Faith of Our Fathers Bunyan and Edwards 8/12/18

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1 Faith of Our Fathers Bunyan and Edwards 8/12/18 -Intro: -Today I want to tell you about two men. -Two men that left an indelible impact on their generation and upon every generation that has followed. -One wrote the most famous book apart from the Bible and one preached the most famous sermon apart from the words of Jesus When I was in Oxford, England, I was doing some continuing education through Regent Park College. -When we walked through the main building, they took us down the stairs which led us under the streets and into The Angus Library. -There they took out several old documents that they housed in that library: -Things from Martin Luther, a document from 1612 written by Thomas Helwys... -Then they brought out one document that grabbed my attention. -It was a chained copy of a very famous book. - What do I mean by Chained Copy? -It means that it was a particular book that was chained to a lectern in a church so that it could not be stolen. -The book more than likely sat on a lectern in a church that was on the opposite side of the lectern that contained the Bible? -What other book could be so prominent that it sat opposite, in the church, next to the Bible? -You probably know it by it s shortened name: Pilgrim s Progress. tbs=isz:lt,islt:xga&sa=x&ved=0ahukewi-g_-ynodcahusvlkkhdpua- YQpwUIHw&biw=1280&bih=705&dpr=1.5#imgrc=-1G4BCDBK8hJXM:

2 -Charles Spurgeon once said, Next to the Bible, the book I value most is John Bunyan s Pilgrim s Progress. I believe I have read it through at least a hundred times. It is a volume of which I never seem to tire; and the secret of its freshness is that it is so largely compiled from the Scriptures. -Spurgeon also said on another occasion that he loved John Bunyan because Bunyan bled Bible. -The book influenced John Wesley, George Whitefield, John Newton, C.S. Lewis as well as countless others. -His first editor, Charles Doe, noted that 100,000 copies were already in print by Every English household that owned a Bible also owned the famous allegory. -The book is second only to the Bible as far as copies sold and years in continuous print. -Let me tell you briefly about John Bunyan. urce=lnt&sa=x&ved=0ahukewivmojpn97cahuiwvkkhqtua2gqpwuihg&biw=1280&bih=705& dpr=1.5#imgrc=96acqimjr5pypm: -John Bunyan was born in 1628 near Bedford, England. -He had very basic education and learned the profession of his father which was being a tinker one who mended metal things. -He was not a godly man and had a reputation as being so. -He married at an early age, and it appears that his wife was the daughter of a godly man. -She possessed two small books with which her father left her as her inheritance on his death-bed, -"The Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven," and another, called "The Practice of Piety." -Bunyan read these two books and they were the means of creating within him a desire to reform his godless life. -But it wasn t until he read Martin Luther s "Commentary on Galatians" that he realized his full need for Christ. -He was arrested by this verse: -1 John 1:7 (NLT) But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

3 He said about this verse, "I saw, moreover, that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor my bad frame that made my righteousness worse, for my righteousness was Jesus Christ Himself, 'the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever."' -He started preaching and his popularity as a powerful lay preacher exploded. -He was known as the Tinker that turned preacher or the Preaching Tinker. -Hundreds of people from all over came to hear him preach. -And then it happened. -In 1660, with the restoration of the monarchy, preaching outside of the rules of the Church of England was forbidden and enforced by law. -Immediately thousands of Puritan pastors and non-conformist pastors were forced out of their churches and put in prison. **Many of these are buried in Bunhill Fields, along with John Bunyan. -They could be released if they just promised to not preach again. -John Bunyan told local magistrates that he would rather remain in prison until moss grew on his eyelids than fail to do what God commanded. -He remained there for 12 years. -The imprisonment gave him the incentive and opportunity to minister to the other pastors that were with him, to counsel church members that came to visit him and most importantly to write. -John Bunyan would eventually publish 58 works. -Two most notable, Pilgrim s Progress and Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. -He was released in 1672 when the laws once again changed. -He was 44 years old. -His life reminds me of the Apostle Paul sitting in a jail cell writing Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. -About his imprisonment he quotes 2 Corinthians 1:9. -2 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV) Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. -Bunyan writes, By this scripture I was made to see that if ever I would suffer rightly, I must first pass a sentence of death upon everything that can be properly called a thing of this life, even to reckon myself, my wife, my children, my health, my enjoyment, and all, as dead to me, and myself as dead to them.

