The glory of earthly kingdoms is seen through displays of grandeur. The majesty of the kingdom of God is displayed in the humility of his subjects. Thomas Goodwin wrote:

As the kingdom of Jesus Christ is not of this world, neither is the majesty of His kingdom. Therefore, it is not the heaping up of riches, learning, worldly respect and authority that advances this majesty, but endeavoring to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15). It is by holy living, by living as Christ would if He were here. It is to be merciful as He is merciful; kind, faithful, and true as He is; pardoning injuries as He does; and purifying yourselves as He is pure. In a word (as you have it in 1 John 4:17), it is demeaning yourselves here as God would if he were in the world.
   Therefore, do not think you cannot advance the majesty of the Lord because of the your poor outward condition; that is, because you are poor, condemned, despised, and not regarded in the world. For Christ was all these, and yet the majesty of the Lord appeared in Him, of which Peter says they were eyewitnesses (2 Peter 1:16). In all these conditions, you may approve yourself to the consciences of men, as Christ did. You may be poor, but if you keep your sincerity and do not use deceitful, base, and unlawful mean, but walk faithfully in your calling, manifest that you live by faith and depend on God, and show a contentment in your condition, and that you live a more comfortable life by the help of faith, delighting yourself in the Almighty, that those that have the most abundance, the majesty of the Lord will appear more in you that in a professor who glistens more in the world with regard to outward things.

—Thomas Goodwin, A Habitual Sight of Him: The Christ-Centered Piety of Thomas Goodwin, (Reformation Heritage Books, 2009), 101–102.

This is another very familiar hymn. Surely you all know it — or at least, some version of it. I don’t know if there is another hymn of which the verses have been disassembled and rearranged more than this one. As usual, this is the Concordia version. I’m sure you will find discrepancies between this and yours.

31 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing,
   Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
   Call for songs of loudest praise.
While the hope of endless glory
   Fills my heart with joy and love,
Teach me ever to adore Thee,
   May I still Thy goodness prove.

Here I raise my Ebenezer,
   Here by Thy great help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
   Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
   Wand’ring from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
   Interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor,
   Daily I’m constrained to be;
Let Thy grace now, like a fetter,
   Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
   Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
   Seal it for Thy courts above.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

I have nothing to offer today but a chance to acquire some antique books and improve my financial condition. The books in question can be seen here with full descriptions and high-resolution photos. One set is already listed on eBay, and the others will be up this evening. With publishing dates from 1810 to 1880, the age of these books ranges from 130–200 years old.

• The History of Protestantism by J. A. Wylie
• The History of Protestantism, Volume 2 only
• The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul by Philip Doddridge
• The History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century by J. H. Merle D’Aubigne

Spread the word, if you don’t mind, or place a bid yourself. Thank you very much.

Lest anyone be moved to pity for me, I have nicer copies of all of these remaining on my shelves. You can’t have them.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Hymn XXXI.
Ask what I shall give thee. I. Kings iii. 5.
John Newton (1725–1807)

Come, my soul, thy suit prepare,
Jesus loves to answer pray’r,
He himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay.

Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For his grace and pow’r are such,
None can ever ask too much.

With my burden I begin,
Lord, remove this load of sin!
Let thy blood, for sinners spilt,
Set my conscience free from guilt.

Lord! I come to thee for rest,
Take possession of my breast;
There thy blood–bought right maintain,
And without a rival reign.

As the image in the glass
Answers the beholder’s face;
Thus unto my heart appear,
Print thine own resemblance there.

While I am a pilgrim here,
Let thy love my spirit cheer;
As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,
Lead me to my journey’s end.

Shew me what I have to do,
Ev’ry hour my strength renew;
Let me live a life of faith,
Let me die thy peoples death.

—from Olney Hymns. Book I: On select Passages of Scripture.

John 14:12–17

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
   15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

