Rev. Campbell has brought us an exposition of the early verses of our "Big Catechism." Food for the weary in the way. What a find to discover this Churchman and Pastor.
1 Corinthians 10.31, Whether ye eat, drink, or whatsoever ye do, do to the glory of God. An all encompassing principle for life and death.
B.B. Warfield noted that "Shorter Catechism Boys" grow up to be "Shorter Catechism Men." This scribe is so glad to have memorized it years ago. Now we get Rev. Campbell's exposition.
The Westminster Assembly convened in July 1643 and was dissolved in 1652.
As an Anglican, my deepest lament was the sheer refusal and most unnecessary dispatch of these standards. Anglicanism was never the same thereafter. And here...in about one of the northernmost reaches of Scotland, the northwest, we see the doctrine and spirit preserved. This scribe cannot believe the find with this URL and this Churchman. U.S. Episcopal Bishops, Jim Packer and David Virtue need to be quarantined, sent to the isle of Lewis, for about three years of this kind of instruction. Archbishop Rowan Williams needs recalibration by such instruction. This scribe has added the Little Catechism following the Apostles' Creed in Morning Prayer 1662 Book of Common Prayer. It's come back quite quickly.
It is of note that the Little Catechism was for "children" and those of "weaker capacity. Adults of the rank and file should be instructed in this, the Larger Catechism. Imagine the 1979 Prayer Book Catechism? It's absolutely horrible. This stuff is food.
As we learn from Romans 1.18-32, the fallen, native and dynamic instinct is to "exchange the glory of God" for "idols." Yet, in justification and sanctification, our lives are not complete and full until we glorify and enjoy God. That is our highest and chief end, in life and in death.
Why the created order? For His glory.
This draws Rev. Campbell's attention to the glory of Christ, the perfect Adam, the Mediator of the covenant, the name above names, the One by whom all things are upheld, the Saviour who came not to His will, but the will of His Father for our redemption.
This Saviour is impeccable, sinless, without a fallen nature, and fully and perfectly glorifies God and fully enjoys Him. Even on the Cross, Christ glorifies God when He exclaims, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" Our Saviour cries this in our behalf as our Mediator.
Heaven above, the Church Triumphant, belongs to Christ where all believers, sanctified, with angels and archangels, sing His praises and fully enjoy Him.
Rev. Campbell briefly calls attention to "modern evangelicals" whose worship focuses on "ourselves." It's not about "ourselves" but God's glory.
We summarize the sermon with imperfection, but call readers to listen in on Pastor Campbell...those of any of the magisterial Reformation streams.
The services closes with the a capella singing of Psalm 145.9-10. It is a very different melody and is most strange to this scribes ears, but it is the praise of saints in another part of the world.
We wish to express our thanks to this Elder, his elders and deacons, and the congregation for making this available. No need to hit the conference circuit (necessarily) for "Reformed Conferences" at mega-dollars to travel, food, lodging and miscellaneous expenses. No sales of CD's and books. Straight-up, godly, Reformational, Reformed preaching of the first order magnitude.
This scribe will attempt to bring more from Creideamh as it becomes available. It's worth getting the RSS-feed.
http://creideamh.blogspot.com/2009/09/larger-catechism-1.html
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