explain the moral guidelines in the Bible and historic Christian teachings.
"R.K. Harrison, author and editor of over thirty books on biblical studies, has brought together a valuable A to B treasury of thought for every believer searching for guidance." -- Publisher's Annotation
"A compendium of reliable information. Arranged in dictionary format, 550 entries and 61 contributors. Goes beyond descriptive data to the practical application of truth to a variety of situations . . . . The book is well-indexed. . . . Treats ethical areas like apartheid and surrogate motherhood. Probably the best available evangelical treatment of this type." -- GCB

*Hartmann, Thom, Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights (Rodale Press, October 2002), ISBN: 1579546277 9781579546274.
"This extraordinary book combines meticulous historical and legal research with a clear and compelling writing style to demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt the incompatibility of corporate personhood with democracy, the market economy, and the well-being of society. Complete with a practical program for essential reform to restore the rights of real persons -- including model legislation -- it is essential reading and an invaluable reference work for every citizen who cares about democracy, justice, and the human future." -- David C. Korten, author of When Corporations Rule the World
"Beneath the success and rise of American enterprise is an untold history that is antithetical to every value Americans hold dear. This is a seminal work, a godsend really, a clear message to every citizen about the need to reform our country, laws, and companies." --Paul Hawken, author of Natural Capitalism and The Ecology of Commerce
"Unequal taxes, unequal accountability for crime, unequal influence, unequal privacy, and unequal access to natural resources and our commons -- these inequalities and more are the effects of corporations winning the rights of persons while simultaneously being given the legal protections to avoid the responsibilities that come with these rights. Hartmann tells the intriguing story of how it got this way -- from the colonists' rebellion against the commercial interests of the British elite to the distorted application of the Fourteenth Amendment -- and how to get back to a government of, by, and for the people.
"Over the past two centuries, those playing the corporate game at the very highest levels seem to have won a victory for themselves -- a victory that is turning bitter in the mouths of many of the six billion humans on planet Earth. It's even turning bitter in unexpected ways for those who won it, as they find their own lives and families touched by an increasingly toxic environment, fragile and top-heavy economy, and hollow culture -- all traceable back to the frenetic systems of big business that resulted from the doctrine that corporations are persons."
"Hartmann combines a remarkable piece of historical research with a brilliant literary style to tell the grand story of corporate corruption and its consequences for society with the force and readability of a great novel. I intended to take a first quick glance and then couldn't put it down." -- David C. Korten, author of When Corporations Rule the World
"UNEQUAL PROTECTION should be in the hands of every thinking American. If we do not awaken soon, democracy will be replaced by a new 'Third Reich' of corporate tyranny. To be aware of the danger is the responsibility of each of us. No one has told us the truth better than Thom Hartmann. Read it!" -- Gerry Spence, author of Give Me Liberty
"Essential reading for anyone concerned about the future of democracy, both here and abroad. With devastating precision and well-reasoned passion, Thom Hartmann shows the reader precisely how the corporate entity gained such a perilously dominant role in the life of a nation whose founders meant for its politics to respond to the concerns of people and communities, not return-seeking corporations." -- Jeff Gates, president, Shared Capitalism Institute, author, Democracy at Risk
Thom Hartmann's, Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights. A Review by Richard W. Behan
"Unequal Protection may prove to be the most significant book in the history of corporate personhood, a doctrine which dates to 1886. For 116 years, corporate personhood has been scrutinized and criticized, but never seriously threatened. Now Thom Hartmann has discovered a fatal legal flaw in its origin: corporate personhood is doomed."
http://www.main.nc.us/pace/18_corporate/

McCLURE, DONALD, First Amendment a Master Piece of Satan Contra Antiestablishmentarianism. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"This article was sent to 278 members of the Canadian Parliament. It debunks the idea that it is right for majorities to determine law through their elected officials in opposition to God's holy law. It also opposes the false theories of human rights found in the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States. In short, and in agreement with both the Belgic and Westminster Confessions, it opposes 'the presumption that a government, ordained of God, can be neutral, and can make no law stating that Jesus Christ is King of the Nation, and that it can hold all religions, which are repugnant to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, equal before it'." -- SWRB

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The ten commandments, the moral law, Ethics, Medical ethics, Casuistry and conscience, Persecution, Colossians, The sufficiency of christ, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Leniency, The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Blasphemy, The westminster confession of faith (1646), Holiness, Sanctification, Persecution, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, Toleration, Suicide, The decline of american society and so forth, and so on.

Related WebLinks

CorpWatch's Resources on Human Rights
http://www.corpwatch.org/trac/feature/humanrts/resources/index.html



Humility

See the Theological Notes, "The Humble Obedience of Christ," at John 5:19 in The Reformation Study Bible.

The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:17)

The Treasury of David, Psalm 131, C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps131.htm

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micha 6:8)

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:16)

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:30)

Our Triune God has ordained that authority, power, and leadership devolves to those who know the most Truth (the Apostle Paul, Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, The Scots Worthies . . . ). Preeminent among those is the Lord Christ, the God Man, Our Righteousness. (John 1:1-18; Matthew 19:30; Matthew 28:18-20; Isaiah 49:7; Colossians 1:16-19; Colossians 2:9,10; Hebrews 12:1,2; Revelation 5:1-14; Revelation 19:11-15; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 22:12, and so forth, and so on.)

To serve God is to reign. -- Seneca

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 21:42)

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 18:16)

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 18:4-6)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 13:16)

But I must close with this. It is not merely by testimony that we use this potent truth. We must support that testimony by our zeal and energy. We need concentrated, consecrated energy; for it is written, "They loved not their lives unto the death." We shall not overcome Satan if we are fine gentlemen, fond of ease and honour. As long as Christian people must needs enjoy the world, the devil will suffer little at their hands. They that overcame the world in the old days were humble men and woman, generally poor, always despised, who were never ashamed of Christ, who only lived to tell of his love, and died by tens of thousands rather than cease to bear testimony to the blood of the Lamb. They overcame by their heroism; their intense devotion to the cause secured the victory. Their lives to them were as nothing when compared with the honour of their Lord. -- C.H. Spurgeon in a sermon, The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon

No grace is stronger than humility. No man is weaker than a proud man. For a proud man rests on nothing, and a humble man that empties himself, he stands upon the Rock. We should therefore make use of the strength of Christ, that hath not only abundance for himself, but an abundance for us, an overflowing for every Christian for his good. . . . let us as much as we can empty ourselves of ourselves, and stir up the spirit of faith. Go to Christ. So much faith as we carry, so much grace we bring from him. If we do but touch him by faith, the issue of our corruptions will be dried up in some measure, and we shall have a spring of graces in us answerable to the graces in him, Mat. ix. 20. -- Richard Sibbes

To the conquering of pride, it is necessary that you perceive that indeed it is in yourselves, and is the radical sin, and the very poison of your hearts; and that you set yourselves watchfully to mark its motions; and make it a principal part of your religion and business of your lives to overcome it, and to walk in humility with God and man." -- Richard Baxter

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Humility," and so forth, and so on.

*BAXTER, RICHARD (1615-1691), A Christian Directory: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1. Full title: A Christian Directory: or A Sum of Practical Theology, and Cases of Conscience. Directing Christians How to Use Their Knowledge and Faith; How to Improve all Helps and Means, and to Perform all Duties; How to Overcome Temptations, and to Escape or Mortify Every Sin. In Four Parts.
I. Christian Ethics (or Private Duties)
II. Christian Economics (or Family Duties)
III. Christian Ecclesiastics (or Church Duties)
IV. Christian Politics (or Duties to Our Rulers and Neighbours) (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, 1990, 1838, 1707, 1678, 1673), ISBN: 1877611131 9781877611131. Foreword by J.I. Packer (Soli Deo Gloria edition only). The Soli Deo Gloria publication is a facsimile reprint of the 19th century reprint by George Virtue, London, 1846. The original 1673 edition and the 1678 edition, both printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons. Bibliographic and scriptural footnotes. A Christian classic.
"The complete practical works of Richard Baxter are in print in four volumes entitled BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS. This volume (about 1 1/4 million words, 1028 pages) is volume one of the set. The editor's preface (1707), p. xiii, stated that the works of Richard Baxter are 'perhaps the best body of practical divinity that is extent in our own or any other tongue.' Richard Baxter lived from 1615-1691. The DIRECTORY was completed in 1665. Its scope was intended to cover all of practical theology, a summa of casuistry . . ." -- Don Kistler
"Baxter's series, which grew in range and scope as it proceeded . . . is a peak point in Puritan devotional writing, and remains a precious resource for all, in this or any age, who want to know what is involved in Biblical godliness. . . . A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY may justly be described as a landmark. It is the fullest, most thorough, and in this writer's judgment, most profound treatment of Christian spirituality and standards that has ever been attempted by an English-speaking Evangelical author. The fact that it embraces both spirituality and standards (the principles of communion with God plus the specifics of obedience to God) merits approving comment in itself; nowadays spirituality and ethics have become two distinct disciplines in the schools, and books written on either say virtually nothing about the other . . ." -- J.I. Packer
Timothy Keller calls it the greatest manual on Biblical counseling ever produced.
"There are many Puritan classics on this subject. Thomas Brooks' PRECIOUS REMEDIES FOR SATAN'S DEVICES, Thomas Goodwin's A CHILD OF LIGHT WALKING IN DARKNESS, William Bridge's A LIFTING UP FOR THE DOWNCAST, and many other similar works give evidence that the Puritans were. . . . masters at applying Biblical answers and principles to problems that can only be solved by spiritual means. No Puritan work, however, has ever approached the popularity, the scope, or the depth of Baxter's classic treatise. With the widespread interest in counseling in today's church, this reprint of Baxter's work should be a welcome addition to every pastor's library, or to anyone else who wishes to give solid Biblical answers to man's questions." -- Don Kistler
"We have long waited for a purely Biblical treatment of the spiritual ills and cures of men which is untainted by the views of psychology. Since Baxter lived about 200 years before psychology arrived, his deep work is completely void of its encroachment -- thankfully!" -- John MacArthur
"The kings men sought to arrest Richard Baxter, but he traveled ceaselessly from place to place, writing his sermons and his books even on horseback (he had an inkwell in his saddle) and preached over a wide area." -- Brian H. Edwards
"Baxter was a wonder of his age. His writings total 72 large volumes, much of it written on horseback as he traveled in his widespread preaching efforts. He seldom, if ever, edited anything he wrote. Knowing this any reader will be amazed at how well he communicated his deep love for his Savior. For 26 years he was public enemy No. 1 to the king, yet he lived to see the flight of the king in 1688." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
POOR MAN'S FAMILY BOOK (1674) and THE CATECHIZING OF FAMILIES (1683), found elsewhere in BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, are less detailed works. They are more suitable for family instruction than are the detailed presentation in A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY.
" Ptacek in Family Worship (p. 51-52), supplies the following information in regard to Baxter and this book. He notes that after the Episcopalians ejected numerous `nonconformists,' in what is know as the `great ejection,' in 1662, `Baxter pastored from house to house, visiting families of his parish in their homes. These visits contributed to Baxter's A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, a large and still very relevant manual of pastoral care.' Focusing on just one area of great importance, Ptacek demonstrates how this book's relevance is not limited by time or culture, though sometimes the use of specific words are. `Published in 1673, but written 1664-65, a large book-length part of Baxter's CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY is devoted to the family. It is entitled `Christian Economics' based on the archaic usage of the word, which reflects the proper sense of the Greek root oikonomos as the manager of a household, in the Christian case, the spiritual leader of the family. The family head is essential to Baxter's view of family worship and instruction. Baxter asserts that it is God's will that this instruction be carried out by the rulers of the families.' For a male head of the household to fail to do so, or to have another instruct in the family, is contrary to his position of authority.' This is the kind of book that can be passed on from generation to generation and still find much use in the service of the kingdom of God. . . .
"Though relatively weak on corporate sanctification, corporate faithfulness and some important areas of doctrine (such as justification), Baxter's work on subjects related to personal piety can be of good practical use to the Christian -- if one is careful to separate out his aberrant doctrinal views and any practical errors they may lead to." -- SWRB
This work is available in many editions, and in many formats.
Reformation Heritage Books has new copies of the Soli Deo Gloria edition as of March 2008, even though it is generally thought to be out of print. They acquired Soli Deo Gloria from Ligonier Ministries in late 2007. They may be the publisher who will eventually reprints the title.
http://www.heritagebooks.org/
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue is available as a Cerlox bound photocopy from Still Waters Revival Books, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
The reprint by George Virtue is available online and may be downloaded in PDF format at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/baxter/practical.toc.html
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue appears in full preview in Google Books but may not be downloaded. This Google Books scan includes the contents in detail on pages iii-xix. This contents in detail is not included in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library PDF files. About five other editions from libraries are available in Google Books, and may be downloaded (August 2008).
Notice that the e-text in Google Books has the advantage of being searchable. Searching an image-based PDF file is not possible, unless the user owns software such as Abode Acrobat Pro or Kirtas BookScan Editor. They both have an OCR (optical character recognition) feature that will search an image-based PDFs (bit-map scans). Searches appear to be perfect in this work, although one must know Baxter's vocabulary. Text can be cut and paste from image-based PDF format to OCR (character) format. This particular Google Books scan can not be cut and pasted or downloaded.
http://books.google.com/books?id=cyQFBOUHkaoC&dq=A+Christian+Directory+inpublisher:lettermen+inpublisher:associates&lr=&as_brr=0&ie=ISO-8859-1
One of the older, multi-volume editions of THE WORKS OF RICHARD BAXTER is available at Monergism.com in the "Puritan Library," "Richard Baxter." A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, volume 23. It can be downloaded.
http://www.puritanlibrary.com/
Another older edition is available on microfilm (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1970), 1 microfilm reel, 35 mm (Early English books, 1641-1700; 343:11).
The following three excerpts are included as bonus free books on Reformation Bookshelf CD #28, ISBN: 0921148267 9780921148265.
1. "The Duties of Parents for Their Children" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. X., pp. 449-454.
2. "The Special Duties of Children Towards Their Parents" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XI., pp. 454-457.
3. "The Special Duties of Children and Youth Towards God" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XII., pp. 457-458).
The Practical Works of Richard Baxter: A Christian Directory, Vol. 1
A summary of currently available publications.
http://www.lettermen2.com/pwrbcd.html

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Reformed Pastor: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000, 1992), ISBN: 1877611360.
"This is the fourth and final volume in this great set. Includes, [`Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men,' -- sk] `The Reformed Pastor' `Poor Man's Family Book,' `The Catechizing of Families,' and `The Mother's Catechism,' in all 25 sermons, treatises, and catechisms. Dr. J.I. Packer says, `For me, the great joy of this year is that it see the completion of Soli Deo Gloria's reprint of Baxter's incomparable PRACTICAL WORKS'." -- GCB
Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men (1681), by Richard Baxter
http://www.lettermen2.com/ccaym.html

*Calvin, John, Sermons on the Beatitudes (Banner of Truth, November 2006), ISBN: 0851519342 9780851519340.

Horton, Robert F., The Commandments of Jesus.

Preston, John (1587-1628), A Liveles Life: or, Mans Spirituall Death in Sinne. Wherein is both learnedly and profitably handled these foure doctrines the spirituall death in sinne. The doctrine of humiliation. Mercy to be found in Christ. Continuance in sinne, dangerous. Being the substance of severall sermons upon Ephes. 2. 1,2,3. And you hath he quickned, who were dead in trespasses and sins, &c. Whereunto is annexed a profitable sermon at Lincolnes Inne, on Gen. XXII. XIV. Delivered by that late faithful preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Majesty, master of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne, 1633.

See also: The sovereignty of god, Christ our example, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Repentance the key to salvation and change, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The covenant faithfulness of god, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Pride, Self, Self-denial, Covetousness, greed and selfishness
TCRB5: 1714-1731

Related WebLinks

The Commandments of Jesus, J.S. McConnell (1925)
http://www.wowzone.com/commandm.htm



Hypocracy

Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. (Psalm 66:3)

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it: and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. (Proverbs 26:28)

Calvin's Commentary on Isaiah 29:1-24
14. Therefore, behold, I add to do. He threatens that he will punish by blinding not only the ignorant or the ordinary ranks, but those wise men who were held in admiration by the people. From this vengeance we may easily learn how hateful a vice hypocrisy is, and how greatly it is abhorred by God, as the Prophet spoke a little before about human inventions; for what kind of punishment is more dreadful than blindness of mind and stupidity? This indeed is not commonly perceived by men, nor are they aware of the greatness of this evil; but it is the greatest and most wretched of all. http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/comment3/comm_vol14/htm/xviii.htm

Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. (Isaiah 66:5)

And they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11)

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:21)

For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. (Romans 2:24. See Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:21-23)

But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. (1 Peter 3:14)

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:4)

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 3:16)

See the Theological Notes, "The Final Judgment," at Matthew 25:41 in The Reformation Study Bible.

They say of the nightingale, that when she is solitary in the woods, she is careless of her note; but when she conceives that she hath any auditors, or is near houses, then she composes herself more quaintly and elegantly. Verily, this is the frame and temper of the best hypocrites. -- Thomas Brooks

No hypocrite can bear the cross. -- Henry Smith

It is by the mixture of counterfeit religion with true, not discerned and distinguished, that the devil has had his greatest advantage against the cause and kingdom of Christ. It is by this means, principally, that he has prevailed against all revivings of religion, since the first founding of the Christian church. . . . By this, Satan prevailed against the reformation, began by Luther. Zwinglius, etc., to put a stop to its progress, and bring it into disgrace, ten times more than by all those bloody and cruel persecutions of the church of Rome. By this, principally, has he prevailed against revivals of religion in our nation. By this he prevailed against New England, to quench the love and spoil the joy of her espousals, about a hundred years ago. And I think, I have had opportunity enough to see plainly, that by this the devil has prevailed against the late great revival of religion in New England, so happy and promising in its beginning. -- Jonathan Edwards, in the Preface to The Religious Affections

Simplicity is the ordinary attendant of sincerity. -- Richard Baxter

Hypocrites are like pictures on canvas, they show fairest at farthest. -- Thomas Adams

The Church has never been perfect. Far from it. But the total record should be examined. In doing so, the good far, far outweighs the bad. Besides, Christian belief is in Christ, not in Christians. . . .
Genuine Christianity must be distinguished from nominal Christianity. Some people have called themselves "Christians" who have lived in total opposition to the principles and teachings of the Master from Nazareth. But when we distinguish between name and reality, we see that genuine Christianity has been an unmixed blessing on the world. . . .
Christianity is comprised of those who have repented of their sins and truly believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and their Lord. In times past Christendom was comprised of those people living in "Christian" territories. Today, Christendom is comprised of true Christians and those professing Christians who have never experienced the saving grace of Christ. Many members of Christendom have lived lives that were totally unworthy of the name Christian.
When people are unregenerate -- that is, if their hearts are not changed by Christ -- they are prone to do all sorts of ungodly and inhuman things. It doesn't matter whether they're atheistic Communists or clerics in the Church. And in the case of unregenerate Church Leaders, their evil actions have brought the blame of history upon Christianity.
There is a Church visible (Christendom) and there is a Church invisible (true Christianity). . . . The Bible points out that the visible Church is not the real Church of Christ. The real Church of Christ is invisible, and it consists of all who truly belong to God as His elect -- all those who will ever be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Judas Iscariot was a member of the visible Church of Christ, but not the invisible. . . .
The devil has been able to infiltrate the Church [Matthew 13:24-30,37-39]. Thus, as Jesus forewarned, the Church contains believers and nonbelievers alike. . . .
While Jesus told us to love our neighbor and even our enemies, He did predict that Christianity would prove divisive per se [Luke 12:51-53]. . . .
Now, the Scripture teaches we are to be at peace will all, inasmuch as it is up to us (Romans 12:18). But we are to put Christ first in our lives . . . True faith can elicit a hostile reaction, even when practiced with a gentle and humble spirit. The division that Christ talked about here is the natural outworking of unbelief reacting against godliness, or belief reacting against ungodliness. . . . -- D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, What if Jesus Had Never Been Born, pp. 205, 206, 209, 210, 206

Abrahams, Israel, Studies in Pharisaism and the Gospels (New York, NY: Ktav Publishing House, 1967, 1924, 1917), ISBN: 1592448240 9781592448241.
"First published in two volumes in 1917 and 1924. Now available in one volume. Long regarded as a pioneer work that revolutionized an understanding of the character and development of Pharisaism." -- Cyril J. Barber

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Hypocracy," and so forth, and so on.

*BAXTER, RICHARD (1615-1691), A Christian Directory: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1. Full title: A Christian Directory: or A Sum of Practical Theology, and Cases of Conscience. Directing Christians How to Use Their Knowledge and Faith; How to Improve all Helps and Means, and to Perform all Duties; How to Overcome Temptations, and to Escape or Mortify Every Sin. In Four Parts.
I. Christian Ethics (or Private Duties)
II. Christian Economics (or Family Duties)
III. Christian Ecclesiastics (or Church Duties)
IV. Christian Politics (or Duties to Our Rulers and Neighbours) (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, 1990, 1838, 1707, 1678, 1673), ISBN: 1877611131 9781877611131. Foreword by J.I. Packer (Soli Deo Gloria edition only). The Soli Deo Gloria publication is a facsimile reprint of the 19th century reprint by George Virtue, London, 1846. The original 1673 edition and the 1678 edition, both printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons. Bibliographic and scriptural footnotes. A Christian classic.
"The complete practical works of Richard Baxter are in print in four volumes entitled BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS. This volume (about 1 1/4 million words, 1028 pages) is volume one of the set. The editor's preface (1707), p. xiii, stated that the works of Richard Baxter are 'perhaps the best body of practical divinity that is extent in our own or any other tongue.' Richard Baxter lived from 1615-1691. The DIRECTORY was completed in 1665. Its scope was intended to cover all of practical theology, a summa of casuistry . . ." -- Don Kistler
"Baxter's series, which grew in range and scope as it proceeded . . . is a peak point in Puritan devotional writing, and remains a precious resource for all, in this or any age, who want to know what is involved in Biblical godliness. . . . A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY may justly be described as a landmark. It is the fullest, most thorough, and in this writer's judgment, most profound treatment of Christian spirituality and standards that has ever been attempted by an English-speaking Evangelical author. The fact that it embraces both spirituality and standards (the principles of communion with God plus the specifics of obedience to God) merits approving comment in itself; nowadays spirituality and ethics have become two distinct disciplines in the schools, and books written on either say virtually nothing about the other . . ." -- J.I. Packer
Timothy Keller calls it the greatest manual on Biblical counseling ever produced.
"There are many Puritan classics on this subject. Thomas Brooks' PRECIOUS REMEDIES FOR SATAN'S DEVICES, Thomas Goodwin's A CHILD OF LIGHT WALKING IN DARKNESS, William Bridge's A LIFTING UP FOR THE DOWNCAST, and many other similar works give evidence that the Puritans were. . . . masters at applying Biblical answers and principles to problems that can only be solved by spiritual means. No Puritan work, however, has ever approached the popularity, the scope, or the depth of Baxter's classic treatise. With the widespread interest in counseling in today's church, this reprint of Baxter's work should be a welcome addition to every pastor's library, or to anyone else who wishes to give solid Biblical answers to man's questions." -- Don Kistler
"We have long waited for a purely Biblical treatment of the spiritual ills and cures of men which is untainted by the views of psychology. Since Baxter lived about 200 years before psychology arrived, his deep work is completely void of its encroachment -- thankfully!" -- John MacArthur
"The kings men sought to arrest Richard Baxter, but he traveled ceaselessly from place to place, writing his sermons and his books even on horseback (he had an inkwell in his saddle) and preached over a wide area." -- Brian H. Edwards
"Baxter was a wonder of his age. His writings total 72 large volumes, much of it written on horseback as he traveled in his widespread preaching efforts. He seldom, if ever, edited anything he wrote. Knowing this any reader will be amazed at how well he communicated his deep love for his Savior. For 26 years he was public enemy No. 1 to the king, yet he lived to see the flight of the king in 1688." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
POOR MAN'S FAMILY BOOK (1674) and THE CATECHIZING OF FAMILIES (1683), found elsewhere in BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, are less detailed works. They are more suitable for family instruction than are the detailed presentation in A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY.
" Ptacek in Family Worship (p. 51-52), supplies the following information in regard to Baxter and this book. He notes that after the Episcopalians ejected numerous `nonconformists,' in what is know as the `great ejection,' in 1662, `Baxter pastored from house to house, visiting families of his parish in their homes. These visits contributed to Baxter's A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, a large and still very relevant manual of pastoral care.' Focusing on just one area of great importance, Ptacek demonstrates how this book's relevance is not limited by time or culture, though sometimes the use of specific words are. `Published in 1673, but written 1664-65, a large book-length part of Baxter's CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY is devoted to the family. It is entitled `Christian Economics' based on the archaic usage of the word, which reflects the proper sense of the Greek root oikonomos as the manager of a household, in the Christian case, the spiritual leader of the family. The family head is essential to Baxter's view of family worship and instruction. Baxter asserts that it is God's will that this instruction be carried out by the rulers of the families.' For a male head of the household to fail to do so, or to have another instruct in the family, is contrary to his position of authority.' This is the kind of book that can be passed on from generation to generation and still find much use in the service of the kingdom of God. . . .
"Though relatively weak on corporate sanctification, corporate faithfulness and some important areas of doctrine (such as justification), Baxter's work on subjects related to personal piety can be of good practical use to the Christian -- if one is careful to separate out his aberrant doctrinal views and any practical errors they may lead to." -- SWRB
This work is available in many editions, and in many formats.
Reformation Heritage Books has new copies of the Soli Deo Gloria edition as of March 2008, even though it is generally thought to be out of print. They acquired Soli Deo Gloria from Ligonier Ministries in late 2007. They may be the publisher who will eventually reprints the title.
http://www.heritagebooks.org/
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue is available as a Cerlox bound photocopy from Still Waters Revival Books, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
The reprint by George Virtue is available online and may be downloaded in PDF format at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/baxter/practical.toc.html
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue appears in full preview in Google Books but may not be downloaded. This Google Books scan includes the contents in detail on pages iii-xix. This contents in detail is not included in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library PDF files. About five other editions from libraries are available in Google Books, and may be downloaded (August 2008).
Notice that the e-text in Google Books has the advantage of being searchable. Searching an image-based PDF file is not possible, unless the user owns software such as Abode Acrobat Pro or Kirtas BookScan Editor. They both have an OCR (optical character recognition) feature that will search an image-based PDFs (bit-map scans). Searches appear to be perfect in this work, although one must know Baxter's vocabulary. Text can be cut and paste from image-based PDF format to OCR (character) format. This particular Google Books scan can not be cut and pasted or downloaded.
http://books.google.com/books?id=cyQFBOUHkaoC&dq=A+Christian+Directory+inpublisher:lettermen+inpublisher:associates&lr=&as_brr=0&ie=ISO-8859-1
One of the older, multi-volume editions of THE WORKS OF RICHARD BAXTER is available at Monergism.com in the "Puritan Library," "Richard Baxter." A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, volume 23. It can be downloaded.
http://www.puritanlibrary.com/
Another older edition is available on microfilm (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1970), 1 microfilm reel, 35 mm (Early English books, 1641-1700; 343:11).
The following three excerpts are included as bonus free books on Reformation Bookshelf CD #28, ISBN: 0921148267 9780921148265.
1. "The Duties of Parents for Their Children" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. X., pp. 449-454.
2. "The Special Duties of Children Towards Their Parents" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XI., pp. 454-457.
3. "The Special Duties of Children and Youth Towards God" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XII., pp. 457-458).
The Practical Works of Richard Baxter: A Christian Directory, Vol. 1
A summary of currently available publications.
http://www.lettermen2.com/pwrbcd.html

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Reformed Pastor: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000, 1992), ISBN: 1877611360.
"This is the fourth and final volume in this great set. Includes, [`Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men,' -- sk] `The Reformed Pastor' `Poor Man's Family Book,' `The Catechizing of Families,' and `The Mother's Catechism,' in all 25 sermons, treatises, and catechisms. Dr. J.I. Packer says, `For me, the great joy of this year is that it see the completion of Soli Deo Gloria's reprint of Baxter's incomparable PRACTICAL WORKS'." -- GCB
Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men (1681), by Richard Baxter
http://www.lettermen2.com/ccaym.html

Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Vain Religion of the Formal Hypocrite Detected, ISBN: 1877611360.

BOLTON, ROBERT (1606-1654), The Carnal Professor and Thomas Goodwin, Christ Set Forth (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1992), ISBN: 1877611468 9781877611469. Available (THE WORKS OF THE REVEREND, TRULY PIOUS AND JUDICIOUSLY LEARNED, ROBERT BOLTON) on Puritan Bookshelf CD #9. Available (THE WORKS OF ROBERT BOLTON) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #27.
"The first 156 pages is a heart-searching treatise directed at those who profess Christianity without necessarily possessing it. Goodwin's 384 pages is directed toward those who have embraced the principles of Christ, but have neglected Christ Himself in all of His glory. Both authors are Puritans of great renown." -- CBD

*EDWARDS, JONATHAN, The Religious Affections. Alternate title: A TREATISE CONCERNING RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS, IN THREE PARTS; PART I. CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THE AFFECTIONS, AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN RELIGION. PART II. SHEWING WHAT ARE NO CERTAIN SIGNS THAT RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS ARE GRACIOUS, OR THAT THEY ARE NOT. PART III. SHEWING WHAT ARE DISTINGUISHING SIGNS OF TRULY GRACIOUS AND HOLY AFFECTIONS. BY JONATHAN EDWARDS, A.M. AND PASTOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN NORTHAMPTON. [TWELVE LINES OF SCRIPTURE TEXTS] (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1986), ISBN: 0851514855 9780851514857. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999. An 18 volume edition of THE WORKS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS is available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1 and DVD Four, CD #21 (18 volumes).
RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS is volume two of The works of Jonathan Edwards, 26 volumes (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1957-2006), ISBN: 0300022824 9780300022827 0300060599 9780300060591.
A Christian classic.
Edwards "sets forth 12 distinguishing signs of truly gracious and holy affections: (1) [those] truly spiritual affections which arise from spiritual, supernatural, Divine influences on the heart; (2) those affections grounded in the intrinsic excellence of Divine things, without relating to our self-interest; (3) those primarily founded on the loveliness of the moral excellency of Divine things. . . ." -- William Young
This treatise soberly, thoroughly, and scripturally covers hypocracy within the Christian church. We recommend it to everyone in full-time Christian service, and to anyone who may be discouraged by hypocracy among professing Christians.
"It is by the mixture of counterfeit religion with true, not discerned and distinguished, that the devil has had his greatest advantage against the cause and kingdom of Christ. [For Edward's work on the positive side of the revival in New England see THE DISTINGUISHING MARKS OF A WORK OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD, APPLIED TO THAT UNCOMMON OPERATION THAT HAS LATELY APPEARED ON THE MINDS OF MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN NEW-ENGLAND -- sk] It is by this means, principally, that he has prevailed against all revivings of religion, since the first founding of the Christian church. . . . By this, Satan prevailed against the reformation, began by Luther. Zwinglius, etc., to put a stop to its progress, and bring it into disgrace, ten times more than by all those bloody and cruel persecutions of the church of Rome. By this, principally, has he prevailed against revivals of religion in our nation. By this he prevailed against New England, to quench the love and spoil the joy of her espousals, about a hundred years ago. And I think, I have had opportunity enough to see plainly, that by this the devil has prevailed against the late great revival of religion in New England, so happy and promising in its beginning." -- Jonathan Edwards, in the Preface to The Religious Affections
Religious Affections, by Jonathan Edwards
http://www.ccel.org/edwards/religious_affections/religious_affections.html
This work also appears full-view in Google Books.

*EDWARDS, JONATHAN, Total Depravity, Obtaining Salvation and Miscellaneous Discourses Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #19, ISBN: 092114895X 9780921148951. Available (THE WORKS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1.
"Includes a warning to professors concerning the great guilt of those who take part in the ordinances of divine worship and yet allow themselves to be snared in any known wickedness. A work on temptation and deliverance and numerous other topics of great value." -- SWRB

*GURNALL, WILLIAM, John Charles Ryle (contributor) The Christian in Complete Armor: A Treatise of the Saint's War Against the Devil, complete and unabridged (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1979), ISBN: 0851511961 9780851511962. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2. A Christian classic.
"Peerless and priceless; every line full of wisdom." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"If I might read only one book beside the Bible, I would choose The Christian in Complete Armour." -- John Newton
"A beautiful feature in Gurnall's book is its richness in pithy, pointed, and epigrammatical sayings. You will often find in a line and a half some great truth, put so concisely, and yet so fully, that you really marvel how so much thought could be got into so few words.
"Solid scriptural theology, like that contained in these pages, should be valued and studied in the church. Books in which Scripture is reverently regarded as the only rule of faith and practice -- books in which Christ and the Holy Ghost have their rightful office -- books in which justification, and sanctification, and regeneration, and faith, and grace, and holiness are clearly, distinctly, and accurately delineated and exhibited -- these are the only books which do real good. Few things need reviving more than a taste for such books as these among readers." -- J.C. Ryle
Also praised by John Flavel and Richard Baxter.
Said to be among the 10 greatest Christian books.
The Christian In Complete Armour, William Gurnall
http://www.ccel.org/g/gurnall/armour/home.htm
The Christian in Complete Armour: A Treatise of the Saints' War Against the Devil: Wherein a Discovery is Made of that Grand Enemy of God and His People, in His Policies, Power, Seat of His Empire, Wickedness, and Chief Design He Hath Against the Saints: a Magazine Opened, from Whence the Christian is Furnished with Spiritual Arms for the Battle, Helped on with His Armour, and Taught the Use of His Weapon: Together with the Happy Issue of the Whole War
http://books.google.com/books?id=MXlHJQAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

Perkins, William (1558-1602), A Direction for the Governement of the Tongue, According to Gods VVorde, 1593. Additional Title: THE GOUERNEMENT OF THE TONGUE.

RUTHERFORD, SAMUEL (1600?-1661), The Excellence and Worth of the Gospel, 1640, ISBN: 1573581011 9781573581011. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #10, ISBN: 0921148852 9780921148852.
"This sermon is read by elder Lyndon Dohms (1998) and taken from the book QUAINT SERMONS OF SAMUEL RUTHERFORD (see below). It proclaims the power of the gospel for pulling down all strongholds raised against it. It exhibits God's sovereignty while blasting the Arminian heresy and toppling its vaunted idol of 'free will.' It demonstrates how the gospel is a love letter from God to His elect and how the Lord's arrows always hit their mark (particular redemption, irresistible grace, etc.). Rutherford also delineates the marks by which one can be assured that a work of grace has been begun in the heart by God. Hypocrisy is also exposed in the most pointed manner. The place of the law and the gospel in salvation are given. True repentance is contrasted with false repentance, as is true assurance with false assurance, plus much more. A very practical sermon from one of the greatest preachers and theologians of all time, exhibiting why Rutherford is considered a protesting Covenanter of the first rank.

*Mead, Matthew, The Almost Christian Discovered (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications), ISBN: 9781425522636 1425522637. A Christian classic.
"This Puritan reprint is a classic study of true and false conversion. Dr. John MacArthur says, `This is not balm for the emotions; it is food for the soul. Those looking for a tranquilizing devotional study will not be soothed by this book. People who have come to Christ only for what they can get out of Him will find no encouragement here. On the other hand, true believers who want to deepen their walk -- even struggling Christians who are open to reproof and instruction -- will find plenty of substance on these pages." -- Publisher's Annotation
"The author takes example after example of people who demonstrated great signs of spiritual life but were never truly converted to Christ or as he puts it be 'an almost Christian.' Each example is taken from Scripture. For example, Mead shows us that one can have great and eminent spiritual gifts such as healing, cleansing and casting out demons but not be a Christian. Certainly this describes Judas. Like the other apostles, Judas is sent out in Matthew 10:7-8 to preach the gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Yet, Judas was not saved. Mead other topics include great hatred for sin and be an almost Christian, or great signs of repentance and be an almost Christian." -- Reader's Comment

PERKINS, WILLIAM (1558-1602), Satans Sophistrie Ansuuered by our Sauiour Christ and in Diuers Sermons further manifested / by that worthy man Maister William Perkins; to which is added, a comfort for the feeble minded, wherein is set downe the temptations of a Christian, 1604, Available (THE WORKS OF THAT FAMOUS AND WORTHY MINISTER OF CHRIST, MR. W. PERKINS) on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available (THE WORKS OF THAT FAMOUS AND WORTHY MINISTER OF CHRIST, MR. W. PERKINS) on Puritan Bookshelf CD #9. Available (THE WORKS OF MR. WILLIAM PERKINS IN TWO PARTS) on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #20.

*Wilberforce, William (1759-1833), Real Christianity. Alternate title: A PRACTICAL VIEW OF THE PREVAILING RELIGIOUS SYSTEM OF PROFESSED CHRISTIANS IN THE HIGHER AND MIDDLE CLASSES IN THIS COUNTRY, CONTRASTED WITH REAL CHRISTIANITY. PUBLISHED IN 1797 BY WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, ESQ. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE COUNTY OF YORK (Portland, OR: Multnomah Press), ISBN: 157748584X.
"Wilberforce (1759-1833) was a member of the English Parliament for 45 years, a politician by calling, but a Christian in his faith and practice.
"He was a prime mover in the abolition of slavery in England. This book was printed in 1797, and has gone through many printings since, in English and five other languages.
"The book is highly abridged, being originally 450 pages. . . . The main thrust of the book is on practical Christianity. . . . "Wilberforce teaches the importance of a God-centered life. Any life that is not centered on our Creator is not life at all, but such persons are dead while living (1 Timothy 5:6) . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Covetousness, greed, selfishness, Self-justification, self-righteousness, Lying, deceit, self-deception, Self, selfishness, self-esteem, Pride, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The covenant faithfulness of god, The all-sufficiency of christ, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Covenant theology, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Spiritual discernment, Pseudo-Christian movements, The counter reformation, Antinomianism, Conspiracy and corruption, Persecution, Mind, the battle for, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Modern myths and fallacies, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 2994, 2995
MGTP: Hypocracy

Related WebLinks

The Commandments of Jesus, J.S. McConnell (1925)
http://www.wowzone.com/commandm.htm

A brotherly and free Epistle to the patrons and friends of pretended Liberty of Conscience, by SAMUEL RUTHERFURD Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrews in Scotland
http://www.covenanter.org/Rutherfurd/surveyofspiritualantichrist/rutherfurd_epistle_against_pretendedlibertyofconscience.html

Profession Tested, A.W. Pink
http://members.wbs.net/homepages/j/o/h/johnowen/matt721.htm

The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon
A sermon by C.H. Spurgeon delivered on Lord's-day morning, September 9, 1888, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Sermon no. 2043.
"This is the way in which you should use this plea. Say, 'My God, I am utterly unworthy, and I own it; but, I beseech thee, hear me for the honour of thy dear Son. By his agony and bloody sweat, by his cross and passion, by his precious death and burial, I beseech thee hear me! O Lord, let the blood of thine Only-begotten prevail with thee! Canst thou put aside his groans, his tears, his death, when they speak on my behalf?' If you can thus come to pleading terms with God upon this ground, you must and will prevail. Jesus must be heard in heaven. The voice of his blood is eloquent with God. If you plead the atoning sacrifice, you must overcome through the blood of the Lamb." -- C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.mountzion.org/fgb/Summer97/FgbS6-97.html



Idolatry (Syncretism)

GOD spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
I. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:3-6) -- Lord God Almighty (Revelation 15:3), The Truth (John 14:6), The Word of Life (1 John 1:1), Governor (Matthew 2:6), The Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8)

See the Theological Notes, "Syncretism and Idolatry," at Hosea 2:13 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "Mankind's Guilty Knowledge of God," at Romans 1:29 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "God's Pattern for Worship," at 1 Chronicles 16:29 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:11-13)

And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts. (Jeremiah 2:18,19)

How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go. (Jeremiah 2:23-25)

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:10)

I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only? -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:43,44)

The fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God.
They are corrupt,
they have done abominable works,
there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1)

As the love of God and man are the comprehensive duties of the decalogue, expressed most in the first and last commandment, but yet extending themselves to all the rest; so selfishness and pride (which is a principal part of it) are the opposite sins, forbidden principally in the first and last commandment, as contrary to the love of God and man, but so as it is contrary to the rest. They are sins against the very relation itself, that God and man do stand in to us, and not only against a particular law: they are against the very constitution of the kingdom of God, and not only against the administration: it is treason or idolatry against God, and a setting up ourselves in some part of his prerogative: and it is a monstrous exuberancy in the body, and a rising of one member above and so against the rest, either superiors (and so against the fifth command) or equals (against the rest.) -- Richard Baxter

The Treasury of David, Psalm 115, C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps115.htm

Idolizing "Hearth and Home," that is, preferring the peace and prosperity of family and home (familialism, self, wife, children) above leading an obedient, sacrificial, transforming life -- bearing your own cross -- amounts to worship: submitting to the control and influence of the Flesh, the carnal life. For example, some black slaves improbably fought in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, and it is felt that some of them were motivated by their familiarity and love of their life of slavery on the Southern plantations. And today some church goers are fiercely loyal to their peculiar church or Christian denomination, their "church family," in spite of openly heretical doctrine and practice. Some of these are not willing to give up their peace and prosperity to stand in opposition to falsehood, something we are all admonished to do.

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Idolatry," and so forth, and so on.

BARROW, REG, Reformation Worship and Separation From Idolatry. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #19, ISBN: 092114895X 9780921148951.
"In two parts: 1. 'The Regulative Principle of Worship in History' and 2. 'Psalm Singing in Scripture and History.' Part one explains, defends and chronicles the Reformation use of the regulative principle as the basis of all faithful public worship. Part two defends exclusive Psalmody, demonstrating that this position is nothing less than our Reformation heritage, based on the second commandment. It argues, on the foundation of a biblically close communion, that Christians should separate themselves ecclesiastically from those who do not practice exclusive Psalmody. Hard teaching, but faithful to Scriptures and the original intent of the Westminster Standards." -- SWRB
The Regulative Principle of Worship in History, by Reg Barrow (refutes Arminianism in worship)
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/CRTPWors.htm

Boston, Thomas (1676-1732), The Evil and Danger of Halting Betwixt Two Opinions. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THE REVEREND THOMAS BOSTON, VOLUMES 1-12. (9:245-63)

*BROWN, JOHN (of Haddington, 1722-1787), The Absurdity and Perfidy of all Authoritative Toleration of Gross Heresy, Blasphemy, Idolatry, Popery, in Britain. In two Letters to a friend in which the doctrine of the Westminster Confession of Faith relative to Toleration of a False Religion, and the power of the civil magistrate about sacred matters; and the nature, origin, ends and obligation of the National Covenant and Solemn League are candidly represented and defended, 1797, 1803 edition. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #25. ISBN: 0921148208 9780921148203. A Christian classic.
"REFORMATION ATTAINMENTS VERSUS BACKSLIDING RELIGIOUS PROFESSORS
"Here Brown deals with three major Reformation attainments (anti-tolerationism, establishmentarianism, and the obligations of lawful covenants as they biblically bind posterity) that Satan has always been especially concerned to overthrow -- in every major demonic move to open the floodgates of lawlessness, anarchy and misrule. Fletcher, in the preface to the 1797 edition, relates this truth as it comes to bear on various religious professors, stating, 'Papists were enemies to our covenants because they were a standard lifted up against their system of abominable idolatries. Episcopalians were enemies to them, because they were a standard lifted up against their anti-scriptural church-officers and inventions of men in the worship of God. Some Presbyterians are enemies to them in our day through ignorance of their nature and ends; and others through fear of being too strictly bound to their duty.' (Cited in Johnston, Treasury of the Scottish Covenant.) -- SWRB

CASE, THOMAS, Spiritual Whoredom, discovered in a sermon preached before the Honorable House of Commons assembled in parliament upon a solemn day of humiliation, May 26, 1647. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Also available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #6. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #14.

Clarkson, David, Soul Idolatry Excludes Men out of Heaven. In THE WORKS OF DAVID CLARKSON (2:299-333).
Contents: Vol. 1. Of original sin, Ps. LI.5 -- Of repentance, Luke XIII.3 -- Of faith, Mark XVI.16 -- Of living by faith, Heb. X.38 -- Faith in prayer, James I.6 -- Of dying in faith, Heb. XI.13 -- Of living as strangers, Heb. XI.13 -- The excellent knowledge of Christ, Philip. III.8 -- Justification by the righteousness of Christ, Philip. III.9 -- Men by nature unwilling to come to Christ, John v. 40 -- The Lord the owner of all things; an inducement from earthly-mindedness, I Chron. XXIX.11 -- Hearing the Word, Luke VIII.18 -- Of taking up the cross, Luke XIv. 27 -- Vol. 2. The new creature Gal. VI.15 --Christ's gracious invitation to sinners, Rev. III.20 -- Man's insufficiency to do anything of himself, John Xv. 5 -- Against anxious carefulness, Philip. Iv. 6 -- Pray for everything, Philip. Iv. 6 -- God's end in sending calamities and afflictions on His people, Isa. XXVII.9 -- The conviction of hypocrites, Mat. VII.22,23 -- Soul idolatry excludes men out of heaven, Eph. V.5 -- The children of God should not be partakers with others in their sins, Eph. V.7 -- Unconverted sinners are darkness, Eph. V.8 -- Of Christ seeking fruit, and finding none, Luke XIII.6 -- The Lord rules over all, Ps. CIII.19 -- Sinners under the curse, Gal. III.10 -- Vol. 3. The love of Christ, Eph. V.2 -- Christ's sacrifice, Eph. V.2 -- Christ's dying for sinners, Rom. V.8 -- Christ touched with the feeling of our infirmities, Heb.IV.15 -- Of coming boldly unto the throne of grace, Heb. IV.16 -- Of Christ's making intercession, Heb. VII.25 -- Believers' communion with the Father and Son, I John I.3 -- Public worship to be preferred before private, Ps. LXXXVII.2-- The practical divinity of the papists discovered to be destructive of Christianity and men's souls.

*Foster, David Kyle, Sexual Healing: God's Plan for the Sanctification of Broken Lives: A Reference Manual for Ministering to Those Trapped in Sexual Sin and Brokenness (Jacksonville, FL [Mastering Life Ministries, P.O. Box 351149, Jacksonville 32235]: Mastering Life Ministries, 1997), ISBN: 0830737154 9780830737154 0830737340 9780830737345.
This is a unique work and the best resource known to the compiler offering biblical counsel for healing sexual brokenness. See "Foundations" and "Divine Intent for Sexuality" for a biblical explanation of the spiritual significance of sexuality. These two chapters alone make the purchase of the book worthwhile. Includes chapters, study guides, and exercises for Root sources for improper sexual development, Sexual identity confusion, Child sex abuse, Sexual addition, Pornography, Masturbation, voyeurism and exhibitionism, Why people remain in sexual sin and bondage, Failure and self-condemnation, A comprehensive game plan for sexual healing, and so forth. Indexed, 398 pages, includes bibliography.
Mastering Life Ministries
http://www.MasteringLife.org

*KNOX, JOHN (1505-1572), Against Romish Rites and Political and Ecclesiastical Tyranny, 1554. Alternate title: A FAITHFUL ADMONITION TO THE PROFESSORS OF GOD'S TRUTH IN ENGLAND. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #15, ISBN: 0921148941 9780921148944. In SELECTED WRITINGS OF JOHN KNOX."
"Formerly titled A FAITHFUL ADMONITION TO THE PROFESSORS OF GOD'S TRUTH IN ENGLAND, this letter is said to be 'undoubtedly the most important' of Knox's writings (up to that time) by W. Stanford Reid in TRUMPETER OF GOD (p. 114). Furthermore Reid notes that Knox's '[v]iews on the magistrate expressed in the FAITHFUL ADMONITION, were to have an important influence upon much of his future conduct, and upon the development of the Reformation in both England and Scotland.' The editor of KNOX'S WORKS states, '[t]he object of the ADMONITION was twofold. The one was to animate those who had made a good profession to perseverance, and to avoid the sin of apologetical, or appearing to conform to the 'abominable idolatry' re-established in England; the other, to point out the dangers to be apprehended in when the kingdom became subjected to the dominion of strangers.' Knox uses very strong language here, in the hopes of getting through to those who came to be termed Nicodemites (i.e. those who thought that they could 'keep faith secretly in the heart, and yet do as idolaters do,' in Knox's own words). Written at a time when the true church had been driven underground by Roman Catholic persecution, it was said concerning this letter that 'many other godly men besides have been exposed to the risk of their property, and even life itself, upon the sole ground of either having had this book in their possession, or having read it.' Kevin Reed gives an excellent summary of this letter in SELECTED WRITINGS OF JOHN KNOX, when, in part, he writes, '[w]hile acknowledging the risk of persecution to the faithful, the reformer perceives a greater danger in compromising with idolatry. Government persecution may bring disfavour of men, loss of personal goods and, in some cases, physical death; but idolatry brings down the wrath of God, resulting in grievous punishments, now and through eternity. Idolatry also invites a curse upon the posterity of the nation. In an intense pastoral appeal, Knox strongly admonishes his readers to avoid conforming to the Romish rites of worship' (p. 220). For those who would rather read many of these Knox items with contemporary spelling, punctuation, and grammar we highly recommend the SELECTED WRITINGS OF JOHN KNOX." -- SWRB
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/FaithAdm.htm

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

*Morey, Robert A., Battle of the Gods: Exposing the Foundations of the New Age Movement (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth and Hyatt, 1988), ISBN: 0925703001 9780925703002
"An earth shaking book! Dr. Morey probes into how well known authors, publishing houses, and mission boards view of the attributes of God. . . ."

*KNOX, JOHN (1505-1572), Against Romish Rites and Political and Ecclesiastical Tyranny, 1554. Alternate title: A FAITHFUL ADMONITION TO THE PROFESSORS OF GOD'S TRUTH IN ENGLAND. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #15, ISBN: 0921148941 9780921148944. In SELECTED WRITINGS OF JOHN KNOX."
"Formerly titled A FAITHFUL ADMONITION TO THE PROFESSORS OF GOD'S TRUTH IN ENGLAND, this letter is said to be 'undoubtedly the most important' of Knox's writings (up to that time) by W. Stanford Reid in TRUMPETER OF GOD (p. 114). Furthermore Reid notes that Knox's '[v]iews on the magistrate expressed in the FAITHFUL ADMONITION, were to have an important influence upon much of his future conduct, and upon the development of the Reformation in both England and Scotland.' The editor of KNOX'S WORKS states, '[t]he object of the ADMONITION was twofold. The one was to animate those who had made a good profession to perseverance, and to avoid the sin of apologetical, or appearing to conform to the 'abominable idolatry' re-established in England; the other, to point out the dangers to be apprehended in when the kingdom became subjected to the dominion of strangers.' Knox uses very strong language here, in the hopes of getting through to those who came to be termed Nicodemites (i.e. those who thought that they could 'keep faith secretly in the heart, and yet do as idolaters do,' in Knox's own words). Written at a time when the true church had been driven underground by Roman Catholic persecution, it was said concerning this letter that 'many other godly men besides have been exposed to the risk of their property, and even life itself, upon the sole ground of either having had this book in their possession, or having read it.' Kevin Reed gives an excellent summary of this letter in SELECTED WRITINGS OF JOHN KNOX, when, in part, he writes, '[w]hile acknowledging the risk of persecution to the faithful, the reformer perceives a greater danger in compromising with idolatry. Government persecution may bring disfavour of men, loss of personal goods and, in some cases, physical death; but idolatry brings down the wrath of God, resulting in grievous punishments, now and through eternity. Idolatry also invites a curse upon the posterity of the nation. In an intense pastoral appeal, Knox strongly admonishes his readers to avoid conforming to the Romish rites of worship' (p. 220). For those who would rather read many of these Knox items with contemporary spelling, punctuation, and grammar we highly recommend the SELECTED WRITINGS OF JOHN KNOX." -- SWRB
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/FaithAdm.htm

*ROBERTS, WILLIAM L. (1798-1864), The Duty of Nations, in Their National Capacity, to Acknowledge and Support the True Religion, 1853, ISBN: 0921148208 9780921148203. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #25.
"Excerpted from THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CATECHISM below, this book deals with the inescapable necessity, of the demand found in the Word of God, for the Civil establishment of Christ as King and Lawgiver over every nation on earth. If you are sick of the cease-fire with humanism, set forth by the syncretistic, Satanic and pragmatic pagan politicians of our day (those who bargain with votaries of Antichrist [the Pope], publicly tolerate all manner of false religions (e.g. Islam) and idolatry, and compose their policy and draw their pretended authority from the beast [and not the Word of God], this book is for you! For all pagan politics is summed up in the words of the Cameronian (Covenanter) political philosopher Alexander Shields, as 'rotting away under the destructive distempers of detestable neutrality, loathsome lukewarmness, declining, and decaying in corruptions, defections, divisions, distractions, confusions; and so judicially infatuated with darkness and delusions, that they forget and forego the necessary testimony of the day' (A Hind let Loose, 1797 edition, p. 20). Pick up this book and begin the political walk in the 'footsteps of the flock,' traveling the covenanting road of Reformation and Scripture (with the magisterial Reformers of the past)!" -- SWRB
On the Duty of Covenanting and the Permanent Obligations of Religious Covenants, being section 11 in the Reformed Presbyterian Catechism, 1853, by William L. Roberts
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/PresCatCov.htm
A Hind Let Loose; Or An Historical Representation OF THE TESTIMONIES OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. . . . by Mr. ALEXANDER SHIELDS, Minister of the Gospel, in St. Andrews.
http://www.covenanter.org/AShields/Hind/Hindletloosetitle.htm
Reformed Presbyterian Catechism, William L. Roberts D.D.
http://www.covenantedreformation.com/EssaysCR/RP%20Catechism/RP%20Index.html

*RUTHERFORD, SAMUEL (1600?-1661), A Free Disputation Against Pretended Liberty of Conscience, 1649 edition. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #9, #25, and #26, ISBN: 0921148836 9780921148838. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #21.
"Rutherford's FREE DISPUTATION, though scarce, is still one of his most important works with maybe only a few copies of the actual book left in existence. Though Rutherford is affectionately remembered in our day for his LETTERS, or for laying the foundations of constitutional government (against the divine right of kings) in his unsurpassed LEX, REX his FREE DISPUTATION should not be overlooked for it contains the same searing insights as LEX, REX. In fact, this book should probably be known as Rutherford's 'politically incorrect' companion volume to LEX, REX. A sort of sequel aimed at driving pluralists and antinomians insane. Written against 'the Belgick Arminians, Socinians, and other Authors contending for lawlesse liberty, or licentious Tolerations of Sects and Heresies,' Rutherford explains the undiluted Biblical solution to moral relativism, especially as it is expressed in ecclesiastical and civil pluralism! (Corporate pluralism being a violation of the first commandment and an affront to the holy God of Scripture). He also deals with conscience, toleration, penology (punishment), and the judicial laws, as related to both the civil and ecclesiastical realms. Excellent sections are also included which address questions related to determining the fundamentals of religion, how covenants bind us, the perpetual obligation of social covenants (with direct application to the Solemn League and Covenant and the covenant-breaking of Cromwell and his sectarian supporters), whether the punishing of seducing teachers be persecution of conscience, and much more. Walker adds these comments and context regarding Rutherford's FREE DISPUTATION, 'The principle of toleration was beginning to be broached in England, and in a modified shape to find acceptance there. Samuel Rutherford was alarmed, or rather, I should say, he was horrified, for he neither feared the face of man or argument. He rushed to the rescue of the good old view . . . It is not so easy to find a theoretical ground for toleration; and Rutherford has many plausible things to say against it. With the most perfect confidence, he argues that it is alike against Scripture and common sense that you should have two religions side by side. It is outrageous ecclesiastically, it is sinful civilly. He does not, however, take what I call the essentially persecuting ground. He does not hold that the magistrate is to punish religion as religion. Nay, he strongly maintains that the civil magistrate never aims at the conscience. The magistrate, he urges, does not send anyone, whether a heretic (who is a soul murderer -- RB) or a murderer, to the scaffold with the idea of producing conversion or other spiritual result, but to strengthen the foundations of civil order. But if he gives so much power to the king, he is no lover of despotism withal: the king himself must be under law. To vindicate this great doctrine is the object of another book, the celebrated LEX, REX; of which it has been said by one competent to judge, that it first clearly developed the constitutionalism which all men now accept' (Theology and Theologians . . . , pp. 11-12). In our day Francis Schaeffer, and numerous others, have critiqued many of the problems found in modern society, but most have spent little time developing explicitly Biblical solutions especially regarding the theoretical foundations that Rutherford addresses here. Rutherford's FREE DISPUTATION provides a detailed blueprint for laying the foundations that must be laid before any lasting, God-honoring solutions will be found. Furthermore, Rutherford and his writings were the enemies of all governments not covenanted with Christ. This book will give you a very clear picture as to why 'the beast' (civil and ecclesiastical) has reserved his special hatred for such teaching. As Samuel Wylie noted '[t]he dispute, then, will not turn upon the point whether religion should be civilly established . . . but it is concerning what religion ought to be civilly established and protected, -- whether the religion of Jesus alone should be countenanced by civil authority, or every blasphemous, heretical, and idolatrous abomination which the subtle malignity of the old serpent and a heart deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, can frame and devise, should be put on an equal footing therewith" (The Two Sons of Oil; or, the Faithful Witness for Magistracy and Ministry Upon a Scriptural Basis, softcover). Can our generation swallow Rutherford's hard, anti-pluralistic, Covenanter medicine, poured forth from the bottle of the first commandment, without choking on their carnal dreams of a free and righteous society divorced from God (and His absolute claims upon everyone and everything)? Not without the enabling power of the Holy Spirit -- that is for sure! In summary, this book answers all the hardest questions theonomists (and their wisest and best opponents) have been asking for the last 20-30 years (and these answers are much more in depth than any we have seen in the last couple of millennia [less about a century to account for the apostles]). As the reader will discover, Rutherford was a wealthy man when it came to wisdom (and much advanced theologically), and those who take the time to gaze into the King's treasure house, as exhibited in this book, will find that they are greatly rewarded. Furthermore, because of its uncompromising stand upon the Word of God, this book is sure to be unpopular among a wicked and adulterous generation. However, on the other hand, it is sure to be popular among the covenanted servants of King Jesus! This is one of the best books (in the top five anyway) for advanced study of the Christian faith. We have now obtained an easy-to-read, amazingly clear copy of this very rare, old treasure. Great price too, considering that a copy of the 1649 edition, containing this quality of print, would likely cost upwards of $1000 on the rare book market -- though it is unlikely you would ever see a copy for sale!" -- SWRB
The Covenant Between God and Kings, from A DEFENSE OF LIBERTY
http://www.constitution.org/vct/vindiciae1a.htm

Strong, William (d. 1654), The Certainty of Heavenly and the Uncertainty of Earthly Treasures together with a discovery where the treasure and heart is placed / as it was delivered in severall sermons by that eminently faithfull servant of Christ, 1656.

