Some dates for your interest

Some readers of the blog will be interested to know our plans for the future (ie me and Eleri and Owain). At present we are looking forward to a leaving service here in Childs Hill on Saturday July 11 (2. 30 pm), when my father-in-law Geoff Thomas will preach. All are welcome!

The next day we have a visiting preacher who is preaching "with a view".

My term here will then officially come to a close at the end of July.

However, I have agreed with the church to supply the pulpit on four of the five Sundays in August to help them.

At the end of August we will head to Australia where I am preaching in Sydney and Melbourne. We return from there mid-September and then, near the end of September, we move to South Wales, where the next chapter begins. I am preaching in Guernsey in October.

Preachers and Preaching Route 66

It was great to have the opportunity recently to be interviewed by John Brand on the subject of preaching. The interview can be accessed on YouTube or at John's website. See here.

I was young once

Came across this recently (22, 23?)

Grace Baptist Assembly 2025 Final Part

So the rest of day two was filled with our usual business meeting, agreeing to meet again here, May19-21, 2026 then a break and a UK news session chaired by Colin Grimwood (work in Chelmsley Wood, Chorlton, Bethersden, Wensleydale, Ferris Lindsay teaching English, etc). Engouragements and difficulties abound. Mick Lockwood preached again in the evening, this time mainly on Revelation 21 but with a lot of Luke 24. So a good day - not just from the platform but chatting away with various people I know and didn't know. There have also been prayer meetings Wednesday and Thursday mornings (Noel Ramsey and Derek Meade leading).

I slept well and woke early as we hade to clear our rooms before ten and I was due to speak in the first session of Thursday morning. I had been asked to do something historical and chose to look at John Fawcett. I made ten points fom the material

Ten Lessons for small churches from the life of John Fawcett (1740-1817)

1. Never forget the importance of love

2. Sometimes a small church may find it difficult to pay its pastor

3. Small churches should not be surprised if other churches invite their pastors to step up into a wider sphere

4. Small churches, like large ones, must be led by and be made up of converted people

5. If even small churches produce men of the calibre of a Sutcliff they greatly serve the wider church

6. Interconnectedness. How ever it is done, it can be a great blessing, especially to a small church, to be connected with like minded churches, large or small

7. Even small churches can be involved, with other churches, in the wider work of mission

8. Remember, small churches can grow into big ones

9. Sometimes ministers even in small churches can exercise a wider ministry through print or judicious use of audio and video online

10. Sometimes it is right to hang on in there, even though thin
gs may look very discouraging

(If you are interested in John Fawcett I have begun a new blog on him here

Also my talk is here).

Today is my birthday. I am 66. Dennis Gamston tipped them off and they sang happy birthday to me, which happened once before.

Our final session was a preaching service. Chola Mukanga from Bexley Heath preached from Haggai 2. He reminded us that God is with us as his people, he is with us in his work and he is with us for his glory.

Westminster Conference 2024 Day 1

We had three good sessions at the Westminster Conference at our new venue in Islington, North London today. I chaired the first session when Stephane Simonnin gave an excellent paper on The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) A brief historical overview.

In the paper, Stephane did three things - set out the context for the council and explained why it was convened; gave an overview of the council itself – its proceedings and the creed that it produced; outlined the achievements and limits of the creed.

Finally, he drew out two practical applications for today 

1. We need to recognise the need for extra biblical words to define Scriptural doctrines. Athanasius was very clear on this point in his important work on the defence of the Nicene definition (De Decretis). He narrates the debates at the council and shows clearly why the Nicene fathers were forced to use a non-Scriptural term (ὁμοουσιον) to bring to light their opponents’ unscriptural teaching: "The council Fathers wished … to use the acknowledged words of Scripture... But Eusebius and his fellows, led by their incurable heresy, understood the phrase “from God” as belonging to us, as if the word of God differed nothing from us, because it is written “there is one god from whom are all things etc.” The Fathers, perceiving how cunning they were, had no choice but to express more distinctly the sense of the words “from God”. Accordingly, they wrote “from the essence of God” in order that “from God” might not be considered common and equal in the sons and in beings originate..."

The challenge that the Council Fathers faced is perfectly summed up by R. P. C. Hanson in his classic work: “The theologians of the Christian Church slowly realized that the deepest questions which face Christianity cannot be answered in purely biblical language, because the questions are about the meaning of biblical language itself.”

It is clear that the church fathers used terms of Greek philosophy to construct a coherent doctrine of the Trinity. These concepts were put to good use to defend and explain the data of Scripture. This is something that modern evangelicals may be uncomfortable with but this is a reality.

