Line of the week

"They do say, that staying in, is the new going out." [Eastenders]

The amount I am shut in, I must be the best travelled person in England!

Don't ya hate it when…

Don’t you hate it, when someone speaks to you, who you know you  know, or have known, yet don’t now have a clue who they are? This happened to me today, a woman I know I know, as I was getting out of the taxi spoke to me, I know some years ago, I used to speak to her alot, but have no context of who she is or where from!  Of course, she now has grey hair, and I’m sure she hadn’t used to,  and I wouldn’t have given her a second glance as far as knowing her. But, I am stuck in this time warp, where time stands still in lots of ways,  and she recognized me without any bother, though it seems like a decade or more ago since I last saw whoever she was.  We all have that experience as part of passing through life, and time rolling on, when neurologically challenged it often adds to the affect, as you can never really be sure of much at all, as far as memory.  But, I hate it when that happens, and if I had nothing better to do, or even any hope of the penny dropping into place, I would wrack my brain to try and place her in my memory.  But its gone, with no hope of retrival.  Don’t ya hate it when that happens?

Don't ya hate it when…

Don’t you hate it, when someone speaks to you, who you know you  know, or have known, yet don’t now have a clue who they are? This happened to me today, a woman I know I know, as I was getting out of the taxi spoke to me, I know some years ago, I used to speak to her alot, but have no context of who she is or where from!  Of course, she now has grey hair, and I’m sure she hadn’t used to,  and I wouldn’t have given her a second glance as far as knowing her. But, I am stuck in this time warp, where time stands still in lots of ways,  and she recognized me without any bother, though it seems like a decade or more ago since I last saw whoever she was.  We all have that experience as part of passing through life, and time rolling on, when neurologically challenged it often adds to the affect, as you can never really be sure of much at all, as far as memory.  But, I hate it when that happens, and if I had nothing better to do, or even any hope of the penny dropping into place, I would wrack my brain to try and place her in my memory.  But its gone, with no hope of retrival.  Don’t ya hate it when that happens?

Don't ya hate it when…

Don’t you hate it, when someone speaks to you, who you know you  know, or have known, yet don’t now have a clue who they are? This happened to me today, a woman I know I know, as I was getting out of the taxi spoke to me, I know some years ago, I used to speak to her alot, but have no context of who she is or where from!  Of course, she now has grey hair, and I’m sure she hadn’t used to,  and I wouldn’t have given her a second glance as far as knowing her. But, I am stuck in this time warp, where time stands still in lots of ways,  and she recognized me without any bother, though it seems like a decade or more ago since I last saw whoever she was.  We all have that experience as part of passing through life, and time rolling on, when neurologically challenged it often adds to the affect, as you can never really be sure of much at all, as far as memory.  But, I hate it when that happens, and if I had nothing better to do, or even any hope of the penny dropping into place, I would wrack my brain to try and place her in my memory.  But its gone, with no hope of retrival.  Don’t ya hate it when that happens?

Don't ya hate it when…

Don’t you hate it, when someone speaks to you, who you know you  know, or have known, yet don’t now have a clue who they are? This happened to me today, a woman I know I know, as I was getting out of the taxi spoke to me, I know some years ago, I used to speak to her alot, but have no context of who she is or where from!  Of course, she now has grey hair, and I’m sure she hadn’t used to,  and I wouldn’t have given her a second glance as far as knowing her. But, I am stuck in this time warp, where time stands still in lots of ways,  and she recognized me without any bother, though it seems like a decade or more ago since I last saw whoever she was.  We all have that experience as part of passing through life, and time rolling on, when neurologically challenged it often adds to the affect, as you can never really be sure of much at all, as far as memory.  But, I hate it when that happens, and if I had nothing better to do, or even any hope of the penny dropping into place, I would wrack my brain to try and place her in my memory.  But its gone, with no hope of retrival.  Don’t ya hate it when that happens?

Matters indifferent

Some people, well-intended often, have voiced to me that going t oa hymn singing church, (if there was a Reformed Church period around these parts) was a small price to pay for sitting under the ministry.  Yet to me its a matter of conscience. You don’t have to take part in something physically, to seem to condone and endorse it. This is of course a matter indifferent, and not neccessary to ones salvation, but its still a matter of conscience. 

