Concerning Liturgies & Their Imposition #1 Puritan/Reformation Worship Vs. Innovations of Antichrist/Rome & Her Harlot Daughters by John Owen (Free MP3s) sermonaudio/sermoninfo.asp?SID=31708116598 Concerning Liturgies & Their Imposition #2 Puritan/Reformation Worship Vs. Innovations of Antichrist/Rome & Her Harlot Daughters by John Owen (Free MP3s) sermonaudio/sermoninfo.asp?sid=31908123413 The Puritan Hard Drive is unsurpassed, outside the Bible itself. - Pastor Greg Price ow.ly/fPY4o Concerning Liturgies & Their Imposition #3 Puritan/Reformation Worship Vs. Innovations of Antichrist/Rome & Her Harlot Daughters by John Owen (Free MP3s) sermonaudio/sermoninfo.asp?sid=32408127452 Concerning Liturgies & Their Imposition #4 Puritan/Reformation Worship Vs. Innovations of Antichrist/Rome & Her Harlot Daughters by John Owen (Free MP3s) sermonaudio/sermoninfo.asp?sid=325081041569 Many Puritan Hard Drive Reviews bit.ly/c5MGjL Calvinism, or the Sovereignty of God, in Worship (Free Online Books Against Arminianism In Worship) ow.ly/vRWIu or puritandownloads/calvinism-or-the-sovereignty-of-god-in-worship-free-online-books-against-arminianism-in-worship/ Take heed of all occasions of idolatry, for idolatry is devil-worship. Psalm 106: 37. If you search through the whole Bible, there is not one sin that God has more followed with plagues than idolatry. The Jews have a saying, that in every evil that befalls them, there is uncia aurei vituli, an ounce of the golden calf in it. Hell is a place for idolaters. For without are idolaters. Rev 22: 15. Senesius calls the devil a rejoicer at idols, because the image-worshippers help to fill hell. - Thomas Watson, The Ten Commandments (on the Puritan Hard Drive ow.ly/fPY4o) ow.ly/yYjHm Whats Wrong With Worship In Most Churches -- False Worship (Violations Of the Second Commandment Or the Regulative Principle of Worship) and Well Intentioned Idolatry Brings Gods Wrath and Even Death by Jim Dodson, John Owen and Others puritandownloads/blog/whats-wrong-with-worship-in-most-churches-false-worship-violations-of-the-second-commandment-or-the-regulative-principle-of-worship-and-well-intentioned-idolatry-brings-gods-wrath-and-even-death-by-jim-dodson-john-owen-and-others/ All human inventions which are set up to corrupt the simple purity of the Word of God, and to undo the worship which he demands and approves, are true sacrileges, in which the Christian man cannot participate without blaspheming God, and trampling his honour underfoot. - John Calvin, swrb/newslett/actualnls/REFORMATION-RPW-GP.htm. Historic and singular opportunity. - Dr. Steven Dilday on the Puritan Hard Drive ow.ly/fPY4o Why Most Worship Is Actually Idolatry, Which God Hates, According To the Bible (the Second Commandment Or The Regulative Principle Of Worship, RPW) By Jim Dodson, John Calvin, Greg Price, the Westminster Assembly, Dr. Steven Dilday, John Owen, et al. puritandownloads/why-most-worship-is-actually-idolatry-which-god-hates-according-to-the-bible-the-second-commandment-or-the-regulative-principle-of-worship-rpw-by-jim-dodson-john-calvin-greg-price-the-westminster-assembly-dr-steven-dilday-john-owen-w-j-mencarow-jonathan-e/ The Regulative Principle of Worship declares that God alone is sovereign in worship. The Regulative Principle of Worship simply applies the principles of Calvinism (i.e. Gods sovereign Lordship) to worship, whereas the view that what God doesnt forbid in worship is permitted is applying the principles of Arminianism (i.e. mans sovereign lordship) to worship. Just as fallen man naturally seeks to impose his will in salvation (e.g. I can cooperate with God in salvation, or I have a natural freedom to choose Christ), so fallen man naturally seeks to impose his will in worship (I can cooperate with God in worship by adding what I desire so long as God doesnt specifically forbid it). But just as God condemns a man-centered salvation, so God condemns a man-centered worship (Col. 2:23 specifically condemns all will-worship, i.e. all worship instituted by man). - Greg Price, Foundation for Reformation: The Regulative Principle of Worship, p. 10, free at swrb/newslett/actualnls/REFORMATION-RPW-GP.htm or on the Puritan Hard Drive ow.ly/fPY4o Foundation For Reformation: The Regulative Principle Of Worship - Greg L. Price (Free Online Book) swrb/newslett/actualnls/REFORMATION-RPW-GP.htm If you want to understand Reformed theology (i.e., the whole counsel of God) the Puritan Hard Drive is unsurpassed, outside the Bible itself. ... There is no other resource, outside Scripture itself, where you can find so much of Gods truth as in the Puritan Hard Drive. ... now that I have the Puritan Hard Drive, I am able to use my time much more efficiently in finding that particular document I need by quickly searching for it and finding it in a matter of seconds. ... I am able to simply cut and paste from the Puritan Hard Drive to my own document with ease. - Pastor Greg Price (Covenanter Author and Theologian) ow.ly/fPY4o Gods Will Vs. Mans Will In Worship, Romanism and Arminianism In Worship Are Heresy (The Plausibility Of Will Worship To Worldly Wisdom, Colossians 2:23, the Regulative