[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 2 of 4 Translated by Bartel Elshout Edited by Joel R. Beeke 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 2 ISBN 1-877611-60-3 Copyright © 1992 Contents—Volume Two Preface xv Ecclesiology: The Doctrine of the Church 24. Concerning the Church ###3 The Church: Known from the Word of God ###3 Clarification of the Invisible/Visible Church Distinction ###5 The Church Defined ###8 The True Church: A Congregation of True Believers ###8 Objections Answered Concerning Membership in the True Church ###12 The Characteristics of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Christian ###15 The True Church Refers to Herself as Reformed ###20 The True Church Is Separated from the World and United Internally ###20 God, the Keeper of His Church ###23 The Marks Whereby the Church Is Distinguished ###25 Distinguishing Marks not Applicable to the Church ###25 True Distinguishing Marks of the Church ###29 The Reformed Church Vindicated as the Continuation of the True Church ###37 The True Church Confesses Christ and His Truth ###41 The True Church Engaged in Spiritual Warfare ###42 The Antichrist: The Foremost and Most Formidable Foe of the Church ###43 Scriptural Proofs that the Pope of Rome Is the Antichrist ###44 The True Church Glorifies God ###53 25. The Duty to Join the Church and to Remain with Her ###55 Motives for Joining the Church ###56 The Glory and Elegance of the Church ###58 Degeneracy Within the Church: Not a Reason to Separate from the Church ###60 Degeneracy Within the Church: Not a Reason to Abstain from the Lord‟s Supper ###63 A Warning not to Engage in Schism ###66 Objections Answered ###69 The Duty to Partake of the Lord‟s Supper When Members who Give Offense also Partake ###73 The Duty of the Church and her Members Regarding Individuals who Lead Offensive Lives ###78 A Rebuke Toward Persons who Leave the Church to Establish a Purer Church ###83 26. The Communion of Believers with Christ and with Each Other ###87 The Relationship Between Christ and His Church ###87 The Nature of the Union Between Christ and His Church ###89 Union with Christ Will Necessarily Result in Communion with Christ ###90 Exhortation to Seek Communion with Christ ###92 The Manner in Which Believers Exercise Communion with Christ ###94 Exhortation to Remain Steadfast in Exercising Communion with Christ ###96 The Communion of Saints ###97 The Saints‟ Communion and Fellowship with Angels ###98 The Relationship Between Believers and Glorified Saints ###99 The Communion of Saints on Earth ###100 Communion of Saints and the Sharing of Possessions ###103 The Blessedness of the Church Where Communion of Saints Functions ###105 27. The Government of the Church, and Particularly the Commissioning of Ministers ###107 The Pope: Neither the Head of the Church, nor the Successor of Peter ###107 Bishops Have no Authority over Other Ministers ###113 The Necessity of a Divine Commission for the Ministry of the Word ###118 The Elements of the Internal Call to the Ministry ###121 The Elements of the External Call to the Ministry ###122 The Need for Persons in the Ministry to Examine Themselves ###125 The Responsibility of Church Members Toward the Internal and External Calling of Ministers ###127 28. The Offices of Minister, Elder, and Deacon ###131 The Office of the Ministry ###131 The Qualifications for the Ministry ###132 The Duties of a Minister ###136 The Office of Elder ###142 The Eldership: A Divine Institution ###143 The Duties of an Elder ###145 The Office of Deacon ###148 The Deaconry: A Divine Institution ###149 The Qualifications of a Deacon ###150 Exhortation to Faithfulness in the Execution of the Offices ###152 29. Ecclesiastical Authority and the Use of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven ###157 The Necessity of and Biblical Basis for Ecclesiastical Assemblies ###157 The Purpose of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven ###158 Two Keys: Preaching and Discipline ###159 The Steps in Christian Discipline ###160 The End and Objective of Christian Discipline ###161 Appropriate Conduct with Regard to Censure ###162 The Foundation for Christian Discipline ###163 The Relationship of the Civil Government to the Church ###168 The Lord Jesus Christ: The Only and Sovereign King of His Church ###170 The Differences Between Civil and Ecclesiastical Governments ###171 Objections Answered Pertaining to the Unique Jurisdiction of Civil and Ecclesiastical Governments ###173 The Responsibility of the Civil Government with