LIBRARY: BOOKS

The Hail & Fire Library provides Christian books, Puritan, Reformed and Protestant exhortative works, Catholic and Protestant polemical and apologetical works, bibles, histories, martyrologies, and works on eschatology; in real text, PDF, and scanned image formats. By using the Hail & Fire Library you agree to the following copyright notice.

SERMONS:

The intention of Hail & Fire is to make available Gospel and Reformed Theology in the works, sermons, exhortations, prayers, and apologetics of those who have maintained the Gospel and expounded upon the Scripture as the eternal Word of God and the sole authority in Christian doctrine.

  Alleine, Joseph (1634-1668, Puritan Divine and Pastor)

An Alarm to the Unconverted Sinners (Originally Published 1672, Prefixed with an Epistle by Rev. Richard Baxter entitled "To the Unconverted Reader," 1818 Edition)

EXCERPT: "Will you still be cheated by this deceitful world, and spend all your days in pampering your guts, and providing for the flesh, that must be rotting shortly in a grave? Were you made for no better use than this? May not we bring you to some sober thoughts of your condition? Not one hour seriously to think whither you are going? What! not one awakened look into the world where you must be for ever?"

Earail Dhurachdach do Pheacaich Neo-Iompaichte (Originally Published 1672, Prefixed with An Roi'radh le Rev. Richard Baxter, 1860 Edition of "An Alarm to the Unconverted Sinners" in Gaelic)

EXCERPT: "O what a deceiver is the devil, that can thus lead on souls to their own damnation! O what a cheat is this transitory world, that can make men so forget that world where they must live for ever! O what an enemy is this flesh, that thus draweth down men's souls from God! O what a besotting thing is sin, that turneth a reasonable soul into worse than a beast! What a bedlam is this wicked world, when thousands are so busy labouring to undo themselves and others, and gratifying the devil against their God and Saviour, who would give them everlasting blessed life!"

  Allestree, Richard (1619-1681ad)

The Lively Oracles Given to Us, or, The Christian's Birth-Right and Duty, in the Custody and Use of the Holy Scripture (1832 Edition, also attributed to Robert Boyle)

EXCERPT: "I had occasion to take notice among the exorbitances of that unruly part, which sets on fire the whole course of nature, and itself is set on fire from hell, of the impious vanity prevailing in this age, whereby men play with sacred things, and exercise their wit upon those Scriptures by which they shall be judged at the last day. But that Holy Book, not only suffering by the petulancy of the tongue, but the malice of the heart, out of the abundance whereof the mouth speaks, and also from that irreligion ... which the pursuit of sensual pleasures certainly produces ... I have therefore thought it necessary ... to attempt a professed and particular vindication of the Holy Scriptures, by displaying their native excellence and beauty, and enforcing the veneration and obedience that is to be paid unto them."

  Barrow, Isaac (Puritan Preacher 1634-1668ad)

Sermons, on Various Subjects (1823 Edition in 5 volumes)

EXCERPT: "The slanderer is an enemy, as the most fierce and outrageous, so the most base and unworthy that can be: he fights with the most perilous and most unlawful weapon, in the most furious and foul way that can be. His weapon is an envenomed arrow, full of deadly poison, which he shooteth suddenly, and feareth not; a weapon which by no force can be resisted, by no art declined, whose impression is altogether inevitable and unsustainable." Sermon XVIII, The Folly of Slander

See also under: Apologetica Protestant

  Bates, William (D.D., 1625-1699ad, Puritan Preacher,

Chaplain to Charles II of England and known as “The Queen’s Puritan” under William and Mary)

Spiritual Perfection Unfolded and Enforced (Originally published 1699, 1848 Edition, The Religious Tract Society, The Writings of the Doctrinal Puritans and Divines of the Seventeenth Century)

EXCERPT: "The fear of God also is a grace of excellent efficacy to perfect holiness in us. It is the apostle's direction, 'Perfecting holiness in the fear of God.' ... Fear introduces serious religion, preserves and improves it. It is the principle of conversion to God, and knocks at the door of the soul that Divine love may have admission into it. It arises from the conviction of guilt, and the apprehension of judgment that follows. ... Till there is felt something more tormenting than carnal sweets are pleasing, men will not mortify their lusts. One will not suffer a part of his body to be cut off, unless an incurable gangrene threatens speedy death. The world is present and sensible, and continually diverts men from the consideration of their souls, unless eternal things are by a strong application impressed on their minds." page 207

  Becon, Thomas (Reformer, Chaplain to Archbishop

Cranmer, Prebendary of Canterbury)

The Catechism of Thomas Becon With Other Pieces Written by Him in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth (1844 Parker Society Edition)

EXCERPT: "The sabbath therefore of the Christians is spiritual and everlasting, not to be observed one day in the week only, after the manner of the Jews, but every day so long as we live, by ceasing to do evil, and by studying to do good, as it is written: 'There shall be a new moon for the other, and a new sabbath for the other; and all flesh shall come to worship before me, saith the Lord.' ... We read, that on the sabbath-day Christ healed divers persons that were diseased, and restored them to their health, to give us an example to do the like, when either faith, charity, or necessity requires. For to the true godly, every day is the sabbath-day; forasmuch as they spend every day in holy works, and have nothing to do with such deeds as be uncomely to be done of true Christians; forasmuch also as every day they lift up their minds unto God, call on his holy name by fervent prayer, praise his glorious majesty, and have their meditation in the law of the Lord, yea, and that in the midst of their godly travails and labors."

