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REFORMATION BOOKSHELF CD (Volume Three) Reformation Bibles (2/2) John Brown's Self-Interpreting Bible , The Sovereignty of God in Salvation (for Calvinism and Contra Arminianism, Popery, Pelagianism, and Other Heretical Beliefs), The Sovereignty of God in Worship (for Puritan and Reformed [Protestant] Worship and Against Arminian, Roman Catholic, and Other Forms of False Worship and Idolatry), John Calvin, George Gillespie, James Begg, John Owen, J.H. Merle D'Aubigne, Jerom Zanchius, John Brown (of Haddington), Elisha Coles, John McNaugher, James Milligan, David Calderwood, James Glasgow, W.J. McKnight, S.R. M'Neily, Associate Presbyterian Magazine, the Westminster Divines, the Covenanted Church of Scotland (General Assembly), the famous Synod of Dort (1618-1619), Thomas Manton, Samuel Rutherford, Matthew Henry, C.H. Spurgeon,Jonathan Edwards, John Brown (of Haddington), Francis Turretin,James Durham, John Howie, William Hetherington,David Steele, Samuel Miller,John Girardeau,Edward Fisher, Robert Shaw, A.W. Pink, Loraine Boettner, Augustus Toplady, Andrew Symington, Patrick Fairbairn, William Roberts, Richard Baxter, William Cunningham,John Anderson,Andrew Clarkson, David Scott, John Cunningham, George Smeaton, Larry Birger, Francis Rouse,Dr. F. Nigel Lee,Bill Mencarow, the Reformed Presbytery (RPNA), J.A. Wylie, J.C. McFeeters, James Douglas, Michael Wagner, Greg Price, Lyndon Dohms (on PRCE session), Greg Barrow, Reg Barrow, et al. This CD contains: The Self-Interpreting Bible : With Commentaries, References, Harmony of the Gospels and Many Other Helps Needed to Understand and Teach the Text by John Brown of Haddington(4 volumes, 2200 8.5 X 11 inch pages, 1914 edition)Brown's renown rests chiefly on The Self-Interpreting Bible ... and to a lesser extent on A Dictionary of the Holy Bible(which is on Reformation Bookshelf CD #7--RB). 'Brown's Bible' wasrepeatedly reprinted(in America as well as Britain, as were all his more popular works), with improvements by later editors, even into the twentieth century (and now into the 21st century!--RB). Its numerous aids... included a system of marginal cross-references novel in its extensiveness.This 'library in one volume' became as common as Bunyan'sPilgrim's Progressand Thomas Boston'sFourfold State.It incorporated material from theDictionary, which unlike modern counterparts, explained basic English vocabulary and grammar (making it useful for homeschooling--RB), and often went beyond making the Bible intelligible (to interpreting it, for example the entry on--RB)... 'Antichrist' surveys papal history... (the complete work--RB) is exemplary in its directness and accuracy (DSCHT, p. 99). In Mackenzie's book, John Brown of Haddington (also on Reformation Bookshelf CD #7),a whole chapter is devoted to just theSelf-Interpreting Bible. Here is a glimpse at what Mackenzie has to say, No work carried the reputation of the author so far afield as hisSelf-Interpreting Bible... Its success from the first was extraordinary...It will be evident that an extraordinary amount of valuable material was thus placed at the command of the ordinary reader.It was the information that a student of the Scriptures hungered for, who had not access to the learned works dealing with such subjects... Brown states that his avowed aim in his publication is not to depreciate the valuable commentaries of these writers (referring to some of the most famous Reformed commentators of the past--RB), but 'to exhibit their principal substance with all possible advantage... and in referring particularly to the New Testament, he adds that 'there the explication is peculiarly extensive, and attempts to exhibit the substance of many learned and expensive commentaries.' ...The last edition of Brown's Bible is undoubtedly the best (which is the same as the edition we have used--RB) (pp. 177, 178, 185, 186). The issue of this Bible Commentary brought Brown into correspondence with many notable persons, among them the saintly Charles Simeon of Cambridge... It was Simeon's habit... to rise every morning at 4AM... after lighting a fire, he devoted the first four hours of the day to private prayer and the devotional study of the Scriptures. The favorite companion of these devotional hours was Brown'sSelf-Interpreting Bible... Simeon prized theSelf-Interpreting Bible above all others, and made acknowledgment of the spiritual enlightenment and quickening which he received from its daily perusal... (writing) "YourSelf-Interpreting Bibleseems to stand in lieu of all other commentaries; and I am daily receiving so much edification and instruction from it, that I would wish it in the hands of all serious ministers" (pp. 187-188). Brown's Bible was treasured in the homes of the people with all the reverence and care enjoyed by Bunyan'sPilgrim's Progressand Boston'sFourfold State. It supplied what was lacking in these great soul classics, providing a clear path to the fount from which they derived their vitality and strength.The three were considered the necessary literary and religious equipment of the household. They furnished pabulum for serious reading; and they produced strong men (p. 190). Over 2200 (8.5" X 11") pages in the complete set -- this Bible contains more features and additions (from sections on prophecy fulfillment and hermeneutics to a chronological index to Scripture history, Jewish festivals and the significations of obsolete words [and much more!]