Swinnock, George (1627-1673), The Gods are Men: or The Mortality of Persons in Places of Magistracy. As it was explained and applied in a sermon preached at the assize holden at Hertford for that county on March 15. 1656/7. By George Swinnocke M.A. last Fellow of Bailiol Colledge in Oxford, and now preacher of the gospel at Rickmersworth in Hertfordshire. In THE WORKS OF GEORGE SWINNOCK, M.A.
The Works of George Swinnock, M.A.
http://books.google.com/books?id=k1huGQAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*Welch, Edward T., Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave: Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel (Resources for Changing Lives), ISBN: 0875526063 9780875526065.
"A worship disorder: this is how Edward T. Welch views addictions. 'Will we worship ourselves and our own desires,' he writes, 'or will we worship the true God?'
"With this lens the author discovers far more in Scripture on addictions than passages on drunkenness. There we learn the addict's true condition: like guests at a banquet thrown by 'the woman Folly,' he is already in the grave (Prov. 9:13-18).
"Can we not escape our addictions? If we're willing to follow Jesus, the author says we have 'immense hope: hope in God's forgiving grace, hope in God's love that is faithful even when we are not, and hope that God can give power so that we are no longer mastered by the addiction.' Each chapter concludes with 'Practical Theology,' guidance 'As You Face Your Own Addictions' and 'As You Help Someone Else'." -- Publisher's Annotation
"By emphasizing the role of the heart in the worship of self and substance, Welch forces the addict to face the grim reality that who or what he worships will control his life. When he idolizes his selfish desire for a substance, then there can only be bondage, but when he worships God more than himself, then the liberating truth of the Gospel will always set him free. As a pastor, biblical counselor, and a redeemed (not recovering) ex-heroin addict, I believe Dr. Welch has finally given every pastor, theologian, layman, and anyone caught in the bondage of idolatry/addition a biblical road map to true and lasting freedom." -- Peter Garich, Pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship and Director of Dayspring Center for Biblical Counseling in San Diego, California

See also: The attributes of God, The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, The ten commandments, the smaller catechism, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Amos, Church and state, Spiritual harlotry, Secular humanism, Absolute truth and relativism, A selection of works on pseudo-Christian movements, The non-duality of sri aurobindo: a profile, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The ten commandments, the moral law, Covenant theology, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Spirituality and harlotry, Carnality and flesh-pleasing, Menpleasing, Covetousness, greed, selfishness, Self, selfishness, self-esteem, Secular humanism, Secret societies and ungodly alliance, The teaching of our lord jesus christ, Pride, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Pornography, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Sex education, Rape, Incest, Child abuse and pedophilia, Homosexuality, The counter reformation, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 317, 3184, 3185, 3188, 3928-3951
MGTP: Idolatry

Related WebLinks

The Westminster Confession Larger Catechism, Questions 103-106
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wlc_w_proofs/WLC_frames.html

The Non-duality of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother: A Profile
http://www.lettermen2.com/syncret.html

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Illegitimacy

See: Counseling for Sex Related Problems, Illegitimacy
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr7cha.html#cfsrp



Immanuel, Christ's Presence, Christ in You

See: Immanuel, Christ's Presence, Christ in You
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#impry



Imprisonment

If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 8:31b,32)

To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison house. (Isaiah 42:7)
The work of the Messiah, according to the text, is to bring out the prisoners from the prison. I think this relates to the bondage under which a man lies to his sins. Habits of sin, like iron nets, surround the sinner, and he cannot escape their meshes. The man sins, and imagines that he cannot help sinning. How often do the ungodly tell us that they cannot renounce the world, cannot break off their sins by righteousness, and cannot believe in Jesus? Let all men know that the Savior has come on purpose to remove every bond of sin from the captive, and to set him free from every chain of evil. I have known men to strive against the habit of blasphemy, others against unchaste passions, and many more against a haughty spirit, or an angry temper. And when they have striven manfully, but unsuccessfully, in their own strength, they have been filled with bitter chagrin that they should have been so betrayed by themselves. When a man believes in Jesus his resolve to become a free man is to a great extent accomplished at once. Some sins die the moment we believe in Jesus, and these trouble us no more. Others hang on to us, and these die by slow degrees; but they are overcome so as never again to get the mastery over us. O struggler after mental, moral, spiritual liberty, if you would be free, your only possible freedom is in Christ. If you desire to shake off evil habits, or any other mental bondage, I shall prescribe no remedy to you but this, to commit yourself to Christ the Liberator. Love Him and you will hate sin. Trust Him, and you will no more trust yourself. Submit yourself to the sway of the incarnate God, and He will break the dragon's head within you, and hurl Satan beneath your feet. Nothing else can do it. Christ must have the glory." -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting on Isaiah in Devotional Classics of C.H. Spurgeon, p. 69

The prison appears in Biblical law only as a place of custody, pending trial. There is no direct reference to prisons. The methods of dealing with criminals was basically threefold: First, capital punishment was required for capital offenses, and for incorrigible criminals. Second, for all other offenses, restitution was the law; where an order of law had been violated, restoration was the basic function of the courts. Emphatically, in Biblical law the goal is not punishment but restoration, not the infliction of certain penalties on criminals but the restoration of godly order. The center of attention is thus not the criminal but the righteous man and the total godly order. Third, where criminals were unable to make restitution, bond-service was mandatory in order to work out the required restitution.
In Leviticus 18:24-30, there is a strong summons to righteousness coupled with a warning. Sin is a defilement of man and of the land: it destroys or upsets God's order, and its consequences is God's judgment. Man must therefore 'keep' the law lest the land 'spue' him out for his 'abominations' and 'iniquities.' Justice builds up and exalts a land; it is a restoration and a construction, whereas iniquity destroys a land and creates a moral vacuum that cries for judgment. -- Rousas John Rushdoony, The Institutes of Biblical Law, page 515

Western civilization began as an unhappy compromise between the Biblical standard of restitution and a Greco-Roman and pagan criminology which, while having elements of restitution, leaned heavily towards punishment. The prison thus had a place in Christendom, as an ugly, bastard compromise. It was not only a place of custody, but also a place for torture and punishment, a place to hold men for ransom or for elimination from a threatening position in the state. The prison was an accepted and illegitimate part of the social order. Thus, it could be stated that, into the 18th century,

It must be borne in mind that all this time the prisons were primarily places of detention, not of punishment. The bulk of those committed to their safe keeping were accused persons awaiting trial in due process of law, or debtors; and of these again by far the most numerous class were the impecunious and the unfortunate, whom a mistaken system locked up and deprived of all means of paying their liabilities. Now and again an offender was sentenced to be imprisoned in default of payment of fine, or to pass the intervals between certain periods of disgraceful exposure on the pillory. Imprisonment has as yet no regular place in the code of penalties, and the jail was only the temporary lodging of culprits duly tried and sentenced according to law. The punishment most in favour in these ruthless times was death. (Major Arthur Griffiths, "Prison Discipline," in The Encyclopaedia Britannica, Ninth Edition, 1892) -- Rousas John Rushdoony, Institutes of Biblical Law, pp. 515, 516

Increasingly, the minds of our children are growing up to be antisocial. Children diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder now number in the millions. As the Carnegie-Mellon survey notes, our primary social response to the new antisocial nature of children has not been to rethink how we raise them, but rather to expand punishment and incarceration systems. A Department of Justice study reports that at our present rates of incarceration, one in twenty babies born in the United States today will spend some part of life incarcerated. As of 2004, 1 in every 138 U.S. residents was in prison. -- Michael Gurian in Nurture the Nature

"Many of the inmates are hardened and heartless," Caine told PBS. "They have never taken care of anyone else, but in caring for a dying fellow inmate they become like a family. Presbyterian chaplain Chuck Smith told PBS that he had seen people at the prison "become human beings. One does not think of a prison [as] a place where one comes to one's humanity, but that's certainly the case here," he said. "Somewhere in the process they open and change." -- Berle Caine
http://liveit.crosswalk.com/finances/mony20001205.html

Bryant, Marcus D., The Art of Christian Caring (St. Louis, MO: Bethany Press, 1979), ISBN: 0827200153 9780827200159.
"Then Bryant turns to specific target groups for ministry, such as nursing home residents, the retarded, prisoners, and mental patients, examining guidelines and background information. The final chapter discusses how to gather one's own resources for the helping process through worship, meditation, and spirituality, stressing as a general guideline that Christian caring is sustained by God's love and by our personal responses to that love as we experience it in our own lives. Underscoring the importance of commitment and self-discipline in relations with others, this is a good introductory guide that should be helpful to general readers."

Galaway, Burt, and Joe Hudson, Criminal Justice, Restitution, and Reconciliation, ISBN: 0960696067 9780960696062.

Kandle, George C., and Henry H. Cassler, Ministering to Prisoners and Their Families (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1968).
Includes bibliography.

Napolitano, Andrew P., Constitutional Chaos: What Happens When the Government Breaks its Own Laws (Nelson Current, November 11, 2004), ISBN: 0785260838 9780785260837.
"In this alarming book, Judge Napolitano makes the solid case that there is a pernicious and ever-expanding pattern of government abuse in America's criminal justice system, leading him to establish his general creed: The government is not your friend. As an attorney, a law professor, a commentator, a judge, and now a successful television personality, Judge Napolitano has studied the system inside and out, and his unique voice has resonance and relevance. Whether in the big, headliner criminal cases or in the thousands of small-town trials no one ever hears about (but should), the police, the prosecutors, the politicians, the judges, and the machinery of government are inexorably grinding away at the individual liberties guaranteed to all Americans by the Constitution. But in this sensational new book, Napolitano sets the record straight, speaking frankly from his own experiences and careful, thorough investigation and revealing how government agencies will often arrest without warrant, spy without legal authority, imprison without charge, and kill without cause." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Rushdoony, Rousas J. (1916-2001), Institutes of Biblical Law, 3 volumes (Vallecito, CA: Ross House Books), ISBN: 1879998130.
Volume 1, INSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW, 890 pages, ISBN: 0875524109.
"A monumental volume . . . Deeply explores the meaning and application of the Ten Commandments for today in civil government, social ethics, and personal conduct." -- GCB
"Many consider this to be the author's most important work. With indices. -- Publisher's Annotation
Volume 2, LAW AND SOCIETY, 752 pages, ISBN: 1879998238.
"The relationship of Biblical Law to communion and community, the sociology of the Sabbath, the family and inheritance, and much more are covered in the second volume. Contains an appendix by Herbert Titus. With indices." -- Publisher's Annotation
Volume 3, THE INTENT OF THE LAW, 252 pages, ISBN: 1879998130.
" 'God's law is much more than a legal code; it is a covenantal law. It establishes a personal relationship between God and man.' The first section summarizes the case laws. The author tenderly illustrates how the law is for our good, and makes clear the difference between the sacrificial laws and those that apply today. The second section vividly shows the practical implications of the law. The examples catch the reader's attention; the author clearly has had much experience discussing God's law. The third section shows that would-be challengers to God's law produce only poison and death. Only God's law can claim to express God's 'covenant grace in helping us'. With indices." -- Publisher's Annotation
Theft: Commentary and Cases of Conscience. A Listing Excerpted From THE INSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW by Rousas John Rushdoony, 1973 edition
http://www.lettermen2.com/theft.html

SHIELDS, ALEXANDER, A True and Faithful Relation of the Sufferings of the Reverend and Learned, Mr. Alexander Shields, Minister of the Gospel. Written with his own hand. Containing an account of his examinations and imprisonment at London; his being sent down to Scotland; . . . Together with a large and elaborate defence of the doctrine of resistance, . . . Never before published. Alternate title: A TRUE AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE SUFFERINGS OF THE REVEREND AND LEARNED, MR. ALEXANDER SHIELDS, MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL. WRITTEN WITH HIS OWN HAND. CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF HIS EXAMINATIONS AND IMPRISONMENT AT LONDON; HIS BEING SENT DOWN TO SCOTLAND; . . . TOGETHER WITH A LARGE AND ELABORATE DEFENCE OF THE DOCTRINE OF RESISTANCE, . . . NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. [EDINBURGH?], 1715. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

Umbreit, Mark, Crime and Reconciliation: Creative Options for Victims and Offenders (New York, NY: Abingdon Press, 1985), ISBN: 0687098858 9780687098859.

Van Ness, Daniel W., Crime and its Victims (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press), ISBN: 0877845123 9780877845126.
"Along with the high praise and commendation by Cal Thomas, Mark Hatfield, and Carl Henry, Charles Colson (Prison Fellowship Ministries) gives this book an important foreword. It is an excellent start. Implementing advice in this book would begin a revolution of our criminal justice system." -- GCB

Zipporah Films, Titicut Follies, Frederick Wiseman (production), ISBN: 9781885918512 1885918518
This documentary is often listed among the 100 Top Documentaries. Released in the early 70s, reviewers have suggested that it was influential in bringing about the radical change in Metal Health Policy at that time, the practical closing down of mental institutions and the release of patients into society. This policy has been a complete failure as documented in The Released also listed here.
The producer obviously plays on the emotions of the viewer. But this does not translate into artistic merit, as most reviewers seem to conclude. In fact it seems that the objective was to elicit sympathy from a naive public for the plight of the "criminally insane," the "mentally ill," the demoniac. Only someone who has never been a psych nurse or lived with "mentally ill" neighbors could interpret their treatment in this documentary as harsh or cruel. In fact, the patient's incompetence in human relationships makes them impossible to deal with.
"The film is a stark and graphic portrayal of the conditions that existed at the State Prison for the Criminally Insane at Bridgewater, Massachusetts. TITICUT FOLLIES documents the various ways the inmates are treated by the guards, social workers and psychiatrists."

See also: The sovereignty of God, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Fatherlessness, Theft, stealing and fraud: property rights, Guilt, Sin, contagion of sin, imitation, conformity, Temptation, Knowledge and virtue, Forgiveness, Justification, Justifying faith, Reconciliation of relationships, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Separation, Covenant theology, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Ethics, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Trusting god, Repentance the key to salvation and change, Book-length presentations of the gospel message of salvation and the life to come: the means of grace, Christian fellowship, Friendship, Loneliness, Immanuel, christ's presence, christ in you, Homelessness, Apologetics, Soteriology, The holy spirit, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Envy and jealousy, Hostility and violence, Sexual relationship, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Adultery, Abuse, Child abuse and pedophilia, Homosexuality, Pornography, The occult, Substance abuse and addiction, Alcoholism, Vengeance and retaliation, Homelessness, Lying, deceit, self-deception, Covetousness, greed, selfishness, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Menpleasing, Secret societies, ungodly alliances, voluntary associations, Pseudo-christian movements, Bribery, Extortion, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 3478, 3479

Related WebLinks

Rebellion and Lawlessness: Wickedness, Demonic Possession, Substance Abuse, Abnormal Behavior, Insanity, Mental Illness, Mental Retardation
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappd.html#rlinsane

Prison Ministries
http://gsn.org/jail/jail.html

Prison Fellowship Ministries
http://www.pfm.org/home.htm

Prison Congregations of America
http://scream.iw.net/~pastored/index.html

Bible Believers Fellowship - Nationwide Christian Prison Ministry
http://www.baldwin.org/bbfi/HOMEPAGE.htm

Frontline, The Released
Our Mental Health Policy has been a complete failure since the release of patients from mental institutions in the early 70's. Those released quickly ended up in prisons.
"In this follow up to the groundbreaking film The New Asylums, FRONTLINE examines what happens to the mentally ill when they leave prison and why they return at such alarming rates. The intimate stories of the released-along with interviews with parole officers, social workers, and psychiatrists-provide a rare look at the lives of the mentally ill as they struggle to stay out of prison and reintegrate into society." -- Publisher's Annotation
http://www.shoppbs.org/sm-pbs-frontline-the-released-dvd--pi-3544620.html



Incest

See the Theological Notes, "The Image of God," at Genesis 1:27 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Body and Soul, Male and Female" at Genesis 2:7 in The Reformation Study Bible.

For biblical law on incest and scriptural references see "Incest," The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 1, page 1034.

Incest is "boot camp" for prostitution.

Replacing Christ in the life of the disciple amounts to spiritual incest. And the consequences in the spiritual life of the disciple will be similar to the consequences of incest in the emotional life of a child, in this case spiritual prostitution with unholy spirits.

Word: "disease;" Meaning; "disturb;" Sample location: "Luke 8:49" -- from the "Glossary," 1599 Geneva Bible. Tolle Lege edition DISEASE, n. Dizeze. [dis and ease.] 1. In its primary sense, pain, uneasiness, distress, and so used by Spenser; but in this sense, obsolete. 2. The cause of pain or uneasiness . . . disorder; any state of a living body in which the natural functions of the organs are interrupted or disturbed . . . The first effect of disease is uneasiness or pain, and the ultimate effect is death. . . . 3. A disordered state of the mind or intellect, by which the reason is impaired. 4. In society, vice; corrupt state of morals. Vices are called moral diseases. A wise man converses with the wicked, as a physician with the sick, not to catch the disease, but to cure it. 5. Political or civil disorder, or vices in a state; any practice which tends to disturb the peace of society, or impede or prevent the regular administration of government. The instability, injustice and confusion introduced into the public councils have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have every where perished. DISEASE, v.t. dizeze. 1. To interrupt or impair any or all the natural and regular functions of the several organs of a living body [i.e. robbing a neighbor of sleep -- sk]; to afflict with pain or sickness to make morbid . . . 2. To interrupt or render imperfect the regular functions of the brain, or of the intellect; to disorder; to derange. 3. To infect; to communicate disease to, by contagion. 4. To pain; to make uneasy. --1828 edition of Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language

Adams, Jay E., Q&A: Counseling Woman Whose Husband Abuses Her and Children (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
"How would you counsel a woman whose husband is physically abusive to his wife and children? How does inter-church discipline work?" Audio cassette JA209.

*Elliott, Lynda, and Vicki Tanner, My Father's Child (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth and Hyatt Publishers, 1988), ISBN: 1561210285 9781561210282.
Help and healing for the victims of emotional, sexual, and physical abuse.

*Foster, David Kyle, Sexual Healing: God's Plan for the Sanctification of Broken Lives: A Reference Manual for Ministering to Those Trapped in Sexual Sin and Brokenness (Jacksonville, FL [Mastering Life Ministries, P.O. Box 351149, Jacksonville 32235]: Mastering Life Ministries, 1997), ISBN: 0830737154 9780830737154 0830737340 9780830737345.
This is a unique work and the best resource known to the compiler offering biblical counsel for healing sexual brokenness. See "Foundations" and "Divine Intent for Sexuality" for a biblical explanation of the spiritual significance of sexuality. These two chapters alone make the purchase of the book worthwhile. Includes chapters, study guides, and exercises for Root sources for improper sexual development, Sexual identity confusion, Child sex abuse, Sexual addition, Pornography, Masturbation, voyeurism and exhibitionism, Why people remain in sexual sin and bondage, Failure and self-condemnation, A comprehensive game plan for sexual healing, and so forth. Indexed, 398 pages, includes bibliography.
Mastering Life Ministries
http://www.MasteringLife.org

Heitritter, Lynn, and Jeanette Vought, Helping Victims of Sexual Abuse (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1989), ISBN: 0764202286 9780764202285.
"Sexual abuse is making headlines around America. . . . Many people secretly bear the scars of childhood abuse and desperately struggle with the hidden trauma that interferes with spiritual growth and normal human relationships. The church needs to understand genuine sexual abuse and what can be done about it under present civil constraints." -- Susan Alder
"What women should know about sexual assault."
"Heitritter and Vought have done an enormous service in demonstrating the extent of the problem in the local church. They give practical, tested advice about ministry to survivors of sexual abuse. Required reading for pastors, lay leaders and others who work everyday with victims of sexual abuse." -- Dale S. Ryan, Executive Director of The Recovery Partnership Foundation, Whittier, California

Hudson, Pamela S., Ritual Child Abuse: Discovery, Diagnosis and Treatment (Saratoga, CA: R&E Publishers, 1991), ISBN: 0882478672 9780882478678.
Includes bibliographical references.
"I am a psychotherapist who works with trauma. I used to believe that ritual abuse was an urban legend; now I know better. I've worked with enough survivors and specialists who treat Dissociative Identity Disorder, previously called Multiple Personality Disorder, that I know Satanic Ritual Abuse and many other forms of ritual abuse are very real. It is very real and survivors are typically afraid to seek out help from mental health professionals for it and are severely dis-served by the denial of mental health practitioners.
"This book is a little simplistic but is a good introduction to working with Ritual Abuse Survivors. I recommend reading this to help wrap your mind around ritual abuse, then, if you are a professional read Dee Brown's book on SATANIC RITUAL ABUSE. That is an excellent resource." -- Reader's Comment

*Hyde, Margaret O., Cry Softly! The Story of Child Abuse, revised and enlarged (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1986), ISBN: 0664327233.
Includes bibliography. Indexed.
"The rising tide of child abuse makes this book a must. Deals with the reasons, as well as the treatment. Provides information on `Hotlines,' `Suggestions for Further Reading,' and `National Organizations Concerned With Child Abuse'." -- Cyril J. Barber

Hyde, Margaret O., Sexual Abuse: Let's Talk About it, revised and enlarged edition (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1987), ISBN: 0664327257 9780664327255
"Draws attention to what is becoming a `national epidemic.' Points out how pastors may recognize the victims and deal with the trauma and anger of those who feel violated. Practical." -- Cyril J. Barber
"Discusses the sexual abuse of children, how they can protect themselves, where they can seek help, the kinds of help available, and how to increase public awareness of this problem."

Imbens, Annie Fransen, Ineke De Putter Jonker, and P. McVay (translator) Christianity and Incest, ISBN: 0800625412 9780800625412.

Justice, Blair, and Rita Justice, The Broken Taboo (New York, NY: Human Sciences Press, 1983), ISBN: 0877053898 9780877053897.
"Treats the problem of incest that, as most pastors and counselors know, is becoming more and more prevalent. Describes the causes and effect on offender and subject. A must for those on the pastoral staff." -- Cyril J. Barber
"The most moving thing I read in the book was of our society's refusal to admit incest happens, especially of mothers refusing to believe when it was taking place in their homes. This refusal to acknowledge that there is even anything to acknowledge is almost as great a crime as the abuse of one's own children, and the Justices put the fact squarely in the reader's lap." -- Reader's Comment

Martin, Grant, Counseling in Cases of Family Violence and Abuse (Resources in Christian Counseling Series, Vol. 6. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1987), ISBN: 0849905877 9780849905872.

Mawyer, Martin, Silent Shame: The Alarming Rise of Child Sexual Abuse and How to Protect Your Children From It, ISBN: 0891074198 9780891074199.
"This informative study provides an in-depth profile of sexual abusers -- their methods, motivations, strategies, hangouts -- so that parents can understand what makes a child vulnerable to their overtures. This work provides practical steps to take to prevent children from becoming victims of sexual abuse." -- GCB

Pellauer, Mary D., Barbara Chester, and Jane Boyajian (editors), Sexual Assault and Abuse: A Handbook for Clergy and Religious Professionals, ISBN: 0060665076 9780060665074.
"Illustrated with case histories this book, primarily by women (only two chapters are by men), helps counselors and therapists recognize the patterns of sexual assault and sexual abuse. From this premise the gears are switched and the contributors discuss the reasons for violence in our milieu, and the threat this poses to children, teens, and adults." -- Cyril J. Barber

Schlesinger, Benjamin, Sexual Abuse of Children: A Resource Guide and Annotated Bibliography (Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1982), ISBN: 0802064817 9780802064813.
"An informative guide to the literature covering all aspects of sexual molestation -- including profiles of parents and siblings." -- Cyril J. Barber

Wilson, Earl D., A Silence to be Broken: Hope for Those Caught in the Web of Incest (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers), ISBN: 0851104975 9780851104973.
"A difficult subject is handled in a sensitive way thus providing compassion and relief for those who have been gripped with this problem. Sources of help are offered as well as what the church can do. Wilson writes with a contagious confidence in God's redemptive power, and it give us hope." -- GCB

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Knowledge of God and virtue, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Fatherlessness, Sexual relationship, Abuse, Child abuse and pedophilia, Pornography, Prostitution, Homosexuality, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Bible promises, Repentance the key to salvation and change, Forgiveness, Justification, Justifying faith, Book-length presentations of the gospel message of salvation and the live to come: the means of grace, The all-sufficiency of christ, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Covenant theology, The covenant faithfulness of god, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Spirituality and harlotry, Pseudo-christian movements, and so forth, and so on.

Related WebLinks

Mastering Life Ministries
http://www.MasteringLife.org

Sexual Assault Information Page
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~bartley/saInfoPage.html

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html

A Redneck Resolution Against Self-destruction
http://www.lettermen2.com/redneck.html



Individual Responsibility for Corporate Faithfulness and Sanctification

Individual Responsibility for Corporate Faithfulness and Sanctification
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr9cha.html#irespons



Infatuation

Scientists say that the brain chemistry of infatuation is akin to mental illness -- which gives new meaning to "madly in love." -- Lauren Slater

It is impossible to desire something that you already possess.

*Harris, Joshua, and Rebecca St. James I Kissed Dating Goodbye, ISBN: 9789810589981 9810589980.
Countless teens today feel depressed or discouraged because they don't have a boyfriend or girlfriend. Many single Christians feel frustrated with cultural expectations and patterns of dating. Youth pastors and parents find themselves dealing with young adults who fall into sexual temptation or spend more energy on dating than on following God. I KISSED DATING GOODBYE DRIVE TIME AUDIO offers an all-new approach to dating relationships. It calls young adults away from playing the dating game and reveals how they can live a lifestyle of sincere love, true purity, and purposeful singleness. Honest and practical, this powerful book will inspire teens and young adults to remap their romantic lives in the light of God's Word. Not just a book of theory, I KISSED DATING GOODBYE Drive Time Audio includes healthy challenges to today's cultural assumptions about relationships and provides solid, biblical alternatives to society's norm.
"Joshua Harris has a passion to glorify God through preaching and writing. He directs New Attitude Ministries and is in pastoral training at Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He is the author of the bestselling I KISSED DATING GOODBYE and is working on a follow-up book, BOY MEETS GIRL." -- Publisher's Annotation
"While most Christians agree to seek purity and save sex for marriage, few have been given a blueprint for how that should affect their view of dating and love. In I KISSED DATING GOODBYE, Joshua Harris exposes the `Seven Habits of Highly Defective Dating' and offers a realistic outline of how to have a biblical vision of marriage. Harris contends that one must begin with a new attitude, viewing love, purity, and singleness from God's perspective rather than thinking that love and romance are to be enjoyed `solely for recreation.' In such well-named chapters as `Guarding Your Heart' and `What Matters at Fifty,' Harris encourages the reader to look at one's character rather than reveling in infatuation, to regard love as a truly selfless, biblical act rather than a feeling. He refutes the concept that we are victims of `falling in love' (that it is beyond our control), saying that `God wants us to seek guidance from scriptural truth, not feeling. Smart love looks beyond personal desires and the gratification of the moment. It looks at the big picture: serving others and glorifying God.' Before you roll your eyes, moaning that this sounds terribly unromantic, know that Harris does a superb job of couching his convictions in the sincere belief that if we are purposeful in our singleness and date with integrity, a fulfilled marriage awaits us -- in God's timing." -- Jill Heatherly

Harris, Joshua, Shannon Harris, and Nicole Whitacre I Kissed Dating Goodbye: Study Guide, ISBN: 1590521366 9781590521366.

Preston, John, Hovv to Mortifie Covetousnesse (London: I. Beale, for Andrew Crooke . . . , 1633).

Preston, John (1587-1628), Sinnes Overthrow: or, A Godly and Learned Treatise of Mortification: wherein is excellently handled; first, the generall doctrine of mortification: and then particularly, how to mortifie fornication. Uncleannesse. Evill concupiscence. Inordinate affection. And covetousnesse. All being the substance of severall sermons upon Colos. 3.5. Mortifie therefore your members, &c. Delivered by that late faithfull preacher, and worthie instrument of Gods glorie, John Preston, Dr. in Divinitie, chaplin in ordinarie to his Majestie, master of Emanuell Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns-Inne, 1635, ISSN: 00279358.

Short, Ray E., Sex, Love, or Infatuation: How can I Really Know? revised, expanded edition (Augsburg Fortress Publishers), ISBN: 0883911051 9780883911051.
"Are you in love or just infatuated? Is sexual attraction all that's holding your relationship together? Or have you found the kind of love that will last a lifetime? Dr. Ray Short provides 14 clues that will help you decide these questions yourself.
"Ray E. Short is professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Wisconsin in Platteville, where he taught courses on marriage and the family. He is a popular speaker to college students, school assemblies, and youth and counselor conferences. A Methodist minister, Dr. Short is also the author of SEX, DATING, AND LOVE: THE QUESTIONS MOST OFTEN ASKED. He lives in Lafayette, Colorado." -- Publisher's Annotation
"A revised and expanded version of a longtime classic handbook for anyone working to help people with relationship problems on their way to marriage. Youth ministers, college campus ministers as well as couples and individuals will be most grateful for Short's expertise in this matter. Practical, accessible with ample actual stories for maximum clarity. This is a treasure for anyone who loves young people wanting to have a life-giving relationship. As a counselor I could not be without it." -- Reader's Comment

See also: The ten commandments, the moral law, Knowledge and virtue, Sexual relationship, Adultery, Spirituality and harlotry, Pseudo-christian movements, Covetousness, greed and selfishness, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Lying, deceit, self-deception, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Abstinence, chastity, Self-denial, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 2685, 4047



Infertility, Barrenness (Women)

See: Infertility, Barrenness, Childlessness
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr7cha.html#infrtl



Intercessory Prayer

See: Intercessory Prayer
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1chb.html#intercp



Justice, Judgment, God's Final Judgment, The Great White Throne Judgment, The Day of the Lord

See the Theological Notes, "God Reigns: Divine Sovereignty," at Daniel 4:34 in The Reformation Study Bible

"Of the Last Judgment," The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), Chapter XXXIII)
I. God has appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world, in righteousness, by Jesus Christ,[1] to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father.[2] In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged,[3] but likewise all persons that have lived upon earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.[4]
[1] ACT 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
[2] JOH 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
[3] 1CO 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? JUD 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 2PE 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.
[4] 2CO 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. ECC 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. ROM 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. MAT 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/indexf.html

See the Theological Notes, "The Fall" at Genesis 3:6 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "The Law of God," at Exodus 20:1 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "The Three Purposes of the Law," at Deuteronomy 13:10 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "God is Light: Divine Holiness and Justice" at Leviticus 11:44 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "Mankind's Guilty Knowledge of God," at Romans 1:29 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "The Kingdom of God," at Luke 17:20 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "The Ascension of Jesus," at Luke 24:51 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Jesus' Heavenly Reign," at Acts 7:55 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "The Return of Jesus Christ," at 1 Thessalonians 4:16 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "The Final Judgment," at Matthew 25:41 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "Church Discipline and Excommunication," at Matthew 18:15 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "Hell," at Mark 9:43 in The Reformation Study Bible.

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifieces, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. -- 1 Samuel 15:22,23)

And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. (Gross infatuation, to leave the true God for idols, the work of men's hands.)
And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
(Sin must be chastened in God's people. Even though others transgress with impunity, the Lord's chosen shall not. Alas! what misery comes of departing from the Lord.)
Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. (He was far more ready to deliver them than to smite them. He delighteth in mercy.) (Judges 2:10-16) -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting in Spurgeon's Devotional Bible

And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. (Was not this the great angel of the covenant, even the Lord Jesus? Who could use such language but one who is equal with God?)
And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. (Their sin was to be their punishment. If we will not smite our sins, our sins will smite us.) [Notice our faithfulness to God and our obedience to his word, and our faithful practice of magestracy turns back the wrath of God. -- sk]
And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim (or weepers): and they sacrificed there unto the LORD. (Tears will not serve, there must be sacrifice also. Blessed are they who with broken heart compass the altar of the Lord. May the Holy Spirit work in each of us a sacred sorrow for all sin. Amen) (Judges 2:1-5). -- C.H. Spurgeon commenting in Spurgeon's Devotional Bible

He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. (Psalm 33:5) See also: Psalm 45:7; Psalm 99:4; Jeremiah 9:24; Psalm 1:5; Psalm 7:6; Psalm 11:3; Psalm 119:142; Psalm 145:17; Psalm 36:6; Hebrews 1:9; Revelation 15:3, 4; Genesis 18:25; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Job 8:3; Job 34:12; Job 37:23. Genuine love does not ignore injustice or evil, and particularly apostasy.

It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. (Proverbs 18:5)

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)

In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. (Isaiah 27:1) See annotation in The Reformation Study Bible

Isaiah 51:1-6. See the annotation in The Reformation Study Bible

Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? (Jeremiah 5: 25-31) See the annotation in The Reformation Study Bible.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. -- Jesus Christ (John 3:19-21)

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.
All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. -- Jesus Christ (John 16:7-15)

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3)

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. -- Jesus Christ (Revelation 3:16)

Christianity is the highest ethical standard known to mankind. When heretical men depart from historic, orthodox Christianity, then society begins to see an increasing lack of restraint of evil.

These that now have peace, it says they are not so [valiant] now, for the Covenants are not only broken and burnt, but Declared Criminal to be owned; and the Covenanted Reformation like to be Ruined and razed: And when there is so much peace with Antichrist, it is a Wrath-presaging thing, a Wrath procuring thing. And his Blood cries for Vengeance against all those who have been seeking to have peace with the Enemies of GOD, that have encroached on all his Prerogatives. -- Alexander Shields, http://truecovenanter.com/shields/shields_distinckorn_hill_16880415.html

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
The roll was full and written on both sides. The divine purposes are here intended.
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (He possesses fulness of power, fulness of wisdom, and fulness of the Holy Spirit.)
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
No man knows the Father save the Son; the Son alone can reveal the decrees of Jehovah.
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
The Lamb is, therefore, God, or he would not thus be adored. Jesus, our Saviour, is assuredly "God over all, blessed for ever. Amen."
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Do all things thus worship Jesus? then let us adore him. Oh for warm hearts, with which to extole his precious name. All hail, Lord Jesus! our very souls worship thee with lowliest and most loving reverence. (Revelation 5:1-14) -- Spurgeon's Devotional Bible See also David Steele, NOTES ON THE APOCALYPSE which is also available in the Project Gutenberg and James Durham, A COMPLETE COMMENTARY UPON THE BOOK OF REVELATION, and Alexander M'Leod, LECTURES UPON THE PRINCIPAL PROPHECIES OF THE REVELATION.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:11-15)

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15) See the note for 20:11-15, page 2031, in The Reformation Study Bible. See also David Steele, NOTES ON THE APOCALYPSE which is also available in the Project Gutenberg and James Durham, A COMPLETE COMMENTARY UPON THE BOOK OF REVELATION, and Alexander M'Leod, LECTURES UPON THE PRINCIPAL PROPHECIES OF THE REVELATION.

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. -- Jesus Christ (Revelation 22:12)

Baker, Matthew, Wherein, and Wherefore, the Damnation of Those That Perish Under the Gospel will be More Intolerable Than the Damnation of Sodom, or the Worst of the Heathens, at the Day of Judgment. In PURITAN SERMONS 1659-1689: BEING THE MORNING EXERCISES AT CRIPPLEGATE, ST. GILES IN THE FIELDS, AND IN SOUTHWARK BY SEVENTY-FIVE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL IN OR NEAR LONDON WITH NOTES AND TRANSLATIONS BY JAMES NICHOLS (4:198-215).

Boston, Thomas (1676-1732), The Great Danger of Professors who Hold the Truth in Unrighteousness. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THE REVEREND THOMAS BOSTON (3:214-52).

Brooks, Thomas, The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures, or, Several Great Points, that refer to the saints' present blessedness, and their future happiness, with the resolution of several important questions. In THE WORKS OF THOMAS BROOKS, 1886 (5:1-261)
"On the justice of God in imputing the sins of his people to Christ, see 5:69-70."

Brooks, Thomas, Apples of Gold for Young Men and Women, and, A Crown of Glory for Old Men and Women. Or, the Happiness of Being Good Betimes, and the honour of being an old disciple. Clearly and fully discovered, and closely and faithfully applied. Also, the young man's objections answered, and the old man's doubts resolved. In THE WORKS OF THOMAS BROOKS, 1886 (1:167-284)
"On whether the sins of God's true people will be brought into judgment, see chapter 5 (1:220-24)."

Brooks, Thomas, London's Lamentations: or, A Serious Discourse concerning the late fiery dispensation that turned our (once renowned) city into a ruinous heap. Also the several lessons that are incumbent upon those whose houses have escaped the consuming flames. In THE WORKS OF THOMAS BROOKS, 1886 (6:1-312)

*Buis, Harry, The Doctrine of Eternal Punishment (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.).
"A candid, forthright witness to the reality of hell." -- John Murray

Dabney, Robert L., Vindicatory Justice Essential to God. In DISCUSSIONS: EVANGELICAL AND THEOLOGICAL, (1:466-81)

Dent, Harry and Betty Dent, Right vs. Wrong: Solutions to the American Nightmare, ISBN: 0840734387 9780840734389.

Edwards, Jonathan, The Final Judgment: or, The World Judged Righteously by Jesus Christ. In THE WORKS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS, (2:190-201)

EDWARDS, JONATHAN, The Justice of God in the Damnation of Sinners, Explained, Illustrated, and Proved, in a Sermon Upon Romans III. 19. By Jonathan Edwards. Discourse 4 in Five Discourses on Important Subjects, Nearly Concerning the Great Affair of the Soul's Eternal Salvation. In THE WORKS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS, (1:668-79). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1.

Edwards, Jonathan, The Portion of the Wicked. In THE WORKS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS, (2:878-88)

Flavel, John (1628-1691), An Appendix to the Foregoing Treatise [i.e., England's Duty Under the Present Gospel Liberty]. In THE WORKS OF JOHN FLAVEL (4:268-306).

*GILLESPIE, PATRICK, Rulers Sins the Causes of National Judgments: or, A Sermon preached at the fast, upon the 26th day of December 1650. By Mr. Patrick Gillespie, ... To which is annexed, A sermon upon the difficulty of conversion, by Mr. John Walwood. . . , Edinburgh, 1722. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

Henry, Matthew, A Memorial of the Fire of the Lord: In a Sermon, preached September 2nd, 1713, being the day of the commemoration of the burning of London, in 1666. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THE REV. MATTHEW HENRY (HIS UNFINISHED COMMENTARY EXCEPTED). BEING A COLLECTION OF ALL HIS TREATISES, SERMONS, AND TRACTS AS PUBLISHED BY HIMSELF AND A MEMOIR OF HIS LIFE, 2 vols. (Baker Books House, 1974) (2:427-41)

Hoyt, Herman Arthur, The end Times.

*HOWIE, JOHN, The Scots Worthies. Biographia Scoticana: or, A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots Worthies . . . As also, an appendix, containing a short historical hint of the wicked lives . . . of the . . . apostates and . . . persecutors in Scotland . . . 2nd edition, corrected and enlarged, 1781 (Glasgow: Printed by John Bryce, and sold at his shop opposite Gibson's-Wynd, Salt-market, 1781) and (Cerlox Bound Photocopy Series. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Still Waters Revival Books). A Christian classic.
See particularly for purposes of this listing Howie's appendix titled "The Judgment and Justice of God" (which chronicles God's judgments upon Reformation apostates and those who persecuted the Covenanters).
Biographia Scoticana, John Howie
Original from Oxford University, published 1885, digitized May 22, 2006. Described as a reprint of the 1781 edition.
http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC34190563&id=5iwAAAAAQAAJ&q=Scots+Worthies+1781&dq=Scots+Worthies+1781&ie=ISO-8859-1&pgis=1
(Gale: Eighteenth Century Collection Online [ECCO.] Gale Document Number CW3300757473). English Short Title Catalog, ESTCT110333.
"Most commonly known as SCOTS WORTHIES, this edition contains Howie's footnotes (defending the Covenanters) and Howie's appendix titled `The Judgment and Justice of God' (which chronicles God's judgments upon Reformation apostates and those who persecuted the Covenanters). It is the only edition in print which contains both these sections intended for publication by the author (as later editors often removed either one or both of these parts of this book).

*Morey, Robert A., Death and the Afterlife (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers), ISBN: 0871234335 9780871234339.
"Coming with recommendations by Walter Martin, Vernon Grounds, and Roger Nicole, this is the most comprehensive modern treatment to be found. Since the beginning of time the doctrine of eternal punishment has been fiercely attacked. This study provides answers to just about every question on the subject." -- GCB

*Morris, Leon, The Biblical Doctrine of Judgment (London, England: Tyndale Press, 1960), ISBN: 159752817X 9781597528177.
"An analysis of the teaching contained in the Old Testament and New Testament on the present reality and future certainty of judgment." -- Cyril J. Barber

North, Gary, Victim's Rights: The Biblical View of Civil Justice. Alternate title: THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF VICTIM'S RIGHTS (Fort Worth, TX: Dominion Press), ISBN: 0930464176 9780930464172.
"A study of what the Bible says our judicial systems should be like. North contends that Scripture clearly shows that (in ancient days) they were `harsh on criminals' in order to be `soft on victims' -- the reverse of the modern approach in our culture." -- GCB
Institute for Christian Economics Freebooks.com
http://www.freebooks.com/

*Owen, John (1616-1683), A Dissertation on Divine Justice: or, the Claims of Vindicatory Justice Vindicated; wherein that essential property of the Divine nature is demonstrated from the sacred writings, and defended against Socinians, particularly the authors of the Racovian Catechism, John Crellius, and F. Socinus himself; likewise the necessary exercise thereof; together with the indispensable necessity of the satisfaction of Christ for the salvation of sinners is established against the objections of certain very learned men, G. Twisse, G. Vossius, Samuel Rutherford, and others. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN (10:481-624).

*Owen, John (1616-1683), The Furnace of Divine Wrath. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN (16:425-31).

*Owen, John (1616-1683), National Sins and National Judgments. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN (16:480-88).

*Owen, John (1616-1683), Righteous Judgment. A Sermon preached in the University church . . . on the 11th of March, 1794(?), . . . By . . . John Owen, . . . Cambridge, 1794.

*Robbins, John, Freedom and Capitalism: Essays on Christian Politics and Economics (Unicoi, TN: The Trinity Foundation, November, 2006), 650 pages, ISBN: 1891777157 9781891777158.
See, in particularly, the Foreword.
"The relationship between Christianity, freedom, and capitalism has been a subject of scholarly study for centuries. In this volume, John Robbins argues that political and economic freedom are the results of Biblical Christianity. Political freedom and capitalism arose in Northwestern Europe and North America after the Christian Reformation of the 16th Century, and they are unique in world history. The nations and peoples that heard and accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ as proclaimed by the Reformers quickly became free and prosperous on a scale previously unimaginable. Some historians and economists have denied any causal connection between Christianity, freedom, and capitalism, but they are able to deny this connection only by ignoring clear philosophical, economic, legal, sociological, and historical evidence demonstrating that Christianity is the source of capitalism.
"Dr. John W. Robbins attended Grove City College (A.B. 1969) and The Johns Hopkins University (M.A. 1970, Ph.D. 1973). He has served as chief of staff for a Member of Congress, editor of The Freeman magazine, Economist for The Heritage Foundation, and Professor of Political Philosophy in The Freedom School." -- Publisher's Annotation
Table of Contents:
Foreword
Politics
The Founder of Western Civilization
The Sine Qua Non of Enduring Freedom
Some Problems with Natural Law
The Political Philosophy of the Founding Fathers
The Bible and the Draft
The Messianic Character of American Foreign Policy
Truth and Foreign Policy
Compassionate Fascism
Conservatism: An Autopsy
Rightwing Radical Chic
The Reconstructionist Assault on Freedom
Roman Catholic Totalitarianism
The Relation of Church and State (Charles Hodge)
Abortion, the Christian, and the State
The Ethics and Economics of Health Care
The Chickens' Homecoming (John Whitehead)
The Coming Caesars (John Whitehead)
Rebuilding American Freedom in the Twenty-First Century
The Religious Wars of the Twenty-First Century
Economics
The Failure of Secular Economics
The Promise of Christian Economics
Teaching Economics from the Bible
The Neo-Evangelical Assault on Capitalism
The Reformed Assault on Capitalism
The Roman Catholic Assault on Capitalism
How Romanism Ruined America
Not Yours to Give (Edward Ellis)
Money, Freedom, and the Bible
The Case Against Indexation
Is Christianity Tied to Any Political or Economic System?
Ecology: The Abolition of Man
Scripture Index
Index
The Crisis of Our Time
Intellectual Ammunition

*ROGERS, RICHARD, (1550?-1618) Judges (Banner of Truth, 1996). ISBN: 0851513778. Appears on Puritan Bookshelf CD #21. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Six, CD #34.
Richard Rogers was a contemporary of William Perkins (1558-1602).
"This for the Puritan period is THE work upon Judges. It is thoroughly plain and eminently practical. . . ." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"It [The Book of Judges] provides a dramatic illustration of the effect of apostasy upon every aspect of life. The root cause of Israel's decline was that the covenant relationship with the Lord, with its requirement of absolute and loyal obedience to His commands, was broken. This led to disintegration in the political, religious, social, and family spheres and to a sharp increase in immorality. The Book of Judges serves as a reminder that a nation cannot live on its past glories. The author of Judges was, of course, a preacher to his own generation, but his message has a permanent and universal application, and may be summed up in the words of Proverbs 14:34:

Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin in a reproach to any people.
Israel's chronic inability to profit by its own bitter history is a solemn exhortation to profit from the lessons of experience, whether observed or experienced." -- A.E. Cundall
"Gideon asks the question that is central to Judges: "if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?" (6:13). There was warning in Deuteronomy that the result of turning away from God and serving idols would be the sort of suffering that took place during the period of the judges. God would seem to be absent and the land would be filled with sorrows (Deut. 31:16, 17). Israel needed a king who could teach them how to keep their covenant with the Lord. . . .
"The central section of Judges (3:7-16:31), the bulk of the book, makes an extensive use of repetition. The author describes a repeating sequence of events. The Israelites do evil in the eyes of the Lord, turning to serve other gods. God becomes angry and delivers them up to oppressors. They cry out for help, and God raises up a judge to deliver them. The judge brings peace, but the nation returns to sin as soon as the judge dies. The repeated phrasing describing this pattern reinforces the point that the Israelites were unrepentant. While each judge and the details of the deliverance he brought varies, the end was inevitable: the people again did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
"Six major judges are described, interspersed with the mention of six lesser judges. The opening and closing sections of the book are like bookends, enclosing the cyclical narratives about the judges. The introduction (1:1-2:5) points out Israel's general failure to conquer the land according to the provisions of the covenant God had made with them. The cycles of the twelve judges show that the judges could not lead the people into faithfulness to the covenant. There was a downward spiral of increasing disobedience. The conclusion (chs. 17-21) recounts two especially grievous examples of covenant disobedience. The writer repeats the brief, tragic observation, 'There was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.'
"The writer of Judges, like the authors of the other historical books, calls the community of faith to obey the covenant, applying to their lives the teaching of Deuteronomy. He points to the successes and failures of previous generations, and challenges the people of David's time to be faithful to the covenant. He warns them prophetically about the dangers of the wrong kind of leadership.
"According to Judges, Israel was falling away from the covenant and worshiping false gods as they forgot the Lord's acts of salvation in the past (2:10; 6:13). As in Deuteronomy, the sin of seeking other gods is the continuing pattern of covenant disobedience (Judg. 2:11, 12; 3:7, 12; 8:33; 10:6, 10; Deut. 4:23). The repeated cycles with the constant refrains, 'the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord' (2:11; 3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1) and 'everyone did what was right in his own eyes' (17:6; 21:25; cf. Deut. 12:8; 31:16, 17), were a sharp warning to Israel in David's early kingship that they absolutely needed a king who could enable the nation to keep the terms of their covenant with God.
"Beyond these immediate applications for the original audience of Judges, we should observe that later readers doubtless saw in the book the hope for a new David who would teach them to keep their covenant with the Lord. This would be especially true of those who read the book in the days of the divided monarchy or during and after the exile to Babylon. In New Testament days, the gospel of Jesus, the son of David (Matt. 1:1), answers the longing of the readers of Judges for the presence of a godly king, and heightens the church's expectation of His return in glory." -- The Reformation Study Bible: The Word That Changes Lives -- The Faith That Changed the World, New King James Version, pp. 331, 332.
A study of the books of Judges and Micah (we recommend Calvin's Commentary on Micah) reveals that Bible Magistracy, executed by leaders of Church and by leaders of State, turns back the wrath of God. It could be argued this is an underlying theme throughout the Bible. Terrorism against the United States, abroad and at home, can be seen as the wrath of God punishing a wayward people. Practicing Bible Magistracy in society, then, is central to stopping terrorism. When men enforce the Law of God, then they turn back the wrath of God. The conclusion of David's life in 2 Samuel 23:3: "The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God."

Ryle, J.C., The Great Separation, In PRACTICAL RELIGION: BEING PLAIN PAPERS ON THE DAILY DUTIES, EXPERIENCE, DANGERS AND PRIVILEGES OF PROFESSING CHRISTIANS (289-309).

*Shedd, W.G.T., The Doctrine of Endless Punishment (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 0865240191 9780865240193.
"Shedd carefully expounds the Biblical teaching on divine judgment, and sets it in the context of the history of Christian doctrine. He deals carefully and cogently with objections to it." -- GCB
"This book will have a profoundly sobering effect on its readers; but its lasting impression will be to cause a new concern for men and women without Christ, and undying gratitude for Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come." -- Publisher's Annotation

Sibbes, Richard (1577-1635), The Church's Visitation. In THE WORKS OF RICHARD SIBBES (1:371-84).

Vincent, Thomas (1634-1678), God's Terrible Voice in the City by T.V., 1667.
"Notes: Wherein you have I. The sound of the voice in the narration of the two late dreadfull judgments of plague and fire, inflicted by the Lord upon the city of London, the former in the year 1665, the latter in the year 1666, II. The interpretation of the voice, in a discovery, 1. Of the cause of these judgments, where you have a catalogue of London's sins, 2. Of the design of these judgments where you have an enumeration of the duties God calls for by this terrible voice."

