Christians Giving Liberally

Liberally here is meaning generously. In the quote by Calvin below, I have to say, in my own abject poverty through affliction, I have only known one Christian who fits into the liberal type spoken of by Calvin, who gave generously to try and assist. Everyone else I have known, without fail, has fitted the other type Calvin speaks of. Which is why I am posting it, because it is personally relevant.

In acting liberally he shall make progress. This passage is commonly explained in a different manner, namely, that the liberal advance themselves, and become great by doing good; because God rewards them, and bestows on them greater blessings. This view pleases at first sight; but the Prophet, on the contrary, shews that the liberal will never cease to perform acts of generosity, for they will daily make greater progress, and will pursue the same designs and adhere firmly to their intention, as it is said by the Psalmist, “He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever.” (Ps 112:9; 2Co 9:9.)

This is added, because it is easy to counterfeit liberality for a time; many even think that they are sincerely bountiful because they have performed an act of beneficence, but quickly cease and change their purpose. But true liberality is not momentary or of short duration. They who possess that virtue persevere steadily, and do not exhaust themselves in a sudden and feeble flame, of which they quickly afterwards repent.

This is what the Prophet intended to express by the word קום, (kūm,) which signifies to “arise” and “grow.” There are indeed many occurrences which retard the progress of our liberality. We find in men strange ingratitude, so that what we give appears to be ill bestowed. Many are too greedy, and, like horse-leeches, suck the blood of others. But let us remember this saying, and listen to Paul’s exhortation “not to be weary in well-doing;” for the Lord exhorts us not to momentary liberality, but to that which shall endure during the whole course of our life. (Ga 6:9.)
—John Calvin’s commentary on Isa 32:8

Christians Giving Liberally

Liberally here is meaning generously. In the quote by Calvin below, I have to say, in my own abject poverty through affliction, I have only known one Christian who fits into the liberal type spoken of by Calvin, who gave generously to try and assist. Everyone else I have known, without fail, has fitted the other type Calvin speaks of. Which is why I am posting it, because it is personally relevant.

In acting liberally he shall make progress. This passage is commonly explained in a different manner, namely, that the liberal advance themselves, and become great by doing good; because God rewards them, and bestows on them greater blessings. This view pleases at first sight; but the Prophet, on the contrary, shews that the liberal will never cease to perform acts of generosity, for they will daily make greater progress, and will pursue the same designs and adhere firmly to their intention, as it is said by the Psalmist, “He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever.” (Ps 112:9; 2Co 9:9.)

This is added, because it is easy to counterfeit liberality for a time; many even think that they are sincerely bountiful because they have performed an act of beneficence, but quickly cease and change their purpose. But true liberality is not momentary or of short duration. They who possess that virtue persevere steadily, and do not exhaust themselves in a sudden and feeble flame, of which they quickly afterwards repent.

This is what the Prophet intended to express by the word קום, (kūm,) which signifies to “arise” and “grow.” There are indeed many occurrences which retard the progress of our liberality. We find in men strange ingratitude, so that what we give appears to be ill bestowed. Many are too greedy, and, like horse-leeches, suck the blood of others. But let us remember this saying, and listen to Paul’s exhortation “not to be weary in well-doing;” for the Lord exhorts us not to momentary liberality, but to that which shall endure during the whole course of our life. (Ga 6:9.)
—John Calvin’s commentary on Isa 32:8

The Fire of the Lord will both protect us and subdue our enemies

When the Prophet calls him “a fire,” some consider it to refer to sacrifices; but such an interpretation appears to me to be feeble and unnatural. I have no doubt that he says either that “the Lord has a fire” to consume the Assyrian, or that “God himself is a fire,” and that he thus makes an implied comparison of the Assyrian to straw or chaff. He says that this “fire” is kindled and kept alive “in Zion and Jerusalem,” that is, in the midst of his people, in order to intimate that the persecution of the Church of God by wicked men shall not pass unpunished; for they shall one day feel that he is their Judge, and shall know by experience that he assists his people, who thought that they had been left without all assistance.

