Films on the plane

During my recent visit to S Africa and back I took advantage of the abundance of films available and watched a few. I enjoyed Bohemian Rhapsody as a simple recap on the seventies with regard to Queen. Can't understand why the surviving members of Queen were willing to have themseves presented as such bozos. They were one of the most popular groups in our class as a teenager. I still remember Bohemian Rhapsody coming out and what a masterpiece it seemed to me to be. 

Sometimes, always, never is a quirky little British film with Bill Nighy and Jenny Agutter that explores grief and sibling rivalry from an odd but charming angle. Green Book has been much talked about and it was good to see what the fuss was. It is a road movie where two highly unlikely characters are thrown together (an Italian American hoodlum and an African American musician with classical training).

Can you ever forgive me? has also been much talked about and is an interesting story based in true events but I find it hard work to enjoy films about horrible people. The fifth film was Mary Queen of Scots. Lots of problems with this - unrealistically positive about Mary, John Knox caricatured (David Tennant!), gratuitous sex scenes, etc. The best bit in the film never happened in reality but that is not such a bad failing in some ways.

10 Men of God called John

Having decided that we would look at three men called John at the Evangelical Library this Autumn I have been trying to recall an anecdote I came across at some time. I now have it. It is from a Spurgeon sermon. He says

I do not think Rowland Hill was at all foolish when he rode over from Cambridge, a distance of thirteen miles, to see an old woman who was on her deathbed. He said, “You are older than I am, but I am getting older, and, even now, I sometimes think they have forgotten me; but in the meantime, since you are going first, take my love to the four great Johns - John who leaned on Jesus’ bosom, and John Bunyan, and John Calvin, and John Knox; take my love to them, and tell them poor old Rowly will be coming by and by.” I have no doubt that the message would have been delivered. I think there is such a connection between earth and heaven that we shall see those who have gone before. How comforting it must be to some aged ones, when they think that though they are taken from that part of the family which remains on earth, they have a larger family circle probably in heaven than here!

So

1. John the Apostle
2. John the Baptist
3. John Chrysostom
4. John Calvin
5. John Knox
6. John Bunyan
7. John Owen
8. John Berridge
9. John Cennick
10. John Murray

(Obvious omissions: John Elias, John Fawcett, John Gill, John Newton, John Ryland, John Sutcliff, John Wesley, John Wycliffe)

John Knox Documentary

KNOX Trailer from Trinity Digital Film on Vimeo.
The November issue of Evangelical Times has a review of the documentary on Knox from Trinity Digital trailed above.

Knox is a documentary produced by Murdo MacLeod, marking the five hundredth anniversary of the birth of the influential Scots Reformer, John Knox, which occurred some time around 1514.

The documentary is presented in a manner that we have grown used to. Philip Todd, the film's youthful presenter (in dark jeans, loose narrow tie, open velvet collared Chesterfield coat and leather gloves) moves from location to location (Edinburgh, Perth, St Andrews, Stirling, Berwick, Geneva, etc) telling Knox's story from his birth to his death and beyond. This is interspersed with a number of talking heads (ministers and academics such as Rev Maurice Roberts, Professor John McIntosh and Knox biographer Jane Dawson), cartoon images backed with actors reading the actual words of Knox (Stuart Falconer) and others plus a sprinkling of other appropriate images ancient and modern. Throughout, music (Charlie Wilkins) and other audio is used to enhance the presentation.

It is all done to a high standard, although Amanda Aiken's cartoons are not really up to the standard one could desire. (This is the point where the senior youth group start to snigger, if they get to see it). The documentary has, understandably, a very Scottish feel, which may limit its use in some places. Far from being a hagiography, it seeks rather to give a rounded picture.

The chief aim of the documentary appears to be to give us clear and accurate history but from time to time some of the talking heads make statements that are no doubt intended to encourage true faith in Christ and to challenge believers today. Such instruction comes over in the quotations from Knox too.

In the final section the conviction is very clearly expressed that Scotland needs a new Reformation. The final words are those of Knox himself calling on us to know God, to be faithful and to seek blessing for Scotland. It is encouraging to know that such materials are being made.