   These verses are an example of our Lord’s tender consideration for the weakness of His disciples. He saw them troubled and faint-hearted at the prospect of being left alone in the world. He cheers them by three promises, peculiarly suited to their circumstances. “A word spoken in season, how good is it!”
   We have first in this passage, a striking promise about the works that Christians may do. Our Lord says, “He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”
   The full meaning of this promise is not to be sought in the miracles which the Apostles wrought after Christ left the world. Such a notion seems hardly borne out by facts. We read of no Apostle walking on the water, or raising a person four days dead, like Lazarus. What our Lord has in view seems to be the far greater number of conversions, the far wider spread of the Gospel, which would take place under the ministry of the Apostles, than under his own teaching. This was the case, we know from the Acts of the Apostles. We read of no sermon preached by Christ, under which three thousand were converted in one day, as they were on the day of Pentecost. In short, “greater works” mean more conversions. There is no greater work possible than the conversion of a soul.
   Let us admire the condescension of our Master in allowing to the ministry of His weak servants more success than to His own. Let us learn that His visible presence is not absolutely necessary to the progress of His kingdom. He can help forward His cause on earth quite as much by sitting at the right hand of the Father, and sending forth the Holy Ghost, as by walking to and fro in the world. Let us believe that there is nothing too hard or too great for believers to do, so long as their Lord intercedes for them in heaven. Let us work on in faith, and expect great things, though we feel weak and lonely, like the disciples. Our Lord is working with us and for us, though we cannot see Him. It was not so much the sword of Joshua that defeated Amalek, as the intercession of Moses on the hill. (Ex. xvii. 11.)
   We have, secondly, in this passage, a striking promise about things that Christians may get by prayer. Our Lord says, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do . . . If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.”
   These words are a direct encouragement to the simple, yet great duty of praying. Everyone who kneels daily before God, and from his heart “says his prayers,” has a right to take comfort in these words. Weak and imperfect as his supplications may be, so long as they are put in Christ’s hands, and offered in Christ’s name, they shall not be in vain. We have a Friend at Court, an Advocate with the Father; and if we honor Him by sending all our petitions through Him, He pledges His word that they shall succeed. Of course it is taken for granted that the things we ask are for our souls’ good, and not mere temporal benefits. “Anything” and “whatsoever” do not include wealth, and money, and worldly prosperity. These things are not always good for us, and our Lord loves us too well to let us have them. But whatever is really good for our souls, we need not doubt we shall have, if we ask in Christ’s name.
   How is it that many true Christians have so little? How is it that they go halting and mourning on the way to heaven, and enjoy so little peace, and show so little strength in Christ’s service? The answer is simple and plain. “They have not, because they ask not.” They have little because they ask little. They are no better than they are, because they do not ask their Lord to make them better. Our languid desires are the reason of our languid performances. We are not straitened in our Lord, but in ourselves. Happy are they who never forget the words, “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Ps. lxxxi. 10.) He that does much for Christ, and leaves his mark in the world, will always prove to be one who prays much.
   We have, lastly, in this passage, a striking promise about the Holy Ghost. Our Lord says, “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, . . . even the Spirit of truth.”
   This is the first time that the Holy Ghost is mentioned as Christ’s special gift to His people. Of course we are not to suppose that He did not dwell in the hearts of all the Old Testament saints. But He was given with peculiar influence and power to believers when the New Testament dispensation came in, and this is the special promise of the passage before us. We shall find it useful, therefore, to observe closely the things that are here said about Him.
   The Holy Ghost is spoken of as “a Person.” To apply the language before us to a mere influence or inward feeling, is an unreasonable strain of words.
   The Holy Ghost is called “the Spirit of truth.” It is His special office to apply truth to the hearts of Christians, to guide them into all truth, and to sanctify them by the truth.
   The Holy Ghost is said to be one whom “the world cannot receive and does not know.” His operations are in the strongest sense foolishness to the natural man. The inward feelings of conviction, repentance, faith, hope, fear, and love, which He always produces, are precisely that part of religion which the world cannot understand.
   The Holy Ghost is said to “dwell in” believers, and to be known by them. They know the feelings that He creates, and the fruits that He produces, though they may not be able to explain them, or see at first whence they come. But they all are what they are,—new men, new creatures, light and salt in the earth, compared to the worldly, by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost.
   The Holy Ghost is given to the Church of the elect, “to abide with them” until Christ comes the second time. He is meant to supply all the needs of believers, and to fill up all that is lacking while Christ’s visible presence is removed. He is sent to abide with and help them until Christ returns.
   These are truths of vast importance. Let us take care that we grasp them firmly, and never let them go. Next to the whole truth about Christ, it concerns our safety and peace to see the whole truth about the Holy Ghost. Any doctrine about the Church, the ministry, or the Sacraments, which obscures the Spirit’s inward work, or turns it into mere form, is to be avoided as deadly error. Let us never rest until we feel and know that He dwells in us. “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” (Rom. viii. 9.)

—J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (Baker Books, 2007) [Westminster (PB) | Amazon (HC)].

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sports cause homosexuality.

