"by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."
2 Corinthians 4:2
"Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me. If any man will do His will, He shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."
John 7:16-17
About Us, Website Use, & Privacy Notice
|
"To pretend to preach the truth without offending carnal men, is to pretend to be able to do what Jesus Christ could not do." ~ Thomas Watson |
HAIL & FIRE is a resource for Reformed and Gospel Theology in the works, 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.
Hail & Fire was formed to:
- preach the Gospel of "repentance and the forgiveness of sins," (Luke 24:47) so that those who hear might be saved; for, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," Rom 10:17 KJV.
- preach the Gospel even as it was preached at the start, without the admixture of tradition, decrees, laws, or conditions; for, no man may add conditions to the Covenant that God ratified in Christ: "Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto," Gal 3:15 KJV.
- disseminate Reformed, Protestant, and Gospel doctrine and information, and the dogma, decrees and history related to those who have held and maintained a Gospel faith.
- promote and uphold freedom of conscience absolutely, as a principle of the Gospel (Mat 13:9) and according to the laws under which we live.
Hail & Fire was NOT established to engage in and does not engage in the following:
- we do not promote nor are interested in those who promote or harbor in their hearts any sort of ill feelings toward Catholics, Protestants or any other people or group.
- we are not an open forum website, but we are interested in wholesome and honest dialogue related to historical and biblical Christianity and the major areas upon which Catholic and Gospel theology deviate from one another; we have no interest in argumentation, name calling, or the pretense some make of intelligence or lack of it related to personal choice of religion, religious affections, or religious dialogue.
WEBSITE CONTENT:
Hail & Fire does not necessarily agree with all the views expressed by the author's sprinkled across this website. All who are called by the name of Christ must do even as the scripture instructs: "Test all things: hold fast that which is good," 1 Thes 5:21.
Regarding EDITING OF OLD WORKS: The general approach we have taken with all works, is to maintain, as closely as possible, the original author's words and phraseology when updating the English; annotations have been added for the defining of archaic words, phrases, etc. In only few instances have we taken the liberty to edit or abridge any work, in its content, prefaces or introduction, rather than adding footnotes where explanation or clarification of the author's text was warranted.
Regarding PARTIAL WORKS: If a work appears online only in partial content, be assured that the work is in progress and will be completed.
Regarding the sections of books called 'CATHOLIC APOLOGETICA' and "DOGMATICA DE FIDE CATHOLICA (Dogma of the faith Catholic)": These works have been placed online so that those of a Catholic as well as a Protestant and Gospel faith might become more familiar with the points of controversy, the resources and methods, the debate itself and the manner in which the Church and her theologians have historically managed the discourse in defense of tradition and Church law over the simple faith of the Gospel that was originally preached. Catholics may here read those things not typically taught to them regarding their creed, and those things which they might never otherwise learn of the dogma and history of the Church. Please keep in mind that some of those laboring in this work were born and raised Catholic and became Gospel-Christians ('gospellers,' as they were called in the early Reformation era) by placing hope in the promises of God and by receiving all the Words of God spoken by Jesus Christ, the Apostles and prophets (1Thes. 2:13). It is Jesus who showed that the children of God would be marked or characterized by an understanding of the Word that was preached, even according to the power of obedience: "he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit," Mat 13:23. The Gospel is called "light" - not darkness, obscurity, or confusion (Psa 119:105; Isa 8:20); and such a light as "enlightens every man that cometh into the world," John 1:9. We can only entreat others to read the Gospel and to become more knowledgeable in the history and the doctrines of the Roman Church in her dogmatic statements and apologetic works that perhaps we might move some to consider the effects, fruits, and intentions of that religion that they too might, by comparing and contrasting the traditions and dogmas of the Church to the Word originally preached, come thereby to choose the witness of Jesus Christ over all these.
