Solus Christus Reformed Baptist Church

James Janeway's A Token for Children (full title: A Token for Children: Being an Exact Account of the Conversion, Holy and Exemplary Lives, and Joyful Deaths of Several Young Children) was originally published in two parts: Part 1: Published in 1671. Part 2: Published in 1672.

Some find themselves, on account of the things mentioned, perhaps to be the darlings and "ingentia decora," or glory of their party. If thoughts of this secretly insinuate themselves into their hearts, and influence them into more than ordinary diligence and activity in their way and profession, they are entangled. And instead of aiming at more glory, they need to lie in the dust, in a sense of their own vileness.

It is a woeful thing to consider what slight thoughts most have about this thing. So men are content that they can keep themselves from sin itself in open action; they scarcely aim at more; all sorts of men will risk any temptation in the world, at any time. How young men will put themselves into any company, any society; at first, being delighted with evil company, and they are then with the evil of the company!

There is a hardness, an insensible lack of spiritual sense, that is gathered in prosperity, that if not watched against, will expose the heart to the deceits of sin66 and baits of Satan. "Watch and pray" in this season. Many men's negligence in this area has cost them dearly; their woeful experience cries out to take heed. Blessed is he that always fears, but especially in a time of prosperity.

Attending plays and other such pleasures greatly unfits us for the discharge of spiritual duties, and leads us to neglect them. If the diversions of the stage could be used only as a relaxation of the mind, to unbend our thoughts for the present, so that we may be better fit for engaging in religious duties, and go to them with greater eagerness and delight, then there would be some show of an argument for pursuing them. But do these diversions meet this purpose? You who have been there, I leave your consciences to answer these questions: Is it an easy transition from the playhouse to the duties of the family or closet? Can you then read the word of God, and seek him by prayer, with as much composure of mind, and freedom and regularity of thought?

Our entering into temptation is required,— (1.) That by some advantage, or on some occasion, Satan be more earnest than ordinary in his solicitations to sin, by affrightments or allurements, by persecutions or seductions, by himself or others; or that some lust or corruption, by his instigation and advantages of outward objects, provoking, as in prosperity, or terrifying, as in trouble, do tumultuate more than ordinary within us.

The efficacy of an antidote is found when poison hath been taken; and the preciousness of medicines is made known by diseases. We shall never know what strength there is in grace if we know not what strength there is in temptation. We must be tried, that we may be made sensible of being preserved. And many other good and gracious ends he hath, which he accomplishes towards his saints by his trials and temptations, not now to be insisted on.

The case of a soul that as yet belongs to the world, or to the class of unbelieving men, and consider the way in which, through the agency of the Spirit of God, he is translated into the other class, and made a living member of His Church. This transition occurs at the time of his conversion. And the process by which it is effected may differ in different cases, in respect to some of its concomitant circumstances.

Introduction to William Benn's Soul Prosperity, published in 1683

Our religion, as to the rules and principles of it, was before Luther, where it has been ever since, in the Scriptures: And as to the profession of it, it has been owned and maintained by the faithful in all ages, namely, such as have been kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, against whom the gates of Hell and Rome have not been able to prevail. The Protestant religion we contend for is nothing else but Christianity uncorrupted, which was in its greatest purity before ever the Pope was heard of in the world.

An exposition of the Westminster Larger Catechism.

"I have, through a great multiplicity of worldly affairs, and a deep engagement in them, lost that savour and relish for divine things I once experienced, and have become a sad stranger to that real communion with God, which was previously my chief joy. And I have so greatly declined in the Christian life, that I can sometimes omit the duties of private prayer and meditation; and at other times, I perform them with formality and coldness, and I am in no way suitably affected with my sad defections.

I have heard you, you have spoken. After many hours of prayer and seeking direction, I have determined the direction to prioritize going forward. Give it a listen.

There has been a lot of scandals in the Christian news these days. Did John Owen, Richard Sibbes, other writers of a bygone day say anything that can help us get to the foundation of this problem? I at least tried to gather up their counsel for you. I hope it is enlightening.

The warnings and exhortations on this subject has caused the "Narrator" to lose a lot of sleep. But maybe this is a good thing.

When men find their affections are still quick, active, and intent on other things, such as the lawful enjoyments and comforts of this life, it is in vain to relieve themselves by thinking the decays they find are in their natural affections, and not (as they ought to be) gracious. If we see a man in his old age grow more in love with the things of this world, and less in love with the things of God, it is not through the weakness of nature, but through the strength of sin.

The extraordinary nature of this fire, it consumed "the dust and licked up the water that was in the trench," thus making it quite obvious that this was a fire whose agency nothing could resist. In each instance the action of this fire was downwards, which is contrary to the nature of all earthly fire. No trickery was at work here, but a supernatural power that removed every ground of suspicion in the spectators, leaving them face to face with the might and majesty of Him they had so grievously slighted.

My reason for confining the query to the grace of faith, is from the difficulty that I find in ascertaining the truth of my love, repentance, opposition to sin, and even my obedience itself, unless all of these appear to flow in me from faith in Christ as their principle. "Another reason is, in examining myself as to my state or frame, I find that if my conscience is mistaken or ignorant of the rule of God's word, then all the conclusions resulting from comparing my heart and ways with it, must be wrong and uncertain in the same degree as my conscience is erroneous, and its testimony false.

What is it which believers do so delight in in the ordinances and institutions of divine gospel worship, and what it is that engages their hearts and minds into a diligent observance of them, as also how and wherein they do exercise their love and delight.

Persons every day fall under great and effectual convictions of sin, and of their danger or certain misery thereby. This stirs up and acts all their affections, especially their fears, hopes, desires, sorrow, self-revenge, according as their condition calls for them. Hence sometimes they grow restless in their complaints, and turn themselves every way for relief, like men that are out of the way and bewildered in the night.

There was a lot of things that were affecting me that I wanted to just relate and share these things together. Thanks

It will be utterly in vain for impenitent sinners to think to do thus with respect to the torments of hell. They will not be able to endure them, or at all to support themselves under them: the torment will be immensely beyond their strength. What will it signify for a worm, which is about to be pressed under the weight of some great rock, to be let fall with its whole weight upon it, to collect its strength, to set itself to bear up the weight of the rock, and to preserve itself from being crushed by it? Much more in vain will it be for a poor damned soul, to endeavor to support itself under the weight of the wrath of Almighty God. What is the strength of man, who is but a worm, to support himself against the power of Jehovah, and against the fierceness of his wrath? What is man's strength, when set to bear up against the exertions of infinite power? Matt. xxi. 44, "Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."

The Hymns of C. H. Spurgeon