That’s an odd proposition for someone who has consented to allow cable TV in his house for the sole purpose of watching football (my wife’s vice, not mine) to make, I know. And you probably know I’m speaking hyperbolically (that’s exaggerating to make a point, for the more avid sports fans among you; for WWF fans, it means . . . oh, never mind).

Have you ever wondered why there seems to be a larger percentage of homosexuals (and those you suspect might be) in the arts than in the general population? Well, I am going to tell you why. That is, I’m going to throw out an opinion I’ve come to based on my observations and personal experiences over the years. I have no statistics or expert opinions to support my thesis. Still, I’m convinced I’m right, or I’d keep it to myself. My only unanswered question is, to what degree is this true? In what percentage of cases is this a factor?

Sports do not actually cause homosexuality, or therapeutically confronting the Ghost of Phy.Ed. Past would cure many homosexuals. The cause of homosexuality is the same as that of every sin: the sinfulness of the sinner (James 1:13–15). The cure for every sin is the gospel. Yet there are environmental factors that push our sinfulness in one direction or another. Boys without fathers, for example, are more likely to end up in prison. What I really think is that the place of sports in our society, and the universally understood link between sports and manhood, are contributing factors for some. Boys who do not identify with others of their own sex will identify more with the opposite sex. That is, they will be feminized.

Unless you are someone like me, who has only a limited interest in a couple of sports — so limited that I never bother to watch any of them anymore — and who was born with all the speed and coordination of a kitchen chair with a missing leg, whose top bowling score of 109 represents the absolute zenith of his athletic career, you don’t have a clue what I’m talking about. Let me explain.

I can’t speak for the world, but for Americans, to be a man is to like sports. The nominally male person who doesn’t spend some portion of Sunday afternoon or Monday night watching manly men mannishly manhandling manly men is not a real man. Running into that attitude as an adult hasn’t bothered me much; apathy towards ignorant opinions is one of the greatest privileges of age. As a kid, though, it was an entirely different matter. Try being the boy who would rather read Hardy Boys during recess than play basketball. Or maybe he’d like to play, but he’d rather read than be ridiculed because he can’t dribble and walk (forget running) at the same time. There is something wrong with that boy. He’s a sissy, a wimp, maybe even a fag. He’s going to get into fights after school just for being different. He’s not going to have many friends when “What do you want to do?” is always answered with “Play/watch football.”

And what of his literary — or other artistic — interests? Who is going to recognize and encourage them? His teachers, probably, most of whom are women. A few girls will like him. His parents will encourage him, although his father will always be a little disappointed. So the people with whom he will identify most strongly will be his mostly female teachers, a few girls, and his mother. Why shouldn’t he grow up to be like them? Why wouldn’t he? If no men come into his life who value intellectual pursuits as admirable and manly, what will become of him? You already know my answer — not that they will necessarily become homosexuals (most will not) — but that they will tend towards femininity.

Now, to correct a misconception I might have caused, I do admire physical prowess as a masculine trait. One of the sports I used to enjoy, before it was stolen by cable and pay-per-view, was boxing. I like tennis, and unlike you Monday Night Football neanderthals, I can sit and watch eighteen holes of golf, if I don’t have anything better to do (but I always do). I respect almost any butt-kicking ability. (And don’t get me started about my own former deadly — deadly! — proficiency with firearms of all kinds. We don’t have that kind of time.)

My objection is to the place the physical side of masculinity has been given in our culture. Who is most admired in your local school, the winner of the spelling bee, or the quarterback who took your beloved football team to State? You know the answer without even thinking. Physical prowess is by far the primary measurement of masculinity. Intellectual prowess is valued much lower, if at all. And it’s worse than that. A pot-bellied couch potato with a totally awesome fantasy football team can consider himself more manly than his weird coworker who has nothing sports-related to say around the water cooler, but can quote Shakespeare. A big screen TV and a refrigerator full of Bud Light is manly. A wall full of books, not.

What will become of manhood in such a culture? Will all the intelligent, creative men become homosexual artists? Will they all be feminized? No, not by a long shot. But I believe it pushes in that direction.

Another repost; this time, it’s just because I’m lazy.