-- with 448 photographs showing places of Bible events) than we have space to note here! Sovereignty of God in Salvation COLES, ELISHA God’s Sovereignty, A Practical Discourse A Puritan work recommended by Charles Spurgeon, John Owen, Thomas Goodwin and William Romaine.Owen, in particular, marvels at Coles’ singular reliance on Scripture alone to vindicate God’s sovereignty, as it relates to election, redemption, effectual calling, and the perseverance of the saints. Originally published in 1673, this is the 1831 edition. 298 pages. OWEN, JOHN A Display of Arminianism: Being A Discovery of the Old Pelagian Idol of Free Will, With the New Goddess Contingency Advancing Themselves Into the Throne of the God of Heaven, to the Prejudice of His Grace, Providence, and Supreme Dominion Over the Children of Men... This was Owen's first publication (1642) and immediately brought him into notice. It contains numerous useful charts contrasting Arminian doctrines, from some of their major teachers, with those of Scripture (Calvinism) in a side-by-side format. Owen leaves no room for compromise with Arminianism as he shows why this is, when sincerely believed, a dangerous, devilish and damnable heresy! This position is simply in keeping with Luther, as C.H. Spurgeon points out, "... and I will go as far as Martin Luther, in that strong assertion of his, where he says, 'If any man doth ascribe of salvation, even the very least, to the free will of man, he knoweth nothing of grace, and he hath not learnt Jesus Christ aright.' It may seem a harsh sentiment; but he who in his soul believes that man does, of his own free will turn to God, cannot have been taught of God, for that is one of the first principles taught us when God begins with us, that we have neither will nor power, but that He gives both; that he is 'Alpha and Omega' in the salvation of men." (from the sermon 'Free Will A Slave,' 1855, also see Luther's Reformation classic,The Bondage of the Will, http://www.swrb.com/catalog/L.htm ). ZANCHIUS, JEROM The Doctrine of Absolute Predestination Atherton calls this "one of the best, if not the best book ever issued on Absolute Predestination." Also see John Knox's On Predestination, in Answer to the Cavillations by an Anabaptist, which is found in volume five of Knox's Works (on Reformation Bookshelf CD volume one). Sovereignty of God in Worship THE PSALMS OF DAVID IN METRE (i.e. the Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650): Allowed By the Authority of the Kirk of Scotland, and of Several Branches of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. With Notes, Exhibiting the Connection, Explaining the Sense, and for Directing and Animating the Devotion (1844 edition published by Robert Carter [New York]) John Brown of Haddington (annotations).Psalter by Francis Rouse, the Westminster Divines, and the Scottish General Assembly (from 1646-1650)This is the Psalter (less Brown's notes, which were added later) mandated, approved and used (for public and private worship) by the Westminster Assembly and all those who covenanted to uphold the Biblical Reformation that these Divines proclaimed. The text of the Scottish Metrical Psalmswas authorized by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1650. The notes added by Brown are suitable for explaining the Psalm before singing and are a great aid to understanding and worship (whether public, family or private).This is a primary source document of Reformation; not to be missed by those serious about the Reformed faith -- and worshipping God in spirit and in truth.There are few things in life as pleasing and enjoyable as communing with Christ through the singing of His Psalms! GILLESPIE, GEORGE - Dispute against the English Popish Ceremonies Obtruded on the Church of Scotland: wherein not only our own arguments against the same are strongly confirmed, but likewise the answers and defences of our opposites, such as Hooker, Mortoune, Burges, Sprint, Paybody, Andrews, Saravia, Tilen, Spotswood, Lindsey, Forbesse, etc, particularly confuted. (1637, reprinted from the 1660 edition).George Gillespie was one of the Scottish commissioners to the Westminster Assembly, the youngest member there, and undoubtedly one of the most influential. William Hetherington observes "The effect produced by this singularly able work may be conjectured from the fact that within a few months of its publication, a proclamation was issued by the Privy Council, at the instigation of the Bishops, commanding that all copies of the book that could be found be called in and burned by the hangman. Such was the only answer that all the learned Scottish Prelates could give to a treatise written by a youth who was only in his twenty-fifth year when it appeared" ("Memoir," from theWorks of George Gillespie, p. xviii.). James Bannerman notes, "This was Gillespie’s first work, and it may be truly said to have settled the controversy which called it forth, so far as argument was concerned. No answer to it was ever attempted by the Prelatic party; and no answer was possible. It displays singular acuteness, learning, and force of reasoning; and the thoroughness of the discussion is as remarkable as the power with which it is conducted" (The Church of Christ, vol. 2., p. 435).Possibly the best uninspired book ever written on biblical worship, an extensive and thorough masterpiece that leaves no stone unturned. For advanced