• About
  • Books

memoirandremains

memoirandremains

Tag Archives: Scriptures

Marshall, The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification, Direction I

25 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by memoirandremains in Mortification, Sanctification, Sanctifictation, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Faith, Mortification, Sanctification, Scriptures, The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification, Walter Marshall

Marshall’s book, published in 1692 (12 years after his death), sets out 14 directions on the doctrine of sanctification and its relationship to justification. It is publication with an introduction by Joel Beeke, published by Reformation Heritage Books.

Direction I: That we may acceptably perform the duties of holiness and righteousness required by the law, our first work is to learn the powerful and effectual means whereby we may attain to so great an end.

Marshall begins with the proposition that Christians are required to holiness: we are saved to holiness The question is how, what is the means by which we attain to such holiness?

He notes that if we take seriously the doctrine of original sin, we must recognize that we in ourselves lack the ability to attain to such holiness. And he rebukes those who merely insist upon holiness as if it merely required effort and self-will:

Yea, many that are accounted powerful preachers, spend all their zeal in the earnest pressing the immediate practice of the law, without any discovery [disclosure] of the effectual means of performance: as if the works of righteousness were like those servile employments that need no skill and artifice at all, but industry and activity.

The means for sanctification is a grace communicated by God to us — it cannot be known without God’s disclosure. The means appointed by God are the Scriptures received by faith: “God hath given, in the holy scriptures by his inspiration, plentiful instruction in righteousness, that we may be thoroughly furnished for every good work….[W]e cannot apply ourselves ourselves to the practice of holiness, with hope of success, except we have some faith concerning divine assistance, which we have no ground to expect, if we use not such means as God has appointed to work by.”

The chief means of our growth in grace

07 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by memoirandremains in Meditation, Prayer, Reading

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bibliology, Meditation, Prayer, R.C. Chapman, Reading, Sayings, Scriptures

8405561385_524b475c94_o

Meditation on the Word of God is the chief means of our growth in grace: without this even prayer itself will be little better than an empty form. Meditation nourishes faith, and faith and prayer are the keys which unlock the hidden treasures of the word.

R.C. Chapman, Sayings

 

Categories

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Study Guide: Thomas Boston, The Crook in the Lot.1
  • Should I Look for Signs to Know God’s Will?
  • What If It Works?
  • Upon a Sundial and a Clock
  • John Newton On the Three Witnesses 1 John 5:10 [Annotated]

Categories

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Study Guide: Thomas Boston, The Crook in the Lot.1
  • Should I Look for Signs to Know God’s Will?
  • What If It Works?
  • Upon a Sundial and a Clock
  • John Newton On the Three Witnesses 1 John 5:10 [Annotated]

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • memoirandremains
    • Join 630 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • memoirandremains
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...