Nancy and the scapegoat

Citing a fake General Michael Flynn tweet (She possibly didn't know it was fake), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi undertook to define the term scapegoat. "Scapegoat. Do you know what a scapegoat is? That means, in a community where people want to absolve themselves of guilt, they get a goat, and they heap all of the ills onto the goat, and then they run the goat out of town."

Not exactly, Nancy, but I'm glad you got the gist of it. In a society with Christian roots it is a biblical reference. The scapegoat under the law of Moses was a goat let loose in the wilderness on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). The high priest symbolically laid the sins of the people on its head and then sent it (thus the sins, symbolically) away. But there was another goat necessary to complete the typology, which must die to pay the sins of the people.

Lev. 16:7-10 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

The Way of Life

The Way of Life. 9s.8s. w/chorus (February 13, 2017)

1. The fine-spun web--the spider's token--
Is like the things we weave on earth.
The web of life with ease is broken--
A tenuous thread to death from birth.
Chorus:
But Jesus Christ, the sinner's friend,
The web of life can spin again.
There is no doubt, we need a Saviour
For life is short and death is sure.

2. How bright and gay the fresh bloomed flower,
It cheers the heart and makes the day.
But comes apace the fatal hour--
Bright promises vanish away.
Chorus:
But Jesus Christ, the sinner's friend,
The bloom of life can bud again.
There is no doubt, we need a Saviour
For life is short and death is sure.

20 quotes from Baptists on religious liberty, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

• 20 quotes from Baptists on religious liberty -- "No king nor bishop can, or is able to command faith; That is the gift of God, who worketh in us both the will and the deed of his own good pleasure."
• A Plea for Religious Liberty by Roger Wiliams -- "...they are only to be fought against with that sword which is only (in soul matters) able to conquer, to wit, the sword of God's Spirit, the Word of God."
• An Appeal to the Public for Religious Liberty -- "Religious matters are to be separated from the jurisdiction of the state, not because they are beneath the interests of the state but, quite to the contrary, because they are too high and holy and thus are beyond the competence of the state."
• Betsy DeVos Confirmed As Education Secretary -- "Today the Senate confirmed Betsy DeVos as President Trump's education secretary, 51-50. Vice President Pence had to cast an unprecedented tie-breaking vote..."
• Clinton reminds us why we’re lucky she lost the election -- "The activist judges who based their ruling on their liberal politics instead of the Constitution are the same kind she would appoint to the Supreme Court and all other federal courts if she were in the Oval Office."
• EPA pick deacon at his church -- "Scott is an active deacon at his church, First Baptist Church of Broken Arrow..."
• Ohio clinic falsely told dozens they had Alzheimer's, lawsuits say -- "...at age 33, he was stunned after being told he had Alzheimer's disease...he stuffed fistfuls of sleeping pills into a bottle and wrote himself a note, vowing to swallow all of them when he wasn't able to remember the names of his children."
• The Baptist heritage of religious liberty and the separation of church and state -- "An enforced uniformity of religion throughout a nation or civil state, confounds the civil and religious, denies the principles of Christianity and civility, and that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh."
• The KJV Store -- "After a long and fruitless search through retail stores and websites, it seemed impossible to find a good selection of KJV Bibles at discounted prices."
• The Lord of Consciences -- "Today, people widely assume that the theory and practice of religious toleration emerged from secular thinkers who were either anti-Christian or on the margins of Christian orthodoxy. But..."
• This secret room in Mount Rushmore is having a moment -- "Abraham Lincoln holds the history of our country’s past. Literally. Tucked inside Lincoln’s frontal lobe in Mount Rushmore..."

Customs, constitution of a church, continued

Customs of Primitive Churches, of the constitution of a church continued from last week.

IV. The manner in which persons may be constituted a particular church is...

Here follows a narrative of proceeding at the constitution of one baptist church in the year {1732}. The set day being come, and the parties concerned met, fasting; one of the two ministers present stood up and spoke to this effect.

26. “Good people! the occasion of our meeting is a desire, which some of you have, to be constituted into a christian church. It is well that it is in your hearts to be put together and compacted, so as to {rise} into a temple of Jesus, wherein his honour may dwell. Happy for you and for us if the precious stones of the sanctuary be found in this place, and happy for the neighbourhood if a house of God be erected here. But is God build not the house they labour in vain that build it. Because of this, and also because of the danger of building wood, hay, and stubble on the precious foundation let us ask help of God to be wise builders; and intreat, that he will be a worker together with us on this occasion.”