In a word, against wicked men, who have maintained unceasing hostility against the Church, vengeance is prepared; and the Lord will not only avenge himself, but will also avenge his people. Let us therefore enjoy this consolation; and though it may appear as if we were defenceless and exposed to every danger, yet let us be fully convinced that the Lord will be “a fire” to our adversaries.
—John Calvin

The Fire of the Lord will both protect us and subdue our enemies

When the Prophet calls him “a fire,” some consider it to refer to sacrifices; but such an interpretation appears to me to be feeble and unnatural. I have no doubt that he says either that “the Lord has a fire” to consume the Assyrian, or that “God himself is a fire,” and that he thus makes an implied comparison of the Assyrian to straw or chaff. He says that this “fire” is kindled and kept alive “in Zion and Jerusalem,” that is, in the midst of his people, in order to intimate that the persecution of the Church of God by wicked men shall not pass unpunished; for they shall one day feel that he is their Judge, and shall know by experience that he assists his people, who thought that they had been left without all assistance.

In a word, against wicked men, who have maintained unceasing hostility against the Church, vengeance is prepared; and the Lord will not only avenge himself, but will also avenge his people. Let us therefore enjoy this consolation; and though it may appear as if we were defenceless and exposed to every danger, yet let us be fully convinced that the Lord will be “a fire” to our adversaries.
—John Calvin

We must not be like the Papists

We should not be reformed papists; in that we downgrade or de-priortize the reading,
profit, and study of the Scriptures in favour of other, theological works, by Calvin or any
other reformed theologian. If we are so, then we are indeed, little different from the
papists, and gross error will exist, we should examine ourselves and question our
salvation, if we have not a love of the Milk of the Word, and wonder if we may be merely
historical Christians, in that we are not resting on Christ, and the Word of God, but upon
what Christian history teaches us, and what the men of those historic times teach us.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am all in favour of studying and reading other works of theology
or doctrine or to aid our Christian growth and assist us in living a Christian life–a holy
life; but NOT at the cost of neglecting the Scriptures or thinking it secondary, rather
than the primary source.

I have run across many Reformed believers over time, who would fit the description above in
one degree or another. I was also one myself for a time. But the same as Martin Luther,
when he so wrestled in darkness and was assaulted by the devil to the point of torment, it
was ONLY when he picked up the SOURCE themselves, the Scriptures, rather than trying to
understand faith, man’s way, by reason and the likes of Augustine, that he came to full
knowledge of the truth. Luther is even said, to not have been fully converted when he
nailed the 95 theses on the wall at Wittenberg, but God definitely had his hand upon him
even so, and when the Scripture opened Martin’s eyes, the world, and God, and faith, was a
different ball-game entirely, than from when he had depended on other things apart from the
Word to understand God, and was terrified by the image he had of God, as an avenging
wrathful God only, and not also a God of love, mercy and compassion. He was always a God
of wrath to Luther before that time, the Scriptures themselves, assisted by the Spirit of
God, and nothing else, was responsible for changing Luther’s heart, and his being a True
Christian.

The Reformed Faith, is the only one I have come across where continuous study, and learning
in the ways of God is the norm. You very rarely find an ignorant or unlearned Calvinist.
Because they study, but, we have to be studying the right sources, and even when we are
reading other, external sources, by the Reformers either historic or present day, we should
test what they say, next to the Word, and make sure we are not taking in error.

Things like the Westminster Confession and its standards are great tools, for helping us to
get a Biblical mind-set and world view, in a fairly easy way, yet they should not be the
paper pope that takes over from the milk of the Word just as no other external source
should not be either. Nor should they ever be studied without an open Bible on ones lap to
see that Scripture confirms the teachings within it. I think if John Calvin not only knew
that the Reformed Faith bore his name, but that many Christians can see him as the primary
source, rather than the Scriptures he would not only be horrified, he would be amazed.

This is another excerpt from Archbishop James Usher’s Body of Divinity.

Q: Why must the true sense or meaning of the scriptures be learned out of the Scriptures
themselves?

A: Because the Spirit of God alone is the certain interpreter of his Word, written by his
Spirit. For no man knoweth the things pertaining to God, but the Spirit of God. 1. Cor.
2:11. And no prophecy of Scripture is of man’s own interpretation: For prophecy was not
brought by the Will of man, but the holy men of God spake as they were led by the Holy
Ghost, 2 Pet. 1:20-21. The interpretation therefore must be by the same Spirit which the
Scripture was written: of which Spirit we have no certainty upon any man’s credit, but only
so far forth as his saying may be confirmed by the Holy Scripture.

Q: What gather you from hence?