John KNox, when returning from his time as a galley slave, was aksed during one interrogation  of his prinicples, why he refused to kneel for the Sacrament when it was a matter of indifference. And his reply to paraphrase was, that, Christ’s actions were most perfect,  he felt it safer to follow the example of Jesus Christ,  who didn’t take part or institute man made inventions.  Attending a church where hymn singing is the norm, is exactly how it would seem to me, matter of indifference or not.  You may not hold to the Regulative Principle of Worship, and that’s for you to know and  follow what you believe in matters of inidfference, but standing in a hall of hym singing, man made praises not instituted by the Lord, to me would be a compromise and a little down the slippery slope in that vein in a way I am not prepared to go.  A leprous hand can soon infect the unaffected, and I’m not calling anyone who sings hymns  a leper, other than I believe it is unscriptural and not a thing I am willing to compromise on, even if not physically taking part by singing myself.   And from my own expereince at least, which admittedly is limited, but it seems to me a church that compromises on what the Bible teaches in matters of indifference, won’t be shy in compromising on other matters too.

Today I have felt in torture all day. I’ve laid on my bed weeping, staring at the celing, my thoughts torturing me, the voices in my head also torturing me, and being in torture in my body.  Would I have had more ease if I had been willing to compomise on the hymn singing and other matters, when my church of the time started to distance itself from me as my doctrine fell more in line with time with the WCF? Certainly I would have. I doubt I would have spent the above day in total isolation. Which is what takes it from torture to feeling like a living hell.  But it would have been at the cost of my consicence, and I hate days like today, I abhor them with all my heart, they are agony and pure hell to endure tha above all day long in total isolation.  But a consicence that  snares us, is the quickest way I know to insanity and umpteen other maladies, both spiritual and emotional. So for those folks who I’ve no doubt were sincere and well-intended have said going to a hymn singing church is a small price to pay.  I pay a much HIGHER price, personally that I won’t do.  But, I can look my God full on each Lord’s Day and the days in between, knowing that as far as is possible, I am keeping my consicence clean. And what MORE is a recipe for insanity than days like the day described above today?  A bespoiled conscience, in ways I can prevent, could be saving the straw that breaks the camels back, and keeps me from insanity.

A Mighty Fortress

When enemies seem to encamp all about us in various forms, or shapes or shifts, or even the enemy within, as I think we all have our inner demons that can be a bigger enemy than any Goliath., David’s song of praise in 2nd Samuel 22, is a pattern for finding refuge in  the fortress that is our God:

 2And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

 3The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

 4I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

 5When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;

 6The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;

 7In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

 8Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

 9There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

 10He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.

 11And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

 12And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.

 13Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.

 14The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.

 15And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

 16And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

 17He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;

 18He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

 19They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

 20He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

 21The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. [Rest of chapter]

Suffering for Christ

These words by John Welch, spoke to me today, when I am at least in part so alone, for holding to the principles contained within the Covenanted Reformation. Welch had some wise words: They were written during the time Welch was waiting trial for treason, but rather than death, suffered banishment, finally.

Who am I, that He should first have called me, and then constituted me to a minister of glad tidings of the Gospel of salvation, these years already? And now last, all to be suffered for His cause and Kingdom, now let it be so. That I have fought my fight, and won my race and now from henceforth is laid for me that crown of righteousness, which the Lord, that Righteous God shall give, not to me only, but to all that love His appearance, and choose to witness this. That Jesus Christ is the King of Saints, and this His church is a most free kingdom, yay as free as any Kingdom under heaven. Not only to convocate, hold, and keep her meetings conventions and assemblies, but also to judge of all her affairs. In all her meetings and conventions amongst her members and subjects, These two points:

1) That Christ is the head of His church.
2) That she is free in her government, from all the jurisdiction except Christ.

These two points I say, are the special cause of our imprisonment, being now convicted as traitors for the maintaining thereof. We have ever been waiting with faithfulness to give the last testimony of our blood and confirmation thereof. If it should please our God to be so favourable as to honour us with that dignity. Yay I do affirm that these two points above written and all other things which belong to Christ’s crown, scepter and Kingdom, are not subject nor can not be to any other authority, but to His own altogether. So, that I should be most glad to offered up as a sacrifice for so glorious a truth. It would be to me, the most glorious day and the gladdest hour I ever saw in this life, that I am in His hands, to do with me whatsoever shall please His Majesty.

I am also bound and sworn by special covenant to maintain the doctrine and discipline thereof according to my vocation and power all the days of my life. Under all the pains contained in the book of God, and danger of body and soul in the day of God’s fearful judgment, and therefore, though I should perish in the cause, yet I will speak for it, and to my power defend it, according to my vocation.

Suffering for Christ

These words by John Welch, spoke to me today, when I am at least in part so alone, for holding to the principles contained within the Covenanted Reformation. Welch had some wise words: They were written during the time Welch was waiting trial for treason, but rather than death, suffered banishment, finally.

