God works in a mysterious way - His wonders to perform!

I have just finished reading one of the most outrageous, shocking, man-humbling, God-exalting, books ever compiled:

Calvin's Calvinism - including God's Eternal Predestination and Secret Providence, A Brief Reply, and Reply to the Slanderous Reports, written by that inescapably biblical Reformer, John Calvin, of unparalleled significance in that glorious work of God, the Protestation Reformation, and translated from the Latin by Henry Cole, first published in 1856, and now published again by the RFPA with absolutely essential and hugely helpful historical introductions by Prof. Russell J. Dykstra of the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary.

Anyone who has quarrel with Calvinism can turn here to read the man's own words as he demonstrates with candid language and compelling truth-power how thoroughly biblical and apostolic, not his doctrine, but God's doctrine of absolute, all-encompassing, unconditional, glorious, good, and perfect predestination is. Opponents of this doctrine need to take up their bitter argument with God Himself, and read His own Holy Word to be soundly refuted and silenced. Calvin, perhaps more capably and more clearly than others who have endeavoured to write on this subject defending the glory and majesty of the eternal and immutable God who works all things after His own good pleasure, wields the Sword of Spirit mightily, by God's grace to rend asunder all the calumnies and insane ravings given birth by the unbridled, astonishing pride, and bestial reasoning of heretics. Need I say, read it!

In this masterpiece of exegesis and apologetics, Calvin almost preempts the theodicy of the final judgment on the last day, so far does he see through this dark glass into that unapproachable light. Brandishing the revealed things of God as a mighty hammer, he crushes the unimaginable arrogance of those mere mortals of clay who presume to pontificate upon the supposed unrighteousness in God's secret things: "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?" (Rom. 9:20).

Calvin says memorably that their purpose is nothing more than, "...to fabricate monsters of [their] own brain and to slaughter them in [their] own imagination, glorying to [themselves] in a mighty triumph..." He expresses the futility of their audacity and profanity very clearly, "Now, then, dog as you are, bark as loud as you will. You will no more obscure the glory of God by your revilings than you can obscure the brightness of the sun by spitting in his blazing face."

But this is not a subject for mere talk - it is massively practical. It changes everything in how we view everything that ever happens, or has happened, or will happen everywhere, without exception. And it changes how we live in that assured confidence - the confidence that God works all things for the good of them that love Him, who are the called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). Calvin calls it one of the "first principles" of godliness.

Take for example, the recent atrocity committed by Mark Driscoll, reviewed perhaps as graciously as possible here: http://www.irishcalvinist.com/?p=3221

To put things in perspective, you can read an interview between Michael Horton and Robert Schuller here: http://www.whitehorseinn.org/free-articles/interview-with-robert-schuller.html

There's no question, Schuller is a wolf, teaching people to be lovers of themselves - that the ultimate condition of sin is not loving yourself - i.e. being proud of yourself. Now Mark Driscoll himself has some very objectionable views (some very dangerous!) - but I am still hoping that he will grow out of them. Maybe not - and for sure I would not recommend his preaching to anyone, even though he is a breath of fresh air compared to most. My own comments, were these:

Pragmatism is a heinous and evil sin – especially for a Calvinist. I’m trying to be gracious with Driscoll, because he’s come from terrible stuff, and improved a lot in many areas. I think he’s still got a lot to learn. But this is one lesson which I think he should have learnt before, and I hope that he will see this and not do likewise again.

It’s always difficult for onlookers I think – because we know people need to hear the Gospel – it’s always difficult for us to say that no matter what our ideas are or what we think would work, that He requires that we worship Him according to His commandments and no other way. Pragmatism is a [sic] evil philosophy – one for which Saul lost his kingship. This should be a warning for us.

But the other side of it is this. As Calvinists, while we ought to be confident in God’s unhindered purposes when we refuse to fall into pragmatism – however enticing it may be, we also can see that just as God uses all things for good – he can use even the sin of pragmatism for good. It may be that God used Driscoll’s sin here to bring life and light to members of that congregation.