4 The second was, to live upon God who is invisible, as Paul said in another place; the way not to faint, is to look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. -John Bunyan died on August 31, 1688 after traveling 50 miles to London to preach and help make peace between a man in his church and his alienated father. -He was successful in reconciling that relationship. -Upon his return traveling on horseback, he got caught in a violent rainstorm and became sick, probably pneumonia. -He did not recover and died at age 60. -Bunyan had finally made it across the river to the New Jerusalem that he had so eloquently written about. -John Owen, one of the greatest Puritan theologians, when asked by King Charles why he, a great scholar, went to hear an uneducated tinker preach, replied, I would willingly exchange my learning for the tinker s power of touching men s hearts. -John Bunyan, no doubt, is still touching men s hearts today. ============================================================================= -Do you know the beauty of this series? -It shows you why we are allowed to do what we do, today. -All who have lived in history and have gone before us have allowed us to stand on their giant shoulders. -The very laws of religion that imprisoned John Bunyan were the very laws the founding fathers of our nation fought against. -This is why religious liberty is so foundational to the United States of America. -It is why it will continually be fought to upheld as long as this nation stands Let me tell you about another remarkable man: -Jonathan Edwards was born October 5, 1703 in East Windsor, Massachusetts. &tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=-lrsw- 63E4bxzgLlmpC4Ag&q=jonathan+edwards&oq=jonathan+edwards&gs_l=img.3..0l

5 j8j c.1.64.img i67k1.0.avDuVA6 N28E#imgrc=xDo_gew72VHP0M: -His father was Reverend Timothy Edwards and his mother was Ester Stoddard Edwards, who was the daughter of the well known pastor, Reverend Solomon Stoddard. -The family was deeply grounded in Puritanism. -Because of his upbringing, Edwards was not ignorant of the things of God even from his childhood. -At age 13 he enrolled at Yale and began learning Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. -He graduated at the head of his class and stayed in school for two years longer for the study of Divinity. -No doubt at some point in his life, he read Pilgrim s Progress. -At age 17 he said holiness was revealed to him as a ravishing, divine beauty. -His heart panted "to lie low before God, as in the dust; that I might be nothing, and that God might be all, that I might become as a little child." -This combination of intellect and humility characterized Edward's whole life. At age 19, he began to make resolutions in his life that would help him to live more like Christ. -This continued until he was resolutions were made Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ s sake. Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week. Overall Life Mission 1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great so ever. 2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things. 3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again. 4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it. 6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

6 22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of. 62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord. June 25 and July 13, Good Works 11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don t hinder. 13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality. 69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, Time Management 5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can. 7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life. 17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die. 18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world. 19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump. 37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, Relationships 14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge. 15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

7 16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good. 31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution. 33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec. 26, Resolved, in narrations never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity. 36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family. 58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May 27, and July 13, Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July 2, and July Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise. 70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. Suffering 9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death. 10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell. 67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them. 57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13, Character 8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God. 12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by. 21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him. 32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, A faithful man who can find? may not be partly fulfilled in me.

8 47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5, Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan. 14 and July 3, Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions. 39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission. 20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking. Spiritual Life Assurance 25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it. 26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance. 48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it. The Scriptures 28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same. Prayer 29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept. 64. Resolved, when I find those groanings which cannot be uttered (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those breakings of soul for the longing it hath, of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, The Lord s Day 38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, Vivification of Righteousness

9 30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before. 42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God s, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12, Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan , Mortification of Sin and Self Examination 23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution. 24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it. 35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4 and 13, Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23 and August 10, Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be. Communion with God 53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and everything, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26 and Aug. 10, Aug. 17, He would revisit these on a weekly basis over the course of his life.