Principle Of Worship [RPW], Etc.) By Jim Dodson, John Calvin, Greg Price, et al. puritandownloads/gods-will-vs-mans-will-in-worship-romanism-and-arminianism-in-worship-are-heresy-the-plausibility-of-will-worship-to-worldly-wisdom-colossians-2-23-the-regulative-principle-of-worship-rpw-etc-by-jim-dodson-john-calvin-greg-price-westminster-divines-dr-ste/ What Is Biblical Worship? - Defending Historic Reformation, Puritan & Covenanter (Biblical) Worship, First & Second Commandments by William J. Mencarow ow.ly/xWItr. The Sovereignty of God Over Worship & The Beauty of Classic Reformed Worship (Free MP3s) ow.ly/xWGwt. There is no other way to get such easy, convenient and inexpensive access to so many great works from the best Reformation and Puritan preachers and teachers, past and present -- and the study software on the Puritan Hard Drive is out of this world in terms of usefulness! Nothing like the Puritan Hard Drive has ever been available before! The Puritan Hard Drive is the must have digital learning device for Puritan and Reformed studies. - Pastor W.J. Mencarow (Reformation Church, Boerne, Texas - San Antonio area), Author, Editor of The Paper Source Journal, and has been interviewed on numerous radio and TV programs including Good Morning America, most networks and in major U.S. newspapers and magazines, etc. ow.ly/fPY4o Calvinism, or the Sovereignty of God, in Worship (Free Online Books Against Arminianism In Worship) ow.ly/xWGRV The Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW) in the New Testament by Greg Price (Puritan Worship Series) ow.ly/xWIyt For God is not worshiped of us, but when it is his will to accept our worship: and it is not his will to accept our worship, but when it is according to his will. - William Perkins (Puritan), on the Puritan Hard Drive ow.ly/dZ3ua The Puritan Hard Drive is an astonishing piece of work. The scope of material is vast and the search facility is a tremendous bonus. There is enough here to fill a lifetime of study and it is a magnificent tool for genuine research (not to make us all superficial experts in historical theology without proper study!). There are works from a huge number of Reformed worthies of the past and audio sermons up to the present. We commend SWRB for making this available to the people of God. wealth of material - Pastor David Silversides (Loughbrickland Reformed Presbyterian Church, Northern Ireland), Author, Theologian, etc. ow.ly/fPY4o The Regulative Principle of Worship in the Old Testament (The Second Commandment In Covenanter, Puritan and Reformation Worship) by Greg Price (Puritan Worship Series) ow.ly/xWIDl The History of the Service of Song: Real Reformation, Faithful Worship And Praising The Lord Jesus Christ Through Songs by Dr. Steven Dilday ow.ly/xWHlQ Praise Him…. Whoso offereth praise glorifies me (Psa 50:23) Though nothing can add the least mite to God’s essential glory, yet praise exalts Him in the eyes of others. Praise is a setting forth of God’s honor, a lifting up of His name, a proclaiming of His excellent goodness, a release of the sweet perfume of God’s name which is sent abroad into the world. - Thomas Watson on the Puritan Hard Drive ow.ly/dZ3ua Corruption of Worship and the Rise of Antichrist In History Prophesied In Revelation by Dr. Steven Dilday (Free MP3) ow.ly/zRIba Presbyterian Worship: Old and New by Kevin Reed swrb/newslett/actualnls/FrameWor.htm A Review and Commentary upon Worship in Spirit and Truth,a book by John Frame. Reed shows how Frame has abandoned the Reformation, both scripturally and confessionally, in regard to worship. He also gives an excellent summary of historic Reformed views and then contrasts them with the novel ideas now being touted by Frame. The Vain Worship Of Hypocrites and How False Worship Destroys Nations Under Gods Wrath By Jim Dodson, John Calvin, Greg Price, John Knox, Kevin Reed, Westminster Divines, Dr. Steven Dilday, Thomas Watson and Others (Free MP3s)puritandownloads/the-vain-worship-of-hypocrites-and-how-false-worship-destroys-nations-under-gods-wrath-by-jim-dodson-john-calvin-greg-price-john-knox-kevin-reed-westminster-divines-dr-steven-dilday-thomas-watson-and-others-free-mp3s/ As a self-confessed computer bozo (if not leaning somewhat towards computer-phobic at times) I am delighted to report that the technical, usability, etc., side of the Puritan Hard Drive has presented no challenges to me whatsoever! It is as simple as ABC! On its contents front, it surely is unsurpassed in wholesome doctrine. ... you will be hard pressed to read more uplifting articles on the Christian life, since post-Apostolic days. ... nowhere can you find, in one concentrated place, the overflowing unction of the Holy Spirit in the rivers and tributaries that comprise the Puritan Hard Drives simple yet expansive creation. Well done SWRB! - Terence Ellard (Christian Evangelist, England) ow.ly/fPY4o Reformed Worship & Singing the Psalms, Free MP3s ow.ly/xWGO0 There has not been a more valuable extra-biblical resource & tool than the Puritan Hard Drive. - Dr. McMahon, A Puritans Mind bit.ly/ci3g2z. Against Antichrists Innovations In Worship (Free Reformation