2. The value of creeds and confessions and the danger of “biblicism”. This is particularly relevant today as many in the reformed world are encouraging us to critically reappropriate pre-modern exegesis and church creeds. “Sola Scriptura” means that Scripture is the supreme authority, not that it is the only authority. This is an important reminder for evangelical Christians today. Those who argue that they want “no creed but the Bible” fail to recognise that what unites the church, and what unites a local church, is not Scripture but the way Scripture is understood; hence the need for creeds and confessions.

Stephane ended appropriately with a quote from D Martyn Lloyd-Jones. The Doctor comments on the early church creeds as follows: “The whole purpose of the creeds drawn up by the Christian Church, together with every confession of faith was to enable people to see and to think clearly. Do you think the early Fathers did that sort of thing simply because they enjoyed doing it? Not at all; it was done for a most practical reason. Truth must be defined and safeguarded, otherwise people will walk off into error. So, if we object to doctrine, it is not surprising if we do not see things clearly, it is not surprising if we are unhappy and miserable.”

*

I took the second session on The Salters Hall Debates of 1719. By way of application I spoke about

1. Doctrinal orthodoxy and freedom of conscience. To some the debates were about freedom of conscience, while to others it was all about doctrinal orthodoxy. Somehow we must learn to hold these two in balance.

2. Throwing off the radical tag. For others the concern was for Dissenters to throw off their reputation for being political and religious radicals. By subscribing to accepted confessions and creeds this was demonstrated.

3. The biblical teaching on the Trinity. The story raises the question of whether congregations today are taught the doctrine of the Trinity and how this should be done. If the doctrine of the Trinity is true then it needs to be taught and we need to be clear on how to do that.

4. The place of creeds. Historically, creeds and confessions have arisen out of controversy. From time to time the existence of heterodox teaching has prompted believers to define and declare what is true, biblical doctrine. Those who agree with the Subscribers would argue that confessions provide a pattern of sound teaching (2 Tim 1:13) by which to communicate true, biblical doctrine and oppose false doctrine.

5. The sufficiency of Scripture and how we understand it. Peter Shepherd and others have pointed out that Salters' Hall raises the matter of the sufficiency of Scripture. If it is sufficient, do its doctrines need to be bolstered by creeds and confessions?

6. The importance of systematic theology. The debate points, it can be argued, to the importance of systematic theology, the discipline that makes use of the entire Bible to discover doctrines about biblical topics, such as the Trinity. By looking at all passages that pertain to any given topic, it provides a framework within which our study of the Bible can be carried out.

*

At the third and final session Brad Franklin (above) spoke on Bunyan's Greatheart. His headings were

1. Pastor, you are a conductor of pilgrims to the celestial city

2. Pastor, be tender with your sheep

3. Pastor, fight for your sheep

4. Pastor, be a man

5. Pastor, help them through the valley of the shadow of death (Yea, for aught I could perceive, they continually gave so good heed to the advice of their guide, and he did so faithfully tell them of dangers, and of the nature of the dangers when they were at them, that usually, when they were nearest to them, they did most pluck up their spirits, and hearten one another to deny the flesh.)

6. Pastor, lean into your co-labourers

A version of this talk can be found here.

Evangelical Library Lecture Samuel Davies Part 2

Last Monday I gave the second part of my zoom lectue on Samuel Davies and his trip to this country in 1754. Even though I was only trying to deal with half the trip, the part that took him outside London, it was still beyond me and we had to give a rather scrappy account of the East Anglian leg of the journey. Hopefully there was something there for the 20-30 who tuned in. It should be on our Evangelical Library YouTube channel soon and I will endeavour to publish much of the two lectures in In Writing. This extract covers part of his time in Northampton

On August 9 Davies rode to Northampton. Conscious that Doddridge had ministered here Davies felt the town now had a desolate and melancholy look. “The dear remembrance of him engaged my tender thoughts as I rode along, and threw me into pensive melancholy. How much has my mission suffered by his death! I think I never felt such friendly sensations towards an entire stranger.” He called on Doddridge's successor, Robert Gilbert (1708-1760) but found him in company. In conversing with Gilbert the next day, he found there was but little prospect of success for fundraisers in Northampton, the people being lately put to very great expense about their own affairs. He visited the illustrious James Hervey (1714-1758), rector at nearby Weston Favell, and spent most of the day in endearing conversation with him. He notes “I have observed that when I have contracted personal acquaintance with great authors, they have seldom answered the idea I had formed of them from their writings but Hervey greatly exceeded it. The spirit of devotion animates his conversation and the greatest modesty and delicacy of imagination adorns it. The Scriptures are his favourite topic and he charms one with his remarks upon their beauties. He also frequently throws out some pertinent quotation from the Latin and Greek classics, of which he is an excellent master. Blessed be God that there is such a man on this guilty globe.” On the Sunday, Davies preached in Doddridge's pulpit. “The sight of his monument with a very significant inscription, struck my mind with uncommon energy.” The congregation had decreased since Doddridge's death though Davies was not aware that Gilbert preached anything different. He drank tea with Doddridge's widow, “for whom I found a greater friendship than I could decently express.” He was prevailed upon to preach in the evening (Isaiah 66:2). Many gave him the warmest expression of their satisfaction and seemed quite revived. He spent the rest of the evening in conversation with Gilbert (“naturally grave and reserved”) and his assistant, William Warburton.