Authentic Calvinism

The printed lectures for the 2014 Westminster Conference are now available. They are on Thomas Charles, John Knox, Richard Baxter, etc. See here.

10 Good men not made bishops

1. John Knox c1514-1572 (... Dudley, who saw Knox as a useful political tool, offered him the bishopric of Rochester. Knox refused, and he returned to Newcastle ....)

2. Bernard Gilpin 1517-1583 (... When the Roman Catholic bishop was deprived in 1560 he was offered the see of Carlisle; but he declined this honour ....)

3. Thomas Sampson c 1517-1589 (... he wrote again, signifying that a bishopric had been offered him, but he had refused to accept it; for which, he desired Peter Martyr not to censure him, till he became acquainted with the whole matter. He rejoiced that Parkhurst was made Bishop of Norwich. And Norwich, it seems, was the bishopric offered to him. This illustrious divine, therefore, refused the offered preferment, because he was thoroughly dissatisfied with the episcopal office, the popish habits, and the superstitious ceremonies .... see here)
4. John Rainolds 1549-1607 (... So contented was Rainolds himself with his position, and so ‘temperate,’ according to Wood, ‘were his affections,’ that he declined a bishopric which was offered to him by Queen Elizabeth .... see here)

5. Daniel Cawdry 1588-1664 (... At the Restoration he was recommended to Lord Clarendon for a bishopric. Instead he refused to submit to the Acts of Uniformity 1662, and was ejected ...)
6. Edmund Calamy 1600-1666 (... He was assiduous in promoting the return of Charles II, travelling to the Netherlands as one of the negotiators. After the Restoration in 1660 he was offered the bishopric of Coventry and Lichfield, but declined it ....)

7. Robert Baillie 1602-1662 (... He was, by Lauderdale’s interest, made Principal of the College of Glasgow, upon the removal of Mr Patrick Gillespie. About which time, it is commonly said that he had a bishopric offered him, but that he refused it ... see here)

8. Richard Baxter 1615-1691 ( ... He had been made a king's chaplain, and was offered the Bishopric of Hereford, but he could not accept the offer without assenting to things as they were. After his refusal, he was not allowed, even before the passing of the Act of Uniformity, to be a curate in Kidderminster ...)

9. Joseph Hill 1625–1707 (do not confuse with Joseph Hill 1667-1739 ... In London he went to Charles, who rewarded him for his pamphlet with a sinecure, and tried the offer of a bishopric if he conformed ....)

10. John Stott (... There was talk of his becoming Bishop of Manchester, but the Dean and Chapter took fright and nothing came of it ... see here)
Quotations from Wikipedia where not otherwise indicated)

Westminster Conference 2014 Day 2

Dr Robert Strivens on his feet (back to us) to ask a question following the paper by Dr Mark Jones (seated). Chairman Jeremy Walker stands pensive while Phil Arthur looks on (in profile). We can also see the backs of the heads of Gavin Beers and Dr Robert Oliver.

Yesterday was good but today was, if anything, even better. Numbers were perhaps slightly lower but 120 have attended, most of them on both days. The Oxford Street venue is proving ideal.

Today we had three excellent papers. Mark Jones kicked us off with his paper on the law, dealing with antinomianism (do see his book on the subject). Robert Strivens then gave an excellent overview paper on the enigmatic but godly Richard Baxter, author of 60 volumes. Both papers were followed by good discussion times well chaired by Jeremy Walker and Ken Brownell. In the Baxter session we discussed why we think N T Wright is much more dangerous than Richard Baxter, whose view of justification was defective. The final paper is traditionally a biography with no discussion and Andy Young of Cheltenham served us well in this respect with a well nuanced paper on the great John Knox concentrating on his international career. These papers would be well worth reading when published next year.