MP3s, Videos & Books) ow.ly/xWGY2 Now, Christians, the more great and glorious things you expect from God, as the downfall of antichrist, the conversion of the Jews, the conquest of the nations to Christ, the breaking of all yokes, the new Jerusalems coming down from above, the extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit, and a more general union among all saints, the more holy, yea, the more eminently holy in all your ways and actings it becomes you to be. - Thomas Brooks, The Crown and Glory of Christianity, 1662, Complete Works (on the Puritan Hard Drive), 1867, p. 444 Wow! The Puritan Hard Drive is fantastic! ... for ease and speed of search, the Puritan Hard Drive is frankly ingenious. For pennies per resource, you even provide a collection of outstanding MP3s and a handy portable hard-drive with ample available space. What a gift to Christs church! I love my Puritan Hard Drive! - D. M. (California) ow.ly/fPY4o 57 Free MP3s: Puritan Worship Series by Greg Price, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, George Gillespie, W.J. Mencarow, David Steele, Dr. Steven Dilday, Samuel Rutherford, Brian Schwertley, Dr. Reg Barrow and Others ow.ly/xWIRG SOLA SCRIPTURA AND THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE OF WORSHIP BY BRIAN SCHWERTLEY (Free Book) ow.ly/xWGPM SOME OF THE BEST FREE TEACHING YOU WILL EVER HEAR ON PURITAN AND REFORMED WORSHIP IS AT ow.ly/zO6zp (4 FREE MP3s) There has not been a more valuable extra-biblical resource and tool than the Puritan Hard Drive. It holds some of the most priceless Reformed works of God-centered and Christ-glorifying truth that were ever penned. Most students, ministers and scholars of the Bible would never personally acquire even half the literal number of books on the Puritan Hard Drive, much less the extreme caliber of its contents. In Gods providence modern day Christians have been chosen to be the recipients of both a theological and practical blessing. May we not squander it. - Dr. Matthew McMahon, Pastor, Author, Theologian, Seminary Professor, A Puritans Mind Web Site, etc. - Dr. McMahon, A Puritans Mind (Pastor, Author, Seminary Professor, etc.) ow.ly/fPY4o Christmas: An Historical Survey Regarding Its Origins and Opposition to It of Creeds and Confessions by Kevin Reed swrb/newslett/actualNLs/Xmas_ch2.htm Christmas-Keeping and the Reformed Faith: A Response to Professor David Engelsma by David W. Cason swrb/newslett/actualNLs/Xmas_ch3.htm The search tools are, by themselves, well worth the price of the Puritan Hard Drive (ow.ly/fPY4o). - Kevin Guillory (Former Roman Catholic Priest, Now A Protestant Pastor) JAMES JORDANS LITURGICAL ANTINOMIANISM - THE ROMANIZING VIEWS OF JAMES JORDAN (John Frame, Doug Wilson, Jeff Meyers, Steve Schlissel, et al.) ON WORSHIP AND HIS INTERPRETIVE MAXIMALISM REFUTED sermonaudio/go/147044 Summary: How Satan Corrupts The Worship of God! This whole MP3 series contains very important messages about how Satan is corrupting the worship of God in our day, using men (like James Jordan, John Frame, Doug Wilson, Steve Schlissel, Jeffrey Meyers, Vern Poythress, et al.) who claim some connections to the Reformed faith, but who, in reality, teach principles of worship much closer to Rome and the Papacy than to the Reformation and the best Reformers. To find out why John Calvin would have excommunicated both John Frame and James Jordan, given the idolatrous nature of their beliefs and public teaching regarding worship, please see swrb/newslett/actualNLs/frameexc.htm. The free article, A Warning Against the False and Dangerous Views of James Jordan Concerning Worship, is at swrb/newslett/actualNLs/blastjj.htm and will also expose more about the heresy and idolatry noted throughout Brian Schwertleys must hear MP3 series entitled Liturgical Antinomianism. Puritan Worship Series by Greg Price, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, John Girardeau, David Steele, John McNaugher and Others (57 Free MP3s)puritandownloads/57-free-mp3s-puritan-worship-series-by-greg-price-john-calvin-jonathan-edwards-george-gillespie-w-j-mencarow-david-steele-dr-steven-dilday-samuel-rutherford-brian-schwertley-dr-reg-barrow-and-others/ Singing the Psalms With Jesus and the Idols (Man Made Hymns) of John and Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts, the Trinity Hymnal, Fanny Crosby, and Others By Jim Dodson, John Calvin, W.J. Mencarow, Westminster Divines, Greg Price, Dr. Reg Barrow, et al. puritandownloads/singing-the-psalms-with-jesus-and-the-idols-man-made-hymns-of-john-and-charles-wesley-isaac-watts-the-trinity-hymnal-fanny-crosby-and-others-by-jim-dodson-john-calvin-w-j-mencarow-westminster-divines-greg-price-dr-reg-barrow-et-al/ puritandownloads/the-vain-worship-of-hypocrites-and-how-false-worship-destroys-nations-under-gods-wrath-by-jim-dodson-john-calvin-greg-price-john-knox-kevin-reed-westminster-divines-dr-steven-dilday-thomas-watson-and-others-free-mp3s/ The Puritan Hard Drive is a remarkable accomplishment! It presents an historic and singular opportunity. The common Christian can now have a world-class Presbyterian and Reformed library at his fingertips, for