I am almost finished reading Carl. R. Trueman’s important book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution (Wheaton: Crossway, 2020), 425 pages. Of the many things this book illustrates is that one’s worldview is the product of sentiment or how one feels about self,Continue reading “Carl. R. Trueman’s important book, “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self” and climbing out of the rabbit hole.”
Author Archives: Dr. Peter Van Kleeck, Sr.
Thomas Watson,1692, A Body of Practical Divinity: “whom God intends to destroy, he gives leave to play with Scripture” (Luther)
Question: Why are the Scriptures called Canonical? Answer: Because the Word is a Rule of Faith, a Canon to direct our lives. The Word is the Judge of controversies, the Rock of Infallibility; that only is to be received for Truth, which is consonant to, and agrees with Scripture, as the transcript with the original.Continue reading “Thomas Watson,1692, A Body of Practical Divinity: “whom God intends to destroy, he gives leave to play with Scripture” (Luther)”
James Ussher, 1647, on Scripture as the Unchanging Rule
The Scripture you say are a rule and a line: but are they not (as the Church of Rome imagineth) like a rule of lead, which may be bowed everyway at men’s pleasure. “They are as a rule of steel, that is firm and changeth not. (Matt. 5:18; Psalm 19:9) For seeing they are sufficientContinue reading “James Ussher, 1647, on Scripture as the Unchanging Rule”
William Twisse (1578-1646) on Scripture as the Only Source of “faith divine.”
The entire book, The Scriptures Sufficiency to Determine All Matters of Faith: or, That a Christian may be infallibly certain of his Faith and Religion in the Holy Scriptures, is comprised of stating a position that deals with the ambivalence among believers as the correctness of Popish, Calvinistic, and Lutheran doctrine. Twisse raises objection afterContinue reading “William Twisse (1578-1646) on Scripture as the Only Source of “faith divine.””
Another Verse on Verbal Preservation: Isaiah 40:6-8
1 Peter 1:24 is a citation of Isaiah 40:6-8. This passage, within its immediate context is a powerful testimony to the faithfulness of God to Israel because “the word of our God shall stand forever.” The first voice of chapter 40 in found in verse 3 which prophetically speaks of John the Baptist preparingContinue reading “Another Verse on Verbal Preservation: Isaiah 40:6-8”
Henrich Bullinger, 1504-1575, on the Perfection of Scripture’s Authority from the Holy Ghost and Scripture’s Self-authentication
[For those readers familiar with the Standard Sacred Text, Bullinger’s comment further demonstrates the historic orthodox understanding of Scriptural authority. From the abundant testimony of Reformation era writers from the Continent and England the theological continuity on this point is conspicuous. Bullinger’s commentary is of an intimate character showing the continuity between the work ofContinue reading “Henrich Bullinger, 1504-1575, on the Perfection of Scripture’s Authority from the Holy Ghost and Scripture’s Self-authentication”
Benedict Pictet (1696) on the Duty of Reading the Scriptures
From all that has been said, we may abundantly infer the duty of reading the scriptures. This obligation arises from the positive command of God, directed to all and each of mankind – “These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children,Continue reading “Benedict Pictet (1696) on the Duty of Reading the Scriptures”
Benedict Pictet (1696) on Scripture as the Only Rule of Faith and Practice, part 2
From what has been said, we may easily ascertain who is the true and supreme Judge of controversies, viz. God who speaks in Scripture. For he only can be a supreme judge in religious matters, who never errs, nor can err, in his decisions, who is influenced neither by partiality, nor by passion, and fromContinue reading “Benedict Pictet (1696) on Scripture as the Only Rule of Faith and Practice, part 2”
Benedict Pictet (1696) on Scripture as the Only Rule of Faith and Practice, part 1
“Reason is as it were the eye of the mind, but scripture is the standard, by which it measures the objects proposed.” [Please note that Pictet, writing in the 17th century addresses the same controversies the church deals with today only from the perspective of the superiority of Scripture over reason where the modern EvangelContinue reading “Benedict Pictet (1696) on Scripture as the Only Rule of Faith and Practice, part 1”
Benedict Pictet (1655-1724): Four Arguments for the Self-authenticating Authority of Scripture
Having proved the divinity and inspiration of the scripture, we next consider its authority. Now this is nothing else but the dignity and right of the sacred books, whereby they claim our faith in whatever they hold forth as necessary to be believed, and our obedience in whatever they prescribe to be done, or toContinue reading “Benedict Pictet (1655-1724): Four Arguments for the Self-authenticating Authority of Scripture”
Standard Sacred Text.com 