A Golden Topaz Or Heart Jewel Namely A Conscience Purified And Pacified By The Blood And Spirit Of Christ

This work by Whiddon is his only known work. It was primarily prepared for his flock to teach them and remind them about living well before God with a conscience that is purified (regenerated) and pacified (put at peace) by the blood of Jesus Christ and the power of the Spirit of Christ. His principle text is Hebrews 13:18, “For we trust we have a good conscience, willing in all things to live honestly.” Whiddon called this work “his tract” to his flock that they might read over and study the contents so as not to forget how to live their life before Christ and men with a “good conscience.” He covers the definition and meaning of a good conscience; the opposed nature of a natural conscience; the means to purify and pacify a fallen sinner’s conscience; how to hold onto a good conscience and how to exercise it. Edmund Calamy makes a notation of Whiddon in his work “The Nonconformist’s Memorial” and notes the exceptional character of Whiddon in passing, and the popularity of this work, “The Golden Topaz.” This is not a scan or facsimile, has been updated in modern English for easy reading and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.

This book is a masterful selection of almost 1000 quotations drawn from a wide range of Puritan works. These quotes have been chosen with great care, and arranged under topical headings from "belief" to "worship". This work forms an ideal introduction to the writings of the godly men of the 17th century, and will prove to be rich devotional reading of the highest caliber. For those being introduced to the writings of the Puritans, or those who are already familiar with them, this devotional work will be a treasure to read again and again. The reading of Puritan works has brought great benefit to the people of God across barriers of culture and time. Christians owe a great debt of gratitude to those faithful theologians, pastors and preachers who continue to speak through their writings even though they have long since entered into their heavenly rest in Christ. In these pages, the reader will find that the Puritans knew how to teach and apply God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit, and for the glorification of Jesus Christ, while maintaining a solid biblical orthodoxy needed in our day and age. The purpose of this book is to open a door to the vast stores of biblical treasure and wisdom to be found in the writings of the Puritans and that it will stimulate further reading from our Reformed and spiritual heritage. Authors cited include: Nathaniel Vincent, George Walker, Francis Whiddon, William Perkins, Christopher Love, Thomas Hooker, Jeremiah Burroughs, Thomas Case, Jonathan Edwards, Matthew Mead, John Owen, Richard Sibbes, Samuel Ward, Thomas Watson, Thomas Mocket, Ephraim Pagitt, Edmund Calamy, John Arrowsmith, Cuthbert Sydenham, John Beart, Richard Rawlin, Nicholas Byfield, and dozens more. This work is not a scan or facsimile, has been carefully transcribed by hand being made easy to read in modern English, and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.

This work expounds on Scripture, and outlines, from a biblical point of view, why Christ has sent his coronavirus to covenant breakers in his church. The thesis is that the world-wide virus (and other calamities which are building and exploding in our day) are here primarily for Christ’s church; his disobedient, covenant breaking church. This is a difficult and saddening time for many people. At the time this work was written, almost 689,000 people have died worldwide from the coronavirus, (158,000 in the US) and the Lord is adding more and more calamity to our country on top of the horrors of prolonged and disease-ridden death. All of it is calamity upon calamity. It’s actually “calamity” that God promises his covenant breaking church if they do not repent. What will the church do in a time like this? Since the calamity is growing and not subsiding, it doesn’t seem like the church is doing much of anything collectively to stop the plague by way of reform, much less those things that have not layered on top of that. The church needs to repent of its idolatry, its lack of scriptural precision, its confessional dismissiveness, its abominable worldliness in the sanctuary of God, and the dishonor they are continually bringing King Jesus, the one they "profess" to serve. God deals very harshly yet tenderly with his people when they break covenant with him. Taken from Leviticus 26, this work expounds and describes the following: that pestilence is a sign from Christ to his church, Christ’s remedies against the plague are sovereign prescriptions he alone commands, Christian humility is needed during times of occasional repentance (and what occasional repentance is), humility in prayer and fasting with godly zeal is required, what the nature of Christ’s afflicting providences are, and a number of other subjects related to the plague, especially if the church does not repent, that they are daring Christ to do his worst against them in their spiritual indifference.