only pennies per volume. The works on the Puritan Hard Drive have been invaluable to me in sermon preparation and in improving personal and familial piety. If these had been the only blessings attached to the reading of these documents, the expense (even if it had been much greater) would have been justified; but there is more here. The best books on these subjects have not been readily available; but (thanks be to God) they are available again on the Puritan Hard Drive. For anyone interested in recovering our Presbyterian and Reformed past, the Puritan Hard Drive is a must. It is my hope and prayer that the Puritan Hard Drive will be used by God to bring to light the things that were hidden, to call to remembrance the things that were forgotten. - Dr. Steven Dilday, Pastor of Liberty and Grace Reformed Church in Northern Virginia, President of The Matthew Poole Project, Seminary Professor, Author, Publisher, Founder of Liberty and Grace Reformed Theological Seminary. Dr. Dilday is currently translating (from Latin to English) the Synopsis written by the Puritan Divine, Matthew Poole. This project when completed will consist of approximately 82 volumes. ow.ly/fPY4o The Sin of Ishtar or Easter Worship, Idolatry In the Church and God Hates False Worship by Jim Dodson, William Perkins, Greg Price, John Calvin, Dr. Steven Dilday, William Greenhill, Kevin Reed and Others (Free MP3s) puritandownloads/the-sin-of-ishtar-or-easter-worship-idolatry-in-the-church-and-god-hates-false-worship-by-jim-dodson-william-perkins-greg-price-john-calvin-dr-steven-dilday-william-greenhill-kevin-reed-and-others-free-mp3s/ That Gods word damns your ceremonies, it is evident; for the plain and straight commandment of God is, Not that thing which appears good in thy eyes, shalt thou do to the Lord thy God, but what the Lord thy God has commanded thee, that do thou: add nothing to it; diminish nothing from it. Now unless that ye are able to prove that God has commanded your ceremonies, this his former commandment will damn both you and them. With this understanding of worship, the Scottish Church cast out a multitude of the monuments of idolatry which were part of papal worship; graven images, the Mass, false sacraments, Romish liturgical ceremonies, and Roman bishops were all removed from the Church. Ecclesiastical holidays were also expelled from the Church of Scotland. - Kevin Reed, Christmas: An Historical Survey Regarding Its Origins and Opposition to It, free at swrb/newslett/actualnls/Xmas_ch2.htm. Trying the Spirits To Avoid Antichrist, His False Doctrine (Arminianism, Sacramentalism, Etc.), His False Worship (the Mass, Man-Made Hymns, Musical Instruments, Etc.), His Holy Days and Much More by Jim Dodson et al. puritandownloads/trying-the-spirits-to-avoid-antichrist-his-false-doctrine-arminianism-sacramentalism-etc-his-false-worship-the-mass-man-made-hymns-musical-instruments-etc-his-holy-days-and-much-more-by-jim/ In 1899, the General Assembly of the PCUS was overtured to give a pronounced and explicit deliverance against the recognition of Christmas and Easter as religious days. Even at this late date, the answer came back in a solid manner: There is no warrant in Scripture for the observance of Christmas and Easter as holydays, rather the contrary (see Gal. 4:9-11; Col. 2:16-21), and such observance is contrary to the principles of the Reformed faith, conducive to will-worship, and not in harmony with the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. - Kevin Reed, Christmas: An Historical Survey Regarding Its Origins and Opposition to It (Free Online Book at swrb/newslett/actualNLs/Xmas_ch0.htm). Forasmuch then, as kneeling before the consecrated bread, the sign of the cross, surplice, festival days (Eater, Christ-Mass, etc. - ed.), bishopping, bowing to the altar, administration of the sacraments in private places, etc. are the wares of Rome, the baggage of Babylon, the trinkets of the whore, the badges of Popery, the ensigns of Christs enemies and the very trophies of Antichrist: we cannot conform, communicate, and symbolize with. - George Gillespie, Scottish Commissioner to the Westminster Assembly, on the Puritan Hard Drive at ow.ly/fPY4o Phenomenal Message About Practical Atheism and How Christians and Unbelievers Practice This Sin As Individuals, Families, Churches and States, and How Practical Atheism Leads To the Breakdown Of All Levels Of Society by Jim Dodson (Free MP3) puritandownloads/phenomenal-message-about-practical-atheism-and-how-christians-and-unbelievers-practice-this-sin-as-individuals-families-churches-and-states-and-how-practical-atheism-leads-to-the-breakdown-of-all-levels-of-society-by-jim-dodson-free-mp3/ If you love the Bible, then you may well be Reformed. If you think of yourself as Reformed, but you have seldom or have never read older Reformed literature, prepare to be challenged. The Puritan Hard Drive (ow.ly/fPY4o) provides primary sources and depth of theological and spiritual insight which is lacking in much of what is passed off as genuine Reformed theology. If you think of yourself as conservative, the older Puritan and Reformed authors will help you