Watson, Thomas, The Day of Judgment Asserted. In PURITAN SERMONS 1659-1689: BEING THE MORNING EXERCISES AT CRIPPLEGATE, ST. GILES IN THE FIELDS, AND IN SOUTHWARK BY SEVENTY-FIVE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL IN OR NEAR LONDON WITH NOTES AND TRANSLATIONS BY JAMES NICHOLS (5:459-70).

Wright, Christopher, J.H., An Eye for an Eye: The Place of Old Testament Ethics Today (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press), ISBN: 0877848211 9780877848219.
"Wright develops a comprehensive and systematic view of Old Testament Law. Some say only the moral is still valid, we can disregard the ceremonial and civil law. Others say we must build a New Testament ethic only. Neither approach, argues Wright, gives the Old Testament its due in Christian thinking." -- GCB

See also: Caveats, The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Covetousness, greed, selfishness, Idolatry (syncretism), Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Judges, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jeremiah 5 (with annotation in The Reformation Study Bible), The ten commandments, the moral law, Bible magistracy turns back the wrath of god, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Secular humanism, Absolute truth and relativism, Unfaithful reformed ministries, Ezekiel, Amos, Courts and the law base, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Casuistry and conscience, Ethics, Medical ethics, Hypocracy, Lying, deceit, self-deception, Hell, Covenant theology, The covenant faithfulness of god, Background and history of the covenanted reformation of scotland, The covenanted reformation, Covenanted reformation short title listing, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Repentance the key to salvation and change, Book-length presentations of the gospel message of salvation and the life to come: the means of grace, Forgiveness, Justification, Justifying faith, Christ's kingdom, The mediatorial reign of jesus christ, The all-sufficiency of christ, Trusting god, Secret societies, ungodly alliances, voluntary associations, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Politics, Conspiracy and corruption, Individual responsibility for corporate faithfulness and sanctification, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 524-526, 660, 921, 922, 990, 991, 1351-1355, 1965-1984, 2184, 2527, 2566, 3452, 4123, 4176, 4177
MGTP: Judgment (Last), Judgment (or Purging) of the Church, Judgment (or Purging) of the Nation, God -- Justice of, God -- Wrath of

Related WebLinks

Nave's Topical Bible, "The Justice of Christ"
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Concordances/NavesTopicalBible/ntb.cgi?number=T2806

The Treasury of David, Psalm 96; 93-99, C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps096.htm

The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon
A sermon by C.H. Spurgeon delivered on Lord's-day morning, September 9, 1888, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Sermon no. 2043.
"This is the way in which you should use this plea. Say, 'My God, I am utterly unworthy, and I own it; but, I beseech thee, hear me for the honour of thy dear Son. By his agony and bloody sweat, by his cross and passion, by his precious death and burial, I beseech thee hear me! O Lord, let the blood of thine Only-begotten prevail with thee! Canst thou put aside his groans, his tears, his death, when they speak on my behalf?' If you can thus come to pleading terms with God upon this ground, you must and will prevail. Jesus must be heard in heaven. The voice of his blood is eloquent with God. If you plead the atoning sacrifice, you must overcome through the blood of the Lamb." -- C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.mountzion.org/fgb/Summer97/FgbS6-97.html

Pike, Samuel (1717-1773), and Samuel Hayward (1718-1757), Living With the Promises and Threats of God's Word. In RELIGIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER . . . TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION; OR, THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF GOD'S WORD; AND CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, 1866.
Living With the Promises and Threats of God's Word
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/living-with-the-promises-and-threats-of-gods-word.php

The Day of Judgment, Archibald Alexander
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/introduction-to-the-christian-faith/the-day-of-judgment.php

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Justifying Faith

Justifying Faith
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#justfaith



Knowledge of God and Virtue

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. (Hosea 4:6, 7)

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. (2 Peter 1:2, 3)

True worship is due only to One who by reason of His infinite perfections deserves our supreme love, honor, and trust. Angels are the highest order of creatures, yet we are forbidden to worship them. (Deut. 17:3) It is the lack of this knowledge that has caused unbelievers to idolize creatures. For wherever they found any virtue or excellency in the creature, presently they adored and worshipped it. -- William Gurnall

You are ordained of God to rule your own houses in his true fear, and according to his Word. Within your own houses, I say, in some cases, you are bishops and kings; your wife, children, servants, and family are your bishopric and charge; of you it shall be required how carefully and diligently you have always instructed them in God's true knowledge, how that you have studied in them to plant virtue and repress vice. -- John Knox in Knox's Works, vol. 4, p. 137

If religious books are not widely circulated among the masses in this country, I do not know what is going to become of us as a nation. If truth be not diffused, error will be: if God and His Word are not known and received, the devil and his works will gain the ascendancy; if the evangelical volume does not reach every hamlet, the pages of a corrupt and licentious literature will; if the power of the Gospel is not felt throughout the length and breadth of the land, anarchy and misrule, degradation and misery, corruption and darkness, will reign without mitigation or end. -- Daniel Webster

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Wisdom," and so forth, and so on.

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), A Treatise of Knowledge and Love Compared in The Reformed Pastor: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, 1990, 1838, 1707, 1678, 1673).
Long title: A Treatise of Knowledge and Love Compared. In two Parts: 1. Of Falsely Pretended Knowledge. II. Of True Saving Knowledge and Love. I. Against Hasty Judging, and False Conceits of Knowledge; and for Necessary Suspension. II. The Excellency of Divine Love, and the Happiness of Being Known and Loved of God. Written as greatly necessary to the safety and peace of every Christian, and of the Church: the only certain way to escape false religions, heresies, sects, and malignant prejudices, persecutions, and sinful wars; all caused by falsely pretended knowledge, and hasty judging, by proud, ignorant men, who know not their ignorance.

*Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), The Everlasting Righteousness, or How Shall Man be Just With God? (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1993). A Christian classic.
"First published in 1874, THE EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, may be the best book on the doctrine of justification by faith alone ever written.
"Since the seventeenth century, the church's adherence to the central doctrine of the Christian faith has been weakening; in the twentieth century it has all but disappeared. But to those who remain faithful -- to those who are called of God --justification by faith alone is the best news there could ever be: that Christ died for our sins, and we shall live forever because of Christ's righteousness.
"Justification by faith alone -- the `principal hinge of religion,' according to John Calvin, the `doctrine by which the church stands or falls,' according to Martin Luther -- is salvation. Without it, all hope is lost; with it, Heaven gained. Bonar's discussion is without equal in the English language." -- John W. Robbins
The Banner of Truth edition is available free as e-text.
The Everlasting Righteousness; or, How Shall man be Just With God?
The Everlasting Righteousness, Horatius Bonar
http://www.jude3.net/bertoc.htm
http://books.google.com/books?id=nQMDAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Clarkson, David. The Excellent Knowledge of Christ. In THE WORKS OF DAVID CLARKSON (1:247-72).

*EDWARDS, JONATHAN, The Nature of True Virtue. Alternate title: AN ESSAY ON THE NATURE OF TRUE VIRTUE. ISBN: 9781846857591 1846857597. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available [THE WORKS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS] on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1 and DVD Four, CD #21 (18 volumes). A Christian classic.
"A systematic treatise on the nature of true ethics. Modern writers have much to learn from this reprint from Edwards' works." -- Cyril J. Barber

Edwards, Jonathan, Christian Knowledge: or, The Importance and Advantage of a Thorough Knowledge of Divine Truth. In THE WORKS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS (2:157-63). Also in JONATHAN EDWARDS ON KNOWING CHRIST (9-30)

Fuller, Andrew, The Increase of Knowledge. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF ANDREW FULLER (1:417-19).

Newton, John, A Plan for a Compendious Christian Library. In WORKS OF JOHN NEWTON (1:236-45).
"On the most excellent way to acquire true knowledge, I.e., through studying the books of scripture, creation, providence, and the human heart."

*THORNWELL, JAMES HENLEY (1812-1862), Whatsoever Things are True: Classic Discourses on Truth. Alternate titles: CLASSIC DISCOURSES ON TRUTH; DISCOURSES ON TRUTH. ISBN: 1932474781 9781932474787, 166 pages. Available [COLLECTED WRITINGS OF JAMES HENLEY THORNWELL] on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"These seven DISCOURSES ON TRUTH were written and preached in the Spring of 1851 from the text, 'Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, think on these things.' Philippians 4:8. They were delivered at the Chapel of the College at Columbia, South Carolina, by James Henley Thornwell, who was serving as both President and Chaplain." -- Publisher's Annotation
"First published 1855 by Messrs. Carter, New York, NY."
Contents: Discourse 1: The ethical system of the Bible -- Discourse 2: The love of truth -- Discourse 3: The love of truth -- Discourse 4: Sincerity -- Discourse 5: Faithfulness -- Discourse 6: Vows -- Discourse 7: Consistency.

Tod, Walter, The Obligation of Civil Rulers to Establish the Means of Religious Knowledge and Instruction; Deduced From the Universal Moral Government of God (Edinburgh: John Anderson, 1836), 120 pages.
"Tod preaches on Romans 13:1, 'The powers that be are ordained of God.' He argues that the Church and the State are not independent societies and that Jesus Christ Governor and Ruler of both. Tod examines many common arguments proffered against his proposition. He calls puritan John Owen to his side with this quote,

If it comes to this, that you shall say you have nothing to do with religion, as rulers of the nation, God will quickly manifest that he has nothing to do with you as rulers of the nation. Certainly it is incumbent upon you to take care that the faith which was once delivered to the saints, in all necessary concernments of it, may be protected, preserved, and propagated to and among the people over whom God has set you.
"Tod also briefly exhorts Civil Rulers upon how they ought to preserve the Sabbath. He ends the whole on a positive (post-mill.) note,
"There may yet be retrogressions in the progress of knowledge, religion, virtue, and liberty, among different nations of the earth, and England may be among the fated number; but every ebbing of the tide of religious and moral improvement, like the smaller retrocessions of the waves of the ocean, which accumulate larger billows that roll over the former limits, every retrocession of the waves of religious and moral advancement among mankind will be succeeded by a higher and a higher tide of religious and moral advancement from the fountain of eternal truth, till the 'knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea'." -- Steve Worth

Warfield, Benjamin B., Augustine's Doctrine of Knowledge and Authority. In THE WORKS OF B.B. WARFIELD (5:29-130). Also in CALVIN AND AUGUSTINE. (29-130)

Warfield, Benjamin B. (1851-1921), Calvin's Doctrine of the Knowledge of God. In THE WORKS OF B.B. WARFIELD (5:29-130). Also in CALVIN AND AUGUSTINE. (29-130)

Watson, Thomas, The Good Practitioner. In A PLEA FOR THE GODLY AND OTHER SERMONS (160-85).
"Not the knowledge but the practice of truth makes man happy."

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, The attributes of god, The ten commandments, the moral law, The words of christ, The teachings of our lord jesus christ, Justifying faith, Justification, Sanctification, Home schooling, Wisdom, The wisdom books, Proverbs, Discipleship, Creeds, Confessions and Catechisms, The shorter catechism, The westminster confession of faith (1646, westminster standards) and related works, Christian scholarship, Systematic theology, Apologetics, Books considered to be among the ten greatest in the english language, The best books in this bibliography, Christian classics short title listing, Complementary works, Casuistry and conscience, Ethics, Reference works, Foolishness, Lying, deceit, self-destruction, Mind control, intimidation, and coercion, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Covenant theology, God's covenant faithfulness, Education, Public schools, and so forth, and so on.
MGTP: Knowledge, Knowledge of God and Christ

Related WebLinks

He That Dwelleth in Love, John Love (1757-1825)
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/he-that-dwelleth-in-love.php

Rebellion and Lawlessness: Wickedness, Demonic Possession, Substance Abuse, Abnormal Behavior, Insanity, Mental Illness, Mental Retardation
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappd.html#rlinsane

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html

A Redneck Resolution Against Self-destruction
http://www.lettermen2.com/redneck.html



Laziness, Slothfulness, Idleness, Indolence, Slackness, Sluggishness/Sluggard

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. (1 Samuel 15:23a)

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. (Proverbs 6:10, 11)

Idleness is the root of all evil. -- An old French proverb

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Faithfulness," and so forth, and so on.

Simmons, John, How may we get rid of Spiritual Sloth, and Know When our Activity in Duty is From the Spirit of God? In PURITAN SERMONS 1659-1689: BEING THE MORNING EXERCISES AT CRIPPLEGATE, ST. GILES IN THE FIELDS, AND IN SOUTHWARK BY SEVENTY-FIVE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL IN OR NEAR LONDON WITH NOTES AND TRANSLATIONS BY JAMES NICHOLS. (1:434-57)

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Knowledge and virtue, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Covenant theology, The covenant faithfulness of god, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Loving and obeying christ, Justifying faith, Apathy, indifference, Fatalism, Adultery, Gratuitous Sex a cause of violence, Retirement, Home schooling, Education, Leniency, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, homelessness, neighbors, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 20, 581, 2796, 3377, 3384
MGTP: Slothfulness

Related WebLinks

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Leniency

To ignore The Ten Commandments is to ignore The Covenant of God. To ignore The Covenant of The Triune God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is to ignore God and to break covenant with God. Yet leniency garners favor for political leaders from "totally depraved" mankind, and political careers depend upon favor from their constituency. Furthermore, the careers of judges depends upon the favor of the politicians who appoint them. Leniency is incompetency. When "nobody ever gets punished for anything," then the innocent suffer. To allow the innocent to suffer is oppression, and oppression is incompetence and corruption.

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Discipline," "Discipline, Church," and so forth, and so on.

*Bork, Robert H., Slouching Towards Gomorrah: Modern Liberalism and American Decline (HarperCollins), ISBN: 0060391634 9780060391638.
"Spurned for a seat on the Supreme Court, Bork has become a cogent commentator on U.S. culture and politics. Here he has the former in mind, although, in his eyes, one bane of American culture since the 1960s has been the politicization of nearly everything. Bork blames the twin thrusts of modern liberalism -- radical individualism and radical egalitarianism -- for the cultural decay he finds in an increasingly obscene pop culture, rising illegitimacy and long-term welfare dependency, dangerous leniency with violent offenders, abortion and euthanasia, feminist lies and intimidation, legalized racial discrimination (affirmative action), dumbed-down education, antireligious bias in the courts and the press, and socially disintegrative multiculturalism. Before and after several chapters on how liberalism produces those maladies, Bork discusses the circumstances that allow liberalism to circumvent democracy: liberalism predominates among opinion-molding intellectuals, foundation executives, university professors, and bureaucrats. Most damagingly, Bork says, the federal judiciary is rotten with liberalism and has become the instrument with which unpopular liberal measures are forced upon the public. Bork cannot see that anything systemic can be done to change the judiciary. Rather, he sees hope for democracy in the resurgence of religion and the determination of religious people to influence public policy. Forthright and magisterial, this is a fine summary of "social conservativism," one those who want to understand that position should read first." Ray Olson, from Booklist
"Robert H. Bork received his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Chicago. He has been a partner at a major law firm, taught constitutional law as the Alexander M. Bickell Professor of Public Law at the Yale law school, served as Solicitor General and as Acting Attorney General of the United States and served as a United States Court of Appeals judge. Author of the bestselling THE TEMPTING OF AMERICA: THE POLITICAL SEDUCTION OF THE LAW, he and his wife live in Washington DC, where he is the John M. Olin Scholar in Legal Studies at the American Enterprise Institute." -- Publisher's Annotation

Bork, Robert H., The Tempting of America: The Political Seduction of the Law (Free Press), ISBN: 0684843374 9780684843377.
"The primary function of this book is as a brilliant defense of Judge Bork's philosophy of original understanding and an excoriating polemic against judicial intervention. Surveying the entire history of American jurisprudence, Bork takes on interventionists of the Left and of the Right and makes an irrefutable case for the proposition that judicial intervention is a threat to the very functioning of the Republic. As you read his arguments and watch him marshal the facts, it's easy to understand why his nomination to the Supreme Court became such a political crucible. We lost the opportunity to have a really first class mind shape the Court for a generation when he was defeated." -- Reader Comment

*GILLESPIE, PATRICK, Rulers sins the Causes of National Judgments: or, A Sermon preached at the fast, upon the 26th day of December 1650. By Mr. Patrick Gillespie, ... To which is annexed, A sermon upon the difficulty of conversion, by Mr. John Walwood. . . . Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

Jackson, Mark, Newborn Child Murder: Women, Illegitimacy and the Courts in Eighteenth-Century England . . . , ISBN: 0719046076 9780719046070.
Of course, abortion is not unprecedented. Furthermore it is not unprecedented for man's law to be lenient toward mothers who murder their own children.
"Includes trials of eighteenth-century child murder cases."

Spock, Benjamin (1903-1998), and Mary Morgan, Spock on Spock: A Memoir of Growing up With the Century (Pantheon: October 21, 1989), 281 pages, ISBN: 0394578139 9780394578132.
"Spock married Mary Morgan, whom he collaborated with to write his book."
"Dr. Spock's book BABY AND CHILD CARE was a runaway success and remains a best-seller today. With over 50 million copies in print, it has become one of the world's best selling non-fiction publications (second only to the Bible in that category)." -- Publisher's Annotation
Spock was considered the "father of permissiveness." However, when writing this book, he confessed, "The more people have studied different methods of bringing up children the more they have come to the conclusion that what good mothers and fathers instinctively feel like doing for their babies is the best after all."
"The weight of evidence suggests that ultimately Spock's ideas have not helped to produce more secure and well-adjusted children and adults. He saw the need for morals and values, but he failed to recognize that they stem from a godly perspective. What he never understood is that the positive changes he sought are simply unachievable on the basis of humanism." -- John Meakin and Kae Tattersall
"We went to Dr. Spock to find out how to rear children and produced the most rebellious generation of kids this country has ever seen. . . . I think that since we believe that "this is my Father's world," we ought to go to God and find out how He would like to have His world run." -- D. James Kennedy

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, The ten commandments, the moral law, The teaching of our lord jesus christ, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Ethics, Medical ethics, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Leniency, Toleration, liberty of conscience, pluralism, and neutrality, The covenant faithfulness of god, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Covenant theology, Background and history of the covenanted reformation of scotland, The covenanted reformation, Covenanted reformation short title listing, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Sexual relationship, Justification, Justifying faith, Christ's kingdom, Lordship of jesus christ, The all-sufficiency of christ, Trusting god, Idolatry, Secret societies, ungodly alliances, voluntary associations, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Unfaithful reformed ministries, Politics, Effeminacy, Feminism, The courts and the law base, The anabaptists, Pacifism, Cowardice, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Love and counseling problems, Conspiracy and corruption, Individual responsibility for corporate faithfulness and sanctification, Liberalism, Knowledge and virtue
TCRB5: 822, 2670

Related WebLinks

Conservatism is a political philosophy that professes to be practical and grounded in reality -- not in ideological or utopian dream worlds -- yet it cannot furnish a coherent answer to a very practical question: What is the proper punishment for a thief? Even ignoring the big questions -- What is the ideal government? Is there an ideal government? Is any government justified? What is the proper relationship between church and state? -- conservatism cannot answer a small question. If conservatism cannot offer a justified answer to a small question, it probably cannot answer larger questions. -- John W. Robbins in Conservatism: An Autopsy

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Loneliness

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:50)

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. -- Jesus Christ (John 17:21-23)

Clarkson, Margaret, So You're Single! (Wheaton, IL: Harold Shaw Publishers, 1978), ISBN: 0877887721 9780877887720.
"One of the best works on the subject of aloneness. Deserves widespread circulation."-- Cyril J. Barber

Coleman, Sarah Jepson (Sarah Ann Jepson) For the Love of Singles.

Elliot, Elisabeth, How to Overcome Loneliness (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress), ISBN: 0891095748.
A booklet.

*Elliot, Elisabeth, Loneliness: It May Seem a Wilderness, But It Can Lead You to God. Alternate title: THE PATH OF LONELINESS: FINDING YOUR WAY THROUGH THE WILDERNESS TO GOD (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991), ISBN: 9780800732066 0800732065.
"Loneliness can be a wilderness . . . or it can be a pathway to God! The author sees loneliness not primarily as a problem to be solved or even a pain to be assuaged, but paradoxically, as a gift, for it is precisely here, in the wilderness of loneliness, that God wants to give us himself. A remarkable book!" -- GCB

*Foster, David Kyle, Sexual Healing: God's Plan for the Sanctification of Broken Lives: A Reference Manual for Ministering to Those Trapped in Sexual Sin and Brokenness (Jacksonville, FL [Mastering Life Ministries, P.O. Box 351149, Jacksonville 32235]: Mastering Life Ministries, 1997), ISBN: 0830737154 9780830737154 0830737340 9780830737345.
This is a unique work and the best resource known to the compiler offering biblical counsel for healing sexual brokenness. See "Foundations" and "Divine Intent for Sexuality" for a biblical explanation of the spiritual significance of sexuality. These two chapters alone make the purchase of the book worthwhile. Includes chapters, study guides, and exercises for Root sources for improper sexual development, Sexual identity confusion, Child sex abuse, Sexual addition, Pornography, Masturbation, voyeurism and exhibitionism, Why people remain in sexual sin and bondage, Failure and self-condemnation, A comprehensive game plan for sexual healing, and so forth. Indexed, 398 pages, includes bibliography.
Mastering Life Ministries
http://www.MasteringLife.org

Jeremiah, David, Overcoming Loneliness (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers), ISBN: 0840733569 9780840733566.
"Loneliness -- it makes you feel unwanted, unloved, and depressed. But Jeremiah doesn't just describe symptoms -- he uncovers the causes of loneliness and gives effective strategies for beating it. And he reveals a surprising source of strength for those who endure the isolation of physical suffering. Includes a study guide." -- CBD

*Mack, Wayne, A Homework Manual for Biblical Counseling, Vol. I: Personal and Interpersonal Problems (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1982, c1979), ISBN: 0875523560 9780875523569.
"The counseling session is not the `magic hour,' and this gives homework assignments that can help with a wide range of problems. Covers about 35 problems, from 'Anger' and 'Anxiety,' through 'Communication' and 'Changing Sinful Thought Patterns,' to 'Vocation' and 'Work.' Typical assignments contain Bible studies, self-analysis questions, brief teachings, and plans to solve problems with a biblical course of action." -- David Powlison

Sciacca, Fran, Does Anyone Else Feel This Way? Conquering Loneliness, Depression and Thoughts of Suicide, ISBN: 0890662002 9780890662007.

Varney, Tom, Loneliness (Institute of Biblical Counseling Discussion Guide Series), ISBN: 0891096930.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The ten commandments, the moral law, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Covenant theology, Immanuel, christ's presence, christ in you, Prayer, Intercessory prayer, Separation, Christian fellowship, Friendship, Reconciliation of relationships, Avoiding divorce, Marriage counseling, Singleness, The covenant faithfulness of god, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Small groups, The local church, Divorce, Small groups, Resources for students, Counsel for young men, Counsel for young women, Persecution, Abuse, Evangelism, Calling, christian, Acts of faithful assemblies, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 1331

Related WebLinks

The Inner Ache of Loneliness (Cries of the Heart series) (1 of 2), Ravi Zacharias
"There is no greater cry of the human heart than that of loneliness. This is not restricted to the bereaved and unloved. In its most painful sense, loneliness is a gnawing idea of being emotionally unanchored or cosmically orphaned. It is not sufficient to say, 'God loves you.' The question of loneliness goes deeper, and so must the answer. The sermon attempts to plumb its depth."
http://htod.cdncon.com/o2/rzimht/MP3/LMPT/202-3.mp3

The Inner Ache of Loneliness (Cries of the Heart series) (2 of 2), Ravi Zacharias
http://htod.cdncon.com/o2/rzimht/MP3/LMPT/202-4.mp3

Nave's Topical Bible: Christ, Prayers of
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Concordances/NavesTopicalBible/ntb.cgi?number=T2807



Love and Counseling Problems, Charitableness

See the Theological Notes, "God is Love: Divine Goodness and Faithfulness," at Psalm 136:1 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "Love," at 1 Corinthians 13:13 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Christians in the World," at Colossians 2:20 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 22:38-40)

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. -- Jesus Christ (John 13:34, 35)

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. -- Jesus Christ (John 15:12, 13)

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)

The love doth never fail. (1 Corinthians 13:8a, YLTHB)

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. (Peter 4:8)

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:40)

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity. (1 Corinthians 13)

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)

Hereby, perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (1 John 3:16, 17)

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 22:28-40)

And not only so, but we also boast in the tribulations, knowing that the tribulations doeth work endurance; and the endurance, experience; and the experience, hope; and the hope doth not make ashamed, because the love of God hath been poured forth in our hearts through the Holy Spirit that hath been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5, YLTHB)

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (1 John 4:21)

There is great transforming power in the New Testament sacrificial love of Christ Jesus that says "Not my will, but thine be done." -- Jesus Christ (Luke 22:42)

There are few counseling problems that do not yield to genuine love expressed individually and corporately.

The world has discovered that they can manipulate and control others by withholding love. The consequence is a myriad of problems, in all spheres and at all levels of society.

*Aldrich, Joseph C., Love for all Your Worth: A Quest for Personal Value and Lovability (Portland, OR: Multnomah Press, 1985), ISBN: 0880701196 9780880701198.
"Encourages his readers to embark on a quest to develop a true, God-given lovability that will bring out the best in each one of us. Each chapter is based on a careful exposition of Scripture. This is a challenging book that is deserving of careful reading." -- Cyril J. Barber

Alexander, James W., God is Love: Communion Addresses (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1985, 1860), ISBN: 0851514596 9780851514598. "The author ministered in New York and died there in 1859. During his ministry he was noted as a great preacher. The sermons in this book concentrate on the Lord's Supper. He is also known for the translation of the hymn, `O Sacred Head, Sore Wounded,' into English." -- GCB

Baker, Don, Acceptance: Loosing the Webs of Personal Insecurity (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers), ISBN: 0880700793 9780880700795.
"Follow Baker as he relates the open-soul remembrance of his own transformation from a native-dwelling doubter of God's acceptance to a maturing, love-conscious believer.-- GCB

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), A Treatise of Knowledge and Love Compared in The Reformed Pastor: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000, 1992), ISBN: 1877611360.
Long title: A Treatise of Knowledge and Love Compared. In two Parts: 1. Of Falsely Pretended Knowledge. II. Of True Saving Knowledge and Love. I. Against Hasty Judging, and False Conceits of Knowledge; and for Necessary Suspension. II. The Excellency of Divine Love, and the Happiness of Being Known and Loved of God. Written as greatly necessary to the safety and peace of every Christian, and of the Church: the only certain way to escape false religions, heresies, sects, and malignant prejudices, persecutions, and sinful wars; all caused by falsely pretended knowledge, and hasty judging, by proud, ignorant men, who know not their ignorance.

Binning, Hugh (1627-1653), [Three Untitled Sermons on 1 John 3:23]. In THE WORKS OF THE REVEREND HUGH BINNING, M.A.B> (553-63).
"On faith and love as the sum of the Gospel."

Boston, Thomas (1676-1732), Love to God and Our Neighbour, the Sum of the Ten Commandments. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THE REVEREND THOMAS BOSTON (2:74-84). Also in AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE DOCTRINES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. (1:9-2:659)

*Bridges, Jerry, Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God's Unfailing Love (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress), ISBN: 9781600063039 1600063039.
"The fruit of over 10 years of Bible study, it's the kind of book that will make a profound difference in how you go about living your life -- and loving your Gracious Redeemer."-- Publisher's Annotation

*BUNYAN, JOHN (1628-1688), All Loves Excelling (Puritan Paperback Series. Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth), ISBN: 0851517390 9780851517391. Available [WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN] on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
Pilgrim's Page: A John Bunyan Archive
This is the complete set of THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN, George Offor edition, the edition reprinted by The Banner of Truth. It is free online, and is downloadable in the following formats: HTML, RTF, TEXT, and PDF.
http://www.mountzion.org/bunyan.html
Available [THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN] on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1.
All Loves Excelling: The Saints' Knowledge of Christ's Love
http://books.google.com/books?id=hiIIAAAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

BUNYAN, JOHN (1628-1688), Saints Knowledge of Christ's Love (Sterling, VA: GAM Publications), ISBN: 0851517390 9780851517391. Available [WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN] on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available [THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN] on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1.
Pilgrim's Page: A John Bunyan Archive
This is the complete set of THE WORKS OF JOHN BUNYAN, George Offor edition, the edition reprinted by The Banner of Truth. It is free online, and is downloadable in the following formats: HTML, RTF, TEXT, and PDF.
http://www.mountzion.org/bunyan.html

Chartier, Jan, and Myron Chartier, Caring Together: Faith, Hope and Love in Your Family (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1986), ISBN: 0664240194 9780664240196.
"This book is written by a Christian couple, both seminary professors, with two children, who affirm that true spirituality can be found and expressed in ordinary, everyday life. They claim that the teaching of the Bible can be fully practiced in a modern family -- and they tell us, in detail, how to do it." -- David and Vera Mace

De Witt, John Richard (John R. DeWitt), Amazing Love: The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 085151328X 9780851513287.
A professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Seminary in Jackson.

*Drummond, Henry, The Greatest Thing in the World (Springdale, PA: Whitaker House), ISBN: 0585035822 9780585035826.
A dissertation on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.

*Gill, John, The Doctrine of God's Everlasting Love to His Elect, and Their Eternal Union With Christ
"Gill is the most famous, and the most learned, of the Baptists. . . . In this book he follows the teaching of the Scriptures, that life always precedes faith, and he shows that both life and faith proceed from the eternal counsels of God: `You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,' (John 15:16) `I have loved thee with an everlasting love.' (Jeremiah 31:3) Gill's teaching is very similar to that of Thomas Goodwin, and we feel sure that he had read Goodwin thoroughly. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

*GUTHRIE, WILLIAM, The Works of Mr. William Guthrie, 1771, 382 pages. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"Two accounts of the author's life (by Dunlop and Wodrow) and Trail's "Recommendatory preface" open this volume. Part one of the book includes THE CHRISTIAN'S GREAT INTEREST: IN TWO PARTS, 1. THE TRIAL OF A SAVING INTEREST IN CHRIST. 2. THE WAY HOW TO ATTAIN IT. Part two binds in FIVE SERMONS ON PARTICULAR OCCASIONS. In part three we find "A Treatise on Ruling Elders and Deacons; in which these things which belong to the understanding of their office are clearly set down." Part three was not written by William Guthrie, but by his cousin, James Guthrie (Christ's faithful martyr 'who championed the cause of the Protesters and strongly upheld the principles of the Covenant'," Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology, p. 382).
"William Guthrie 'served as moderator of the Protester Synod of Glasgow and Ayr in 1654'( Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology, p. 382). Regarding Guthrie, Robert Trail (in his preface) points out that 'it pleased the Lord, who had separated him from his mother's womb, to call him by his grace, by the ministry of excellent Mr. Samuel Rutherford, and this young gentleman became the first-fruits of his [Rutherford's -- RB] ministry at St. Andrews.' (p. xliv).
"William Guthrie has been called 'the greatest practical preacher in Scotland.' John Owen spoke of Guthrie as 'one of the greatest divines that ever wrote' and said his THE CHRISTIAN'S GREAT INTEREST contained 'more divinity' than all his own folios ( Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology, p. 382). Thomas Chalmers said that it was the best book that he had ever read. Many editions have appeared in numerous languages." -- SWRB

Harris, A., Body Life: Purpose of (Ephesians 4:1-16) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette BL01.

Hemfelt, Robert, et al, Love is a Choice Workbook

Jackman, David, The Message of John's Letters: Living in the Love of God (Downer's Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), ISBN: 0830812261 9780830812264.
Includes bibliographical references.

*Kennedy, D. James, Learning to Live With the People You Love (Springdale, PA: Whitaker House, 1987), ISBN: 0883681900 9780883681909.
Love "is sharing life together in a way that brings glory to God and enriches the lives of every family member."
Dr. Kennedy says no book he has written has brought so many comments as this one.
Read this in conjunction with Dr. Kennedy's 6-message audio cassette series "Secrets of Successful Marriages," the audio cassette message "Why Some Marriages Fail and Others Succeed," and the 4-message audio cassette series "The Christian Marriage Series."

*Lockyer, Herbert, All the Promises of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1996, 1962). ISBN: 0310281318.
"A devotional expositional compilation of all the promises [about 3,300 of the approximate 8,810 promises - sk] that are found in Scripture." -- Synopsis
"Lockyers in-depth look at the scope of Gods promises arranges them in categories that cover the full array of human concerns, from the spiritual to the material and the corporate to the personal. As you come to understand Gods promises and how they apply to every aspect of your life, you'll gain a trust in God that will sustain you through the worst of times and be your source of rejoicing in the best.
"Dr. Herbert Lockyer was born in London in 1886, and held pastorates in Scotland and England for 25 years before coming to the United States in 1935. In 1937 he received the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Northwestern Evangelical Seminary. In 1955 he returned to England where he lived for many years. He then returned to the United States where he continued to devote time to the writing ministry until his death in November of 1984." -- Publisher's Annotation

MANTON, THOMAS (1620-1677), Loving God by Loving His Law (Cerlox Bound Photocopy Series. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Still Waters Revival Books). Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #5, ISBN: 0921148755 9780921148753. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Two, CD #10.
"Jesus said, 'If ye love me, keep my commandments' (John 14:15). John points out, 'and hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him' (1 John 2:3-4). Manton uses these themes, as a departure point, relative to Psalm 119, to show the proper relationship between law, love and loving the law -- as it relates to the greatest law lover, the Lord Jesus Christ!" -- SWRB

Manton, Thomas (1620-1677), Sermons Upon 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THOMAS MANTON (18:306-313).

Matheson, Roy, Loving God's Family, ISBN: 0896935248 9780896935242.

*Morris, Leon, Testament of Love: A Study of Love in the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.), ISBN: 0802818749 9780802818744.
"There are few concepts more frequently misunderstood than the Biblical concept of love. Dr. Morris' work is the most comprehensive and lucid treatment of this concept I've ever seen. It is a MUST for our times." -- R.C. Sproul

Owen, John (1616-1683), Gospel Charity. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN (9:256-71).

Packer, J.I., In Christ Jesus: We are Loved (Ephesians 2:11-3:21) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JPV02.

Packer, J.I., Your Father Loves You: Daily Insights for Knowing God, ISBN: ISBN: 0877889759 9780877889755.

Perrin, E., Loving Each Other With Sincere Love (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette BL01.

Petty, Jim, Focusing Love (part 1) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates, 1991).
Audio cassette HFTF19.

Petty, Jim, Focusing Love (part 2) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates, 1991).
Audio cassette HFTF21.

*Preston, John (1587-1628), Sibbes, Richard (1577-1635), and Davenport, John (1597-1670), The Breast-plate of Faith and Love. A Treatise, vvherein the ground and exercise of faith and love, as they are set upon Christ their object, and as they are expressed in good works, is explained. Delivered in 18. sermons upon three severall texts, by the late faithfull and worthy minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Majestie, master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometime preacher of Lincolnes Inne, 1637, (Edinburgh, Banner of Truth, 1979), ISBN: 0851512895 9780851512891.
"On this subject, see eight sermons on Galatians 5:6, pp. 1-241. Page numbering begins again with this section."

PRICE, GREG, Worldwide Calvinistic Unity and Loving One Another (1 John Series 18/27), Greg Price. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #27 ISBN: 0921148240 9780921148241.
A sermon by Greg Price commenting on "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." (1 John 4:7)
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonsspeaker&sermonID=5270121261

Ryle, J.C., Charity. In PRACTICAL RELIGION: BEING PLAIN PAPERS ON THE DAILY DUTIES, EXPERIENCE, DANGERS AND PRIVILEGES OF PROFESSING CHRISTIANS (117-28).

Trotter, D., Bearing One Another's Burdens (Galatians 6:1-10) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates, 1991).
Audio cassette BL04.

Venning, Ralph, Thomas Manton, Joseph Caryl, and John Ball, Puritans on Loving One Another, ISBN: 157358049X 9781573580496.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The covenant faithfulness of god, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The promises of Christ, Bible promises, The Attributes of God, The love and justice of god, Loving and obeying God, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Covenanted reformation, Immanual, christ's presence, christ in you, Christian fellowship, Small groups, Friendship, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Reconciliation of relationships, Forgiveness of sin, Separation, Fear and anxiety, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 420, 659-662, 1436, 1437, 1623-1625, 2200-2202, 2214, 3348, 3395, 4063, 4124, 4182, 4183
MGTP: Love -- Toward men

Related WebLinks

The Commandments of Jesus, J.S. McConnell (1925)
http://www.wowzone.com/commandm.htm

Luther, Martin, The Bondage of the Will, A Sermon on Christian Love, Two Sermons Upon the Fifth Chapter of Luke, God So Loved the World: Two Sermons on John 3:16-21.
http://www.covenanter.org/Luther/martinluther.htm

He That Dwelleth in Love, John Love (1757-1825)
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/he-that-dwelleth-in-love.php

That Ye Love One Another, John Love (1757-1825)
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/that-ye-love-one-another.php

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Loving Your Enemies

Adams, Jay E., Grist From Adams Mill (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.), ISBN: 0875520790 9780875520797.
"Contains 27 two to four page essays on a wide range of topics: 'tracts for the times.' How does God guide? Where do you get peace? How do you handle interruptions? Dealing with church hoppers? Think: does God hate the sin but love the sinner? Are you clear about the Gospel? How do you handle the influence -- for bad or good -- that people have on one another? How do you deal with differences on biblically debatable matters? What is good music? How can you be professional in your ministry, in the best sense of the word? How do you judge success and failure?" -- David Powlison

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Enemy," and so forth, and so on.

BOSTON, THOMAS (1676-1732), The Distinguishing Characteristics of True Believers. Available [THE WORKS OF THOMAS BOSTON, VOLUME 5] on Reformation Bookshelf CD #5, ISBN: 0921148755 9780921148753.
"Seventeen sermons (254 pages) relating to nine major areas pinpointing the marks of salvation. Includes loving your enemies, conduct in times of general declension, keeping Christ's commandments, the use of the tongue, friendship with Christ, meekness, etc." -- SWRB

Boston, Thomas (1676-1732), In Relation to Loving Their Enemies. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THE REVEREND THOMAS BOSTON (5:181-200).

Dabney, Robert L., The Christian's Duty Towards His Enemies. In DISCUSSIONS: EVANGELICAL AND THEOLOGICAL (1:706-721).

*Powlison, David, God's Love: Better Than Unconditional (Resources For Changing Lives Series. P&R Publishing, April 2001), ISBN: 0875526861 9780875526867.
"Has anyone tried to comfort you with God's 'unconditional' love for you? Sounds kinda bland and remote doesn't it? It even sounds permissive. Well, there is a reason for your lackluster response to God's love being 'unconditional.' The truth is that God's love is radically more active and passionate.
"David Powlison demolishes the milktoast mindset of mere 'unconditional love,' and presents God's love in all of its splendor and vibrancy. He gives many descriptive examples from the Bible of how God's love is dynamic, active, sacrificial, redeeming, thrilling . . .
"If you aren't enraptured and absorbed by the love of God, then do yourself a favor and get this booklet. It's powerpacked. It's dynamite." -- Reader's Comment

SCHWERTLEY, BRIAN, "The Sixth Antithesis: Love Your Enemies" (part 1). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The covenant faithfulness of god, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The love and justice of god, Leniency, Bad relationships a cause of disease and death, Separation, Toleration, liberty of conscience, pluralism, and neutrality, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Church and state, Idolatry (syncretism), Spiritual warfare, Impreccatory psalms, Prayer, Effeminacy, Feminism, The courts and the law base, Conspiracy and corruption, The anabaptists, Pacifism, Cowardice, Justice, judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Love and counseling problems, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 3395
MGTP: Love -- Towards men, Enemies

Related WebLinks

The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon
A sermon by C.H. Spurgeon delivered on Lord's-day morning, September 9, 1888, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Sermon no. 2043.
"This is the way in which you should use this plea. Say, 'My God, I am utterly unworthy, and I own it; but, I beseech thee, hear me for the honour of thy dear Son. By his agony and bloody sweat, by his cross and passion, by his precious death and burial, I beseech thee hear me! O Lord, let the blood of thine Only-begotten prevail with thee! Canst thou put aside his groans, his tears, his death, when they speak on my behalf?' If you can thus come to pleading terms with God upon this ground, you must and will prevail. Jesus must be heard in heaven. The voice of his blood is eloquent with God. If you plead the atoning sacrifice, you must overcome through the blood of the Lamb." -- C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.mountzion.org/fgb/Summer97/FgbS6-97.html



Loyalty

*BARROW, GREGORY, The Covenanted Reformation Defended Against Contemporary Schismatics (Cerlox Bound Photocopy Series. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Still Waters Revival Books, 1998), 318 pages. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #1. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #1, #19, #23, #27, ISBN: 0921148674 9780921148678. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
A primer for the Covenanted Reformation, this is the best starting point for the new reader. It organizes the hundreds of Covenanted Reformation reprints into a logical defense of the theological landmarks established by our forefathers, with copious bibliographic references, many to e-text. An extraordinary document.
"Unsurpassed on points related to the Lord's supper and covenanting (as set forth by the best Reformers and best Reformed churches). Especially strong on citations from Calvin and the Westminster Assembly. Deals with many foundational aspects of the Covenanted Reformation (which gave us the Westminster Standards and the Solemn League and Covenant) from numerous original source documents (from the Westminster Assembly's advice to the English Parliament on the Lord's Supper to the official records of Calvin's Covenanting in Geneva). Comprehensive and compelling, this is a shocking (and sometimes advanced) look at what really took place during both the first and second Reformations -- with extensive quotations from the writings of the major Reformers (not just quotes from what others have written about them). It conclusively and irrefutably demonstrates that those churches which today call themselves Presbyterian (and even many which claim a more general Reformed heritage) have seriously departed from the Scriptural standards, principles and worship of these previous Spirit-led Reformations. It is written in an easy-to-read and easy-to-understand format and is an unsurpassed work that should not be missed by anyone interested in real Reformation in our day. This is without a doubt the best book to read if you want to understand what it means to be a Covenanter and to walk in the blood-stained footsteps of the witnessing church (Christ's Covenanted and Reformed flock) (Song 1:8)!" -- SWRB
Publisher's Preface to The Covenanted Reformation Defended Against Contemporary Schismatics
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/pub_pref.htm
Eschewing Ecclesiastical Tyranny (Protestant Biblical Separation)
"1 Corinthians 2:15. The classic Reformation position on biblical separation, Protestant private judgment, the visible church, etc. -- contra Antichrist (the Papacy) and wayward liberal Protestants. This is Appendix G from THE COVENANTED REFORMATION DEFENDED: 'A brief examination of Mr. Bacon's principles regarding the visible church and the use of private judgment. Also, some observations regarding his ignoble attack upon Mr. Kevin Reed in his book entitled The Visible Church in the Outer Darkness'." -- SWRB
The Covenanted Reformation Defended, e-text
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/CovRefGB.htm
The Covenanted Reformation Defended, audio files
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=7702201426
The Covenanted Reformation Defended Against Contemporary Schismatics: A Response and Antidote Primarily to the Neopresbyterian Malignancy and Misrepresentations and the Manufactured 'Steelite' Controversy, Found in Richard Bacon's "A Defense Departed . . ."
http://books.google.com/books?id=LG5EHQAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

North, Gary, "Selling the Birthright: The Ratification of the U.S. Constitution," Appendix H, TOOLS OF DOMINION: THE CASE LAWS OF EXODUS, pp. 1190-1216.
http://www.freebooks.com/

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The covenant faithfulness of god, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Covenant theology, The ten commandments, the moral law, Trusting god, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Loving and obeying christ, Covenant theology, Background and history of the covenanted reformation of scotland, The covenanted reformation, Covenanted reformation short title listing, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, Sexual relationship, Idolatry (syncretism), Separation, Toleration, liberty of conscience, pluralism, and neutrality, Spirituality and harlotry, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Meanpleasing, Pseudo-christian movements, Ungodly alliance, voluntary association, Oaths, ensnaring (vows, promises, covenants) and bonds with the ungodly, The counter reformation, Antichrist, Conspiracy and corruption, Unfaithful reformed ministries, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 2525

Related WebLinks

The Anti-Voluntary Associations and Unlawful Confederacies Homepage
George Gillespie's Usefull Case of Conscience Discussed and Resolved, Concerning Associations and Confederacies with Idolaters, Infidels, Hereticks or any other known Enemies of Truth and Godlinesse, Hugh Binning's An Useful Case of Conscience, Learnedly and Accurately Discussed and Resolved, Concerning Associations and Confederacies with Idolaters, Infidels, Heretics, Malignants or any other Known Enemies of Truth and Godliness, Tract on the Primary Reform, William Milroy's Pamphlet The Testimony of the Church Respecting Military Associations, &c., With the Wicked and Profane, An Article from the Reformation Advocate Magazine containing the Testimony of Rev. William Gibson Against Voluntary Associations, An Article from the Reformation Advocate Magazine on Voluntary Associations, Another Article from the Reformation Advocate Magazine on Voluntary Associations.
http://www.covenanter.org/VoluntaryAssociations/voluntaryassociationhome.htm

An Useful Case of Conscience, Learnedly and Accurately Discussed and Resolved, Concerning Associations and Confederacies with Idolaters, Infidels, Heretics, Malignants, or any Other Known Enemies of Truth and Godliness, by Hugh Binning
http://www.covenanter.org/HBinning/binningucc.html



Lust

"Ultimately the Seventh Commandment (Exodus 20:14) is about our fidelity to Christ." To fracture the Seventh Commandment is to break covenant with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, in so much that he abhorred his own inheritance.
And he gave them into the hands of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. (Psalm 106:40-42)

The Treasury of David, Psalm 106
 http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps106.htm

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:27-30)

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:16-21)

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:13-15)

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? (James 4:1)

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:17)

Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:15-17)

Gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride, and lust -- these are the seven deadly sins.

Notice that it is impossible to desire something that one already possesses, whether it be power, wealth, sexual fulfillment, or anything else.

Adams, Jay E., A Thirst for Wholeness: How to Gain Wisdom From the Book of James (Victor Books [Scripture Press], 1988), ISBN: 0964355698 9780964355699, 143 pages.
"A study of the inner dynamics of human life from the book of James. Meant to be used personally or in a study group or class. Works thematically, covering anger, desires, doubt, prayer, peacemaking, sickness, among other things. The section on the 'inner/outer aspects of sin' (Chapter 3) rebuts a host of misconceptions of nouthetic counseling as externalistic: 'The struggle for mastery over one's desires must be achieved. . . . Christian, resist sin at the start, as Jesus did. Abort inner sin before it is born. Augustine encourages us with these words: `Pray that God may make you conqueror of yourself. . . not the enemy without, but of your own soul within. . . . Let no enemy from without be feared: conquer yourself, and the whole world is conquered'." -- David Powlison A Thirst for Wholeness
http://www.nouthetic.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=82&Itemid=99

Gibbon, John, How May We be so Spiritual, as to Check Sin in the First Risings of it? Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. -- Galatians v. 16. In PURITAN SERMONS 1659-1689: BEING THE MORNING EXERCISES AT CRIPPLEGATE, ST. GILES IN THE FIELDS, AND IN SOUTHWARK BY SEVENTY-FIVE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL IN OR NEAR LONDON WITH NOTES AND TRANSLATIONS BY JAMES NICHOLS (1:87-110).

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The ten commandments, the moral law, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Ethics, Covetousness, greed, and selfishness, Self, selfishness, self-esteem, Theft, stealing and fraud: property rights, Abstinence, chastity, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Envy, jealousy, Covenant theology, Proverbs, James, Idolatry, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Adultery, Avoiding divorce, Child abuse and pedophilia, Self-denial, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Menpleasing, Singleness, Counsel for young men, Counsel for young women, Homosexuality, Contentment, Power, Power religion, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 3208
MGTP: Sexual Immorality, Carnality



Medical Ethics

Word: "disease;" Meaning; "disturb;" Sample location: "Luke 8:49" -- from the "Glossary," 1599 Geneva Bible. Tolle Lege edition DISEASE, n. Dizeze. [dis and ease.] 1. In its primary sense, pain, uneasiness, distress, and so used by Spenser; but in this sense, obsolete. 2. The cause of pain or uneasiness . . . disorder; any state of a living body in which the natural functions of the organs are interrupted or disturbed . . . The first effect of disease is uneasiness or pain, and the ultimate effect is death. . . . 3. A disordered state of the mind or intellect, by which the reason is impaired. 4. In society, vice; corrupt state of morals. Vices are called moral diseases. A wise man converses with the wicked, as a physician with the sick, not to catch the disease, but to cure it. 5. Political or civil disorder, or vices in a state; any practice which tends to disturb the peace of society, or impede or prevent the regular administration of government. The instability, injustice and confusion introduced into the public councils have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have every where perished. DISEASE, v.t. dizeze. 1. To interrupt or impair any or all the natural and regular functions of the several organs of a living body [i.e. robbing a neighbor of sleep -- sk]; to afflict with pain or sickness to make morbid . . . 2. To interrupt or render imperfect the regular functions of the brain, or of the intellect; to disorder; to derange. 3. To infect; to communicate disease to, by contagion. 4. To pain; to make uneasy. --1828 edition of Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.
But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts. . . .
In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.
All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal. -- The Hippocratic Oath, excerpts from the original text translated into English A dispute over Christianity is a dispute about the matters of life and death.

If either side is immovable, then death is the result of conflicts of will. How are conflicts of will resolved? By submission to the truth of God's word. These observations bear a strain of the Gospel.

American Medical Association (AMA) Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, Code of Medical Ethics: Current Opinions With Annotations, 2004-2005 (American Medical Association; August 1, 2004), ISBN: 1579477771 9781579477776.
"For more than 155 years, the AMA Code of Medical Ethics has been considered the most comprehensive ethics guide for physicians, covering a wide range of issues related to the patient-physician relationship, such as confidentiality and end-of-life care. It also addresses social policy issues that affect medical practice matters as well as medical records, fees and charges, professional rights and more. This edition features:

  1. More than 185 ethical opinions of the AMA's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs
  2. Clarification of opinions on gifts to physicians from industry and sales of goods from physician's offices 12 new opinions including those on privacy, genomic research, electronic mail, errors, health-related Web sites and cloning
  3. Includes the revised copy of the Principles of Medical Ethics
  4. Detailed annotations of case law and journal articles to speed and assist research
"CODE OF MEDICAL ETHICS: CURRENT OPINIONS WITH ANNOTATIONS 2004-2005 is the definitive authority on medical professionalism and is especially valuable as the legal system is showing a greater willingness to look to the Principles and Opinions as a basis for health care law." -- Publisher's Annotation http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2512.html

Anderson, J.N.D, Issues of Life and Death: Abortion, Birth Control, Capital Punishment (InterVarsity Press, 1977), ISBN: 0877847215, 0340231513.

Angell, Marcia, The Truth About the Drug Companies: How They Deceive us and What to do About it (Random House Trade Paperbacks, August 9, 2005), 319 pages, ISBN: 0375760946.
"During her two decades at The New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Marcia Angell had a front-row seat on the appalling spectacle of the pharmaceutical industry. She watched drug companies stray from their original mission of discovering and manufacturing useful drugs and instead become vast marketing machines with unprecedented control over their own fortunes. She saw them gain nearly limitless influence over medical research, education, and how doctors do their jobs. She sympathized as the American public, particularly the elderly, struggled and increasingly failed to meet spiraling prescription drug prices. Now, in this bold, hard-hitting new book, Dr. Angell exposes the shocking truth of what the pharmaceutical industry has become -- and argues for essential, long-overdue change.
"Currently Americans spend a staggering $200 billion each year on prescription drugs. As Dr. Angell powerfully demonstrates, claims that high drug prices are necessary to fund research and development are unfounded: The truth is that drug companies funnel the bulk of their resources into the marketing of products of dubious benefit. Meanwhile, as profits soar, the companies brazenly use their wealth and power to push their agenda through Congress, the FDA, and academic medical centers.
"Zeroing in on hugely successful drugs like AZT (the first drug to treat HIV/AIDS), Taxol (the best-selling cancer drug in history), and the blockbuster allergy drug Claritin, Dr. Angell demonstrates exactly how new products are brought to market. Drug companies, she shows, routinely rely on publicly funded institutions for their basic research; they rig clinical trials to make their products look better than they are; and they use their legions of lawyers to stretch out government-granted exclusive marketing rights for years. They also flood the market with copycat drugs that cost a lot more than the drugs they mimic but are no more effective.
"The American pharmaceutical industry needs to be saved, mainly from itself, and Dr. Angell proposes a program of vital reforms, which includes restoring impartiality to clinical research and severing the ties between drug companies and medical education. Written with fierce passion and substantiated with in-depth research, The Truth About the Drug Companies is a searing indictment of an industry that has spun out of control.
"Former editor-in-chief of The New England Journal of Medicine and now a member of Harvard Medical School's Department of Social Medicine, Marcia Angell is a nationally recognized authority in the field of health policy and medical ethics and an outspoken critic of the health care system. Time magazine named her one of the twenty-five most influential people in America. Dr. Angell is the author of SCIENCE ON TRIAL: THE CLASH OF MEDICAL EVIDENCE AND THE LAW IN THE BREAST IMPLANT CASE." -- Publisher's Annotation
"Many Americans have wondered why prescription drugs have become so expensive while advertising for those drugs seems to grow exponentially. Former New England Journal of Medicine editor Marcia Angell has some answers. The pharmaceutical industry, according to Angell, is fraught with corruption and doing a disservice to customers, the federal government, and to the medical establishment itself. In THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DRUG COMPANIES, Angell explains how a huge portion of the revenue generated by 'Big Pharma' goes not into research and development but into aggressive marketing campaigns to sell their product. She describes how, even though the drug companies claim that it costs them an average of 802 million dollars per drug to develop new medicines, that figure is obscenely inflated since it factors in marketing as well as expected interest the company would have received had they invested the money in the open market. Meanwhile, Angell says, most of the R&D work is done by colleges and universities funded by the government. There are also problems with the drugs themselves, Angell indicates, since a majority are 'me-too drugs,' slightly modified versions of existing products which meant to address concerns of consumers most likely to spend money on pharmaceuticals. Thus, the market is filled with remarkably similar drugs to treat depression and high cholesterol while potentially life-saving medicines for diseases afflicting third-world countries are discontinued because they aren't profitable. In the books most damning passage, Angell tells of the high-priced junkets offered to doctors, ostensibly offered as educational opportunities that seem to constitute little more than bribes. The prognosis for reform is a grim one, Angell indicates, due to the massive cash reserves and lobbying efforts of 'Big Pharma.' Indeed, that lobby was hard at work trying to discredit her claims immediately upon the book's publication. But for anyone who's paid a pharmacy bill, THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DRUG COMPANIES is a fascinating read." -- John Moe

*Cameron, Nigel M. de S., The New Age Medicine: Life and Death After Hippocrates (Wheaton, IL: Good News Publishers [Crossway Books], 1992), ISBN: 089107645X 9780891076452.
"With the abandonment of the 2500 year old Hippocratic oath, replacing it with ethical relativism, the medical profession increasingly sees itself not only as healers but as killers also. MUST READING!" -- Publisher's Annotation "While Kevorkian is now languishing long-term in jail, the Netherlands end-of-life protections have been rolled back in law, and public opposition to physicians killing patients is declining. Where did today's deadly medicine come from? Where is it leading? The answers are clearly contained in this fresh edition of the acclaimed book by leading bioethicist Nigel Cameron."
"Nigel Cameron is Dean of the Wilberforce Forum in Washington, DC, and former Provost at Trinity International University in Deerfield Illinois. A consultant in bioethics and public policy issues on both sides of the Atlantic, he founded the Journal Ethics & Medicine, and has testified before the U.S. Congress. . . ." -- Publisher's Annotation
"Recent events, such as the widespread acceptance of the book, Final Exit, show that the very foundation upon which all humane medical practice is based is in danger of being replaced with ethical relativism. Cameron's book could very well be a rallying point for those in the profession who know something is wrong." -- Publisher's Annotation "I hope this disturbing book will be widely read." -- J.I. Packer

Cheney, Darwin, Ethical Issues in Research (Frederick, MD: University Pub. Group, 1993), ISBN: 9781555720162 1555720161.