Who are we to reply against God? Did not God cause David to count the number of the children of Israel? Did not God use the Babylonians to chastise His people? Did not God use the Jews and Gentiles and Pilate and the Sanhedrin to crucify Christ? God performed righteous acts in all these things – carrying out His good and perfect purposes – but there is still a warning.

Calvinism is the sworn enemy of antinomianism! Shall we sin that grace may increase? GOD FORBID! But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? GOD FORBID! And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil that good may come? Whose damnation is just. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

In love for Driscoll, we ought to have more than a raised eyebrow for him ("open rebuke is better than hidden love") – even though we worship God for having brought the Gospel to that congregation (even through such an instrument), and while we certainly do not foolishly charge God with Driscoll’s sin of pragmatism.

I just finished reading this book by Calvin – amazing how it deals with this: http://rfpa.org/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=59

“O the depth…!”

The point is this - that God works everything for good does nothing to justify the evil sins of the instruments He uses - including Mark Driscoll, as much as their sins do nothing to mar the supreme righteousness of God, and the guilt can only be ascribed to the sinner, not to the one who is just and true in all His works. Anyone who would try to deny this need only study the prophet Habbakkuk.

I have said it before that Arminianism is at base, Romanism, and atheism. Nothing could be more evident when we look at the doctrine of God's providence. Theodicy is not a concern of Arminianism, because in this hellish system, there is no God of providence. This is their insane and heretical "apologetic". I recently heard a man reasoning from the supposed free will of man, who went so far as to say that not God, but people are in control. One cannot argue with the validity of his argument - only with his premise. I am glad that the Bible denies this so strongly. So, I conclude this review of Calvin's best treatment of predestination with a memorable comment from Prof. David J. Engelsma:

"Always the gospel of salvation by grace alone provokes the response that this gospel denies the responsibility of man and makes God the author of sin (see Romans 3:5-8, 31; Romans 6:1; Romans 9:19). If the message of the church does not elicit this response, the church may well ask whether it is preaching the gospel of grace."

Do you believe the Gospel of grace? Is the defense of God's glory in all providence a concern for you? It certainly was for Calvin.

- Sam W.

P.S. This book has many other commendable merits, which at this point I'll only briefly mention. In it, Calvin's absolutely repudiates any notion of a "free offer" calling it a "puerile dream". He repeatedly, and emphatically, and logically, argues that God does not will that all are saved, and that it is a denial of the oneness, and immutability of God's will to teach such a thing. He touches on the subject of infant baptism - in denying the "absurdities" of Pighius, he also denies the imaginations of those who now currently teach a conditional covenant - proving unequivocably that the sacraments profit only the elect, just as the PRCA hold and teach.

Clarkians would appreciate also how Calvin never allows an inconsistency or contradiction. He often exclaims on how we can only see so far into those depths of God's wisdom, and frequently warns us of presumption and pride in trying to peer beyond the limits of our own feeble minds, but at the same time, he utterly denies any form of Van Tilianism - indeed defending God's providence by showing how it is logically consistent, and refuting his opponents by showing how their positions is logically inconsistent. Finally, in Reply to the Slanderous Reports, he also underscores, and exposes the profound idiocy of building upon human imaginations, instead of upon Scripture alone. At this point, I have to quote at length:

"As to your description of the nature of the true God, let readers judge how appropriately you argue concerning his divine being from the absurd fact that you make the beginning of all true knowledge of him to proceed from common sense. That there is a God is a truth received by the one consent of all nations and all ages, because the seed and principle of this knowledge is imparted by nature in every human mind. But how shall reason define what God is, when by its own power of sight, it can do nothing but turn the truth into a lie and adulterate whatever of light and understanding true religion and faith possess. The Holy Spirit commands us to become fools, if we would be the true learners of heavenly doctrine, because the natural man himself can neither receive nor taste anything of divine wisdom. On the contrary, you would have human reason and common sense to form a judgment of the great and adorable God. And you would not only set up reason, which by its blindness ever extinguishes God's glory as a leader and guide, but you would exalt that blind reason above Scripture itself. What marvel is it, then, if you should permit, without hesitation, religions of all kinds to be confounded together and should consider the Turk - who is enveloped in the deliriums of Mohammed and who adores as his deity no one knows what - as much a worshiper of God as he who calls upon the Father of Christ our redeemer, instructed by the sure word and faith of the everlasting gospel? Although you do not patronise infidels seriously is a fact proclaimed aloud by those sarcastic grins of yours, which show your teeth gnashing at every plainest and holiest article of our faith while the excuses that you make for the superstitions of all nations prove your malicious purpose to be to root out of the earth every doctrine of that holy religion that the sacred oracles of God reveal and teach."

Then Calvin places his finger on the vital point:

"Out of that very human reason that is the mother of all errors, you form that God of yours, who wills, without any election or predestination of his own, that all men should be saved. Has, then, the word election, which occurs so frequently in Scripture, no meaning whatever? Is it altogether a vain and empty term? Have the law, the prophets, and the gospel no meaning whatever when they everywhere proclaim aloud that all those chosen by the eternal counsel of God before the foundation of the world are called and illuminated unto salvation? We repeat, is the united and harmonious testimony of the law, the prophets, and the gospel an utter vanity when they pronounce, free from all ambiguity, that the source and cause of eternal life is the free love of God by which He has loved and embraced not all mankind, but those out of mankind whom He pleased? What will you gain after all, I ask you, by thus roaring against this truth a hundred times over? You dazzle the sight of the ignorant and the inexperienced by setting before their eyes as a shining cloud your doctrine that God will have all men to be saved."

Modern moderate "Calvinists", who everywhere boast the same doctrines as these heretics that Calvin is refuting, are manifestly not proper Calvinists at all. More importantly, they are not biblical - which is exactly what Calvin here exposes.

How greatly God has blessed us through the CPRC

The last year has been amazing. We have visited the CPRC a number of times. Once, we visited for a short weekend, and I remember spending the afternoon with Francesco De Lucia (one of CPRC's zealous translators) at Philip Rainey's house. We had a marvellous lunch, finished off with reading and discussing Luke 18 together - one of my favourite passages for the defense of not merely baptism of believing members of households, but infant baptism too, and especially, since "of such are the kingdom of God" and except we receive the kingdom of God as a little child we shall "in no wise enter therein".

It was a great encouragement too, to spend the afternoon talking with Philip and his wife and Francesco, to learn about his struggles in a compromising church so similar to my own and how "the lines are fallen unto [us] in pleasant places; yea [we] have a goodly heritage" (Psalm 16). It is good to hear the confession of the saints, and how we dwell in unity together as brothers like the unity of the Spirit that anoints our great high priest, Jesus Christ, and which fills God's temple (Psalm 133) where there is eternal life in the knowledge of Him (John 17:3). I have to explain, that here in Limerick, I would hear no-one outside the small number of the LRF who would reject the "free offer" and stand for it as Philip Rainey has done, and suffered for it - although this has clearly worked out for his good, and our good too, as his witness encourages me to follow such a godly example. The scarcity of such a witness makes it all the more precious to me.

Each time I visit the CPRC, especially joining them in the public worship service, I am quite in awe of how God closely dwells among His people, and the unimaginable difference between the true and the false church. Before I first came, I had never experienced anything like it, nor could I have imagined it - and I am further convinced of the extreme darkness covering this nation, and of the overflowing abundance of God's grace in Christ, flowing to me, and all the saints from sovereign and gracious predestination. Nothing else could explain why my eyes have been opened while so many others remain obstinately blind to the things made manifest to them all.