A: That no interpretation of Holy Father’s, Popes, Councils, Custom or Practice of the Church, either contrary to the manifest words of the scripture, or containing matters which cannot necessarily be proved out of the Scriptures, are to be received as an undoubted Truth.

Q: How do you proved that the Scriptures ought to be read and heard of all sorts of people?

A: Deut 31:11-12. Moses commandeth the Book of the Law to be read unto all the children of Israel, Men, women and children, and strangers that dwell amongst them; that they might learn thereby to fear the Lord their God, and diligently to observe all the words of the Law.

Psalm. 1:2. David Showeth this to be the property of a Godly man, and pronounceth him to be happy, whose delight is in the Law of the Lord, and studieth therein day and night.

Matt. 22:29. Our Saviour teaches, that ignorance of the Scriptures is the mother of error; not the mother of devotion, as the papists have affirmed.
John 5:39 Christ commandeth all men that seek eternal life in him, to search the Scriptures. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think to have eternal life, &c.

Acts 17:11. The Bereans are commended for searching the Scriptures.

2 Pet. 1:19. The Apostle Peter commendeth the Faithful for taking heed to the Scripture of the prophets.

Rev 1:3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the Word of this Prophecy.

Col 3:16: Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.

Luke saith, that he wrote the Gospel to Theophilus, that he might know the certainty of those things, which before he was catechized in Luke 1:4. But everyone ought to labour to be most certain of their Salvation, &c.

We must not be like the Papists

We should not be reformed papists; in that we downgrade or de-priortize the reading,
profit, and study of the Scriptures in favour of other, theological works, by Calvin or any
other reformed theologian. If we are so, then we are indeed, little different from the
papists, and gross error will exist, we should examine ourselves and question our
salvation, if we have not a love of the Milk of the Word, and wonder if we may be merely
historical Christians, in that we are not resting on Christ, and the Word of God, but upon
what Christian history teaches us, and what the men of those historic times teach us.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am all in favour of studying and reading other works of theology
or doctrine or to aid our Christian growth and assist us in living a Christian life–a holy
life; but NOT at the cost of neglecting the Scriptures or thinking it secondary, rather
than the primary source.

I have run across many Reformed believers over time, who would fit the description above in
one degree or another. I was also one myself for a time. But the same as Martin Luther,
when he so wrestled in darkness and was assaulted by the devil to the point of torment, it
was ONLY when he picked up the SOURCE themselves, the Scriptures, rather than trying to
understand faith, man’s way, by reason and the likes of Augustine, that he came to full
knowledge of the truth. Luther is even said, to not have been fully converted when he
nailed the 95 theses on the wall at Wittenberg, but God definitely had his hand upon him
even so, and when the Scripture opened Martin’s eyes, the world, and God, and faith, was a
different ball-game entirely, than from when he had depended on other things apart from the
Word to understand God, and was terrified by the image he had of God, as an avenging
wrathful God only, and not also a God of love, mercy and compassion. He was always a God
of wrath to Luther before that time, the Scriptures themselves, assisted by the Spirit of
God, and nothing else, was responsible for changing Luther’s heart, and his being a True
Christian.

The Reformed Faith, is the only one I have come across where continuous study, and learning
in the ways of God is the norm. You very rarely find an ignorant or unlearned Calvinist.
Because they study, but, we have to be studying the right sources, and even when we are
reading other, external sources, by the Reformers either historic or present day, we should
test what they say, next to the Word, and make sure we are not taking in error.

Things like the Westminster Confession and its standards are great tools, for helping us to
get a Biblical mind-set and world view, in a fairly easy way, yet they should not be the
paper pope that takes over from the milk of the Word just as no other external source
should not be either. Nor should they ever be studied without an open Bible on ones lap to
see that Scripture confirms the teachings within it. I think if John Calvin not only knew
that the Reformed Faith bore his name, but that many Christians can see him as the primary
source, rather than the Scriptures he would not only be horrified, he would be amazed.

This is another excerpt from Archbishop James Usher’s Body of Divinity.

Q: Why must the true sense or meaning of the scriptures be learned out of the Scriptures
themselves?