Things I’ve Learned after It Was Too Late

• Never touch a sensitive part of your body when you’ve been cutting jalapeños.
• Don’t smoke a pipe under a ceiling fan. The fire will get hot enough to roast marshmallows. The marshmallows will taste bad. OK, I never did that. The marshmallow part, I mean.
• Don’t forget to put a sling on your rifle and then shoot a deer half a mile from your pickup when there is no way to drive in. Carrying a rifle in one hand and dragging a deer with the other is a lot of work.
• Be careful what you say in front of your children.
• Swallowing a live grasshopper is stupid, even if your friends offer you two dollars to do it.
• If you’re given a month to do an assignment, and you think you can wait until the last week to do it, the assignment will take at least two weeks.
• If your wife asks you if you liked the new recipe, the answer is “Yes.”
• When you go camping, don’t let your five-year-old son drink all the pop he wants all day long, and then tuck him into his sleeping bag without first visiting the bathroom.
• Simply naming a tobacco “Presbyterian Mix” does not make it doctrinally sound.
• Men and women are more different then they appear.
• God may not help everyone who helps themselves, but if you don’t help yourself, your kids will eat all the cookies before you get any.
• That cake your wife baked that you snitched a piece from? That was for church.
• Your sins really will find you out.
• Shipping from Australia is really expensive.
• All the really good old books are owned by an antiquarian bookseller in Australia.
• When your wife is nine months pregnant, don’t suggest naming the child Jonah.*
• I’m not as funny as I think I am. See above.

* Just between you and me, that one still cracks me up.

As a follow-up to my sports post earlier this week, here are some favorite scenes from my favorite sports movie.

Update: So this guy can post the entire movie (don’t read the comments), but I try to post three short clips and they’re censored. Well, sorry about that.

A few facts the world has taught you are false:*

1. You can live on one income.
2. You can live without television.
3. You can live without the internet.
4. You can live without a cellular phone.

If you disagree, I may bore you with my own life experience. You don’t want that, I’m sure.

Don’t be like the pitiable character in this article.

* Business-related exceptions to nos. 3 and 4 granted.

This is either an example of syncretism, or proof that even heathens can’t avoid the truth.

Kwai Chang Caine, Calvinist

There were many places to eat in the mall food court: MacDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Orange Julius, Arby’s, just to name a few. Each had its own group of loyal patrons. Sure, some would switch from time to time, but, people being creatures of habit, most stuck faithfully with their favorites.

The various vendors in the food court employed many workers to serve the masses of mall customers every day. Among these was a fellow named Brett. Brett mixed the slushy drinks at Orange Julius. Having worked there for several years, he was a familiar face, popular and known by name to many of the regular Julius drinkers. Many, in fact, would likely have patronized the other food court establishments more often, if not for Brett’s magnetic personality.

Then one day, Brett quit. He gave his notice, and two weeks later he was gone. Regular Orange Julius customers remembered him fondly and sadly. The food court just wasn’t the same any more.

Time passed, and soon Brett began to miss the mall. He began to have second thoughts about leaving. Finally, he decided to go back. Unfortunately, he had waited too long; Orange Julius had hired new employees, and had no opening for him. Brett did the only thing he could do: he applied with the other vendors, and was finally hired by Burger King.

It is hard to say why, but Brett didn’t do very well at Burger King, and left before too long. Not one to give up, though, he continued to seek employment in the food court, finally ending up at Taco Bell — right next to his old employer, Orange Julius.

Now, you might think that a guy could switch employers and go on with his life. You might think that all the people who liked him before would still like him after. You might think that those customers who only liked Orange Julius, and even those who didn’t like Taco Bell at all, would go on as before, drinking their Julius drinks and eating their Julius dogs in peace, not caring who served up the tacos next door. You might think all that, but you’d be wrong.

When the news got out, Orange Julius lovers were outraged. “This is outrageous!” they raged. Folks who had previously exchanged friendly banter with Brett at the Orange Julius counter now spoke of him with contempt. But talking behind his back wasn’t enough. Brett had done them wrong, and he was going to pay. High noon at the food court, lines began forming as usual at all the eating establishments; all eyes were on Taco Bell. Tension mounted. Finally, the anticipated moment came: Brett stepped up to the counter. Taco Bell customers cheered. The Orange Julius lines exploded. Hecklers shouted, “Boo!” “Traitor!” “Turncoat!” The animosity was astounding. It was, after all, just fast food. It was, after all, just a job. Brett liked the fast food business. He liked preparing and selling inexpensive, convenient meals to hungry, hurried people. What did it matter where he did it? His position at Orange Julius had been filled; Julius customers could still get all their food and drinks just as before.

Meanwhile, a mall shopper who couldn’t care less, who rarely ate fast food, observed the shameful behavior of the Julius mavens and thought to himself, “Disgraceful, just disgraceful; if I ever eat in the food court again, it surely will never be at Orange Julius.”

The next day, he wrote a blog post.