  Binning, Hugh (Puritan Preacher 1627-1653)

Christian Love

EXCERPT: "Humility levels men to a holy subjection and submission to another, without the confusion of their different degrees and stations. ... Eph. v. 21, "Submit yourselves one to another in the fear of God." 1 Pet 5:5, "All of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility." Now, if humility can put a man below others, certainly it will make him endure patiently and willingly to be placed in that same rank by others. When others give him that place to sit into, that he had chosen for himself, will he conceive himself wronged and affronted, though others about him think so? Nay, it is hard to persuade him of an injury of that kind, because the apprehension of such an affront hath for its foundation the imagination of some excellency beyond others, which lowliness hath razed out. He hath placed himself so low for every man's edification and instruction, that others can put him no lower, and there he sits quietly and peaceably."

The Common Principles of the Christian Religion, Clearly Proved, and Singularly Improved or A Practical Catechism

EXCERPT: "I beseech you consider, that what you give your time, pains, thoughts and affections to, that is your God. You must give God all your heart, and so retain nothing of your own will if God be your God. But do you not know that your care and grief and desire and love vents another way, towards base things? You know that you have a will of your own which goes quite contrary to His holy will in all things, therefore Satan has bewitched you and your hearts deceive you, when they persuade you that you have had no other God but the true God. Christianity raises the soul again, and advances it by degrees to this love of God, from which it had fallen."

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  Boston, Thomas

A Soliloquy on the Art of Fishing for Men, For a pattern to every preacher of the Gospel (Originally Published in 1699, 1900 Edition)

EXCERPT: "What an honourable thing is it to be fishers of men! How great an honour shouldst thou esteem it, to be a catcher of souls! We are workers together with God, says the apostle. If God has ever so honoured thee, O that thou knewest it, that thou mightst bless his holy name, that ever made such a poor fool as thee to be a co-worker with him. God has owned thee to do good to those who were before caught. O my soul, bless thou the Lord. Lord, what am I, or what is my father's house, that thou hast brought me to this? 5. Then seest thou not here what is the reason thou toilest so long, and catchest nothing? The power comes not along. Men are like Samuel, who, when God was calling him, thought it had been Eli. So when thou speakest many times, they do not discern God's voice, but thine; and therefore the word goes out as it comes in. 6. Then, O my soul, despair not of the conversion of any, be they ever so profligate. For it is the power of the Spirit that drives any person into the net; and this cannot be resisted. Mockers of religion, yea, blasphemers may be brought into the net; and many times the wind of God's Spirit in the word lays the tall cedars in sin down upon the ground, when they that seem to be as low shrubs in respect of them, stand fast upon their root. Publicans and harlots shall enter the kingdom of heaven before self-righteous Pharisees."

  Brevint, Daniel (D.D., French Huguenot, Dean of Lincoln)

See under: Apologetica Protestant

  Brome, Henry

A Seasonable Discourse Showing the Necessity of Maintaining the Established Religion, In Opposition To Popery (1673 Edition)

EXCERPT: "Paul the Third sent against King Henry VIII in ... 1538, his terrible thundering Bull ... in which punishments to the King were deprivation of his kingdom, and to his adherents of whatsoever they possessed, commanding his subjects to deny him obedience, and strangers to have any commerce in that kingdom, and all to take arms against, and to persecute both himself and his followers, granting them their estates and goods for their prey, and their persons for their slaves. Upon like terms Paul the Fourth would not acknowledge Queen Elizabeth because the kingdom was a See of the Papacy, and it was audaciously done of her to assume it without his leave ..."

  Bunyan, John (1628-1688ad, Protestant Preacher and author of The Pilgrim's Progress)

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, In a faithful account of the life and death of John Bunyan, or, A brief relation of the exceeding mercy of God in Christ to him namely in His taking him out of the dunghill, and converting him to the faith of His blessed son Jesus Christ. Here is also particularly shewed, what sight of, and what troubles he had for sin; and also, what various temptations he hath met with, and how God hath carried him through them."

EXCERPT: "When I thought I kept this or that commandment, or did, by word or deed, anything that I thought was good, I had great peace in my conscience, and should think with myself, God cannot choose but be now pleased with me; yea, to relate it in mine own way, I thought no man in England could please God better than I. But poor wretch as I was! I was all this while ignorant of Jesus Christ; and going about to establish my own righteousness; and had perished therein, had not God in mercy showed me more of my state by nature. But upon a day, the good providence of God called me to Bedford ... I came where there were three or four poor women ... talking about the things of God ... I drew near to hear what they said, for I was now a brisk talker also myself, in the matters of religion; but I may say, I heard but understood not; for they were far above, out of my reach. Their talk was about a new birth, the work of God on their hearts, also how they were convinced of their miserable state by nature; they talked how God had visited their souls with His love in the Lord Jesus, and with what words and promises they had been refreshed, comforted, and supported, against the temptations of the devil: moreover, they reasoned of the suggestions and temptations of Satan in particular; and told to each other, by which they had been afflicted and how they were borne up under his assaults. They also discoursed of their own wretchedness of heart, and of their unbelief; and did contemn, slight and abhor their own righteousness, as filthy, and insufficient to do them any good."