A: Because the Spirit of God alone is the certain interpreter of his Word, written by his
Spirit. For no man knoweth the things pertaining to God, but the Spirit of God. 1. Cor.
2:11. And no prophecy of Scripture is of man’s own interpretation: For prophecy was not
brought by the Will of man, but the holy men of God spake as they were led by the Holy
Ghost, 2 Pet. 1:20-21. The interpretation therefore must be by the same Spirit which the
Scripture was written: of which Spirit we have no certainty upon any man’s credit, but only
so far forth as his saying may be confirmed by the Holy Scripture.

Q: What gather you from hence?

A: That no interpretation of Holy Father’s, Popes, Councils, Custom or Practice of the Church, either contrary to the manifest words of the scripture, or containing matters which cannot necessarily be proved out of the Scriptures, are to be received as an undoubted Truth.

Q: How do you proved that the Scriptures ought to be read and heard of all sorts of people?

A: Deut 31:11-12. Moses commandeth the Book of the Law to be read unto all the children of Israel, Men, women and children, and strangers that dwell amongst them; that they might learn thereby to fear the Lord their God, and diligently to observe all the words of the Law.

Psalm. 1:2. David Showeth this to be the property of a Godly man, and pronounceth him to be happy, whose delight is in the Law of the Lord, and studieth therein day and night.

Matt. 22:29. Our Saviour teaches, that ignorance of the Scriptures is the mother of error; not the mother of devotion, as the papists have affirmed.
John 5:39 Christ commandeth all men that seek eternal life in him, to search the Scriptures. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think to have eternal life, &c.

Acts 17:11. The Bereans are commended for searching the Scriptures.

2 Pet. 1:19. The Apostle Peter commendeth the Faithful for taking heed to the Scripture of the prophets.

Rev 1:3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the Word of this Prophecy.

Col 3:16: Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.

Luke saith, that he wrote the Gospel to Theophilus, that he might know the certainty of those things, which before he was catechized in Luke 1:4. But everyone ought to labour to be most certain of their Salvation, &c.

The New Lie–Puritan Muslims

The New Lie–Puritan Muslims

Merry Old England

Almost everyone who knows me, knows I have severe memory problems, though they are the kind that may not be obvious to the observer, as I can remember things from decades ago, as clearly as a bell; and totally insignificant pieces of information, starkly while forgetting the really important things I really need to know! But during early childhood, my memory was fairly amazing. I would be a walking telephone directory for one thing. Once I dialled a telephone number it was in my brain for good; and all my family use to rely on me for being able to give them the number they needed from memory before they made a call.

However, these days I often pick up quite totally useless pieces of information, and they are stuck in my brain for the duration! I was reading a book recently on the Puritan view of Sabbath-Keeping. One often hears the term, “Merry old England” or a derivative of it; I often use that phrase myself. It wasn’t however till reading this small, yet precious book, however, that I discovered where the term came from. Pre-puritan England, before the Puritan movement fought for Biblical ways of Sabbath-keeping, England on Sundays was rife with debauchery. Visiting taverns, music-halls, fairs and shows and worse on a Sunday was the norm for the people of England. And it was also regular business on Sunday’s in England in those days, for the Church of the time, to rent out their church-yards on Sundays’ for them to be used as fair grounds. The level of debauchery that existed then, which is in our day no doubt surpassed, is where the term, “Merry ole England” sprung from!

Merry Old England

Almost everyone who knows me, knows I have severe memory problems, though they are the kind that may not be obvious to the observer, as I can remember things from decades ago, as clearly as a bell; and totally insignificant pieces of information, starkly while forgetting the really important things I really need to know! But during early childhood, my memory was fairly amazing. I would be a walking telephone directory for one thing. Once I dialled a telephone number it was in my brain for good; and all my family use to rely on me for being able to give them the number they needed from memory before they made a call.

However, these days I often pick up quite totally useless pieces of information, and they are stuck in my brain for the duration! I was reading a book recently on the Puritan view of Sabbath-Keeping. One often hears the term, “Merry old England” or a derivative of it; I often use that phrase myself. It wasn’t however till reading this small, yet precious book, however, that I discovered where the term came from. Pre-puritan England, before the Puritan movement fought for Biblical ways of Sabbath-keeping, England on Sundays was rife with debauchery. Visiting taverns, music-halls, fairs and shows and worse on a Sunday was the norm for the people of England. And it was also regular business on Sunday’s in England in those days, for the Church of the time, to rent out their church-yards on Sundays’ for them to be used as fair grounds. The level of debauchery that existed then, which is in our day no doubt surpassed, is where the term, “Merry ole England” sprung from!