The mealtimes at the Stewarts, and our walks/hikes together are exceedingly precious to me also, where we spoke like men who dream (Psalm 126), and rejoiced in God, peering into the everlasting truths revealed to us in Scripture by our God and Saviour, and singing psalms to Him in thankfulness. These are marvellous things, which seem almost out of place here on earth, and amidst so much evil and sin, in the world and even in ourselves. To be singing the songs of heaven, and dwelling with the God of heaven, and hearing His heavenly voice, all here on earth! That is a wondrous thing. I long for the day in which we in the LRF, if it so pleases our ascended Lord, should be granted a minister of the word - and yet even now how greatly are we blessed to have such unity and fellowship, and joy in the truth, to be remembering Zion together, here in Babylon! Visiting the CPRC has shown me a little bit of what Zion is like, so that I would long for it more and more dearly, even with tears.

For this reason, we ought always to be zealous that God is worshipped only according to his commandments and no other way - for how can we profane that holy hill with sick and lame sacrifices (Mal. 1:14), and idolatry? The hypocrites here, and false churches constantly cry out for compromise, and the glory of God to be brought lower than a man, and for Jerusalem to be torn to the ground, only that they can mock the saints with vain superstitions, blasphemies, and abominations. And they even seem oblivious to how greatly God hates such obscenities - and in such blindness are incapable of loving God or His saints, only objecting that we do not follow their traditions and that we strenuously object to their evil practices and demonic doctrines.

And in that same ignorance, they leave true believers, the scattered sheep, also in ignorance to be tossed to and fro with every kind of deceit. How gracious God has been to have shed His light here on us! And how great our responsibility is to show forth His praises, so that the hypocrites are uncovered and their deceits laid low in the dust. To see the lampstand in Ballymena stirs us up in praying, hoping, and working that God may establish such a pillar and ground of the truth here.

So, it is encouraging to see God at work in some of our close friends, who more frequently join us on Sundays, gradually having the scales taken from their eyes. One came with us to the CPRC once too, and we spent a lot of time with Francesco, and visited the Giant's Causeway, and the Silent Valley reservoir. Of course it was the fellowship which I appreciated most. Conversations with Francesco are always a great blessing to me, and I think they were for everyone else there too. I remember that Sunday we heard a sermon on what it means to be a true Jew, and also a sermon on the Father's hand in providence. There is no comparison between biblical preaching, and the poisoned gloop that is served up in the "churches" in Limerick.

Am I being too harsh, or too extreme? Is it as bad as I paint it? Definitely not - probably not harsh and extreme enough, because the false church is always even immeasurably worse on the inside than it looks on the outside (Eze. 8). "Nice" people abound here, but hell too is full of "nice" people. How are they "nice" anyway when they contradict and oppose Scripture (the very words of the Spirit of Jesus Christ!) at every turn - just as they oppress and crush the saints? I cannot think of the blessedness of my visits to the CPRC without contrasting them with the Satanic synagogues here in Limerick - each commends and vividly illuminates the true nature of the other, so that I rejoice more in the former, and detest more the latter. It is the difference between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of darkness. One is a sheepfold, the other is a pig sty.

When Rev. Stewart was here, he preached a fiery sermon on the fires of division that Christ has come to bring upon the earth, and I found myself willing too, that this fire were already kindled here in Limerick (though it is in part), so that there would be a clear separation between those who love God by His grace, and those who hate Him by nature as reprobate children of Satan. His exhortations were much needed, as it is very difficult not to cave in to the pressure exerted on us from every direction. But we stand by the power of God who graciously sends us His word, and His strength and truth fights our battles for us on these banks of the Red Sea, so that we will see greater wonders than these. Left to ourselves, I shudder to think of the depths of destruction to which our depravity would take us.

There is so much I could tell of our time with Rev. Stewart and his wife, and how wonderful a time we had in the services, worshipping the living God in our midst, and in our meals and peaceful times in the afternoons. Each of us greatly benefitted from this time. It was powerful reminder of how there is always a remnant according to the election of grace - another passage that was preached on from I Kings 19 about the still small voice. But I'll not write a book here - yet.

