The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. (Proverbs 1:7a)The practice of giving circulation to writings selected for superior worth or special interest was adopted at the beginning of Christian history. The canonical Scriptures were themselves a selection from a much wider literature. In the patristic era there began to appear a class of works of compilation (often designed for ready reference in controversy), of the opinions of well-reputed predecessors, and in the Middle Ages many such works were produced. These medieval anthologies actually preserve some noteworthy materials from works otherwise lost. -- General Editor's Preface, Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion (Westminster Press, Battles translation)
There is no knowing that does not begin with knowing God. -- John Calvin
There is no counsel, nor prudence, nor strength against the Lord." (Proverbs 21:30)
Unless the blessing of God be present, from which alone we may expect a prosperous issue, all that we attempt will necessarily perish. Since, then, God declares that he is at perpetual war with the unmeasured audacity of men; anything we undertake without his approval will end miserably, even though all creatures above and beneath should earnestly offer us their assistance. -- John Calvin commenting on Genesis 11:7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7)
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
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. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:7-11)
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life. (1 John 1:1)
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. (Philippians 2:16)
Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (John 21:17b)
In Deuteronomy 17 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. (Deuteronomy 17:19).
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (1 Timothy 4:13)
As the apostle says to Timothy, so also he says to every-one, Give yourself to reading. [1 Timothy 4:13] . . . He who will not use the thoughts of other men's brains proves that he has no brains of his own . . . You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible . . . the best way for you to spend your leisure is to be either reading or praying. -- Charles Spurgeon
Blessed is he that readeth. (Revelation 1:3a)
And in multitude of counsellors there is safety. (Proverbs 24:6b)
Some believers are rivers of living water long after they die. They do good by their books and writings in every part of the world, long after the hands which held the pen are mouldering in the dust.
Such men were Bunyan, and Baxter, and Owen, and George Herbert, and Robert M'Cheyne. These blessed servants of God do more good probably by their books at this moment, than they did by their tongues when they were alive. Being dead they yet speak. (Hebrews 11:4.) -- J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)It is a poor and pitiful kind of knowledge, to know many loose parcels, and broken members of truth, without knowing the whole, or the place and the relations which they have to the rest. To know letters and not syllables, or syllables and not words, or words and not sentences, or sentences and not the scope of the discourse, are all but an unprofitable knowledge. -- Richard Baxter (1615-1691), A Christian Directory, p. 269 (Soli Deo Gloria Publications reprint)
Each famous author of antiquity whom I recall places a new offence and another cause of dishonor to the charge of later generations, who, not satisfied with their own disgraceful barrenness, permitted the fruit of other minds and the writings that their ancestors had produced by toil and application, to perish through insufferable neglect. Although they had nothing of their own to hand down to those who were to come after, they robbed posterity of its ancestral heritage. -- Petrarch (1304-1374)
A man is known by the company he keeps. It is also true that a person's character is to a large extent developed by the books he reads. A man is known by the company his mind keeps. A book is good company. -- Frontline Fellowship
The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of past centuries. -- Descartes
The man who does not read good books, has no advantage over the man who cannot read them. -- Mark Twain
In a very real sense, people who have read good literature have lived more than people who cannot, or will not, read -- it is not true we have only one life to live; if we can read, we can live as many more lives and as many kinds of lives as we wish. -- S.I. Hayakawa
Read the best books first, or you may not have the chance to read them at all. -- Henry David Thoreau
Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for. -- Socrates
Next to the Holy Scriptures, the greatest aide to the life of faith may be Christian biographies. -- A.W. Tozer
Biography transmits personality -- who can gauge the inspiration to the cause of missions of great biographies like those of William Carey, Adoniran Judson, Hudson Taylor, Charles Studd…. -- J. Oswald SandersLatest is not greatest and newest is not truest. The older literature is often better because the authors were Christian scholars. Modern Christian literature is often "fluff and puff" compared to the Christian classics. -- J.P. Green, Sr.
Read the best books first, or you may not have the chance to read them at all. -- Henry David ThoreauTrue, the state as the policeman can be corrupt; in fact, if the society as a whole is corrupt, the state will also be corrupt. In a healthy and godly society, the state will function successfully to restrain the minority of evildoers. The key to the situation is not the state but the religious health of the society. -- R.J. Rushdoony (1916-2001), in Institutes of Biblical Law, p. 470
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 forg0et thy children.
As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. -- The Word of The Lord (Hosea 4:6)And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. (John 21:25)
All the books ever written in the world will be utterly useless when we see God face to Face. (Psalm 17:15; 1 Corinthians 13:12)When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe. -- John Muir (1848-1914)
The website for BIBLICAL COUNSEL: RESOURCES FOR RENEWAL is a multimedia database/research index of resources explaining the solutions found in the Word of God for the problems of everyday life. Relevant secular works are also included.
The Preface to the 1993 print edition of BIBLICAL COUNSEL: RESOURCES FOR RENEWAL may be read at http://www.lettermen2.com/preface.html.
Information technology began to expand rapidly soon after the release of the print edition in 1993. The Information Super Highway, The World Wide Web, was dawning about 1995. Home computers and software programs became much more powerful. New digital resources became more easily accessible to researchers. The website is an ever expanding database and will never be mature. Big changes in information technology facilitated expanding the work. Consequently, the print edition was converted to a website.