10 -He made it his lifelong habit of rising at 4am and studying 13 hours a day. -He is correctly called America s Greatest Theologian. -At 23, his grandfather Solomon Stoddard, pastoring a church in Northampton, was now 83 years of age and in great need of an assistant. -So in 1726 Jonathan Edwards joined his grandfather. -Although a large congregation, here s what Jonathan Edwards found. -He found somewhat moral people who had yet to be converted to Christ. -Outwardly moral but inwardly rotten. -When his grandfather died, Edwards began the process of reforming the church Biblically. -And God began working mightily. -In 1737, Edwards wrote a letter to the Reverend Dr. Benjamin Coleman of Boston about what was happening in his church in a document called A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God. There was scarcely a single person in the town, old or young, left unconcerned about the great things of the eternal world. Those who were wont to be the vainest and loosest, and those who had been disposed to think and speak lightly of vital and experimental religion, were now generally subject to great awakenings. And the work of conversion was carried on in a most astonishing manner, and increased more and more; souls did as it were come by flocks to Jesus Christ. From day to day for many months together, might be seen evident instances of sinners brought out of darkness into marvellous light, and delivered out of an horrible pit, and from the miry clay, and set upon a rock, with a new song of praise to God in their mouths. This work of God, as it was carried on, and the number of true saints multiplied, soon made a glorious alteration in the town: so that in the spring and summer following, anno 1735, the town seemed to be full of the presence of God: it never was so full of love, nor of joy, and yet so full of distress, as it was then. There were remarkable tokens of God's presence in almost every house. It was a time of joy in families on account of salvation being brought to them; parents rejoicing over their children as new born, and husbands over their wives, and wives over their husbands. The doings of God were then seen in His sanctuary, God's day was a delight, and His tabernacles were amiable. Our public assemblies were then beautiful: the congregation was alive in God's service, every one earnestly intent on the public worship, every hearer eager to drink in the words of the minister as they came from his mouth; the assembly in general were, from time to time, in tears while the word was preached; some weeping with sorrow and distress, others with joy and love, others with pity and concern for the souls of their neighbors. Our public praises were then greatly enlivened; God was then served in our psalmody, in some measure, in the beauty of holiness. It has been observable, that there has been scarce any part of divine worship, wherein good men amongst us have had grace so drawn forth, and their hearts so lifted up in the ways of God, as in singing His praises. Our congregation excelled all that ever I knew in the external part of the duty before, the men generally carrying regularly,

11 and well, three parts of music, and the women a part by themselves; but now they were evidently wont to sing with unusual elevation of heart and voice, which made the duty pleasant indeed. In all companies, on other days, on whatever occasions persons met together, Christ was to be heard of, and seen in the midst of them. Our young people, when they met, were wont to spend the time in talking of the excellency and dying love of Jesus Christ, the glory of the way of salvation, the wonderful, free, and sovereign grace of God, His glorious work in the conversion of a soul, the truth and certainty of the great things of God's word, the sweetness of the views of His perfections, etc. And even at weddings, which formerly were mere occasions of mirth and jollity, there was now no discourse of anything but religion, and no appearance of any but spiritual mirth. Those amongst us who had been formerly converted, were greatly enlivened, and renewed with fresh and extraordinary incomes of the Spirit of God; though some much more than others, according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Many who before had labored under difficulties about their own state, had now their doubts removed by more satisfying experience, and more clear discoveries of God's love. -What happened through all of this came to be known as the Great Awakening. -George Whitefield would hear about what was happening in Edward s church and come to America. -Edwards invited Whitefield to preach at his church and reported, "The congregation was extraordinarily melted... almost the whole assembly being in tears for a great part of the time." -The "whole assembly" included Edwards himself. -Whitefield preached to thousands while he was here. -The revival ultimately spread to 25 communities in western Massachusetts and central Connecticut and it soon spread to much of the eastern part of America. -The culmination of the revival was reflected in the sermon that Jonathan Edwards preached in 1741 called: - Sinners in the Hands of a Angry God. -It is known as the greatest sermon ever preached in America. -In this sermon, he talked about the holiness of God, the sinfulness of man, and the certainty of hell for unconverted souls. -He preached in such detail that people were crawling up to him, tugging at his pantleg, asking him to stop preaching because their soul was under so much conviction. -Malachi 3:1-4 (NLT) Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming, says the Lord of Heaven s Armies.

12 2 But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. 3 He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. 4 Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in the past. -May the Lord visit us like this in our generation On February 13, 1759, one month after Princeton had called him to be their president, he died from complications of a smallpox vaccination. -He was 55 years old Both the legacies of John Bunyan and Jonathan Edwards live on. -In their writings and in their sermons. -May God raise up in this generation those that will faithfully preach the Word of God no matter the consequences and those that will dare to follow God no matter the cost Pray Bridge Group Questions: 1. What stood out to you most about this week s message? 2. What are your impressions of John Bunyan? Could you have remained in prison for 12 years, separated from family, in order to stand by your convictions? 3. Have you ever read Pilgrim s Progress? If so, what did you think of it? 4. What are your impressions of Jonathan Edwards? Did any of his 70 resolutions strike at your heart? 5. What do you think is preventing another Great Awakening from happening in our generation? Spend some time praying that it happens soon.