The Christian's Reasonable Service
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[Picture omitted:] WILHELMUS à BRAKEL, Thess F. (AD 1635-1711) Minister of the Gospel in Rotterdam THE CHRISTIAN‘S REASONABLE SERVICE in which Divine Truths concerning the COVENANT OF GRACE are Expounded, Defended against Opposing Parties, and their Practice Advocated as well as The Administration of this Covenant in the Old and New Testaments by WILHELMUS à BRAKEL, Th. F. Minister of the Gospel in Rotterdam Volume 3 of 4 Translated by Bartel Elshout Edited by Joel R. Beeke REFORMATION HERITAGE BOOKS Grand Rapids, Michigan Reformation Heritage Books 2919 Leonard St., NE Grand Rapids, MI 4925 616-977-0599/Fax 616-977-0889/e-mail [email protected] website: www.heritagebboks.org All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This translation is based on the third edition of the original Dutch work entitled Redelijke Godsdienst published by D. Bolle, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The Christian‘s Reasonable Service, Volume 3 ISBN 1-877611-88-3 Copyright © 1992 Contents—Volume 3 Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation (cont.) 44. Sanctification and Holiness ###3 The Infinitives ―To Sanctify‖ and ―To Hallow‖ Defined ###3 The Distinction Between Justification and Sanctification ###3 Sanctification: The Efficacious Operation of God in the Elect ###4 Sanctification and its Relationship to the Old and New Man in the Believer ###6 The Functioning of the Old Man in the Believer ###9 The Mortification of the Old Man ###11 The Quickening of the New Man ###14 The Fruit of Sanctification: Holiness ###16 The Virtues Issuing Forth from Holiness ###19 The Three Requisites of true Holiness ###20 Exhortation to Strive for Holiness ###23 The Rich Promises of Scripture in Reference to a holy Life ###31 45. The Law of God: General Considerations ###35 The Giver of the Law ###36 The Manner in Which the Law Was Given ###38 The Law of God and its Relationship to the Covenant of Grace ###40 The Law of the Ten Commandments: Not a Covenant of Works ###43 The Law of the Ten Commandments: Not the Covenant of Grace ###45 The Covenant Made at Horeb: Not a Mixture of the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace ###50 The Law of the Ten Commandments: Of Eternal Duration and Binding to the New Testament Believer ###52 The Eternal Duration of the Law of the Ten Commandments ###55 The Law of Christ is Equivalent to the Law of the Ten Commandments ###58 The Moral Law: The Rule of Life for New Testament Believers ###59 Christ: The End of the Law and not the Abrogation of the Law ###64 The Law of the Ten Commandments: A Perfect and Complete Rule ###68 Perfect Compliance with the Law not Attainable in this Life ###75 Heaven: Not Merited by good Works but by the Finished Work of Christ ###78 Final Exhortation to Observe the Law Diligently as a Rule of Life ###81 46. The First Commandment ###84 God's Gift of the Law to Man: The Manifestation of His Character ###84 Guidelines to Be Observed in Ascertaining the Meaning of the Law ###85 The Two Tables of the Law ###86 The Preamble of the Law ###88 The Exposition of the First Commandment ###89 Atheism Forbidden ###90 Idolatry Forbidden ###90 The Worship of Angels and Deceased Saints Denounced ###91 Witchcraft Forbidden ###98 Fortune-telling Forbidden ###99 Superstition Forbidden ###100 The Virtues Enjoined in the First Commandment ###100 47. The Second Commandment ###105 The Content of the Second Commandment ###105 The Incentives Conjoined to this Commandment ###106 The Sins Prohibited ###108 The Virtues Enjoined ###116 48. The Third Commandment ###119 The Focus of this Commandment: The Name of the Lord ###119 The Sins Prohibited ###120 Games of Chance ###124 Public Lotteries ###126 The Virtues Enjoined ###128 The Oath ###129 The Oath: Lawful for Christians ###134 The Need for Self-Examination due to the Solemnity of the Oath ###135 49. The Fourth Commandment ###139 The Basic Contents of this Commandment ###139 The Observance of the Sabbath ###140 The Sins Prohibited ###143 The Virtues Enjoined ###145 Additional Incentives for a Proper Observance of the Sabbath ###147 The Fourth Commandment: Ceremonial or Moral in Nature? ###149 The Sabbath, Having Been Instituted Prior to the Fall, Is not Ceremonial ###152 The Sabbath Is not Ceremonial: Its Observance Is Regulated by the Moral Law ###158 The Eternal Duration of the Moral Law and thus of the Fourth Commandment ###159 The Observance of the Sabbath to Continue After the Abrogation of the Ceremonial Laws ###161 The Observance of the Sabbath: Practiced by Christ, the Apostles, and the Early Church ###162 Objection #1: The Sabbath Does not Issue Forth from the Character of God ###164 Objection #2: The Sabbath Is Part of the Ceremonial Law ###167 Objection #3: The Sabbath Was Abolished by Christ ###169 Objection #4: The Sabbath Is Detrimental to the Gospel ###171 Objection #5: The Sabbath Is Typical of the New Testament Dispensation ###176 Objection #6: The Sabbath Is to Be Observed on the Seventh Day Following Six Workdays ###178 Objection #7: The Sabbath Is a Ceremony Typifying Spiritual