Westminster Conference 2025

So I have spent the last two days at the annual Westminster Conference and thoroughly enjoyed it. We are now well settled inSt Giles Christian Mission, strange as it seemd to be there away from centrl London the first time we did it. We tried something new this year. Normally most of the papers are followed by discussion time but this year on day one we had most of the diiscussion at the end of the day after the three papers had been given. This was only a partial success, among the problems being that speakers tended to produce over long papers, despite their best efforts. We kicked off with Mark Thomas on the Puritans and original sin - a solid and useful paper, quite demanding to listen to. Then Paul Levy took us through Machen's magisterial Virgin Birth of Christ. The third paper was from Donald J MacLean on the temptation of Christ from Thomas Manton but ending with Hodge and Shedd. Jeremy Walker led the discussion but it was hard to focus anywhere.

Day 2 was more traditional with Andy Young on the active obedience of Christ, covering pretty uncharted territory regarding Karh, Piscator et al. We then had a marathon from Sinclair Ferguson on Samuel Rutherford. We closed, in contrast, with a fresh, very lively and brief life of Athansius given by Gavin Kinnaird. Great numbers resnet. We meet again next year, God willing, around the same time.

Westminster Conference 2025

The programme for next year has been announced (the order may change)

1. The Puritans on the temptation of Christ - Donald John McLean

2. The Puritans and the orgin of sin - Mark Thomas

3. The development of the doctrine of active obedience - Andy Young

4. How to delight in Christ with Samuel Rutherford - Sinclair Ferguson

5. Machen and the virgin birth of Christ - Paul Levy

6. Athanasius - Gavin Kinnaird

Do plan to come!

10 Pictures From Annie Ross Cousin Via Samuel Rutherford

The sands of times are sinking was composed by Annie Ross Cousin drawing on material in Rutherford's latters. Focusing on the verses ususally sung we can see at least 10 pictures used to help us think of life and glory and our passage from one to the other.

1. Sand in an hour glass slowly sinking. The sands of time are sinking
2. A long dark night followed by a bright summer day. The dawn of heaven breaks The summer morn I've sighed for The fair, sweet morn awakes Dark, dark hath been the midnight But dayspring is at hand
3. Hazy glimpses of glory then seeing the King's unveiled glory. The King there in His beauty Without a veil is seen
4. A sometimes hazardous journey to a wonderful destination. It were a well spent journey Though sev'n deaths lay between
5. Finally, beholding the Lamb and his army. The Lamb with His fair army Doth on Mount Zion stand
6. Thirsting on earth, thirst scarcely quenched, then beholding the fountain or well of God's love. O Christ, He is the fountain The deep, deep well of love The streams on earth I've tasted More deep I'll drink above There to an ocean fullness His mercy doth expand
7. The weaving of a tapestry. With mercy and with judgment My web of time He wove And always dews of sorrow Were lustered with His love
8. Coming to the throne in the will and plan of God. I'll bless the hand that guided I'll bless the heart that planned When throned where glory dwelleth
9. A poor, vile person brought into a house of wine. Oh, I am my Beloved's And my Beloved's mine He brings a poor, vile sinner Into His house of wine I stand upon His merit I know no other stand
10. A bride seeing her bridegroom, about to be married. The bride eyes not her garments But her dear Bridegroom's face I will not gaze at glory But on my King of grace Not at the crown He giveth But on His pierced hand

Rutherford on Providence

Rutherford to Lady Kenmure, as quoted by Alistair Begg.

Madam, when you are come to the other side of the water, and have set down your foot on the shore of glorious eternity, and look back again to the waters, and to your wearisome journey, and shall see in that clear glass of endless glory nearer to the bottom of God's wisdom, you shall then be forced to say, “If God had done otherwise with me than he hath done, I had never come to the enjoying of this crown of glory.”

A provocative theological question and answer

Unidentified painter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Writing to his fellow minister David Dickson from exile in Aberdeen in 1637 the great Samuel Rutherford asked a provocative question (and gave a provocative answer) at the end of his letter. He writes

 

... I have now made a new question, whether Christ be more to be loved for giving sanctification or for free justification? And I hold that he is more and most to be loved for sanctification. It is in some respect greater love in him, to sanctify, than to justify; for he maketh us most like himself, in his own essential portraiture and image in sanctifying us. Justification doth but make us lappy, which is to be like angels only; neither is it such a misery to lye a condemned man, and under unforgiven guiltiness, as to serve sin, and work the works of the Devil; and, therefore, I think sanctification cannot be bought, it is above price. God be thanked forever, that Christ was a told-down price for sanctification. Let a sinner (if possible) lye in hell forever, if he make him truly holy, and let him lye there burning in love to God, rejoicing in the Holy Ghost, hanging upon Christ by faith and hope; that is heaven in the heart and bottom of Hell. ...

10 Biographies of Puritans

1. Henry Smith: England's Silver-tongued Preacher by Ronald B. Jenkins
2. Richard Sibbes by Mark E Dever
3. The life and times of Arthur Hildersham by Leslie A Rowe
4. A life of Gospel Peace: A Biography of Jeremiah Burroughs by Philip Simson
5. John Owen: Prince of Puritans by Andrew Thomson
6. Glimpses of glory: John Bunyan and English Dissent by Richard Greaves
7. Thomas Manton A Guided Tour of the Life and Thought of a Puritan Pastor by Derek Cooper
8. The life and times of the Rev Philip Henry by Matthew Henry
9. Life and death of the Rev Joseph Alleine by Alexander Duff
10. Samuel Rutherford by Andrew Thomson