Chapters 8, 9 & 10

I should have posted this much earlier, but like you have been extremely busy. By now you should be through with these chapters; however, I thought I should not skip them in case someone wanted to comment. A couple of thoughts on each Chapter for me;

8-Exhortations To Speedy Repentance

"Be as speedy in your repentance as you would have God speedy in his mercies." pg 86 Wow, How much mercy and applied quickly from God do I expect?
9-The trial of our Repentance, and Comfort for the Penitent
The chapter on Necessary Caution, pg 96 is great. I noted outside of it "Outward sign?" and in my review read the chapter again. Watson here makes the point not to put too much emphasis on Repentance as the Catholics have in making it a sacrament. (remember, we have two ordinances commanded in the Bible, 1.Baptism. 2. The Lord's Supper). This chapter is a great reminder of the blood of Christ. It is not repentance that saves us. Not baptism, not communion, not membership, not a "good" life nor anything else you could claim on judgement day. If you try to claim something other than Christ crucified Hell is guaranteed.  I highly recommend you go back and re-read this chapter.

10.-The Removing of the Impediments to Repentance.

Pg. 104 #9 the next impediment of repentance is fear of reproach. This was so timely last week. I have a friend going through this. He called seeking counsel about old friends running him down for changing his life and not being accessible to them anymore. The very next day I read this chapter. For people that don't believe God speaks, they neither read His word or Godly men He has appointed for our instruction.

In summary, you may be through with the book. I finished up this morning, but did not want to leave these chapters out. I will post next week on Chapters 11 & 12. Thanks again for taking the time and effort to grow in the Doctrines of our Faith.

Chapters 6 & 7 Exhortation and Motives

Vickie and I were talking and she expressed the difficulty in reading and comprehending Old English. I find it poetic, she finds it laborious. Let me encourage you to stick it out. The reason most good Seminaries will have there students read these same classics is because of the knowledge and understanding that can be gained on Doctrinal issues. If you read our first book in this series, The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul, and now this one you are in a very small crowd of learners. Walk up to an average Church goer and ask if they have read either book. If you get a yes he/she probably has a doctoral degree in theology. And here again, there is a reason Seminaries and colleges require it. So let me exhort you and thank you for hanging in there. I have yet to read any of the books in the Christian Classics category and come away thinking that was a waste of time.

For some real exhortation, Chapter 6 is loaded. I haven't got to 7 yet but will and comment later. P.S. The image is not the type exhortation Watson has in mind....I think.