sort reality from myth in your quest to be truly Reformed. There are more solid resources for less money here than anywhere else. I highly recommend you take responsibility for your soul and spend a few shekels for this cup of cold water in the midst of the modern religious desert. - Jim Dodson, Reformed Presbyterian Scholar, covenanter.org/ - ow.ly/fPY4o Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechism Commentaries by Jim Dodson, the Westminster Divines, Thomas Watson, Thomas Boston, Thomas Ridgeley and Others (Free MP3s, Books, Videos, Etc.) puritandownloads/westminster-larger-and-shorter-catechism-commentaries-by-jim-dodson-the-westminster-divines-thomas-watson-thomas-boston-thomas-ridgeley-and-others-free-mp3s-books-videos-etc/ All Free MP3s and Videos By Reformed Presbyterian Scholar Jim Dodson sermonaudio/go/137535 Email [email protected] for many more free online MP3s by Jim Dodson. The General Assembly taking to their consideration the manifold abuses, profanity, and superstitions committed on Yule-day and some other superstitious days following have unanimously concluded and hereby ordains; That whatsoever person or persons hereafter shall be found guilty in keeping of the foresaid superstitious days shall be proceeded against by Kirk censures and shall make their public repentance therefore in the face of the congregation where the offence is committed. - The Acts of the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland, February 13, 1645., pp. 285-286, on the Puritan Hard Drive ow.ly/fPY4o. The most complete collection of classic and rare Puritan and Covenanter works. - Brian Schwertley on the Puritan Hard Drive bit.ly/ci3g2z. ________ John Calvin on the Regulative Principle of Worship ...which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart. ...God here cuts off from men every occasion for making evasions, since he condemns by this one phrase, I have not commanded them, whatever the Jews devised. There is then no other argument needed to condemn superstitions, than that they are not commanded by God: for when men allow themselves to worship God according to their own fancies, and attend not to his commands, they pervert true religion. And if this principle was adopted by the Papists, all those fictitious modes of worship, in which they absurdly exercise themselves, would fall to the ground. It is indeed a horrible thing for the Papists to seek to discharge their duties towards God by performing their own superstitions. There is an immense number of them, as it is well known, and as it manifestly appears. Were they to admit this principle, that we cannot rightly worship God except by obeying his word, they would be delivered from their deep abyss of error. The Prophets words then are very important, when he says, that God had commanded no such thing, and that it never came to his mind; as though he had said, that men assume too much wisdom, when they devise what he never required, nay, what he never knew. - John Calvin, Commentary on Jeremiah 7:31 ________ The Regulative Principle of Worship is Gods ordained law for worship... You see there is no neutrality in the way in which we approach God in worship. Either we approach the living God according to His revealed Word (i.e. the Regulative Principle of Worship), or we approach Him according to our revealed word. Someones word is going to expressly guide us in worship. The only question is, whose word will guide us? Gods or mans? - Greg Price, Foundation For Reformation: The Regulative Principle Of Worship, free online at swrb/newslett/actualNLs/REFORMATION-RPW-GP.htm. ow.ly/yOMt0 The Corruption of Worship, and the Rise of Antichrist In History, Prophesied In Revelation by Dr. Steven Dilday, John Calvin, W.J. Mencarow, John Owen, George Gillespie, et al. (Free Reformation MP3s & Much More) ow.ly/yOMt0 Christmas: 8 New Free Reformed MP3s ow.ly/xXZCD Christmas was not celebrated by the apostolic church. It was not celebrated during the first few centuries of the church. As late as A.D. 245, Origen (Hom. 8 on Leviticus) repudiated ...the idea of keeping the birthday of Christ, as if he were a king Pharaoh. By the middle of the 4th century, many churches in the Latin west were celebrating Christmas. During the 5th century, Christmas became an official Roman Catholic holy day. In A.D. 534, Christmas was recognized as an official holy day by the Roman state.The reason that Christmas became a church holy day has nothing to do with the Bible. The Bible does not give the date of Christs birth. Nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to celebrate Christmas. Christmas (as well as many other pagan practices) was adopted by the Roman church as a missionary strategy. - The Regulative Principle of Worship and Christmas by Brian Schwertley FREE BOOK at swrb/newslett/actualNLs/CHRISTMAS.htm or on the Puritan Hard Drive ow.ly/dZ3ua. We rejoice to see so many long out of print works available in an easily affordable & searchable format. - Schwertley on the Puritan Hard Drive bit.ly/ci3g2z. History of Holy Days (Sabbath/Lords Day, Christmas, Easter, etc.) by Dr. Steven Dilday