I should finally say that the lectures have been superb, and I had long and enjoyable discussions with Rev. Stewart about evolutionism and creationism, which is an area of particular interest to me, from a scientific perspective too. It is amazing how any real scientist could believe evolutionary theory, except for total depravity. Of course, the materialists, like stupid monkeys, are busy chewing off the branch that they are sitting on - because any sort of science is impossible without biblical presuppositions. Atheism is the worst religion for science, since it inherently denies all the basic tenets that science is based upon. No surprise there, about the marvellous capabilities of the human nature to hold the truth in unrighteousness (Rom. 1:18). So, I am further astounded by the miracle of grace that has redeemed us, and therefore may we continue to stir one another up to praise our Rock.

I am very excited about the prospect of visiting the saints of the PR churches in America!

Peace be to all the saints only (I Cor. 16:22),

Sam W.

Invitation to biblical preaching!

Dear, yet scattered, believers in Limerick,

See details below for the next upcoming lecture held by the Limerick Reformed Fellowship. Please let others know, spread the news by using one of the primary means that God has appointed in personal evangelism - the invitation! I am convinced that you who love the Bible and spend much time meditating upon its glorious truths about our gracious Saviour, all know very well that there is an extreme lack of good, solid, and substantial biblical preaching in Limerick at the moment (the difference is between night and day). Now it is my duty (not to be shirked, by any means) to only speak the truth here in honesty and clarity (you must judge whether it is), but if the truth offends, that is not my fault (Gal. 4:16), and if I offend, then please forgive me. We are in a good example of the captivity in Babylon (Psa. 137) and the long-prophesied "famine of the Word" (Amos 8:11-14). And this is even though the Great Commission is that all peoples are taught to obey all things that Christ has commanded us (Matt. 28:20), and that the church must teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:17-38), and keep nothing back that is profitable (and all Scripture is profitable - II Tim. 3:16)!

Yet there is much that the broad local groups who proudly wear the name "church" would shun to teach (but who do not bear the marks thereof, e.g. "World Outreach Christian Church" who profanely preach that earthly prosperity is the Gospel of God - I Tim. 1:5-20; I Tim. 6:3-10; "Christ Church" which allows any and all heathen and ungodly hypocrites to be partakers at the Lord's Table - I Cor. 11:27-34; "Abundant Life" which despises the Spirit who speaks by the Holy Scriptures by calling the imaginations and emotions of their own sinful hearts to be God's revelation - Jer. 23:15-17; "Mallow Street Christian Fellowship" which rebukes those who testify to the Gospel of sovereign grace alone, and against the errors of Rome's works-righteousness - Gal. 1:6-10; 5:1-12; II Tim. 4:1-5, and this is merely a cursory glance at the multitudinous wicked errors and profanities by which they manifest the lack of love both for our Holy and Almighty God and for His beloved redeemed people, and this I think is not by my judgment, but Scripture's testimony to them - John 12:48; 7:24). Ought we to be ashamed of the Gospel (Rom. 1:16-17)? Otherwise how is God's righteousness revealed from faith to faith (Rom. 10:13-17), and how will God save and sanctify His people by the truth (John 17:17-19)? But the foundation of the Lord stands sure, He knows who are His (II Tim. 2:19; Rom. 8:28-39), so let us depart from iniquity.

This is a good opportunity for starved people to get well fed (Isa. 55:1-13), to be more fully prepared in our life-long battle against our own sinful natures, the world of the ungodly, and Satan who is the spirit at work in the children of disobedience (Eph. 2:2). Not only that, but amongst the rampant disunity (which must be unity in doctrine if it is to be unity in love - I Cor. 1:10; I Cor 13:6 - and neglect of doctrine is not godly unity, it is merely unity with Satan's damning lies - I Tim. 4:16) among believers in Limerick, with God's sheep being scattered (Jer. 23:1-40 see also: http://www.cprcextra.co.uk/Godsnearness.mp3) and blown about by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14), trained and qualified and lawfully called and ordained ministers are God's primary appointed means in this age to bring about unity (Eph. 4:1-16). And this work is His not ours - for we have strength neither to work nor will unity, except by God's working and willing in us for His name's sake (Phil. 2:13; Isa. 59:1-21). This is why we hold these lectures - for your eternal good, so that we all are conformed to the image of Christ.

