dual personalities

Tag: Puritans

October 24, 2024

THOU GREAT I AM

by chuckofish

THOU GREAT I AM,

I acknowledge and confess that all things
    come of thee —
  life, breath, happiness, advancement,
  sight, touch, hearing,
  goodness, truth, beauty –
  all that makes existence amiable.
In the spiritual world also I am dependent
    entirely upon thee.
Give me grace to know more of my need of grace;
Show me my sinfulness that I may willingly
    confess it;
Reveal to me my weakness that I may know
    my strength in thee.
I thank thee for any sign of penitence;
    give me more of it;
My sins are black and deep,
  and rise from a stony, proud,
    self-righteous heart;
Help me to confess them with mourning, regret,
  self-loathing,
  with no pretence to merit or excuse;
I need healing,
Good Physician, here is scope for thee,
  come and manifest thy power;
I need faith;
Thou who hast given it me, maintain, strengthen,
    increase it,
Centre it upon the Saviour’s work,
  upon the majesty of the Father,
  upon the operations of the Spirit;
Work it in me now that I may never doubt thee
  as the truthful, mighty, faithful God.
Then I can bring my heart to thee
  full of love, gratitude, hope, joy.
May I lay at thy feet these fruits grown
    in thy garden,
  love thee with a passion that can never cool,
  believe in thee with a confidence that never
    staggers,
  hope in thee with an expectation that can never
    be dim,
  delight in thee with a rejoicing that cannot
    be stifled,
  glorify thee with the highest of my powers,
    burning, blazing, glowing, radiating, as from
      thy own glory.

–The Valley of Vision

2 Comments
July 11, 2024

Keep your eyes peeled

by chuckofish

Ah, but friends, it is never too late, right? Right. You must keep learning and it’s okay to change your mind about a lot of things. Some of us are very slow learners after all.

I am starting a new teaching series on the Puritans, To God’s Glory: Lessons on Puritanism.

Because, as you know, I love the Puritans. So far, I am very impressed; the DVD presentations are excellent. And it is a great distraction from the election season hell we find ourselves in. The Puritans knew how to handle trials and they knew we need affliction to humble us and to bring us to God. Many good lessons to be had.

Meanwhile I am looking forward to the added distraction of a visit with…

…and…

…when thy come for a visit tomorrow.

And the rain has left the area, at least for awhile. I am grateful that the flooding (so far) hasn’t been worse.

Time like an ever-rolling stream…the summer is nearly half over! So don’t forget:

“There is treasure buried in the field of every one of our days, even the bleakest or dullest, and it is our business, as we journey, to keep our eyes peeled for it.”

–Frederick Buechner, “The Longing for Home: Reflections on Mid-Life”

3 Comments
February 15, 2024

A glowing coal at my heart

by chuckofish

We’re halfway through February and spring is in the air. But don’t be fooled–winter is still here and it will turn cold again. And that’s okay. The end of winter is in sight. Baseball season is just around the corner.

Tonight we finish Pilgrim’s Progress in our community group. I really cannot recommend this great book enough. You will recall that John Bunyan wrote the book while he was in prison–he was imprisoned for twelve years because he was a nonconformist preacher (meaning not licensed by the state church). That he knew his Bible throughly is evident on every page. Charles Spurgeon famously said that Bunyan “is a living Bible! Prick him anywhere; his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him.”

Coming to the end of the book was very moving as several beloved characters come to the end of their journey and cross over the River of Death to the Celestial City.

The River has been a Terror to many, yea the thoughts of it also have oft frightened me. But now methinks I stand easie, my Foot is fixed upon that, upon which the Feet of the Priests that bare the Ark of the Covenant stood while Israel went over this Jordan. The Waters indeed are to the Palate bitter, and to the Stomack cold; yet the thoughts of what I am going to, and of the Conduct that waits for me on the other side, doth lie as a glowing Coal at my Heart.

I see my self now at the end of my Journey, my toilsome Days are ended. I am going now to see the Head that was Crowned with Thorns, and that Face that was spit upon, for me.

I have formerly lived by Hear-say, and Faith, but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with him, in whose Company I delight my self.

I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of, and wherever I have seen the print of his Shoe in the Earth, there I have coveted to set my Foot too.

–Mr. Stand-fast

Here are ten things you should know about The Pilgrim’s Progress.

And here’s a Valentine bonus pic of Ida B. in a red jumper made by her great-grandmother.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

(Lamentations 3:22-23)

4 Comments
October 19, 2023

My mind is a bucket without a bottom

by chuckofish

This prayer from The Valley of Vision really convicts:

O CHANGELESS GOD,

Under the conviction of thy Spirit I learn that
      the more I do, the worse I am,
  the more I know, the less I know,
  the more holiness I have, the more sinful I am,
  the more I love, the more there is to love.
    O wretched man that I am!
O Lord,
  I have a wild heart,
    and cannot stand before thee;
I am like a bird before a man.
How little I love thy truth and ways!
I neglect prayer,
  by thinking I have prayed enough and earnestly,
  by knowing thou hast saved my soul.
Of all hypocrites, grant that I may not be
    an evangelical hypocrite,
  who sins more safely because grace abounds,
  who tells his lusts that Christ’s blood
    cleanseth them,
  who reasons that God cannot cast him into hell,
    for he is saved,
  who loves evangelical preaching, churches,
    Christians, but lives unholily.
My mind is a bucket without a bottom,
  with no spiritual understanding,
  no desire for the Lord’s Day,
  ever learning but never reaching the truth,
  always at the gospel-well but never holding water.
My conscience is without conviction or contrition,
  with nothing to repent of.
My will is without power of decision or resolution.
My heart is without affection, and full of leaks.
My memory has no retention,
  so I forget easily the lessons learned,
  and thy truths seep away.
Give me a broken heart that yet carries home
  the water of grace.