DIALOGUE: If you choose to dialogue with us, please consider the following:
We are not interested in argument for argument's sake, nor do we believe that argument between opposing sides whose minds are set in a chosen theology is necessarily convenient or productive, nor that every challenge must be met or even responded to; we firmly believe that there are people who do not believe and we absolutely acknowledge their unbelief, and respect their freedom and right to follow their own consciences, for our faith in the Gospel is fully in the Gospel:
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence," 1 Corinthians 1:18-29 KJV.
We recognize that the faith of some is to seem to "win" argumentative discussions, but from such we turn, being resolved that the Word of God is true and needs no man's authorization or approval or interpretation; that the preachers of the Gospel are sent not by men but by God; and that those that are Christ's both hear and understand the message of the Gospel and they speak and live the Gospel in the full assurance of the wisdom and knowledge of God revealed in the Gospel. We are fully assured of the sufficiency of the Gospel in doctrine, in the instruction of righteousness, and unto salvation through Jesus Christ. We are assured even as those all are and ever were who have experienced the truth of the Gospel in the power of its message working obedience from their hearts; we are assured even as those who once heard and did only perceive dimly, but who pursued as being poor and hungry and naked and blind, even as those to whom the Word of God shone as a light and they, desiring to walk in the light, pursued unto the dawning of the light upon their hearts and in their minds: so also commanded Peter, saying, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts," 2 Peter 1:19.
We entreat all to consider that the truth of God and of Christ, of the Bible, of the things of the Bible, of Antichrist and of false doctrine, of tradition and of grace, of salvation and of judgment, of the world in its beginning and in its end, of the law and of the Gospel, of what Jesus did or did not say, or meant or did not mean, are not a matter of the opinions of men, or the decisions of councils, or the expositions of theologians, but of the truth - which truth is in the Scriptures alone, "Sola Scriptura," and which understanding is distributed throughout the ekklesia by the common gift of faith and by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Consider then whether you love the Word of God and believe it in truth and obey it from the heart, for it is in all men to believe in God and to know that an Almighty and Sovereign God exists, and it is in all men to comprehend the principles of law in goodness and godliness, but to believe God's Word and to obey his commandments is the form of faith that is alive unto God: it believes more than that God exists and is God - it receives the Word of God and obeys God: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous," 1 John 5:3. What have we that follow Christ to do with those disputes and arguments that attempt to prove against God or against his Word and Gospel? - there are many who judge according to their own thoughts and opinions and their own inclinations and understanding. God, who cannot be seen, is yet known by all people through his attributes clearly seen and is known in particular by as many as believe upon him through the faith of Jesus Christ even according to the work of God through his Spirit, which, though not seen, is known of them by the manifest declaration of their hearts. As a man knows by what he sees and hears, so is every individual's sense and knowledge of God and of the world - so also is every man's faith or lack of faith: some believe in free and abundant grace (Eph 2:8-9; Rom 4:2-5) and others place faith in penances and Mary; some believe there is one Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5) and some trust in many; some believe there is no God - though their own hearts testify of God (Rom 1:19-21); and some adhere to their own understanding and teachers (Pro 3:5; 2 Tim 4:3; 2 Cor 10:5) while others believe the Gospel by faith. It is through the hearing of faith (Romans 10:17) that God ordained that men should be saved: "God hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel," 2 Tim 1:9-10." We are among those who believe the Gospel.
Our faith is this: that Christ, who came from God, though he had the truth that God commanded him to deliver to all the world, and though he had power over all things, did not "win" conversations or arguments; neither did he force any to believe even the truth itself; neither did he convince all his hearers nor convert all who heard him - nor did he try, but from some he hid even that which they would have had from him; neither did he by the power of his presence convict men of sin or persuade them to repentance and conversion, or even humble the proud, nor did he answer every person who demanded proof of him, as if they might then have believed; but, he knew his own and his own knew him, and as many as were his heard his voice and followed him. And Jesus, who delivered the truth of God as God delivered it to him (Joh 12:49), did so even before those who did not receive it, those who made a pretence as if only in need of proof to believe it, those who thought his words foolish, those who called him divisive, and those who accused him and sought opportunity against him, and all the while he showed that his doctrine was plain to as many as believe God and know God and are called of God, for such are taught of God (Joh 6:45) and are the children of God, manifesting in themselves a love of the truth written upon their hearts and in their minds: "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall be all taught of God.' Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me" Joh 6:44-45. "Let him," then, "that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely," (Rev 22:17).