In this wonderful treatment of order and structure in communion with God, “Spiritual Logic” aids the reader in understanding that there is a logical order to the way one prays and thinks about their time of devotions. God is a God of logic, and so, why would someone not use logic in order to “order their prayers?” Harrison is going to take you down a logical road of gaining some hints and helps to your personal devotional life. He will aid you in overcoming an inept prayer life to make your conversations with God run deeper. He deals with a number of preliminary aspects that serve as hindrances to good devotions, such as unacquaintedness with the Lord, a sense of more than ordinary unworthiness ever to be acquainted savingly with God, what it means to be jealous for Christ, and to love Christ, and the Father. He covers the fear of unbelief, the fear of hypocrisy, the fear of being acted only by a slavish spirit of fear, a sense of fearful backslidings, and a sense of one’s strong corruptions that hinder devotions. He speaks extensively of many negative thoughts that crowd the Christian when they try to have faithful devotions, such as desertion felt or feared by God (will God even hear me?), sudden uneasiness that one experiences from cloudy providences, how to deal with the dread of spiritual judgements, hardness of heart, and unprofitableness under the means of grace. Especially considered is the fear that one’s prayer is not heard. His work is unique in that he not only gives various remedies for hindrances, but also helps to devotion in the actual way the Christian ought to logically speak to God by using his word (spiritual logic) in setting their prayers on God’s prescriptions. This is an excellent work in showing, step by step, how the Christian can pray effectively using this spiritual logic, which is indeed, hints and helps to raise their personal devotions for the glory of the Redeemer. This work is not a scan or facsimile, has been carefully transcribed by hand being made easy to read in modern English, and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.

Christ is such an inexhaustible fountain that sinners cannot ever out desire His mercies. He is an overflowing fountain of infinite mercy and comfort. All other temporal mercies find their eternal significance in him. Nothing will delight the sincere believer, or be enjoyed, if such believers do not in some way partake of His comfort, and His tenderness. They must tap into Christ’s virtue. How will they do this? Durant’s discourse explores the sweetness of Christ's relationship with weak believers, addressing various aspects of this theme. He shows the fallacy of Satan to keep souls from Christ; and the sweetness of Christ to those in His service. His work is taken from Isaiah 40:11, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” The structure of the discourse includes the dependence of the words, their division, and the doctrines derived from them. His main doctrine, is that central teaching presented, emphasizes Christ's sweetness in His dealings with weak members. Most Christians will not admit they are weak. And the idea of the word “weak” seems to be negative. But Durant’s work reaches to all Christians. He shows that Christ's carriage, and the sweetness of that carriage, is demonstrated in not casting off weak believers, but that He preserves their weak graces, strengthens them, bears with their infirmities, not burdening them with tasks they can't handle, and accepts their efforts despite failings. These reasons are drawn from God the Father's commission to Christ, the truth of the inherent weakness in believers, and Christ's intention to build them up as his lambs. The discourse concludes with applications for information, lamentation, reproof, comfort, encouragement, imitation, and exhortation.

This treatise on 2 Peter 1:11 is a puritan gem. Drawing from the rich well of Scripture, Janeway emphasizes the vital role of God's Word in providing comfort, conviction, and guidance for those engaged in the earnest service of Christ. He directs readers to deepen their relationship with the Lord, relying on His promises and grace as a source of encouragement. Janeway rightly explains the nature of Christian service as a joyful privilege and presents practical ways to find encouragement amidst the challenges and trials that believers face. Recognizing the inevitable trials and obstacles encountered in Christian service, Janeway teaches readers to embrace a biblical perspective on suffering, seek solace through prayer and dependence on God, and find comfort in the fellowship and support of fellow believers. In all this Janeway points believers to the enduring hope found in Christ. He reminds us that our service is not in vain and that our present struggles are temporary compared to the eternal rewards and glory that await us. By anchoring our hearts in this eternal hope, we as believers can persevere and thrive in our commitment to Christ's service. Discover the power of encouragement and embark on a transformative journey in the service of Christ through this work.