study. BEGG, JAMES Anarchy In Worship or Recent Innovation Contrasted with the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church and the Vows of Her Office-Bearers (1875) The principles upheld in this book are extremely important today, for as the title page notes "When nations are to perish in their sins, 'Tis in the Church the leprosy begins." Begg lays his foundations in the second commandment and deals with all man-made innovations in the worship of God. The four types of innovators exposed are especially interesting, being: 1.) the presumptuous and blasphemous innovator; 2.) the popularity-hunting innovator; 3.) the politic and scheming innovator; 4.) the asthetic innovator. Women preachers, drama, dance and numerous other modern inventions in public worship would all be rejected outright if these Biblical principles were faithfully followed. Herein we also see why those holding to the Scriptural law of worship and the Westminster Confession of Faith must reject musical instruments in public worship as just another Popish and Judaizing innovation - a resurrecting of the abrogated ceremonial law - and thus a denial of the finished work of Christ. The discussion of vows taken by office holders to the Westminster Confession of Faith, as they relate to worship, is also extremely important and should be read not only by all elders who have bound themselves to uphold the WCF, but also by all Christians who love the truth and want to maintain the church in purity. BEGG, JAMES Purity of Worship in the Presbyterian Church, as Set Forth in the Westminster Standards, & Illustrated by Our History Since the Reformation (1876) BEGG, JAMES The Use of Organs & Other Instruments of Music in Christian Worship Indefensible (1866) CUNNINGHAM, JOHN The Ordinance of Covenanting (1843) CALVIN, JOHN, JOHN OWEN et al. Instrumental Music in the Worship of God CALDERWOOD, DAVID The Altar of Damascus or the Pattern of the English Hierarchy, and Church Policy Obtruded Upon the Church of Scotland (1621) GIRARDEAU, JOHN Instrumental Music in the Public Worship of the Church (1888)"To sing the praises of God upon the harp and psaltery," says John Calvin, "unquestionably formed a part of the training of the law and of the service of God under that dispensation of shadows and figures; but they are not now to be used in public thanksgiving." Written in 1888, this book was highly praised by R.L. Dabney(in a review which we have bound together with this printing). Dabney notes, Dr. Girardeau has defended the old usage of our churchwith a moral courage, loyalty to truth, clearness of reasoning and wealth of learningwhich should make every true Presbyterian proud of him, whether he adopts his conclusions or not. The framework of his argument is this: it begins with that vital truth which no Presbyterian can discard without a square desertion of our principles.The man who contests this first premise had better set out at once for Rome: God is to be worshipped only in the ways appointed in His Word.Every act of public cultus not positively enjoined by Him is thereby forbidden. Christ and His apostles ordained the musical worship of the New Dispensation without any sort of musical instrument, enjoining only the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Hence such instruments are excluded from Christian worship.Such has been the creed of all churches, and in all ages, except for the Popish communion after it had reached the nadir of its corruption at the end of the thirteenth century, and of its prelatic imitators. GLASGOW, JAMES Heart and Voice: Instruments in Christian Worship Not Authorized (1873) MCKNIGHT, W.J. Concerning Close Communion M'NEILLY, S.R. How Best to Secure a Return to the Use of the Psalms in the Ordinance of Praise MCNAUGHER, JOHN, ed. The Psalms in Worship Dr. David Freeman (who was John Murray’s pastor in Philadelphia) said that thePsalms in Worshipwas the most comprehensive treatment of this subject to be found anywhere. This volume (of almost 600 pages) consists of material presented at two conventions in 1905, promoting the claims of the Psalms in worship. Two articles covering each of 27 related topics comprise this volume, making a total of 54 separate papers (all thoroughly indexed and including a new appendix added by the publisher). Articles included range from argumentative discussions of a doctrinal and critical kind (defending exclusive Psalmody, the regulative principle of worship, etc.), to broader discussions along historical, literary, and practical lines.This is a one of a kind publication and nothing else like it is available today. BARROW, REG Calvin, Covenanting and Close Communion (1996) Barrow demonstrates how social covenanting and close communion were practiced by Calvin in Geneva. He shows that Calvin, in his desire to upholdsola Scripturaand promote further Reformation, saw the faithful implementation of these two ordinances as the means ordained of God to extend, protect, and consolidate the work of the Holy Spirit -- in the individual, civil, and (especially) the ecclesiastical battle against the man of sin in his day. This book is available in the "Free Books" file in every Reformation Bookshelf CD, under the titleCalvin, Close Communion, and the Coming Reformation. BARROW, REG A Contemporary Covenanting Debate; Or, Covenanting Redivivus BARROW, REG A Warning Against the False and Dangerous Views of James Jordan Concerning Worship: A Book Review of Kevin Reed's Canterbury Tales This article is in the "free book" files on every Reformation Bookshelf CD. ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERIAN MAGAZINE The Ancient and Modern Mode of Singing the Psalms (Sept., 1863)Historically demonstrates how the Old Testament saints, the early New Testament Christians and almost all Presbyterians (after adopting the Westminster Standards) sang the Psalms by "lining them out" (e.g. see theWestminster Directory for Public Worship).Musical instruments, a Papal innovation, were also unheard of among faithful Reformers and "denominated the ensigns of Baal." Basically a blast against "all the refined idolatries of the churches" of the author’s time. It also lays out the numerous advantages of lining out the Psalms -- especially for including younger (pre-reading age) children in the praises of God. MILLIGAN, JAMES A Plea for Infant Baptism (1818)In seven parts: 1. The standing authority of the Old Testament; 2. The grace of the Abrahamic covenant; 3. The permanent sanction of the moral law; 4. The subjects and mode of Christian baptism; 5. An address to anabaptists; 6. An address to paedobaptists; 7. An address to the undetermined.Exceeds the usefulness of most other books on this topic in that it includes the additional insights regarding God’s covenant relationship with His people (and church) which have been known to be prevalent among the Covenanters. Over 300 pages and indexed. See the following books (which are available in the free books section of this CD): WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES , A Directory for the Public Worship of God Throughout the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland 1645. GENERAL ASSEMBLY , Directions of the General Assembly concerning secret and private worship and mutual edification for cherishing piety, for maintaining unity and avoiding schism and division (1647) -- which is inThe (Westminster) Directory for Family Worship. Also see the following book (which is available on the PURITAN BOOKSHELF CD series *HAMOND, George - A Discourse of Family Worship, in answer to this question, "Upon what Scripture grounds and reasons may family worship be established, and enforced. Undertaken upon the request of the united ministers in, and about London. Together with an appendix, written by that other reverend brother, to whom also the answering of the question touching family worship was recommended. 1694. Also contains the 101 FREE bonus books and articleslisted in the summary for Reformation Bookshelf CD #1 Also freeon this CD are the following audio (MP3) tracks: John Calvin - Election and Reprobation: Concerning Jacob and Esau #1John Calvin - On Shunning the Unlawful Rites of the UngodlyGreg Price - The Regulative Principle of Worship in the NTGreg Price - The Regulative Principle of Worship in the OTGreg Price - Exclusive Psalmody 4/7 (Exclusive Psalmody & the Regulative Principle)Reformed Presbytery - An Explanation and Defence of the Terms of Communion, Adopted by the Community of Dissenters, etc. (1/2)(Defends the inescapable necessity of creeds and confessions, while promoting a fully creedal church membership.Shows how the law of God obliges all Christians "to think the same things, and to speak the same things; holding fast the form of sound words, and keeping the ordinances as they have been delivered to us" (Col. 3:13). After laying some basic groundwork, this book proceeds to defend the six points of the "Terms of Ministerial and Christian Communion Agreed Upon by the Reformed Presbytery."These six points are the most conservative and comprehensive short statements of consistent Presbyterianism you will likely ever see.Besides the obvious acknowledgement of the alone infallible Scriptures, the Westminster Standards, and the divine right of Presbyterianism, these points also maintain the perpetual obligation of our Covenants, National and Solemn League, the Renovation of these covenants at Auchensaugh in 1712, and the JudicialAct, Declaration and Testimony emitted by the Reformed Presbytery. In short, this book sets forth adherence to the whole of the covenanted reformation, in both church and state, as it has been attained by our covenanting forefathers.)Reformed Presbytery - An Explanation and Defence of the Terms of Communion, Adopted by the Community of Dissenters, etc. (2/2)J.H. Merle D'Aubigne - Family Worship: Motives and Directions for Domestic Piety (1827)(Must listening for every family, especially fathers and mothers.)John Howie - Biographia Scoticana: or, A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots Worthies (20/21) (Second edition, corrected and enlarged, 1781) (Part 1/2 of the appendix, which has often been deplorably removed by later, liberal editors of this book, though the author [John Howie] himself included it in the best editions, titled The Judgment and Justice of God Exemplified. Or, a Brief Historical Hint of the Wicked Lives and Miserable Deaths of Some of the Most Remarkable Apostates and Bloody Persecutors in Scotland, from the Reformation Until After the Revolution.)John Howie - Biographia Scoticana: or, A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots Worthies (21/21) (Second edition, corrected and enlarged, 1781)(Part 2/2 of the appendixThe Judgment and Justice of God Exemplified.) This CD contains approximately 11,280 pages of material.
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BIBLES & BOOKS