USE OF WEBSITE: The Gospel, because it is a calling to repentance, is offensive in the implication of sin and culpability on the part of individuals and in things which are accounted natural, permissible and good to some; and the Gospel is the more offensive in that it offers salvation and sanctification, which tends to offend those who cherish as 'good' that which is denied by the scriptures. The Gospel little moves and its preachers greatly offend those who cherish their sins (whatever they be) and who want above all else to both enjoy those things in which they delight and for all men to call that good and approved which they call good and which they approve.
To those who are offended at the Gospel, we apologize - not for our faith, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom 1:16), but that we do and attempt no more, for we have but the Gospel to preach, which Gospel begins with the calling of repentance, and repentance is according to the law of God by which men are converted: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul," Psalm 19:7.
Neither, however, do we condemn any, for the law was given, not that men should condemn one another in damnable sin, for all have committed damnable sin ("they are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one," Psalm 14:2-3), but, through preaching, we seek that grace might abound under the conviction of the law: "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound," Rom 5:20. The law was given so that all men might see the seductiveness of sin by which we all do happily choose our own corruption and spiritual destruction. The law was given that we all, by the knowledge of the deceitful working of sin upon our hearts and minds, might readily acknowledge sin and the power of sin working in us according to our own weakness, that we might, being burdened by sin, readily turn from sin in repentance toward God who is rich in mercy: "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy," Mic 7:18. The very weakness of man and his subjugation in sin is even according to the wisdom of God who subjected us to the same "in hope" ("vanitati enim creatura subiecta est non volens sed propter eum qui subiecit in spem," Rom 8:20 Vulgate ["for the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope," Rom 8:20]), so that the salvation of man might be according to the power of God and not according to our own will or effort ("I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy," Rom 9:15-16 KJV), even so that no man might boast himself in the work of grace (Eph 2:8-9) but readily acknowledge God and Christ as the very "author and finisher of our faith" (Heb 12:2). We, then, show ourselves no better and think ourselves no better than others ("What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin." Rom 3:9 KJV), but in this we are filled with joy toward God - in the believing of faith, in the gift of God, and in the obedience of faith.
It is not then, to those, who stand fast against having their favorite and cherished sins or unbelief exposed as sin, that we address ourselves, but to those who acknowledge sin and are burdened by the working and the power of sin in themselves, for to such the Gospel is preached even according to the word of Christ: "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance," Luke 5:32; even to those who may be touched by the message of repentance, that they might turn to God who loves them and to Christ who died for them. To such we address all our efforts and may the God of grace so work upon your hearts to the acknowledging of the truth.
CONTACT INFO: Contact information and dialogue that you may provide to us through this website will be maintained for internal use only, and may be used at our sole discretion in the promotion of our primary goal; contact information that you provide will not be shared, sold or rented to any party for any purpose or use. In writing or corresponding with HAIL & FIRE, you do thereby give your consent to this Notice.
COPYRIGHTS & PUBLIC DOMAIN WORKS: We have tried to ensure that the works presented here were never under copyright or copyright is expired and they are in the public domain. If you think that we have mistaken a work for public domain that is under copyright, please notify us with all appropriate and necessary information so that we are able to review and make a determination for the retraction of the work and/or the removal of the work from this website.
WEBSITE DISCLAIMER: We make every effort to ensure that the information placed on this website is accurate, error free, and up-to-date, but we make no representation that the content is accurate, error free, and up-to-date.