27. “The builder of all things is God! and to that God do we now pray for help in the time of need! Jesus master see what building is to be here, and what stones are these! It is in our heart to form them into a temple to thy name; but without thy mind would we not do either little or much. If these persons be living and precious stones help them to show it and us to discern it; if not reveal that unto us; left on the one hand, any of the precious sons of Zion should become a stone disallowed and rejected of the builders; and left on the other, we should plant a root of bitterness in the Lords garden, or fasten a withered arm to the Lords body. Let the head of the church be present on this occasion; for two or three are come together in thy name to build thee a house; be thou head in the building; lay the first stone; lay the last, lay the midst. Act now the laying that is written, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. As far as thou permittest us to be workers together with thee, help us to be faithful that our work may stand, the reward sure, and thou have glory for ever. Amen.”

Then the minister desired them who purposed to become a church to draw near, and to give in their names to him; that done, and a list of them written, he began to ask them the following questions.

28. “Is it your desire to be constituted a church in this place?”

As many as answered in the affirmative were further asked the following questions.

29. “Are your habitations so near to each other than you can meet together in one place every Lords day, or oftener if needs be?”

This enquiry caused a demur in the case of one man who lived a great way off; but because there was no church nearer to which he could have joined himself he was admitted, The minister proceeded,

30. “Are ye so far acquainted with each others characters, graces, and principles, that ye can freely coalesce into one body, and comfortably walk together in fellowship?”

The answer was in the affirmative without any exception. Then the minister proceeded,

31. “There is a work of Gods Spirit that convinceth of sin and misery, that enlightens the mind in the knowledge of Christ; that reneweth the will; and that persuadeth and enableth the sinner to embrace that same Christ as he is freely offered in the gospel, which work is styled effectual calling. And this work is so essential a qualification to church membership that the society is, from it, termed εκκλησια or the called of the Lord. Can you make it appear to us that this good work hath been wrought in you; for before Barnabas exhorted the disciples to be married to the Lord, it is said that he saw the grace of God?

Each declared his experience in such manner as induced the ministers to judge favourably of them. The acting minister went on.

32. “A church is called the household of faith, and all the members are called faithful: let us therefore have a confession of your faith; for as true faith gives you a right to become members of a church (Joh. i. 12), so to a profession of that is the promise of the keys of the kingdom of heaven made, (Math. xvi. 16-19).”

Each referred to the baptist confession of faith as fully expressing the articles of his belief. The minister examined them on some of the chief points of the confession, in order to see whether they understood it. The {jist} of what they said amounted to, what I would call, the essentials, viz. “A profession of repentance towards God; of sincere obedience to his laws; of faith in Christ as the only Saviour; of the hope of pardon and eternal life through his mediation and sacrifice; of submission to his word as the sovereign and infallible rule of religious faith and practice; of the public worship of one God, through one mediator, by one Spirit; in the reverent use of the word, prayer and praise, and other ordinances.” The minister proceeded,

33. “Is it the full purpose of your hearts henceforth to do all things whatsoever Christ hath commanded, and be obedient?”

They all solemnly declared that to be their fixed resolution. The minister went on,

34. “It appears by the gospel that baptism is prerequisite to a church state. And because some take that to be baptism which in reality is not, we require whether you have been duly baptized?”

Some produced certificates; other witnesses to their baptism. The minister went on.

35. “The believing Samaritans had hands laid on them before their incorporation into a church; we would know therefore whether you have submitted to that rite?”

They answered in the affirmative except two; and produced witnesses or certificates. Here follows a copy of one of the certificates. “This certifies that our brother _______, after making a credible profession of repentance, faith, and vows of holiness, was dipped in water in the name of the father, son and holy ghost at _______, on the ____ day of _______, in the year _____, at which time he had also hands laid on him by me _______ minister of the Baptist church at _______.” Those who had not submitted to this rite were reasoned with so that they desired it might be administered to them; which accordingly was done. See the manner under the proposition which speaks of this ordinance. Then the minister interrogated them all in such a {sort} as produced the following instrument of confederation.

36. “In the name of the Lord Jesus, we do voluntarily and jointly separate ourselves from the world; and voluntarily and jointly give ourselves to the Lord, who hath promised to receive such, and be to them a God; holding ourselves henceforth as his, and no longer our own. We do all voluntarily and mutually give ourselves one to another, and voluntarily and mutually receive one another in the Lord; meaning hereby to coalesce into one body, jointly to exist and jointly to act by the bands and rules of the gospel; each esteeming himself henceforth as a member of a spiritual body; accountable to it, subject to its control, and no otherwise separable therefrom than by consent first had, or unreasonably refused. We do further voluntarily and jointly vow to do all things whatsoever the Lord hath commanded, and be obedient, that he may be with us always: particularly, to deny ourselves; take up the cross; follow Christ; keep the faith; assemble together every Lord’s-day to worship; love as brethren; submit one to another in the Lord; and observe all rules prescribed to church members. Finally, we do voluntarily and jointly engage to know, honour, maintain, and obey them that shall have the rule over us in the Lord. This is the covenant we now solemnly enter into in the fear of God. In testimony and ratification whereof each of us signs his name hereunto. So help us God. Amen.”