• Mark Jones (in his book page 114) “There is today a great deal of talk about ‘grace.’  It is described as scandalous, liberating, shocking, counterintuitive, unpredictable, dangerous, etc.  But when an emphasis on grace eclipses a focus on Christ, as it sometimes does, then grace is not being preached; rather, a sort of cheerleading experience takes place, in which very little is actually said about grace because it is divorced from the riches of Christ’s person and work”.
• Richard Baxter (Christian Directory) Becasue God hath made the excellent, holy writings of servants, the singular blessing of this land and age; and many an one may have a good book, even any day or hour of the week, that cannot at all have a good preacher; I advise all God's servants to be thankful for so great a mercy, and to make use of it, and be much in reading; for reading with most doth more conduce to knowledge than hearing doth, because you may choose what subjects and the most excellent treatises you please; and maybe often at it, and may peruse again and again what you forget, and may take time as you go to fix it on your mind: and with very many it doth more Than hearing also to move the heart, though hearing of itself, in this hath the advantage ... lively books may be more easily had than lively preachers.
• John Knox - "Grant unto us, O Lord, that with such reverence we may remember thy benefits received, that, after this, in our default, we never enter into hostility against the realm and nation of England. Suffer us never, O Lord, to fall to that ingratitude and detestable unthankfulness, that we should seek the destruction and death of those whom thou hast made instruments to deliver us from the tyranny of merciless strangers. Dissipate thou the counsels of such as deceitfully travail to stir the hearts of the inhabitants of either realm against the other. Let their merciless practices be their own confusion; and grant thou, of thy mercy, that love, concord, and tranquillity, may continue and increase amongst the inhabitants of this isle, even to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whose glorious gospel, thou, of thy mercy, dost call us both to unity, peace, and christian concord, the full perfection whereof we shall possess in the fulness of thy kingdom." (Old Scottish liturgy)

We are due to meet again December 1 and 2, 2015 when papers will be given, God willing,  on  Erasmus, Isaac Watts, John Owen (2), Andrew Fuller and Jonathan Edwards. The new website can be found here.

Bitesize Farel and Knox

Another two biographies in the bitesize series cover the Reformers Farel (1489-1565) and Knox (1514-1572). These two biographies stick to the remit quite well, the latter written by a retired pastor (John J Murray) and the former by an academic.

There are eight chapters on Farel, the eighth being an assessment looking at his character and mission; Scripture, God's will and true righteousness, the Sacraments and his spirituality. The book does well to show that Farel was an important figure in his own right even though he was clearly not of the stature of Calvin. It made me want to hunt out the brief theology he wrote and look at it again. The style is fine although certain sentences read like bad translations. Was it translated from French by its Canadian author, Jason Zuidema?

No problems of that sort in John J Murray's fine survey of the life of Knox. Slightly shorter, perhaps, it has 12 chapters, the final one being on the Knox legacy and noting that he was the man for the hour, impelled by the fear of God, a preacher of God's Word, a Reformer by conviction, one who made Geneva the model for Scotland, who laid foundations for the future state and who made Scotland over I his own image. It is good to be reading about Knox in this anniversary year and with the Scots voting next Autumn too. (Steve Lawrence's contributions in the Banner are good too).

The Farel paperback has a glossy cover for some reason. All the rest are in matt. 

Reading the Bible K

[D]ear brethren, if you look for a life to come, of necessity it is that you exercise yourselves in the book of the Lord your God. Let no day slip or want some comfort received from the mouth of God. Open your ears, and he will speak even pleasant things to your heart. Close not your eyes, but diligently let them behold what portion of substance is left to you within your Father's testament. Let your tongues learn to praise the gracious goodness of him, whose mere mercy has called you from darkness to life. Neither yet may you do this so quietly that you admit no witness. No, Brethren, you are ordained of God to rule your own houses in his true fear, and according to his word. Within your houses, I say, in some cases, you are bishops and kings; your wife, children, servants, and family are your bishopric and charge. Of you it shall be required how carefully and diligently you have instructed them in God's true knowledge, how you have studied to plant virtue in them, and repress vice. And therefore I say, you must make them partakers in reading, exhorting, and in making common prayers, which I would in every house were used once a day at least. But above all things, dear brethren, study to practice in life that which the Lord commands, and then be you assured that you shall never hear nor read the same without fruit. And this much for the exercises within your homes.

John Knox (in a public letter written to Scotland from Genbeva in 1557)