puritandownloads/history-of-holy-days-sabbath-lords-day-christmas-easter-etc-by-dr-steven-dilday/ FREE SWRB iPhone & iPad App ow.ly/dZ57X FREE SWRB Android App App puritandownloads/free-swrb-android-app/ Instrumental Music in Public Worship: The Views of John Calvin To sing the praises of God upon the harp and psaltery, says Calvin, unquestionably formed a part of the training of the law and of the service of God under that dispensation of shadows and figures, but they are not now to be used in public thanksgiving.1 He says again: With respect to the tabret, harp, and psaltery, we have formerly observed, and will find it necessary afterwards to repeat the same remark, that the Levites, under the law, were justified in making use of instrumental music in the worship of God; it having been his will to train his people, while they were yet tender and like children, by such rudiments until the coming of Christ. But now, when the clear light of the gospel has dissipated the shadows of the law and taught us that God is to be served in a simpler form, it would be to act a foolish and mistaken part to imitate that which the prophet enjoined only upon those of his own time.2 He further observes: We are to remember that the worship of God was never understood to consist in such outward services, which were only necessary to help forward a people as yet weak and rude in knowledge in the spiritual worship of God. A difference is to be observed in this respect between his people under the Old and under the New Testament; for now that Christ has appeared, and the church has reached full age, it were only to bury the light of the gospel should we introduce the shadows of a departed dispensation. From this it appears that the Papists, as I shall have occasion to show elsewhere, in employing instrumental music cannot be said so much to imitate the practice of Gods ancient people as to ape it in a senseless and absurd manner, exhibiting a silly delight in that worship of the Old Testament which was figurative and terminated with the gospel.3 ENDNOTES: 1. On Ps. lxxi. 22. 2. On Ps. lxxxi. 3. 3. On Ps. xcii. 1. FROM: INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN THE PUBLIC WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH By John L. Girardeau (Still Waters Revival Books, [1888] 2000), pp. 63, 64, on the Puritan Hard Drive ow.ly/fPY4o.. ________ Instrumental Music in Public Worship: History Surrounding the Westminster Assembly Before the Westminster Assembly of Divines undertook the office of preparing a Directory of Worship, the Parliament had authoritatively adopted measures looking to the removal of organs, along with other remains of Popery, from the churches of England. On the 20th of May, 1644, the commissioners from Scotland wrote to the General Assembly of their church and made the following statement among others: We cannot but admire the good hand of God in the great things done here already, particularly that the covenant, the foundation of the whole work, is taken, Prelacy and the whole train thereof extirpated, the service-book in many places forsaken, plain and powerful preaching set up, many colleges in Cambridge provided with such ministers as are most zealous of the best reformation, altars removed, the communion in some places given at the table with sitting, THE GREAT ORGANS AT PAULS AND PETERS IN WESTMINSTER TAKEN DOWN (emphasis added), images and many other monuments of idolatry defaced and abolished, the Chapel Royal at Whitehall purged and reformed; and all by authority, in a quiet manner, at noon-day, without tumult.1 So thorough was the work of removing organs that the Encyclopaedia Britannica says that at the Revolution most of the organs in England had been destroyed.2 When, therefore, the Assembly addressed itself to the task of framing a Directory for Worship, it found itself confronted by a condition of the churches of Great Britain in which the singing of psalms without instrumental accompaniment almost universally prevailed. In prescribing, consequently, the singing of psalms without making any allusion to the restoration of instrumental music, it must, in all fairness, be construed to specify the simple singing of praise as a part of public worship. The question, moreover, is settled by the consideration that had any debate occurred as to the propriety of allowing the use of instrumental music, the Scottish commissioners would have vehemently and uncompromisingly opposed that measure. But Lightfoot, who was a member of the Assembly, in his Journal of its Proceedings3 tells us: This morning we fell upon the Directory for singing of psalms; and, in a short time, we finished it. He says that the only point upon which the Scottish commissioners had some discussion was the reading of the Psalms line by line. ENDNOTES: 1. Girardeau cites this quotation from the Acts of Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 1644. 2. Girardeau cites Art., Organ. 