You can listen to the prayer read by Max McLean:

4 Comments
October 5, 2023

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart

by chuckofish

Today we celebrate the birthday of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)–here are 10 things you should know about him.

“Men have a great deal of pleasure in human knowledge, in studies of natural things; but this is nothing to that joy which arises from divine light shining into the soul. This spiritual light is the dawning of the light of glory in the heart. There is nothing so powerful as this to support persons in affliction, and to give the mind peace and brightness in this stormy and dark world. This knowledge will wean from the world, and raise the inclination to heavenly things. It will turn the heart to God as the fountain of good, and to choose him for the only portion. This light, and this only, will bring the soul to a saving close with Christ. It conforms the heart to the gospel, mortifies its enmity and opposition against the scheme of salvation therein revealed: it causes the heart to embrace the joyful tidings, and entirely to adhere to, and acquiesce in the revelation of Christ as our Savior.”
― Jonathan Edwards

So live with all your might, never suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings, tell the truth, do your duty willingly and cheerfully, and…

2 Comments
September 22, 2023

Friday inspo

by chuckofish

Thy name is excellent,
      thy glory high,
      thy compassions unfailing,
      thy condescension wonderful,
      thy mercy tender.
I bless thee for the discoveries, invitations,
    promises of the gospel
  for in them is pardon for rebels,
    liberty for captives,
    health for the sick,
    salvation for the lost.
I come to thee in thy beloved name of Jesus;
  re-impress thy image upon my soul;
Raise me above the smiles and frowns of the world,
  regarding it as a light thing to be judged by men;
May thy approbation be my only aim,
  thy Word my one rule.
Make me to abhor that which grieves thy
    Holy Spirit,
  to suspect consolations of a worldly nature,
  to shun a careless way of life,
  to reprove evil,
  to instruct with meekness those who oppose me,
  to be gentle and patient towards all men,
  to be not only a professor but an example
    of the gospel,
  displaying in every relation, office, and condition
    its excellency, loveliness and advantages.
How little have I illustrated my principles
  and improved my privileges!
How seldom I served my generation!
How often have I injured and not recommended
  my Redeemer!
How few are those blessed through me!
In many things I have offended,
    in all come short of thy glory;
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

–The Valley of Vision

Now that’s a prayer!

1 Comment
September 19, 2023

We ain’t perfect but we try

by chuckofish

I finished the Hillsdale College online course on Genesis and I’m happy to say I passed all the quizzes, the final and the course. It was a worthwhile endeavor and I will probably take another course. And they’re free.

This is an excellent article on a disturbing subject. “In 1939 T. S. Eliot gave a series of lectures at the University of Cambridge in which he described a fork in the road. Western Civilization might continue along the Christian path, he predicted, or it might adopt “modern paganism.” Eliot, a Christian convert, hoped for the former, but he feared that we were already hell-bent on the latter.” The pagans are winning.

And here are two articles about a favorite subject of mine: Puritans–Jonathan Edwards and his long workday and Puritan women debunking Puritan stereotypes.

I try not to get into arguments with people, but I remember one time I did. It was back when daughter #2 was a student at Wash U. and I had lunch with her and her boyfriend, who made the mistake of making a really uninformed remark about Puritans. He was your typical know-it-all, arrogant Wash U. student and I just couldn’t let him get away with his stupid comment. A lecture followed. I’m sure daughter #2 was mortified. Well, let’s just say I was pleased when they broke up at the end of senior year. Thank goodness DN has had the good sense never to knock the Puritans in my presence.

Like I said, I try to get along with people.

We find out when you die the keys to heaven can’t be bought
We still don’t know what love is but we sure know what it’s not
Sometimes you got to

Get along, on down the road
We’ve got a long long way to go
Scared to live, scared to die
We ain’t perfect but we try

—Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman, Josh Osborne

(The artwork at the top is by my talented six-year old granddaughter Lottie. It is her interpretation of the song “Coat of Many Colors” by Dolly Parton. The mean girl on the left is making fun of little Dolly’s dress.)

5 Comments
July 19, 2023

Every moment of happiness

by chuckofish

It’s Wednesday, so let’s all just take a moment to be thankful:

O MY GOD,

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admires, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee
in ceaseless flow.
When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.
I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, sanctifying it,
though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me,
for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing senses to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I love thee above the powers of language
to express,
for what thou art to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my God, through time
and eternity.

(“Praise and Thanksgiving” from The Valley of Vision, the Puritan prayer book)

And that said, it seems appropriate to read this from Willa Cather’s My Antonia.

3 Comments
December 9, 2022

The soul engaged

by chuckofish

“If the heart be chiefly and directly fixed on God, and the soul engaged to glorify him, some degree of religious affection will be the effect and attendant of it. But to seek after affection directly and chiefly; to have the heart principally set upon that; is to place it in the room of God and his glory. If it be sought, that others may take notice of it, and admire us for our spirituality and forwardness in religion, it is then damnable pride; if for the sake of feeling the pleasure of being affected, it is then idolatry and self-gratification.”

–Jonathan Edwards, The Life and Diary of David Brainerd

If you have 45 minutes and are in the mood for some solid conversation about the Puritans, listen to this podcast of Daniel Doriani and Abram Van Engen, who is a Professor of English at my former flyover university and an old acquaintance of mine.

(The painting is The Oxbow by Thomas Cole. The Connecticut River’s Oxbow is within Northampton’s city limits, a city where Jonathan Edwards lived and preached for many years.)

6 Comments