  Calvin, John (1509-1564ad, French Protestant Reformer, also called: Calvino, Giovanni)

See also under: Apologetica Protestant

  Clarke, Samuel (Protestant Preacher)

The Character of a Good Man a Sermon by Samuel Clarke (1780 Edition)

EXCERPT: "The great and principal design of every man's life, ought to be the promoting of the glory of God; the encouraging of virtue, and discouraging every kind of vice. Not that any man is obliged to be perpetually employed in actions that are immediately of a religious nature; or that all his thoughts and discourses are to be wholly confined to things sacred: but that his principal and final aim, his general and constant view, the settled temper and disposition of his mind, and the habitual tendency of all his actions, be the establishing of truth and right in the world."

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  Edwards, Jonathan (Revival Preacher 1703-58)

> view list of works

EXCERPT: "If we be not in good earnest in religion, and our wills and inclinations be not strongly exercised, we are nothing. The things of religion are so great, that there can be no suitableness in the exercises of our hearts, to their nature and importance, unless they be lively and powerful. In nothing is vigor in the actions of our inclinations so requisite, as in religion; and in nothing is lukewarmness so odious. True religion is evermore a powerful thing; and the power of it appears, in the first place in the inward exercises of it in the heart, where is the principal and original seat of it. Hence true religion is called the power of godliness, in distinction from the external appearances of it, that are the form of it, 2 Tim. 3:5"

  Elizabeth I (1533-1603, Protestant Queen of England known as the "Virgin Queen" and "Gloriana," daughter of King Henry VIII, sister of Protestant King Edward VI and Catholic Queen Mary I, known as "Bloody Mary")

A Sermon Preached before Queen Elizabeth I, at Greenwich, the 24th of February, AD 1590, on Psalm 77:20 “Thou didest lead thy people like sheep, by the hand of Moses and Aaron."

EXCERPT: "'To begin with God, ... by whom and to whom we lead and are led, and in whom all right leading both begins and ends. ... That is whosoever be the hands, God is the person, He is the Tu. Whose names forever we hear; whose hands soever we feel; whose countenance soever we behold, we must yet look up higher, and see God in every Government. To Him we must make our apostrophe and say, Thou leadest etc. For He it is that leadeth properly and, in strict propriety of speech, Moses and Aaron lead not; but God, by the hands of Moses and Aaron. ... God is the person that leadeth, and all other but hands under Him and unto Him" (page 273):

See also:

Certain Sermons Appointed to be Read in the Time of Queen Elizabeth

Private Prayers of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth

The Bull of Deposition against Queen Elizabeth I

History of England from the Fall of Wosley to the Death of Elizabeth by James Anthony Froude

  Elliott, Rev. E. B. (Theologian)

Horae Apocalypticae

EXCERPT: "It seems, as both Foxe and Brightman report to us, that for some time following the Reformation the Romish Doctors were very shy of the subject. At its first outbreak indeed, on Luther's anti-Papal protest, some unguarded Doctors of the Papacy, in the true spirit of the 5th Council of Lateran, just then concluded, which had solemnly identified the then existing Romish Church with the New Jerusalem of the Apocalypse,—I say there were certain Doctors, as Prierio and Eck, so unguarded as to take up the Lateran theory, and broadly declare the Papal dominion to be Daniel's 5th monarchy, or reign of the saints. But what then of the little horn, or Antichrist; that was to intervene, according to Daniel's manifest declaration, between old Rome's iron empire and the saints' reign? The question was so puzzling that it must have been abundantly palpable to all thoughtful Romanists that such a Danielic theory was untenable; and that some better one must be taken up, if the Papal citadel were to be defended on prophetic grounds. The same of the Apocalypse. So at length, as the century was advancing to a close, two stout Jesuists took up the gauntlet; and published their respective, but quite counter opinions on the Apocalyptic subject:—the one Ribera, a Jesuit Priest of Salamanca, who about a.d. 1585 published an Apocalyptic Commentary, which was on the grand points of Babylon and Antichrist what we now call the futurist scheme: the other Alcasar, also a Spanish Jesuit, but of Seville, whose scheme was on main points what we now designate as that of the prieterists. "

  Erasmus, Desiderius (Theologian 1466-1536)

The Colloquies of Erasmus

EXCERPT: "There is nothing to be attained in this life without pains; and yet, let us get what we will, and what pains soever we are at to attain it, we must leave it behind us: why then should we think much to be at some pains for the most precious thing of all, the fruit of which will bear us company unto another life."

  Farquhar, John (Protestant)

On the Parable of the Prodigal Son [Sermon] (1780 Edition)

EXCERPT: "The Almighty shows the value he has for a human soul, by preferring its renewal to every other sacrifice. There is a strange propensity in corrupt man, to endeavor to please God in some different manner; but this is the only way that is acceptable."