This volume is a compilation of six of Preston’s smaller treatises and sermons. His first treatise concerns the doctrine of irresistible grace as a cornerstone to Christian assurance. All the letters of TULIP stand or fall together, regardless of how inconsistent some might be in understanding those five points of the doctrines of grace. In this treatise, John Preston takes to task the false teachings of the heretic James Arminius, and demonstrates the error that people can hold themselves in God’s grace, or they can work to an end of salvation in their own strength. Biblical grace is irresistible. In his sermon on The Pillar and Ground of the Truth, from 1 Timothy 3:15, he shows the role of the church as the truth, and its stance as a pillar by the grace of God. The Church is described as God’s flock and the pillar of truth, requiring diligent care by ministers and adherence to God’s laws and His prescriptions by members. In his sermon on Isaiah 64:4, A Sensible Demonstration of the Deity, he tackles the wonderful doctrine of God’s existence, coupled with eyeing creation and providence correctly. Preston emphasizes the importance of relying on the Creator, and having foresight and discernment in recognizing and addressing impending dangers surrounding life’s circumstances, knowing full well that God governs all things. In his sermon on Ephesians 5:15, Exact Walking, “Take heed that you walk therefore circumspectly (or exactly) not as fools, but as wise,” Preston emphasizes the importance of walking with God with exactness as a manifestation of true biblical wisdom. In Preston’s sermon on 1 Sam. 12:20-22, Samuel’s Support for Sorrowful Sinners, he emphasizes the importance of immediate repentance and returning to God after committing sin. He argues that delaying repentance allows sin to harden the heart further and exposes individuals to more sins. In his sermon on The New Life, Preston explains 1 John 5:12, where the essence of life in Jesus Christ is explored in contrast to spiritual death. He emphasizes that the quality of one’s life is determined by their desires and actions in Christ, drawing parallels between a life of sin and one of grace; those in Christ, and those outside of Christ.

In "The Practice of Patience," Thomas Goodwin (1600-1680) delivers a biblical exploration of patience as an essential Christian virtue, rooted in James 1. Revealing patience not just as endurance but a divine grace, Goodwin guides readers through the multifaceted dimensions of this virtue, emphasizing its transformative effect on character and faith. Drawing on Scripture and theological insights, he illuminates patience's relevance to modern life and its role as a fruit of the Holy Spirit, fostering humility, trust, and dependence on God, to the glory of Jesus Christ. He establishes the theological foundation of patience, exploring its origin in God's character and manifestation through the life of Christ. He connects patience intricately to God's redemptive plan and highlights its cultivation of joy, peace, and spiritual maturity. Through exegesis of key biblical passages (especially James), Goodwin demonstrates how patience acts as a refining fire, purifying and strengthening the believer's faith. Furthermore, Goodwin examines patience's role in the believer's journey, emphasizing its link to true Christian faith and its divine power in shaping character. He offers practical guidance on prayer, meditation, and study of God's Word as disciplines to develop this transformative virtue. He also challenges readers to embrace patience as a means to experience Christ's promised abundant life. Goodwin's compassionate and accessible writing makes this timeless masterpiece engaging for readers from all walks of life. Whether navigating personal trials or seeking a deeper understanding of God's character, this work will inspire and encourage a journey of patience as both a divine fruit of faith and a learned virtue. May the wisdom of Goodwin's exposition guide you toward the divine virtue of patience, inspiring you to persevere, grow in faith, and find comfort in the unchanging love of our patient God. Experience the transformative power of patience, and embrace the journey filled with insight, encouragement, and timeless wisdom from Scripture.