Day Off Week 18 2026

We haven't had a formal day off for a while but we tried to have one last Tuesday. There were a few things that needed to be dealt with but otherwise there was time for reading, coffee and to receive a parcel of books by Benjamin Beddome, vry kindly sent by someon eno longer needing them. In the evening I drove up to The Stables, Milton Keynes, to catch Focus on their latest tour. Bed by midnight.

JAFS Again

I should have mentioned well before now an essay in the latest Journal of Andrew Fuller Studies (Number 8; Number 9 is overdue). This is the article A resurgence of Benjamin Beddome studies: A bibliographic essay by Yuta Seki. It is very thorough and very helpful. It refers, of course, to my Beddome blog and we are glad for such publicity. (NB also articles on the Duttons and John Fawcett). 

Speaking on Benjamin Beddome in Borehamwood

It was good to be speaking once eagain at Borehamwood, giving their annual historical lecture, on Benjamin Beddome. They provided a very nice brochure from which we sang some Beddome hymns and this year there was also a little booklet, attractively produced, covering his life story and adding a sermon and some hymns. My wife and I enjoyed the lovely tea afterwards. Great afternoon.

Foundations 85

The new Affinity Theological Magazine Foundations is out. It is an online mag these days. I have an article in it on A red letter day in Bourton on the Water in August 1765.

See here.

Day Off Week 46 2023

Somehow last Tuesday's day off went much better than the previous week. The main thing was reading most of the sermons in Volume 5 of Beddome's discourses. I have borrowed a set of volumes 5-8 not available online and am planning to work through them although I'm sure I looked at Volume 5 not so very long ago. I also watched the latest edition of University Challenge and did a little blogging.

November Banner Mag

Another new Banner Mag is just out. It includes the second part of an article I have put together on Benjamin Beddome and friendship.

October Banner Mag

The new Banner Mag is out and looks good. It includes the first part of an article I have put together on Benjamin Beddome and friendship.

Five Books read in July 2023

Benjamin Beddome has been a theme recently as he often is. Firstly, there has been the new biography from Stephen Pickles published by the James Bourne Society. This is a large volume partly due to the extensive quotation and partly due to the inclusion of material on several other figures (Ryland, Hervey, Newton, etc). Very interesting. I also read two volumes of Beddome sermon as mentioned (Volumes 4 and 6 of the short discourses series, actually Volume 5 too). Then there was the biography of Michael Toogood which I re-read recently in its final form. This book ought to be much more widely known. I also read John Benton's little book Resilient, which is a commentary on 2 Timothy growing out of a life time of pastoral service. Quite helpful.

Two Days Off Week 29 2023

It has been a while since a double day off and these two did involve getting sermon prep started for Wednesday and Sunday and a church zoom meeting on the second evening. However, I was able to devote a good chunk of my time to reading Volume 4 and 6 of Beddome's sermons. I am trying to make sure I've read them all. Four volumes are online but the other foour are not. I was up in Oxford recently to read Volume 5 and half of 8. I hope to get up there soon to do Volume 7 and the other half of 8. Back here I went up to the Evangelical Library to read Volume 6, which they have, and then read Volume 4 online the next day. I also read one of my art books, one on Chagall, on the Tuesday and dipped into other books on the Monday. Watched University Challenge on Monday evening, of course, (programme 2 of the season) with its new presenter and the end of a fact based drama about a horrible double murder case. I also found time to work on a project I have planned for my sister's next birthday.

Day Off Week 28 2023

This week I managed to catch the Oxford Tube and get up to the Angus Library where I had three hours to peruse Beddome sermons. I amnaged to read a volume and a half, 28 sermons, in the time available. I then grabbed a Subway sub and headed back to London. Good day. I amnaged to read some Vos and some of Brad Franklin's bookwhen sorrows like sea billows roll.

10 Points on A Christian's Distinguishing Character

Distinguishing Character of Christians

This is from a sermon by Benjamin Beddome on John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

1. It is not that they have no connection with the men of the world. Grace does not dissolve the union between man and man.

2. It is not that they are to be wholly disengaged from the things of the world.

3. It is not that even the best of men are entirely divested of a worldly spirit, though they are not of the world.

4. They are in a considerable degree mortified to the things of this life, so as not to have "the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God." They are in the world, but not of it: it is their residence, but not their portion.

5. They possess different tempers and dispositions from the men of the world. "Old things are passed away, and all things become new."

6. They speak a different language from the rest of the world.

7. They are neither influenced by the maxims of the world, nor do they imitate its customs.

8. They do not take up their rest in this world. They are born from heaven, and are bound to heaven.

9. To illustrate this character Christ has given his own.

10. From this view of the subject we may learn what judgment we are to form of those about us what is our duty with respect to ourselves.

St George's, Hampnett, Gloucestershire

We were passing through Gloucestershire today and popped into the little village of Hampnett. I was keen to snap the church, St Geporge's, as this is where Benjamin Beddome married Elizabeth Boswell of Bourton (1732-1784) on 11 December, 1749. Hampnett is five or six miles south of Bourton and was a very popular place for marriages at the time.

Westminster Conference Papers 2021 Print Version Out

I note that the papers from the conference at the end of last year are now in print. There are eight papers altogether as we have included the two online papers from 2020 on Luther and Bellarmine. The final paper is the printed version of my own on Benjamin Beddome. It reads okay, with only two or three of the most minor of typos. Well done John Harris.

10 excuses for not coming to Christ highlighted by Benjamin Beddome

In a sermon on Luke 14:18 They all with one consent began to make excuse Benjamin Beddome lists eight excuses people give. We have stretched his sub points under the third excuse - pre-engagement  -to make it 10.

