Luke 12. 19, 20. Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years — But God said, Thou fool this night shall thy soul be required of thee. Question: Since no man has one day’s certainty of his life, what may we do to be secured from being surprised by death? 1. Sit loose from the world, that you may be able to packup and be gone upon sudden warning. Here was the folly and misery of this rich man, that he had set his heart upon the world, his mind did run upon his barns, and u

Besides the full concurrent testimony and judgement of the most learned Protestant Divines, Calvin, Philip Melanchton, Beza, Peter Martyr, Zanchius, Bullinger, Musculus, Chemnitius, Gerardus, Bucanus, Bilson, Cartwright, Professors Leydenses, Voetius, Triglandus, that the care of religion and God’s worship belongs to the Magistrate, that God hath given him a power and authority objective and external in ecclesiastical causes to look to religion as to civil justice, so as he i

The Objection Idolatry and idolaters were the proper object of the coercive power of the Kings of Judah in matters of religion, and that idolatry meant not of those who worshiped the true God in a false manner with the violation of the Second Commandment, but of such who apostatized from the God of Israel to serve strange gods, the gods of other nations and those neither simply as such, but as drawing others away unto the same idolatries with them, but we never read of any co

Most loving and entirely beloved, You are a great joy to me. I know not what thanks to render to the Lord for you, when I hear of your constancy, and fidelity, and zeal, in adhering to him, and his ways, even in such a time as this, you are highly favoured, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that he has regarded the low estates of his servants: That he should ever indulge you as he has, and hover over you, even as the eagle stirs up her nest, and flutters over her young, spre

Most Dearly Beloved, I longed to hear of your welfare, but by reason of the carriers intermitting his journeys, could not till now obtain my desires, neither had I opportunity till the last week of writing to you. I rejoice to hear by Mr. Ford, of God’s continual goodness towards you; he is your Shepherd, and therefore it is that you do not want. Me you have not always, but he is ever with you, his rod and his staff shall comfort you; Nay, more then all this, you may hence co

Thomas Edwards here deals with a common objection raised against the Establishment Principle, namely that the punishment of false religion and the promotion of true religion by the magistrates of Judah and Israel in the Old Testament was typical and not for our example. Twelfth Thesis The patrons of toleration reject the instances offered of the Judges, Magistrates and Kings of Judah and Israel as no sufficient proof for Magistrates power in suppressing falsehood, and comman

Most dear Christians, I am by office a remembrancer, the Lord's remembrancer for you and your remembrancer in the behalf of Christ. My business is, with the Apostle, to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. And what or whom should I remember you of, but your mindful friend, your intercessor with the Father, who has you always in remembrance, appearing in the presence of God for you? May his memory ever live in our hearts, though mine should die: Oh remember his love

Ejected from his pulpit for non-conformity and imprisoned for his calling Joseph Alleine writes to his flock encouraging them to holiness and the carrying out of that oft neglected puritan practice of self examination. This letter was written from the common Gaol at Juelchester, Oct. 31, 1663. Most dear and tender friends, Whose I am, and whom under God I desire to serve; to build you up in holiness and comforts has been through grace my great ambition. This is that which I l

Ejected from his pulpit under the Act of Uniformity (1662) Joseph Alleine was subsequently imprisoned for his refusal to cease preaching the gospel. It was from the Common Gaol at Juelchester that the much loved Puritan, ever committed to his call, continued to preach the gospel and care for his flock at Taunton, Somerset through his famed prison letters. In this letter Alleine writes pleading that we live unto God. Most dear friends, and brethren, I am now a prisoner of the

A family, for the good estate of itself, is bound to the performance of two duties; one to God, the other to itself. 1. Duty to God The duty unto God, is the private worship and service of God, which must be established and settled in every family. And the reasons hereof are these. First, because this duty stands by the express commandment of God, who by his Apostle wills men to pray every where, lifting up pure hands, without wrath or doubting, 1. Tim. 2. 8. Second, it is co