The next soom lecture will be Dr Densham on Calvin and worship on February 26

A Warm Invitation To All

 

New book now out

 

My new book on The priesthood of all believers is now out. Available here.

Just for Fun

 

Carey Conference 2023 Day 2

Our second day, the only full day, began with a prayer meeting led by Andrew Lolley. We then had two morning sessions, first from Bill James and then from Andrew Roycroft from N Ireland. Bill took us this time to Romans 8 and wht he called the resurretion hope and the cosmic hope, concluding with our sure and certain hope. There was a lot in this paper about the world to come, which can be a controversial subject, which perhaps lessened the impact of the firdt message the evening before, though not all would agree. I loved the way Bill ended with a passage from Pilgrim's Progress

The pilgrims then – especially Christian - began to despond in their minds; and looked this way and that, but no way could be found by them by which they might escape the river. Then they asked the men if the waters were all of a depth? They said, "No"; yet they could not help them in that case, for said they, "you shall find it deeper or shallower as you believe in the King of the place." 

They then addressed themselves to the water; and entering, Christian began to sink. And crying out to his good friend, Hopeful, he said, "I sink in deep waters, the billows go over my head; all his waves go over me."

Then said the other, "Be of good cheer, my brother; I feel the bottom, and it is good." Then said Christian, "Ah! my friend, the sorrows of death have compassed me about; I shall not see the land that flows with milk and honey. And with that a great darkness and horror fell upon Christian, so that he could not see before him; also here he, in great measure, lost his senses, so that he could neither remember nor orderly talk of any of those sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way of his pilgrimage. But all the words that he spake still tended to discover that he had horror of mind, and hearty fears that he should die in that river, and never obtain entrance in at the gate; here also, as they that stood by perceived, he was much in the troublesome thoughts of the sins that he had committed, both since and before he began to be a pilgrim. 'Twas also observed that he was troubled with apparitions of hobgoblins and evil spirits; for ever and anon he would intimate so much by words. Hopeful, therefore, here had much ado to keep his brother's head above water; yea, sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then ere awhile he would rise up again half dead. Hopeful also would endeavour to comfort him, saying, "Brother, I see the gate, and men standing by it to receive us." But Christian would answer, "'Tis you, 'tis you they wait for; you have been hopeful ever since I knew you." "And so have you," said he to Christian. "Ah, brother," said he, "surely, if I was right, he would now arise to help me; but, for my sins, he hath brought me into the snare, and hath left me." Then said Hopeful, "My brother, you have quite forgot the text where it is said of the wicked, 'There are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm; they are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men'.

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Psalm 73:4, 5

These troubles and distresses that you go through in these waters are no sign that God hath forsaken you; but are sent to try you, whether you will call to mind that which heretofore you have received of his goodness, and live upon him in your distresses." 

Then I saw in my dream that Christian was as in a muse awhile, to whom also Hopeful added this word, "Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole "; and with that Christian brake out with a loud voice, "Oh, I see him again! and he tells me, 'When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee'". 

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2 

Then they both took courage, and the enemy was after that as still as a stone, until they were gone over. Christian therefore presently found ground to stand upon; and so it followed that the rest of the river was but shallow. Thus they got over.

In the second session of the morning Andrew Roycroft "laid the table" as he put it for two talks on conversion. He observed that conversion is a doctrine under threat - a societal threat with a colonial caveat and some internal weakening among believers, who have often disembodied the doctrine or educated without exhorting. He also spoke of the benefits of conversion, including benefits biblical, social, generational and pastoral. He helpfully remiinded us of that observation by Don Carson that "when one generation believes something. The next assumes it. And the third will forget and deny it."

At the same time there was a parallel stream for women led by Julia Jones. There seem to be less women this year maybe.

We then had the afternoon free before reconvening at five for a reports session focussing mainly on work overseas. Robert Strivens chaired and seven men spoke.