*Day, Lorraine, AIDS: What the Government Isn't Telling You (Palm Desert, CA: Rockford Press, 1991), ISBN: 0963094009 9780963094001.
Statistics show 3-5 percent of AIDS victims have no known reason to have the disease on the basis of "high risk" behavior. This book discusses some of the other ways the disease is being contacted, among other subjects. Lists safety recommendations. The author is considered by some to be the finest orthopedic surgeon in the country. The advice for avoiding AIDS -- do not allow the blood or body fluids of any other individual to get on your skin. Transmission by mosquitoes or other insects could account for the high incidence of AIDS in tropical countries. AIDS, she says in her book, is "the first massively and systematically politicized disease that has been falsified, misrepresented, and then whitewashed to the public."

*Findley, Martha, Book 2: Elsie's Holidays at Roselands. ISBN: 9781888306323 1888306327.
"When Elsie's father becomes ill, she takes on the job of nurse-companion, and all goes well until Elsie, because it is the Sabbath, as a matter of conscience refuses to read to him from a secular book. The battle of wills that ensues nearly causes first her father's death, and then Elsie's. Lonely Elsie -- punished, ostracized, and then abandoned by her father -- turns to her heavenly Father for comfort and assurance. Will her father realize that Elsie's obedience to God must be paramount, and submit himself to the same Divine Authority?" -- Publisher's Annotation
On an even more serious note, one moral of this story is the broader life and death struggle between Truth and Falsehood (see "Absolute Truth and Relativism," "Epistemology," "Christian Scholarship"). The consequence of conflict of will is death of the "One," or war of the "Many" (see Rushdoony, The One and the Many). Conflict of will (see "Will and Recalcitrance," "Rebellion and Lawlessness") may begin when one individual (see "The Doctrine of Man [Human Nature, Total Depravity])" or corporate body (see "Corporate Faithfulness and Sanctification") tries to usurping authority over another (see "Power," "Authority") -- tries to control and possess them (see "Tyranny," "Slavery"). The means of control may be either outward or occult (see "The Occult and Spiritism"): deceit, repression or suppression of the truth, replacing moral and ethical absolutes with relativism (see "Ethics," "Medical Ethics"), unfaithfulness to the highest ethical standards (see "The Ten Commandments, the Moral Law" "The Holy Bible"), apostasy, spiritual harlotry (see "Idolatry," "Jeremiah"), invocation of the demonic, idolatry, ungodly alliance and secret societies (see "Carnality and Flesh Pleasing: Lust, Desires, Ambition," "Justice, Judgment, God's Final Judgment, The Great White Throne Judgment, The Day of the Lord"), attempts to take authority over another politically or by mental malpractice (see "Selection of Covenant Heads for Positions of Leadership"), "making up their own rules (see "Absolute Truth and Relativism)," ignoring or changing constitutional or creedal documents, unjust laws for the accumulation of wealth and power, indebtedness, disenfranchisement, denial of freedom (see "God the Author of Freedom"), soul-stealing, possessiveness, physical seduction and whoredom, political economic or sexual enslavement (see "Sexual Relationship"), and so forth, and so on.
This abuse, this soul-violence, quenches the Holy Spirit (see Owen, "God's Presence With a People the Spring of Their Prosperity; With Their Special Interest in Abiding in Him"). If either side is immovable, then death is the consequence (see "Soteriology," "The Atonement," "The Blood of Christ," "Hell" and "Heaven").
How are conflicts of will resolved? By submission to the Absolute Truths of God's word, the great common denominator (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. -- Jesus Christ (John 14:6, KJV). All this bears a strain of the Gospel (see "Book-length Presentations of the Free Offer of The Gospel Message of Salvation and the Life to Come: The Means of Grace," "The Westminster Confession of Faith").
Holidays at Roselands (Gutenberg text)
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=14280

Journal of Biblical Ethics in Medicine
http://capo.org/jbem/intro_pa.htm

Kilner, John, Nigel M. De S. Cameron, and David Schiedermayer (editor) Bioethics and the Future of Medicine: A Christian Appraisal (Horizons in Bioethics Series, vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), ISBN: 0853646740 9780853646747.

Knudsen, Robert D., Ethics and Birth Control
Typescript (mimeographed) "The slightly revised form of a paper presented before the 16th annual convention of the American Scientific Affiliation in Houghton, New York, Aug. 22-25, 1961." Article published originally in The Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation; 14, no. 1. Description: 9 leaves ; 28 cm."

Orr, Robert, David L. Schiedermayer, and David B. Biebel, Life and Death Decisions (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1990), ISBN: 080105270X 9780801052705.
"Designed to help readers make informed decisions about emotionally charged issues, LIFE AND DEATH DECISIONS sorts through the facts, concerns, and options that are integral to each issue. Biblically based and medically reliable, this single volume will help you evaluate the latest medical technologies in the light of Christian ethics." -- Publisher's Annotation

Ozner, Michael D., The Great American Heart Hoax: Lifesaving Advice Your Doctor Should Tell You About Heart Disease Prevention (But Probably Never Will), ISBN: 9781933771540 1933771542
"Addressing the importance of preventative measures over uncertain surgeries, this groundbreaking study reveals the secret to cardiovascular health. Illustrating the disturbing realities about the heart industry and how undependable bypass surgery can be, this survey argues the alternative -- know the majority of people can employ much simpler methods, such as a change in diet, to achieve better results. Also featured is a 12-step program to improve heart health and reduce the risk of heart disease, including dieting advice, tips on exercise and stress management, methods for controlling cholesterol and blood pressure, and recommended vitamins and medicines.
"Michael Ozner, MD, is medical director of the Cardiovascular Prevention Institute of South Florida and a clinical assistant professor of medicine and cardiology at the University of Miami School of Medicine. He is the author of The Miami Mediterranean Diet. He lives in Miami." -- Publisher's Annotation
"HEART HOAX is horrifying because it reveals many troubling facts about America's cardiac surgery industry. As a longtime medical advocate and critic of our healthcare system, I've known that too many heart surgeries are being performed in America; I just didn't know how many too many! In his book, Dr. Ozner reveals that, of the more than 1.5 million angioplasties and coronary bypass surgeries performed annually in the U.S., fully 70-90 percent are not only unnecessary, but are also detrimental -- and in some cases, even cause death. I knew that many diagnostic tests expose patients to radiation, but I didn't know that the 64-slice CT scan -- so often used to detect clogged arteries -- gives a patient the equivalent of the radiation from FIVE HUNDRED X-RAYS. And while I had known that the simple cholesterol test, which doctors routinely use as a predictor of cardiac risk, does NOT give the full picture, I did not know that it correctly predicts risk IN ONLY 40% of cases -- AND that there is another blood test (which doctors normally do NOT use), which can correctly predict cardiac risk in 90 percent of patients. All of these facts -- and more -- add up to what Dr. Ozner refers to as the GREAT AMERICAN HEART HOAX. The truth, writes Dr. Ozner, is that invasive cardiologists HAVE KNOWN many of these 'dirty secrets' for years, but have chosen to ignore them, in the unholy goal of 'following the money.'
"So, why do I say that this book is also empowering? Because, the expose takes up only one part of the book. In the second half, Dr. Ozner gives us the 'good news,' by laying out his solution: a 10-step prevention program he has used successfully with his patients for nearly 30 years. It combines the Mediterranean Diet -- with lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and healthy fats -- with nutritional supplements, exercise, stress reduction, and lots more. After reading this book, you will know how to prevent a heart attack and, if you have already had one, how to greatly reduce your chances of ever having another." -- Reader's Comment

*Payne, Franklin E., Jr., Biblical/Medical Ethics: The Christian and the Practice of Medicine (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House), ISBN: 0880620684 9780880620680.
"First half establishes a biblical basis for medical ethics, the need for an unchanging, authoritative moral standard, and the uncertain efficacy of modern medicine. 'I am advocating a realistic understanding of its limitations, as well as its potential. Medicine does not deserve the great expectations for health which many of its leaders, physicians, public press, and lay advocates claim.' Second half discusses the role of the church in health care and a series of ethical issues: abortion, psychotherapy, death and dying, euthanasia." -- David Powlison
"Comes highly recommended by Jay Adams, Harold O.J. Brown, and R.J. Rushdoony. Written by a medical doctor who makes the issue clear and understandable. A must book for pastors, elders, deacons, counselors, and informed laymen." -- GCB

*Payne, Franklin E., Making Biblical Decisions (Escondido, CA: Hosanna House), ISBN: 0962320404 9780962320408.
"Dr. Payne's book should be found on the shelf of every Christian home . . . it is bound to become a practical classic." -- Jay Adams
"Biblical perspective to inform a range of ethical decisions: birth control, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, genetic engineering, and death. 'We frequently overlook the fact that we live in a universe where the primary reality is supernatural.' 'My intent is to help all Christians know what is darkness and what is light within the practice of medicine'." -- David Powlison

Robbins, John, Freedom and Capitalism: Essays on Christian Politics and Economics (Unicoi, TN: The Trinity Foundation, November, 2006), 650 pages, ISBN: 1891777157 9781891777158.
Contains "The Ethics and Economics of Health Care" a lecture delivered at the Evangelical Theological Society meeting at Westminster Theological Seminary in 1994. It is 36 pages in length and is documented with footnotes and in text bibliography.
We believe this is the definitive statement on "Single Payer Guaranteed, Quality National Health Insurance in the United States" and is a must-read for individuals whose lives are impacted by the unavailability of affordable health care in the United States. It is a must read for individuals who do not have the knowledge to make an informed decision about H.R. 676, yet recognize the profound importance of taking the right stand on the issue.
"One can agree that there are serious problems with the present health care and health insurance systems in the United States [writing in 1994]. Nothing in this paper should be construed as a defense of the status quo. But those serious problems arose because of government interference in the insurance and care systems."
From the author's nine concluding points: "any political health-car plan is subversive of the fundamental moral values that have given the United States whatever moral authority it has in the world. Government planning is incompatible with freedom of choice in health care, freedom of contract, private planning, limited government, federalism, the rule of law, individual responsibility, the work ethic, and Christian charity. . . . is inimical to the Biblical ideas of sovereignty of God; the primacy of the individual; the proper function of the state; the sinfulness of theft, idleness, and envy; and the exercise of Christian charity. . . . The creation of a political-medical complex . . . is a necessary condition of a totalitarian state, as illustrated in the history of Germany. . . . involves the sinful use of force against patients, doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, drug companies, and taxpayers. . . ."
The concluding points are followed by seven suggested steps to reform the present system. "Dr. John W. Robbins attended Grove City College (A.B. 1969) and The Johns Hopkins University (M.A. 1970, Ph.D. 1973). He has served as chief of staff for a Member of Congress [Ron Paul of Texas], editor of The Freeman magazine, Economist for The Heritage Foundation, and Professor of Political Philosophy in The Freedom School." -- Publisher's Annotation

Scranton, Pierce E., Death on the Learning Curve (Elite Books, November 30, 2006), ISBN: 9781600700149 1600700144.
"A hospital operating room may not be as safe as you think it is. Hiding among the sterile scrubs and gleaming instruments of an operating room is a whole lot of high drama: split-second life-and-death decisions . . . deep questions of ethics . . . roaring personality conflicts . . . the glory of saving a life-and the horror when a simple procedure goes terribly wrong.
"Renowned surgeon Pierce Scranton, Jr., kept a detailed diary of his internship year at a busy California teaching hospital. This book is a vivid, fictionalized memoir of that year in the trenches. Through the intertwined stories of teachers, students and patients, it explores issues like: What happens when teaching and healing come into conflict? When is a new treatment to prolong life a good idea, and when is it a disaster? How did lawyers and bean-counters get so much power? And when do relationships between doctors and other staff 'go too far?' This honest account is startling and sometimes shocking -- but always gripping.

"Pierce E. Scranton Jr. was team physician for the Seattle Seahawks, president of the NFL Physician's Society, and president of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. In addition to private practice and charity work, he has authored over one hundred peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and books, including PLAYING HURT: TREATING AND EVALUATING THE WARRIORS OF THE NFL (Potomac, 2002)." -- Publisher's Annotation
"Can you imagine what it's like to lie awake at night, anxiously wondering if you've killed someone? Every new doctor or surgeon can have moments like that. There is a vulnerable time of transition from bright medical student to the practical, hands-on delivery of medical care. That's when mistakes can occur. It's the dark little secret that university teaching hospitals don't want you to know; everyone, in some fashion, is learning.
"July is a bad time to be treated at a teaching hospital. Everyone moves up one notch: green medical student to resident one, resident one to resident two, and so forth. For the emerging, smart young doctors, all that 'book learning' crashes against the infinite variability of the human condition. There are so many ways to do things right, and so many wrong. Two patients with the same diagnosis might require entirely different treatments. At the beginning of the learning curve it's natural to always stay with the familiar. But this is to risk slipping into the quicksand of mental inertia, to not advance with change, and eventually cause harm.
"All those books read and exams passed can't prepare new doctors for the moral and ethical issues of life. Is an abortion a right or murder? Alone in an emergency room at two a.m., do you resuscitate a ninety-two-year-old with a respiratory arrest and a broken neck, and possibly bring back a vegetable? Is collecting research data on a patient unethical? How about if the patient doesn't know it? Who draws the line in 'turf wars' over different surgical services when those doctors compete for patients in a teaching institution? Death on the Learning Curve is a novel that takes us down this path: naiveté, well-intentioned ignorance, harm, and medical triumph. The learning curve never stops." -- Pierce Scranton
"Every doctor thinks he is the best. If you need a referral to a good surgeon the best person to ask is the Head Operating Room Nurse. She knows who the best surgeon are.
"Don't get into a surgical factory where they do 'thousands' of surgeries and there are people running from room to room."
Pierce Scranton, MD, Website
http://www.piercescranton.com/

Shelly, Judith Allen, Dilemma: A Nurse's Guide for Making Ethical Decisions, ISBN: 0877846669 9780877846666.

Shelly, Judith Allen, and Arlene B. Miller, Values in Conflict: Christian Nursing in a Changing Profession, ISBN: 0830813306 9780830813308.

Smith, Robert D., The Christian Counselor's Medical Desk Reference, ISBN: 1889032263 9781889032269.

Sparrow, Malcolm K., License to Steal: How Fraud Bleeds America's Health Care System, updated edition (Westview Press, July 1, 2000), ISBN: 0813368103 9780813368108, 304 pages.
Table of Contents: Preface, Acknowledgments, Introduction, Fictitious companies, The state of the art, Control failures, Two distinct sciences: fraud detection, and utilization review, how goes the war? Counterattack, new frontiers for control, false claims, Managed care, The nature of the fraud-control challenge, The pathology of fraud control, The importance of measurement, Assessment of existing fraud-control systems, The antithesis of modern claims processing, Prescription for progress, A model fraud-control strategy, Detection systems, Conclusion, Acronyms and abbreviations, Notes, Index
"In LICENSE TO STEAL, Malcolm K. Sparrow shows how the industry's defenses, which focus mostly on finding and correcting billing errors, are no match for such well orchestrated attacks. The maxim for thieves simply becomes 'bill your lies correctly.' Provided they do that, fraud perpetrators with any degree of sophistication can steal millions of dollars with impunity, testing payment systems carefully, and then spreading fraudulent billings widely enough across patient and provider accounts to escape detection. The kinds of highly automated, quality controlled claims processing systems that pervade the industry present fraud perpetrators with their favorite kind of target: rich, fast paying, transparent, utterly predictable check printing systems, with little threat of human intervention, and with the U.S. Treasury on the end of the electronic line. Sparrow picks apart the industry's response to the government's efforts to control this problem. The provider associations (well heeled and politically influential) have vociferously opposed almost every recent enforcement initiative, creating the unfortunate public impression that the entire health care industry is against effective fraud control. A significant segment of the industry, it seems, regards fraud and abuse not as a problem, but as a lucrative enterprise worth defending.
"Meanwhile, it remains a perfectly commonplace experience for patients or their relatives to examine a medical bill and discover that half of it never happened, or that; likewise, if patients then complain, they discover that no one seems to care, or that no one has the resources to do anything about it. Sparrow's research suggests that the growth of capitated managed care systems does not solve the problem, as many in the industry had assumed, but merely changes its form. The managed care environment produces scams involving underutilization, and the withholding of medical care schemes that are harder to uncover and investigate, and much more dangerous to human health. Having worked extensively with federal and state officials since the appearance of his first book on this subject, Sparrow is in a unique position to evaluate recent law enforcement initiatives. He admits the 'war on fraud' is at least now engaged, but it is far from won.
"Malcolm K. Sparrow teaches Regulatory and Enforcement Strategy, and Analytic Methods, at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Formerly a Detective Chief Inspector with the British police service, he now specializes in issues of enforcement strategy, regulatory compliance, and risk control -- he is the acknowledged national expert on the subject of Health Care Fraud. He is author of THE RISK BUSINESS: DEFINING THE REGULATORY CRAFT (2000), LICENSE TO STEAL: WHY FRAUD PLAGUES AMERICA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM (1996), IMPOSING DUTIES: GOVERNMENT'S CHANGING APPROACH TO COMPLIANCE (1994); and co-author of BEYOND 911: A NEW ERA FOR POLICING (1990) and ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT: THE MORAL CHALLENGE FOR PUBLIC LEADERSHIP (1990)." -- Publisher's Annotation
"Although he has a wealth of expertise and a scholar's background, Sparrow speaks in a narrative style about the sad state of health care fraud in America today. While some progress is being made, there remains a little depth and sophistication in the responses to the complex and clever fraud schemes out there. Regrettably, the many political and institutional barriers to measuring and uncovering fraud continue to allow the system to be drained of precious dollars. While it takes a large investment to begin the fight on the level Sparrow advocates, the return is immeasurably greater. Not recommended for folks who don't need their blood pressure to rise." -- Reader's Comment

Tada, Joni Eareckson, C. Everett, M.D. (foreword), When is it Right to Die?: Suicide, Euthanasia, Suffering, Mercy (Diane Pub Co., December 30, 1992), ISBN: 0310585708 9780310585701.
"This book argues against the practice of euthanasia from a decidedly Christian point of view. Tada bases her arguments on the implication that euthanasia is the 'ultimate expression of selfishness' and that persons entertaining such thoughts are being tempted by the forces of evil. While Tada is undeniably self-righteous in tone, readers should note that she writes with personal authority, having been paralyzed in a diving accident in her teens. Libraries seeking to balance their euthanasia collections should consider this for purchase, along with Robert Wennberg's similarly argued TERMINAL CHOICES (LJ 11/15/89). . . . See also David Cundiff's EUTHANASIA IS NOT THE ANSWER. . . ." -- -Jennifer Amador, Central State Hospital Medical Library, Petersburg, VA, in the Library Journal
"Joni Eareckson Tada is president of Joni and Friends, a ministry to disabled people. A presidential appointee to the National Council on Disability, she has served as a political activist on disability-related issues. She explores the issues surrounding euthanasia in more depth. . . ." -- Discipleship Journal

Terrell, Hilton P., and Franklin E. Payne, (editors) Journal of Biblical Ethics in Medicine, Volumes 1-4: 1987-1990 (Augusta, GA: Covenant Books), 350 pages. Available from Covenant Enterprises, P.O. Box 14488, Augusta, GA 30919-0488.
"The JBEM was founded to bring biblical thinking to bear on medical issues. This book collects the first four years worth of articles, and includes a general index and an index of Scripture references. (A second volume, containing the next 4 years, is forthcoming.) Many articles are relevant to matters that come up in counseling ministry, matters about which counselors will want to offer informed advice." -- David Powlison
Journal of Biblical Ethics in Medicine
http://capo.org/jbem/intro_pa.htm

Tricoci, P (Pierluigi), Allen JM, Kramer JM, Califf RM, Smith SC Jr., Division of Cardiology and Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, Scientific Evidence Underlying the ACC/AHA [American College of Cardiologists/American Heart Association -- sk] Clinical Practice Guidelines, JAMA. 2009 Feb 25;301(8):868-9.
"ACC provides exclusive benefits and services designed specifically for cardiologists, including advocacy, education and access to information." -- from the ACC website
"More than a million people get an angioplasty, stent, or bypass surgery each year. How many of these costly procedures are really essential?"
"RESULTS: Among guidelines with at least 1 revision or update by September 2008, the number of recommendations increased from 1330 to 1973 (+48%) from the first to the current version, with the largest increase observed in use of class II recommendations. Considering the 16 current guidelines reporting levels of evidence, only 314 recommendations of 2711 total are classified as level of evidence A (median, 11%), [emphasis added, that is, only 11 percent of the ACC/AHA recommended guidelines provided to cardiologists were based upon solid scientific evidence -- sk] whereas 1246 (median, 48%) are level of evidence C [medical opinion -- sk]. Level of evidence significantly varies across categories of guidelines (disease, intervention, or diagnostic) and across individual guidelines. Recommendations with level of evidence A are mostly concentrated in class I, but only 245 of 1305 class I recommendations have level of evidence A (median, 19%).
"CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations issued in current ACC/AHA clinical practice guidelines are largely developed from lower levels of evidence or expert opinion. The proportion of recommendations for which there is no conclusive evidence is also growing. These findings highlight the need to improve the process of writing guidelines and to expand the evidence base from which clinical practice guidelines are derived."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19244190?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

*Welch, Edward T., Blame it on the Brain?: Distinguishing Chemical Imbalances, Brain Disorders, and Disobedience (Resources for Changing Lives Series, P&R Publishing: June 1998), ISBN: 0875526020 9780875526027.
"Dr. Welch has a Ph.D. in psychology as well as theology degrees, and has been a counselor for years. His doctoral work was on brain physiology, so Blame it on the Brain is the fruit of 20 years of reflection on the subject.
"Welch wonders if the brain 'has been given too much credit' (p. 12). Many have held the brain responsible for some bad behavior: 'My disease did it!' (p. 13). While the observations of the rapidly expanding field of brain sciences can be very helpful, when interpreted through a biblical lens they can be put in a more modest and helpful perspective. How do these discoveries illustrate biblical truths that can be applied to people's lives? Instead, too often sin problems are mislabeled as solely brain problems, and thus the true cause is left unaddressed (p. 25).
"Four very practical principles emerge from this approach to mind-body issues: 1. The brain cannot by itself 'make' a person sin (p. 49f). 2. Each person's abilities (brain strengths and weaknesses) are unique (p. 53f). 3. Brain problems can expose heart problems (p. 56f). 4. Sinful hearts can lead to physical illness; upright hearts can contribute to good health (p. 58f).
"In part two of the book these principles are then concisely but thoughtfully applied to a series of examples. First are apparently physical issues: Alzheimer's disease (p. 67f.) and head injury (p. 85f.). Next are more psychiatric issues: depression (p. 115f.), 'A.D.D.' (p. 131f.), homosexuality (p. 151f), and alcoholism (p. 183f).
"Welch's treatments of these problems abound with practical, sensitive insight. In the process he clearly defines the deeper issues at stake: what is the soul?; what is the body?; what is sin?
"For me, a crucial component of the book is the section on the mind-body relationships, especially p. 43-48. Welch is careful to distinguish the heart from the body, but without separating them. Drawing upon rich Trinitarian analogies, he is careful to outline a model that seeks not to over-emphasize either the duality or the unity. This understanding enables us to try to distinguish between sin and sickness. As Welch ably defines it: 'any behavior that does not conform to biblical commands or any behavior that transgresses biblical prohibitions proceeds form the heart and is sin' (p. 43). Conversely, 'any behavior that is more accurately called a weakness proceeds from the body and is sickness or suffering' (p. 44). We are to repent of sin. But things that reflect only our creaturely limitations are not immoral, but proceed from our fallen bodies.
"The example Welch uses of hallucinations is illustrative. The Bible does not prohibit them, so we can not admonish someone for experiencing them. We are called to compassion for them. The hallucination may have been caused by a prior sinful choice, and the hallucinatory may respond to them with sin, but the hallucination itself is not sinful. A helpful chart on p. 45 lists out some examples of body problems (broken bones, mental retardation, feelings of depression, hallucinations) and heart (mind) problems (anger, pride, drunkenness). Of course, many problems involve both the body and the heart or mind, and in unequal and obscured proportions. How do we separate out the differences? And why is it helpful to try?
"Each summer during high school and college I worked in a nursing home. The changes I witnessed in particular residents after being away from them for almost a year were often shocking and tragic. I think of a seemingly kind and affable man named D., who in a few months seemed to transform into an unrecognizably profane and lewd bore. Welch demonstrates convincingly that such brain or body problems as D.'s Alzheimer's can expose what is in the heart. The brain appears to have led the person into bad behavior, when it is more accurate to say that the brain problem allowed certain otherwise hidden parts of their heart to be uncovered. Welch contends, "In some case brain problems function like truth serum for the heart" (p. 58).
"Welch's treatment of the subject is fairly comprehensive but far from exhaustive. Questions of application remain. If meds can only, at their best, address the body issues and not the heart, how do we know which needs addressing? Welch addresses this in a wise, but frustratingly brief section in pp. 125-127. Adopting Welch's guidelines is easy enough, but applying them to real life situations, I know from experience, is another matter. What about the person who meets some but not all of the criteria listed on p. 127 (they are over forty; have had no prior history of problems with depression; are taking prescription drugs, etc.)? This is not a flaw in Welch's treatment of the topic, just a limitation of its brief explication here.
"I have known a person, for example, who had his first bout with depression at age 62. But it was extremely serious. He became despondent and delusional and was checked into a residential treatment facility. His case meets the first of the two criteria listed by Welch, but not the last two. Clearly, his depression was triggered by some circumstances in his life (some the direct result of some horrible choices, others not). Yet, just as clearly it seems that the depression, while largely originating from his sinful behavior, now had a physical component. His medications, while wrought with multiple serious side effects, did seem to successfully contribute to his ability to function. Yet, if I were given a decision making role in his `treatment,' I would want to somehow know: were the drugs really helpful, or was it their placebo effect? And if they did reduce his anxiety, is that all necessarily good? Did he not need discomfort to drive him to make changes in his absolutely horrendous behavior? And if so, how much and what type of discomfort?
"Anyway, Welch's book wrestles with some deep issues and presents them in a lucid and readable format." -- Raymond Cannata
"What is needed is not necessarily more sophistication in understanding the brain. Instead, what is needed is a more in-depth and practical examination of Scripture that is relevant to these questions" (p. 19-20). In this chapter, he remains resolute in affirming the supreme authority of God's Word in understanding and applying the deluge of information which our secular society is bent on giving us. . . .
"Heart and body are both two and one. They are two in that the body cannot be reduced to heart or spirit, and heart cannot be reduced to body. But they are mutually independent. They need each other. Human life cannot even be imagined without both the inner and the outer person" (p. 47). . . .
"In chapters 4 and 5, we read about legitimate brain dysfunctions which are the result of Alzheimer's disease (and dementia) or serious head injury stemming from an accident. Here, Welch wants the reader to understand that there are indeed cases where the brain can suffer illness or injury to the extent that the behavior and mental capacity of the individual will be directly affected. He is quick to point out that though these conditions may harm the outer man, they do not necessarily mean that the inner man will also begin to dissipate.
"In chapters 7 and 8, we read about psychiatric problems such as depression and attention deficit disorder (ADD) which may or may not be the result of the brain's alleged deficiencies. . . . He is also quick to point out that the depression or ADD may be the result of a spiritual problem and that the care of the individual and their relation to God ought to factor in the treatment every bit as much as medicinal treatments.
"In chapters 9 and 10 we read about two areas of human behavior which the brain is often held responsible for -- homosexuality and alcoholism. In both cases, Welch is insistent that the brain cannot the cause of one's sinful behavior. As he says so plainly, "The ultimate cause of sin is always the human heart" (p. 169). He argues that when these behaviors are seen as proceeding directly from the brain's activity, then the connection that exists between human beings as morally accountable agents and a holy and righteous God is severed. What needs to take place is repentance from such sinful behavior in light of the promise of God's gracious provision of forgiveness which can be found in Jesus Christ. Though these sins present particularly strong forms of bondage, God's mercy can break even their stronghold." -- Daniel Mark Donovan

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Meltdown 2008: the greatest depression in history, The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Epistemology, The ten commandments, the moral law, Appendix a: the words of christ, The westminster standards, The larger catechism (also commentaries on the larger catechism), Casuistry and conscience, Systematic theology, Computer crime, Bribery, Lying and deceit, self-deceit, Toxic and harmful substances, Sin and its consequences, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Systematic theology, Ethics, The westminster standards, Logic, Casuistry and conscience, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Leniency, Healthcare reform, The veterans administration medical centers, Psychology and psychiatry, Extortion, Conspiracy and corruption, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Soul-violence, Bad relationships a cause of disease and death, Resolutions, The right to petition, Referendum votes, Bible magistracy turns back the wrath of god, The government role of punishing wrongdoers, Toleration, liberty of conscience, pluralism, and neutrality, Unity and uniformity in the visible church: unity in the truth, National establishment of religion: establishmentarianism, The covenant faithfulness of god, Covenant Theology and Covenanting, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Healthcare reform, Christian character, Toleration and Liberty of Conscience, Oaths, secret societies and ungodly alliance, Conspiracy and corruption, Christianity in the workplace, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 481, 1337, 1338, 1975-1985, 2148, 2527, 2798, 3054, 3077-3080, 3737, 4127, 4177
MGTP: Ethics

Related WebLinks

Hippocratic Oath
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_Oath

Journal of Biblical Ethics in Medicine
http://capo.org/jbem/intro_pa.htm

American Medical Association (AMA) Code of Medical Ethics
"The medical profession has long subscribed to a body of ethical statements developed primarily for the benefit of the patient. As a member of this profession, a physician must recognize responsibility to patients first and foremost, as well as to society, to other health professionals, and to self. The following Principles adopted by the American Medical Association are not laws, but standards of conduct which define the essentials of honorable behavior for the physician."
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2512.html

American Academy of Medical Administrators Code of Ethics
http://www.aameda.org/AboutAAMA/codeofethics.html

Ethics Codes and Practice Guidelines for Assessment, Therapy, Counseling, and Forensic Practice
"This page presents links to therapy, counseling, forensic, and related ethics (and practice) codes developed by professional organizations (e.g., of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, marriage and family counselors). Codes are listed only if they appear online.
"Links to related resources are listed at the end." http://kspope.com/ethcodes/index.php

The American Iatrogenic Association
"The American Iatrogenic Association is devoted to the study and reporting of medical errors that lead to disease and death."
http://www.iatrogenic.org/

From Soak The Rich to Soak The Poor: Recent Trends In Hospital Pricing, Gerard F. Anderson, Health Affairs, 26, no. 3 (May-June, 2007): 780-789
"In 2004, the rates charged to many uninsured and other "self-pay" patients for hospital services were often 2.5 times what most health insurers actually paid and more than three times the hospital's Medicare-allowable costs. The gaps between rates charged to self-pay patients and those charged to other payers are much wider than they were in the mid-1980s, and they make it increasingly more difficult for some patients, especially the uninsured, to pay their hospital bills. This has triggered lawsuits and some recent government efforts involving price transparency. Three specific policy options that could lower the markups are a voluntary effort by hospitals, litigation, and legislation."
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/26/3/780

Theft: Commentary and Cases of Conscience. A Listing Excerpted From THE INSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW by Rousas John Rushdoony, 1973 edition
http://www.lettermen2.com/theft.html

The Non-duality of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother: A Profile
http://www.lettermen2.com/syncret.html

RateTheCourts.com
"At RateTheCourts.com, visitors may anonymously complete judicial evaluation surveys for over 27,000 of the nation's judges and judicial nominees. Survey criteria is based, in part, upon the American Bar Association's Black Letter Guidelines for the Evaluation of Judicial Performance (February 2005). Survey responses and comments are tabulated and displayed instantly."
http://www.ratethecourts.com/

The Psycho State, Rep. Ron Paul, MD
"Parents must do everything possible to retain responsibility and control over their children's well-being. There is no end to the bureaucratic appetite to rule every aspect of our lives, including how we raise our children. Forced mental health screening is just the latest of many state usurpations of parental authority: compulsory education laws, politically-correct school curricula, mandatory vaccines, and interference with discipline through phony "social services" agencies all represent assaults on families. The political right has now joined the political left in seeking the de facto nationalization of children, and only informed resistance by parents can stop it. The federal government is slowly but surely destroying real families, but it is hardly a benevolent surrogate parent."
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul203.html

DrGreene.com
"Dr. Greene is the Chief Medical Officer of A.D.A.M., the Founder and CEO of DrGreene.com, and the Pediatric Expert for AmericanBaby.com. He is on the Clinical Faculty at Stanford University School of Medicine where he sees patients and teaches Residents. He is the President of Hi-Ethics (Health Internet Ethics) and helped URAC develop its standards for eHealth accreditation. Dr. Greene has been recognized by Advance for Health Information Executives as one of the top 25 most influential forces in healthcare IT. Dr. Greene was also named Intel's Internet Health Hero for children's health. He is an author, medical expert, and a media personality.
"Dr. Greene entered primary care pediatrics in January 1993. In 1995, he launched Dr. Greene's HouseCalls, cited by the AMA as the first physician Web site on the Internet - http://www.DrGreene.com. On his Web site, Dr. Greene answers pediatric questions submitted by readers from all over the world. DrGreene.com now receives over 14 million hits per month from parents, students, and medical professionals.
"He is the author of THE PARENT'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO EAR INFECTIONS (People's Medical Society, 1997). He is the medical expert for three additional books, THE PARENT'S SOUP A-TO-Z GUIDE TO YOUR NEW BABY, (Contemporary Books, 1998) THE PARENT'S SOUP A-TO-Z GUIDE TO YOUR TODDLER, (Contemporary Books, 1999), THE MOTHER OF ALL BABY BOOKS, (Hungry Minds, Inc., 2002), FROM FIRST KICKS TO FIRST STEPS: NURTURING YOUR BABY'S DEVELOPMENT FROM PREGNANCY THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE (McGraw-Hill Companies: August 2004).
"Alan Greene earned a Bachelor's degree in the History and Philosophy of Science from Princeton University. He graduated from medical school at University of California at San Francisco. Upon completion of his pediatric residency program at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Northern California in 1993, he served as Chief Resident. During his Chief year, Dr. Greene passed the pediatric boards in the top 5 percent of the nation.
http://www.drgreene.org/default.cfm

Listmania! Big Pharma by pharmablogger, Clinical Development employee
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/LPDPJLXP6L9Z/ref=cm_lm_dp_m_1/103-4159623-2145450

"Death by Medicine"
This is an 18,491 word article in Life Extension magazine that includes many of the statistics from the 2001 study. Documented with 151 endnotes.
"Until now, Life Extension could cite only isolated statistics to make its case about the dangers of conventional medicine. No one had ever analyzed and combined ALL of the published literature dealing with injuries and deaths caused by government-protected medicine. That has now changed.
"A group of researchers meticulously reviewed the statistical evidence and their findings are absolutely shocking.4 These researchers have authored a paper titled 'Death by Medicine' that presents compelling evidence that today's system frequently causes more harm than good.
"This fully referenced report shows the number of people having in-hospital, adverse reactions to prescribed drugs to be 2.2 million per year. The number of unnecessary antibiotics prescribed annually for viral infections is 20 million per year. The number of unnecessary medical and surgical procedures performed annually is 7.5 million per year. The number of people exposed to unnecessary hospitalization annually is 8.9 million per year.
"The most stunning statistic, however, is that the total number of deaths caused by conventional medicine is an astounding 783,936 per year. It is now evident that the American medical system is the leading cause of death and injury in the US. (By contrast, the number of deaths attributable to heart disease in 2001 was 699,697, while the number of deaths attributable to cancer was 553,251.5)
"We placed this article on our website to memorialize the failure of the American medical system. By exposing these gruesome statistics in painstaking detail, we provide a basis for competent and compassionate medical professionals to recognize the inadequacies of today's system and at least attempt to institute meaningful reforms."
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/mar2004_awsi_death_01.htm

Open-heart Profiteering?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/05/06/eveningnews/main552636.shtml

Quackewatch
Extensive resources compiled by Stephen Barrett, M.D.
"Quackwatch, Inc., which was a member of Consumer Federation of America from 1973 through 2003, is a nonprofit corporation whose purpose is to combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, and fallacies. Its primary focus is on quackery-related information that is difficult or impossible to get elsewhere. Founded by Dr. Stephen Barrett in 1969 as the Lehigh Valley Committee Against Health Fraud, it was incorporated in 1970. In 1997, it assumed its current name and began developing a worldwide network of volunteers and expert advisers.
"To avoid semantic problems, quackery could be broadly defined as "anything involving overpromotion in the field of health." This definition would include questionable ideas as well as questionable products and services, regardless of the sincerity of their promoters. In line with this definition, the word 'fraud' would be reserved only for situations in which deliberate deception is involved."
http://www.quackwatch.org/

URAC, American Accreditation HealthCare Commission, Inc. (formerly Utilization Review Accreditation Commission)
"URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation and certification programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry.
"For those unfamiliar with URAC, we are an independent, nonprofit organization committed to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and other quality improvement activities. Today, URAC's accreditations help protect 140 million Americans.
"In recent years, URAC has become a nationally recognized quality improvement leader by reviewing and auditing a broad array of health care service functions and systems. Quality benchmarking activities cover health plans, preferred provider organizations, medical management systems, health technology services, health call centers, specialty care, workers' compensation, Web sites, and HIPAA privacy and security compliance, among other areas."
http://www.urac.org/

J.D. Power and Associates -- Healthcare Division
"There is no greater asset than trusted consumer-based information. J.D. Power and Associates Healthcare Division offers managed care organizations, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies independent and unbiased research that clearly articulates their customer perceptions, intentions, and behaviors. With this valuable insight, strategic decisions can be made, valuable resources allocated, and competitors outmaneuvered."
http://www.jdpower.com/healthcare/

International Medical Veritas
"Tragedies are evident in many areas, including the harm caused by food additives and preservatives, pesticides, water fluoridation, cancer and AIDS treatments, anti-depressive medications, and other drugs having only marginal, if any, benefit. The IMVA supports improved nutrition as a first line of defense against disease. It promotes wellness rather than continuous disease and treatment cycles. Of particular concern to the IMVA is the high C-section rate in the U.S. and other countries. The IMVA supports the natural birthing process, while minimizing the use of medications and drugs during and soon after delivery. We are also calling the world's medical establishment to make great changes in the childhood immunization schedule.
Mark Sircus is a World Psychologist, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, and Chiropractor.
http://www.imva.info/

Diagnosis: Corruption, Bill Sardi
"The Federal branches of government responsible for protecting and promoting public health are in a state of moral collapse. The recent recall of the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx, with the revelation that the continued use of the drug long after the Food & Drug Administration and its manufacturer knew it doubled the risk of heart attacks and may have caused 30,000 or so avoidable deaths, is only a small picture of what is going on inside federal health agencies today."
http://www.lewrockwell.com/sardi/sardi32.html

The way it is, Paul Hein
"Some truths -- probably most of them -- are not subject to scientific proof. Thus, when we ponder modern life, and the role of government, we may find ourselves puzzled. It is obvious that government is an organization that, in its actions, varies between terrible malignancy, and breathtaking inanity. We wonder why that should be, and seek an answer. But the answer, if we find it at all, is not scientifically demonstrable, as is the fact that the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
"The answer is something that most of us already know; it was first put forth by Lord Action (1834-1902). 'Power corrupts.' The full quote is: 'Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. -- Liberty is the only object which benefits all alike, and provokes no sincere opposition. The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern. -- Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." And that's it! That's the way it is." [See: "Selection of Covenant Heads for Positions of Leadership"-- sk]
http://www.lewrockwell.com/hein/hein88.html

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html



Menpleasing

I see this tendency to lean on man everywhere. I know no branch of the Protestant Church of Christ which does not require to be cautioned upon the point. It is a snare, for example, to the English Episcopalian to make idols of Bishop Pearson and `the Judicious Hooker.' It is a snare to the Scotch Presbyterian to pin his faith on John Knox, the Covenanters, and Dr. Chalmers. It is a snare to the Methodists in our day to worship the memory of John Wesley. It is a snare to the Independent to see no fault in any opinion of Owen and Dodderidge. It is a snare to the Baptist to exaggerate the wisdom of Gill and Fuller and Robert Hall. All these are snares, and into these snares how many fall! -- J.C. Ryle, "The Fallibility of Ministers" in Warning to the Churches, pp. 93-121.

There is no learned man but will confess that he hath most profited by reading controversies -- his senses awakened, his judgment sharpened, and the truth which he holds more firmly established. All controversy being permitted, falsehood will appear more false, and truth the more true. -- John Milton

Bridge, William, The Carnality of Professors. In WORKS OF WILLIAM BRIDGE (5:117-32).

*Calumy, Edmund (1671-1732), and Samuel Palmer (editor), The Nonconformist's Memorial, 1802 (3 vols.), ISBN: 0781206243. OCLC: 747889 seems to be the preferred edition. E-text available OCLC: 220202826. A Christian classic. See also, Benjamin Brook, Lives of the Puritans.
"Edmund Calamy (1678-1732), a dissenting minister in London and a historian, was the son and grandson of puritan ministers inside the Church of England. Both of them, along with hundreds of others, were expelled from their church livings for their refusal to submit to the 1662 Act of Uniformity. This event, the so-called 'Great Ejection', was a crucial moment in the formation of religious dissent in England. This book, first published in 1775, is an extensively-revised version, by another dissenting minister Samuel Palmer, of materials originally collated and published by Edmund Calamy, commemorating the lives and works of these ejected ministers.
"Editing the autobiography of one of the most eminent of these ejected ministers, Richard Baxter, Calamy included a long chapter listing the ejected ministers and such biographical data as he could find. This is the famous chapter 9 of AN ABRIDGMENT OF MR BAXTER'S HISTORY OF HIS LIFE AND TIMES (1702). This chapter became a whole volume of a second edition of the ABRIDGEMENT published in 1713. And in 1727 Calamy produced a further two volumes of material under the title A CONTINUATION OF THE ACCOUNT OF THE MINISTERS, LECTURERS, MASTERS AND FELLOWS OF COLLEGES, AND SCHOOLMASTERS WHO WERE EJECTED AND SILENCED AFTER THE RESTORATION OF 1660 . . .
"Samuel Palmer attempted to integrate this material into a more readable form, making extensive revisions and additions. He certainly succeeded in producing something more accessible to eighteenth-century readers and there were several reprints of the book and a second edition in 1802-3. However readability was sometimes at the cost of accuracy and of a reduction of the scholarly value of Calamy's material.
"Nevertheless THE NONCONFORMIST'S MEMORIAL was an important work of collective memory by eighteenth-century dissenters." -- Publisher's Annotation
The Nonconformist's Memorial: Being an Account of the Lives, Sufferings, and Printed Works, of the Two Thousand Ministers Ejected from the Church of England, Chiefly by the Act of Uniformity, Aug. 24, 1666. . . .
http://books.google.com/books?id=b08UwRUmWL0C&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Cotton, John. Ministers of the Gospel Should Speak, not as Pleasing Men, but God, who Tries Their Hearts. A sermon preach'd at the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Ward Cotton, at Hampton, in New-Hampshire, June 19th. 1734. When he was ordain'd a colleague-pastor with the Rev. Mr. Nathanael Gookin, Pastor of the First Church there. By John Cotton, A.M. Minister of the Gospel in Newtown. Boston, 1734.

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

Welch, Edward T., When People are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of man, ISBN: 0875526004 9780875526003.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The ten commandments, the moral law, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Covenant theology, Idolatry, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Secret societies and ungodly alliance, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Politics, Ungodly alliance, Voluntary associations, Idolatry (syncretism), Leniency, Toleration, liberty of conscience, pluralism, and neutrality, Spirituality and harlotry, Sexual relationship, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 2789
MGTP: Carnality



Mind Control, Intimidation, and Coercion

See "Mind Control, Intimidation, and Coercion," Appendix D: A Selection of Works on Pseudo-Christian Movements
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappd.html



Neighbors

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 22:38-40)

See the Theological Notes, "Love," at 1 Corinthians 13:13 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:12)

The Treasury of David, Psalm 109, C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps109.htm

The Treasury of David, Psalm 120, C.H. Spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps120.htm

Adams, Jay E., Biblical Sonship: An Evaluation of the Sonship Discipleship Course, ISBN: 1889032158 9781889032153.

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Neighbor," and so forth, and so on.

*Adams, Jay E., What do you do When Your Marriage Goes Sour? Alternate title: YOU CAN SWEETEN A SOUR MARRIAGE, ISBN: 0875520480 9780875520483.
"Love is not first a feeling, because God commands love: to wife, to neighbor, even to enemy. You must learn how to give. You must forgive: a promise not to use it against the person, not to talk to others, not to dwell on it yourself. The husband is responsible to take initiative in love." -- David Powlison
What do you do When Your Marriage Goes Sour?
http://www.lifeisworship.com/hbrpc/pfltmen.htm
A tract by Jay Adams.

Adams, Jay E., You can Sweeten a Sour Marriage. Alternate title: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR MARRIAGE GOES SOUR? (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House), ISBN: 0801000963 9780801000966.
"Love is not first a feeling, because God commands love: to wife, to neighbor, even to enemy [with conditions -- sk]. You must learn how to give. You must forgive: a promise not to use it [a wrong -- sk] against the person, not to talk to others, not to dwell on it yourself. The husband is responsible to take initiative in love." -- David Powlison

Binning, Hugh (1627-1653), [Three Untitled Sermons on 1 John 3:23]. In THE WORKS OF THE REVEREND HUGH BINNING, M.A. (553-63).
"On faith and love as the sum of the Gospel."

Boston, Thomas (1676-1732), Love to God and Our Neighbour, the Sum of the Ten Commandments. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THE REVEREND THOMAS BOSTON (2:74-84). Also in AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE DOCTRINES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION (1:9-2:659)

Bridge, William, Grace and Love Beyond Gifts. In WORKS OF WILLIAM BRIDGE (4:162-86).

*Kennedy, D. James, Learning to Live With the People You Love (Springdale, PA: Whitaker House, 1987), ISBN: 0883681900 9780883681909.
Love "is sharing life together in a way that brings glory to God and enriches the lives of every family member."
Dr. Kennedy says no book he has written has brought so many comments as this one.
Read this in conjunction with Dr. Kennedy's 6-message audio cassette series "Secrets of Successful Marriages," the audio cassette message "Why Some Marriages Fail and Others Succeed," and the 4-message audio cassette series "The Christian Marriage Series."

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

*Miller, C. John "Jack" (1928-1996) and Rose Marie Miller, Sonship Course: World Harvest Mission Leadership Training Program, Nurture Training for Ministry, Equipping Others for Ministry (Jenkintown, PA [World Harvest, Box 2175, Jenkintown 19046]: World Harvest, 1988).
This course was developed to prepare World Harvest missionaries to work in the field. The course includes small group participation and Biblical counseling.
"The first half of the Sonship track focuses on the doctrines of Justification, Sanctification, and Adoption. The last half lays the foundation for love. We look at how the Gospel affects the way we look at ourselves. Our goal was that increasingly your self-image should be rooted in God's view of you clothed in the perfect righteousness of Christ . . . What we aim at here is to encourage the trainee to learn from Christ how to build a holy life, a life of love to your neighbor. This is done self-consciously relying always on his or her free justification by faith. Sanctification by faith issues from knowing always that my standing as a son is assured by justification by Christ alone through faith alone. Thus the heart of our counseling on character development centers in affirmation of Christ's work for us, and Christ's work in us through the Spirit. But within that framework we attempt seriously to involve each trainee in ongoing repentance, putting off old habits and sins and putting on Christ-like love and faith. . . . Much focus is laid on teamwork. . . . The skill of evangelism . . . is the believer's primary emphasis in the course of training because the staff believes that evangelism is necessary for a healthy Christian life . . . Evangelism rightly understood affects both the faith and the Christian life of the one who shares Christ's message." -- C. John Miller and Rose Marie Miller
Miller, C. John (1928-1996), Rose Marie Miller, Paul Miller, Rick Downs, David M. Desforge, et al, Sonship, a set of 16 sound cassettes (audiobook on tape), (Oreland, PA: World Harvest Mission, 1997).
World Harvest Mission
http://www.whm.org/home.htm

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Sin, The problem of evil, avoiding, eschewing, shunning, Separation, Spiritual warfare, Prayer, Intercessory prayer, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The ten commandments, the moral law, Casuistry and conscience, Ethics, Christianity in the workplace, Love and counseling problems, Loving your enemies, Evil, Forgiveness, Reconciliation of relationships, The Larger catechism, Covenant theology, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Men, women and god, Marriage, Reconciliation of marriage partners, Duties of the christian, Sexual relationship, Sin, Forgiveness of sin, Unforgiveness, The blood of christ, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Evangelism, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 1617, 3394
MGTP: Love -- Toward men

Related WebLinks

Nave's Topical Bible: Christ, Prayers of
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Concordances/NavesTopicalBible/ntb.cgi?number=T2807

The Commandments of Jesus, J.S. McConnell (1925)
http://www.wowzone.com/commandm.htm

The Teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr2cha.html#teachljc

The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon
A sermon by C.H. Spurgeon delivered on Lord's-day morning, September 9, 1888, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Sermon no. 2043.
http://www.mountzion.org/fgb/Summer97/FgbS6-97.html



Obedience

See: Loving and Obeying God
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr6ch.html#lvobg



Obesity, Gluttony

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. (Deuteronomy 8:3)

But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. (Deuteronomy 32:15)

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. (Proverbs 1:32)

Gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride, and lust -- these are the seven deadly sins.

Adults in the United States have one of the highest obesity rates in the world. Nearly a third of U.S. adults 20 years and older are obese, while about two-thirds are overweight, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. (2008)

Adams, Jay E., Counseling Workshop: Multiple Persons; Unbeliever Doesn't Leave; Discipling Children; Obesity and Fatness (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA505.