Who am I, that He should first have called me, and then constituted me to a minister of glad tidings of the Gospel of salvation, these years already? And now last, all to be suffered for His cause and Kingdom, now let it be so. That I have fought my fight, and won my race and now from henceforth is laid for me that crown of righteousness, which the Lord, that Righteous God shall give, not to me only, but to all that love His appearance, and choose to witness this. That Jesus Christ is the King of Saints, and this His church is a most free kingdom, yay as free as any Kingdom under heaven. Not only to convocate, hold, and keep her meetings conventions and assemblies, but also to judge of all her affairs. In all her meetings and conventions amongst her members and subjects, These two points:

1) That Christ is the head of His church.
2) That she is free in her government, from all the jurisdiction except Christ.

These two points I say, are the special cause of our imprisonment, being now convicted as traitors for the maintaining thereof. We have ever been waiting with faithfulness to give the last testimony of our blood and confirmation thereof. If it should please our God to be so favourable as to honour us with that dignity. Yay I do affirm that these two points above written and all other things which belong to Christ’s crown, scepter and Kingdom, are not subject nor can not be to any other authority, but to His own altogether. So, that I should be most glad to offered up as a sacrifice for so glorious a truth. It would be to me, the most glorious day and the gladdest hour I ever saw in this life, that I am in His hands, to do with me whatsoever shall please His Majesty.

I am also bound and sworn by special covenant to maintain the doctrine and discipline thereof according to my vocation and power all the days of my life. Under all the pains contained in the book of God, and danger of body and soul in the day of God’s fearful judgment, and therefore, though I should perish in the cause, yet I will speak for it, and to my power defend it, according to my vocation.

Lamentation

"The day has come when history and poetry give the glorious sufferers their well deserved praise.  The national lyre of Scotland has within the present century sounded its sweetest notes in honor of the men who ‘lived unknown till persecution dragged them into fame’."—David McAllister, Poets and Poetry of the Covenant. (1894).

 

Wherever we sojourn and whither we wander
We watch out in vain for the dawn of the light.
In vain twenty centuries passed by the outposts,
In vain we have anxiously counted the grains
As the sand through the hourglass sifted and
sifted,

The night still as dark and as starless remains.
The firmament of Israel is still unillumined,
And dark overhead is the threatening vault;
The Promise of old, the prophetic Messiah,
With the golden Millennium seems yet to halt.

They halt on the outskirts of infinite nature,
Where Time and Space in the embryo lie,
Meanwhile the impious children of Israel
Their God and Creator begin to deny.

There is not a Deity, Science declares it,
Nature is God and mankind is divine !
Thus Arrogance argues itself to the footlights,
Egotistical man standing first in the line.

And I, of the lowly the lowliest mortal,
Dust of the dust, yea, worm of all worms,
In error and darkness eternally stumbling,
My doctrine the doctrine of error confirms.[Louis Smirnow]

 

By the faithful of his children in their conclaves
Shall his name be sanctified,
Awe-inspiring are the praises of his angels,
And the voices in his temple spread his glory
Far and wide.

Those who keep his law shall yet again be gathered
To the stronghold of his might,
Those who fear him commune, praying, with each other–
He will hear and in the book of their memorial
He will write.

Let your deeds be fair and righteous–then unbroken
He the covenant will hold.
He who maketh bright the heavens, he will heed you
And will count your prayers more precious than the off’rings
Brought of old.

May the tribes of those who worship and proclaim him
Be uplifted as of yore,
When he pruneth, may he cut the straggling branches,
For to him belong the sov’reignty and kingdom
Evermore.

May he lead us once again unto the mountain
Of his sanctuary’s shrine,
There to glorify him ever in his temple,
For our God will not forget his word, the holy
And divine.

At his name shall heaven and earth break forth in praises
With a joy that shall not cease,
And the woods shall shout and clap their hands in gladness,
For the Lord our God has visited his people,
Bringing peace.

From each band of angels mighty in their splendor,
From each shining, circling star,
Hymns and praises evermore declare his glory,
Saying, "Praise him with the sound of joyful trumpets,
The Shophar!"

All the creatures of the universe together,
Heaven above and earth below,
Shall proclaim, "The Lord in all his works is mighty,
He is king o’er all the earth, and his salvation
All shall know."  [Anon]

What will you do with Jesus,
Neutral you can not be,
One day your heart will be asking,
What will He do with me.
C. S. LEWIS

 

I got up for an hour on waking, but are heading back to bed now, as I still feel very unwell.