• First, Daryl Jones on the work of GBM (more here).
• Then Michael Robinson who, with his wife Ariette, has been a lifelong missionary in De Panne, Belgium. See here.
• Andrew Colclough then spoke of the extensive work of SGA (more here).
• Oliver Allmand-Smith then drew our attention to another part of the world - Africa and the African Pastors Conferences, which to some degree has grown out of the Carey Conference/Reformation Today nexus. Their website is here.
• Martin Tatham then spoke about EMF, the mission Michael Robinson is associated with, with an understandable emphasis on the work in Ukraine. See here. 
• Julian Hirst from Milnrow then spoke of the work of our good friends in Carcassonne. See here.
• The final speaker was Tim Gardner, a home missionary, who is an evangelist with Hayes Lane Baptist Church in Bexley but who also works with other Baptist Churches in the London area.

It was my opportunity to preach again in the evening from 2 Kings 5. As on the previous evening this was preceded by a dip into the 1689 Confession. I got on well and was immediately tempted to feel proud, which can't be right. Anyway, I am very thankful for the opportunity. Sir Walter Scott the novelist wrote "Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive." Worth thinking about.

Carey Conference 2023 Day 1

What a joy to be back in Swanwick after the break for the Carey Conference. I drove up with Bill James, the principal of London Seminary and his son-in-law, Daniel Norman, a student at the seminary. About a hundred are here with some day visitors.

It is a long tradition to begin with a biographical paper and Ray Trainer spoke first on William Ward (1769–1823) who died two hundred years ago this March. The printer and preacher and one time radical was one of the Serampore trio with Carey and Marshman. Ray ably took us through Ward's historical context, life and character ("In point of zeal he is a Luther and I am Erasmus" wrote Carey) ending with two lessons or challenges - the continuing need to make the gospel known where it is not yet known and the importance of Christian unity (Ward, unlike Carey and Marshman, believed in open not strict communion).

After a cuppa and time to chat we had the first fo three papers by our main speaker Bill James. Bill is to take us through Romans, looking at the subject of rejoicing in hope. We began in Romans 5 looking at the vision, vindication and victory of God. This was very uplifting and encouraging stuff. I enjpyed the reminder from Michael Allen that we must avoid "forgetting that the best news of Christian bliss is not newness but nearness".

After dinner in the evening it was my own great privilege to speak from 2 Kings 5 on Naaman and his wife's servant girl (a rich man with a problem and a poor girl with faith). Luke Jenner chaired. (He was born, it turns out, the year I came to Childs Hill!). We looked at a rich Gentile man called Naaman with everything going for him but for one thing and a nameless poor Jewish girl with nothing going for her but full of faith and used by God. It went quite well I hope. Here's a quotation from Matthew Henry “Every man has some but or other in his character, something that blemishes and diminishes him, some allay to his grandeur, some damp to his joy; he may be very happy, very good, yet, in something or other, not so good ... nor ... happy as he would be. Naaman was as great as the world could make him ... yet ... the basest slave ... would not change skins”.

Aber Conference 2022 Session 5

It was my great privilege to be the preacher last night here in Aber. I preached on John  3 and it went off okay. You just hope someone has come to the Lord. You can hear it here.

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.

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)

Gracelife Summer Institute 2019 Day 4

The final day of the Steadfast Conference at Grace Life was a bit different in some ways. The first session featured Rick Holland on 1 Peter 2 and the call to be aliens and strangers in this world. Excellent. This was followed by an impromptu prayer time before the break. I then spoke on The Great Ejection 1662. I looked at three men - Thomas Manton, Joseph Alleine and Philip Henry - and mentioned others. That seemed the best way to go at it. The message was appreciated by many. I spoke afterwards to a Dan Pugh who told me about a new documentary he has filmed with Philip H Eveson on Henry's son Matthew. See here for more. After lunch Phil Johnson spoke from Hebrews 10:21 on the powerful, penetrating and precise Word of God. I was always taught that the verse referred to the preached Word which was implied though not stated. Interestingly Owen saw it as a reference to Christ the incarnate Word. Paul Washer then spoke in his typical forthright way. Then came a question panel, which I was involved in. I seemed slightly out of kilter with the others but may be that is just my perception. Over all I felt in line with these men although may be there was a fundamentalist and premillennial message in there that I would find hard to fully sign up to. I missed the last session of the conference as I needed to back home. What a privilege to have sat with these men of God and to have heard them and to have met so many believers present to hear. A great foru days. Next year it will be on the church.

My DNA

Probably need to click to see this

Freak Alley, Boise

Fun in Aberystwyth

We had a picture like this at home. I've long liked the idea.

Eat your heart out Uber

My youngest reads me a story

Famous (again)

I found this recently on IMDb. In 1967 I was only 8 so a little young for the part.

(Click on pic if necessary).

Ooops!

Don't cross the road using your 'phone