A seminal event for the website occured in 2006 when OCLC/Worldcat made their database available free to readers on the World Wide Web. WorldCat is probably the most complete collection of information on book/media titles available anywhere. Titles at the new website could then be linked to WorldCat records. Lengthy titles could be reduced to a simple author/title. The WorldCat link provided much more information about the citation. It also gives the local library where a copy may be found.
Consequently the website became a substantially more powerful resourse than the print edition. It became an online database, and a research index.
All things in life are interrelated. Christ is "all and in all."
To fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 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: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 1:25b-28)Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11b)
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)
It was in recognition of this fact that universities ("unity in diversity"), were instituted for higher learning.
Harvard College was founded in "Christi Gloriam" and later dedicated "Christo et Ecclesiae." The founders of Harvard believed that "All knowledge without Christ is vain." -- William J. Federer (compiler), America's God and Country Encyclopedia of QuotationsThe original seal of Harvard University was "For Christ and the Church"
It follows that if everything is interrelated, then our leaders in all spheres of life -- theology, higher education, government and politics, the business world, and healthcare -- should be excellent scholars.
Somehow "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."
Having detailed knowledge of all sixty-six books of The Holy Bible is vastly superior to having knowledge of only a few books of the Bible.
"When information is entered into a database it takes on a strange new life of its own . . . ." A large database generates information and hypothesis that simply were not available before. Unexpectedly, that is what happened with this website. It is full of theses. It is hoped it will encourage further Christian scholarship.
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. -- The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:29)
The blessed God does not give wisdom, but to him that has wisdom. -- John Gill (1697-1771), commenting on Matthew 25:29
Individuals who do extensive research for the first time often are surprised to find more information than they ever imagined existed.
All the resources needed to transform the individual and to transform society are within our reach now. But one has to seek, and ask, and knock. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (Matthew 7:7) The wicked are without excuse. (Romans 1:20b) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19,20) (Hosea 4:6,7)
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)
Without realizing it at first, this promise of Christ made the website become a reality. God does it all. He only needs workers to be available and teachable.
A people can be manipulated and controlled by withhold knowledge from them. There has been a "famine of spiritual knowledge" in America for centuries. We have been dumbed down by leadership and are literally "fat, dumb, and 'happy'." We have been made easy to govern but incompetent to succeed either as individuals, or as a society. We have the leadership that we deserve. (1 Samuel 12:13-15) It matches our incompetence as individuals.
Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.
My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. (God is faithful, and will be true to his covenant; it is no agreement for days and years, its tenure is everlasting. The salvation which this covenant promises shall not be hidden in a corner, afar off it shall be published, even as it is at this day in our own fair island of the sea. Nothing can be more delightful than to have this salvation in possession, and to see its stable foundation in the covenant of grace.)
Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation. (Fear not dying man, trust in the ever-living God.)
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab (or Egypt), and wounded the dragon? (or the crocodile, the emblem of Egypt)
Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? (This is a bold prayer. It lays hold upon that glorious arm which wrought such marvels in Egypt on behalf of the Lord's elect, and its plea is that he can do like deeds again, and that the time has come for him to do them.)
Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. (Assured faith here quotes the promise which had been given in a previous prophecy, and confidently asserts that it will be ever so. It is always well to have a promise at our fingers' end.)
I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? (It is in God's hands. No oppressor can rage against us unless the Lord permits; why then do we fear? He who gives our foe permission to annoy us in measure, holds the other end of his chain and will keep him within bounds. In holy confidence let us stand still and see the salvation of God.), (Isaiah 51:5-13) -- Spurgeon's Devotional Bible
Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.
My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. (God is faithful, and will be true to his covenant; it is no agreement for days and years, its tenure is everlasting. The salvation which this covenant promises shall not be hidden in a corner, afar off it shall be published, even as it is at this day in our own fair island of the sea. Nothing can be more delightful than to have this salvation in possession, and to see its stable foundation in the covenant of grace.)
Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation. (Fear not dying man, trust in the ever-living God.)
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab (or Egypt), and wounded the dragon? (or the crocodile, the emblem of Egypt)
Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? (This is a bold prayer. It lays hold upon that glorious arm which wrought such marvels in Egypt on behalf of the Lord's elect, and its plea is that he can do like deeds again, and that the time has come for him to do them.)
Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. (Assured faith here quotes the promise which had been given in a previous prophecy, and confidently asserts that it will be ever so. It is always well to have a promise at our fingers' end.)
I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? (It is in God's hands. No oppressor can rage against us unless the Lord permits; why then do we fear? He who gives our foe permission to annoy us in measure, holds the other end of his chain and will keep him within bounds. In holy confidence let us stand still and see the salvation of God.), (Isaiah 51:5-13) -- Spurgeon's Devotional Bible
Setting goals is fine, but if one sets out to solve problems instead, then the soul can also be blessed with wisdom, peace, and joy.
"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." -- Robert P. Martin from the Preface of A Guide to the Puritans: A Topical and Textual Index to the Writings of the Puritans and Some of Their Successors Recently in Print
May the Word of God, the communion of the Holy Spirit, and the fellowship of the saints bless the heart and soul of every reader.
Steven C. Kettler
August 9, 2022
Combined Interactive Contents for The Web Edition of Biblical Counsel: Resources for Renewal -- Sit Map
http://www.lettermen2.com/combtoc.html
Preface to the 1993 Print Edition and the 1997 CD-ROM edition of Biblical Counsel: Resources for Renewal
http://www.lettermen2.com/preface.html
Spiritual Discernment
http://www.lettermen2.com/bcrr6ch.html#sprtldscrn
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