Ding! Ding! Schooling Un-Reformed Anglicans & Others: Corrections from the Westminster Larger Catechism

Ding! Ding! Schooling Un-Reformed Anglicans & Others: Corrections from the Westminster Larger Catechism

Forthwith, before all ye present, be it known—as of yesteryear—remove that “puerile thing” parading as a catechism" in the 1662, 1928, 1873 and the 1979 Books of Common Prayer.

Be it resolved: (1) That Un-Reformed Anglicans be ordered to grow up, (2) Replace “that thing” with Reformed standards, (3) Create a lectionary and read the Standards once per year. (3) Let the reading follow the Apostles Creed or Nicene Creed. (4) Identify, quantify (times, terms, peoples) and publish failures and successes.

Make those corrections and you’ll be glad you grew up, repented and learned wisdom. You'll be glad you did.

October 10, 2013

Wesmintser Larger Catechism, week 41

Q. 161. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?

A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not by any power in themselves, or any virtue derived from the piety or intention of him by whom they are administered, but only by the working of the Holy Ghost, and the blessing of Christ, by whom they are instituted[1047].

Q. 162. What is a sacrament?

A. A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ in his church,[1048] to signify, seal, and exhibit[1049] unto those that are within the covenant of grace,[1050] the benefits of his mediation;[1051] to strengthen and increase their faith, and all other graces;[1052] to oblige them to obedience;[1053] to testify and cherish their love and communion one with another;[1054] and to distinguish them from those that are without.[1055]

Q. 163. What are the parts of a sacrament?

A. The parts of the sacrament are two; the one an outward and sensible sign, used according to Christ’s own appointment; the other an inward and spiritual grace thereby signified.[1056]

Q. 164. How many sacraments hath Christ instituted in his church under the New Testament?

A. Under the New Testament Christ hath instituted in his church only two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s supper.[1057]

Westminster Larger Catechism: 120-130

Archbishop James Ussher (1581-1656)

Question 120: What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it? 

Answer: The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it, are taken from the equity of it, God allowing us six days of seven for our own affairs, and reserving but one for himself, in these words, Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: from God's challenging a special propriety in that day, The seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: from the example of God, who in six days made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: and from that blessing which God put upon that day, not only in sanctifying it to be a day for his service, but in ordaining it to be a means of blessing to us in our sanctifying it; Wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 

Question 121: Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment? 

Answer: The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandment, partly, because of the great benefit of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our preparation to keep it, and, in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments, and to continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short abridgment of religion; and partly, because we are very ready to forget it, for that there is less light of nature for it, and yet it restrains our natural liberty in things at other times lawful; that it comes but once in seven days, and many worldly businesses come between, and too often take off our minds from thinking of it, either to prepare for it, or to sanctify it;and that Satan with his instruments much labor to blot out the glory, and even the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety. 

Question 122: What is the sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man? 

Answer: The sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man is, to love our neighbor as ourselves, and to do to others: What we would have them to do to us. 

Question 123: Which is the fifth commandment? 

Answer: The fifth commandment is, Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God gives thee. 

Question 124: Who are meant by father and mother in the fifth commandment? 

Answer: By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant, not only natural parents, but all superiors in age and gifts; and especially such as, by God's ordinance, are over us in place of authority, whether in family, church, or commonwealth. 

Question 125: Why are superiors styled father and mother?

Answer: Superiors are styled father and mother, both to teach them in all duties toward their inferiors, like natural parents, to express love and tenderness to them, according to their several relations; and to work inferiors to a greater willingness and cheerfulness in performing their duties to their superiors, as to their parents. 

Question 126: What is the general scope of the fifth commandment? 

Answer: The general scope of the fifth commandment is, the performance of those duties which we mutually owe in our several relations, as inferiors, superiors, or equals. 

Question 127: What is the honor that inferiors owe to their superiors? 

Answer: The honor which inferiors owe to their superiors is, all due reverence in heart, word, and behavior; prayer and thanksgiving for them; imitation of their virtues and graces; willing obedience to their lawful commands and counsels; due submission to their corrections; fidelity to, defense and maintenance of their persons and authority, according to their several ranks, and the nature of their places; bearing with their infirmities, and covering them in love, that so they may be an honor to them and to their government. 

Question 128: What are the sins of inferiors against their superiors? 

Answer: The sins of inferiors against their superiors are, all neglect of the duties required toward them; envying at, contempt of, and rebellion against, their persons and places, in their lawful counsels, commands, and corrections; cursing, mocking, and all such refractory and scandalous carriage, as proves a shame and dishonor to them and their government. 

Question 129: What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?

Answer: It is required of superiors, according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they stand, to love, pray for, and bless their inferiors; to instruct, counsel, and admonish them; countenancing, commending, and rewarding such as do well; and discountenancing, reproving, and chastising such as do ill; protecting, and providing for them all things necessary for soul and body: and by grave, wise, holy, and exemplary carriage, to procure glory to God, honor to themselves, and so to preserve that authority which God has put upon them. 

Question 130: What are the sins of superiors? 

Answer: The sins of superiors are, besides the neglect of the duties required of them, an inordinate seeking of themselves, their own glory, ease, profit, or pleasure; commanding things unlawful, or not in the power of inferiors to perform; counseling, encouraging, or favoring them in that which is evil; dissuading, discouraging, or discountenancing them in that which is good; correcting them unduly; careless exposing, or leaving them to wrong, temptation, and danger; provoking them to wrath; or any way dishonoring themselves, or lessening their authority, by an unjust, indiscreet, rigorous, or remiss behavior.

Embarrassing Photo of Celeb Dr. Carl Trueman

Carl Trueman appears to own the picture.  See:  http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2011/12/two-disclaimers-and-bad-news-f.php

Carl says:

"First, I was only the keyboard player and we never produced singles, only albums. That limits my celebrity."