Fitzpatrick, Elyse, More Than Bread: A Workbook for Women who Struggle With Eating (San Diego, CA: CCEF West [now Institute of Biblical Counseling and Discipleship]). Available from Institute of Biblical Counseling and Discipleship, 3495 College Ave., San Diego, CA, 92115; 619-582-5554.
"A workbook that addresses ungodly eating habits, both the obvious behaviors and the typical motives of the heart that produce such behavior. Addresses three main categories of sinful eating: overeating, anorexia, and bulimia." -- David Powlison
Institute of Biblical Counseling and Discipleship (formerly CCEF West)
http://www.ibcd.org/

Popkin, Barry, The World is Fat: The Fads, Trends, Policies, and Products That are Fattening the Human Race (Avery, December 26, 2008), 240 pages, ISBN: 1583333134 9781583333136.
"FAST FOOD NATION meets THE WORLD IS FLAT in this eye-opening look at the obesity epidemic.
"Today, the planet's 1.3 billion overweight people by far outnumber the 700 million who are undernourished. This figure would have seemed ludicrous just fifty years ago, when hunger was the world's most pressing nutritional problem.
"In THE WORLD IS FAT, Barry Popkin argues that the fattening of the human race is not simply about that next cheeseburger; rather, it is a result of an unprecedented collision of human biology with trends in technology, globalization, government policy, and the food industry that are changing how we eat and how we live.
"Popkin, whose expertise in both nutrition and economics makes him uniquely qualified to write this book, compares our lifestyles today with those of half a century ago through the stories of five families living in the United States, Mexico, and India. He shows how increasing access to media and exposure to advertising, a powerful food industry, the rise of Wal-Mart like shopping centers, and a dramatic decline in physical activity are clashing with millions of years of human evolution, creating a world of overweight people with debilitating health problems such as diabetes. Ultimately, Popkin contends that widespread obesity is less a result of poor individual dietary choices than about a hi-tech, interconnected world in which governments and multinational corporations have extraordinary power to shape our everyday lives.
"Barry Popkinis the Carla Smith Chamblee Distinguished Professor of Global Nutrition at the University of North Carolina and the director of the UNC Interdisciplinary Obesity Center. His research has spanned all continents over the past thirty years. His work has been featured in hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Scientific American." -- Publisher's Annotation

Shogren, Gary, and Edward Welch, Running in Circles: How to Find Freedom From Addictive Behavior (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1995), ISBN: 0801083877 9780801083877, 96 pages.
"Companion volume to Welch's and Shogren's ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR. Intended as a practical guide to help those who struggle with 'addictive behavior:' drugs, alcohol, food, immorality, and so forth. Especially useful as a first introduction to biblical thinking for such people." -- David Powlison

Vath, Raymond E., Counseling Those With Eating Disorders (Resources for Christian Counseling, Vol. 4. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1994), ISBN: 0849905834 9780849905834.
Vath is an integrationist, combining Christianity with Psychology/Psychiatry.
"This is not a `how-to-treat' book but rather one that explains the attitudes and principles that have been effective in treating over 200 eating disorder cases of anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Part I deals with the nature, causes and consequences while Part II deals with the treatment." -- GCB.
Includes bibliography and index.
"Dr. Vath, who is a Psychiatrist, approaches the counseling of eating disorders from the perspective of a strong, working faith in the principles of Christian teaching. He speaks from a position of having counseled over a hundred patients in their recovery from anorexia.
"His book also deals in a lesser extent with bulemia, especially as it sometimes may be an adjunct of the recovering anorexic.
"Dr. Vath's book is very readable and insightful. I would recommend it for any person who has any family member or close acquaintance with the disorder. -- Reader's Comment

Welch, Edward, and Gary Shogren, Addictive Behavior (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1995), ISBN: 0801097371 9780801097379, 176 pages.
"Guides pastors and other counselors in understanding 'addictions' biblically, and takes them through five typical sessions of counseling. The prominent case study focuses on alcohol abuse in a church context, but the principles apply to other enslaving behaviors." -- David Powlison

See also: Physical Health, Self-denial, Self-discipline, Covetousness, greed, and selfishness, Worry and anxiety, Habits, Drug abuse and addiction, Alcoholism, Self-destruction, Fellowship, Friendship, Loneliness, Alcoholism and addiction, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Leniency, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Christian life, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 3198-3204

Related WebLinks

A Redneck Resolution Against Self-destruction
http://www.lettermen2.com/redneck.html



Oaths, Ensnaring (Vows, Promises, Covenants) and Bonds With the Ungodly

Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
"A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein, upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserteth or promiseth, and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he sweareth" (Westminster Confession of Faith [1646], 22:1). Further, "whosoever taketh an oath ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he is fully persuaded is the truth: neither may any man bind himself by oath to anything but what is good and just, and what he believeth so to be, and what he is able and resolved to perform" (Westminster Confession of Faith [1646], 22:3). "A vow is of the like nature with a promissory oath," but "it is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone" (Westminster Confession of Faith [1646], 22:4, 6). Thus, the Scripture warns, "Better it is that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay" (Eccl. 5:5).
Similarly, our Savior condemned oaths of subterfuge, saying, "Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay" (Matt. 5:3). Or, as the apostle James puts it, "Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation" (Jam. 5:12). Thus, we learn that "an oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation, or mental reservation." (Westminster Confession of Faith [1646], 22:4)

See the Theological Notes, "Honest Speech, Oaths, and Vows," at Nehemiah 5:12 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men . . ." -- Jesus Christ (John 2:23, 24)

A vow is a promise made to God. . . . When I say that a vow is a promise, I imply that the matter of it is necessarily some real or supposed good; to be good, or to do good, or not to do evil. Evil may be the matter of an oath, but it is not properly a vow, if the matter be not supposed good. . . . Doth not the law of nature oblige us to serve God to the utmost of our power? He that denieth it, is become unnatural, and must deny God to be God, or deny himself to be his rational creature: for nothing is more clear in nature, than that the creature who is nothing, and hath nothing but from God, and is absolutely his own, doth owe him all that he is able to do." -- Richard Baxter

The difference between God's law and man's law? God, in his perfect righteousness and omnipotence, enforces his law. Man, a corrupt creature, is unable to enforce his own laws, apart from the help of God.
Likewise, God alone is capable of keeping an oath (often used interchangeably with vow, promise, and covenant). Therefore, only an oath with God is binding upon man, because man, with his corrupt nature, is unable to keep an oath. It follows that oaths made with false gods, false religions, heretical or pseudo-christian movements, cults, corrupt men, fraternal organizations, secret societies, business organizations, criminals, gangs, and so forth, are not valid oaths. They are invalid, because men are unable to keep an oath. To enter into such an oath is a transgression against the Triune God. Such oaths can be ignored. Invalid vows to men place a man in bondage, unable to fulfill his chief and highest end "to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him for ever." (Larger Catechism)
See Nehemiah 9:5-37; 9:8b; Joshua 21:45 21:45; Joshua 23:14; Numbers 23:19; Psalm 92:15; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18.

Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. This rule was an affectation of grandeur, and a very foolish one. Immutability is for God, and not for men.) -- Spurgeon's Devotional Bible, p. 454

The king is as much bound by his oath not to infringe the legal rights of the people, as the people are bound to yield subjection to him. From whence it follows that as soon as the prince sets himself above the law, he loses the king in the tyrant. He does, to all intents and purposes, un-king himself. -- Jonathan Mayhew, in a sermon in 1765

I do judge, and in conscience believe, that no power on earth can absolve, and liberate the people of God from the bonds and sacred ties of the oath of God. I am persuaded that Asa acted warrantably, in making a law, that the people should stand to the covenant, in receiving into the covenant such as were not of his kingdom, 2 Chron. 15:9, 10. -- Samuel Rutherford, Testimony to the Covenanted Work of Reformation

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Associations," and so forth, and so on.

*BROWN, JOHN (of Haddington, 1722-1787), The Absurdity and Perfidy of All Authoritative Toleration of Gross Heresy, Blasphemy, Idolatry, Popery, in Britain. In two letters to a friend in which the doctrine of the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) relative to Toleration of a False Religion, and the power of the civil magistrate about sacred matters; and the nature, origin, ends and obligation of the National Covenant and Solemn League are candidly represented and defended, 1797, 1803 edition (Cerlox Bound Photocopy Series. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Still Waters Revival Books, 1997). Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #25. ISBN: 0921148208 9780921148203. A Christian classic.
"REFORMATION ATTAINMENTS VERSUS BACKSLIDING RELIGIOUS PROFESSORS
"Here Brown deals with three major Reformation attainments (anti-tolerationism, establishmentarianism and the obligations of lawful covenants as they biblically bind posterity) that Satan has always been especially concerned to overthrow -- in every major demonic move to open the floodgates of lawlessness, anarchy and misrule. Fletcher, in the preface to the 1797 edition, relates this truth as it comes to bear on various religious professors, stating, 'Papists were enemies to our covenants because they were a standard lifted up against their system of abominable idolatries. Episcopalians were enemies to them, because they were a standard lifted up against their anti-scriptural church-officers and inventions of men in the worship of God. Some Presbyterians are enemies to them in our day through ignorance of their nature and ends; and others through fear of being too strictly bound to their duty.' (Cited in Johnston, TREASURY OF THE SCOTTISH COVENANT, p. 486).
"A HISTORY OF HERESY
"It is also interesting to note the long list of backsliders and heretics that often oppose one or more of these points. 'The ancient Donatists, a sect of Arian separatists, who appeared about the beginning of the 4th Century, seem to have been among the first who held out these opinions to the Christian world. Feeling the weight of the arm of power for their schismatical practices, by way of reprisal, they stript the magistrate of all power in religion; -- maintaining that he had no more power about religious matters than any private person, and refusing him the right of suppressing the propagators of doctrines different from those professed by the Church, or the observers of a different form of worship. From them the German Anabaptists adopted the same views. Then the Socinians (i.e. an early form of Scripture-denying liberals -- RB) and remonstrant Arminians, whenever the magistrate ceased to patronize their cause. The English Independents during the time of the Long Parliament were the zealous supporters of the same opinions. In their rage for liberty of conscience, they formed the strongest opposition in the Westminster Assembly which the Presbyterians had to encounter. Through their influence that venerable body was much embarrassed (hindered-RB) in their proceeding; and by their means (in collusion with that "Judas of the Covenant," Cromwell -- RB), certain passages of the Confession of Faith never obtained the ratification of the English Parliament. The English Dissenters of the present age are generally in the same views, especially the Socinians, the Arians, and the Quakers, who have most to dread from the Laws of the Land against their blasphemies. And who knows not that the high reputation of Mr. Locke as a Philosopher . . . has given these opinions such an air of respectability, that many youth in the Universities have been thereby inclined to embrace them?' (Preface, pp. vi-vii).
"THE COVENANTAL HAMMER SMASHING THE IDOLS OF OUR DAY
"In our day the tree of toleration (and the anti-Scriptural principles which logically grow out of it) has spread its branches in ways that could have never been envisioned by those that took the first steps away from biblical and covenanted uniformity. What Brown is fighting against here is an error so foundational that when left unchecked it permeates all of society, cutting out the foundational roots that are necessary for all national Reformations. And 'if the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?' (Ps. 11:3). Furthermore, as the preface notes 'liberty of conscience and of opinion' are 'the great idols of the day.' Here Brown takes out his covenantal hammer and smashes these idols with an inconoclastic zeal worthy of our earlier Reformed forefathers. This book is especially useful in answering the persistent fear and questions that always arise when these old Reformed views are discussed: that is, the questions dealing with religious persecution. Brown spends much time in clearing the Westminster Divines of such false charges, while also setting these controversial Reformed teachings on a thoroughly biblical foundation.
"WESTMINSTER'S VIEW OF THE 'EVERLASTING' SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT
"Interestingly, in the section defending the continuing obligation of the National and Solemn League and Covenant, we also note that the Westminster Assembly considered the Solemn League and Covenant an 'everlasting covenant.' Brown cites the following as proof, 'That the body of the English nation also swore the Solemn League and Covenant, is manifest. The Westminster Assembly and English Parliament, affirm, 'The honourable house of Parliament, the Assembly of Divines, the renowned city of London, and multitudes of other persons of all ranks and quality in this nation, and the whole body of Scotland, have all sworn it, rejoicing at the oath so graciously seconded from heaven. God will, doubtless, stand by all those, who with singleness of heart shall now enter into an everlasting covenant with the Lord' (p. 161, emphasis added). The footnote tells us that the words Brown was quoting were taken from "Exhortation to take the Covenant, February, 1644."
"OUR MODERN DAY MALIGNANTS
"Brown also includes a helpful section on a point some modern day malignants are once again attempting to use to overthrow the biblical attainments of the covenanted Reformation. This section shows that the '(t)he intrinsic obligation of promises, oaths, vows, and covenants which constitutes their very essence or essential form, is totally and manifestly distinct from the obligation of the law of God in many respects' (p. 120, emphasis added).
"BROWN'S DYING TESTIMONY TO HIS CHILDREN
"Finally, we cite a portion of Brown's dying testimony to his children given in the introduction (p. xix). Such testimonies, from notable Christian leaders, often contain singularly pertinent charges to their hearers. (For another notable example of this see James Renwick's dying testimony, as he was about to be martyred for his adherence to the Solemn League and Covenant, when he recounts what was later to become most of the terms of communion in Covenanted Presbyterian churches. This testimony can be found in Thompson's A Cloud of Witnesses for the Royal Prerogatives of Jesus Christ Being the Last Speeches and Testimonies of those Who Have Suffered for the Truth in Scotland Since . . . 1680). Here are Brown's dying words to his children: ' "Adhere constantly, cordially and honestly to the Covenanted Principles of the Church of Scotland, and to that Testimony which hath been lifted up for them. I fear a generation is rising up which will endeavour silently," (O how prophetic!) 'to let slip these matters, as if they were ashamed to hold them fast, or even to speak of them (as with many "reformed" publishers and preachers today, who dare not touch the topics Brown deals with in this book -- RB). May the Lord forbid that any of you should ever enter into this confederacy against Jesus Christ and his cause! This from a dying father and minister, and a witness for Christ' (Signed) 'John Brown'."
"DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
"If you have the courage to compare the original Reformed faith with that which is often promoted under its name today (and in many ways the old Reformed faith bears little resemblance to the 'new light' Reformers and innovators of our day), then this is an ideal book to obtain and study." -- Reg Barrow

*BROWN, JOHN (of Haddington, 1722-1787), Our Modern day Malignants (Cerlox Bound Photocopy Series. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Still Waters Revival Books).
" 'Brown also includes a helpful section on a point some modern day malignants are once again attempting to use to overthrow the biblical attainments of the covenanted Reformation. This section shows that the '(t)he intrinsic obligation of promises, oaths, vows, and covenants which constitutes their very essence or essential form, is totally and manifestly distinct from the obligation of the law of God in many respects' (p. 120, emphasis added)." -- SWRB

CASE, THOMAS, Spiritual Whoredom, Discovered in a Sermon preached before the Honorable House of Commons assembled in parliament upon a solemn day of humiliation, May 26, 1647. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Also available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #6. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #14.

Gee, Edward (1613-1660) and Richard Hollingworth (1607-1656), An Exercitation Concerning Usurped Powers: Wherein the difference betwixt civill authority and usurpation is stated. That the obedience due to lawfull magistrates, is not owing, or payable, to usurped powers, is maintained. The obligation of oaths, and other sanctions to the former, notwithstanding the antipolitie of the latter is asserted. And the arguments urged on the contrary part in divers late printed discourses are answered. Being modestly, and inoffensively managed: by one studious of truth and peace both in Church and state ([London: s.n.], 1650).

Gurudas, Treason: The new World Order, ISBN: 0945946147 9780945946144.

Jacobson, Steven, Mind Control in the United States, ISBN: 0911485007 9780911485004.

*ROBERTS, WILLIAM L. (1798-1864), The Duty of Covenanting, and the Permanent Obligation of Religious Covenants, 1853. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #27 ISBN: 0921148240 9780921148241.
"Excerpted from the Reformed Presbyterian Catechism below, this book deals with an almost forgotten ordinance of God. It explains what covenants are, while contrasting them with oaths, vows and law. Furthermore, it distinguishes between civil and religious covenants and shows how the individual, family, church or nation can (and should) enter into covenants -- especially religious covenants. Explains why, when and how covenants are binding on posterity, citing abundant Scriptural proof for each assertion made. Here is a sample argument from this book, demonstrating how even covenants made between men are viewed as binding upon posterity by God himself: 'Another instance in which posterity is recognized in covenant obligation is found in Joshua 9:15. This covenant was made between the children of Israel and the Gibeonites. Between four and five hundred years after that time, the children of Israel are visited with a very severe famine, in the days of David. 2 Sam. 21:1. And it is expressly declared by the Lord that, 'It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.' And at the same time, v. 2, that very covenant is recognized, and the breach of it is stated, as being the formal reason of the divine displeasure. Now, had it not been for this covenant, the extirpation of the Gibeonites would not have been imputed to Israel as a thing criminal; for they were comprehended in Canaanitish nations, which God had commanded them to root out' (pp. 139-140). Take the time to look these verses up. This subject has great bearing on the unity of the church, the Christian's response to godless covenant-breaking nations, hermeneutics, the family and general faithfulness to God (because many today -- individually, ecclesiastically, and nationally -- are breaking covenants which God still views as binding though they are oblivious to this obligation)." -- SWRB
On the Duty of Covenanting and the Permanent Obligations of Religious Covenants" being section 11 in the Reformed Presbyterian Catechism, 1853
http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/PresCatCov.htm
Reformed Presbyterian Catechism, William L. Roberts D.D.
http://www.covenantedreformation.com/EssaysCR/RP%20Catechism/RP%20Index.html

*SHIELDS, ALEXANDER, A Hind let Loose, or An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ With the True State Thereof in all its Periods. Together with a Vindication of the Present Testimony Against Popish, Prelatical, and Malignant Enemies of that Church, as it is now Stated, for the Prerogatives of Christ, Privileges of the Church, and Liberties of Mankind; and Sealed by the Sufferings of a Reproached Remnant of Presbyterians there, Witnessing Against the Corruptions of the Time: Wherein Several Controversies of Greatest Consequence are Enquired into, and in Some Measure Cleared; Concerning Hearing of the Curates, Owning of the Present Tyranny, Taking of Ensnaring Oaths and Bonds, Frequenting of Field-Meetings, Defensive Resistance of Tyrannical Violence, with Several Other Subordinate Questions Useful for these Times, 1797, 1744, 1687 (Cerlox Bound Photocopy Series. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Still Waters Revival Books), Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #2, #26 ISBN: 0921148690 9780921148692. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #22. A Christian classic.
"First printed in 1687 (near the end of the 'killing times'), we have used the 1797 edition for this rare bound photocopy because all of the Latin has been translated into English (an obvious improvement for English readers). This rare Covenanter classic, concerning Calvinistic political philosophy and tactics of civil resistance, is comparable to Samuel Rutherford's LEX, REX; in fact it could rightly be referred to as 'Lex, Rex volume two.' It is solidly in the line of John Knox's teachings on civil disobedience and addresses numerous topics that are relevant to today's Christian. 'In A HIND LET LOOSE, Shields justified the Camerionian resistance to royal absolutism and the divine right of kings. He argued that government is divinely ordained, but the people are entitled to bring a king to judgment for wrongdoing. Parliament is commissioned by the people to oversee the nation's affairs, but the compact between the people and their rulers does not entail a forfeiture of the people's power to depose tyrants and confer authority on someone else. Government is by consent, and must justify itself to the consciences of the people. God has given men the right of self defense, and this extends to a right not only passively to resist, but also to kill relentless persecutors' writes Isbell (in the Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology, p. 773). Controversial chapter titles include: 'Concerning Owning of Tyrants Authority;' 'Defensive Arms Vindicated;' 'Of Extraordinary Execution of Judgement by Private Men;' and 'Refusing to Pay Wicked Taxation Vindicated.' This book sets forth the Crown rights of King Jesus, against all usurpers in both church and state, giving a history of some of faithful sufferings endured by the elect, in maintaining this truth. It bears testimony against 'the popish, prelatical and malignant enemies' of Christ and proclaims the only true basis of liberty for mankind. 'The matter is argued with a vast abundance of Biblical illustration, and with much reference to Reformation and Puritan divines. It should be consulted, if practicable, by all who wish fully to understand the inner spirit of the Covenanting Movement,' writes Purves in FAIR SUNSHINE (p. 202). Isbell interestingly notes that Shields was once 'amanuensis to the English Puritan John Owen'." -- SWRB
A Hind Let Loose; Or An Historical Representation OF THE TESTIMONIES OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. . . . by Mr. ALEXANDER SHIELDS, Minister of the Gospel, in St. Andrews.
http://www.covenanter.org/AShields/Hind/Hindletloosetitle.htm
A Hind Let Loose; Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland; for the Interest of Christ: With the True State Thereof in All Its Periods . . .
The Covenant Between God and Kings, from A DEFENSE OF LIBERTY
http://www.constitution.org/vct/vindiciae1a.htm
http://books.google.com/books?id=boAAAAAAMAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Sutton, Antony C., America's Secret Establishment: An Introduction to the Order of Skull & Bones, ISBN: 0972020705 9780972020701.

Sutton, Antony C., The Secret Cult of the Order, ISBN: 0949667196 9780949667199.

Thornwell, James Henley (1812-1862), Vows. In COLLECTED WRITINGS OF JAMES HENLEY THORNWELL (2:569-93).

Welch, Edward T., When People are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of man, ISBN: 0875526004 9780875526003.

See also: The sovereignty of god, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Psalm 2, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Treason and impeachment, Trusting god, Idolatry, Spirituality and harlotry, Oaths, ensnaring (vows, promises, covenants) and bonds with the ungodly, Mind control, The healing of the mind, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, God's deliverance of nations, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Covenant theology and the ordinance of covenanting, The covenant of redemption, The covenant faithfulness of god, Sexual relationship, Background and history of the covenanted reformation of scotland, The national covenant, The solemn league and covenant, The covenanted reformation of scotland, The covenanted reformation of scotland short title listing, Biography of covenanters, Acts of faithful assemblies, Covenanting in america, The scottish covenanting struggle, alexander craighead, and the mecklenburg declaration, Confession of national sin and covenant renewal, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Trusting god, Idolatry, Secret societies, ungodly alliances, voluntary associations, Pseudo-christian movements: a selection of works, Unfaithful reformed ministries, Politics, Conspiracy and corruption, Individual responsibility for corporate faithfulness and sanctification, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 475, 871, 877-883, 2607-2611
MGTP: Vows, Swearing

Related WebLinks

Calvin, John, Chapter 13: Of Vows. The Miserable Entanglements Caused by Vowing Rashly, in Institutes of the Christian Religion (translated by Henry Beveridge), Book Fourth, Of The Holy Catholic Church
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.vi.xiv.html

Reformed Presbyterian Catechism, William L. Roberts D.D.
http://www.covenantedreformation.com/EssaysCR/RP%20Catechism/RP%20Index.html

Trinitarianism Verses Polytheism: Unresolved Questions of Article VI, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution
http://www.lettermen2.com/pvtpa001.html

Corporate Faithfullness and Sanctification"
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr9cha.html

Virginia Trinitarian Pro-nomian Alliance
http://www.lettermen2.com/vtpahome.html



Patience, Self-control

See the Theological Notes, "The Christian Family," at Ephesians 5:22 in The Reformation Study Bible.

In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19)

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Endurance," "Self-control," and so forth, and so on.

Calvin, John, Seeking the Lord's Face (from Come Out From Among Them, Psalm 27), an MP3 file. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #8, ISBN: 092114881X 9780921148814.

*Decker, Barbara Proverbs for Parenting: A Topical Guide for Child Raising From the Book of Proverbs, King James Version, ISBN: 0961860839.
"An indispensible tool for parenting, this book arranges the proverbs into over 70 realistic, helpful topics. A sampling of topics covered include: trust in God, obedience, honesty, anger, self-control, temper, arguing, boasting, complaining, love, friendship, happiness, discretion, faithfulness, stewardship, work and many more." -- Publisher's Annotation
An accompanying book, A COLORING BOOK OF BIBLE PROVERBS is `a 30-page coloring book illustrating various passages from the Book of Proverbs. Can be used with or without the above hardback book'." -- GCB

Goodwin, Thomas (1600-1680), Let Patience Have its Perfect way. In THE WORKS OF THOMAS GOODWIN.

Walters, Richard, P., RCC, Vol. 11: Counseling Problems of Self-Control, ISBN: 084990594X 9780849905940.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Anger, Decisions, knowing the will of god and patience, Waiting on god, Self-denial, Covetousness, greed, selfishness, Trusting god, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Forgiveness, Worry and anxiety, Faith, The promises of Christ, Bible promises, The covenant faithfulness of god
TCRB5: 2691, 3438-3440, 3569, 3570



Persecution

And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible. (Jeremiah 15:20, 21)

Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:10-12)

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:16)

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:30)

Our Triune God has ordained that authority, power, and leadership devolves to those who know the most Truth (the Apostle Paul, Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, The Scots Worthies . . . ). Preeminent among those is the Lord Christ, the God Man, Our Righteousness. (John 1:1-18; Matthew 19:30; Matthew 28:18-20; Isaiah 49:7; Colossians 1:16-19; Colossians 2:9,10; Hebrews 12:1,2; Revelation 5:1-14; Revelation 19:11-15; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 22:12, and so forth, and so on.)

To serve God is to reign. -- Seneca

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. -- Jesus Christ (John 3:19-21)

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. -- Jesus Christ (John 15:19)

But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. -- Jesus Christ (John 15:21)

And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. (Acts 5:38, 39)

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
It is a faithful saying:

For if we be dead with him,
we shall also live with him:
If we suffer,
we shall also reign with him:
if we deny him,
he also will deny us:
If we believe not,
yet he abideth faithful:
he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:8-13, 19)

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. (1 Peter 4:12-14)

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel; so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; and many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: the one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the Gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith. (Philippians 1:12-25)

A Christian acting out his Christianity, could reasonably expect to be otherwise, to be better, treated than his Lord, only on one or other of the two following suppositions, neither of which can be admitted for a moment. If you could avoid, more than he did, unnecessary collision with the world -- if you could be more harmless and blameless than he was -- or if you were wiser than he was, and could find out a better way of reconciling faithfulness to God with living on good terms with the world -- then might you, doing your duty as a Christian, expect to escape the hatred and persecution which was his portion. Professing Christians take but too frequently another way of it. They endeavour to purchase peace with the world at the expense of concealing truth and neglecting duty. In that way the servant may not share in his Lord's fortunes, but it is by becoming an unfaithful servant. But a consistent Christian counts it as a most reasonable thing that he should be as his Master in the estimation of the world; and doing his duty, his expectation is not likely to fail of being realized." -- John Brown (of Edinburgh, 1784-1858), Discourses and Sayings of Our Lord Jesus Christ, III:375

The bloody persecutor breathes out slaughter against the saints, pursuing them with the fierce fires of tribulation. There has always been a race of giants on the earth, men of great power who as servants of themselves, and of their master, have maintained the Devil's kingdom by trampling under foot the stars of Heaven, the believers. For the light reflected in the faces of the saints acquaints the world with the horrid impieties of men. And so it hazards the weakening of the Devil's interests in the minds of men. . . . But God has His ladder to scale these mountains of pride. They are ready for use in David's armory, the word of God. For there are the shields and bucklers, the swords and darts by which the worthies of God have in all ages defended themselves so bravely against the rage of all persecutors. Yea, they have triumphed gloriously over the greatest and most effective armies of the rulers of darkness. Out of this divine book the saints take those smooth stones by which the Goliaths of the world are brought down. The enemies of God's children are eventually all overcome. -- William Gurnall

When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord's choicest wines. -- Samuel Rutherford

Much grace exercised, brings persecution: for the sweeter and better the fruit is, the more slinging there will be at the tree. -- Vavasor Powell

How dreadful a thing is hatred and persecution of true Christians, whatever form it may wear! It is hatred and persecution of Christ. It is hatred of, and opposition to, God. It is the manifestation of temper which, if the Son of God should return to earth, would secure his re-crucifixion -- which, if the power of those who cherish it were equal to their will, would lead to the overturn of the throne -- to the extinction of the existence -- of God. He who maltreats the children, proves that he hates the Father. And what must be the character of that principle out of which this horrible thing proceeds -- ignorance of God and of his Son? God is the source of all that is good -- all that is holy -- all that is happy. To intelligent beings He is so, as the result, of being known by them. It is only as known, that He can be loved, or feared, or trusted in, or obeyed, or submitted to, or enjoyed. He cannot be known but in Christ Jesus. No man has seen Him -- no man can see Him. The Only-begotten, who is in his bosom, has revealed Him (John 1:18). If we are ignorant of Christ, we must be ignorant of God. Ignorance makes love an impossibility. Ignorance about God is always connected with misconception about God; for man, except, perhaps, in the very lowest stages of savagism, must have some notion of God; and wrong notions of God will lead to hatred of Him, and hatred of Him to hatred of all that is like Him. -- John Brown (of Edinburgh, 1784-1858), Discourses and Sayings of Our Lord Jesus Christ, III:367,368

*Acton, John E. (1834-1902), Essays on Freedom and Power (Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 1948), ISBN: 0844600008.
Essays such as, "The History of Freedom in Christianity," "The Protestant Theory of Persecution," and so forth. Includes bibliography.
The Acton Institute is now controlled by the Roman Catholic Institution.

Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority. -- John Emerich Edward Dalberg, Lord Acton (1834-1902) in a letter to Mandell Creighton, April 5, 1887 quoted by Gertrude Himmelfarb in Acton, Essays on Freedom and Power, pp. 335-36 (1972)
The History of Freedom and Other Essays, John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, John Neville Figgis, Reginald Vere Laurence
http://books.google.com/books?id=iOB6zeQ-rRwC&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Aikman, James, Annals of the persecution in Scotland: From the Restoration to the Revolution, 1842 (Edinburgh: Hugh Paton, 1842).
Annals of the persecution in Scotland, from the Restoration to the Revolution
http://books.google.com/books?id=8cgGAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Bainton, Roland Herbert, The Church of Our Fathers (New York, NY: Charles Scribners Sons, 1969), ISBN: 0880192119 9780880192118.
"A popular presentation of the historic drama, intrigues, rivalry, persecution, suffering, courage, and heroism displayed by Christian leaders from Paul to the establishment of the church in the New World." -- Cyril J. Barber

Benko, Stephen, and John J. O'Rourke, The Catacombs and the Colosseum (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1971), ISBN: 0817004556 9780817004552.
"A scholarly analysis of the social and political forces that resulted in the persecution of the early Christian church." -- Cyril J. Barber

Bergman, Jerry, The Criterion: Religious Discrimination in America (Richfield, MN: Onesimus Publications, c1984), ISBN: 0932903010 9780932903013.
"In this fascinating (and disturbing book) Dr. Bergman chronicles evidences of unbelievable religious persecution in America today. A highly respected, credentialed and publishing professor, he was denied tenure -- and subsequently fired -- admittedly because of his creationist beliefs and writings. This is only the tip of the iceberg! Learn more of what is happening today, often under cover, and what you can do to stem the tide." -- GCB

*Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), The Everlasting Righteousness, or How Shall Man be Just With God? (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1993). A Christian classic.
"First published in 1874, THE EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, may be the best book on the doctrine of justification by faith alone ever written.
"Since the seventeenth century, the church's adherence to the central doctrine of the Christian faith has been weakening; in the twentieth century it has all but disappeared. But to those who remain faithful -- to those who are called of God --justification by faith alone is the best news there could ever be: that Christ died for our sins, and we shall live forever because of Christ's righteousness.
"Justification by faith alone -- the `principal hinge of religion,' according to John Calvin, the `doctrine by which the church stands or falls,' according to Martin Luther -- is salvation. Without it, all hope is lost; with it, Heaven gained. Bonar's discussion is without equal in the English language." -- John W. Robbins
The Banner of Truth edition is available free as e-text.
The Everlasting Righteousness; or, How Shall man be Just With God?
The Everlasting Righteousness, Horatius Bonar
http://www.jude3.net/bertoc.htm
http://books.google.com/books?id=nQMDAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*Bordwine, James E., A Guide to the Westminster Standards: Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism (Unicoi, TN: The Trinity Foundation, 1991), ISBN: 0940931303 9780940931305.
One way to be strengthened and encouraged in times of trouble, discouragement, and depressions is to read pure doctrine to remind oneself of what is in fact true.
"In this volume are the complete texts of the WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH (1646) (both the original and American versions) and the LARGER CATECHISM, together with Scripture proofs and a unique topical index to both the Confession and the Catechism. A GUIDE TO THE WESTMINSTER STANDARDS will be a great help in understanding the Bible and its most complete summaries, the Westminster Standards." -- Publisher's Annotation.
A Guide to the Westminster Standards: Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism, James Bordwine
Includes a unique, 100 page topical index to both the Confession and the Catechism.
http://www.thornwellhall.org/GuideFrame1Source1.htm

*BROWN, JOHN (OF EDINBURGH, 1784-1858) Discourses and Sayings of Our Lord Jesus Christ, 3 volumes (London, England: Banner of Truth Trust, 1990, 1967, 1852). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. A Christian classic.
"Spurgeon says of this great commentary: `Of the noblest order of exposition. Procure it.' Elsewhere in COMMENTING AND COMMENTARIES, he wrote, `Dr. Brown's work must be placed among the first of the first-class. He is a great expositor.' Again, `Brown is a modern Puritan. All his expositions are of the utmost value.'
"These volumes cover much of the Gospel of John, plus many portions of the other three Gospels. In them he reveals his encyclopedic mind, and a profound regard for the Bible and the very Word of God. In addition, it is seen why it was said that he had the best clerical library in the whole nation of Scotland.
"There is little doubt in the mind of this reviewer that any reader of these volumes will become possessor of myriads of new insights into the Scriptures, and what they reveal of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is indispensable to the student of the Gospels." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"Based upon the revised and enlarged edition of 1852. Rich in thought. Pastors will appreciate the writer's application of spiritual truths to the needs of men and women." -- Cyril J. Barber
Recommended for daily devotions, as are all the books in the listing of "Books Considered To Be Among the Ten Greatest in the English Language."
Also available in Google Books, full view, Discourses and Sayings of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Illustrated in a Series of Expositions. ... by John Brown, published 1856 [Complete in 2 volumes. New York: Robert Carter and Brothers] original from the University of Michigan, digitized Feb. 17, 2006.
http://books.google.com/books?id=SZl9u8v0Yi8C&dq=Discourses+and+Sayings+of+Our+Lord+Jesus+Christ&ie=ISO-8859-1&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0
This University of Michigan digitized edition, that appears in Google Books, is available in paper from two publishers: (Scholarly Publishing Office, University of Michigan Library, November 30, 2006 [Gardners Books, 2006]), 652 pages.
"This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's preservation reformatting program." -- Publisher's Annotation
And (Hard Press, November 26, 2007), 652 pages.

Clarke, Samuel (1599-1682) A General Martyrology: Containing a collection of all the greatest persecutions which have befallen the Church of Christ from the Creation to our present times: where is given an exact account of the Protestant sufferings in Queen Mary's reign: together with a large collection of lives of great persons, eminent divines, and singular Christians: to which is added the state and sufferings of the Church of Scotland, from the Revolution (Glasgow: Printed by J. Galbraith).

Cragg, Gerald Robertson, Puritanism in the Period of the Great Persecution, 1660-68 (New York, NY: Russell and Russell, 1971, 1957).
"This worthy study focuses on Puritanism in England and is of interest to all students of church history. First published in 1957." -- Cyril J. Barber

Defoe, Daniel (1661?-1731), Lex Talionis, or, An Enquiry into the most proper ways to prevent the persecution of the Protestants in France (London: [s.n.], 1698).

Edwards, Thomas. Two Dissertations: the First, on the Absurdity and Injustice of Religious Bigotry and Persecution; . . . the second, on the principal qualifications and canons, necessary for the right . . . interpretation of the New Testament. . . . By Thomas Edwards, . . . Cambridge, 1766.

*FOXE, JOHN, John Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Actes and Monuments of Matters Most Speciall and Memorable, the second edition of Foxe's Book of Martyrs Variorum Edition Online (version 1.1 - summer 2006). A Christian classic.
This is "the revised version (v.1.1) of Foxe's Book of Martyrs Variorum Edition Online. This [free online] edition contains the full text of three of the four editions (1563, 1570, 1583). The 1570 edition is missing books 3 and 4. These will be added in subsequent versions."
http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/johnfoxe/index.html
Foxe, John, John Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Actes and Monuments of Matters Most Speciall and Memorable, ISBN: 0197262252 9780197262252.
"This CD-ROM combines readable and printable images of 2,200 pages of text and woodcut engravings from the 1583 edition, the last for which Foxe was personally responsible."
Other editions: Acts and Monuments or Foxe's Book of Martyrs, 1554, 1843-49 edition, 8 volumes. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
" 'No book ever inflicted a wound so deep and incurable on the Romish system of superstition and bloody persecution . . . (it) was placed in . . . all churches and chapels throughout the kingdom, by order of Queen Elizabeth.' (Smith, Select Memoirs, p. 245). Contains much information not found in any of the liberally edited and severely shortened editions of this classic work which are in print today. Covering martyrs from the early church through to Foxe's day, it was one of the most influential books of the sixteenth century! It overflows with faith building testimony of the power of God to overcome the most cruel and barbarous acts of human depravity and demonic cruelty. 6890 pages. A very rare set, now back in print after 150 years!" -- SWRB
"After the Bible itself, no book so profoundly influenced early Protestant sentiment as the BOOK OF MARTYRS. Even in our time it is still a living force. It is more than a record of persecution. It is an arsenal of controversy, a storehouse of romance, as well as a source of edification." -- James Miller Dodds, English Prose
"When one recollects that until the appearance of the PILGRIM'S PROGRESS the common people had almost no other reading matter except the BIBLE and FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS, we can understand the deep impression that this book produced; and how it served to mold the national character. Those who could read for themselves learned the full details of all the atrocities performed on the Protestant reformers; the illiterate could see the rude illustrations of the various instruments of torture, the rack, the gridiron, the boiling oil, and then the holy ones breathing out their souls amid the flames. Take a people just awakening to a new intellectual and religious life; let several generations of them, from childhood to old age, pore over such a book, and its stories become traditions as individual and almost as potent as songs and customs on a nation's life." -- Douglas Campbell, The Puritan in Holland, England, and America
"If we divest the book of its accidental character of feud between churches, it yet stands, in the first years of Elizabeth's reign, a monument that marks the growing strength of a desire for spiritual freedom, defiance of those forms that seek to stifle conscience and fetter thought." -- Henry Morley, English Writers
"John Foxe was a prince among believers. He had his printing press on a cart, and had often to print at night, moving his press before dawn to escape capture and burning at the stake. He never faltered in his purpose to leave a voluminous written witness to the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep His saints in love and peace." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

Frend, W.H.C., Martyrdom and Persecution in the Early Church: A Study of a Conflict From the Maccabees to Donatus (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1981, 1965), ISBN: 9780227172292 0227172299.
"First published in 1965, this work remains the standard treatment of the interplay between church and state in the early centuries of the Christian era. . . ." -- Cyril J. Barber

*GURNALL, WILLIAM, JOHN CHARLES RYLE (contributor) The Christian in Complete Armor: A Treatise of the Saint's war Against the Devil, complete and unabridged (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1979), ISBN: 0851511961 9780851511962. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2. A Christian classic.
"Peerless and priceless; every line full of wisdom." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"If I might read only one book beside the Bible, I would choose The Christian in Complete Armour." -- John Newton
"A beautiful feature in Gurnall's book is its richness in pithy, pointed, and epigrammatical sayings. You will often find in a line and a half some great truth, put so concisely, and yet so fully, that you really marvel how so much thought could be got into so few words.
"Solid scriptural theology, like that contained in these pages, should be valued and studied in the church. Books in which Scripture is reverently regarded as the only rule of faith and practice -- books in which Christ and the Holy Ghost have their rightful office -- books in which justification, and sanctification, and regeneration, and faith, and grace, and holiness are clearly, distinctly, and accurately delineated and exhibited -- these are the only books which do real good. Few things need reviving more than a taste for such books as these among readers." -- J.C. Ryle
Also praised by John Flavel and Richard Baxter.
Said to be among the 10 greatest Christian books.
The Christian In Complete Armour, William Gurnall
http://www.ccel.org/g/gurnall/armour/home.htm
The Christian in Complete Armour: A Treatise of the Saints' War Against the Devil: Wherein a Discovery is Made of that Grand Enemy of God and His People, in His Policies, Power, Seat of His Empire, Wickedness, and Chief Design He Hath Against the Saints: a Magazine Opened, from Whence the Christian is Furnished with Spiritual Arms for the Battle, Helped on with His Armour, and Taught the Use of His Weapon: Together with the Happy Issue of the Whole War
http://books.google.com/books?id=MXlHJQAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Hefley, James, and Marti Hefle, By Their Blood: Christian Martyrs of the 20th Century (Milford, MI: Mott Media), ISBN: 0915134284 9780915134281.
"Too often we forget that God's people are suffering and being martyred. Here in a vivid book we are awakened. What FOXE'S BOOK OF MARTYRS did for generations past this book does for our generation." -- GCB
"The book begins with accounts of the martyrs during the Boxer Rebellion in China, continues with martyrs in Japan and Korea, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Nazi Germany, and of the Soviet Union and its communist regimes. Then there are martyrs from the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and from Latin America. . . .
"The stories themselves are gruesome. There is no viciousness like the viciousness of those who worship humanly-conceived gods. Like the Roman Catholic inquisitors in the sixteenth century, men in all nations have at one time or another sought to physically torture Christians to make them recant their testimonies. It is said that for every Christian Stalin murdered in Russia, two or more were raised up by God, until Stalin ordered the killing stopped for fear the whole nation would become Christians. Despite the lurid details of the torture, we recommend that everyone read the books that tell of martyrs dying for the cause of God and truth. This goes for children. Before you cry out, remember what they are watching on television, and seeing in movies, yes, and reading in Stephen King books, and others of that kind. Horror stories are best-sellers in our times. Let the children learn what horrible things are being done to Christians merely because they believe and obey God's word, and because of it worship the Lord Jesus Christ. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.

Hooker, Thomas (1586-1647), The Immortality of the Soule: The Excellencie of Christ Jesus, Treated on. Wherein the faithfull people of God may finde comfort for their souls. By T.H. Published according to order, 1645

*HOWIE, JOHN, The Scots Worthies. Biographia Scoticana: or, A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots Worthies . . . As Also, an Appendix, containing a short historical hint of the wicked lives . . . of the . . . apostates and . . . persecutors in Scotland . . . 2nd edition, corrected and enlarged, 1781 (Glasgow: Printed by John Bryce, and sold at his shop opposite Gibson's-Wynd, Salt-market, 1781) and (Cerlox Bound Photocopy Series. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Still Waters Revival Books). A Christian classic.
The full book and the book series of 22 MP3 files, produced by Still Waters Revival Books, may be found on Reformation Bookshelf CD #1, ISBN: 0921148674 9780921148678.
This same book series of audio files is available at AudioSermons.com.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?seriesOnly=true&currSection=sermonstopic&sourceid=swrb&keyword=Book%3A+SCOTS+WORTHIES&keyworddesc=Book%3A+SCOTS+WORTHIES
Biographia Scoticana, John Howie
Original from Oxford University, published 1885, digitized May 22, 2006. Described as a reprint of the 1781 edition.
http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC34190563&id=5iwAAAAAQAAJ&q=Scots+Worthies+1781&dq=Scots+Worthies+1781&ie=ISO-8859-1&pgis=1
(Gale: Eighteenth Century Collection Online [ECCO.] Gale Document Number CW3300757473). English Short Title Catalog, ESTCT110333.
"Most commonly known as SCOTS WORTHIES, this edition contains Howie's footnotes (defending the Covenanters) and Howie's appendix titled `The Judgment and Justice of God' (which chronicles God's judgments upon Reformation apostates and those who persecuted the Covenanters). It is the only edition in print which contains both these sections intended for publication by the author (as later editors often removed either one or both of these parts of this book). BIOGRAPHIA SCOTICANA covers the history of `noblemen, gentlemen, ministers and others from Mr. Patrick Hamilton, who was born about the year of our Lord 1503, and suffered martyrdom at St Andrews, Feb, 1527, to Mr. James Renwick, who was executed in the Grass-market of Edinburgh, Feb. 17, 1688. Together with a succinct account of the lives of other seven eminent divines, and Sir Robert Hamilton of Preston, who died about, or shortly after the Revolution.' This is one of our best history books (over 700 pages), covering all of the major Scottish Reformers. Howie summarizes his book as follows: `The design of the following was to collect, from the best authorities, a summary account of the lives, characters, and contendings, of a certain number of our most renowned SCOTS WORTHIES, who, for their faithful services, ardent zeal, constancy in sufferings, and other Christian graces and virtues, deserve honourable memorial in the Church of Christ; and for which their names have been, and will be savoury to all the true lovers of our Zion, while Reformation principles are regarded.' Furthermore, the momentous nature of the struggles chronicled in this book are succinctly noted when Howie writes: `the primitive witnesses had the divinity of the Son of God, and an open confession of Him, for their testimony. Our reformers from Popery had Antichrist to struggle with, in asserting the doctrines of the Gospel, and the right way of salvation in and through Jesus Christ. Again, in the reigns of James VI. and Charles I., Christ's REGALIA, and the divine right of Presbytery, became the subject matter of their testimony. Then, in the beginning of the reign of Charles II. (until he got the whole of our ancient and laudable constitution effaced and overturned), our Worthies only saw it their duty to hold and contend for what they had already attained unto. But, in the end of this and the subsequent tyrant's reign, they found it their duty (a duty which they had too long neglected) to advance one step higher, by casting off their authority altogether, and that as well on account of their manifest usurpation of Christ's crown and dignity, as on account of their treachery, bloodshed, and tyranny . . . which may be summed up. The Primitive martyrs sealed the prophetic office of Christ in opposition to Pagan idolatry. The reforming martyrs sealed His priestly office with their blood, in opposition to Popish idolatry. And last of all, our late martyrs have sealed His kingly office with their best blood, in despite of supremacy and bold Erastianism. They indeed have cemented it upon His royal head, so that to the world's end it shall never drop off again.' Moreover, the importance of this book can be clearly seen when Johnston, in TREASURY OF THE SCOTTISH COVENANT, reports that, Walter Scott refers to Howie as `the fine old chronicler of the Cameronians'. . . Howie's book has been for upwards of a century a household word, occupying a place on the shelf beside THE BIBLE and THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.' Written for God, country and the covenanted work of Reformation. Stirring history!" -- SWRB
See also: Thomson, John Henderson (editor), A CLOUD OF WITNESSES FOR THE ROYAL PREROGATIVES OF JESUS CHRIST BEING THE LAST SPEECHES AND TESTIMONIES OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED FOR THE TRUTH IN SCOTLAND SINCE . . . 1680 (Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle Publications) and JOHN FOXE'S BOOK OF MARTYRS. ACTES AND MONUMENTS OF MATTERS MOST SPECIALL AND MEMORABLE, the second edition of Foxe's Book of Martyrs Variorum Edition Online (version 1.1 - summer 2006).

Knox, John (1505-1572), and Fleming, Abraham (1552?-1607), A Fort for the Afflicted. VVherin are ministred many notable & excellent remedies against the stormes of tribulation. Written chiefly for the comforte of Christes little flocke, which is the final number of the faithfull, by Iohn Knoxe, 1580. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #14.
A commentary on Psalm VI.

*Leahy, Frederick S., Satan Cast Out: A Study in Biblical Demonology (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1990, 1975). ISBN: 0851512348.
"It is often said that wherever there is a rejection of faith in the living God a corresponding upsurge of the demonic will eventually appear. That is true not only in the pages of the Bible and in the annals of Christian missions; it has also become a striking feature of the life in our materialistic, post-Christian society. . . . Full of sane exposition and wise counsel, his work has been widely appreciated since its first publication in 1975." -- Publisher's Annotation
"Probably one of the best, most Scriptural books written today on the subject of demonology." -- Presbyterian Journal

Leftwich, W.M., Martyrdom in Missouri: A History of Religious Proscription, the seizure of churches, and the persecution of ministers of the gospel, in the state of Missouri . . . of the new constitution (Michigan Historical Reprint Series. Scholarly Publishing Office, University of Michigan Library, March 31, 2006), ISBN: 1425548105 9781425548100.
Two volumes exist. The second is very rare. Both volumes are available, Cerlox bound, from Dominion Ministry (www.dominionministry.com).

Limbaugh, David, Persecution: How Liberals are Waging War Against Christianity (Regnery Publishing, September, 2003), ISBN: 0895261111 9780895261113.
"In his new book, PERSECUTION -- already on the New York Times Bestseller list -- David Limbaugh (author of the previous bestseller ABSOLUTE POWER) makes a compelling case that liberals across the country are waging an undeclared war on Christianity in our culture and in our government -- especially our schools. Limbaugh exposes the farce of liberal 'tolerance' and reveals the true agenda of liberals who misuse the law to force Christianity out of the public square."
"Often the people who clamor for tolerance are among the most intolerant people in our society. David Limbaugh documents this in his new book, 'Persecution' -- in particular, the intolerance against Christians. This book is sorely needed in our day when the only 'acceptable' prejudice of our day is the bias against Christians." -D. James Kennedy

LOVE, CHRISTOPHER, The Soul's Cordial, 1653. Additional title: THE SOULS CORDIALL IN TWO TREATISES. I. TEACHING HOW TO BE EASED OF THE GUILT OF SIN. II. DISCOVERING ADVANTAGES BY CHRISTS ASCENSION. BY THAT FAITHFULL LABOURER IN THE LORDS VINEYARD MR. CHRISTOPHER LOVE, PASTOR OF LAWRENCE JURY, LONDON. THE THIRD VOLUME. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"Part one is titled "Teaching How To Be Eased of the Guilt of Sin" and consists of 191 pages. Part two, "The Saints Advantage, By Christ's Ascension," deals (in 194 pages) with our Lord's words comforting 'his disciples both against their fears of persecution in the world, as also against their sorrows' (p. 1). Many subjects are touched upon, including numerous very helpful practical applications following from the assurance of the believer's freedom from the guilt of sin, the truth of Christ's ascension, and the comfort and joy that both these topics bring to the followers of the Lamb. Indexed." SWRB

Medved, Michael, Hollywood vs. America: Popular Culture and the War Against Traditional Values (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), ISBN: 0060924357 9780060924355.
"The author exposes the attacks by the motion picture industry, television, and music stars against the church and Christians. He expresses our frustrations. He not only suggests a way out for Hollywood, but also concrete suggestions for concerned citizens who want to protect themselves and their children." -- GCB

*Robbins, John W. (1949-2008), Ecclesiastical Megalomania: The Economic and Political Thought of the Roman Catholic Church (Unicoi, TN: The Trinity Foundation), ISBN: 0940931753 9780940931756.
"This book is a detailed examination of the official statements of the Vatican on economic and political matters. It demonstrates the collectivism and totalitarianism of the Roman Catholic Church-State. It is the only such book written by a Christian in the twentieth century.
"This book explores the conflict between Roman Catholic social thought and human freedom, relying on official pronouncements from the Vatican to show that the political and economic theory of the Roman Church-State justifies feudalism, corporativism, liberation theology, the welfare state, and fascism.
"Dr. John W. Robbins attended Grove City College (A.B. 1969) and The Johns Hopkins University (M.A. 1970, Ph.D. 1973). He has served as chief of staff for a Member of Congress [Ron Paul of Texas], editor of The Freeman magazine, Economist for The Heritage Foundation, and Professor of Political Philosophy in The Freedom School." -- Publisher's Annotation

Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority. -- John Emerich Edward Dalberg, Lord Acton (1834-1902) in a letter to Mandell Creighton, April 5, 1887 quoted by Gertrude Himmelfarb in Acton, Essays on Freedom and Power, pp. 335-36 (1972)
"As the world focuses it attention on the papacy, we ought to recall Lord Acton, the great Roman Catholic historian of the 19th century. Many have heard the aphorism, 'Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely,' though it is usually misquoted as 'Power corrupts.' Few who have heard it, however, know who its author was: John Emerich Edward Dalberg, better known as Lord Acton. Fewer still realize that Acton used the aphorism in opposing the papacy, the absolute monarchy of the Roman Catholic Church.
"Acton's criticisms of the papacy and the Roman Church are some of most damning ever leveled against those institutions, and they are virtually unknown today. Yet to anyone seriously concerned about religious and political freedom, Acton's views on the Roman Church, his own church, in particular his condemnation of the papacy, ought to be of great interest. Unfortunately, contemporary theological correctness has a taboo against criticism of Catholicism.
"Acton kept a notebook on the Inquisition in which he wrote:
[The] object of the Inquisition [was] not to combat sin -- for the sin was not judged by it unless accompanied by [theological] error. Nor even to put down error. For it punished untimely and unseemly remarks the same as blasphemy. Only unity. This became an outward, fictitious, hypocritical unity. The gravest sin was pardoned, but it was death to deny the donation of Constantine. [The Donation of Constantine was a document forged in the eighth century in which the Roman Emperor Constantine willed the Western Roman Empire to the Pope. The Roman Church taught that the Donation was genuine, and the legal basis for the pope's civil authority, for centuries. -- JR] So men learnt that outward submission must be given. All this [was] to promote authority more than faith. When ideas were punished more severely than actions -- for all this time the Church was softening the criminal law, and saving men from the consequences of crime: -- and the Donation was put on a level with God's own law -- men understood that authority went before sincerity.
"Acton believed that the Inquisition was the institution by which the medieval papacy had to be condemned or acquitted. Just as a man charged with murder is judged for a single act, though be may be kind to his mother and a great philanthropist, so the papacy must be judged for the Inquisition. To Mandell Creighton, an Anglican priest, Acton wrote:
I cannot accept your canon that we are to judge Pope and King unlike other men, with a favourable presumption that they did no wrong. If there is any presumption it is the other way, against holders of power, increasing as the power increases. Historic responsibility has to make up for the want of legal responsibility. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority. There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it. . . . For many years my view of Catholic controversy has been governed by the following chain of reasoning: 1. A crime does not become a good deed by being committed for the good of a church. 2. The theorist who approves the act is no better than the culprit who commits it. 3. The divine or historian who defends the theorist incurs the same blame. . . . To commit murder is the mark of a moment, exceptional. To defend it is constant, and shows a more perverted conscience.
"Acton turned his attention to other crimes of the Roman Church as well. Beginning on Sunday, August 24, 1572, tens of thousands of French Huguenots were massacred by the Catholics. Overnight, thousands were murdered, and the murders continued for several months. The massacre began in Paris. The sign of the cross was everywhere, and the murders took on the air of a crusade, a holy war against the infidels. The banks of the Seine became a slaughterhouse. Men, women, children, and infants were stabbed or dragged by a rope around the neck to be thrown into the river. The murder, looting, and rape went on for days in Paris.
"The Pope, Gregory XIII, reacted immediately to this Catholic Holocaust: He delivered a complimentary speech, and commended the King of France, Charles IX, who 'has also displayed before our Most Holy Master and this entire assembly the most splendid virtues which can shine in the exercise of power.' The Pope commissioned a mural in honor of the great occasion; he ordered salutes fired for Charles; he had a commemorative seal struck; and in a horrible blasphemy he ordered a special Te Deum sung. Less than two years later, at the age of 24, King Charles died in extreme pain with blood oozing from his pores. His last words were pleas to God for pardon for the murders.
"The massacre was a matter of controversy in 1868 when Acton wrote an essay in the North British Review. He concluded his long essay by saying that there was no evidence to absolve the Roman Church of premeditated murder. Acton argued that it was not only facts that condemned the papacy for this heinous crime, but the whole body of casuistry developed by the church that made it an act of Christian duty and mercy to kill a heretic so that he might be removed from sin. Acton pointed out that only when the Roman Church could no longer rely on force but had to make its case before public opinion did it seek to explain away its murders. 'The same motive which had justified the murder now promoted the lie,' he wrote. A bodyguard of lies was fabricated to protect the papacy from guilt for this monstrous sin. Acton wrote:
The story is much more abominable than we all believed. . . . S.B. [St. Bartholomew's] is the greatest crime of modern times. It was committed on principles professed by Rome. It was approved, sanctioned, and praised by the papacy. The Holy See went out of its way to signify to the world, by permanent and solemn acts, how entirely it admired a king who slaughtered his subjects treacherously, because they were Protestants. To proclaim forever that because a man is a Protestant it is a pious deed to cut his throat in the night. . . .
"For three centuries the Roman church's canon law had affirmed that the killing of an excommunicated person was not murder, and that allegiance need not be kept with heretical rulers. Murder and treason were part of the Roman church's official teachings. Charles IX was acting as a good Catholic, and he was highly praised by the pope for his murders.
"In 1867 Pope Pius IX summoned a general council of the Roman Church to be held in Rome in 1870. It was the first general council of the Roman Church since the sixteenth century Council of Trent, at which the schismatic Roman Church had condemned all the truths of the Reformation. This time the Pope was determined to establish himself as the infallible sovereign of the Roman Church.
"Acton thought that the time of the council would be better spent abolishing many of the 'reforms' made by the Council of Trent, reforms which had perpetuated in the Roman Church a spirit of intolerant absolutism and 'austere immorality.' He opposed the doctrine of papal infallibility, because, as an historian, he knew the popes were not infallible. Acton wrote:
A man is not honest who accepts all the Papal decisions in questions of morality, for they have often been distinctly immoral; or who approves the conduct of the Popes in engrossing power, for it was stained with perfidy and falsehood; or who is ready to alter his convictions at their command, for his conscience is guided by no principle.
"After studying the history of the popes, Acton wrote:
The papacy contrived murder and massacre on the largest and also on the most cruel and inhuman scale. They were not only wholesale assassins but they made the principle of assassination a law of the Christian Church and a condition of salvation. . . . [The Papacy] is the fiend skulking behind the Crucifix.
Massachusetts Attorney General, "The Sexual Abuse of Children in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston," Thomas F. Reilly, Massachusetts Attorney General
"The mistreatment of children was so massive and so prolonged that it borders on the unbelievable," says the July 23 [2003] report of Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly. More than 1,000 minors were likely abused by priests over the past six decades."
This is the 79-page report in its entirety.
http://www.votf.org/ago/archdiocese.pdf
Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, Samuel Rutherford, John Owen, Thomas Manton, The Westminster Assembly, James Renwick, Archibald Mason, Christopher Ness, Francis Turretin, The Reformed Presbytery, David Steel, James R. Willson, Alexander M'Leod, William L. Roberts, James Aiken Wylie, Andrew Wilet, Henry Wilkinson, James Wylie, Patrick Fairbairn, James Aiken, Andrew Wilet, Alexander Hislop, Francis Nigel Lee, Arthur W. Pink, and so forth, and so on, have all believed and argued in print that the seated Pope is the Anti-Christ of the Bible.
The Roman Church-State is "the world's oldest, largest, most powerful and most influential politico-ecclesiastical institution" and it "may also be the world's wealthiest." The Roman Catholic Institution is the ultimate "negative guide to the positive," the reformers ultimate "opposite guide to political and economic reform."
Pope's visit means 3 White House firsts.
President says 'man of faith' and conviction deserves the special treatment
Associated Press, April. 13, 2008
"WASHINGTON - The leader of the world's 1 billion Roman Catholics has been to the White House only once in history. That changes this week, and President Bush is pulling out all the stops: driving out to a suburban military base to meet Pope Benedict XVI's plane, bringing a giant audience to the South Lawn and hosting a fancy East Room dinner.
"These are all firsts.
"A crowd of up to 12,000 is due at the White House on Wednesday morning for the pope's official, pomp-filled arrival ceremony. It will feature the U.S. and Holy See anthems, a 21-gun salute, and the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. Both men will make remarks before their Oval Office meeting and a send-off for his popemobile down Pennsylvania Avenue.
"The president explained the special treatment -- particularly the airport greeting.
" 'One, he speaks for millions. Two, he doesn't come as a politician; he comes as a man of faith,' Bush told the EWTN Global Catholic Network in an interview aired Friday. He added that he wanted to honor Benedict's conviction that 'there's right and wrong in life, that moral relativism has a danger of undermining the capacity to have more hopeful and free societies. . . .' "
"This week makes Bush the record-holder, with a total of five meetings with two popes. . . ."
"The current pope's approach may be softer than that of John Paul, who turned from Bush's presentation to him of the Medal of Freedom in 2004 to read a statement about his 'grave concern' over events in Iraq."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24096388/
Bush Scandals
An extensive resource. Includes websites for the Savings and Loan Scandal of the 1980s, considered the largest theft in the history of the world, involving Neil Bush, a brother of George W., the Florida's Voting Scandal of 2001 in which Al Gore lost the presidential election. Jeb Bush, another brother of George W., was Governor of Florida and had promised to deliver the state for his brother. Other sites treat George W. Bush's suspected involvement in 911 [911 is, of course, analogous to Roosevelt's Pearl Harbor]. Note particularly "Bush Family Machinations, 1918-2000," a time-line of Bush Family crimes prior to Election 2000.
http://news4florida.tripod.com/index1.html
The Panic of '08. Lew Rockwell Interviews Ron Paul, September 18, 2008
A podcast.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/podcast/?p=episode&name=2008-09-18_029_ron_paul_talks_to_lew_rockwell.mp3

*SHIELDS, ALEXANDER (1660?-1700), A Short Memorial of the Sufferings and Grievances Past and Present of the Presbyterians in Scotland Particularly of Them Called by Nick-name Cameronians, 1690, Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #2.

