Reformed Spirituality

"Rice makes a concerted effort to point us toward new and exciting avenues of spiritual growth and development. I find the book provocative, stimulating, and challenging".---Ben Campbell Johnson, Peachtree Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia

In these pages Dr Joel Beeke provides us with a first-class tour of some of the great sites of Reformed theology and spirituality. Here we meet John Calvin, reformer extraordinaire; then we encounter the learned Dr William Ames and the insightful Anthony Burgess. Soon we have traveled north to meet the Scotsmen John Brown of Haddington, the great Thomas Boston and the remarkable brothers, Ebenezer and Ralph Erskine. Predictably, but happily our guide brings us to The Netherlands and to the time of the Nadere Reformatie, before taking us back to the New World in the company of the remarkable Theodorus Jacobus Freylinghuysen. But the climax of this tour is not reached until our trusted guide has brought us to the family roots from which all these theologians and pastors came to the strong foundations of Christian living in justification by faith and sanctification in life, nourished by the power of biblical preaching. Author Joel R. Beeke (Ph.D. Westminster Theological Seminary) is president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, editor of The Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, and author of numerous books.

How does God bring His Word into our lives? The answer is: by the Holy Spirit. By the Spirit the Word was revealed and written. By the Spirit the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. By the Spirit the Word roots itself in the hearts of sinners and produces fruit. Calvin recognized long ago that the Holy Spirit is the bond of union between believers and Christ. Jonathan Edwards said that the Spirit is the sum of all Christ bought for His people with His precious blood. How precious then is the Spirit, and how important to know Him and His ways! In this book, a team of pastor-theologians uncover the rich biblical teachings about the work of the Holy Spirit. How was the Spirit involved in the human life of Jesus Christ? What is a spiritual person? How does the Spirit open the mind of sinners to trust in Christ? What does it mean to serve God in the power of the Spirit? How does the Spirit’s sovereign work relate to our responsibility in evangelism? These questions and more are addressed in this book. Table of Contents: Part I: Geoff Thomas: A Faithful Instrument of the Spirit 1. Hugh Geoffrey Thomas: A Biographical Appreciation — Gary Brady 2. A Minister Who Has Produced Ministers — Paul Levy Part II: Salvation and the Spirit of Christ 3. The Spirit and the Word Incarnate: John Owen’s Trinitarian Christology — Carl Trueman 4. The Relation of the Righteousness of God and the Spirit of God in Romans 1–8 — Sam Waldron 5. The Illumination of the Holy Spirit — Joel Beeke 6. The Holy Spirit and Human Responsibility — Fred Malone Part III: Growth and the Spirit of Holiness 7. A Gracious Willing Guest: The Indwelling Holy Spirit — David Jones 8. John Owen on the Spirit’s Ministry in Guarding the Believer’s Heart — Michael Haykin 9. Professor John Murray and the Godly Life — John J. Murray 10. Living by the Spirit’s Sanctifying Ministry — Ian Hamilton 11. John Owen and Spiritual-Mindedness: A Reflection on Reformed Spirituality — Derek Thomas 12. The Spirit of God in the People of God: A Celtic Spirituality — Iain D. Campbell Part IV: Ministry and the Spirit of Counsel and Might 13. The Holy Spirit and the Call to the Ministry of the Gospel — Stephen Turner 14. The Empowering Work of the Holy Spirit — Conrad Mbewe 15. The Supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ and Apostolic Ministry — Austin Walker 16. An Elizabethan Cameo: The Ministry of Edward Dering — Robert Oliver 17. Passion and the Spirit’s Sovereignty in the Thinking and Evangelistic Preaching of Martyn Lloyd-Jones — Gary Benfold

