In Writing 137

The latest issue of the Evangelical Library Magazine In Writing is now available from the Library. It features an excellent article article by Dr Robert Strivens on Stephen Charnock and the doctrine of God.

Another fine lunch time lecture at the Library

We had another excellent lecture in our lunch time series today on Zoom, It was most gratifying to see some 45 screens or so tuned in. The lecture was from Dr Robert Strivens on Stephen Charnock and his massive work on the Doctrine of the Nature and Attributes of God. It was a  very helpful and stimulating survey and we are very thankful to Robert for his good services. This is the second lecture of the current series, the previous one being from Norman Hopkins on the missionary Alfred Saker. Audio copies can be obtained from the Library. We hope to reproduce a text version of today in the next In Writing. The third and final one of the series will be from myself on the fascinating Robert "Troublechurch" Browne on March 22. Do contact the Library nearer the date for the details of how to log on. Apologies to anyone not able to log on for today's one. PS The Library is currently closed.

PS The lecture is also available on DVD at £5 (There are slides, you don't have to look at Robert all the while!)

Westminster 07 E F

The afternoon session of the second day at the Westminster Conference was also on a theological tome. This time a younger man, Jeremy Walker, took us through some works found in the fourth volume of Puritan Stephen Charnock (1628-1680) namely A Discourse of the Knowledge of God and especially A Discourse of the Knowledge of God in Christ where Charnock ties everything to knowing God in Christ. A tour de force of the relevant texts these works were summarised, sometimes densely but always lucidly, and prepared the way for a profitable discussion of the subject. It followed on in part from the morning session. The contributions of other Puritans, such as Sibbes and Manton and Owen were also brought in. Charnock is orthodox and unoriginal but more thorough going in this area than others. What David Clarkson is willing to leave as a hint Charnock takes up and runs with.

Mr Walker helpfully concluded with some application in the area of worship, orthodox trinitarianism, the traditional approach to theology proper, true godliness and comfort for this life and the next.

A school concert precluded me from hearing all but the very start of the final paper from conference secretary John Harris on the preaching of Newton. He began with Newton's sermons from texts in Handel's Messiah and then for his first point looked at his call. An interesting draft transcription of the journal he kept on this matter can be found here. Newton was not a great preacher it seems so it was perhaps an odd subject for consideration. Many of us had also had a good slice of Newton on the Monday before.

Westminster Conference 2007

The truth shall make you free

The details of this year's Westminster Conference have just come through my letter box - ah, the letter box. Remeber the halcyon days of two posts and everything by letter?

For those of you not on the mailing list, the details are as follows.

It’s on Tuesday/Wednesday 11th-12th December at Friend’s House, 173 Euston Rd, London, opposite Euston Station. The cost is £35 (£20 for full-time students).

The programme is:

Tuesday 11th December

11.00 The Clapham Sect and the Abolition of Slavery - Roger Fay
14.00 Charles Wesley and his Hymns - Graham Harrison (I'm chairing this one)
16.45 Preaching - “ex opere operato” - Robert Strivens

Wednesday 12th December

11.00 Turretin and the place of Systematic Theology - Maurice Roberts
14.00 Stephen Charnock and the Knowledge of God in Christ - Jeremy Walker
16.45 The Preaching of John Newton - John Harris

Further information and booking forms available from John Harris, 8 Back Knowl Rd, Mirfield, W. Yorks, WF14 9SA

The night before an evening with John Newton has been arranged with Brian Edwards and George Curry speaking. The event, appropriately, is at St Mary Woolnoth, EC3 (Bank).