  Fenner, William

A Divine Message to the Elect Soul (1645 Edition)

EXCERPT: "There is 'a day of salvation' (Isaiah 49:9); this is the day in which the Lord says to the prisoners, 'Come forth,' and to those that lie in their sins, 'repent and believe.' Now, if any will come forth and humble his soul before the Lord, let him come and welcome—for it is a day of salvation."

EXCERPT: "Call as much to mind as thou canst, what evil thou hast done ever since thou wast born, what in the womb, what in thy cradle, childhood, youth, age .. what as a servant, what as a son, what as a neighbor, what as an inferior, what as a superior, either in though, or word, or deed; how often thou hast omitted good duties, or done them by halves. They shall remember themselves and turn unto the Lord, Psal. 22:27. First, they shall remember, and say, What have I done! O wretch! how carelessly have I lived! So meditating, they shall turn unto the Lord."

  Flavel, John (English Puritan Preacher 1627-1691ad)

The Touchstone of Sincerity, or, Trial of True and False Religion (1814 Edition, Puritan Sermon)

EXCERPT: "My design in these meditations, is not to shake the well founded hopes of any man, or to excite unreasonable apprehensions; but to discover the radical and fatal defects, in the basis of many men's expectations of future happiness. Men must judge of their religion by examining its foundation, if that fail, the superstructure is perishable and worthless. There is a laudable spirit of caution, cherished by the saints, which makes them sensible to the danger of self-deception, and renders them watchful and circumspect; there is also a culpable anxiety and fear, tending only to gloom and despondency, to which they sometimes give way: by the former they are guarded against evil; by the latter they incur needless grief, and are restrained from inward peace. Sometimes good men, indulging groundless fears of hypocrisy, are blind to the clearest evidences of their gracious state; but more frequently, the wicked, regardles of consequences, close their eyes upon the proofs of their guilt and jeopardy."

A Treatise on Keeping the Heart (Puritan Sermon on: "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23, 1813 Edition)

EXCERPT: "'Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.' (Proverbs 4:23). The heart of man is his worst part before it be regenerated, and the best afterwards: it is the seat of principles, and the fountain of actions. The eye of God is, and the eye of the Christian ought to be, principally fixed upon it. The greatest difficulty in conversion, is, to win the heart to God; and the greatest difficulty after conversion, is, to keep the heart with God. Here lies the very force and stress of religion; here is that which makes the way to life a narrow way, and the gate of heaven a strait gate. ... The state of the whole body depends upon the soundness and vigour of the heart; and the everlasting state of the whole man upon the good or ill condition of the soul."

  Frith, John (1503-1533ad, English Reformer and Protestant Martyr for the faith of the Gospel)

The Works of the English Reformers: William Tyndale and John Frith (1831 Edition in three Volumes)

EXCERPT: "I thought it expedient therein to write my mind, trusting, by that means, to bring again the blind hearts of many unto the right way, and I doubt not but that the elect and chosen of God that know their Shepherd's voice, and have the spirit to judge all things, shall easily perceive whether this be conformable to their master's voice, and shall hereby be admonished to leave their wandering in the dark and loathsome ways which lead unto death, and to walk without stumbling in the comfortable light." John Frith, A Mirror, or Looking Glass, Wherein You May Behold The Sacrament of Baptism Described.

  Griffiths, John (Editor)

Certain Sermons or Homilies Appointed to be Read in Churches in the Time of Queen Elizabeth of Famous Memory (1864 Edition)

EXCERPT: "Considering how necessary it is, that the Word of God, which is the only food of the soul, and that most excellent light that we must walk by, in this our most dangerous pilgrimage, should at all convenient times be preached unto the people, that thereby they may both learn their duty towards God, their prince, and their neighbours, according to the mind of the Holy Ghost, expressed in the Scriptures, and also to avoid the manifold enormities which heretofore by false doctrine have crept into the church of God ... the Queen's most excellent Majesty ... willing also by the true setting forth and pure declaring of God's Word, which is the principal guide and leader unto all godliness and virtue, to expel and drive away as well corrupt, vicious, and ungodly living, as also erroneous and poisoned doctrines, tending to superstition and idolatry, hath, by the advice of her most honourable Counsellors, for her discharge in this behalf, caused a Book of Homilies ... to be printed anew, wherein are contained certain wholesome and godly exhortations, to move the people to honour and worship Almighty God, and diligently to serve him ..."

  Henry, Matthew (1662-1714, Reformed Protestant)

A Discourse on Meekness and Quietness of Spirit by Rev. Matthew Henry

EXCERPT: "The excellency of a meek and quiet spirit will appear, if we consider the credit of it, and the comfort of it - the present profit there is by it, and the preparedness there is in it for future blessings. Consider how creditable a meek and quiet spirit is. Credit or reputation all desire, though few consider aright either what it is, or what is the right way of obtaining it; and particularly it is little believed what a great deal of true honor there is in the grace of meekness, and what a sure and ready way mild and quiet souls take to gain the approval of their Master, and of all their fellow-servants who love him, and are like him."