In this novel exploration of Reformed spirituality, Belden C. Lane uncovers a "green theology" that celebrates a community of jubilant creatures of all languages and species. Lane reveals an ecologically sensitive Calvin who spoke of himself as ''ravished'' by the earth's beauty. He speaks of Puritans who fostered a ''lusty'' spirituality in which Christ figured as a lover who encouraged meditation on the wonders of creation. He presents a Jonathan Edwards who urged a sensuous ''enjoyment'' of God's beauty as the only real way of knowing God. Lane argues for the ''double irony'' of Reformed spirituality, showing that Calvinists who often seem prudish and proper are in fact a people of passionate desire. Similarly, Reformed Christians who appear totally focused on divine transcendence turn out at times to be closet nature mystics, exulting in God's glory everywhere. Lane also demonstrates, however, that a spirituality of desire can be derailed, ending in sexual excess and pantheism. Ecologically, holy longing can be redirected from a contemplation of God's splendor in the earth's beauty to a craving for land itself, resulting in disastrous misuse of its resources. Between the major chapters of the book are engaging personal essays drawn from the author's own love of nature as a Reformed Christian, and providing a thoughtful discussion of contemporary issues of species diversity and the honoring of an earth community.

Lectures delivered at the 2002 Theology Conference at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

William Ames (1576 – 1633) was an English Protestant theologian who spent most of his life in the Netherlands. His work was hugely influential on the English Puritans of the following generations, especially in New England. His Marrow of Theology (originally entitled The Marrow of Sacred Divinity drawne out of the Holy Scriptures) is organized as follows: Book I I. Of the Definition, or Nature of Divinity II. Of the Distribution or Parts of Divinity III. Of Faith IIII. Of God, and His Essence V. Of the Subsistence of God VI. Of the Efficiency of God VII. Of the Decree, and Counsel of God VIII. Of Creation IX. Of Providence X. Of Special Gubernation About Intelligent Creatures XI. Of Man’s Apostacy, or Fall XII. Of the Consequences of Sin XIII. Of Original Sin XIV. Of Actual Sin XV. Of Corporal Death XVI. Of the Consummation of Death XVII. Of the Propagation of Sin XVIII. Of the Person of Christ, the Mediator XIX. Of the Office of Christ XX. Of Satisfaction XXI. Of the Life of Christ Being Humbled XXII. Of the Death of Christ XXIII. Of the Exaltation of Christ XXIV. Of the Application of Christ XXV. Of Predestination XXVI. Of Calling XXVII. Of Justification XXVIII. Of Adoption XXIX. Of Sanctification XXX. Of Glorification XXXI. Of the Church Mystically Considered XXXII. Of the Church Instituted XXXIII. Of the Extraordinary Ministers of the Church XXXIIII. Of the Holy Scripture XXXV. Of Ordinary Ministers, and Their Office in Preaching XXXVI. Of the Sacraments XXXVII. Of Ecclesiastical Discipline XXXVIII. Of the Administration of the Covenant of Grace Before the Coming of Christ XXXIX. Of the Administration of the Covenant From Christ Exhibited to the End of the World XL. Of Baptism and the Supper of the Lord XLI. To the End of the World Book II I. Of Observance in General II. Of Virtue III. Of Good Works IIII. Of Religion V. Of Faith VI. Of Hope VII. Of Charity VIII. Of Hearing of the Word IX. Of Prayer X. Of an Oath XI. Of a Lot XII. Of Tempting of God XIII. Of Instituted Worship XIIII. Of the Manner of Divine Worship XV. Of the Time of Worship XVI. Of Justice and Charity Toward Our Neighbour XVII. Of the Honour of Our Neighbour XVIII. Of Humanity Toward Our Neighbour XIX. Of Chastity XX. Of Commutative Justice XXI. Of Telling Truth. Veracity XXII. Of Contentment

Real-life situations in today's world constantly challenge people, and the authors respond to these challenges by drawing upon the Reformed tradition to provide guidance for spiritual development. Includes practical suggestions, lesson plans and exercises, and recommendations for encouraging spiritual growth.

What does it mean to be Reformed Christians in the world today ? and in Africa and South Africa? What does it mean to commemorate the legacy of John Calvin (1509-1564) after 500 years ? in a modern world characterised by democracy, by popular notions of human dignity and human rights, by worldwide struggles for individual freedoms and for social justice, by a global economy in crisis ? when social historians argue about the lasting contribution of Calvin and his followers precisely with respect to all these modern phenomena? The 28 essays by Dirkie Smit selected for this volume deal with such questions.