When signing was over, the minister proceeded to declare them a church, in words to this effect; to which were joined prayer and praise.

37. “In the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the authority of our office we pronounce you [mentioning their names] a true gospel Church; endowed with all necessary power towards becoming a complete organized body, and the due government of yourselves; and therefore stand bound to make a proper use of that power as ye shall answer it to the head of the church. On whose name let us further call.”

38. “One family more, O Lord, is now added to the families of faith! One temple more raised to Jesus! One church more prepared as a bride for the Lamb of God! Devoted to thee be this family of faith! Sacred to thy name this living temple! And betrothed to the bridegroom, this chaste virgin! Take the family under thy special care, thou God of the families of all the earth; and come and be Lord over thine own house! Meet the dedication of this little sanctuary with acceptance, and preserve it pure; and if ought defiling should at any time stand in the holy place drive the abomination thereout, and cause that it profane thy temple no more! Accept this knot of virgin souls which we present to thee! Be this the day that they become the bride the lambs wife! Remember the kindness of their youth and the love of their espousals; and henceforth let them find that their maker is their husband! Give them a pastor after thine own heart, that this zion may be the birth place of souls, and a gate of heaven! Help them to be like minded; to love as brethren; to speak the same thing; and walk by the same rule! Righteous Lord! as thou and the father art one so let them be one in thee; one in thy service; one among themselves in the bonds of peace and charity; and with one mouth and one heart glorify God! Thou, Lord, hast laid the foundation of this house, and we cry grace! grace to it! Thou has also fixed the top stone, and the shout in the church is, the Lord hath built the temple, and the Lord shall have the glory. Amen.”

Then they sung, as followeth; the words by Dr. Watts, Ps. cxxxii. The music by Mr. Stanley.

Here, mighty God, accept our vows,

Here, let thy praise be spread;

Bless the provisions of thy house,

And fill thy poor with bread.

Here, let the son of David reign,

Let God’s anointed shine;

Justice and truth his court maintain,

With love and power divine.

Here let him hold a lasting throne

And as his kingdom grows,

Fresh honours shall adorn his crown,

And shame confound his foes.

Arise, O king of saints, arise,

And enter to thy rest,

Lo! thy church waits with longing eyes

Thus to be owned and blest.

Then the minister uttered the benediction in these words.

40. “The Lord bless you, and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace through Jesus Christ; the grace of whom be with you; the love of God the father; and the communion of the holy Ghost, both now and henceforth. Amen.”

Then each took the other by the right hand, and putting his right cheek to his, said,

41. “I plight communion and love to you my dear brother; in token whereof I give you the right hand of fellowship and kiss of charity.”

This being over, and the Lords supper administered, one of the brothers invited the rest to his home, where he had the love feast prepared, and at which he washed the disciples feet. See the manner under the proposition which relates to the subject.

Customs of Primitive Churches, Morgan Edwards, pages 7-11

Sound doctrine

Under "What are the principles for Which We are Contending" William Carey Crane stated:

"1. Sound doctrine. The pure dialect of the gospel is an element of all real truth. It is not for phrases we contend. But it is for the truth of scriptural phrases. Baptists in England are divided into general and particular. Here there is no such distinction, except in isolated cases. We are generally agreed to meet and labor upon a common platform, whatever may be our interpretations as to the nature and extent of the atonement; all agreeing in the capability and sufficiency of the atonement, "to cleanse from all sin." The pivot of our faith is sovereign grace, manifested through the mediation and intercession of Jesus Christ. Whatever views of truth do not derogate from this pivot, nor deny the trinity and a future state of rewards and punishments, are allowed, though not always encouraged or sustained."

"History and Principles of Baptists, An Introductory Sermon," delivered before the Columbus Baptist Association, Miss., at its Session, Sept. 13th, 1845 by Rev. W. CAREY CRANE, of Columbus, Miss. Published in accordance with a resolution of said Association,The Baptist Preacher, Vol. V., No. 8, August 1846, p. 161

The Light of the world

Jesus is the Light that is brightest;
the Word that is surest;
the Peace that is calmest;
the Counselor that is truest;
the Friend that is nearest;
the Companion that is dearest.