  James, John Angell (1785 - 1859, English Nonconformist and Slavery Abolitionist)

The Marriage Ring: or How to Make a Happy Home (1842 Illuminated Edition)

EXCERPT: "Intended as a manual for those just entering the marriage state. ... The secret of happiness lies folded up in the leaves of the Bible, and is carried in the bosom of Religion. Let the two parties in wedded life be believers in Christ Jesus, and partake themselves of the peace that passeth understanding ... united by love, and sanctified by grace."

EXCERPT: "The charms of mind increase by acquaintance, while those of the exterior diminish ... the former easily reconcile us to a plain countenance, the latter excite, by the power of contrast, a distaste ... Instead of determining to stake our happiness upon ... blooming weeds ... let us ask, will the understanding, united with that countenance, render its subject fit to be my companion, and the instructor of my children?"

  Latimer, Hugh (English Reformer and Martyr, 1485-1555)

Sermons on the Card and Other Discourses

EXCERPT: "Let us trust upon His only death, and look for none other sacrifice ... Christ himself said, consummatum est: 'It is perfectly finished: I have taken at my Father's hand the dispensation of redeeming mankind, I have wrought man's redemption, and have despatched the matter.' Why then mingle ye him? Why do ye divide him? Why make you of Him more sacrifices than one? Paul saith, Pascha nostrum immolatus est Christus: 'Christ our passover is offered;' so that the thing is done, and Christ hath done it semel, once for all ... Why then, it is not the mass that availeth or profiteth for the quick and the dead."

  Lightfoot, John (1602-1675ad)

The Whole Works of the Late Rev. John Lightfoot, D. D. Master of Catharine Hall, Cambridge. (1825 Edition in Thirteen Volumes)

EXCERPT: "We suppose, therefore, that men, women, and children, came to John's baptism, according to the manner of the nation, in the reception of proselytes; namely, that they, standing in Jordan, were taught by John, that they were baptized into the name of the Messias, that was now immediately to come; - and into the profession of the doctrine of the gospel concerning faith and repentance; that they plunged themselves into the river, and so came out. And that which is said of them, that they were baptized by him, 'confessing their sins,' is to be understood according to the tenor of the Baptist's preaching; not that they did this man by man, or by some auricular confession made to John, or by openly declaring some particular sins; but when the doctrine of John exhorted them to repentance and to faith in the Messias, they renounced and disowned the doctrine and opinion of justification by their works, wherewith they had been before-time leavened, and acknowledged and confessed themselves sinners." John Lightfoot (Hebrew and Talmudical Exercitations Upon The Gospel of St. Matthew, Volume 11).

  Luther, Martin (German Reformer, 1483-1546ad)

Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians

EXCERPT: "The world bears the Gospel a grudge because the Gospel condemns the religious wisdom of the world. Jealous for its own religious views, the world in turn charges the Gospel with being a subversive and licentious doctrine, offensive to God and man, a doctrine to be persecuted as the worst plague on earth. ... These Jewish-Christian fanatics who pushed themselves into the Galatian churches after Paul's departure, boasted that they were the descendants of Abraham, true ministers of Christ, having been trained by the apostles themselves ... When men claiming such credentials come along, they deceive not only the naive, but also those who seemingly are well-established in the faith. This same argument is used by the papacy. 'Do you suppose that God for the sake of a few Lutheran heretics would disown His entire Church? Or do you suppose that God would have left His Church floundering in error all these centuries?' The Galatians were taken in by such arguments with the result that Paul's authority and doctrine were drawn in question. Against these boasting, false apostles, Paul boldly defends his apostolic authority and ministry. Humble man that he was, he will not now take a back seat. He reminds them of the time when he opposed Peter to his face and reproved the chief of the apostles."

See also under: Apologetica Protestant

  Mead, Matthew (Puritan, 1629-1699)

The Almost Christian Discovered, or the False Professor Tried and Cast (Published 1661, 1819 Edition)

EXCERPT: "there is nothing in the doctrine that should be matter of stumbling or discouragement to weak Christians. The Gospel does not speak these things to wound believers, but to awaken sinners and formal professors. As there are none more averse than weak believers, to apply the promises and comforts of the Gospel to themselves, for whom they are properly designed; so there are none more ready than they to apply the threats and severest things of the world to themselves, for whom they were never intended. As the disciples, when Christ told them, "One of you shall betray me;" they that were innocent suspected themselves most and therefore cry out, "Master, is it I?" So weak Christians, when they hear sinners reproved or the hypocrite laid open in the ministry of the Word, they presently cry out, Is it I? It is the hypocrite's fault to sit under the trials and discoveries of the Word and yet not to mind them: and it is the weak Christian's fault to draw sad conclusions of their own state from premises which nothing concern them."