3. Girardeau cites Works, Vol. xiii., pp. 343, 344; London, 1825. FROM: INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN THE PUBLIC WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH By John L. Girardeau (Still Waters Revival Books, [1888] 2000), pp. 132, 133, on the Puritan Hard Drive ow.ly/fPY4o. It is like the treasures that were taken out of Solomons temple. It is packed with such knowledge, understanding and so much wisdom I can fully understand how our Puritan forefathers walked in such fear of the Lord that they sought His and only His will to be done in their lives. I was struggling with life in general and felt that I was slipping so far away from God that I just could not see the way back, when I started looking into the Puritan Hard Drive. I was short on finances but willing to part with a treasured Matthew Henry 5 volumes in order to pay for the Puritan Hard Drive. Well only just after a month of continuously looking into the Puritans (on the Puritan Hard Drive - ed.), reading some and listening to the audio I feel that the Lord in His good kindness and His abounding mercy has once again assured me of His wonderful gracious Love towards His own. Ive got other Christian teaching material but nothing compares to what the Lord has done using Still Waters Revival Books to bring these books together and putting them all in one small compact 21st century device. It is TRULY amazing. I am the very least of all true Christians and what the Puritan Hard Drive has done for my spiritual revival is so wonderfully great, I wholeheartedly recommend getting this Puritan Hard Drive at whatever cost. - Paul Blyth, Plymouth, England (UK) ow.ly/fPY4o ________ The Heresy of Instrumental Music in Public Worship With reference to the time when organs were first introduced into use in the Roman Catholic Church, let us hear Bingham:1 It is now generally agreed among learned men that the use of organs came into the church since the time of Thomas Aquinas, Anno 1250; for he, in his Summs, has these words: Our church does not use musical instruments, as harps and psalteries, to praise God withal, that she may not seem to Judaize....Mr. Wharton also has observed that Marinus Sanutus, who lived about the year 1290, was the first who brought the use of wind-organs into churches, whence he was surnamed Torcellus, which is the name for an organ in the Italian tongue....Let us pause a moment to notice the fact, supported by a mass of incontrovertible evidence, that the Christian church did not employ instrumental music in its public worship for 1200 years after Christ....It deserves serious consideration, moreover, that notwithstanding the ever-accelerated drift towards corruption in worship as well as in doctrine and government, the Roman Catholic Church did not adopt this corrupt practice until about the middle of the thirteenth century....When the organ was introduced into its worship it encountered strong opposition, and made its way but slowly to general acceptance. These assuredly are facts that should profoundly impress Protestant churches. How can they adopt a practice which the Roman Church, in the year 1200, had not admitted...Then came the Reformation; and the question arises, How did the Reformers deal with instrumental music in the church?...Zwingle has already been quoted to show instrumental music was one of the shadows of the old law which has been realized in the gospel. He pronounces its employment in the present dispensation wicked pervicacity. There is no doubt in regard to his views on the subject, which were adopted by the Swiss Reformed churches...Calvin is very express in his condemnation of instrumental music in connection with the public worship of the Christian church...In his homily on 1 Sam. xviii. 1-9, he delivers himself emphatically and solemnly upon the subject: In Popery there was a ridiculous and unsuitable imitation [of the Jews]. While they adorned their temples, and valued themselves as having made the worship of God more splendid and inviting, they employed organs (emphasis added), and many other such ludicrous things, by which the Word and worship of God are exceedingly profaned, the people being much more attached to those rites than to the understanding of the divine Word... Whatever may be the practice in recent times of the churches of Holland, the Synods of the Reformed Dutch Church, soon after the Reformation, pronounced very decidedly against the use of instrumental music in public worship. The National Synod at Middleburg, in 1581, declared against it, and the Synod of Holland and Zealand, in 1594, adopted this strong resolution; That they would endeavor to obtain of the magistrate the laying aside of organs, and the singing with them in the churches.... The Provincial Synod of Dort also inveighed severely against their use...The Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon, ...upholds an apostolic simplicity of worship. The great congregation which is blessed with the privilege of listening to his instructions has no organ to assist them in singing...The non-prelatic churches, Independent and Presbyterian, began their development on the American continent without instrumental music. They followed the English Puritans and the Scottish Church, which had adopted the principles of the Calvinistic Reformed Church...It has thus been proved by an appeal to