-- Roy Lessin

Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

• Archibald Brown: “Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats” – An Article From 1889 About Gimmicks in Worship -- "An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross, so impudent, that the most short-sighted can hardly fail to notice it."
• BREAKING: Federal Judge Rules Against Presidential Debate Commission -- "...Judge Tanya S. Chutkan of the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. ruled against the Federal Election Commission in the case of Level the Playing Field et al v. Federal Election Commission holding that the rules governing participation in the presidential debates were decided unfairly and arbitrarily."
• Civil War Cannons Retrieved From The Great Pee Dee River, South Carolina -- "Over the years ever since the guns were thrown overboard, people have always wondered about what happened to these guns..."
• Exposed: How world leaders were duped into investing billions over manipulated global warming data -- "A high-level whistleblower has told this newspaper that America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration breached its own rules on scientific integrity when it published the sensational but flawed report..."
• Is There Anything We Can Take for Granted (that All Americans Agree about)? A Challenge -- "I have lived most of my life now in American academia and much of my adult life in moderate-to-progressive religious communities...I worry that a culture and a community cannot survive on diversity and tolerance of difference alone. There needs to be an underlying consensual ethical vision that goes beyond tolerance and diversity."
• Is this the first written mention of Jesus? 2,000-year-old lead tablets found in a remote cave ARE genuine, claim researchers -- "The metal 'pages', held together like a ring binder, were found in Jordan in around 2008 by an Israeli Bedouin and make reference to Christ and his disciples."
• It's time for churches to sever ties with Boy Scouts -- "On Monday, the BSA announced that girls who identify as boys will now be allowed to join the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts – marking a complete capitulation to the gender and sex revolutionaries."
• Misplaced Trust -- "Those eagerly counting on President Trump to make good on his promise to “Make America Great Again” as well as those who exceedingly fear him are both placing too much trust in the plans of men and too little trust in the overriding sovereignty of God, who alone “remains faithful forever”."
• Restoring the Lost Constitution -- "I propose replacing the existing “presumption of constitutionality” and its ad hoc exceptions for certain favored rights with an across-the-board presumption in favor of the liberties or rights retained by the people. "
• Six Points On Luther’s “Epistle of Straw” -- "Luther does appear to have held lifelong doubts about the canonicity of James, but it wasn’t because he was purely subjective as Roman Catholics claim."
• Speaking more of the language of the people -- "My research suggests that 43 per cent of adults living in England will find 50 per cent of the Church of England liturgies difficult to read."
• Texas Ghost Towns: Camden (Gregg County) -- "Sometime in the late 1820s or early 1830s, when Texas was still under Mexican rule, John Walling made his way down to the Sabine River and established a ferry crossing named after himself."
• The Immigration Ban and the Refugee Crisis: A ‘Bible Issue’ or Not? -- "As a Christian, I believe the Bible is God’s Word. As such, you do not cut and paste where you please."

Dipping your colors

When I was a young preacher in my 20s I attended a Bible Conference at a city community center, sponsored by a church in that city. The speakers were mostly older well-established preachers. One such preacher pressed for orthodoxy, and stressed that he had always remained firm in the faith, never dipped his colors, never changed what he believed. Stable. Never changing. That sounds great when aptly woven into the advancement of orthodoxy -- designed to encourage young preachers to keep the faith. But is it true? Should we never change? I recognized there was something wrong with that idea. Through experience I have learned when we are wrong we must change!

Those who never change either...

• already know everything
• are not learning anything
• are lying

Since the first possibility is only theoretical (to cover all so-called bases), the two real options seem to be that those who never change either are not learning anything or are lying -- unless the person making the assertion is just plain crazy.

We should not be unstable, tossed about with every wind of doctrine. But there is no shame in changing our theology when our theology conflicts with the theology of the Bible!

* To dip the colors is a nautical/naval expression meaning to lower the colors (flag) and return them to place -- a form of naval salute or deference. In this sermon it probably meant striking the colors -- lowering the flag as a condition of submission or surrender.