Finally with this exhortation, which I hope you will consider and be stirred up by (and as the Bereans, study the Scriptures which for good reason with patience I have noted carefully, since Christ's words are spirit and life - John 6:58-65), I also want to recommend this sermon which speaks about our office as prophets in God's kingdom - and as such our own individual and corporate responsibility for the preaching, and how to exercise that responsibility for the glory of God, and the good of His people in every tribe, tongue, and nation. As a fireman ought to know and be acquainted with his office as fireman, to fulfill it, so every believer ought to know and be instructed in the exercise of their triple office as king, priest, and prophet (I Pet. 2:9). Otherwise, there is no end to the fiery catastrophe (Hos. 4:6; II Thess. 1:8; John 17:3). See: http://www.cprfextra.co.uk/officebeliever5.mp3

"For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may more and more abound in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." - Phil. 1:8-11.

Now, I have told you in advance so that you can plan to keep the time free and come if at all possible, and I have endeavoured (though feebly and amidst much sinfulness and pride, for which I hope you will be enabled to forgive me), and will continue to strive according to God's working in me, despite my many and grievous sins and failings, to love you more, and to seek to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Christ, for which reason I cannot but cling to the truth (it is our belt) which has fallen in the streets in this city (Isa. 59:14-16), and the establishment of a pillar and ground of the truth in a local instituted manifestation of the church (I Tim. 3:15), reformed according to the Word of God alone (not after man's traditions, or his superstitions, or imaginations, or feelings, all of which are the vile overflow of his totally depraved, even Satanic nature - John 8:42-47, worse than a world of sewage - Matt. 15:3-20; Mark 7:9-23; Col. 2:20-23; John 4:23-24; Gen. 8:21; Jer. 17:9; Heb. 13:15; Mal. 1:6-2:8 and we are all the priests of His heavenly Kingdom), in which God's sheep will hear the voice of the Great Shepherd who gave His life for us (John 10:1-30).

And He will without fail lead us who believe in Christ alone, though through perils and troubles in this Babylon, which is doomed to destruction for our sakes (Isa. 43; Rev. 18-19; Psa. 137; Rom. 9:16-23), to green pastures and quiet waters, to dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psa. 23; Eph 2:1-22). May we be obedient to Him, by His grace alone, that in all things He would be glorified, as He is worthy. If nothing else commends this lecture to you, for your good, and the good of others, then at least may my witness (however frail and flawed) in this message commend it to you by the authority and clarity of the perfect, powerful Word of God which communicates lucidly with us (by the soul-illuminating, eye-opening Spirit of God who mightily causes us sinners to believe it!) far better than we can communicate amongst ourselves. I also still hope that we will be able to support one another in working and praying together for biblical reformation, as it is the only strait (i.e. tortuous!) and narrow way in which we must seek to glorify and enjoy God, for the salvation of predestined souls, and the worship He deserves in all purity (Psa. 24:3-6).

Love in Christ, who has purchased us as His everlasting possession to show forth His praises (I Pet. 1:18-25),

Your servant, as every believer is, for His sake,

Sam.

P.S. You may pass this message on to whoever you think may profit from it. I'm especially thinking of lots of people in Christ Church whom I remember. It would be good to see them again, and for them to know that I did not leave to forsake them, but to benefit them, Lord-willing, if they are His.

--

PUBLIC LECTURE
The Four Horsemen of Revelation 6
What are the 4 horsemen?
Do they ride forth today?
How do they help believers and the church understand the world
and history, calming our fears and bringing us comfort?
Speaker: Rev. Angus Stewart
of the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena, N.I. (www.cprc.co.uk)
Venue: An Cistin, Conradh na Gaeilge Hall, Thomas Street, Limerick City.
7.30pm, Thursday 30th July, 2009
www.limerickreformed.com