SHIELDS, ALEXANDER, A True and Faithful Relation of the Sufferings of the Reverend and Learned, Mr. Alexander Shields, Minister of the Gospel. Written with his own hand. Containing an account of his examinations and imprisonment at London; his being sent down to Scotland; . . . Together with a large and elaborate defense of the doctrine of resistance, . . . Never before published. Alternate title: A TRUE AND FAITHFUL RELATION OF THE SUFFERINGS OF THE REVEREND AND LEARNED, MR. ALEXANDER SHIELDS, MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL. WRITTEN WITH HIS OWN HAND. CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF HIS EXAMINATIONS AND IMPRISONMENT AT LONDON; HIS BEING SENT DOWN TO SCOTLAND; . . . TOGETHER WITH A LARGE AND ELABORATE DEFENSE OF THE DOCTRINE OF RESISTANCE, . . . NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. [EDINBURGH?], 1715. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

Simson, Patrick (1556-1618), The Historie of the Church, Since the Dayes of Our Saviour Iesus Christ, Untill This Present Age. Divided into foure bookes. 1. The first containeth the whole proceedings and practises of the emperours . . . 2. The second containeth a briefe catalogue of the beginnings, and proceedings of all the bishops, popes, patriarches, doctors, pastors, and other learned men . . . 3. The third containeth a short summe of all the heretiques . . . 4. The fourth containeth a short compend of all the councels generall, nationall, and provinciall . . . Divided into 16. centuries. . . . Collected out of sundry authors both ancient and moderne; by the famous and worthy preacher of Gods Word, Master Patrick Symson, late minister at Striveling in Scotland. Additional Title: SHORT COMPEND OF THE HISTORIE OF THE FIRST TEN PERSECUTIONS MOVED AGAINST CHRISTIANS, 1634.
Note: "A second part had appeared in 1625; it is not reprinted here. Centuries 1-9 are rearranged extracts of part of the text of his: A Short Compend of the Historie of the First ten Persecutions Moved Against Christians."

Simson, Patrick (1556-1618), A Short Compend of the Historie of the First ten Persecutions Moued Against christians, Divided Into III. Centuries. Whereunto are added in the end of euery centurie treatises arising vpon occasion offered in the historie, clearely declaring the noveltie of popish religion, and that it neither flowed from the mouthes of Christs holy Apostles, neither was it confirmed by the blood of the holy martyrs who died in these ten persecutions, 1613.
Vol. 2 (centuries 4-6) has title "A short compend, of the Arrian and Eutychian persecutions"; imprint is dated 1615. Vol. 3 (centuries 7-9) has title "A short compend, of the grouth of the Romane Antichrist"; imprint is dated 1616. With a final errata leaf.

*Spurgeon, C.H., The Treasury of David, 3 volumes (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers), ISBN: 0917006259. A Christian classic.
"The most important and practical work of the ages on the Psalter." -- Dr. Philip Schaff
"Spurgeon's own exposition appears under each verse; after that you'll find `explanatory notes and quaint sayings' (illuminating quotes from Spurgeon's contemporaries as well as from the great Puritan expositors of the 17th and 18th centuries). Each Psalm closes with a short section of `Hints to Preachers'." -- CBD
The Treasury of David
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/treasury.htm

Stayer, Joseph R., The Albigensian Crusades (New York: Dial Press, Inc., 1971), ISBN: 0472094769 9780472094769.
"A well-written, informative account of this cruel and yet significant persecution of the medieval dissenters." -- Cyril J. Barber

*THOMSON, JOHN HENDERSON (editor), JOHN MCMAIN, and DAVID SCOTT (introduction) A Cloud of Witnesses for the Royal Prerogatives of Jesus Christ Being the Last Speeches and Testimonies of Those who Have Suffered for the Truth in Scotland Since . . . 1680. Alternate title: "THE FIFTEENTH EDITION, ENLARGED AND CORRECTED: A CLOUD OF WITNESSES, FOR THE ROYAL PREROGATIVES OF JESUS CHRIST: OR, THE LAST SPEECHES AND TESTIMONIES OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED FOR THE TRUTH IN SCOTLAND, SINCE THE YEAR 1680: WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING THE QUEENSFERRY PAPER; TORWOOD EXCOMMUNICATION; A RELATION CONCERNING MR. RICHARD CAMERON, MR. DONALD CARGIL, AND HENRY HALL; AND AN ACCOUNT OF THOSE WHO WERE KILLED WITHOUT PROCESS OF LAW, AND BANISHED TO FOREIGN LANDS: WITH A SHORT VIEW OF SOME OF THE OPPRESSIVE EXACTIONS.
"WITH THE TESTIMONIES OF JOHN NISBET THE YOUNGER, JOHN NISBET OF HARDHILL, ROBERT MILLER, THOMAS HARKNESS, &C. A LETTER OF JOHN SEMPLE'S AND OF ARCHIBALD STEWART'S. THE PAPER FOUND UPON MR. CAMERON AT AIRSMOSS, AND AN ACROSTICK UPON HIS NAME. THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN FINLAY IN KILMARNOCK. THE EPITAPHS UPON THE GRAVE STONES OF MR. SAMUEL RUTHERFORD, MR. JOHN WELWOOD, AND THE NOBLE PATRIOTS WHO FELL AT PENTLAND-HILLS, &C.
"ALSO INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY OF SOME PERSECUTED PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, UNTO THE COVENANTED REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, AND TO THE PRESENT EXPEDIENCY OF CONTINUING TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN THE FIELDS, AND AGAINST THE PRESENT ANTICHRISTIAN TOLERATION IN ITS NATURE AND DESIGN, &C. GIVEN IN TO THE MINISTERS AT EDINBURGH, BY MR. JAMES RENWICK, UPON THE 17TH JAN. 1688. AND MR. RICHARD CAMERON'S LAST SERMON; PREACHED ON KYPE WATER IN EVANDALE, JULY 18TH, 1680, THREE DAYS BEFORE HE WAS KILLED AT AIRS-MOSS. (Pittsburgh: Printed for David Reed, by Eichbaum & Johnston, 1824), (Hess Publications), (Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle Publications), ISBN: 0873779231. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1, 2)
"Presbyterian Covenanter martyrs of Scotland, their last speeches and testimonies. The first edition appeared in 1714, and as more material was collected it was added to the 15 editions that were printed over the next 100 years."
"An amazing book compiled to show how -- and especially why (from their own dying testimonies) -- the Covenanters suffered, bled and died. These brave martyrs for Christ laid the foundation for liberty and truth in both church and state. They have much to say to us today . . . . Though the issues and ferocity of persecution (by the Popes, prelates, and Erastians) were more obvious during the times covered in this book, the message to contemporary Christians could not be clearer: we are involved in a life and death struggle. Few books are this moving or this edifying -- a real treasure! (658 pp., 1884 ed.)." -- SWRB
The 1871 edition was praised by Spurgeon.
A Cloud of Witnesses, 1871 edition, free online e-text. Original from Oxford University. Digitized Aug 31, 2006.
http://books.google.com/books?id=4vMCAAAAQAAJ&dq=thomson+a+cloud+of+witnesses&ie=ISO-8859-1
See also, McMain, John, and John H. Thomson (editor); Thomson, John H.; and Scott, David (introduction).

Wells, William W., Welcome to the Family: An Introduction to Evangelical Christianity, ISBN: 0877846243: 9780877846246.

White, John, A New-year's Gift for the High-church Clergy: Being an account of the sufferings of a great number of the clergy of the Church of England, who were sequestred, . . . by the Parliament, in the late times of the great rebellion, . . . [London], [1712].

*Wodrow, Robert (1679-1734), and Robert Burns (contributor), The History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland, From the Restoration to the Revolution, 1830-5, 4 volumes. Alternate title: THE HISTORY OF THE SUFFERINGS OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND FROM THE RESTORATION TO THE REVOLUTION. BY THE REV. ROBERT WODROW, MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AT EASTWOOD. WITH AN ORIGINAL MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR, EXTRACTS FROM HIS CORRESPONDENCE, A PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION, AND NOTES, BY THE REV. ROBERT BURNS, D.D. ISBN: 9781599251868 1599251868 9781599251820 1599251825 9781599251837 1599251833 9781599251844 1599251841 9781599251851 159925185X.
"Robert Wodrow (1679-1734) completed his Magnum Opus, THE HISTORY OF THE SUFFERINGS OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND FROM THE RESTORATION TO THE REVOLUTION, in 1723-24. This work, for which his integrity, candor, liberality of sentiment, and talents, eminently qualified him, he contemplated from an early period of his life; but it was only in the year 1707, that he began seriously to labour on it. From this time, however, till its publication in 1721 and 1722, a period of between fourteen and fifteen years, he devoted all his leisure hours to its composition. On the appearance of Mr. Wodrow's History, which was published in three large folio volumes at separate times, in the years above named, its author was attacked by those whom his fidelity as an historian had offended, with the vilest scurrility and abuse. Anonymous and threatening letters were sent to him, and every description of indignity was attempted to be thrown on both his person and his work. The faithful, liberal, and impartial character of the history, nevertheless, procured its author many and powerful friends. Its merits were, by a large party, appreciated and acknowledged, and every man whose love of truth was stronger than his prejudices, awarded it the meed of his applause. Copies of the work were presented by Dr. Fraser to their majesties, and the prince and princess of Wales, and were received so graciously, and so much approved of, that the presentation was almost immediately followed by a royal order on the Scottish exchequer for one hundred guineas to be paid to the author, as a testimony of his majesty's favorable opinion of his merits. The warrant for the payment of this sum is dated the 26th April, 1725. In 1830, a second edition of the HISTORY was published, in 4 volumes 8vo, by Messrs Blackie and Fullarton of Glasgow, under the editorial care of the Rev. Dr. Burns of Paisley." - Publisher's Annotation
"Robert Wodrow (1679-1734), Presbyterian minister and historian. He was an energetic researcher and acquirer of documents, letters, and anecdotes, all of which he put to use in his histories and accounts of the Presbyterian church in Scotland . . . Recently republished as a print-on-demand item." -- Wurth Books
David Hackston of Rathillet's Account of Ayrs-moss.
Excerpted from Wodrow's History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland.
http://www.truecovenanter.com/history/hackston_ayrsmoss.html
The History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland
http://books.google.com/books?id=ykYRAAAAIAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Workman, Herbert B., Persecution in the Early Church (New York: Oxford University Press, 1980), ISBN: 0192830252 9780192830258.
"This important assessment of persecution in the early centuries of the Christian era analyzes the clash between church and state, probes the causes of hatred, chronicles the great persecutions, and recounts the experiences of those who were persecuted for their faith." -- Cyril J. Barber

See also: The sovereignty of god, The covenant faithfulness of god, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Oaths, ensnaring (vows, promises, covenants) and bonds with the ungodly, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Covenant theology, Background and history of the covenanted reformation of scotland, The covenanted reformation, Covenanted reformation short title listing, The covenant faithfulness of god, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Corporate faithfulness and sanctification, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, The anti-christ, Islam (muslim/moslim), muhammadanism/mohammadanism, The counter reformation, Secret societies and ungodly alliance, The history of martyrs, Conspiracy and corruption, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 446-449, 1829, 2213, 3480-3484

Related WebLinks

A Guide to the Westminster Standards: Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism, James Bordwine
Includes a unique, 100 page topical index to both the Confession and the Catechism.
http://www.thornwellhall.org/GuideFrame1Source1.htm

Great Moments in Presbyterian History #2
Dr. C. Gregg Singer, Great Movements in Presbyterian History, 34 min.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=12160371538

Courage, Martyrdom and the Triumph of Truth a sermon on Matthew 10 by Greg Price
A defintion of Biblical courage and an exposure of the false courage of the faithless.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonsspeaker&sermonID=11501182424

The Persecuted Church
http://www.persecutedchurch.org/

Persecution Project Foundation
http://www.persecutionproject.org/

Sudan: The Hidden Holoucaust
"A comprehensive documentary on persecution, slavery, and genocide in Sudan; filmed on location in Southern Sudan and the remote Nuba mountains of central Sudan."
http://www.persecutionproject.org/video.html

Rebellion and Lawlessness: Wickedness, Demonic Possession, Substance Abuse, Abnormal Behavior, Insanity, Mental Illness, Mental Retardation
www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappd.html#rlinsane

Petition Asking President Bush to Demand an end to Muslim Persecution of Christians
http://www.persecution.org/whatcanido/petition.html

Research on Religious Persecution in 46 Muslim Nations
http://www.alleanzacattolica.org/acs/acs_english/acs_index.htm

Democrats Declare Unholy War on Godly Nominees
http://www.conservativepetitions.com/petition.html?name=war_on_nominees

Appendix D: A Selection of Works on Pseudo-Christian Movements
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappd.html



Pornography

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:27-30)

For this is the will of God -- your sanctification; that ye abstain from the whoredom, that each of you know his own vessel to possess in sanctification and honour, not in the affection of desire, as also the nations that were not knowing God, that no one go beyond and defraud in the matter his brother, because an avenger is the Lord of all these, as also we spake before to you and testified, for God did not call us on uncleanness, but in sanctification; he, therefore, who is despising -- doth not despise man, but God, who also did give His Holy Spirit to us. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, YLTHB)

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Pornography," and so forth, and so on.

Coral Ridge Ministries, Pornography: An American Tragedy

Coral Ridge Ministries, "Pornography: Is Your Family Safe?" A sermon.

deParrie, Paul, Romanced to Death: Sexual Seduction of American Culture (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth and Hyatt Publishers, 1990), ISBN: 0943497906 9780943497907.
"The author exposes what he calls the `skin trade,' the commercial sexuality that has seduced America. He traces the misconception of love that has resulted in high divorce rates, promiscuity, infidelity, and abortion." -- GCB

Holbrook, David, The Case Against Pornography (Wheaton, IL: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.).
"Wildmon is executive Director of the National Federation for Decency. When you finish reading this book you will know why pornography must be stopped. There is a note of hope: As an American citizen you can do something about it!" -- GCB

Maddux, Bob, The Fantasy Explosion (Ventura, CA: Regal Books).
"This book will make you aware of how you and your family are being exploited by pornography and teenage sex films, music videos, occult films, toys, soap operas and romantic novels, role-playing games, and comic books. The book will challenge you to new and creative action by offering positive suggestions." -- GCB

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

Minnery, Tom (editor), Pornography: A Human Tragedy (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1986), ISBN: 0842349472 9780842349475.
"Demonstrates conclusively the harm of pornography, shows how Christians may reverse the trend of the times, and concludes with a summary of the Attorney General's Commission on Pornography. Also cites relevant court cases as evidence of the positions taken, and places in the hands of readers a most important apologetic." -- Cyril J. Barber

Powlison, David, Pornography: Slaying the Dragon (Resources for Changing Lives Series. Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Company), ISBN: 0875526772 9780875526775.

*Reisman, Judith A., Soft Porn Plays Hardball, ISBN: 091031165X 9780910311656.
"Reisman demonstrates the tragic effects of `soft porn' on women, children, and the family." -- GCB

*Rushdoony, Rousas J. (1916-2001), The Politics of Pornography (Vallecito, CA: Ross House Books), ISBN: 0868840025 9780868840024.
"A detailed expose of pornography with important chapters on such matters as its history and legal battles. . . . He includes in his discussion an examination of the underlying philosophical presuppositions, the pagan origin of the movement, and the violence that it fosters. . . ." -- Cyril J. Barber

Wildmon, Donald E., The Home Invaders (Wheaton, IL: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.), ISBN: 0896935213 9780896935211.
"An analysis of TV and the media, and how you can help stem the mind-polluting tide seeking to submerge us all. . . ." -- GCB

Wildmon, Donald, and R. Nulton, The Man the Networks Love to Hate (Wilmore, KY: Bristol Books, c1990), ISBN: 0917851145 9780917851148.
"How he fights media porn -- and how you can, too."

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The fatherhood of god, Proverbs, Sexual relationship, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Spirituality and harlotry, Idolatry, Ungodly alliance, secret societies, Mind control, intimidation, and coercion, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Hope, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Holiness, Hope, Wisdom, Abstinence, chastity, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Gratuitous sex, a cause of violence, Fatherlessness, Prostitution, Homosexuality, Child abuse and pedophilia, Incest, Rape, Adultery, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Casuistry, cases of conscience, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Pseudo-christian movements, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 664- 667, 957, 1290, 1662, 2217, 2685, 3208, 3569, 3570

Related WebLinks

TechMission, Safe Families: Keeping Children Safe Online
"Statistics on Pornography, Sexual Addiction and Online Perpetrators; PORNOGRAPHY ADDICTION STATS; Pornography Addiction and Industry Statistics"
"As of 2003, there were 1.3 million pornographic websites; 260 million pages (N2H2, 2003).
"The total porn industry revenue for 2006: $13.3 billion in the United States; $97 billion worldwide (Internet Filter Review).
"U.S. adult DVD/video rentals in 2005: almost 1 billion (Adult Video News).
"Hotel viewership for adult films: 55% (cbsnews.com).
"Unique worldwide users visiting adult web sites monthly: 72 million (Internet Filter Review)."
http://www.safefamilies.org/sfStats.php



Post-abortion Counseling

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you. (Acts 3:19,20)

Burtchaell, James T., Rachel Weeping: The Case Against Abortion (New York, NY: Harper and Row and Harpercollins, 1984), ISBN: 0919225349 9780919225343.
"Searing and impeccable documentation, five essays presenting a strong and consistent case against abortion. This book would not be classified as a Biblical presentation, but nevertheless his arguments are strong. What a storehouse of ammunition against abortionists." -- GCB

Michels, Nancy, Helping Women Recover From Abortion, ISBN: 0871236214 9780871236210.
"A poignant documentary of the pain-filled lives of many aborted women. It is essential reading for those who think that abortion is a solution to unplanned pregnancy and for those who would counsel the growing sisterhood of permanently scarred women - reveals the hidden horror of abortion and the healing help that is available." -- Reader's Comment
Includes bibliography.

Petty, Jim, Focusing Love (part 1) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates, 1991).
Audio cassette HFTF19.

Petty, Jim, Focusing Love (part 2) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates, 1991).
Audio cassette HFTF21.

Vought, Jeanette, Post-Abortion Trauma: Nine Steps to Recovery, ISBN: 0310536413 9780310536413.

*Young, Curt, The Least of These: What Everyone Should Know About Abortion (Chicago, IL: Moody Press), ISBN: 0802446248 9780802446244.
"This book is being called a battle hymn for the unborn. It may be the most comprehensive handbook on abortion currently available." -- GCB

See also: Abortion and the sanctity of life, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Justification, Justifying faith, Sexual wholeness, Abstinence, chastity, Gratuitous sex a cause of violence, Bad relationships a cause of disease and death, Fatherlessness, Abuse, Repentance the key to salvation and change, and so forth, and so on.

Related WebLinks

The Post-Abortion Kit: Resources for Those Suffering From the Aftermath of Abortion
"Women who have had an abortion often suffer significant physical, emotional and/or psychological consequences.
This kit "helps women identify and overcome Post-Abortion Syndrome -- while finding healing and forgiveness."
http://www.family.org/resources/itempg.cfm?itemid=2326&refcd=CE04KCZL&tvar=no



Prayer

See: Prayer
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1chb.html#prayr

Intercessory Prayer
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1chb.html#intercp

Jesus on Prayer
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1chb.html#jopra

Evangelistic Praying
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1chb.html#evanpra

Prayer Groups
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1chb.html#pgroups

Small Groups as Healing Agents



Prejudice

The only "acceptable" prejudice of our day is the bias against Christians. -- D. James Kennedy

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), A Treatise of Knowledge and Love Compared in The Reformed Pastor: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, 1990, 1838, 1707, 1678, 1673).
Long title: A Treatise of Knowledge and Love Compared. In two Parts: 1. Of Falsely Pretended Knowledge. II. Of True Saving Knowledge and Love. I. Against Hasty Judging, and False Conceits of Knowledge; and for Necessary Suspension. II. The Excellency of Divine Love, and the Happiness of Being Known and Loved of God. Written as greatly necessary to the safety and peace of every Christian, and of the Church: the only certain way to escape false religions, heresies, sects, and malignant prejudices, persecutions, and sinful wars; all caused by falsely pretended knowledge, and hasty judging, by proud, ignorant men, who know not their ignorance.

CAMERON, JOHN, An Examination of those plausible appearances which seem most to commend the Romish church and to prejudice the reformed. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #3. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Six, CD #31.
"Mr. Cameron successfully demonstrates that 'all those allegations 1) of the Magnificence, 2) Unity, 3) Antiquity, 4) Stability, 5) Continuation, 6) Succession, 7) The substance of truth, 8) The holiness pretended to be in the Church of Rome, are but frivolous pretenses, devised to hinder an exquisite and solid enquiry of the truth'." -- SWRB

Cosby, Bill Cosby (author) and Alvin F. Poussaint (author), Come on People: On the Path From Victims to Victors, 1st edition (Thomas Nelson, October 9, 2007), 288 pages, ISBN: 9781595550927 1595550925.
"Bill Cosby and Alvin F. Poussaint have a powerful message for families and communities as they lay out their visions for strengthening America, or for that matter the world. They address the crises of people who are stuck because of feelings of low self-esteem, abandonment, anger, fearfulness, sadness, and feelings of being used, undefended and unprotected. These feelings often impede their ability to move forward. The authors aim to help empower people make the daunting transition from victims to victors. COME ON, PEOPLE! is always engaging, and loaded with heart-piercing stories of the problems facing many communities." -- Publisher's Annotation

Crown Video, Final Solution, special edition DVD (Crown Video, November 25, 2008)), ISBN: 1894300874 9781894300872, 106 Minutes.
"Based on a true story . . .
"This Special Edition set contains the award winning feature film Final Solution, the documentary From One Blood featuring Gerrit Wolfaardt, the man on which the feature film is based, behind the scenes footage, bonus features and a study guide in PDF form. Final Solution is an amazing testimony of the incredible power of God to transform lives. Gerrit Wolfaardt was radically changed from a life of hatred and violence -- not to simply to tolerance -- but to genuine love. Only God can cause so deep a transformation.
"From One Blood" invites viewers into the living room and lives of Gerrit and Celeste Wolfaardt. Gerrit relays his personal story and throughout the documentary, short clips from the movie are cut in to emphasize what he is telling us. Today, Gerrit travels the globe preaching biblical reconciliation. Formerly sold individually, this two-disc DVD set provides an excellent value.
"Awards that this film has received: | Crown Award Winner for Best Drama Over $250,000 (Gold) | Crown Award Winner for Best Picture (Gold) | Heartland Film Festival Winner (Crystal Heart Award) | Worldfest Houston International Film Festival Winner (GOLD) | Down Under Film Festival Winner (Best Soundtrack and Best Film) | Sabaoth International Film Festival (Best Director and Best Film)
"This film is not appropriate for children due to violence and thematic elements." "Afrikaner Gerrit Wolfaardt was born into prejudice. Everything he had been taught since childhood -- from his family, his church and his culture -- told him that apartheid, or separateness, was right and natural. He became a self-proclaimed disciple of Hitler, and hatched a diabolical plan to rid South Africa of the 'Black Danger.' His ideology was challenged by Celeste, who later became his wife, and by the book CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY. In this documentary, Gerrit shares the amazing journey that resulted in his radical transformation." -- Publisher's Annotation

Limbaugh, David, Persecution: How Liberals are Waging War Against Christianity (Regnery Publishing, September, 2003), ISBN: 0895261111 9780895261113.
"In his new book, PERSECUTION -- already on the New York Times Bestseller list -- David Limbaugh (author of the previous bestseller ABSOLUTE POWER) makes a compelling case that liberals across the country are waging an undeclared war on Christianity in our culture and in our government -- especially our schools. Limbaugh exposes the farce of liberal 'tolerance' and reveals the true agenda of liberals who misuse the law to force Christianity out of the public square."
"Often the people who clamor for tolerance are among the most intolerant people in our society. David Limbaugh documents this in his new book, 'Persecution' -- in particular, the intolerance against Christians. This book is sorely needed in our day when the only 'acceptable' prejudice of our day is the bias against Christians." -- D. James Kennedy

Sowell, Thomas, Black Rednecks and White Liberals (Encounter Books; March 25, 2006), ISBN: 1594030863 9781594030864.
"One of America's foremost black conservative intellectuals returns with this provocative collection of contrarian essays. Hoover Institution Fellow Sowell, author of ETHNIC AMERICA, argues that 'internal' cultural habits of industriousness, thriftiness, family solidarity and reverence for education often play a greater role in the success of ethnic minorities than do civil-rights laws or majority prejudices. The title essay posits a 'black redneck' culture inherited from the white redneck culture of the South and characterized by violent machismo, shiftlessness and disdain for schooling. White liberals, gangsta-rap aficionados and others who lionize its ghetto remnants as an authentic black identity, Sowell contends, have their history wrong and help perpetuate cultural pathologies that hold blacks back. Sowell also examines the cultural achievements of such 'middleman minorities' as Jews and expatriate Chinese whose frequent persecution, he feels, represents an animus against capitalism. And he defends Western culture itself against charges that it was uniquely culpable for slavery; in fact, he contends, it was uniquely responsible for eradicating slavery. Many of Sowell's arguments-that the 20th-century resegregation of Northern cities was a response to the uncouthness of black rednecks migrating from the South, or that segregated black schools often succeeded by suppressing redneckism with civilized New England puritanism-will arouse controversy, but these vigorously argued essays present a stimulating challenge to the conventional wisdom. -- Publishers Weekly
"BLACK REDNECKS AND WHITE LIBERALS is the capstone of decades of outstanding research and writing on racial and cultural issues by Thomas Sowell.
"Dr. Sowell is a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and the recipient of many awards and prizes. His previous books include ETHNIC AMERICA, BASIC ECONOMICS, A CONFLICT OF VISIONS and THE QUEST FOR COSMIC JUSTICE." -- Publisher's Annotation

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The covenant faithfulness of god, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Persecution, Scapegoating and blame shifting, Lying, deceit, self-deception, Knowledge and virtue, Gossip, slander, backbiting, the tongue, Trusting God, Humility, Spiritual warfare, Imprecatory psalms, Vengeance and Retaliation, Hostility and violence, Pride, Jealousy, Loving your enemies, Soul-violence, Stress, Unforgiveness, Will and recalcitrance, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Bad relationships as a cause of disease and death, Love and counseling problems, charitableness, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 448, 4083



Pride

See the Theological Notes, "Christians in the World," at Colossians 2:20 in The Reformation Study Bible.

He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. (Proverbs 28:25)

Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. (Isaiah 19:12)

This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.
For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? (Isaiah 14:26, 27)

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:30)

Our Triune God has ordained that authority, power, and leadership devolves to those who know the most Truth (the Apostle Paul, Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, The Scots Worthies . . . ). Preeminent among those is the Lord Christ, the God Man, Our Righteousness. (John 1:1-18; Matthew 19:30; Matthew 28:18-20; Isaiah 49:7; Colossians 1:16-19; Colossians 2:9,10; Hebrews 12:1,2; Revelation 5:1-14; Revelation 19:11-15; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 22:12, and so forth, and so on.)

To serve God is to reign. -- Seneca

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 23:12, 13)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. -- Jesus Christ (John 13:16)

But he said, Yea rather, blessed [are] they that hear the word of God, and keep it. -- Jesus Christ (Luke 11:28)

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:6)

He must not be a novice, not one newly brought to the Christian religion, or not one who is but meanly instructed in it, who knows no more of religion than the surface of it, for such a one is apt to be lifted up with pride: the more ignorant men are the more proud they are: Lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. The devils fell through pride, which is a good reason why we should take heed of pride, because it is a sin that turned angels into devils. -- Matthew Henry commenting on 1 Timothy 3:6

There is scarce a sin to be thought on that is not a spawn in the bowels of pride. To instance in some few (besides all that are expressed in the signs): 1. It maketh men hypocrites . . . 2. It makes men liars . . . 3. It causeth covetousness . . . 4. It maketh men flatterers, and time-servers, and man-pleasers . . . 5. It makes men run into profaneness, and riotousness, to do as other do . . . 6. It can take men off from any duty to God that the company is against . . . 7. It is so contentious a sin, that it makes men firebrands in the societies where they live . . . 8. It tears in pieces church and state. . . . 9. It devoureth the mercies and good creatures of God, and sacrificeth them to the devil. . . . 10. It is an odious thief and prodigal of precious time. . . . 11. It is odiously unjust. A proud man makes no bones of any falsehood, slander, deceit, or cruelty, if it seem but necessary to his greatness, or honour, or preferment, or ambitious ends. He careth not who he wrongeth or betrayeth, that he may rise to his desired height, or keep his greatness. Never trust a proud man further than his own interest bids you trust him. 12. Pride is the pander of whoredom and uncleanness. . . .
Pride is the highway to utter apostasy. . . . Mark those that are proud in any town, or any company of professors of piety; and if any infection of heresy or infidelity come into that place, these are the men that will soonest catch it. . . . -- Richard Baxter

Pride makes men pretend to be more just than God; and to think that they could more justly govern the world; and to censure God's threatenings, and the sufferings of the good, and the prosperity of the wicked, as things so unjust, as that they thereby incline to atheism. So James and John would be more just than Christ, and call down fire on the rejecters of the gospel; and the prodigal's brother, Luke xv. repined at his father's lenity.
Pride maketh men slight the authority and commands of God, and despise his messengers, and choose to be ruled by their own conceits, and lusts, and interests, Jer. xiii. 15,17; xliii. 2,3; when the humble tremble at his word, and readily obey it, Isa. lvii. 15; Neh. ix. 16,29; Isa. ix. 9.
A proud man in power will expect that his will be obeyed before the will of God; and that the subjects of God displease their Master rather than him: he will think it a crime for a man to inquire first what God would have him do; or to plead conscience and the commands of the God of heaven, against the obeying of his unjust commands. If he offer you preferment, as Balak did Balaam, he looketh you should be more taken with it, than with God's offer of eternal life: if he threaten you, as Nebuchadnezzar did the three witnesses, he looks that you should be more afraid of him than of God, who threateneth your damnation; and is angry if you be not.
A proud man is more offended with one that would question his authority, or speak diminutively of his power, or displease his will, or cross his interest, than with one that sinneth against the authority, and will, and interest of God. He is much more zealous for himself and his own honour, than for God's; and grieved more for his own dishonour, and hateth his own enemies more than God's; and can tread down the interest of God and souls, if it seem but necessary to his honour or revenge: he is much more pleased and delighted with his own applause, and honour, and greatness, than with the glory of God, or the fulfilling of his will.
Proud men would fain steal from God himself the honour of many of his most excellent works. If they are rulers, they are more desirous that the thanks for the order and peace of societies be given by the people to them, than unto God. If they are preachaers, they would fain have more than their due, of the honour of men's conversion and edification: if they are pastors, they would encroach upon Christ's part of the government of his church. . . . -- Richard Baxter

The authority of monarchs and governments is derived from God. (Romans 13:1) "Proud" is the most frequent description in the Old Testament of the sins of kings and nations. Upon first settlement of their Promised Land, the Israelites were forcefully reminded that it was all God's doing. Forever afterwards, the prophets found it regularly necessary to remind king and nation that their achievements were primarily God's achievements. (Amos 2:10; Micah 6:4) To forget this is to deny God. "Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God. . . . Lest, . . . when . . . thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage." (Deuteronomy 8:11-14) -- John Harris

Pride setteth up the wisdom of a foolish man against the infinite wisdom of God; it makes men presume to judge their Judge, and judge his laws, before they understand them; and to quarrel with all that they find unsuitable to their own conceits; and say, How improbable is this or that! and how can these things be? . . . Proud men think they could mend God's word, and they could better have ordered matters in the world, and for the church, and for themselves, and for their friends, than the providence of God hath done. -- Richard Baxter

Be very watchful against the sin of pride, especially pride of gifts, or knowledge, or holiness, which some call spiritual pride; for God is engaged to cast down the proud. Prov. xvi. 18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Satan assaulted our first parents by that way that he fell himself; and his success encourageth him to try the same way with their posterity. And, alas, how greatly hath he succeeded through all ages of the world till now! -- Richard Baxter

Take heed of pride, which will make you dote upon your own conceits, and cause you to slight the weightiest reasons that are brought by others, for your conviction. And if once you have espoused an error, it will engage all your wit, and zeal, and diligence to maintain it; it will make you uncharitable; and furious against all that cross you in your way; and so make you either persecutors (if you stand on the higher ground), or sect leaders, or church dividers, and turbulent and censorious, if you are on the lower ground. There is very great reason in Paul's advice for the choice of a bishop, 1 Tim. iii. 6, "Not a novice; lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. . . ." -- Richard Baxter

There is no more powerful means to take down pride, than to look seriously to God, and set yourselves before his eyes, and consider how he loveth the humble, and abhorreth the proud. One sight of God by a lively faith, would make you know with whom you have to do, and teach you to abhor yourselves as vile. . . . A glimpse of the majesty of God would ;make thee, with Isaiah, cry out, "Woe is me, for I am undone, a man of unclean lips," &c.; and, chap. vi. 5, with the Israelites, desire that Moses, and not God, might speak unto you, lest you die. Men are proud because they know not God, and look not to him, but to fellow sinners, with whom they think they may be bold to compare themselves." -- Richard Baxter

As the love of God and man are the comprehensive duties of the decalogue, expressed most in the first and last commandment, but yet extending themselves to all the rest; so selfishness and pride (which is a principal part of it) are the opposite sins, forbidden principally in the first and last commandment, as contrary to the love of God and man, but so as it is contrary to the rest. They are sins against the very relation itself, that God and man do stand in to us, and not only against a particular law: they are against the very constitution of the kingdom of God, and not only against the administration: it is treason or idolatry against God, and a setting up ourselves in some part of his prerogative: and it is a monstrous exuberancy in the body, and a rising of one member above and so against the rest, either superiors (and so against the fifth command) or equals (against the rest.) -- Richard Baxter

Look to a humbled Christ to humble you. . . . The very incarnation of Christ is a condescension and humiliation enough to pose both men and angels, transcending all belief but such as God himself produceth by his supernatural testimony and Spirit. (Matt. ix. 24; v. 40) . . . . Look to the examples of the most eminent saints, and you will see they were all most eminent in humility. -- Richard Baxter

No grace is stronger than humility. No man is weaker than a proud man. For a proud man rests on nothing, and an humble man that empties himself, he stand upon the Rock. We should therefore make use of the strength of Christ, that hath not only abundance for himself, but an abundance for us, an overflowing for every Christian for his good. Let us empty ourselves, as the prophet saith to the widow, bring `empty vessels' now, and we shall have oil enough, 2 Kings iv. 3. There is enough in Christ; but first we must empty ourselves by humility, and then there is fullness in him. `of his foulness we receive grace for grace,' John i. 16. . . . -- Richard Sibbes

He is a Christian indeed that hath conquered pride. -- Richard Baxter

Selfishness and pride will blind even the gifted and learned to the truth. Lust for power and the will to play God will blind us to the truth. Intense nationalistic pride, political bent, alienation during secular schooling, or personal ambitions blind us to the "evident connection between Absolute Truth, sovereign authority, holiness, life, loving obedience, moral behavior, sanctification, justice, freedom (political, economic, and individual), social stability, and real progress. . . ." -- Preface, Biblical Counsel: Resources for Renewal (The Web Edition).

Persons who are ashamed of their weaknesses often become proud apparently as a defense, for example, the chronic alcoholic, who is ashamed of the fact that he can not overcome his besetting sin.

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Pride," and so forth, and so on.

*BAXTER, RICHARD (1615-1691), A Christian Directory: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1. Full title: A Christian Directory: or A Sum of Practical Theology, and Cases of Conscience. Directing Christians How to Use Their Knowledge and Faith; How to Improve all Helps and Means, and to Perform all Duties; How to Overcome Temptations, and to Escape or Mortify Every Sin. In Four Parts.
I. Christian Ethics (or Private Duties)
II. Christian Economics (or Family Duties)
III. Christian Ecclesiastics (or Church Duties)
IV. Christian Politics (or Duties to Our Rulers and Neighbours) (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1997, 1990, 1838, 1707, 1678, 1673), ISBN: 1877611131 9781877611131. Foreword by J.I. Packer (Soli Deo Gloria edition only). The Soli Deo Gloria publication is a facsimile reprint of the 19th century reprint by George Virtue, London, 1846. The original 1673 edition and the 1678 edition, both printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons. Bibliographic and scriptural footnotes. A Christian classic.
"The complete practical works of Richard Baxter are in print in four volumes entitled BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS. This volume (about 1 1/4 million words, 1028 pages) is volume one of the set. The editor's preface (1707), p. xiii, stated that the works of Richard Baxter are 'perhaps the best body of practical divinity that is extent in our own or any other tongue.' Richard Baxter lived from 1615-1691. The DIRECTORY was completed in 1665. Its scope was intended to cover all of practical theology, a summa of casuistry . . ." -- Don Kistler
"Baxter's series, which grew in range and scope as it proceeded . . . is a peak point in Puritan devotional writing, and remains a precious resource for all, in this or any age, who want to know what is involved in Biblical godliness. . . . A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY may justly be described as a landmark. It is the fullest, most thorough, and in this writer's judgment, most profound treatment of Christian spirituality and standards that has ever been attempted by an English-speaking Evangelical author. The fact that it embraces both spirituality and standards (the principles of communion with God plus the specifics of obedience to God) merits approving comment in itself; nowadays spirituality and ethics have become two distinct disciplines in the schools, and books written on either say virtually nothing about the other . . ." -- J.I. Packer
Timothy Keller calls it the greatest manual on Biblical counseling ever produced.
"There are many Puritan classics on this subject. Thomas Brooks' PRECIOUS REMEDIES FOR SATAN'S DEVICES, Thomas Goodwin's A CHILD OF LIGHT WALKING IN DARKNESS, William Bridge's A LIFTING UP FOR THE DOWNCAST, and many other similar works give evidence that the Puritans were. . . . masters at applying Biblical answers and principles to problems that can only be solved by spiritual means. No Puritan work, however, has ever approached the popularity, the scope, or the depth of Baxter's classic treatise. With the widespread interest in counseling in today's church, this reprint of Baxter's work should be a welcome addition to every pastor's library, or to anyone else who wishes to give solid Biblical answers to man's questions." -- Don Kistler
"We have long waited for a purely Biblical treatment of the spiritual ills and cures of men which is untainted by the views of psychology. Since Baxter lived about 200 years before psychology arrived, his deep work is completely void of its encroachment -- thankfully!" -- John MacArthur
"The kings men sought to arrest Richard Baxter, but he traveled ceaselessly from place to place, writing his sermons and his books even on horseback (he had an inkwell in his saddle) and preached over a wide area." -- Brian H. Edwards
"Baxter was a wonder of his age. His writings total 72 large volumes, much of it written on horseback as he traveled in his widespread preaching efforts. He seldom, if ever, edited anything he wrote. Knowing this any reader will be amazed at how well he communicated his deep love for his Savior. For 26 years he was public enemy No. 1 to the king, yet he lived to see the flight of the king in 1688." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
POOR MAN'S FAMILY BOOK (1674) and THE CATECHIZING OF FAMILIES (1683), found elsewhere in BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, are less detailed works. They are more suitable for family instruction than are the detailed presentation in A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY.
" Ptacek in Family Worship (p. 51-52), supplies the following information in regard to Baxter and this book. He notes that after the Episcopalians ejected numerous `nonconformists,' in what is know as the `great ejection,' in 1662, `Baxter pastored from house to house, visiting families of his parish in their homes. These visits contributed to Baxter's A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, a large and still very relevant manual of pastoral care.' Focusing on just one area of great importance, Ptacek demonstrates how this book's relevance is not limited by time or culture, though sometimes the use of specific words are. `Published in 1673, but written 1664-65, a large book-length part of Baxter's CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY is devoted to the family. It is entitled `Christian Economics' based on the archaic usage of the word, which reflects the proper sense of the Greek root oikonomos as the manager of a household, in the Christian case, the spiritual leader of the family. The family head is essential to Baxter's view of family worship and instruction. Baxter asserts that it is God's will that this instruction be carried out by the rulers of the families.' For a male head of the household to fail to do so, or to have another instruct in the family, is contrary to his position of authority.' This is the kind of book that can be passed on from generation to generation and still find much use in the service of the kingdom of God. . . . "Though relatively weak on corporate sanctification, corporate faithfulness and some important areas of doctrine (such as justification), Baxter's work on subjects related to personal piety can be of good practical use to the Christian -- if one is careful to separate out his aberrant doctrinal views and any practical errors they may lead to." -- SWRB
This work is available in many editions, and in many formats.
Reformation Heritage Books has new copies of the Soli Deo Gloria edition as of March 2008, even though it is generally thought to be out of print. They acquired Soli Deo Gloria from Ligonier Ministries in late 2007. They may be the publisher who will eventually reprints the title.
http://www.heritagebooks.org/
The reprint by George Virtue is included on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999.
The reprint by George Virtue is available as a Cerlox bound photocopy from Still Waters Revival Books, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
The reprint by George Virtue is available online and may be downloaded in PDF format at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/baxter/practical.toc.html
The reprint by George Virtue is included on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #21.
The reprint by George Virtue appears in full preview in Google Books but may not be downloaded. This Google Books scan includes the contents in detail on pages iii-xix. This contents in detail is not included in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library PDF files. About five other editions from libraries are available in Google Books, and may be downloaded (August 2008).
Notice that the e-text in Google Books has the advantage of being searchable. Searching an image-based PDF file is not possible, unless the user owns software such as Abode Acrobat Pro or Kirtas BookScan Editor. They both have an OCR (optical character recognition) feature that will search an image-based PDFs (bit-map scans). Searches appear to be perfect in this work, although one must know Baxter's vocabulary. Text can be cut and paste from image-based PDF format to OCR (character) format. This particular Google Books scan can not be cut and pasted or downloaded.
http://books.google.com/books?id=cyQFBOUHkaoC&dq=A+Christian+Directory+inpublisher:lettermen+inpublisher:associates&lr=&as_brr=0&ie=ISO-8859-1
One of the older, multi-volume editions of THE WORKS OF RICHARD BAXTER is available at Monergism.com in the "Puritan Library," "Richard Baxter." A CHRISTIAN DIRECTORY, volume 23. It can be downloaded.
http://www.puritanlibrary.com/
Another older edition is available on microfilm (Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1970), 1 microfilm reel, 35 mm (Early English books, 1641-1700; 343:11).
The following three excerpts are included as bonus free books on Reformation Bookshelf CD #28, ISBN: 0921148267 9780921148265.
1. "The Duties of Parents for Their Children" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. X., pp. 449-454.
2. "The Special Duties of Children Towards Their Parents" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XI., pp. 454-457.
3. "The Special Duties of Children and Youth Towards God" from Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 1, A Christian Directory, on Christian Economics, Chap. XII., pp. 457-458).
The Practical Works of Richard Baxter: A Christian Directory, Vol. 1
A summary of currently available publications.
http://www.lettermen2.com/pwrbcd.html

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Reformed Pastor: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 4 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000, 1992), ISBN: 1877611360.
"This is the fourth and final volume in this great set. Includes, [`Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men,'] `The Reformed Pastor' `Poor Man's Family Book,' `The Catechizing of Families,' and `The Mother's Catechism,' in all 25 sermons, treatises, and catechisms. Dr. J.I. Packer says, `For me, the great joy of this year is that it see the completion of Soli Deo Gloria's reprint of Baxter's incomparable PRACTICAL WORKS'." -- GCB
Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men (1681), by Richard Baxter
http://www.lettermen2.com/ccaym.html

CASE, THOMAS, The Vanity of Vain Glory, Opened in a Sermon preached at the funeral of Kingsmel Lucy, Esq, 1655. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #6. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #14.

*Charnock, Stephen (1628-1680), The Existence and Attributes of God (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1797). A Christian classic.
"When the essence and attributes of God are called into question, to whom else can we better go than to Stephen Charnock? . . . the study of God's attributes is not dry-as-dust theology, but is practical; that is, it leads to righteousness." -- Gordon H. Clark

Fuller, Andrew, Spiritual Pride: or The Occasions, Causes, and Effects of High-Mindedness in Religion; With Considerations Exciting to Self-Abasement. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF ANDREW FULLER (3:564-78).

*GOODMAN, CHRISTOPHER, How Superior Powers Ought to be Obeyed of Their Subjects: And Wherein They may Lawfully by God's Word be Disobeyed and Resisted, 1558. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #26, ISBN: 0921148224 9780921148227. Available on Library of Presbyterian Heritage Publications and Protestant Heritage Press CD-ROM Library. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #2.
"From 1555 to 1558, Christopher Goodman served as co-pastor, with John Knox, of the congregation of English exiles in Geneva. During the course of his ministry, Goodman preached upon Acts 4:19 and 5:29: `Whether it be right in the sight of God, to obey you rather than God, judge ye. We ought rather to obey God than men.' At the request of his brethren, Goodman subsequently published an expanded version of his exposition, HOW SUPERIOR POWERS OUGHT TO BE OBEYED OF THEIR SUBJECTS: AND WHEREIN THEY MAY LAWFULLY BY GOD'S WORD BE DISOBEYED AND RESISTED. WHEREIN ALSO IS DECLARED THE CAUSE OF ALL THIS PRESENT MISERY IN ENGLAND, AND THE ONLY WAY TO REMEDY THE SAME. In this book, Goodman contends against both ecclesiastical and political tyranny.
"This new edition of SUPERIOR POWERS includes a scripture index, a subject index, a biographical essay on the life of Christopher Goodman, and the original foreword by William Whittingham." -- Publisher's Annotation from Library of Presbyterian Heritage Publications and Protestant Heritage Press CD-ROM Library
"Very rare. One of the dozen most important political writings appearing in English in the latter half of the sixteenth century. Together with THE FIRST BLAST OF THE TRUMPET and THE APPELLATION (retitled REFORMATION, REVOLUTION AND ROMANISM in this catalogue) by John Knox, and Ponet's TREATISE OF POLITIQUE POWER, this book marks the first definite shift of opinion under the pressure of religion, away from the doctrine of almost unlimited obedience which characterized the political thought of the first half of the century laying the foundation for future ideas about civil disobedience. In that day, a proclamation of Philip and Mary had decreed the death of a rebel for anyone found in possession of the book." -- SWRB

*GURNALL, WILLIAM, JOHN CHARLES RYLE (contributor) The Christian in Complete Armor: A Treatise of the Saint's War Against the Devil, complete and unabridged (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1979), ISBN: 0851511961 9780851511962. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2. A Christian classic.
"Peerless and priceless; every line full of wisdom." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"If I might read only one book beside the Bible, I would choose The Christian in Complete Armour." -- John Newton
"A beautiful feature in Gurnall's book is its richness in pithy, pointed, and epigrammatical sayings. You will often find in a line and a half some great truth, put so concisely, and yet so fully, that you really marvel how so much thought could be got into so few words.
"Solid scriptural theology, like that contained in these pages, should be valued and studied in the church. Books in which Scripture is reverently regarded as the only rule of faith and practice -- books in which Christ and the Holy Ghost have their rightful office -- books in which justification, and sanctification, and regeneration, and faith, and grace, and holiness are clearly, distinctly, and accurately delineated and exhibited -- these are the only books which do real good. Few things need reviving more than a taste for such books as these among readers." -- J.C. Ryle
Also praised by John Flavel and Richard Baxter.
Said to be among the 10 greatest Christian books.
The Christian In Complete Armour, William Gurnall
http://www.ccel.org/g/gurnall/armour/home.htm
The Christian in Complete Armour: A Treatise of the Saints' War Against the Devil: Wherein a Discovery is Made of that Grand Enemy of God and His People, in His Policies, Power, Seat of His Empire, Wickedness, and Chief Design He Hath Against the Saints: a Magazine Opened, from Whence the Christian is Furnished with Spiritual Arms for the Battle, Helped on with His Armour, and Taught the Use of His Weapon: Together with the Happy Issue of the Whole War
http://books.google.com/books?id=MXlHJQAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

*KNOX, JOHN (1505-1572), and KEVIN REED (editor), The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment [government] of Women, With the "Summary of the Second Blast" appended, (Dallas, TX [Presbyterian Heritage Publications, P.O. Box 180922, 75218-0922]: Presbyterian Heritage Publications, 1993), trade paperback, 96 pages, marginal notes, scripture index, and subject index. This edition appears in three additional formats: SELECTED WRITINGS OF JOHN KNOX: PUBLIC EPISTLES, TREATISES, AND EXPOSITIONS TO THE YEAR 1559, pp. 370-436, the LIBRARY OF PRESBYTERIAN HERITAGE PUBLICATIONS AND PROTESTANT HERITAGE PRESS CD-ROM LIBRARY, and e-text that includes the marginal notes as endnotes, but does not include the scripture index, and subject index. Citations for these three additional formats are listed below.
"The text of this edition is based on the definitive edition of THE WORKS OF JOHN KNOX, edited by David Laing (Edinburgh, 1895).
"In this controversial work, John Knox contends that 'to promote a woman to bear rule, superiority, dominion, or empire above any realm, nation, or city, is repugnant to nature, contumely [insult] to God, a thing most contrary to his revealed will and approved ordinance; and finally, it is the subversion of good order, of all equity and justice'." -- Publisher's Annotation
Subheading used in this edition:

"The SUMMARY OF THE SECOND BLAST was originally appended to the APPELLATION FROM THE SENTENCE PRONOUNCED BY THE BISHOPS AND CLERGY: ADDRESSED TO THE NOBILITY AND ESTATES OF SCOTLAND (1558), published in KNOX'S WORKS, VOL. IV, pp. 539-40." (see citation below) -- Publisher's Annotation
Other publications of THE FIRST BLAST OF THE TRUMPET follow: Gunn Productions,The Monstrous Regiment of Women, DVD (Gunn Productions, October 31, 2007), 54 minutes.
"Who is the monstrous regiment? Today, the feminists are our monstrous regiment!
To promote a woman to bear rule, superiority, dominion, or empire above any realm, nation, or city, is repugnant to nature . . . A thing most contrary to His revealed will and approved ordinance. -- John Knox
"The 16th century reformer John Knox wrote his famous tract THE FIRST BLAST OF THE TRUMPET AGAINST THE MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN to oppose a notorious European female tyrant who sought to stamp out biblical Christianity in his beloved Scotland.
"When we approach the issues of our day we wish to borrow his biblical perspective to apply his blast against those who rule in the wake of his monstrous queen. This group, we shall see, far surpasses the queen's iniquities in both kind and degree.
"Feminists tell women not to submit to a husband, to avoid having children, and that they should listen to their inner voice and chase a career to find true fulfillment. This twisted and irrational teaching has led to disaster for American women, leading many into a frustrating, isolated existence. With this film, we call women back to a life filled with joy and beauty that can only be found by following God's Word.
"Due to the subject matter this film is not suitable for children.
"Subjects Covered: | Who was John Knox? | What did he think of women? | What is Feminism? | Feminism and Socialism | Daycare | Modesty | Women in the Military | Women in the Workplace | Margaret Sanger | Planned Parenthood | Abortion | Hillary | Birth Control | Betty Friedan | Rock For Choice | Plus 26 minutes of unique interview footage
"Featuring: | Sharon Adams -- Historian, Edinburgh University | Jennie Chancey -- Ladies Against Feminism | Jane Doe -- Military Cadet | Carol Everett -- Former Abortion Provider | Dana Feliciano -- Homemaker | Carmon Friedrich -- Writer, Buried Treasure Books | F. Carolyn Graglia -- Author, Domestic Tranquility | Rosalind Marshall -- Knox Biographer | Stacey McDonald -- Author, Raising Maidens of Virtue | Phyllis Schlafly -- Eagle Forum | Denise Sproul -- Homemaker | Kathleen Smith -- Homemaker" -- Publisher's Annotation

*Luther, Martin, Commentary on Galatians, English translation by Erasmus Middleton, B.D., edited by John Prince Fallowes, M.A., Pembroke College, Cambridge (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1979, 1553). ISBN: 0825431247.
"I prefer this book of Martin Luther's (except the Bible) before all the books I have ever seen, as most fit for a wounded soul." -- John Bunyan
"This is a great, historic work, and is beyond criticism on account of its great usefulness. As a comment its accuracy might be questioned; but for emphatic utterances and clear statements of the great doctrine of the Epistle it remains altogether by itself, and must be judged per se." -- C.H. Spurgeon
"The reissue of a famous series of lectures delivered at Wittenberg University in 1553." -- Cyril J. Barber
Luther's Commentary on Galatians, "who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth." (Galatians 3:1 excerpt), English translation by Erasmus Middleton, B.D., edited by John Prince Fallowes, M.A., Pembroke College, Cambridge
http://www.lettermen2.com/luther1.html
Luther's Commentary on Galatians, "That He might deliver us from the present evil world." (Galatians 1:4 excerpt), English translation by Erasmus Middleton, B.D., edited by John Prince Fallowes, M.A., Pembroke College, Cambridge
http://www.lettermen2.com/luther2.html

*Pike, Samuel (1717-1773), and Samuel Hayward (1718-1757), Discovering why the Spirit is Grieved. In RELIGIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER . . . TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION; OR, THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF GOD'S WORD; AND CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, 1866.
Discovering Why the Spirit is Grieved
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/discovering-why-the-spirit-is-grieved.php

*Pike, Samuel (1717-1773), and Samuel Hayward (1718-1757), Spiritual Injury From Undue Pursuit of the Affairs of This Life. In RELIGIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER . . . TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION; OR, THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF GOD'S WORD; AND CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, 1866.
Spiritual Injury From Undue Pursuit of the Affairs of This Life
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/spiritual-injury-from-undue-pursuit-of-the-affairs-of-this-life.php

Preston, John (1587-1628), Grace to the Humble, As Preparations to receive the Sacrament. Preached by the late famous preacher Iohn Preston, Doctor of Divinity, and chaplen in ordinary to his Mtie. Master of Immanuel Colledge, and sometimes preacher in Lincolnes-Inne, 1639.
A different version of "The doctrine of self-denial" in "Three godly and learned treatises."