6 millions converts, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

• 6 Million Muslims convert to Christianity in Africa alone each year -- "According to Al-Jazeerah’s interview with Sheikh Ahmad Al Katani, the president of The Companions Lighthouse for the Science of Islamic Law in Libya, in every hour, 667 Muslims convert to Christianity...After reporting this Al-Jazeerah has since removed the interview and details but we got the screencap from the original story."
• A partnership with Martin Scorsese gives this openly evangelical artist wider exposure -- "In 1992 he became the youngest artist ever to have work acquired by Tokyo’s Museum of Contemporary Art. His success stateside was less meteoric."
• Celebrities Speaking Out: Are They Helping or Hurting With Anti-Trump Antics? -- "With Shia LaBeouf’s arrest during his live stream protest of Trump, Madonna’s provocative remarks at the Women’s March, and Chelsea Handler’s controversial comments about first lady Melania Trump, it begs the question… are some stars hurting their own cause?"
• Cleaning tombstones -- "Before cleaning any stone, carefully check its condition."
• Do non-citizens vote in U.S. elections? -- "This analysis provides some of the first available nationwide estimates of the portion of non-citizen immigrants who vote in U.S. elections."
• Heavenly Highway Hymns -- This will expand to full list of songs in Heavenly Highway Hymns.
• Is it plausible that non-citizen votes account for the entire margin of Trump’s popular vote loss to Clinton? -- "Is it plausible that non-citizen votes added to Clinton’s margin.  Yes.  Is it plausible that non-citizen votes account for the entire nation-wide popular vote margin held by Clinton?  Not at all."
• Poor, maimed, lame, and blind -- "They are the “halt, or lame” who cannot arise and come to the LORD by their own power."
• Reformed and Baptist: the third wave -- "What needs to be understood is that these men were not trying to start a war, but neither would their consciences allow them to retreat."
• Sorting through the aftermath of the executive order heard round the world -- "In many ways, the reporting and talking-headery have been difficult to sort out. If you want to make a start at understanding what has and hasn’t happened, I recommend reading these four items."
• The Meaning of Baptism, Part 1 -- "The first signification of baptism is cleansing."
• The Womens March has a doctrinal statement -- "In advance of the march, the organizers published a doctrinal statement titled “Unity Principles.” Anyone who departed from the doctrinal statement was not allowed to “partner” with the march."
• Travis County Cemetery Project -- "The Austin Genealogical Society began a project in 1999 to identify all Travis County cemeteries and headstones within each cemetery."
• Yes, Illegal Aliens Are Voting -- "A federal voter fraud investigation is long overdue."

The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Work of the Holy Spirit demonstrated in John's Gospel 

• He reveals Jesus as the Son of God (John 1:32-34). 
• He performs a spiritual birth (John 3:3-8). 
• He raises in us true worship of God (John 4:23-24). 
• He comforts us (John 14:15-18). 
• He dwells with us (John 14:17). 
• He teaches us (John 14:25-26). 
• He bears witness of Jesus (John 15:26-27). 
• He reproves the world (John 16:8-11). 
• He guides into all truth (John 16:13-14).
• He sends us (John 20:21-22).

Buying books would be a good thing, and other quotes

The posting of quotes by human authors does not constitute agreement with either the quotes or their sources. (I try to confirm the sources that I give, but may miss on occasion; please verify if possible.)

"Buying books would be a good thing if one could also buy the time to read them in: but as a rule the purchase of books is mistaken for the appropriation of their contents." -- Arthur Schopenhauer

"If God spare my life many years, I will cause a boy that driveth the plough to know more of Scripture than you do." -- William Tyndale (to a Catholic priest)

"Make no provision for failure." -- Jack Hyles

"Christ is either Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all." -- Hudson Taylor

Someone asked General Douglas MacArthur, "How can a person tell when he's old?"
He replied: "A man is old when he looks backward and not forward."

"The devil doesn't know how to sing, only how to howl." -- Francis Thompson

"Satan is not fighting churches; he is joining them. He does more harm by sowing tares than by pulling up wheat. He accomplishes more by imitation than by outright opposition." -- Vance Havner

"A forgiven past does wonders for your future." -- copied

"The battle for Christian unity is fought in the mind first, and then in the congregation." -- Bart Barber

"Whatever the entailments of our present cultural moment, constituent human nature has not changed." -- quote or paraphrase of R.C. Sproul

"True saving faith is always personal, but never private." -- copied

"The United States is not God’s new chosen nation."  -- Mike Bergman

"I hope our young men [preacher] will not get above any honest employment if the needs of their homes demand it." -- C. H. Orser 

Customs of Primitive Churches, constitution of a church

Customs of Primitive Churches, Of matterials and constitution of a church

IV. The manner in which persons may be constituted a particular church is by special confederation respecting one another, the Lord, his commandments, and officers; requisite to which is a set time and place; a meeting of the candidates, and one minister (at least), fasting; when met, the minister begins the solemnity with a prayer suitably prefaced; requires the candidates to give their names; examines into their qualifications which are, a desire to become a church; satisfaction in one another; dwelling sufficiently near; their effectual calling; soundness in the faith; a purpose of heart to do whatsoever Christ hath commanded; being duly baptized; and having had hands laid on them: a sufficient number of such being found, the minister shall interrogate them in such a manner that the answers shall amount to a covenant or instrument of confederation; they sign the covenant; are (with a recital of their names) pronounced a church; prayer follows; they give each other the right hand of fellowship and kiss of charity, with words expressive of the actions; praises, and a benediction close the solemnity.