  Millington, Thomas (editor)

Words To Win Souls: Twelve Sermons, Preached 1620 - 1650 by Eminent Divines of the Church of England (1851 Edition)

EXCERPT: "There are many secret corruptions in [a man's] own heart that will be shown him in the preaching of the Word, which a man cannot abide to hear of; but he will be vexing and fretting and discontented at it (as we see in Ahab and divers others), unless he have patience to keep him from raging against the preacher and the Word preached to him. You have need of patience, that you may bear the reproofs and exhortations of the Word. Therefore saith the Apostle James, Receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls. There is no engrafting the Word in the heart, except those forms of impatience, those hindrances to the growth of the Word, be taken away."

  Owen, John (1616-1683, D.D., English Puritan Preacher, Chancellor of Oxford University)

The Forgiveness of Sin, a Practical Exposition of Psalm 130 (American Tract Society Edition)

EXCERPT: "He suffered men, indeed, to make trial of other ways; and when their insufficiency for the ends men proposed to themselves was manifested, it pleased him to reveal His way. And what are we, that we should contend about it with Him? God's rejection of the way of personal righteousness, and choosing the way of grace and forgiveness, he reveals, Jeremiah 31:31-34: 'Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah; not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers,' (in which administration of the covenant, as far as it had respect to typical mercies, much depended on their personal obedience,) 'but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will put my law in their hearts, and will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.' Let, then, this way stand, and the way of man's wisdom and self-righteousness perish forever."

  Paleario, Aonio (1500-1570ad, Italiano Protestante Reformer, Martyr Protestante 1570)

The Benefit of Christ's Death: or, The Glorious Riches of God's Free Grace, Which Every True Believer Receives by Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified. Originally Written in Italian by Aonio Paleario; and Now Reprinted from an Ancient English Translation. With an Introduction by John Ayre, Minister of St. John's Chapel, Hampstead. (Originally published in 1543 in Italian, 19th Century Update of the 1638 English Edition)

EXCERPT: "The charges against him were brought to a point by the publication, in 1543, of his treatise of the "Benefit of Christ's Death." The vast reputation which it had, and the eagerness with which it was read, being in the Italian language, increased the virulence of his opponents. Otho Melius Cotta, above mentioned, was his most determined enemy; and with this person three hundred leagued themselves in a resolution to destroy Paleario. And, in order to ensure his condemnation, twelve of these were selected to bear witness against him. He had, in consequence, to defend himself before the senate of Sienna, which he did with so much spirit, that for the moment his defence was successful. "There are some" said he, "so censorious as to be displeased when we give the highest praise to the author and God of our salvation, Christ, the King of all nations and people. For writing in the Tuscan language to show what great benefits accrue to mankind from his death, a criminal accusation has been made against me. Is it possible to utter or conceive anything more shameful?"

Benefizio della Morte di Cristo (Originalmente pubblicato 1543; 1849 Edizione in Italiano, Pisa, Italia)

EXCERPT: "Le' accuse contro di lui furono poi portate al l’estremo per la pubblicaziono del suo trattato sul “Benefizio della morte di Cristo” pubblicato nel 1543. L’incontro che ottenne, l'avidità ed il piacere col quale fu letto, per essere scritto in buon italiano, accrebbe l'ira e il veleno ne' suoi oppositori. Ottone Melio Colta sopra nominato fu il nemico suo più accerrimo, e con lui trecento si unirono ai danni di Paleario. Per la qual cosa a rendere più certa la sua condanna, dodici d'essi furono scelti a testimoniare contro di lui. In consegnenza di ciò egli dovette difendersi innanzi al Senato di Siena, e lo fece con sì buone ragioni da riportarne vittoria. Vi sono alcuni censori, egli dice, che sono dispiacenti, allorquando noi diamo le più alte lodi all'autore della nostra salvezza, Cristo, il re di tutte le nazioni e di tutti i popoli: perciocchè io ho scritto in lingua toscana, per dimostrare quanti gran benefizi derivano al genere umano dalla sua morte, fu fatta un accusa criminale contro di me! È egli possibile di proferire o iminaginar cosa alcuna più vergognosa?"

See also in Italian: John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion

  Parr, Elnathan (1597-1632, Minister of the Word of God)

The Grounds of Divinity. Plainly discovering the Misteries of Christian Religion, propounded in Questions and Answers: Substantially proved by Scriptures; expounded faithfully, according to the writings of the best divines, and evidently applied by profitable uses. To which is prefixed a very profitable Treatise containing an exhortation to the Study of the Word. (1633 Edition, London)

EXCERPT: "For even as a house without walls and windows, and other neccessary furniture, is accounted forlorne; so that is a very forlorne and naked conscience which is destitute of the knowledge of the Word. And as it is an easy matter to lead the blind out of the way, so the ignorant are easily led and taken in the snares of the devil. And this reproves the negilgence of such who are not careful to apply themselves with all diligence to the study of the Word: our negligence herein being the cause of the barrenness of knowledge in these plentiful times. If men would bestow that time in the study of the word, which they for the most part bestow, some in hunting and hawking; some in dicing and carding; some in drinking, swilling and following bad company; some in sloth and idleness; thus wisely redeeming the time: then certainly knowledge would abound among us ... Even as in matters of the Word, though a man have never so good a trade; yet without labor and diligence he can do no good in it: and as the diligent shall bear rule and stand before kings: so knowledge shall increase to the diligent, when the negligent shall be under darkness."