*RUTHERFORD, SAMUEL (1600?-1661), Lex, Rex, or The Law and the Prince (Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle Publications), ISBN: 0873779517. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #10, #25 ISBN: 0921148852 9780921148852. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #18. A Christian classic.
Lex, rex is Latin for "law is king."
"LEX, REX is `the great political text of the Covenanters' (Johnston citing Innes in Treasury of the Scottish Covenant, p. 305.) `Rutherford was the first to formulate the great constitutional principle Lex est Rex -- the law is King . . . much of the doctrine has become the constitutional inheritance of all countries in modern times.' (Idem.)"
"Gilmour writes [in SAMUEL RUTHERFORD], 'that, as regards religious fervour, scholastic subtlety of intellect, and intensity of ecclesiastical conviction, Samuel Rutherford is the most distinctively representative Scotsman in the first half of the seventeenth century'." -- SWRB
"Without a doubt one of the greatest books on political philosophy ever written. Rutherford here has penned a great Christian charter of liberty against all forms of civil tyranny -- vindicating the Scriptural duty to resist tyrants as an act of loyalty to God." -- SWRB
"That resistance to lawful authority -- even when that authority so called has, in point of fact, set at nought all law -- is in no instance to be vindicated, will be held by those only who are the devotees of arbitrary power and passive obedience. The principles of Mr. Rutherford's LEX, REX, however obnoxious they may be to such men, are substantially the principles on which all government is founded, and without which the civil magistrate would become a curse rather than a blessing to a country. They are the very principles which lie at the basis of the British Constitution, and by whose tenure the House of Brunswick does at this very moment hold possession of the throne of these realms." -- Rev. Robert Burns, D.D., in his Preliminary Dissertation to WODROW'S CHURCH HISTORY
"Though Rutherford is affectionately remembered in our day for his Letters, or for laying the foundations of constitutional government (against the divine right of kings) in his unsurpassed LEX, REX, his Free Disputation should not be overlooked for it contains the same searing insights as Lex, Rex. In fact, this book should probably be known as Rutherford's 'politically incorrect' companion volume to LEX, REX. A sort of sequel aimed at driving pluralists and antinomians insane. Written against 'the Belgick Arminians, Socinians, and other Authors contending for lawless liberty, or licentious Tolerations of Sects and Heresies,' Rutherford explains the undiluted Biblical solution to moral relativism, especially as it is expressed in ecclesiastical and civil pluralism! (Corporate pluralism being a violation of the first commandment and an affront to the holy God of Scripture)." -- SWRB
"This [THE DUE RIGHT OF PRESBYTERIES OR A PEACEABLE PLEA FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND . . . ,] could be considered the LEX, REX of church government -- another exceedingly rare masterpiece of Presbyterianism! Characterized by Walker as sweeping `over a wider field than most'." -- SWRB
A HIND LET LOOSE by Alexander Shields is sometimes referred to as 'Lex, Rex volume two.'
Lex, Rex, or The Law and the Prince, Samuel Rutherford
"Rutherford is to be praised for his teaching that the king is subject to the law of God. The Bible has nothing but condemnation for those who 'frame mischief by a law' and declares rhetorically, 'Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee?' (Ps. 94:20). Deuteronomy 17 is the classic passage in defense of Lex, Rex, wherein the king is charged to ' . . . read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law. . . .' (Deut. 17:19)."
http://www.natreformassn.org/lexrex/index.html
Lex, rex: the law and the prince, a dispute for the just prerogative of king and people, containing the reasons and causes of the defensive wars of the kingdom of Scotland, and of their expedition for the ayd and help of their brethren of England. In which a full answer is given to a seditious pamphlet, intituled, Sacro-sancta regum majestas, penned by J. Maxwell. By S. Rutherford. [Followed by] De jure regni apud Scotos; a dialogue, tr. by R. Macfarlan (repr. from the ed. of 1799).
http://books.google.com/books?id=jtYDAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html
Lex, Rex, "Lawfulness to Resist Tyranny" (Samuel Rutherford)
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/7947/LexRex.html
The Covenant Between God and Kings, from A DEFENSE OF LIBERTY
http://www.constitution.org/vct/vindiciae1a.htm

Shedd, William G.T., Pride Vitiates Religious Knowledge. In SERMONS TO THE NATURAL MAN (272-85).

*SYMINGTON, WILLIAM (1795-1862), Messiah the Prince or, The Mediatorial Dominion of Jesus Christ (Pittsburgh, PA: The Christian Statesman Press [National Reform Association], 1999, 1884), ISBN: 0966004434 0921148054. The 1884 edition is available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Also available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #13, #25, and #26, ISBN: 0921148917 9780921148913.
"It was deemed essential to the salvation of men that their Redeemer should possess the powers at once of a prophet, a priest, and a king. These offices, while essentially distinct, are necessarily and inseparably connected with one another. Such a union has been by some utterly denied; and its denial has laid foundation for some capital errors, which have exerted a pernicious influence on the Christian church. By others it has been criminally overlooked; and the neglect with which it has been treated has occasioned vague and conflicting conceptions regarding the great work of man's deliverance from sin and wrath by the mediation of the Son of God." -- William Symington
"It is the standard work on the kingdom of God in English! There is nothing else like it; it is one-of-a kind! It covers the necessity, reality, and qualifications of Christ's dominion over not only the church, but all nations too. Anything less is to rob Christ of His magnificent, majestic, mediatorial glory -- for He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. 'While books on the priestly work of the Redeemer, and especially on the Atonement, are numerous,' notes the introduction to the American edition, 'no formal and exhaustive discussion of the kingly office of the Messiah . . . and its application to various classes of moral agents is elsewhere to be found . . . It is cause for satisfaction that the only treatise, as yet, upon this subject, is a work of signal ability, lucid in arrangement, reverent in spirit, and with hardly an exception, sound and judicious in its conclusion. Its very merits are probably, in part, the reason why no other work on the same subject has appeared, and until it is supplanted by a better work -- an event not likely soon to occur -- it will have a value peculiar to itself'." -- SWRB
Chapters include "The Necessity of the Mediatorial Dominion," "The Universality of the Mediatorial Dominion," "The Mediatorial Dominion Over the Church," and "Over the Nations," plus much more.
Messiah the Prince or, The Mediatorial Dominion of Jesus Christ, William Symington
Online free e-text of the 1999 Christian Statesman Press edition.
http://www.reformed.org/eschaton/symington/index.html?mainframe=/eschaton/symington/index_mtp.html

*WATSON, THOMAS (c. 1620-1686), The Ten Commandments (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1962), ISBN: 0851516815. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #2.
"In this book Watson continues his exposition of the Shorter Catechism drawn up by the Westminster Assembly. Watson was one of the most popular preachers in London during the Puritan era . . . The series of three volumes, of which this is the second (the BODY OF DIVINITY is first and THE LORD'S PRAYER third), makes an ideal introduction to Puritan literature. There are few matters about which the Puritans differ more from present-day Christians than in their assessment of the importance of the Ten Commandments. The Commandments, they held, are the first thing in Christianity which the natural man needs to be taught and they should be the daily concern of the Christian to the last. In this book Watson examines the moral law as a whole as well as bringing out the meaning and force of each particular commandment. In view of the important function of the law in Christian life and evangelism, this is a most valuable volume." -- SWRB
"Excellent study. Highly recommended for personal and group study. The need for understanding the Law of God is always of great importance for the Christian. Watson is an excellent expositor of it." -- GCB
"The most famous commentary on the Ten Commandments was by Lancelot Andrews (1555-1626), a huge folio. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
The Ten Commandments, Thomas Watson
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/epl-watson-10cm.html
The Ten Commandments
http://books.google.com/books?id=QWA9HAAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html
Westminster Shorter Catechism Project
"Click on any of the individual questions below to get the answer and Biblical references, as well as links to works by John Flavel, Thomas Watson, Thomas Boston, James Fisher, and John Whitecross, and others."
http://www.shortercatechism.com/

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Humility, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Sin, Guilt, Humility, Repentance the key to salvation and change, Self, self-esteem, Self-denial, Envy, jealousy, Unforgiveness, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Leadership, Power, Authority, The attributes of god, The ten commandments, the moral law, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The love and justice of God, Self, Sexual relationship, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 1170-1172, 1636, 1722-1724, 1727
MGTP: Pride, Humility

Related WebLinks

The Westminster Confession Larger Catechism, Questions 103-106
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wlc_w_proofs/WLC_frames.html

On Secret Faults, Samuel Stanhope Smith (1750-1819)
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/on-secret-faults.php



Prodigals

De Witt, John Richard (John R. DeWitt), Amazing Love: The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust), ISBN: 085151328X 9780851513287.
A professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Seminary in Jackson.

GOUGE, WILLIAM, A Recovery From Apostacy set out in a Sermon Preached in Stepny Church near London at the receiving of a penitent renegado into the church, Oct 21, 1638. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #1. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #20.

Graham, Ruth Bell (1920-2007), Prodigals and Those who Love Them: Words of Encouragement for Those who Wait, ISBN: 9780801071553 0801071550
"For any who might be waiting the return of a loved prodigal, I venture to share some of the comfort and assurance that I gathered during the years of our `waiting.' Stories of other prodigals, some famous, some not, whose return to our Father encouraged me. Verses from the Bible, especially on the sovereignty of God, reassured me enormously. Ultimately He is in control. . . ." -- Ruth Bell Graham
"Mrs. Graham shares diary entries written during the prodigal years of their two sons, as well as Bible verses that brought solace to her." -- Publisher's Annotation

Kennedy, D. James, Your Prodigal Child (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1988), ISBN: 0840776195 9780840776198.
"Don't wait until you have a prodigal child to read this book. It is full of sound, Biblical advice for all parents. Many of the principles put forth in this volume are good for other relationships as well. . . . The book deals scripturally with tough questions. . . . It addresses real life issues and problems with sound, Biblical advice and common sense. The appendices are valuable for all parents. They are `Five Steps to Evangelizing Your Child,' `The Family Conference Table,' `How To Raise a Child for God.' If you have kids, the information in these appendices could save you a lot of grief. . . . Godly parenting can be learned if you are willing to set aside a little time." -- Susan Alder

Miller, C. John (1928-1996), Come Back Barbara (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House), ISBN: 0310374715 9780310374718.

RUTHERFORD, SAMUEL (1600?-1661), "The Forlorn Son" (The Complete Seven Audio Tape Series). Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #10, ISBN: 0921148852 9780921148852.
This set includes all seven sermons by Samuel Rutherford, as read by elder Lyndon Dohms (1997-98), on the prodigal son. These sermons were all read from the book QUAINT SERMONS OF SAMUEL RUTHERFORD.

RUTHERFORD, SAMUEL (1600?-1661), Quaint Sermons of Samuel Rutherford Hitherto Unpublished. (Cerlox Bound Photocopy Series. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Still Waters Revival Books). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #10, 29 ISBN: 0921148852 9780921148852. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD DVD Two, CD #7.
"As Andrew Bonar notes in his preface to this book, `Samuel Rutherford never fails to set Christ on high, for truly he had a thirst no earthly stream could satisfy -- A hunger that must feed on Christ, or die.' These sermons, in setting forth the splendor of Christ as revealed in His Word, will continue to offer much comfort and consolation to contemporary Christians. Of the sermons that make up this volume some titles include, 'The Spouse's Longing for Christ' (Song of Solomon 5:3-6), 'Fear not, Thou Worm Jacob' (Isa. 41:14-16), 'The Worth and Excellence of the Gospel' (2 Corinthians 10:4-5), and 'The Forlorn Son -- The Fathers Expressed Welcome' (Luke 15:22-23) -- along with fourteen others." -- SWRB

SEDGWICK, OBADIAH (1600?-1658), The Parable of the Prodigal. Containing, the riotous prodigal, or the sinners aversion from God. Returning prodigal, or the penitents conversion to God. Prodigals acceptation, or favourable entertainment with God. Delivered in divers sermons on Luke 15. from vers. 11. to vers. 24. By that faithfull servant of Jesus Christ Obadiah Sedgwick, B.D. Perfected by himself, and perused by those whom he intrusted with the publishing of his works, 1660, Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #19. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #16.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Covetousness, greed, and selfishness, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Foolishness, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Wisdom, The wisdom books, Proverbs, Self, selfishness, self-esteem, The covenant faithfulness of god, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Covenant theology, The covenant faithfulness of god, The covenanted reformation, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Pride, Humility, Reconciliation of relationships, Bad relationships a cause of disease and death, Will and recalcitrance, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 2871, 3203, 4310



Prostitution, Harlotry

See the Theological Notes, "The Image of God," at Genesis 1:27 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Body and Soul, Male and Female" at Genesis 2:7 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the chart, Israel's Apostasy and Hosea's Marriage at Hosea 3:1, page 1364 in The Reformation Study Bible.
"The stages of Israel's relationship with God are depicted in the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, as well as in Hosea's relationship with Gomer."

I used to say that Politics is the second oldest profession [prostitution being the oldest], but I have come to realize that it bears a gross similarity to the first. -- William Penn

Incest is "boot-camp" for prostitution.

According to a new (2004) State Department sex-trafficking report, 600,000 men, women and children are taken across international borders each year and forced into prostitution and labor.

Fitzgerald, Matthew, Sex-Ploytaion: How Women use Their Bodies to Extort Money From Men (April House Publishing), ISBN: 0966963903 9780966963908.
"This is a book about male-female relationships that deals with contemporary female duplicity in our modern society and refutes the false feminist propaganda about equal rights. The text takes off where THE MANIPULATED MAN by Esther Vilar left off 27 years ago when it was first published and points out How Women Use Their Bodies To Extort Money From Men." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

*Miller, C. John "Jack" (1928-1996), "Finding Healthy Self-Esteem Through Being Completely Forgiven" (Quality Living Series. Jenkintown, PA [World Harvest, Box 2175, Jenkintown, 19046]: World Harvest, 1987).
"Do you feel inadequate? That you need to do more or be better in order to be happy and fulfilled? You may not realize it, but your biggest problem is . . . you don't feel completely forgiven."
World Harvest Mission
http://www.whm.org/home.htm

Wardlaw, Ralph (1779-1853), Lectures on Female Prostitution: Its Nature, extent, effects, guilt, causes, and remedy, Second edition: of which the profits will be given to aid any effort that may be made for the suppression of the vice in the city of Glasgow, 1843. Alternate title: LECTURES ON MAGDALENISM.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Fatherlessness, Lust, Pornography, Child abuse and pedophilia, Gratuitous sex, a cause of violence, Abuse, Rape, Child abuse and pedophilia, Homosexuality, Incest, Adultery, Abortion, Lust, Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Organized crime, Substance abuse and addiction, Gambling, Sex education, Idolatry, Forgiveness of sin, Justification, Justifying faith, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 3881, 3882

Related WebLinks

Five-Year Arrest Trends, All Women, 1995-1999 (6,622 agencies)
One sign of the decline of a society is the increase in crime by women.
Percentage increases in arrests of all women, select crimes. (Women under 18 only indicated by "under 18")
  1. Prostitution and commercialized vice, +8.4 (under 18)
  2. Sex offenses (except forcible rape and prostitution), +34.7 (under 18)
  3. Drug abuse violations, +11.4, +12.3 (under 18)
  4. Gambling, +20.1
  5. Offenses against the family and children, +7.9, +16.6 (under 18)
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/Cius_99/99crime/99c4_04.pdf

A Redneck Resolution Against Self-destruction
http://www.lettermen2.com/redneck.html



Punishment

See the Theological Notes, "Church Discipline and Excommunication," at Matthew 18:15 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "The Final Judgment," at Matthew 25:41 in The Reformation Study Bible

Paul does not regard government as provider of income, health care, education, national parks, money, or any of the other services common to our modern welfare states; its function is quite simple: to punish wrongdoers. -- John W. Robbins

Stern as the Truth of God is, we ought never to flinch from repeating it, that sin cannot be put away under the moral government of God without punishment. This is a rule from which there is no variation and there should be none, for if justice is left unsatisfied, the foundations of society are out of course. Infinite Wisdom has found for us a door of escape by the way of a vicarious Sacrifice, but that way does not violate justice. Seeing that we originally fell by the sin of another, namely, our representative Adam, God has seen fit that we should rise through the righteousness and sufferings of another, namely, Jesus, the second Adam. Because Jesus was one with His people, and their federal Head, it was just to allow Him to suffer in their place and He has so done. Apart from this, every man must bear his own burden of sin and punishment. The only possible way by which a man can be forgiven his sin is by that sin being punished in his legal Representative, the Lord Jesus. Jesus has borne, Himself, what every believing sinner ought to have borne, or an equivalent for it, sufficient to recompense the injury done to eternal justice. No other person could be a Substitute for our sin, for no other is our Head and Representative before God, and yet Himself innocent. There is none other name given under Heaven by which we may be saved. The Lord Jesus is of God appointed and provided to be the one vicarious Sufferer, the true bearer away of the sin of the world by enduring its penalty in His own Person so that whoever believes in Him is redeemed from the punishment of sin. That is the Gospel! I would sooner state it in the most simple language than have the power to deliver an impromptu poem, though it should excel the productions of Homer or Milton. There is more of precious truth and priceless learning in that faithful saying that, "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners" than in the most profound discourse, or the most stately epic. Be thankful that you have heard it! Be thankful that there is forgiveness with God because Jesus Christ has become the Savior of men. O fellow Sinner, you may approach your God without being plunged into suffering yourself, or needing to bring a victim with you, for Jesus Christ has been brought as a lamb to the slaughter and His soul has been made an offering for sin! Tremble not, but receive the reconciliation effected by the Lamb of God! Come boldly, for the way is open and man is invited to approach his God. -- Charles Haddon Spurgeon in the sermon "Behold the Lamb," (John 1:36), Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, July 14, 1872, No. 1060

Without church discipline there is no church government.
Without magistracy (judgment, justice, law enforcement, punishment of wrongdoers, criminal prosecution, civil prosecution, equal justice for the "insane" and "mentally ill" [who in most cases are demoniacs], regulation of finance, business, and all spheres of human activity) -- in the absence of law enforcement, and regulation there is no government. Punishment of wrong doers is the primary function of a nation's government. Without magistracy there is no government.

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Punishment," "Church Discipline," and so forth, and so on.

*GILLESPIE, PATRICK, Rulers Sins the Causes of National Judgments: or, A Sermon preached at the fast, upon the 26th day of December 1650. By Mr. Patrick Gillespie, ... To which is annexed, A sermon upon the difficulty of conversion, by Mr. John Walwood. . . . Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

Kandle, George C., and Henry H. Cassler, Ministering to Prisoners and Their Families (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1968).
Includes bibliography.

*RUTHERFORD, SAMUEL (1600?-1661), A Free Disputation Against Pretended Liberty of Conscience, 1649 edition. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #9, #25, and #26, ISBN: 0921148836 9780921148838. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #21.
"Rutherford's FREE DISPUTATION, though scarce, is still one of his most important works with maybe only a few copies of the actual book left in existence. Though Rutherford is affectionately remembered in our day for his LETTERS, or for laying the foundations of constitutional government (against the divine right of kings) in his unsurpassed LEX, REX his FREE DISPUTATION should not be overlooked for it contains the same searing insights as LEX, REX. In fact, this book should probably be known as Rutherford's 'politically incorrect' companion volume to LEX, REX. A sort of sequel aimed at driving pluralists and antinomians insane. Written against 'the Belgick Arminians, Socinians, and other Authors contending for lawlesse liberty, or licentious Tolerations of Sects and Heresies,' Rutherford explains the undiluted Biblical solution to moral relativism, especially as it is expressed in ecclesiastical and civil pluralism! (Corporate pluralism being a violation of the first commandment and an affront to the holy God of Scripture). He also deals with conscience, toleration, penology (punishment), and the judicial laws, as related to both the civil and ecclesiastical realms. Excellent sections are also included which address questions related to determining the fundamentals of religion, how covenants bind us, the perpetual obligation of social covenants (with direct application to the Solemn League and Covenant and the covenant-breaking of Cromwell and his sectarian supporters), whether the punishing of seducing teachers be persecution of conscience, and much more. Walker adds these comments and context regarding Rutherford's FREE DISPUTATION, 'The principle of toleration was beginning to be broached in England, and in a modified shape to find acceptance there. Samuel Rutherford was alarmed, or rather, I should say, he was horrified, for he neither feared the face of man or argument. He rushed to the rescue of the good old view . . . It is not so easy to find a theoretical ground for toleration; and Rutherford has many plausible things to say against it. With the most perfect confidence, he argues that it is alike against Scripture and common sense that you should have two religions side by side. It is outrageous ecclesiastically, it is sinful civilly. He does not, however, take what I call the essentially persecuting ground. He does not hold that the magistrate is to punish religion as religion. Nay, he strongly maintains that the civil magistrate never aims at the conscience. The magistrate, he urges, does not send anyone, whether a heretic (who is a soul murderer -- RB) or a murderer, to the scaffold with the idea of producing conversion or other spiritual result, but to strengthen the foundations of civil order. But if he gives so much power to the king, he is no lover of despotism withal: the king himself must be under law. To vindicate this great doctrine is the object of another book, the celebrated LEX, REX; of which it has been said by one competent to judge, that it first clearly developed the constitutionalism which all men now accept' (Theology and Theologians . . . pp. 11-12). In our day Francis Schaeffer, and numerous others, have critiqued many of the problems found in modern society, but most have spent little time developing explicitly Biblical solutions especially regarding the theoretical foundations that Rutherford addresses here. Rutherford's FREE DISPUTATION provides a detailed blueprint for laying the foundations that must be laid before any lasting, God-honoring solutions will be found. Furthermore, Rutherford and his writings were the enemies of all governments not covenanted with Christ. This book will give you a very clear picture as to why 'the beast' (civil and ecclesiastical) has reserved his special hatred for such teaching. As Samuel Wylie noted '[t]he dispute, then, will not turn upon the point whether religion should be civilly established . . . but it is concerning what religion ought to be civilly established and protected, -- whether the religion of Jesus alone should be countenanced by civil authority, or every blasphemous, heretical, and idolatrous abomination which the subtle malignity of the old serpent and a heart deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, can frame and devise, should be put on an equal footing therewith" (The Two Sons of Oil; or, the Faithful Witness for Magistracy and Ministry Upon a Scriptural Basis, softcover). Can our generation swallow Rutherford's hard, anti-pluralistic, Covenanter medicine, poured forth from the bottle of the first commandment, without choking on their carnal dreams of a free and righteous society divorced from God (and His absolute claims upon everyone and everything)? Not without the enabling power of the Holy Spirit -- that is for sure! In summary, this book answers all the hardest questions theonomists (and their wisest and best opponents) have been asking for the last 20-30 years (and these answers are much more in depth than any we have seen in the last couple of millennia [less about a century to account for the apostles]). As the reader will discover, Rutherford was a wealthy man when it came to wisdom (and much advanced theologically), and those who take the time to gaze into the King's treasure house, as exhibited in this book, will find that they are greatly rewarded. Furthermore, because of its uncompromising stand upon the Word of God, this book is sure to be unpopular among a wicked and adulterous generation. However, on the other hand, it is sure to be popular among the covenanted servants of King Jesus! This is one of the best books (in the top five anyway) for advanced study of the Christian faith. We have now obtained an easy-to-read, amazingly clear copy of this very rare, old treasure. Great price too, considering that a copy of the 1649 edition, containing this quality of print, would likely cost upwards of $1000 on the rare book market -- though it is unlikely you would ever see a copy for sale!" -- SWRB
The Covenant Between God and Kings, from A DEFENSE OF LIBERTY
http://www.constitution.org/vct/vindiciae1a.htm

Van Ness, Daniel W., Crime and Its Victims (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press), ISBN: 0877845123 9780877845126.
"Along with the high praise and commendation by Cal Thomas, Mark Hatfield, and Carl Henry, Charles Colson (Prison Fellowship Ministries) gives this book an important foreword. It is an excellent start. Implementing advice in this book would begin a revolution of our criminal justice system." -- GCB

Wright, Christopher, J.H., An Eye for an Eye: The Place of Old Testament Ethics Today (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press), ISBN: 0877848211 9780877848219.
"Wright develops a comprehensive and systematic view of Old Testament Law. Some say only the moral is still valid, we can disregard the ceremonial and civil law. Others say we must build a New Testament ethic only. Neither approach, argues Wright, gives the Old Testament its due in Christian thinking." -- GCB

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The ten commandments, the moral law, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, The courts and the law base, The governments roles to punish wrongdoers, Restitution, Leniency, Toleration, liberty of conscience, pluralism, and neutrality, Separation, Imprisonment, Vengeance and retaliation, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Bible magistracy turns back the wrath of god, Repentance the key to salvation and change, Forgiveness, Justification, Justifying faith, Sanctification, Imprisonment, Hell, Reform of the church, Church discipline, Unfaithful reformed ministries, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 945, 946, 795, 1368-1375, 1630, 2553-2565, 3047, 3048, 3091, 3355



Rape

See the Theological Notes, "The Image of God," at Genesis 1:27 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Body and Soul, Male and Female" at Genesis 2:7 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Casting all you care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Botkin-Maher, Jennifer, Nice Girls Don't get Raped (San Bernardino, CA: Here's Life Publishers), ISBN: 0898401577: 9780898401578.
"A sensitive account of physical, emotional, social, and spiritual effects of rape on a woman and her family. NICE GIRLS DON'T GET RAPED also shares Jennifer's personal walk from trauma to triumph. She guides you through the healing process to a life free from the bondage of fear." -- GCB

*Foster, David Kyle, Sexual Healing: God's Plan for the Sanctification of Broken Lives: A Reference Manual for Ministering to Those Trapped in Sexual Sin and Brokenness (Jacksonville, FL [Mastering Life Ministries, P.O. Box 351149, Jacksonville 32235]: Mastering Life Ministries, 1997), ISBN: 0830737154 9780830737154 0830737340 9780830737345.
This is a unique work and the best resource known to the compiler offering biblical counsel for healing sexual brokenness. See "Foundations" and "Divine Intent for Sexuality" for a biblical explanation of the spiritual significance of sexuality. These two chapters alone make the purchase of the book worthwhile. Includes chapters, study guides, and exercises for Root sources for improper sexual development, Sexual identity confusion, Child sex abuse, Sexual addition, Pornography, Masturbation, voyeurism and exhibitionism, Why people remain in sexual sin and bondage, Failure and self-condemnation, A comprehensive game plan for sexual healing, and so forth. Indexed, 398 pages, includes bibliography.
Mastering Life Ministries
http://www.MasteringLife.org

Heitritter, Lynn, and Jeanette Vought, Helping Victims of Sexual Abuse (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1989), ISBN: 0764202286 9780764202285.
"Sexual abuse is making headlines around America. . . . Many people secretly bear the scars of childhood abuse and desperately struggle with the hidden trauma that interferes with spiritual growth and normal human relationships. The church needs to understand genuine sexual abuse and what can be done about it under present civil constraints." -- Susan Alder
"What women should know about sexual assault."
"Heitritter and Vought have done an enormous service in demonstrating the extent of the problem in the local church. They give practical, tested advice about ministry to survivors of sexual abuse. Required reading for pastors, lay leaders and others who work everyday with victims of sexual abuse." -- Dale S. Ryan, Executive Director of The Recovery Partnership Foundation, Whittier, California

Strom, Kay M., Helping Women in Crisis: A Handbook for People Helpers, ISBN: 0310336414 9780310336419.
"Covers all the bases -- alcohol and drug abuse, child abuse, sexual molestation, incest, infidelity, rape, suicide, teenage pregnancy, wife abuse. Each chapter summarizes the major issues involved. This is a very helpful book, and lay counselors will appreciate the author's candor and practical ideas. Here is a work pastors can use in their lay counseling program." -- Cyril J. Barber

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Sin, contagion of sin, imitation, conformity, Temptation, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Sexual relationship, Gratuitous sex, a cause of violence, Fatherlessness, Child abuse and pedophilia, Incest, Abuse, Lust, Pornography, Gambling, Prostitution, Homosexuality, Spirituality and harlotry, Rape (women), Carnality and flesh pleasing: lust, desires, ambition, Idolatry, Menpleasing, Forgiveness of sin, Justification, Sexually transmitted diseases, and so forth, and so on.

Related WebLinks

Mastering Life Ministries
http://www.MasteringLife.org

Stefieangel's HomePage - MPD/DID Resources
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/3885/DID_links.html

Sexual Assault Information Page
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~bartley/saInfoPage.html

A Redneck Resolution Against Self-destruction
http://www.lettermen2.com/redneck.html

Mantle Ministries (Elsie Dinsmore and Mildred Series)
http://www.mantlemin.com



Rebellion and Lawlessness: Wickedness, Demonic Possession, Substance Abuse, Abnormal Behavior, Insanity, Mental Illness, Mental Retardation

See: Rebellion and Lawlessness: Wickedness, Demonic Possession, Substance Abuse, Abnormal Behavior, Insanity, Mental Illness, Mental Retardation
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappd.html#rlinsane



Reconciliation of Relationships

See the Theological Notes, "Repentance," at Acts 26:20 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Christ the Mediator," at 1 Timothy 2:5 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Atonement," at Romans 3:25 in The Reformation Study Bible

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:23, 24)

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:12)

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity. (1 Corinthians 13)

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (Philippians 2:3, 4)

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. (1 Peter 2:17)

Law is justice. And it is under the law of justice -- under the reign of right; under the influence of liberty, safety, stability, and responsibility -- that every person will attain his real worth and true dignity of his being. It is only under this law of justice that mankind will achieve -- slowly, no doubt, but certainly -- God's design for the orderly and peaceful progress of humanity.
It seems to me that this is theoretically right, for whatever the question under discussion -- whether religious, philosophical, political, or economic; whether it concerns prosperity, morality, equality, right, justice, progress, responsibility, cooperation, property, labor, trade, capital, wages, taxes, population, finance, or government -- at whatever point on the scientific horizon I begin my researches, I invariably reach this one conclusion: The solution to the problems of human relationships is to be found in liberty. -- Frederic Bastiat in The Law, pp. 72, 73

Every day look to the special duties of your several relations: whether you are husbands, wives, parents, children, masters, servants, pastors, people, magistrates, subjects, remember that every relation hath a special duty, and its advantage for the doing of some good; and that God requireth your faithfulness in these, as well as in any other duty. And that in these a man's sincerity or hypocrisy is usually more tried, than in any other part of our lives. -- Richard Baxter

Relationship is the essence of Christianity, first to our God and then to our fellowman. When the individual's relationship to God is broken, then life falls into disarray. Human relationships are broken and life goes awry. Loyalty to our covenant relationship with God is, therefore, of utmost importance. Many of life's problems can be solved by being true to Christ and then by mending relationships with Him and with our neighbors.

Many marriages have been healed by a commitment to Christ first and to each other second. -- D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, What if Jesus had Never Been Born, p. 140

The only way for man and wife and children to live together happily is to pursue holiness through Christ Jesus, The Everlasting Righteousness, or How Shall Man be Just With God? Horatius Bonar.

A clear understanding of the Doctrine of Justification enables us to repair broken relationships, both with God and with man. Repentance and forgiveness bridges the gap between man and God. It enables a man and wife to reconcile their broken relationships, and to live together in harmony. It enables the individuals to repair relationships broken by sin, and then to live and work together in unity in society.

For basic background on the doctrine of justification:

If the reader would be interested in a full discussion of errors in the Doctrine of Justification, as well as a discussion of the doctrine soundly presented then we recommend the following books:
*Adams, Jay E., Christian Living in the Home (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1974), ISBN: 0801000513 9780801000515.
"His [Adam's] approach to family life is conditioned completely by the Bible. He writes, `A truly Christian home is a place where sinners live; but it is also a place where the members of that home admit the fact and understand the problem, know what to do about it, and as a result grow by grace'." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
"This best-selling title will challenge, encourage, and aid the reader in the development of a truly Christian home. Christians will find this volume full of practical, biblical advice on Christ-centered family living, communication with family members, family guidance and discipline, living with an unbelieving spouse, and many other areas. Pastors and Christian counselors will value this work for its insight and faithfulness to God's Word." -- SWRB
"Written to check the erosion of the family as the basic foundation of society. Practical applications of Scripture to family living are given." -- GCB. A study guide is available.
Christian Living in the Home
http://www.nouthetic.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=82&Itemid=99
Adams, Jay E., Christian Living in the Home: Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic.
Barker, Dorothy Anderson, and Jay Adams, Leader`s Guide for Jay E. Adams's CHRISTIAN LIVING IN THE HOME. Alternate title: CHRISTIAN LIVING IN THE HOME (STUDY GUIDE). (Philadelphia: Great Commission Publications, 1977), 64 pages.
"Thirteen week guide for the leader of a Sunday school or Bible study class that utilizes Adams's book on marriage and family." -- David Powlison

Adams, Jay E., Effective communication; Disabled people; Inferiority complex; Unsaved wife; Be prepared! (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA406.

*Adams, Jay E., From Forgiven to Forgiving: Discover the Path to Biblical Forgiveness (Wheaton, IL: Scripture Press Publishers, Incorporated), ISBN: 1879737124 9781879737129.
"For the 'average Christian,' to shed light on all aspects of forgiveness seeking and granting, and to counter erroneous views. How do forgiven persons -- God's children -- become forgiving persons? Defines, illustrates, motivates and challenges people to deal with forgiveness issues biblically. Clear thinking is essential: 'Labels are important not only as signs of the thing they signify but also as signposts that point to solutions to the problems they categorize.' Tackles unbiblical concepts such as forgiving self, forgiving God, apologizing, 'forgive and forget'." -- David Powlison
"A detailed look at forgiveness from the Bible. He finds that much of what passes for Biblical teaching on this subject just plain misses the mark." -- GCB

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Reconciliation," "Repentance," "Confession," "Forgiveness," "Justification," "Sanctification," and so forth, and so on.

Adams, Jay, Sibling Rivalry in the Household of God (Denver: Accent Books, 1988), ISBN: 0896362361 9780896362369.
"About 'the causes and effects of rivalry among brothers and sisters in Christ and what can be done about it. . . .' 'Sibling rivalry in the household of faith -- just like at home -- is due entirely to sin.' Other supposed causes are not causes but occasions for our self-centered human nature to act. The Holy Spirit gives practical guidance in His Word for solving rivalry and conflict through repentance, faith and obedience." -- David Powlison

*Aldrich, Joseph C., Love for All Your Worth: A Quest for Personal Value and Lovability (Portland, OR: Multnomah Press, 1985), ISBN: 0880701196 9780880701198.
"Encourages his readers to embark on a quest to develop a true, God-given lovability that will bring out the best in each one of us. Each chapter is based on a careful exposition of Scripture. This is a challenging book that is deserving of careful reading." -- Cyril J. Barber

Barker, Dorothy Anderson, and Jay Adams, Leader's Guide for Jay E. Adams's Christian Living in the Home (Philadelphia: Great Commission Publications, 1977), 64 pages.
"Thirteen week guide for the leader of a Sunday school or Bible study class that utilizes Adams's book on marriage and family." -- David Powlison

Bobgan, Martin, and Deidre Bobgan, How to Counsel From Scripture (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985), 224 pages, ISBN: 0802403735 9780802403735.
"God's love is the predominant factor in change: 'God's love enables one to overcome sin and its consequences, to live in relationship to Him, and to be transformed into the image of Christ. His love engenders trust, which leads to obedience to His Word.' 'Biblical counseling is not a new idea. We are merely promoting a restoration of one of the oldest ministries. . . . The cure-of-souls ministry emphasized the person's relationship with God from which comes renewal and change in the mental-emotional-behavioral areas of life.' Part 1 lays out a biblical model of man and a biblical methodology for change. Part 2 talks about the counselee, the counselor, and their relationship of conversation. Part 3 discusses the centrality of the love of God. Part 4 speaks of setting up counseling ministry in the church." -- David Powlison

*Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), The Everlasting Righteousness, or How Shall Man be Just With God? (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1993). A Christian classic.
"First published in 1874, THE EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, may be the best book on the doctrine of justification by faith alone ever written.
"Since the seventeenth century, the church's adherence to the central doctrine of the Christian faith has been weakening; in the twentieth century it has all but disappeared. But to those who remain faithful -- to those who are called of God -- justification by faith alone is the best news there could ever be: that Christ died for our sins, and we shall live forever because of Christ's righteousness.
"Justification by faith alone -- the `principal hinge of religion,' according to John Calvin, the `doctrine by which the church stands or falls,' according to Martin Luther -- is salvation. Without it, all hope is lost; with it, Heaven gained. Bonar's discussion is without equal in the English language." -- John W. Robbins
The Banner of Truth edition is available free as e-text.
The Everlasting Righteousness; or, How Shall Man be Just With God?
The Everlasting Righteousness, Horatius Bonar
http://www.jude3.net/bertoc.htm
http://books.google.com/books?id=nQMDAAAAQAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Bonar, Horatius (1808-1889), and Charles Hodge, Not What My Hands Have Done (Unicoi, TN: The Trinity Foundation, November, 2005). ISBN: 0940931699.
"Justification by faith alone is the central doctrine of Christianity. The critical question for man is not, What is the best government? or Whom should I marry? but, How can I, a sinner, be accepted by a Holy God? The Biblical answer is that sinners can stand before the face of God only in the righteousness that belongs to another, a righteousness that is not the result of the sinner's effort, but wholly a gift, received freely by faith alone.
"But the doctrine of justification by faith alone is either not taught or is actively opposed by most American churches, and now it is under siege in Reformed churches as well, both Baptist and Presbyterian. The emerging consensus in America is that salvation comes by religious experience, and the churches differ merely over which experience is saving: baptism, Mass, religious emotion, ecstatic speech, etc.
"Horatius Bonar and Charles Hodge, both 19th-century theologians, left us with one of the best popular explanations of the Biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone, and one of the best scholarly discussions of the doctrine and its adversaries. These two books, THE EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS by Bonar and JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE by Hodge, are here combined into one volume. NOT WHAT MY HANDS HAVE DONE offers not only a primer on justification but an advanced course as well. It is must reading for anyone who wants to understand Christianity." -- Publisher's Annotation
"Contents:
"The Everlasting Righteousness, by Horatius Bonar:
Foreword; Preface; God's Answer to Man's Question; God's Recognition of Substitution; The Completeness of the Substitution; The Declaration of the Completeness; Righteousness for the Unrighteous; The Righteousness of God Reckoned to Us; Not Faith, But Christ; What the Resurrection of the Substitute Has Done; The Pardon and the Peace Made Sure; The Holy Life of the Justified
"Justification by Faith Alone, by Charles Hodge:
"Foreword; Introduction; The Meaning of Justification; Christ's Satisfaction of the Law; The Righteousness of Christ; Confessional Statements of the Doctrine; Justification Is a Forensic Act; Works Not the Ground of Justification; The Righteousness of Christ the Ground of Justification; Imputation of Righteousness; Proof of the Doctrine; The Consequences of the Imputation of Righteousness; Relation of Faith to Justification; Objections to the Protestant Doctrine of Justification; Departures from the Protestant Doctrine; Scripture Index; Index.
Not What My Hands Have Done, order form
http://www.trinitylectures.org/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=158

*Bridges, Jerry, The Crisis of Caring: Recovering the Meaning of True Fellowship (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.), ISBN: 087552110X 9780875521107.
"Bridges believes that Biblical fellowship is properly understood as a ministry of caring marked by renewed love for other believers, partnership in the Gospel, the exercise of spiritual gifts, and sharing of possessions." -- Publisher's Annotation
"This book comes as a result of Bridges' study into the Biblical practice of koinonia (fellowship). Excellent treatment of the full rich meaning of the term as used in the Bible. Truly a life-changing book!" -- GCB
A study guide and leader's guide are available. Originally published under the title TRUE FELLOWSHIP.

Bridges, Jerry, True Fellowship: The Biblical Practice of Koinonia, ISBN: 0891095217 9780891095217.

Bridges, Jerry, True Fellowship: A Bible Study on (Leader's Guide) (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress and Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers).
"First published in 1983, this book was written to help Christians not only accept the fact that God is in charge, but also to see and apply the implications of that fact. An honest book which gives straight, Biblical answers to the tough question we all ask." -- GCB

Burroughs, Jeremiah (1599-1646), Gospel reconciliation, or, Christ's trumpet of peace to the world wherein is shewed (besides many other gospel truth) . . . that there was a breach made between God and man . . . to which is added two sermons (London: Printed by Peter Cole. . . , 1657), ISBN: 1567690661 9781567690668.
"Notes: Published with a testimony by Thomas Goodwin, William Bridge, William Greenhil, Sydrach Sympson, Philip Nye, John Yates, William Adderley."
"Gods present mercies to his people are arguments of future mercies, preached at Saviors Southward, May 2, 1641; Old age is a crown of glory . . . , preached before the Company of Mercers at their chappel, May 20, 1641."

Buzzard, Lynn R., and Laurence Eck, Readiness for Reconciliation: A Biblical Guide

Burgess, Heidi, and Guy M. Burgess, Encyclopedia of Conflict Resolution, ISBN: 0874368391 9780874368390.

*Dayringer, Richard, The Heart of Pastoral Counseling: Healing Through Relationship (Grand Rapids, MI: Ministry Resources Library, c1989), ISBN: 0789001721 9780789001726.
Includes bibliography and index.
"Edition lays the foundation for utilizing the pastoral counseling relationship to bring about positive change as it explores topics such as observation, listening, communication, handling transference, and termination of therapy. Dr. Richard Dayringer explores these topics through research from the disciplines of psychiatry, psychology, marriage counseling, family therapy, and pastoral counseling to help pastoral counselors understand how to use the relationship to bring about the desired ends in the therapeutic process." -- Reader's Comment

*Denney, James, The Biblical Doctrine of Reconciliation (Minneapolis, MN: Klock and Klock Christian Publishers, 1985), ISBN: 0865241929.
"Denney was both a pastor and a theologian. He defines and describes the Biblical doctrine of reconciliation and demonstrates that the essence of Christianity lies in its message of grace. Well conceived and well executed. This book deserves careful reading." -- Cyril J. Barber
"Read it again and again, and then preach its doctrine all your days . . . I do not know any modern book that has so much preaching power in it." -- Alexander Whyte

*Findley, Martha, Book 2: Elsie's Holidays at Roselands. ISBN: 9781888306323 1888306327.
"When Elsie's father becomes ill, she takes on the job of nurse-companion, and all goes well until Elsie, because it is the Sabbath, as a matter of conscience refuses to read to him from a secular book. The battle of wills that ensues nearly causes first her father's death, and then Elsie's. Lonely Elsie -- punished, ostracized, and then abandoned by her father -- turns to her heavenly Father for comfort and assurance. Will her father realize that Elsie's obedience to God must be paramount, and submit himself to the same Divine Authority?" -- Publisher's Annotation
On an even more serious note, one moral of this story is the broader life and death struggle between Truth and Falsehood (see "Absolute Truth and Relativism," "Epistemology," "Christian Scholarship"). The consequence of conflict of will is death of the "One," or war of the "Many" (see Rushdoony, The One and the Many). Conflict of will (see "Will and Recalcitrance," "Rebellion and Lawlessness") may begin when one individual (see "The Doctrine of Man [Human Nature, Total Depravity])" or corporate body (see "Corporate Faithfulness and Sanctification") tries to usurping authority over another (see "Power," "Authority") -- tries to control and possess them (see "Tyranny," "Slavery"). The means of control may be either outward or occult (see "The Occult and Spiritism"): deceit, repression or suppression of the truth, replacing moral and ethical absolutes with relativism (see "Ethics," "Medical Ethics"), unfaithfulness to the highest ethical standards (see "The Ten Commandments, the Moral Law," "The Holy Bible"), apostasy, spiritual harlotry (see "Idolatry," "Jeremiah"), invocation of the demonic, idolatry, ungodly alliance and secret societies (see "Carnality and Flesh Pleasing: Lust, Desires, Ambition," "Justice, Judgment, God's Final Judgment, The Great White Throne Judgment, The Day of the Lord"), attempts to take authority over another politically or by mental malpractice (see "Selection of Covenant Heads for Positions of Leadership"), "making up their own rules (see "Absolute Truth and Relativism)," ignoring or changing constitutional or creedal documents, unjust laws for the accumulation of wealth and power, indebtedness, disenfranchisement, denial of freedom (see "God the Author of Freedom"), soul-stealing, possessiveness, physical seduction and whoredom, political economic or sexual enslavement (see "Sexual Relationship"), and so forth, and so on.
This abuse, this soul-violence, quenches the Holy Spirit (see Owen, "God's Presence With a People the Spring of Their Prosperity; With Their Special Interest in Abiding in Him"). If either side is immovable, then death is the consequence (see "Soteriology," "The Atonement," "The Blood of Christ," "Hell" and "Heaven").
How are conflicts of will resolved? By submission to the Absolute Truths of God's word, the great common denominator (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. -- Jesus Christ (John 14:6, KJV). All this bears a strain of the Gospel (see "Book-length Presentations of the Free Offer of The Gospel Message of Salvation and the Life to Come: The Means of Grace," "The Westminster Confession of Faith").
Holidays at Roselands (Gutenberg text)
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=14280

*Foster, David Kyle, Sexual Healing: God's Plan for the Sanctification of Broken Lives: A Reference Manual for Ministering to Those Trapped in Sexual Sin and Brokenness (Jacksonville, FL [Mastering Life Ministries, P.O. Box 351149, Jacksonville 32235]: Mastering Life Ministries, 1997), ISBN: 0830737154 9780830737154 0830737340 9780830737345.
This is a unique work and the best resource known to the compiler offering biblical counsel for healing sexual brokenness. See "Foundations" and "Divine Intent for Sexuality" for a biblical explanation of the spiritual significance of sexuality. These two chapters alone make the purchase of the book worthwhile. Includes chapters, study guides, and exercises for Root sources for improper sexual development, Sexual identity confusion, Child sex abuse, Sexual addition, Pornography, Masturbation, voyeurism and exhibitionism, Why people remain in sexual sin and bondage, Failure and self-condemnation, A comprehensive game plan for sexual healing, and so forth. Indexed, 398 pages, includes bibliography.
Mastering Life Ministries
http://www.MasteringLife.org

Goodwin, Thomas (1600-1680), Christ the Universall Peace-maker: or, The Reconciliation of all the people of God, notwithstanding all their differences, enmities (London: printed by J.G. for R. Dawlman, 1651).

Grunlan, Stephen A., and Daniel H. Lambrides, Healing Relationships: A Christian's Manual for Lay Counseling, ISBN: 087509354X 9780875093543.

Hart, Larry Don, A Model for Relational Counseling Through Expository Preaching at the Santa Cruz Church of Christ (California) (Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Theology, D.Min. thesis, 1984).
"This dissertation presents a model for contemporary preaching which integrates the dynamic of relationship counseling with the exposition of Scripture. Any number of people have drawn analogies between the two, but the proposal here is that the ministry of preaching and the ministry of counseling are inherently connected by theological and spiritual realities. . . ." -- Dissertation Abstracts

Hunt, Angela Everett, Loving Someone Else's Child (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992), ISBN: 0842338632 9780842338639.
"Angela Hunt and her husband, Gary, are two of the most sensitive and caring people I know. Angie's book is written out of her own experience and is much needed in our fractured culture. It will be a blessing to all in need of assurance that parenting is more than biology." -- Cal Thomas

*Kennedy, D. James, Learning to Live With the People You Love (Springdale, PA: Whitaker House, 1987), ISBN: 0883681900 9780883681909.
Love "is sharing life together in a way that brings glory to God and enriches the lives of every family member."
Dr. Kennedy says no book he has written has brought so many comments as this one.
Read this in conjunction with Dr. Kennedy's 6-message audio cassette series "Secrets of Successful Marriages," the audio cassette message "Why Some Marriages Fail and Others Succeed," and the 4-message audio cassette series "The Christian Marriage Series."

Lidgett, J.S., The Fatherhood of God, condensed edition (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers), ISBN: 0871239884 9780871239884.
"Lidgett's book, appearing here in an edited and condensed edition (first published in 1902), addresses the Fatherhood of God Biblically, historically, and philosophically. It deals with God's relationship to mankind as seen in Jesus' relationship to His Father." -- GCB

*Lockyer, Herbert, All the Promises of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Pub. House, 1996, 1962). ISBN: 0310281318.
"A devotional expositional compilation of all the promises [about 3,300 of the approximate 8,810 promises - sk] that are found in Scripture." -- Synopsis
"Lockyers in-depth look at the scope of Gods promises arranges them in categories that cover the full array of human concerns, from the spiritual to the material and the corporate to the personal. As you come to understand Gods promises and how they apply to every aspect of your life, you'll gain a trust in God that will sustain you through the worst of times and be your source of rejoicing in the best.
"Dr. Herbert Lockyer was born in London in 1886, and held pastorates in Scotland and England for 25 years before coming to the United States in 1935. In 1937 he received the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Northwestern Evangelical Seminary. In 1955 he returned to England where he lived for many years. He then returned to the United States where he continued to devote time to the writing ministry until his death in November of 1984." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Mack, Wayne, A Homework Manual for Biblical Counseling, Vol. I: Personal and Interpersonal Problems (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1982, c1979), ISBN: 0875523560 9780875523569.
"The counseling session is not the `magic hour,' and this gives homework assignments that can help with a wide range of problems. Covers about 35 problems, from 'Anger' and 'Anxiety,' through 'Communication' and 'Changing Sinful Thought Patterns,' to 'Vocation' and 'Work.' Typical assignments contain Bible studies, self-analysis questions, brief teachings, and plans to solve problems with a biblical course of action." -- David Powlison

Mack, Wayne, You can Resolve Interpersonal Conflicts (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1981, c1979), ISBN: 0801061032 9780801061035.
"Unfolds Philippians 4:2 -- the conflict of Euodia and Syntyche -- as a paradigm for conflict solving. Take responsibility for your side; approach the other person in biblical ways; seek wise counsel. Includes suggested assignments." -- David Powlison

Mack, Wayne A., Your Family, God's Way: Developing and Sustaining Relationships in the Home. Alternate title: BUILDING YOUR FAMILY GOD'S WAY: THE ROLE OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN THE HOME (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.), ISBN: 0875523587 9780875523583.
"Unfolds Psalm 128's vision of godly family life. Calls on a husband and father to be first and foremost a "God-fearing" man. Calls on a wife and mother to become a "fruitful vine" because of the intimacy of her relationship with God. Calls on parents to view their children as precious "olive plants." Extensive and practical discussion of communication and problem-solving principles. Contains study and application assignments for each chapter." -- David Powlison
"Mack offers Biblical insight and practical wisdom for two crucial areas of family life: communication and conflict resolution. Stories of success and application questions give hope and clear direction to all who wish to build stronger families." -- Publisher's Annotation

Mains, David, Healing The Dysfunctional Church Family: When Destructive Family Patterns Infiltrate the Body of Christ, ISBN: 1560431636 9781560431633.
"Wouldn't you like to be part of a perfect church family? Who wouldn't?! Unfortunately, no church is flawless. Mains discusses eight destructive family patterns (including blaming, competition and comparison, perfectionism, and conditional love) that can arise in the church family. He challenges you to confront dysfunctions and make your church a place where people are loved, forgiven, helped, and given hope for the future. Includes small-group discussion questions. . . ." -- CBD

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

McClung, Floyd, Jr., The Father Heart of God, ISBN: 9780736912150 0736912150
"You'll will discover that no problem is too great or too insignificant for your Father in Heaven. The author illustrates how the loving, compassion of God enables us to overcome insecurity and the devastating effects of some of life's most painful experiences." -- Publisher's Annotation
Helpful for those who may be alienated from God in part by family problems.

