"By this book you shall live, by this book you shall preach, and by this book you shall be judged at the last day.". W. S. Plumer, as he handed a small Bible to each Columbia Seminary graduate.

According to Gary Millar, another reason for the lack of prayer is the "decentralization" of the church into "home groups" replacing the prayer meeting and relegating prayer "to that slot somewhere after 9.30 pm". This has also been my experience.

This book about the theology of prayer is very helpful. At the end, Gary Millar gives six reasons why western evangelicals don't pray anymore. A surprising one is the availability of so much preaching on the Internet.

. and inserted here. But as it has always been received by the Latin Churches, and is found in many old Greek manuscripts, and contains nothing unworthy of an Apostolic Spirit, there is no reason why we should refuse to apply it to our own profit.”. (Commentary on John).

Calvin on the "pericope adulterae" in John 8. As always, Calvin's sensible pragmatism is a good example to follow! 🙂. "It is plain enough that this passage was unknown anciently to the Greek churches; and some conjecture that it has been brought from some other place. .

"Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down. " (Isa 64.1). "For us and for our salvation, he came down. " (Nicene Creed). Hallelujah!.

Andrew Bonar describing the revival at Murray M'Cheyne's Church in his absence. When I read this, I wonder why I'm not praying for a revival every day.

Murray M'Cheyne writing down a poem to remember the duties of the various levites in Leviticus. These men loved every syllable of the Word of God. (Memoirs & Remains)

"God wants you to know that the only end of a gospel ministry is that you may be holy. Believe me, God himself could not make you happy except you be holy.". Robert Murray M'Cheyne to open of his parishioners. (Memoirs & Remains).

. is disfigured by frightful desolation, there are good grounds for saying that godly teachers renovate the world, as if God formed heaven and earth anew by their hand.". (Comm. on "planting the heavens" in Isaiah 51.16).

A curious idea from Calvin: preachers renovate the world:. "Heaven & earth are said to be restored by the doctrine of salvation; because "in Christ," as Paul says, "are united all things that are either in heaven or on earth.". Since therefore the whole face of the world. .

. By the authority of the Scriptures that are not the property of anyone, but the common witnesses for.both of us, let position do battle with position, case with case, reason with reason.". (Answer to Miximinus the Arian, II.14.3).

Augustine on Scripture taking precedence over creeds:. "I should not introduce the Council of Nicaea to prejudice the case in my favour nor should you introduce the Council of Ariminum that way. I am not bound by the authority of Ariminum & you are not bound by that of Nicaea. .

RT @LondonSeminary: Challenge 50 - A New Generation Needs Your Help!. Churches are longing for well-trained pastors, and many are coming fo….

Augustine (Answer to Miximunus the Arian, Book II, ch. 14.3).

3/3. In 1529 (two years later), Calvin (20 yrs old) came to study in Bourges and Wolmar had a decisive influence on him! . Wolmar also took Beza (10 yrs old) as a lodger. He taught Greek to both of them. In 1549 Marguerite died childless & the duchy reverted back to the Crown.

2/3. She quietly appointed evangelical teachers in the University of Bourges (capital of Berry). Chief among them was Melchior Wolmar, the Lutheran Greek scholar.

1/3.An example of God's hidden providence:. Marguerite de Navarre's efforts behind the scene to promote the reformation in France are still not fully appreciated. In 1527, she was granted the duchy of Berry in central France by king Francis I (her brother).

There is also a good form of "biblicism":. "Since this man has adduced no argument nor proof from the Scriptures, he need not detain us long.". Augustine (On baptism against the Donatists, 7.48.95).

Dogmatics is that delightful activity in which the church praises God by ordering its thinking towards the gospel of Christ. John Webster (Holiness).

A wonderful summary of Augustine's theology by American historian & theologian Albert Outler in his intro on the Confessions. (quoted by Jaroslav Pelikan in 'the Christian tradition', vol. 1)