1. Some men will say they have no need to come to Christ

2. Others imagine they are already come to Christ; and the act being performed, they have no need to repeat it.

3. Pre-engagement is another excuse which sinners make for not coming to Christ - a hurry of business

    4. Pre-engagement - the necessary occupations of life, and consequently a want of time

    5. Pre-engagement - feasting, dressing, unedifying visits and unnecessary recreations, etc

6. Some say they have tried but cannot come to Christ

7. Others who are deeply bowed down in spirit, do not so much plead their inability, as their unfitness and unworthiness

8. Some stumble at the austerities of religion, and the dangers to which it will expose them.

9. It is the fear of some that if they do come to Christ, they shall either be rejected, or dishonour him.

10. Many who do not come to Christ now, purpose to do so hereafter

Westminster Conference 2021

It was good to be in Regent Hall at the Westminster Conference on Monday and Tuesday of this week. We had a few hitches but we came through quite well in the end. Numbers were a little down and we had to resort to a little bit of zoom but it was a live in person conference and a good one at that.

We began with an excellent paper from Andrew Roycroft on Charnock and Regeneration. Andrew has not spoken before but he gave a very good survey and we had a decent discussion to follow. Jeremy Walker chaired. After lunch on that first day we had to use Zoom which was okay, though it cut out at one point both times and first time round interaction between speaker and floor were not easy. The first session was Stephen Clark beaming in from Edinburgh on evangelicalism and the second Phil Haines from Cardiff on the Marrow Controversy. Again a decent discussion was had.

The second day was easier with no zoom needed. Chad van Dixhoorn was unable to be present owing to illness and so Jeremy Walker stepped in to speak helpfully on revival  (the men, the means). We then had an excellent and relevant presentation on the Huguenots by Paul Wells. It was my privilege to give the final paper - on my favourite and yours - Baptist pastor Benjamin Beddome. I also shifted a few copies of the book Glory to the Three Eternal: Tercentennial Essays on the Life and Writings of Benjamin Beddome (1718–1795)

Christmas with Beddome

Unknown author, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In his sermon on Luke 23:18 Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss Beddome says

The title which Jesus here assumes in calling him self the Son of man may teach us the following things 1 That he is really and properly man as well as truly divine. In the assumption of our nature he was found in fashion as a man he took on him the seed of Abraham and was made in the likeness of sinful flesh. There were some in the early ages of the church who supposed that the body of Christ was only an aerial substance not flesh and blood but having the form and appearance of it imagining that it was incompatible with divinity to become really incarnate. Against this error the apostle John bears his testimony in the following words

The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. That which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the Word of Life for the Life was manifested and we have seen it and bear witness and shew unto you that eternal Life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God And this is that spirit of antichrist whereof you have heard that it and even now already is it in the world  John 1:14; 1 John 1:1,2, 4: 2, 3

The doctrine of Christ's incarnation is of such importance that it is fundamental to the truth of the gospel and to every doctrine contained in it. For if Christ were not really a man he could not have made atonement for every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. Hence when he cometh into the world he saith sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me. If his incarnation were a fiction his death and resurrection and ascension would be a fiction also and the gospel would not be true. Then would our faith be vain and we are yet in our sins. Christ was really God and it was necessary that he should be so in order that he might satisfy divine justice; he was really man and it was equally necessary that he should be so in order that he might suffer. Hence it is that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

There are no Christmas hymns as such but note these two

1 STUPENDOUS was the love

Of God's eternal Son

Who left the blissful scenes above

And his imperial throne

2 He waded through a sea

Of overwhelming wrath

That wretched sinners such as we

Might be redeemed from death

3 Expiring on the cross

He Satan's empire broke

Surprise and horror seized his foes

And hell's foundation shook

4 From him we grace receive

In him all good possess

And those who on his word believe

Shall reign with him in bliss

5 Hosanna to his name

Let heavenly hosts adore

But saints with pure seraphic flame

Should love and praise him more

FROM that bright world where seraphs join

In songs and services divine

Where streams of purest pleasure flow

Jesus descends and dwells below

2 No glittering gems his robes adorn

He meets with cruelty and scorn

He loads of guilt and sorrow bears

Is bathed in sweat and blood and tears

3 Exposed his people long had been

To sin and wrath and endless pain

But lo he dies to set them free

Oh could I say he died for me.

Two Days Off Week 46 2021

I had another one of my double days off this week. I had to complete the current In Writing magazine before I could do anything else and I spent most of my time in getting my Benjamin Beddome talk ready for the Westminster Conference. I also read another two of those art books - one on Hieronymous Bosch and one on William Turner. In both cases there were quite a few things I hadn't understood or didn't know so it was good to become better informed. I also watched some TV in the evenings including University Challenge on the Monday.

Day Off Week 44 2021

The week before it was half term and three grand children were here so there was no formal day off (though I got to play crazy golf and watched the film Ron's gone wrong). Last Tuesday we were back to a more regular day off. I spent most of it studying Benjamin Beddome, one of my passions (see here). I also read a fascinating little book on the artist M C Escher.

Day Off Week 38

What, another day off? Yes, I was off on Friday and Saturday and after two days I was off again as my general pattern is to take a day off every Tuesday. Having said that I actually spent a lot of time working on a paper I have to give before the end of the year. The introduction has been going round my head so it was easier to get it down. There were various other things like that and a coffee and a bit of TV.

Day Off Week 39 2020

I was slightly under the weather yesterday and didn't do any of the things I often do. I ended up spending the day in the 18th century which I enjoyed and hopefully profited from. Another bright sunny day, surprisingly.