McNair, Mac. and Amy McNair, Ten Principles for a Successful Marriage: Practical Lessons From the Ten Commandments, ISBN: 1581820224 9781581820225.

"Nearly everyone has heard of the Ten Commandments, and most people can even name a few of them. Through fifty-five years of marriage Mac and Amy McNair have drawn from them the following guidelines for living together:

"A simply written, deeply personal look at marriage, TEN PRINCIPLES FOR A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE is a recounting of the principles that have guided the authors in their own marriage. While at first these insights may seem like simple common courtesy and common sense, the McNairs have found a great deal of profundity in this very simplicity. Inspired by the Ten Commandments, TEN PRINCIPLES FOR A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE is an intensely practical, time-tested guide to happy, successful living that could be applied to other areas of life as well.
"Mac McNair is a former career Air Force officer, professor at North Carolina State University, and director of aerospace programs at the Pentagon. Currently president of McNair Associates, a management consulting firm, he also is chairman of the Executive Leadership Foundation, which seeks to apply Judeo-Christian ethics in business and society. He also is co-author of the leadership development program for the U.S. Attorney General's office. Amy McNair, a homemaker, teaches classes with Mac on the principles of successful marriage. They live near Atlanta, Georgia." -- Publisher's Annotation
Executive Leadership Foundation
http://www.commandmentsonline.com/

Miller, C. John (1928-1996), Come Back Barbara (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House), ISBN: 0310374715 9780310374718.

*Miller, Wendell E. Forgiveness: The Power and the Puzzles, ISBN: 0964144115 9780964144118.
"Defines God's forgiveness in four ways: (1) initial forgiveness releases us from the penalty of sin and (2) restores us to fellowship with God, and (3) repetitive forgiveness releases us from the day by day penalty for fresh sins, and (4) restores us day by day to fellowship. Defines our forgiveness of others in two ways: (1) vertical forgiveness between us and God (Mark 11:25) releases others from the penalty of our wrath, and (2) horizontal forgiveness (Luke 17:3) restores the relationship between us and others who repent. Discusses flaws in such ideas as 'forgiving God' and 'forgiving oneself'." -- David Powlison
"It could have been called "The Anger Handbook" because it teaches how to overcome problems of hurt feelings, anger, and aggressive behavior. Overcoming problems of anger is crucial. Spouse abuse, failures in marriages, failures in child rearing, and even child abuse often erupt from anger. Parents who model angry behavior are likely to raise children with anger problems. And most importantly, God is not glorified by Christians who have anger problems.
"It teaches the kind of forgiveness that is nearly always an absolute necessity to becoming really free from the trauma of sexual abuse. . . .
"FORGIVENESS: THE POWER AND THE PUZZLES will add biblical power to the books that you already have on Christian living, discipleship, marriage, childrearing, anger, communications, forgiveness, and sexual abuse." -- Publisher's Annotation

*Pike, Samuel (1717-1773), and Samuel Hayward (1718-1757), Discovering why the Spirit is Grieved. In RELIGIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER . . . TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION; OR, THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF GOD'S WORD; AND CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, 1866.
Discovering Why the Spirit is Grieved
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/discovering-why-the-spirit-is-grieved.php

Powell, Paul W., Basic Bible Sermons on Handling Conflict (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1992).

*Ridderbos, H., Biblical Doctrine of Reconciliation (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates, 1991).
Audio cassette HR102.

*Sande, Ken, The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, ISBN: 0801064856 9780801064852.
"Lays out four phases of the reconciliation process: [1] glorify God; [2] get the log out of your own eye; [3] go and show your brother his fault; [4] go and be reconciled. The motivation and foundation for peacemaking lies in who God is, not in pragmatic self-interest. Self-examination and repentance lay the foundation for dealing well with the sins of others. Constructive confrontation involves both speaking the truth in love and listening in order to pursue understanding of the situation. Reconciliation and forgiveness are the culminating phase of peace making." -- David Powlison
"Treats conflict almost entirely from the context of believer against believer. Not much help surfaces for conflicts between believers and unbelievers. . . . In general the book rates as one of the best on the thorny subject of conflict. Professional church staff members and volunteer layperson can benefit immensely from this book." -- Samuel L. Canine. The indexes of topics and authors makes the book a good reference tool. Five appendixes.

*Spotts, Dwight, and David Veerman, Reaching out to Troubled Youth, ISBN: 0896932966 9780896932968.
"A very important book that those who work with children and youth will find extremely helpful. The material is arranged topically, shows evidence of extensive research, and provides helpful quotations of relevant material. A valuable resource." -- Cyril J. Barber
"This double-column book is a resource tool offering facts, figures, case studies, and practical advice for reaching out to young people who hurt. Advice is offered on how to: communicate, discipline, share the hope of the Gospel, and how to deal with special problems like substance abuse, child abuse, and homosexuality." -- GCB

*Spurgeon, C.H., The Saint and His Saviour: The Progress of the Soul in the Knowledge of Jesus (Houston, TX: Christian Focus Publications, c1989), ISBN: 1871676010 9781871676013.
"In this practical book, Spurgeon deals with all aspects of the relationship Christ has with His people." -- GCB

Talley, James, and Leslie H. Stobbe, Reconcilable Differences: Mending Broken Relationships (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986), ISBN: 0840731965 9780840731968.
"Designed to help troubled couples regain harmony through understanding. Points the way to defusing areas of conflict, and recommends steps that will help couples rekindle lost love and reestablish lost unity. Recommended." -- Cyril J. Barber
"Is it possible for a couple whose marriage is in serious trouble or a couple who is already divorced to restore harmony -- and even love -- to their relationship? Jim Talley believes it is. RECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES shows why reconciliation is worth the effort and provides practical, biblical advice on how to resolve conflicts and develop a relationship based on mutual love, respect, and trust." -- Publisher's Annotation

Tripp, Paul, When Things go From bad to Worse (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates, 1991).
Audio cassette HFTF08.

Walter, Richard P., Forgive and be Free: Healing the Wounds of Past and Present, ISBN: 0310426111 9780310426110.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The inspiration and infallibility of scripture (the doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of plenary inspiration, the doctrine of divine inspiration, the doctrine of verbal inspiration, Repentance the key to salvation and change, Forgiveness of sin, Unforgiveness, Resentment and bitterness, Justification, Justifying faith, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, the theology of judgment, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The covenant faithfulness of god, Covenant theology, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Prayer, Intercessory prayer, Problem solving in marriage, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, How to become a christian, Book-length Presentations of the Free Offer of The Gospel Message of Salvation and the Life to Come: The Means of Grace, False gospels, The love and justice of God, Abuse, Child abuse and pedophilia, Anger, Guilt, Resentment, Prodigals, Forgiveness, The promises of Christ, Bible promises, Problem solving in Marriage, Reconciling Marriage Partners, Case studies, Avoiding divorce, Men, women, and God, Finding the perfect parent in God, and Christianity, Marriage, Index of Subjects, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 740, 2971, 2972
MGTP: Peace With God, Forgiveness, Justification

Related WebLinks

The Commandments of Jesus, J.S. McConnell (1925)
http://www.wowzone.com/commandm.htm

That Ye Love One Another, John Love (1757-1825)
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/that-ye-love-one-another.php

Justifying Faith
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr1cha.html#justfaith

For wisdom in getting along with others, read Proverbs.

Mastering Life Ministries
http://www.MasteringLife.org

Christian Liberty
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr9cha.html



Repentance

See: Repentance the Key to Salvation and Change
 http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr2cha.html#rtktsac



Resentment and Bitterness

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:23, 24)

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. . . . Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:29, 31, 32)

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. (Hebrews 12:14, 15)

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. (Proverbs 24:17, 18)

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Bitterness," and so forth, and so on.

Clowney, E., The stairway of god; God Among us; Getting even; Bitterness (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette EC201.

Henry, Jim, Bitterness: Weeding out the Poisonous Root (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers), ISBN: 0880701528 9780880701525.

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

Talley, James, and Leslie H. Stobbe, Reconcilable Differences: Mending Broken Relationships (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986), ISBN: 0840731965 9780840731968.
"Designed to help troubled couples regain harmony through understanding. Points the way to defusing areas of conflict, and recommends steps that will help couples rekindle lost love and reestablish lost unity. Recommended." -- Cyril J. Barber
"Is it possible for a couple whose marriage is in serious trouble or a couple who is already divorced to restore harmony -- and even love -- to their relationship? Jim Talley believes it is. RECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES shows why reconciliation is worth the effort and provides practical, biblical advice on how to resolve conflicts and develop a relationship based on mutual love, respect, and trust." -- Publisher's Annotation

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Envy, jealousy, Anger, Vengeance and retaliation, Unforgiveness, Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Casuistry, cases of conscience, Ethics, Affliction, adversity, trials, Repentance the key to salvation and change, Justification, Justifying faith, Forgiveness, Reconciliation of relationships, Reconciliation of marriage partners, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Bad relationships a cause of disease and death, Emotions and health, The covenant faithfulness of god, Covenant theology, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, Christianity and the workplace, Emotions and health, Fear, Prayer, Spiritual aspects of health, Worry and anxiety, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 471

Related WebLinks

How to be Free From Bitterness, by Jim Wilson
http://www.ior.com/~noahs/christian/ccm/books/bitterness/

The Blood of the Lamb, the Conquering Weapon
A sermon by C.H. Spurgeon delivered on Lord's-day morning, September 9, 1888, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, Sermon no. 2043.
http://www.mountzion.org/fgb/Summer97/FgbS6-97.html



Rest

In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15a)

Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:28-30)

Word: "disease;" Meaning; "disturb;" Sample location: "Luke 8:49" -- from the "Glossary," 1599 Geneva Bible. Tolle Lege edition DISEASE, n. Dizeze. [dis and ease.] 1. In its primary sense, pain, uneasiness, distress, and so used by Spenser; but in this sense, obsolete. 2. The cause of pain or uneasiness . . . disorder; any state of a living body in which the natural functions of the organs are interrupted or disturbed . . . The first effect of disease is uneasiness or pain, and the ultimate effect is death. . . . 3. A disordered state of the mind or intellect, by which the reason is impaired. 4. In society, vice; corrupt state of morals. Vices are called moral diseases. A wise man converses with the wicked, as a physician with the sick, not to catch the disease, but to cure it. 5. Political or civil disorder, or vices in a state; any practice which tends to disturb the peace of society, or impede or prevent the regular administration of government. The instability, injustice and confusion introduced into the public councils have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have every where perished. DISEASE, v.t. dizeze. 1. To interrupt or impair any or all the natural and regular functions of the several organs of a living body [i.e. robbing a neighbor of sleep -- sk]; to afflict with pain or sickness to make morbid . . . 2. To interrupt or render imperfect the regular functions of the brain, or of the intellect; to disorder; to derange. 3. To infect; to communicate disease to, by contagion. 4. To pain; to make uneasy. --1828 edition of Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Fatigue," and so forth, and so on.

*Baxter, Richard (1615-1691), The Saint's Everlasting Rest: Baxter's Practical Works, Vol. 3 (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2000), ISBN: 187761128X 9781877611285. A Christian classic.
"Third in the four-volume set. Includes The Saint's Everlasting Rest; Treatise of Self-Denial; The Life of Faith; Obedient Patience, and many more. Over 1000 pages." -- GCB
The Saints' Everlasting Rest, (singly) Richard Baxter, edited by Benjamin Fawcett
"Discusses the nature, excellencies, design, rejection, necessity, of the Saints' rest. Calls us to live the heavenly life now." -- GCB
"This is the greatest treatment on Heaven ever to appear! . . ." -- Wilbur M. Smith. A Christian classic.
http://www.ccel.org/b/baxter/everlasting_rest/saints_rest.html
Available [THE SAINT'S EVERLASTING REST, singly] on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Two, CD #11.
Translations: The Saint's Everlasting Rest (singely), French; Danish; Dutch.

Boston, Thomas (1676-1732), Christ's Invitation to the Labouring and Heavy Laden. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THE REVEREND THOMAS BOSTON (9:169-219).

*Newton, John, Messiah. Fifty Expository Discourses, on the Series of Scriptural Passages, Which Form the Subject of the Celebrated Oratorio of Handel, 2 volumes.

Newton, John, Rest for the Weary. In WORKS OF JOHN NEWTON, (4:163-73). In MESSIAH: FIFTY EXPOSITORY DISCOURSES ON THE SERIES OF SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES WHICH FORM THE SUBJECT OF THE CELEBRATED ORATORIO OF HANDEL (4:1-583).

See also: Physical health, Depression, Hypothyroidism, Sleep apnea, Stress, Trusting god, Reconciliation of relationships, Sleep, Loving and obeying god, Forgiveness, Unforgiveness, Repentance the key to salvation and change, Self-discipline, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Loneliness, Christian fellowship, Friendship, Lordship of jesus christ, The all-sufficiency of christ, Neighbors, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 2934, 2935, 3010-3022, 3099
MGTP: Rest



Restitution

The prison appears in Biblical law only as a place of custody, pending trial. There is no direct reference to prisons. The methods of dealing with criminals was basically threefold: First, capital punishment was required for capital offenses, and for incorrigible criminals. Second, for all other offenses, restitution was the law; where an order of law had been violated, restoration was the basic function of the courts. Emphatically, in Biblical law the goal is not punishment but restoration, not the infliction of certain penalties on criminals but the restoration of godly order. The center of attention is thus not the criminal but the righteous man and the total godly order. Third, where criminals were unable to make restitution, bond-service was mandatory in order to work out the required restitution.
In Leviticus 18:24-30, there is a strong summons to righteousness coupled with a warning. Sin is a defilement of man and of the land: it destroys or upsets God's order, and its consequences is God's judgment. Man must therefore 'keep' the law lest the land 'spue' him out for his 'abominations' and 'iniquities.' Justice builds up and exalts a land; it is a restoration and a construction, whereas iniquity destroys a land and creates a moral vacuum that cries for judgment. -- Rousas John Rushdoony, The Institutes of Biblical Law, page 515

Western civilization began as an unhappy compromise between the Biblical standard of restitution and a Greco-Roman and pagan criminology which, while having elements of restitution, leaned heavily towards punishment. The prison thus had a place in Christendom, as an ugly, bastard compromise. It was not only a place of custody, but also a place for torture and punishment, a place to hold men for ransom or for elimination from a threatening position in the state. The prison was an accepted and illegitimate part of the social order. Thus, it could be stated that, into the 18th century,

It must be borne in mind that all this time the prisons were primarily places of detention, not of punishment. The bulk of those committed to their safe keeping were accused persons awaiting trial in due process of law, or debtors; and of these again by far the most numerous class were the impecunious and the unfortunate, whom a mistaken system locked up and deprived of all means of paying their liabilities. Now and again an offender was sentenced to be imprisoned in default of payment of fine, or to pass the intervals between certain periods of disgraceful exposure on the pillory. Imprisonment has as yet no regular place in the code of penalties, and the jail was only the temporary lodging of culprits duly tried and sentenced according to law. The punishment most in favour in these ruthless times was death. (Major Arthur Griffiths, "Prison Discipline," in The Encyclopaedia Britannica, Ninth Edition, 1892) -- Rousas John Rushdoony, Institutes of Biblical Law, pp. 515, 516
Humanism thus has come full circle. It began by replacing restitution with the prison system. It concludes now by restoring restitution, by requiring that society make restitution to the criminal for its supposed neglect. Because of its environmentalism, humanism blames a lack in the environment for a man's crimes. This means that society must atone for that lack by restitution. Both criminology and welfarism rest on this humanistic doctrine of restitution. Restitution must thus be made to all who are criminals, perverts, or lazy, to all who will not work, or who are failures, to all who give birth to illegitimate children, and to all who in any way are sub-standard. Restitution has once again become the social standard, but it is a humanistic restitution which works in total opposition to God's order. -- Rousas John Rushdoony, Institutes of Biblical Law page 517

The lawyer order, being alien to law, becomes a social order managed by social scientists. Since environment rather than sin is blamed for crime, treatment of the offenders and restitution to them becomes the order of the day. . . . These facts are not surprising. A prison holds in enforced community a large number of incorrigible criminals who deserve death, and a number of offenders who should be required to work out restitution. To keep such a collection of people from evil would require more guards than most prisons can afford. Instead of dealing with the root problem, the departure from the Biblical principle of restitution, humanistic reformers compound the evil. As radical legal positivists, they deny any absolute concept of justice and concern themselves instead with the individual, the person of the criminal. Humanistic restitution then functions to give every possible advantage to the criminal.-- Rousas John Rushdoony, Institutes of Biblical Law, page 518, 519

Humanistic restitution is anti-law in that it is fundamentally hostile to any concept of absolute law. Absolute law is replaced with the absolute person. The result is the end of any law-order, and its replacement with a lawyer-order. The difference between the two is a great one. -- Rousas John Rushdoony, Institutes of Biblical Law, page 517

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Restitution," and so forth, and so on.

*Rushdoony, Rousas J. (1916-2001), Institutes of Biblical Law, 3 volumes (Vallecito, CA: Ross House Books), ISBN: 1879998130.
Volume 1, INSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW, 890 pages, ISBN-10: 0875524109.
"A monumental volume . . . Deeply explores the meaning and application of the Ten Commandments for today in civil government, social ethics, and personal conduct." -- GCB
"Many consider this to be the author's most important work. With indices. -- Publisher's Annotation
Volume 2, LAW AND SOCIETY, 752 pages, ISBN-10: 1879998238.
"The relationship of Biblical Law to communion and community, the sociology of the Sabbath, the family and inheritance, and much more are covered in the second volume. Contains an appendix by Herbert Titus. With indices." -- Publisher's Annotation
Volume 3, THE INTENT OF THE LAW, 252 pages, ISBN-10: 1879998130.
" 'God's law is much more than a legal code; it is a covenantal law. It establishes a personal relationship between God and man.' The first section summarizes the case laws. The author tenderly illustrates how the law is for our good, and makes clear the difference between the sacrificial laws and those that apply today. The second section vividly shows the practical implications of the law. The examples catch the reader's attention; the author clearly has had much experience discussing God's law. The third section shows that would-be challengers to God's law produce only poison and death. Only God's law can claim to express God's 'covenant grace in helping us'. With indices." -- Publisher's Annotation

See also: Imprisonment, The courts and the law base, Leniency, The government's responsibility to punish wrongdoers, Leniency, Theft, stealing and fraud: property rights, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 3023-3029

Related WebLinks

Theft: Commentary and Cases of Conscience. A Listing Excerpted From THE INSTITUTES OF BIBLICAL LAW by Rousas John Rushdoony, 1973 edition
http://www.lettermen2.com/theft.html



Scapegoating and Blame Shifting

See the Theological Notes, "Mankind's Guilty Knowledge of God," at Romans 1:29 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Adams, Jay E., Christian forgiveness: Responsibility or blame-shifting? (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette JA407.

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Blameshifting," "Responsibility," and so forth, and so on.

*Marshall, Walter (1628-1680), The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union With Christ (London, England: Oliphants Press, 1956, 1692) and (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, Inc., 2005, 1999), ISBN: 189277724X. See the WorldCat record for various foreign language editions.
The Reformation Heritage Books edition is a reprint of the 1954 edition set by Oliphants and includes an introduction by Joel R. Beeke. Also includes the author's famous sermon on "The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied."
Another edition: (Sovereign Grace Publishers Inc., October 1, 2001), 140 pages, ISBN: 1589600630.
"Here you will read the most closely reasoned defense of scriptural sanctification to be found anywhere. . . . Fourteen directions are given to the reader, all perfected with the aim of explaining to sincere souls what sanctification is, what it is not, and how to attain a holy walk before God. . . ." -- Jay P. Green, Sr.
Another edition: (Wipf & Stock Publishers, January 2005), 270 pages, ISBN: 1597520543.
"This is by far the best book on the doctrine of Sanctification in print. It was originally written in the 17th century, but has been put into modern English with this edition. This book will help you better understand the Gospel and its power not only for our Justification, but our Sanctification as well." -- Reader's Comment

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), Rebellion and lawlessness: wickedness, demonic possession, substance abuse, abnormal behavior, insanity, mental illness, mental retardation, Will and recalcitrance, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Justice, god's final judgment, the great white throne judgment, the day of the lord, Guilt, Soteriology, The blood of christ, Sin, contagion of sin, imitation, conformity, Temptation, Lying, deceit, self-deception, Hypocracy, Self-righteousness, self-justification, Self, self-esteem, Covetousness, greed, selfishness, Unforgiveness, The ten commandments, the moral law, The covenant faithfulness of god, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Persecution, Prejudice, Envy, Jealousy, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 872, 2670, 3160, 3217, 3218, 3347



Security

See the Theological Notes, "God Reigns: Divine Sovereignty," at Daniel 4:34 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "Perseverance of the Saints," at Romans 8:30 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Justification and Merit," at Galatians 3:11 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Whatever our changes may be, inward or outward, yet Christ changing not, our eternal condition is secured, and relief provided against all present troubles and miseries. The immutability and eternity of Christ are the spring of our consolation and security in every condition. Such is the frailty of the nature of man, and such the perishing condition of all created things, that none can ever obtain the least stable consolation but what ariseth from an interest in the omnipotency, sovereignty, and eternity of Jesus Christ. -- John Owen

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Assurance," "Hope," and so forth, and so on.

AMES, WILLIAM, The Saint's Security Against Seducing Spirits, or An Anointing From the Holy One, the best teaching, delivered in a sermon on I John 2:20, at Paul's before the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City of London, upon the fifth of November, 1651 (Cerlox Bound Photocopy Series. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Still Waters Revival Books). Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #31. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #29.

FLEMING, ROBERT, A Discourse of Earthquakes as They are Supernatural and Premonitory Signs to a Nation, with a respect to what hath occurred in this year 1692, and some special reflections thereon, as also that security and assurance of mind which is attainable in the light and power of religion, under the greatest suprisals, and terror of sense, with some enquiry upon the grounds both of our fears and hopes, as to the public state of the church of Christ in this day, 1693 (Cerlox Bound Photocopy Series. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Still Waters Revival Books). Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #6. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #17.
Griffith, Leonard, Illusions of our Culture (Waco, TX: Word Books, 1971), ISBN: 0340107138 9780340107133.
"Analyzes the `appearance of reality' of our present culture and shows how these illusions degenerate into the `leafy trees of a desert mirage.' Among the topics considered are affluence, security, independence, happiness, and freedom." -- Cyril J. Barber

Miller, C. John (1928-1996), God as Father (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette POG02.

Sedgwick, Obadiah (1600?-1658), and Chambers, Humphrey (1598 or 9-1662), The Shepherd of Israel, or God's Pastoral Care Over his People. Delivered in Divers Sermons on the Whole Twenty-third Psalm. Together with the doctrine of providence practically handled on Matth. 10. 29,30,31. By that reverend and faithful minister of the Gospel Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick, B.D. Perfected by himself, and perused by those whom he instrusted with the publishing of his works, 1658

*SCUDDER, HENRY, The Christian's Daily Walk in Holy Security and Peace (Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle Publications). Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #4. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Five, CD #30. A Christian classic.
"I remember not any book which is written to be the daily companion of Christians, to guide them in the practice of a holy life, which I prefer before this . . . " -- John Owen
"We could say nothing more about this book than that it has been highly recommended by John Owen and Richard Baxter. Owen said it had been very effective for him in his youth and Baxter said there is no book better on the subject." -- GCB

Smith, B.M., Family Religion, or the Domestic Relations as Regulated by Christian Principles (1859), (Cerlox Bound Photocopy Series. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Still Waters Revival Books). Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #24. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #22, ISBN: 0921148143 9780921148142.
"Smith's family was greatly influenced by Samuel Davies. Smith himself was a friend of R.L. Dabney. As the editor notes, the importance of this book is seen in the fact that `[r]eform of the family would soon diffuse itself throughout the whole constitution of society, a higher tone of morals would be inspired, and not only would the moral influence of the church be enlarged, but the stability and security of the state would be perpetuated.' Or as the DIRECTORY FOR FAMILY WORSHIP, appended to the Westminster Confession, so wisely points out, `[b]esides the public worship in congregations, mercifully established in this land in great purity, it is expedient and necessary that secret worship of each person alone, and private worship of families, be pressed and set up; that, with national reformation, the profession and power of godliness, both personal and domestic, be advanced.' This was a prize winning essay, covering, in depth, the family and its duties." -- SWRB

WILLSON, JAMES R. (1780-1853), A Sermon on the Glory and Security of the Church of God, 1824. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #29, ISBN: 0921148283 9780921148289. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #20.
http://www.covenanter.org/JRWillson/gloryandsecurity.htm

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The covenant faithfulness of god, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Hebrews, The all-sufficiency of christ, Immanuel, christ's presence, christ in you, Sonship, The priesthood of believers, Election, Perseverance of the saints, Trusting god, Loving and obeying god, Heaven, Immortality, life everlasting, Adoption, The fatherhood of god, Hope, Bible promises, The promises of christ, Sexual relationship, Spirituality and harlotry, Justification, Justifying faith, Prayer, Spiritual warfare, The imprecatory psalms, The blood of christ, Waiting on god, God's deliverance of nations, Forgiveness, Justification, Immortality, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 298, 739, 1218, 1606, 1693, 2023, 3122, 3160, 3174-3189, 3806



Seduction

Proverbs 7

*Bobgan, Martin, and Deidre Bobgan, Psycho-Heresy: The Seduction of Christianity by Psychoanalysis (Santa Barbara, CA: EastGate Publishers), ISBN: 0941717003.
"Some people will say the Bobgans are hitting too hard -- naming names and all that -- but I don't think so. Whenever someone writes for the Christian public he sets forth his views to the scrutiny of others, but if others think that what he says is dangerous to the church, they, like Paul (who names names, too) have an obligation to say so. The chapter Amalgamania is the best. Indeed it should be enlarged and made into an entire book." -- Jay Adams
"Psychology is an anti-biblical religious system not a science. The church has bought the system, rather than building counseling from the Bible. Labels and categories matter, because they either describe things truly or falsely, e.g., the myth of mental illness. Psychotherapy is quackery, with very little documentable success. 'Although some disciplines in the broad field of psychological study have contributed some information about people, much of the information that has filtered down into popular literature and into the psychological office is spurious. The most seductively dangerous area of psychology is that part which seeks to explain why people are the way they are and how they change.' Includes critiques of evangelicals who 'amalgamate' psychology and Christianity: Richard Dobbins, H. Norman Wright, Larry Crabb, Paul Tournier, M. Scott Peck, H. Newton Maloney, Charles Solomon, and others." -- David Powlison
"In the Amalgamania chapter (5), the authors use 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, the separation between light and darkness, between Christ and Belial, between believers and unbelievers, to point out the unbiblical practice of mixing Bible and psychology, with the palm going to the latter. Note the many `How to' books being produced, the fact that they do not have the Bible as the sole rule of faith and practice. It is the Bible plus something else that will solve your problems. Just as teens think that the wisdom of their parents is pass‚, so the writers of today's books in effect regard the Bible's teaching in the same way. To hear the psychologists is to find that they think that the Bible is not adequate for this present age
. . . . Find a church `counselor' who sticks strictly to God's Word, and you will know that you have seen a rare bird indeed. . . . The truth of the matter is that the Christian counselor who determines by the grace of God to know and use the Scriptures in his counseling is the only one who can ever have a solid basis for what he says and does
(p. 203). . . . Read the Puritan sermons, for instance. They expounded the Word fully, and then they gave application after application to everyday life to show that every situation was covered by the Scriptures . . ." -- Jay P. Green Sr.
"Analyzes attempts to integrate psychology with the Bible, exposes fallacies of psychological counseling, examines four commonly held myths about psychology, and encourages a return to sound Biblical foundations for Christian living. Praised by Jay Adams, Ed Payne, et al." -- GCB
Psychoheresy Awareness Ministries
http://www.silcom.com/~phbobgan/

deParrie, Paul, Romanced to Death: Sexual Seduction of American Culture (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth and Hyatt Publishers, 1990). [90467]
"The author exposes what he calls the `skin trade,' the commercial sexuality that has seduced America. He traces the misconception of love that has resulted in high divorce rates, promiscuity, infidelity, and abortion." -- GCB

Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006), a documentary DVD, ISBN: 1415731527 9781415731529.
"Stanley Nelson's [the director] riveting and often unsettling documentary on the history of the People's Temple from Jim Jones's roots as a rising preacher on the gospel rival circuit to the events that lead to that horrible day is a must see.
"There are a several strong factors that separate this documentary from any other dealing with Jonestown incident. Nelson has tracked down a large amount of amazing archival super 8 footage shot for promotional purposes by members of People's Temple themselves. This footage helps craft an understanding of the seduction behind the ideas and opportunities Jim Jones presented to his followers that would see them travel with him from Indiana to California and finally to Guyana.
" 'Jonestown: The Life and Death of People's Temple' is a pitch perfect portrait of the Jonestown experience that sheds light on the much of the cult's mystery through interviews with survivors and former People's Temple members. By addressing Jones's early life and his surprisingly groundbreaking work in the African American communities in regards to race relations and equality you can't help connecting with the idealism behind the People's Temple's philosophy. Exploring the racial aspect of the People's Temple with it's staggering 80 percent black congregation Nelson brings into play issues of poverty and class key to understanding Jim Jones's messiah-like cult persona in reference to an often ignored and struggling community.
"Even weaving together an eerie soundtrack of songs sung by the People's Temple Choir and using heartbreaking never before seen letters and documentation made by the members right up until their deaths, Nelson never over dramatizes or relies on sentimentality in this documentary and in doing so paints a world that stays with you long after the lights go up." -- (http://www.blogto.com/film/2007/03/cinephile_report_jonestown_the_life_and_death_of_peoples_temple_directed_by_stanley_nelson/)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762111/

See also: Spiritual discernment, Pseudo-christian movements, Singleness, Being single (women), Courtship, Gratuitous sex, a cause of violence, Homosexuality, Sexual relationship, Counseling for sex related problems, Illegitimacy, Sexually transmitted diseases, Child abuse and pedophilia, Abuse, Drug abuse and addiction, Abuse, Abuse (women), Incest, Incest (women), Women and the new age, Rape, Rape (women), Infatuation, Loneliness, Lust, Abstinence, chastity, Adultery, Alcoholism, The occult, Sorcery, Feminism, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 1814, 3594



Self, Self-esteem

See the Theological Notes, "The Purpose of God: Predestination and Foreknowledge," at Malachi 1:2 in The Reformation Study Bible

See the Theological Notes, "Pleasing God," at 1 Thessalonians 2:6 in The Reformation Study Bible.

See the Theological Notes, "Love," at 1 Corinthians 13:13 in The Reformation Study Bible.

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:30)

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)

If, then, any exhortation is in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye may mind the same thing -- having the same love -- of one soul -- minding the one thing, nothing in rivalry or vainglory, but in humility of mind one another counting more excellent than yourselves -- each not to your own look ye, but each also to the things of others. (Philippians 2:1-4, YLTHB)

Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the might man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23, 24)

Man withdraweth himself from God's government, and setteth up himself instead of God, and thought to have a secured happiness from God, in eating the forbidden fruit, and therefore would not depend upon God to be happy. He saw another way to be like God. God hath highest place in our heart by order of creation, and according to the degrees of excellency in things should our esteem of them be, "everything being beautiful in his place," Eccles. iii. 11. But where God is put down, -- as he is in all men till they be in Christ, -- something self-love sets up in the heart above God. Hence cometh the necessity of this method of taking us off from ourselves before we can live to Christ; because self-love is an impediment and block in the way between us and Christ, heaven and happiness. . . ." -- Richard Sibbes

Know thyself, and pride will die. -- Richard Baxter

The fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God.
They are corrupt,
they have done abominable works,
there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1)
See the Theological Notes, "Mankind's Guilty Knowledge of God" at Romans 1:29 and the note at Psalm 14:1 in The Reformation Study Bible

Our Triune God has ordained that authority, power, and leadership devolves to those who know the most Truth (the Apostle Paul, Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, The Scots Worthies . . . ). Preeminent among those is the Lord Christ, the God Man, Our Righteousness. (John 1:1-18; Matthew 19:30; Matthew 28:18-20; Isaiah 49:7; Colossians 1:16-19; Colossians 2:9,10; Hebrews 12:1,2; Revelation 5:1-14; Revelation 19:11-15; Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 22:12, and so forth, and so on.)

To serve God is to reign. -- Seneca

Soul-violence begins when one individual tries to usurping authority over another, to control and possess them. The means of control may be either outward or occult: possessiveness, deceit, repression or suppression of the truth, soul stealing, attempts to take authority over another politically or by mental malpractice, denial of freedom, indebtedness, whoredom, and so forth. Abuse of the soul quenches the Holy Spirit.
If either side is immovable, then death is the result of the conflict of will. How are conflicts of will resolved? By submission to the absolute truth of God's word. These observations bear a strain of the Gospel.

A broad overview of literature shows an evident interconnection between "absolute truth, life (temporal and eternal), moral behavior (law and order, and justice), freedom (religious, political, economic, and individual), (the definition of true religion found in the Westminster Standards (1646) and the Covenanted Reformation), social stability (peace, security, prosperity, and happiness), justification, sanctification, personal spiritual growth, social transformation, education, the arts, scientific discovery, real progress, and the realization of the Kingdom of God upon earth. -- The Preface to The Web Edition of Biblical Counsel: Resources for Renewal

National security is dependent upon covenant relationship with the Triune God.

*Adams, Jay E., The Biblical View of Self-Esteem, Self-Love, Self-Image (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers), ISBN: 0890815534 9780890815533.
"The self-esteem fad has spread as people combat what is seen as the great modern enemy: low self-esteem rooted in childhood neglect and criticism. Adams traces the roots of these ideas in Adler and Maslow. Challenges the notion of psychological 'needs' ('Scratch out the word "need" and substitute the word "desire," and the result will be a much more accurate reading of the facts.') Exegetes the two great commandments ('Love yourself?') and Romans 6/Colossians 3 ('Man of infinite worth?'). Unpacks biblical view of self-loathing and self-denial. 'While there is no concern evidenced in the Bible about people having too little self-esteem, and therefore no directions for enhancing self-esteem, God does indicate that He wants us to evaluate ourselves accurately.' Summary, p. 119. Most of book rebuts popular errors; last seven pages give positive ideas for helping depressed counselees." -- David Powlison
"How to evaluate the modern movement promoting `self' and Psychology, ideas now well entrenched in many churches. How to determine if this movement has any biblical basis and how Christians can relate to these teachings. Related item: Ganz's PSYCHOBABBLE: THE FAILURE OF MODERN PSYCHOLOGY AND THE BIBLICAL ALTERNATIVE." -- SWRB

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Self-control," "Self-image," "Self-pity," and so forth, and so on.

Adams, Jay, Sibling Rivalry in the Household of God (Denver: Accent Books, 1988), ISBN: 0896362361 9780896362369.
"About 'the causes and effects of rivalry among brothers and sisters in Christ and what can be done about it. . . .' 'Sibling rivalry in the household of faith -- just like at home -- is due entirely to sin.' Other supposed causes are not causes but occasions for our self-centered human nature to act. The Holy Spirit gives practical guidance in His Word for solving rivalry and conflict through repentance, faith and obedience." -- David Powlison

Adams, Jay E., A Thirst for Wholeness: How to Gain Wisdom From the Book of James (Victor Books [Scripture Press], 1988), ISBN: 0964355698 9780964355699, 143 pages.
"A study of the inner dynamics of human life from the book of James. Meant to be used personally or in a study group or class. Works thematically, covering anger, desires, doubt, prayer, peacemaking, sickness, among other things. The section on the 'inner/outer aspects of sin' (Chapter 3) rebuts a host of misconceptions of nouthetic counseling as externalistic: 'The struggle for mastery over one's desires must be achieved. . . . Christian, resist sin at the start, as Jesus did. Abort inner sin before it is born. Augustine encourages us with these words: `Pray that God may make you conqueror of yourself. . . not the enemy without, but of your own soul within. . . . Let no enemy from without be feared: conquer yourself, and the whole world is conquered'." -- David Powlison A Thirst for Wholeness
http://www.nouthetic.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=82&Itemid=99

Adams, Jay E., Winning the War Within: A Bibical Strategy for Spiritual Warfare. Alternate title: THE WAR WITHIN: A BIBLICAL STRATEGY FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE, ISBN: 188903200X 9781889032009.
"The Christian life is war. The holy war between God and Satan gets played out within ourselves in the conflict between the Holy Spirit and the flesh. 'It is to the enemy within that Satan, the world, and the demons must make their appeal.' Describes Satan's tactics and power, and then the strategies for victory: the Spirit's sword, prayer, faith, the help of believers. 'The prime purpose of this book is to encourage faltering Christians'." -- David Powlison

*BAXTER, RICHARD (1615-1691), A Treatise of Self-Denial, ISBN: 1877611360. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #21.
It is included in THE SAINT'S EVERLASTING REST: BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, VOL. 3.
"This item 'is the work of Baxter that has been translated into the most number of different languages.' (Kettler, Sept./97 letter)
"It is also a great antidote to the prominent spirit (of antichrist) preached by psychologist and psychiatrists which focuses on self (self-esteem, self-actualization, etc.) and/or hedonism, in an idolatrous manner, rather than self-sacrifice and service in obedience to God. 'Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, . . . This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.' (2 Pet. 3:3, 2 Tim. 3:1-5)" -- SWRB

Berry, Jo, Becoming God's Special Woman: Develop Self-Worth His Way (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell), ISBN: 0800752198 9780800752194.
"Answers such questions as: Do you believe that God created you just as you are for a purpose? Would you like power to change your life? Are you moving toward God's ideal for your life?" -- GCB

*Bobgan, Martin, and Deidre Bobgan, Prophets of Psychoheresy II: Critiquing James Dobson (Santa Barbara, CA: EastGate Publishers), ISBN: 0941717046 9780941717045.
"Critique of James Dobson, primarily his use of the self-esteem concept as fundamental to his teachings. Dobson is a leader in 'promoting the psychologizing of Christianity. . . . We use the word prophet to mean a spokesman for a cause or movement. The heresy is the departure from absolute confidence in the Word of God for all matters of life and conduct and a movement toward faith in the unproven, unscientific psychological opinions of men. Thus we call it `psychoheresy.'" -- David Powlison
"Here is a call to the church to rely on the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit, rather than on the psychological opinions of men. Topics include: self-esteem, self-love, childhood memories, birth order, behaviorism, and many more." -- GCB

*Broger, John C. (developer/editor), Course I: The Self-Confrontation Syllabus for Biblical Counseling Training, ISBN: 1878114018 9781878114013 and Course I: Self-Confrontation Tapes (10 cassette tapes) (Rancho Mirage, CA: Biblical Counseling Foundation).
"Contains 24 weekly lessons intended to move a person through the change process personally as the foundation for working on becoming a counselor (Matthew 7:1-5). Intended for Sunday school and other classes or personal study. The first eight lessons lay the biblical foundation for change. The grace of the God in the gospel of Jesus Christ is spring of all true change, and it prompts a self-confrontation: 'Man's way is oriented to self: to please self, to comfort self, to rely on self, to fulfill self, to forgive self, to exalt self, and to love self. . . . [God's way] emphasizes that you are to live for Him.' The next thirteen lessons treat particular problem areas: selfishness, anger, interpersonal conflict, marriage and family, depression, fear, life-dominating sins. The final three lessons summarize and set the foundation for Course II, Biblical Counseling Training." -- David Powlison
"Helps Christians solve their personal problems Biblically and equips laymen and women to counsel others Biblically within the church." Particularly valuable for its system of identifying root problems in counseling cases. Some of the material presented is from various writings by Jay E. Adams. The audio cassette tape series by John Broger is designed to accompany the course and includes practical examples.
Biblical Counseling Foundation
http://www.bcfministries.org/aboutbcf.htm

Fiddler, Carol, and Elisabeth Elliot, A Girl of Beauty: Developing Character in Young Girls, ISBN: 0847414280 9780847414284.
"Addresses up-to-date issues girls face daily.
"Family therapists are noting that children as young as 8, 9, and 10 are obsessed with their bodies and that this excessive focus hinders the normal growth and development of children. Modern psychologists are saying that we need to teach our children how to navigate through modern culture because they are, for the first time in history, learning how to behave from watching TV personae rather than real people.
"Dealing with up-to-date issues that girls face today, this book is short, concise, and user-friendly for your fast-paced life. It covers topics girls deal with on a daily basis including: truthfulness, loyal friendships, contentment, life ambition, gossip, competition, outlook/attitude and more.
"This book is for those who feel the pull of the world on their daughters or the special girl in their life and want a tool to aid in the teaching and training of girls in good, solid, godly character. The message that all they need to get through life is image and outward beauty is faulty and shortsighted.
"Children, especially girls, need guidance and direction to counter this message. The recent trend for high school girls is cosmetic surgery to fix their `flaws' in hopes of finding security in themselves. Unfortunately this temporary fix will not satisfy them. They need to develop themselves as a whole person, full of godly character that gives them value as a complete person, beyond the surface exterior. Their security needs to be found not in temporary outward appearance, but in the development of inward qualities that are lasting. This book is a relationship-building book for parents and their daughters in understanding the heart of God for their identity and `whole-ness' as a person.
"There is great versatility in using the book. Feedback I have received from those who have used it found it a fun reference for a mom/daughter Bible study. One particular group met once a week in the summer with a different mom/daughter team in charge of the fun events (roller blades, water balloons, etc.) and teaching the character topic. Another mom offered it as an after school group to all the girls in her daughter's school class and it has built camaraderie in the group. They meet once a month. One gal used it as a camp counselor for her cabin devotions.
"A GIRL OF BEAUTY is a book you'll want to use over and over again (thick, high quality pages, spiral bound). Each time you go through it, something different and new comes out in discussion and application. We never stop learning and growing! Enjoy!" -- Carol Fiddler, the author

Hocking, David Lee, Who am I and What Difference Does it Make? ISBN: 0880701021 9780880701020.

Hooker, Thomas (1586-1647), Heautonaparnumenos, or, A Treatise of Self-deny all intended for the pulpit but now committed to the presse for the publike benefit, 1646.

Long, Edward LeRoy, Jr., The Role of Self in Conflicts and Struggles (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1959).

Matzat, Don, Christ Esteem: Where the Search for Self-Esteem Ends (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers), ISBN: 0890817847 9780890817841.
"Matzat responds to the search for self-knowledge with a solid, Biblical truth: What we need is Christ-esteem, not self-esteem! Matzat points to the lasting identity that Christ offers." -- GCB

Miller, C. John (1928-1996), You Feel Inferior Because You act Inferior (parts 1 and 2) (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassettes CM102 and CM102A.

*Owen, John (1616-1683), The Glory of Christ, Puritan Paperback Series edition (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust). ISBN: 0851516610 9780851516615. A Christian classic. In THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN.
Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD One, CD #1. Available [THE GLORY OF CHRIST] on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.
"In THE GLORY OF CHRIST . . . we have the great Puritan pastor and theologian, John Owen, at his richest and most mature. Here he writes about Jesus Christ, the heart of the Gospel, with biblical insight and understanding that is at times almost overwhelming for a contemporary reader.
"These chapters were written during the final period of Owen's life, and began simply in his personal meditation and study, before being shared with others in public ministry. Deep love for, and fervent devotion to Christ, is evident on every page. Owen had already seen the glory of Christ from afar and pondered long on its significance. Here he speaks from his proximity to eternity, and teaches us how to see Christ more clearly and to serve him more faithfully.
"The publishers are convinced that THE GLORY OF CHRIST is a spiritual treasure-cave to which many readers will return again and again throughout the whole of their lives. Its sole purpose is to renew and deepen devotion to Jesus Christ." -- Publisher's Annotation
Contains: Life of Owen, the Person of Christ, Glory of Christ, and two short catechisms.
The Glory of Christ, by John Owen
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/epl-owglory.html
A Brief Declaration and Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity and also of the Person and Satisfaction of Christ, by John Owen
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/epl-owtrinity.html

Owen, John, and R.J.K. Law, The Glory of Christ (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1994), ISBN: 0851516610 9780851516615.

Pike, Samuel (1717-1773), and Samuel Hayward (1718-1757), Distinguishing Faith and Feelings. In RELIGIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE ANSWERED IN AN EVANGELICAL MANNER . . . TO WHICH IS ADDED THE SPIRITUAL COMPANION; OR, THE PROFESSING CHRISTIAN TRIED AT THE BAR OF GOD'S WORD; AND CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY MAN, 1866.
Distinguishing Faith and Feelings
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/distinguishing-faith-and-feelings.php

Purkiser, W.T., When You get to the End of Yourself (Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1977, 1973), ISBN: 0801069319 9780801069314.

*SIBBES, RICHARD (1577-1635), The Soules Conflict With it Selfe, and Victory Over it Self by Faith a Treatise of the inward disquietments of distressed spirits, with comfortable remedies to establish them / by R. Sibbs . . . 1635. Found in THE WORKS OF RICHARD SIBBES. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

Vaknin, Samuel, and Lidija Rangelovska, Malignant Self Love -- Narcissism Revisited, 1st edition, 8th revision, ISBN: 9788023833843 8023833847, 596 pages.
Contents: The narcissistic personality disorder -- Narcissism, the disorder -- Narcissism and society -- Narcissists and family -- The mind of the narcissist Responsibility: Sam Vaknin ; editing and design, Lidija Rangelovska.

Welch, Ed, Biblical Principles of Self-Image (Michigan City, IN: Sound Word Associates).
Audio cassette EW101.

See also: The sovereignty of god, The doctrine of man (human nature, total depravity), The covenant faithfulness of god, Repentance, the key to salvation and change, Selection of covenant heads for positions of leadership, The sovereign grace of god: his everlasting mercy and lovingkindness, Sexual relationship, Sonship, Immanuel, christ's presence, christ in you, Sonship, The priesthood of believers, Election, Adoption, Perseverance of the saints, Trusting god, The Priesthood of Believers, The teaching of our lord jesus christ, Christ our example, Spiritual warfare, Spirituality and harlotry, Covetousness, greed, selfishness, Pride, Humility, Deceit, lying, and self-deception, Scapegoating and blame shifting, Self-denial, Self-justification, self-righteousness, Self-destruction, and so forth, and so on.
TCRB5: 3183, 3188, 3194, 3221, 3228, 4168
MGTP: Self-Denial, Self-Examination, Self-Exertion, Self-Righteousness

Related WebLinks

Self-Examination, Thomas Chalmers
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/the-doctrines-of-grace/essay-on-guthries-the-christians-great-interest.php

*On Secret Faults, Samuel Stanhope Smith (1750-1819)
http://www.westminsterconfession.org/godly-living/on-secret-faults.php

Appendix C: Psychology and Psychiatry
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrrappc.html

The OPE Campus Security Statistics Website
http://www.ope.ed.gov/security/

Study Finds Rising Narcissism, Self-centeredness Among College Students, Associated Press, March 1, 2007
"Today's college students are more narcissistic and self-centered than their predecessors, according to a comprehensive new study by five psychologists who worry that the trend could be harmful to personal relationships and American society . . .
" 'Unfortunately, narcissism can also have very negative consequences for society, including the breakdown of close relationships with others, he says . . .'
"The researchers describe their study as the largest ever of its type, and say students' NPI scores have risen steadily since the current test was introduced in 1982. By 2006, they say two-thirds of the students had above-average scores, 30 percent more than in 1982 . . .
"The study asserts that narcissists 'are more likely to have romantic relationships that are short-lived, at risk for infidelity, lack emotional warmth and to exhibit game-playing, dishonesty and over-controlling and violent behaviors.'
"Twenge, the author of GENERATION ME: WHY TODAY'S YOUNG AMERICANS ARE MORE CONFIDENT, ASSERTIVE, ENTITLED AND MORE MISERABLE THAN EVER BEFORE, says narcissists tend to lack empathy, react aggressively to criticism and favor self-promotion over helping others.
"The researchers traced the phenomenon back to what they called the 'self-esteem movement' that emerged in the 1980s, asserting that the effort to build self-confidence had gone too far . . .
"The new report follows a study released by the University of California, Los Angeles last month that found that nearly three-quarters of the freshmen it surveyed thought it was important to be 'very well-off financially.' That compared with 62.5 percent who said the same in 1980 and 42 percent in 1966."
http://www.diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_7068.shtml



Self-denial

See the Theological Notes, "Pleasing God," at 1 Thessalonians 2:6 in The Reformation Study Bible.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. -- Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:24-27)

There is great transforming power (power to transform your life, the lives of those around you, and society) in the New Testament sacrificial love of Christ Jesus that says Not my will, but thine be done. -- Jesus Christ (Luke 22:42)

*Adams, Jay E., Godliness Through Discipline (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1977), ISBN: 0875520219 9780875520216. A booklet.
"Practical help from I Timothy 4:7, Luke 9:23, and Heb 5:13f. Your whole life should be oriented toward godliness. 'Discipline means work; it means sustained daily effort. The word Paul used is the one from which the English words "gymnastics" and "gymnasium" have been derived.' 'Jesus insisted that Christians must deny the self within them. By the self, He meant the old desires, the old ways, the old practices, the old habit patterns that were acquired before conversion.' Just as you practiced sin habitually when you lived the desire-oriented life of sin, now you must practice righteousness through the power of the Holy Spirit until it too becomes habitual. 'There is no easier path to godliness than the prayerful study and obedient practice of the Word of God'." -- David Powlison
"For the person who thinks that godliness comes instantly through some kind of experience. This booklet shows clearly that the Christian life must be a disciplined life." -- Robert B. Somerville

Adams, Jay Edward, The Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling.
See the subject "Denial," "Discipline," and so forth, and so on.

*BAXTER, RICHARD (1615-1691), A Treatise of Self-Denial, ISBN: 1877611360. Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive. Available on Reformation Bookshelf CD #21, ISBN: 0921148992 9780921148999. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #21.
It is included in THE SAINT'S EVERLASTING REST: BAXTER'S PRACTICAL WORKS, VOL. 3.
"This item 'is the work of Baxter that has been translated into the most number of different languages.' (Kettler, Sept./97 letter)
"It is also a great antidote to the prominent spirit (of antichrist) preached by psychologist and psychiatrists which focuses on self (self-esteem, self-actualization, etc.) and/or hedonism, in an idolatrous manner, rather than self-sacrifice and service in obedience to God. 'Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, . . . This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.' (2 Pet. 3:3, 2 Tim. 3:1-5)" -- SWRB

Chantry, Walter J., Shadow of the Cross: Studies in Self Denial, ISBN: 085151331X 9780851513317.
"Self denial is a practice which lies very near to the heart of true religion. Without its exercise there can be no conversion to Christ. Qualities most basic to a Christian frame of heart -- notably humility and meekness -- would dissolve without its active expression. . . .
"Why did Jesus Christ die? There are many sides to answering such an important question. But under the influence of the Spirit, the apostle teaches that our Lord's death was not designed to provide selfish men with eternal life while they remained abandoned to self-serving. A vital part of Christ's intention was to redirect the motivation of all whom his blood shedding would make alive. As he struggled up Calvary's hill and bled upon it, his aim was to eradicate self-love and implant the love of God in the hearts of men. One can only increase as the other decreases." -- Walter Chantry

Greenhill, William (1591-1671) and Jeremiah Burroughs (1599-1646), The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit Delivered in a Treatise Vpon the 14. of Numbers, Vers. 24.: Together with Moses his self-deniall / by Jer. Burroughes . . . ISBN: 1573580244 9781573580243.
The Excellency of a Gracious Spirit . . .
http://books.google.com/books?id=Va3nGwAACAAJ&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

Hooker, Thomas (1586-1647), Heautonaparnumenos, or, A Treatise of Self-deny all intended for the pulpit but now committed to the presse for the publike benefit, 1646.

MANTON, THOMAS (1620-1677), A Third Volume of Sermons preached by the late reverend and learned Thomas Manton . . . in two parts: the first containing LXVI sermons on the eleventh chapter of the Hebrews: with a treatise of the Life of Faith: part the second: a treatise of self-denial: with several sermons on the sacrament of the Lord's-Supper, and other occasions: with an alphabetical table to the whole, 1689. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #30. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Four, CD #19. Available [THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THOMAS MANTON] on Reformation Bookshelf CD #4, #5, ISBN: 0921148739 9780921148739.

MARSHALL, STEPHEN (1594?-1655), The VVorks of Mr Stephen Marshall, late minister of the Gospel at Finching-Field in Essex. And since at Ipswitch in Suffolk. The first part. Viz. I. Of Christ's intercession. And of sins of infirmity. II. The high priviledge of beleevers. They are the sons of God. III. Faith the only means spiritually to feed on Christ. IV. Of self-denial. V. The saints duty to keep their heart in a good frame, etc. VI. The mystery of spiritual life. Attested by Ralph Venning. Thomas Lye. Thomas Jacomb, 1661. Available on Puritan Bookshelf CD #6. Available on The Amazing Christian Library, DVD Three, CD #18.

OWEN, JOHN (1616-1683), The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of the Remainders of Indwelling-sin in Believers. Together with the ways of its working, and means of its prevention. Opened, evinced and applyed, with a resolution of sundry cases of conscience thereunto appertaining. By J. Owen, D.D. [London?], 1732. (Cerlox Bound Photocopy Series. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Still Waters Revival Books). Available on the forthcoming SWRB Puritan Hard Drive.

Preston, John (1587-1628), Foure Godly and Learned Treatises. Intituled, I. A Remedy Against Covetousnesse. II. An elegant and lively description of spirituall death and life. III. The doctrine of selfe-deniall. IV. Vpon the sacrament of the Lords Supper. Delivered in sundry sermons, by that late famous preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory, Iohn Preston, Doctor of Divinitie, chaplaine in ordinarie to his Majestie; master of Emanuel Colledge, and sometime preacher of Lincolnes Inne, 1633.

Preston, John (1587-1628), Grace to the Humble, As Preparations to Receive the Sacrament. Preached by the late famous preacher Iohn Preston, Doctor of Divinity, and chaplen in ordinary to his Mtie. Master of Immanuel Colledge, and sometimes preacher in Lincolnes-Inne, 1639.
A different version of "The doctrine of self-denial" in "Three godly and learned treatises."

Preston, John (1587-1628), Sinnes Overthrow: or, A Godly and Learned Treatise of Mortification: wherein is excellently handled; first, the generall doctrine of mortification: a