1. A covenant is the formal cause of a church: so that without a covenant, expressed or implied, a visible church there cannot be. Nor is there any other way in which a number of persons who are not a church may become such, but by entering into covenant one with the other to the Lord. The first christian church was formed out of the house of Judah in Jerusalem; the next was out of the house of Israel in Samaria. And all the gentile churches were built on the same plan, 1 Thes. ii. 14. And the constitutive cause was a new covenant. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah:- I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people. Heb. viii. 8-12.

2. This covenant or confederation bears a four-fold aspect. First, it hath respect to the Lord Christ; and then the meaning is, “We do engage henceforth to be the Lords people,” which is fulfilling this branch of the new covenant in Heb. viii. 10. They shall be to me a people; and an assumption of this overture, on Gods part, “Be ye separate and I will receive you, and will be to you a God.” They gave their own selves to the Lord. 2 Cor. viii. 5. Know ye not that ye are not your own, but God’s? 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. That with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord, Act. xi. 23. Come out from among them and be ye separate—and I will receive you and will be to you a God and ye shall be to me a people, 2 Cor. vi. 16, 17. Heb. viii. 8-12

3. Next, it has a mutual respect to all the particular persons concerned in it. And then the meaning is, “We agree to be a church, viz. to coalesce into one body and cleave together, so at to be no longer our own, but the property one of another, and subject one to another, in the Lord.” Receive ye one another, Rom. xv. 7. Yea all of you be subject one to another, 1 Pet. v. 5. Onesimus—who is one of you—Epaphras, who is one of you, Col. iv. 9, 12. We being many are one body and everyone members one of another, Rom. xii. 5. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular, 1 Cor. xii. 12, 27. The whole body fitly joined together and compacted, Col. ii. 19. Eph. ii. 20, 21.

4. It hath respect to all the commandments of Christ; and then the meaning is, “all that the Lord hath said that will we do and be obedient;” which is a closure with an overture. If ye do all things whatsoever I have commanded you lo I am with you always. Math. xxviii. 20.

5. It hath respect to the officers of the church; then the meaning is, “we will know, obey, and submit to them that have the rule over us, and speak to us the word of God,” Heb xiii 7, 17. They gave their own selves to us according to the will of God. 2 Cor. viii. 5. These people are as they that strive with the priest. Hos. iv. 4.

6. Requisite to constituting of a church is, first, a sufficient number of persons. Some will have the lowest number to be thirteen, because Jesus and the twelve apostles were together at the first celebration of the supper. Mr. Cotton descends as low as seven. Tertullian to three, ubi tres ecclesia est, Exh. de cast. Ch. 7. I know of no reason why Tertullian may not be right, at least, in cases of necessity. The church at Opekon begun with three in 1752, and is now 64. The church of Roxbury with five in 1753. The church of Piscataqua with six in 1689, and continued so to 1709. Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Math. xviii. 20.

7. A set time and place are requisite; the reason is, that the parties may make it a day of fasting and solemn assembly. As they ministered [or performed the public work] to the Lord and fasted. Act. xiii. 2.

8. A meeting of the candidates and one minister, at least. There is no example of set of lay men forming themselves into a church. One minister may do, as appears in the case of Barnabas at Antioch and Titus in Crete, Act. xi. 22-24. Tit. i. 5. But two or more will do better, for the sake of the promise of Math. xviii. 20, and because Peter and John were at the constitution of the church of Samaria, Act. viii: and Paul and Silas and others at the constitution of the churches of Macedonia, 2 Cor. vii. 5, etc. He gave some pastors and teachers for the building of the body of Christ, Eph. iv. 11, 12. Ye are God’s building—we are labourers together with him, 1 Cor. iii. 9. Paul planted, as a wise master builder, vers. 6, 10. Let a man so account of us as ministers and stewards, &c. 1 Cor. iv. 1. When the apostles had heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, Act. viii. 14. Great number believed [at Antioch] and turned to the Lord, and when tidings of these things came to the ears of the church of Jerusalem they sent forth Barnabas—who when he was come exhorted them all to cleave to the Lord, Act. xi. 22, 23. They gave their own selves to us, 2 Cor. viii. 5. Tit. i. 5.

9. When met, the minister shall open the solemnity with a prayer suitably prefaced. The occasion both requires a preliminary address, and suggesteth proper sentiments. See ver. 26. Previous prayer is necessary. I exhort that first of all prayers be made, 1 Tim. ii. 1. In everything by prayer let your request be made known, Phil. iv. 6.