Preliminary observations that warrant answers:  (1)  Was Carl a Catechetized man?  E.g. WSC?  WLC?  WCF?   We strenuously doubt it.  As such, how does he understand the value of catechetization of youth and adults?  Given this hype, he appears to have none of it?  (2) Was Carl shaped and formed by Prayer Book Churchmanship?  Again, strenuously doubted.  What does he offer but (now muted) enthusiasm by way of background?  (3)  Embarrassing photo.  Clearly, we are not talking about classical and sacred music through the ages.  He now sings Psalms?  (4)  He sure embarrassed himself and close analysts by his endorsement of a Baptacostal hyperauthoritarian and proud enthusiast, C.J.  Mahaney.  It is one of the more stupid and unscholarly moves of the year.  This scribe has a pending letter with Carl about Mahaney.  (5)  I shan't, as an alum of WTS, be supporting WTS-east, on this and some other grounds.


The background story was at:  http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2011/11/dr-carl-trueman-exposed.html

Again, Carl appears to own the picture. 

The Celeb, Dr. Carl Trueman, Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, is on the far left.  An unanswered question....is it the high school graduate on the far right, one whom Dr. Trueman supports for full and qualified ministry....old C.J. Mahaney?  Is that Mahaney on the right with Trueman on the left?  Trueman supports the Baptacostalist Mahaney.

Larger Catechism, week 31 « Daily Confession: 127-133

Larger Catechism, week 31 « Daily Confession

Golden. The Westminster divines, "Precisians" as some of the fuzzy-minded (also some Anglicans) called them, were thinkers. Anti-intellectuals or mind-haters they were not. This is golden. Additional comments follow the citation of Q/A 127-133.

Q. 127. What is the honour that inferiors owe to their superiors?
A. The honour which inferiors owe to their superiors is, all due reverence in heart,[658] word, [659] and behaviour;[660] prayer and thanksgiving for them;[661] imitation of their virtues and graces;[662] willing obedience to their lawful commands and counsels;[663] due submission to their corrections;[664] fidelity to,[665] defence,[666] and maintenance of their persons and authority, according to their several ranks, and the nature of their places;[667] bearing with their infirmities, and covering them in love,[668] that so they may be an honour to them and to their government.[669]

Q. 128. What are the sins of inferiors against their superiors?
A. The sins of inferiors against their superiors are, all neglect of the duties required toward them;[670] envying at,[671] contempt of,[672] and rebellion[673] against, their persons[674] and places,[675] in their lawful counsels,[676] commands, and corrections;[677] cursing, mocking[678] and all such refractory and scandalous carriage, as proves a shame and dishonour to them and their government.[679]

Q. 129. What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?
A. It is required of superiors, according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they stand, to love,[680] pray for,[681] and bless their inferiors;[682] to instruct,[683] counsel, and admonish them;[684] countenancing,[685] commending,[686] and rewarding such as do well;[687] and discountenancing,[688] reproving, and chastising such as do ill;[689] protecting,[690] and providing for them all things necessary for soul[691] and body:[692] and by grave, wise, holy, and exemplary carriage, to procure glory to God,[693] honour to themselves,[694] and so to preserve that authority which God hath put upon them.[695]

Q. 130. What are the sins of superiors?
A. The sins of superiors are, besides the neglect of the duties required of them,[696] and inordinate seeking of themselves,[697] their own glory,[698] ease, profit, or pleasure;[699] commanding things unlawful,[700] or not in the power of inferiors to perform;[701] counseling,[702] encouraging,[703] or favouring them in that which is evil;[704] dissuading, discouraging, or discountenancing them in that which is good;[705] correcting them unduly;[706] careless exposing, or leaving them to wrong, temptation, and danger;[707] provoking them to wrath;[708] or any way dishonouring themselves, or lessening their authority, by an unjust, indiscreet, rigorous, or remiss behaviour.[709]

Q. 131. What are the duties of equals?
A. The duties of equals are, to regard the dignity and worth of each other,[710] in giving honour to go one before another;[711] and to rejoice in each others’ gifts and advancement, as their own.[712]

Q. 132. What are the sins of equals?
A. The sins of equals are, besides the neglect of the duties required,[713] the undervaluing of the worth,[714] envying the gifts,[715] grieving at the advancement of prosperity one of another;[716] and usurping pre-eminence one over another.[717]

Q. 133. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment, the more to enforce it?
A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, in these words, That thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee,[718] is an express promise of long life and prosperity, as far as it shall serve for God’s glory and their own good, to all such as keep this commandment.[719]

Many Anglicans will say, "Far too restrictive and little elbow-room for thinking." Then, contradictorily (and this includes old Jim Packer), they will prescibe a restrictive Prayer Book and worship pattern (an excellent one too).

Many Confessional Presbyterians will say, "Far too restrictive in these conformist prayers imposed on all...away with it." Then, contradictorily, they will prescribe a restrictive Confession of Faith (an excellent one too).

Lutherans have both tight Confessions and Prayer Books, to their credit.

Anabaptists, Revivalists, Pentecostalists and other enthusiasts celebrate "autonomy uber alles," freedom from guidance, thinking, direction, counsel, prudence and godly restraint. We'll do "as we're led." It's the old Anabaptistic impulse of sectarianism, schismaticism, and irresponsible freedom. We'll have nothing to do with them.

Most Calvinistic Anglicans will say, trumping the inconsistent Anglicans and Presbyterians, "Give me the Reformed Confessions and the good old BCP." I find them biblical, intelligent, godly, instructive, directive, wise, and most prudent.

Rev. Campbell: The Westminster Larger Catechism

http://creideamh.blogspot.com/2009/09/larger-catechism-1.html

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