Worship ###182 50. The Fifth Commandment ###185 The Full Scope of the Words ―Father‖ and ―Mother‖ ###185 The Virtues to Which Superiors Are Enjoined ###187 The Virtues Enjoined of Subordinates ###187 The Sins Prohibited ###189 The Incentive Conjoined to this Commandment ###191 Exhortation to Superiors ###192 Exhortation to Children and Subordinates ###192 Final Incentives Given for Obedience ###193 51. The Sixth Commandment ###195 All Homicide not Forbidden ###195 The Sins Forbidden ###197 The Virtues Enjoined ###202 52. The Seventh Commandment ###205 Marriage: Divinely Instituted ###205 The Sins Prohibited ###206 The Abominable Nature of this Sin and the Special Judgments Which God Executes upon it ###210 The Virtues Enjoined ###212 Exhortation to Strive for Purity of Heart ###212 53. The Eighth Commandment ###215 The Sins Prohibited ###215 The Means Whereby Theft Is Committed ###219 The Various Manners in Which Theft Is Committed ###221 The Cause of Theft ###223 The Virtues Enjoined ###223 Exhortation to Self-examination ###224 54. The Ninth Commandment ###227 The Sins Prohibited ###227 The Virtues Enjoined ###233 Final Arguments for Observing this Commandment ###234 55. The Tenth Commandment ###237 Man Created with Desire for God ###237 Refutation of the Notion that Covetousness Is no Sin ###238 The Sins Prohibited ###239 The Virtues Enjoined ###242 56. The Glorification of God ###243 Virtue: Its Nature and Goal ###243 God Glorifies Himself in the Works of Nature and Grace ###244 The Glorification of God ###245 The Manner in Which God Is Glorified ###247 Man's Grievous Failure to Glorify God ###249 The Serious Consequences of not Glorifying God ###252 The Shortcomings of God's Children in Glorifying God ###254 Exhortation to Glorify God ###255 The Spiritual Advantages of Glorifying God ###258 Exhortation to Persevere in Endeavoring to Glorify God ###260 57. Love Toward God ###263 Love Toward God Defined ###264 The Deeds Whereby Love Toward God Is Manifested ###266 Indications of the Absence of Love Toward God ###268 The Wretched Condition of Those who Do not Love God ###270 Believers Stirred up to Love Toward God ###272 Believers to Abstain from that Which Hinders an Increase in Love ###275 Counsel for the Increase in Love Toward God ###276 58. Love Toward Jesus Christ ###277 Jesus Christ: The Object of Love Revealed in the Gospel ###277 The Grievous Sin of Being Acquainted with Jesus and yet not Loving Him ###277 The Wretched Condition of Those who Do not Love Jesus ###279 Impediments to an Assurance of a Love for Jesus ###280 Marks of Love for Jesus ###282 The Blessedness of Those who Love Jesus ###284 Exhortations to Increase in Love Toward Jesus ###285 Guards Against all that Impedes the Exercise of Love Toward Jesus ###288 Exhortation to Stir up Love Toward Jesus ###290 59. The Fear of God ###291 The Word Fear Defined ###291 Two Kinds of Fear: Slavish and Filial Fear ###292 The Definition and Nature of Filial Fear ###293 Exhortation with the Intent to Convict Those Who Do Not Fear God ###295 The Serious Consequences of Being Void of the Fear of God ###296 The Fear of God in Believers ###297 Believers Rebuked ###298 Incentives for the Fear of God ###300 Blessings Promised to Those who Fear God ###301 60. Obedience Toward God ###303 The Object and Subjects of Obedience ###303 The Nature, Goal, and Manner of Obedience ###304 A Convicting Question: Are We Obedient Toward God? ###307 A Reprimand for the Disobedient ###308 A Reprimand for God's Children ###311 An Exhortation to Obedience ###313 61. Hope in God ###317 The Nature of Hope ###318 The Objects of Hope ###321 The Cause and Means of the Exercise of Hope ###322 Patience: The Adjunct and Result of Hope ###323 A Call to Serious Self-Examination ###324 The Godly Rebuked and Exhorted ###326 62. Spiritual Strength or Courage ###331 The Essence of Spiritual Strength ###333 The Origin of Spiritual Strength ###334 The Effects of Spiritual Courage ###336 The Unconverted: Void of Spiritual Valor and Courage ###338 The Godly Rebuked for Their Deficient Strength ###340 Exhortation to Be Courageous ###341 God's Promises for Courageous Warriors ###345 Final Directions for this Warfare ###346 63. The Profession of Christ and His Truth ###349 Profession of the Truth Is in Word and Deed ###351 The Qualities of an Unwavering Witness of the Truth ###352 The Purpose of Profession of the Truth ###356 God Requires Profession of the Truth ###357 Believers Exhorted to Confess Jesus Boldly ###358 A Letter of Exhortation to Be Steadfast in the Confession of the Lord Jesus Christ and His truth in Time ###359 of Persecution and Martyrdom Final Exhortation to Believers ###376 64. Contentment ###379 The Object of Contentment ###380 The Nature of Contentment ###381 The Foundation of Contentment ###382 The Effects or Fruits of Contentment ###383 Discontentment: A Characteristic of the Unconverted ###384 The Godly: Also Subject to Discontentment ###386 The Godly Exhorted not to Be Fretful ###387 Exhortation to Strive for Contentment ###390 The Blessed Benefits Issuing Forth from Contentment ###393 Guidelines for Learning how to Be Content ###395 65.