“There is so much in life that is oppressive and that robs us of the strength to live and to act. There are the adversities and disappoints which we meet on life’s way. There are those terrible calamities and disasters which sometimes cause hundreds and thousands of lives to be lost in nameless anguish. But life in its ordinary course also can sometimes raise doubts in the mind about the providence of God. Is not mystery the portion of all mankind? The worm of restlessness and fear gnaws at all existence. Is it not true that God has a quarrel with His creatures and that we perish in His wrath and are terrified by His anger? No, it is not the unbelievers and the frivolous only, but the children of God also, and these the most deeply of all, who are seized upon by the awful seriousness of reality. And sometimes the question forces its way from the heart up to the lips: Can it be that God created man on earth for nothing?

But then the despondent Christian [and this includes Christ by the way who underwent exhaustion and trial during his temptation] by a faith in God’s creation and providence again raises his head up high. No devil, but God, the Almighty, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, created the world. It is in its entirety and it its parts the work of His hands, and of His hands alone. Once He had created it, He did not let it go. By His almighty and omnipresent power He sustains it. He governs and rules all things in such a way that they all cooperate and all converge upon the purpose He has established. The providence of God includes, together with the maintenance and cooperation, also the third aspects of governance. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords (I Tim. 6:15 and Rev. 19:6) and His kingdom lasts unto all eternity (I Tim. 1:17). No accident and no necessity, no arbitrariness and no force, no mere caprice nor iron destiny controls the world and its history and the life and lot of mankind. Behind all secondary causes there lurks and works the almighty will of an almighty God and a faithful Father.” Our Reasonable Faith, 182

He has also launched a free, online, semi-annual theological journal. More information can be found here.

Sunday school lessons from the London Baptist Confession can be directly downloaded from here. Sermons can be downloaded here.

The sermon page has also been restructured to be more efficient in putting up the Sunday sermons and also Sunday School studies.

John Newton (1725-1807)
Stanza 6 anon.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
‘Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we’ve been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

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