10. Then he shall require the candidates to give their names, that he may know who they are, and what their number, and be able to recite their names when he come to pronounce them a church. See ver. 16. The good Shepherd calleth the sheep by name, John x. 3. The number of names together, &c. Act. i. 15.

11. Next, he shall examine into their qualifications. The old covenant by which Israel became “a church in the wilderness” took in all sorts of persons; but the covenant that was to commence after those days differs in this. Such as know not the Lord, whether children, infidels, or unregenerate persons are not to be admitted; but only such as repent and are forgiven; such as are regenerate or have the law in their minds; such as believe, and, in a words, such as savingly know the Lord. Heb. viii. 8-13. John i. 12. Wherefore the minister should examine into their qualifications. So Barnabas exhorted the disciples at Antioch to cleave [or marry, as the word signifies, Math. xix. 5.] to the Lord; but not till he had first seen the grace of God, which implies that he had made so much inquisition into their state as to discover they were gracious persons, Act. xi. 23. Let every man take heed how he build on the foundation—for if the build wood, hay, and stubble his works shall be burned, 1 Cor. iii. 10-15.

12. The qualifications are these following: first, a desire to become a church, for though this is implied in coming together and sending for ministerial help, yet it is proper that it should be professed; for a church is a voluntary society, though no believers are at liberty to be, or not to be of a church. They gave their own selves to the Lord [according to the will of God], 2 Cor. viii. 5. Your professed subjection to the gospel, 2 Cor. ix. 13.

13. Satisfaction with one another in the Lord, I am a companion of all them that fear thee, Psal. cxix. 63. Be not unequally yoked, 2 Cor. vi. 14. How can two walk together except they be agreed, Am. iii. 3. What part hath a believer with an infidel? 2 Cor. vi. 15.

14. Nearness of habitations, for if the dwellings of some should be so far off that they can not meet the rest statedly, the end of a church would in part be defeated. Nearness of habitations determines the bounds of churches. Hence the agreement “Not to receive into one church a person whose habitation is nearer to another church of the same faith and order.”  Treat. of Discip., p. 30.[1] And they that believed were together, Act. ii. 44. On the first day of the week the disciples came together, Act. xx. 7.

15. Effectual calling: and so essential is a qualification this is that it gives name to the society; for if the word {Εκκλhσια} were turned to plain English it must be so done by the word outcalled. Besides, the church covenant requires a knowledge of God, a new heart, repentance, and faith. Heb. viii. 8-13.

16. A soundness in the faith; for if heretics are to be put out of the church, reason would that they should be refused admittance into it. Fundamentals articles of faith there are. Peter professes the chief of them, and then Christ speaks of building a church upon it, Math. xvi. 18. Ye are fellow citizens of the household of God – built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus himself being the chief corner stone, Eph. ii. 20. One faith, ch. iv. 5. Building up yourselves on the most holy faith, Jud. 20. A heretic reject—but he that is weak in the faith, receive, Tit. iii. 10. Rom. xiv. 1.

17. Vows to do all that Christ hath commanded. Your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ, 2 Cor. ix. 13.

18. Being duly baptized; right baptism is prerequisite to a church state: if any essential defect appears in the baptism of the candidates, it is to be considered as a nullity, and true baptism given them, as in Act. xix. 1-5. Go teach all nations baptizing them, Math. xxviii. 19. They that gladly received the word were baptized and added to the church, Act. ii. 41, 27. v. 14. The foundation—the doctrine of baptism, Heb. vi. 1, 2. One faith, one baptism, Eph. iv. 5.

19. Having had hands laid on them. The business of Peter and John in Samaria was to form into a church the baptized believers in that city. And they first laid their hand on them, Act. viii. 17. The Ephesians also underwent the same rite before they were received into a church state, Act. xix. 6. Laying on of hands is one of the first principles, as well as baptism, Heb. vi. 2.

20. A sufficient number being found the minister shall interrogate them in such a manner that their answers amount to a covenant, or the instrument of their confederation. See this exemplified in ver. 28, &c.

21. They sign the covenant. One shall say I am the Lords and subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, Is. iliv. 5.

22. Then they (with a recital of their names) are pronounced a church. See an example ver. 36.

23. Prayer follows. So Solomon prayed, when the temple was finished, 1 King viii.

24. They give each other the right hand of fellowship with the kiss of charity; and at the same time express the intention of the rites, They gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, Gal. ii. 9. Salute one another with the kiss of charity, Rom. xvi. 16.

25. Praise, and benedictions close the solemnity. See Act. xiv. 23.

Here follows a narrative of proceeding at the constitution of one baptist church.....