  Porteus, Beilby (D.D., Bishop of Chester)

See under: Apologetica Protestant

  Sacheverell, Henry

The Christian Triumph: or, The Duty of Praying for our Enemies, a Sermon by Henry Sacheverell (1713)

EXCERPT: "Now before any person can be supposed to pray at all for another, it must be taken for granted that he is in perfect charity with him himself; that he has not only entirely discarded all resentments of any injuries, and wrongs, affronts, and abuses of all kinds that he may possibly have received from him in a state of enmity, but also so clearly to have purged his soul of the whole leaven of malice that the very seeds and principles of rancor and revenge lie dead and buried within him. Otherwise, what a provoking affront does he himself offer to God, who dares thus hypocritically, to mock him with his lips, when his heart is thus far from him? Who comes with a mouth breathing forth the gentle Spirit of charity and forgiveness and has nothing but hatred and vengeance raging in his breast? Who pretends to reconcile another unto God, to whom he is not reconciled himself?"

  Saurin, Jaques (French Huguenot Preacher, Pasteur a la Haye)

Sermons sur divers textes de L'Ecriture Sainte (1749 Paris Edition in 9 volumes, en Français)

READ BY VOLUME:

TOME I
EXCERPT: "Cherches l'Eternal pendant qu'il se trouver, invoquez-le tandis qu'il est près. Esaïe 60:6. C'est un éstrande Serment que celui qui est rapporté au Chap. 10. de l'Apocalypse. St. Jean vit un Ange; cet Ange étoit environné d'une nuée, l'arc en ciel étoit sur sa tête, son visage étoit comme le soleil, et ses pieds comme des colomnes de fue. Il se tint sur la terre et sur la mer. ... Nous montrerons dans la fuite, que la Révélation est d'accord avec la nature sur cet article, et que tout ce que l'Ecriture nous enseigne et sur l'efficace de la Grace, et sur les secours miraculeux de l'Esprit de Dieu, et sur le Trésors de Miséricorde qui nous sont ouverts sous l'Evalgile, ne savorise en aucune manière le renvoi de la conversion ..."

TOME VII

  Secker, Archbishop

See under: Apologetica Protestant (Porteus, Beilby)

  Sherlock, Bishop (Church of England)

The Duty of Maintaining the Christian Faith [Sermon] (1780 Edition)

EXCERPT: "But it is to little purpose to exhort men to be zealous for the Christian faith, unless you can give them some sure and certain mark to know what the right faith is. If you enquire of particular churches or societies of Christians, which is the true faith, each of them will answer, that the faith professed by them is the true one, and that other societies have fallen into errors and mistakes. In this divided state of things, therefore, no church has a right to be believed on its own word merely, without giving a reason of the faith which is in them: and yet this pretence of authority is the only thing that can be said, and therefore it always is said, to justify the dominion which the Church of Rome has usurped over the faith of Christians. With how much better grace might St. Jude have dictated to the Christians of his time, and told them upon his own authority, what the true faith was, in opposition to corrupt teachers? But does he so? By no means: so far from it, that he gives them another rule to examine the faith by, and sends them to enquire, what the faith was, which was once, or from the beginning, delivered to Christians."

Work out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling [Sermon] (1755 Edition)

EXCERPT: "'For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.' An argument which may at first sight seem rather to lead to confidence and assurance, than to fear and trembling. For if God be for us, who can be against us? Or what is there to fear, or to tremble at, when we are thus supported and maintained in our spiritual warfare?"

  Sherlock, William (D.D, Dean of St. Paul's)

A Practical Discourse Concerning Death [Sermons] (1723 Edition, London)

EXCERPT: "What a deplorable state is this, when we are dying, to be uncertain and anxious, what will become of us to eternity? Now there is no possible way to prevent these fears when we come to die, but by giving all diligence to make our calling and election sure, by living such holy and innocent lives, that our consciences may not condemn us; and then we shall have confidence towards God. But this is such a remedy, as few of these men like: they would be glad to be sure of heaven, but yet would go as near hell as they can, without danger of falling into it; they will serve God, but must reserve a little favour and indulgence to their lusts; though they dare not take full draughts of sensual pleasures, yet they must be sipping now and then, as often as they can pacify their consciences, and get rid of the fear of God, and of another world; and therefore they are very inquisitive after other cures for an accusing and condeming conscience; are mighty fond of such marks and signs of grace, as will secure them of heaven, without the severities of mortification, or the constant and uniform practice of an universal righteousness: and a great many such signs have been invented which like strong opiates asswages their pain and smart, till their consciences awake when it is too late, in the next world."