historical facts, that the church, although lapsing more and more into defection from the truth and into a corruption of apostolic practice, had no instrumental music for twelve hundred years; and that the Calvinistic Reformed Church ejected it from its services as a element of Popery, even the Church of England having come very nigh to its extrusion from her worship. The historical argument, therefore, combines with the scriptural and the confessional to raise a solemn and powerful protest against its employment by the Presbyterian Church. IT IS HERESY IN THE SPHERE OF WORSHIP (emphasis added). ENDNOTES: 1. Works, Vol. iii., p. 137, ff. FROM: INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN THE PUBLIC WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH By John L. Girardeau (Still Waters Revival Books, [1888] 2000), Historical Argument pp. 158, 159, 161, 165, 170, 179, on the Puritan Hard Drive ow.ly/fPY4o. ________ But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. - The Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 15:9) Colossians 2:8,20-23. The emphasis of the great apostle throughout this chapter is on forsaking the traditions and commandments of men, and rather clinging to Christ and His commandments, for in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge . . in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power (Col 2:3,9-10). Dear ones, you are not complete in yourself or in any man-made ceremonies in worship. You are complete, made full and acceptable through His work on your behalf. He is the head of the church, not you or me. He is our Prophet, Priest, and King. He alone directs our worship and presents it acceptable to the Father. Paul infers that to practice any will-worship (or self-imposed religion Col. 2:23) according to the commandments and doctrines of men (Col. 2:22) is to undermine the finished work of Christ (Col. 2:11-23) and to seek to usurp the headship over the church that rightly belongs to Christ (Col. 2:8-10,18-19). Self-imposed worship (i.e. any religious act, gesture, symbol, or ceremony in worship) is expressly condemned by Christ and His apostles. It is in fact false worship which no Christian should tolerate in the house of God without a verbal protest to the leadership and separation from this false worship until there is biblical reformation in worship (The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising, counselling, commanding, using, and any wise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God himself (The Larger Catechism, Question 109). - Greg Price, Foundation for Reformation: The Regulative Principle of Worship, free online at swrb/newslett/actualNLs/REFORMATION-RPW-GP.htm The Puritan Hard Drive is the best resource money can buy. It is easy, simple to use and the search feature cut down my time searching web pages that had absolutely nothing to do with the query I typed into the search engine. Not to mention a lot of the material is not accessible on the Internet. To have so many books and articles at my fingers-tips is both truly amazing and a blessing. If you love the Puritans and Reformed theology, then the Puritan Hard Drive is a resource that you cant live without. - Pastor Jerry Johnson, President of Nicene Council, Seminary Professor, Author, Video Producer, etc. ow.ly/fPY4o The Jews did not spare any cost in their idolatrous worship. No, they ‘cause their sons and daughters to pass through the fire to Molech’ (Jer. 32:35). They were so zealous in their idol worship that they would sacrifice their sons and daughters to their false gods. How far the blind heathen went in their false zeal! When the tribunes of Rome complained that they wanted gold in their treasuries to offer to Apollo, the Roman matrons plucked off their chains of gold and rings and bracelets and gave them to the priests to offer up sacrifice. Were these so zealous in their sinful worship, and will you not be zealous in the worship of the true God? . - Thomas Watson on the Puritan Hard Drive ow.ly/dZ3ua CHRISTMAS: FREE BOOKS, MP3s & Videos By The Best Reformers, Puritans and Covenanters sermonaudio/new_details3.asp?ID=13509 The Regulative Principle of Worship and Christmas by Brian Schwertley swrb/newslett/actualNLs/christmas.htm Christmas swrb/newslett/actualNLs/christmas.htm#C3 Christmas is a Monument to Past and Present Idolatry swrb/newslett/actualNLs/christmas.htm#C3S1 Christmas Dishonors Christs Day swrb/newslett/actualNLs/christmas.htm#C3S2 Christmas is a Lie swrb/newslett/actualNLs/christmas.htm#C3S3 The World Loves Christmas swrb/newslett/actualNLs/christmas.htm#C3S4 Dont Be Fooled swrb/newslett/actualNLs/christmas.htm#C3S5 Common Reasons Given by Christians for Celebrating Christmas swrb/newslett/actualNLs/christmas.htm#C3S6 The Puritan Hard Drive is an exquisite piece of work. ... Truly, if a Christian wants to invest wisely in his own growth, this is the best investment he can make at this time. More than highly recommended! - Justin Rawson, Gospel Covenant Publications ow.ly/fPY4o
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 09:13:48 +0000
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