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[1] Possibly the Treatise of Church Discipline, by Samuel Jones. If so, it might be the former treatise the Philadelphia Association judged “materially defective,” which he revised in 1797. It is similar to Jones’s “general rule” in that work, found in 9:16: “…persons ought to be members of such churches as are nearest to them; for they cannot otherwise so well enjoy the benefit of membership, nor perform the duties, that arise out of church relation.” See Treatise of Church Discipline

Customs of Primitive Churches, Morgan Edwards, pages 5-7

Drown the Dippers

“I will not stain these sheets with a detailed account of the murders, religionis ergo, committed by the Establishments. From the blood of Priscillian in the fourth, to the blood of John Penry in the sixteenth, all the innocent blood shed upon the earth must come upon them. Some they ‘killed and crucified, and some they scourged in their synagogues, and persecuted from city to city.’ Calvin imitated his master Augustin’s intolerance of opinion; when he murdered Servetus even Melancthon smiled. Zuinglius cried, in the true tone and spirit of the Jewish CRUCIFICE! ‘drown the dippers’ when consulted by the magistracy of Zurich, as to the fate of some poor Baptists. Cranmer did actually force Edward the Sixth to sign the death warrant of Jane Bocher, a Baptist, who was burnt to death.”

“A Dissenter’s Reasons for Separating from the Communion of the Church of England.” in The New Evangelical Magazine and Theological Review, July 1824

For Immediate Release

Breaking News
By Will Tell, Associated Express writer
February 12, 2045

BEIJING, EURASIAN COMMONWEALTH - This just in. The United States of America has reportedly fallen without a shot. While Americans were worshiping the god of Ball at the week long Suprabolus Festival in Houston, two construction workers from Los Angeles overthrew the U.S. government. Homeland Security was apparently oblivious to any problems, as the military, National Guard, peace officers, and the government itself totally gave themselves up to the idolatry. Speaking on conditions of anonymity, Mrs. President Bush VII said Secret Service was able to extract her only minutes before the fall. Now exiled in Beijing, she is working with the Eurasian Commonwealth to adopt the Suprabolus Festival, overthrow the construction workers, and annex the United States into the Commonwealth.

Asked for comment, one of the construction workers stated, "Like, wow, we did it, man."

Archaic Words, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

• Archaic Words in the NIV -- "As we have seen throughout the main body of this work, archaic words are not limited to the AV. Not only do modern versions often retain the supposedly archaic words found in the AV, but many times a more formidable word is used to correct a perfectly understandable word or phrase in the AV."
• A Softer Prosperity Gospel: More Common Than You Think -- "Often undetected by Bible-believing Christians, it assumes the gospel and leads its adherents to focus on things like financial planning, diet and exercise, and strategies for self-improvement."
• Former Stanford dean shares the 8 skills everyone should have by age 18 -- "An 18-year-old must be able to talk to strangers."
• Garrison Keillor Is On A Quest To Leave The Religion He Never Found -- "Perhaps the next time he looks down his nose at the Christians who made him famous, he’ll find that the religion he needs is the one that’s been under his nose the whole time."
• Good and Bad Ways To Think About Religion and Politics -- "...asking people to drop their religious worldview when they enter public life is “asking them to ignore the source of their moral principles”."
• I Do Not Watch “Sister Wives,” but…What’s Wrong with Polygamy -- "Today I read that the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the case against a state law that criminalizes polygamy."
• Mother Sues to Stop Bible Classes in West Virginia Schools -- "Teresa Russell, another county schools official, told the Charleston Gazette-Mail that the Bible courses are voluntary..."
• Racial Reconciliation, the Gospel, and the Church -- "The relationship between the gospel and racial reconciliation has been a contested topic among evangelicals of late."
• Seminary in Apostasy -- "...I didn't know whether to walk out of class or to vomit. I expected, at the very least, a respect and reverence for the Bible; after all is was supposed to be a Baptist seminary."
• The Biblical Case for Religious Liberty -- "...as things presently stand, the cause of the gospel is disserved if no one will stand up and place on the record the New Testament point of view."
• Tennessee Pastor Resigns as IMB Trustee -- "“If we defend the rights of people to construct places of false worship are we not helping them speed down the highway to hell?"
• The Ordinary Means of Growth -- "Ordinary means ministry believes that God has told us the most important things, not only about the truth we are to tell, but about the way we are to live and minister — in any and every context."
• Throwback Thursday ~ My Favorite Christian Apps -- "A friend of mine...was looking at a list of recommended Christian apps someone had posted and was curious to know which apps I use and recommend."
• Why Ye, Thee, Thou, Thine and Mine? -- "The use of the Authorised Version today is maintained by many Christians, not only on account of its language bringing reverence and spiritual beauty to the soul, but also on account of the ability of its language to support greater accuracy."