Regard to the Church. ###178 Exhortation to the Faithful Use of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven ###180 The Proper Use of the Key of God‟s Word ###180 The Proper Use of the Key of Christian Discipline ###183 A Final Exhortation to Be Faithful in the Use of the Key of Discipline ###184 Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation 30. The External and Internal Call ###191 The Calling: God‟s Declaration of the Gospel to Sinners ###191 The Distinction Between Law and Gospel ###193 The Distinction Between External and Internal Call ###193 The External Call: Not Extended to All Men ###195 The External Call of the Gospel in the Old Testament Dispensation ###197 The External Call of the Gospel Comes to All Who Hear the Gospel ###202 God‟s Objective in Calling Men ###205 The Internal Call ###209 The Difference Between a Natural and Spiritual Disposition ###211 The Internal Call: A Work of God‟s Grace ###214 A Refutation of the Arminian Error that Man Has a Natural Inclination to Repent and Believe ###216 Man‟s Passivity at the Moment of Regeneration ###222 The Internal Call: The Immediate and Effectual Operation of God ###225 The Irresistible Nature of the Internal Call ###230 31. Regeneration ###233 Regeneration Defined ###233 The Necessity of Regeneration ###234 Further Clarification of the Doctrine of Regeneration ###236 Regeneration and its Attending Circumstances ###238 The Common Manner in Which God Converts Sinners ###239 The Soul-Exercises of the Elect ###241 The Repetitive Nature of the Exercise of Faith ###244 The Relationship Between Faith and Regeneration ###245 The Time of Life when Regeneration Occurs ###246 The Fruits of Regeneration ###250 A Serious Exhortation to the Unconverted ###255 A Word to the Regenerate ###259 32. Concerning Faith ###261 The Meaning of the Word “Faith” ###261 Historical, Temporal, Miraculous, and Saving Faith ###263 Additional Biblical Terminology Describing Faith ###264 The Necessity of Faith ###266 The Genus of Faith ###266 The Subject of Faith ###266 Knowledge of the Truth: An Essential Element of the Exercise of Faith ###270 Assent: An Additional Element of the Exercise of Faith ###273 The Object of Faith ###274 The Unique Essence of Faith ###275 The Exercise of Faith: An Act of the Will ###278 A Response to Those who Object to Faith Being the Exercise of One‟s Will ###282 A Comprehensive Description of Saving Faith ###286 The Cause of Faith ###288 The Objective of Faith ###290 The Additional Characteristics of Faith ###291 The Effects or Fruits of Faith ###291 Saving Faith Compared with Temporal Faith ###292 Unbelief: The Opposite of True Faith ###294 An Urgent Exhortation to Believe in Christ ###295 Motives unto Faith ###297 Christ: An All-Sufficient, Suitable, and Able Savior ###298 The Personal Nature of Christ‟s Offer of Salvation to All Who Hear the Gospel ###300 The Exceeding Wickedness of not Believing in Christ ###301 Obstacles in Coming to Christ Identified and Removed ###302 A Final Word to True Believers ###304 33. Distinguishing Marks of Saving Faith ###307 The Necessity of Self-Examination ###308 Various Forms of Self-Deceit Identified and False Foundations Exposed ###310 Temporal and True Believers Distinguished in Their Sorrow over Sin ###316 Temporal and True Believers Distinguished in the Exercise of Faith ###321 Temporal and True Believers Distinguished in Their Practice of Holiness ###329 Encouragement for True Believers who Fear They Are Temporal Believers ###337 34. Justification ###341 The Terms “Righteousness,” “Righteous,” and “Justification” Defined ###341 Justification: Not Infusion of Holiness, but a Divine, Judicial Act ###344 The Act of Justification Described and Clarified ###347 The Components of Justification ###348 The Cause of Justification ###349 The Meriting Cause of Justification ###349 Objections to Imputed Righteousness Refuted ###354 The Means unto Justification: Faith ###356 The Time when Justification Occurs ###357 The Truth of Justification Defended ###358 James‟s Justification by Works and Paul‟s Justification by Faith ###363 Refutation of Additional Objections Pertaining to the Relationship Between Justification and Good Works ###366 Justification Not Twofold ###371 The Role of Faith in Justification ###373 Justification Is not from Eternity ###376 The Error of the “Hebrews” Refuted ###379 Justification: A Daily Occurrence ###381 Scriptural Proofs for Daily Justification ###385 Justification and its Result: Assurance ###391 Refutation of Objections to the Truth that