  Taylor, Jeremy (1613-1667, Chaplain to King Charles I)

Holy Living and Dying Together with “Prayers containing the Whole Duty of a Christian,” (Originally Published 1651, 1851 Edition)

EXCERPT: "In every sickness, whether it will or will not be so in nature and in the event, yet in thy spirit and preparations resolve upon it, and treat thyself accordingly, as if it were a sickness unto death. For many men support their unequal courage by flattery and false hopes; and because sicker men have recovered, believe that they shall do so; but therefore they neglect to adorn their souls, or set their house in order: besides the temporal inconveniences that often happen by such persuasions and putting off the evil day, such as are dying intestate, leaving estates entangled and some relatives unprovided for, they suffer infinitely in the interest and affairs of their soul; they die carelessly and surprised, their burdens on, and their scruples unremoved, and their eases of conscience not determined, and, like a sheep, without any care taken concerning their precious souls. Some men will never believe that a villain will betray them, though they receive often advices from suspicious persons and likely accidents, till they are entered into the snare; and then they believe it when they feel it, and when they cannot return; but so the treason entered, and the man was betrayed by his own folly, placing the snare in the regions and advantages of opportunity. This evil looks like boldness and a confident spirit, but it is the greatest timorousness and cowardice in the world. They are so fearful to die, that they dare not look upon it as possible; and think that the making of a will is a mortal sign, and sending for a spiritual man an irrecoverable disease: and they are so afraid lest they should think and believe now they must die, that they will not take care that it may not be evil in case they should. So did the eastern slaves drink wine, and wrapped their heads in a veil, that they might die without sense or sorrow, and wink hard that they might sleep the easier. In pursuance of this rule, let a man consider that whatsoever must be done in sickness ought to be done in health; only let him observe, that his sickness, as a good monitor, chastises his neglect of duty, and forces him to live as he always should; and then all these solemnities and dressings for death are nothing else but the part of a religious life, which he ought to have exercised all his days : and if those circumstances can affright him, let him please his fancy by this truth, that then he does but begin to live."

See also under: Apologetica Protestant

  Taylor, Thomas (Puritan Preacher)

The Parable of the Sower, and of the Seed (1621 Edition)

EXCERPT: “As seed hath a natural heat, life, and virtue in it, by which it increases and begets more seeds like unto itself: so the Word cast into the good ground of a believing heart, hath a supernatural heat in it, being as fire, Jer. 5:14, and a lively power to frame men like itself, to make them of fleshly, spiritual; of blind, quick sighted; of dead in sin, alive in grace. And as one grain quickened, brings sundry tillowes, and many grains in each: so one Christian converted, and receiving this power in himself, gains many, unto God, desiring that everyone were as he is, except his bands and sins.”

  Traill, Robert (1642-1716, Scottish Born, Presbyterian Minister in England)

Select Practical Writings Sermons and commentary on Galatians, Hebrews, Ephesians, Philippians, etc. & Vindication of the Protestant Doctrine of Justification Its Preachers & Professors, from the Unjust Charge of Antinomianism (Originally Published in 1692, 1845 Edition)

EXCERPT: "The party here suspected of Antinomianism, do confidently protest, before God, angels, and men, That they espouse no new doctrine about the grace of God and justification, and the other coincident points, but what the reformers at home and abroad did teach, and all the Protestant churches do own. And that in sum is: 'That a law-condemned sinner is freely justified by God's grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ; that he is justified only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to him by God of his free grace, and received by faith alone as an instrument; which faith is the gift of the same grace.' For guarding against licentiousness, they constantly teach, out of God's word, 'That without holiness no man can see God: That all that believe truly on Jesus Christ, as they are justified by the sprinkling of his blood, so are they sanctified by the effusion of his Spirit: that all that boast of their faith in Christ, and yet live after their own lusts, and the course of this world, have no true faith at all; but do, in their profession, and contradicting practice, blaspheme the name of God, and the doctrine of his grace; and continuing so, shall perish with a double destruction, beyond that of the openly profane, that make no profession.' And when they find any such in their communion, which is exceeding rarely, they cast them out as dead branches. They teach, 'That as the daily study of sanctification is a necessary exercise to all that are in Christ; so the rule of their direction therein, is the holy spotless law of God in Christ's hand: That the Holy Ghost is the beginner and advancer of this work, and faith in Jesus Christ the great mean thereof: That no man can be holy till he be in Christ, and united to him by faith; and that no man is truly in Christ, but he is thereby sanctified. They preach the law, to condemn all flesh out of Christ, and to shew thereby to people the necessity of betaking themselves to him for salvation.' See the savoury words of blessed Tindal, called the apostle of England, in his letter to John Frith, written Jan. 1533, (Book of Martyrs, vol. ii. p. 308). 'Expound the law truly, and open the veil of Moses, to condemn all flesh, and prove all men sinners, and all deeds under the law, before mercy have taken away the condemnation thereof, to be sin, and damnable; and then as a faithful minister, set abroach the mercy of our Lord Jesus, and let the wounded consciences drink of the water of him. And then shall your preaching be with power, and not as the hypocrites. And the Spirit of God shall work with you; and all consciences shall bear record unto you, and feel that it is so. And all doctrine that casteth a mist on these two, to shadow and hide them, I mean the law of God, and mercy of Christ, that resist you with all your power.' And so do we. What is there in all this to be offended with? Is not this enough to vindicate our doctrine..!"

  Tyndale, William (1494-1536ad, English Reformer and Protestant Martyr for the faith of the Gospel)

The Prophet Jonah with An Introduction by William Tyndale (Originally Published in 1531)