Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment - Jeremiah Burroughs

(Please note this change to the Puritan Reading Challenge schedule.)

After reading the biographical outline of Jeremiah Burroughs' life contained in Meet the Puritans by Beeke and Pederson, I came away with the following impressions:

1) God sometimes calls his servants home early in life. Jeremiah Burroughs only lived from 1600-1646, but his impact is still being felt today.

2) Blessed are the peacemakers. On his study door was written: Opinionum varietas et opinantium unitas non sunt hasustata ("variety of opinion and unity of opinion are not incompatible"). Burroughs, while in the midst of some of the most contentious issues in the life of the English church, attempted to be a peacemaker and a conciliator. These were not mere words to him, but rather a rule to live by.

3) Life wasn't easy for these guys. As we have also seen in the lives of Sibbes, Flavel, and Watson, the English Puritans suffered many hurts and insults for their desire to remain true to their God and to their consciences. His refusal to compromise his principles led to him fleeing to the Netherlands for two years.

Today we have much more than these 17th Century Puritans. In fact, it would be difficult for them to begin to imagine the comforts, privileges, and wealth that we possess today. Yet, will we discover during April's reading that Contentment comes harder for us than for them?

Godly Man's Picture - Conclusion

When we note that the complete title of the Thomas Watson book that we have been reading this month is The Godly Man's Picture Drawn with a Scripture Pencil, or, Some Characteristic Marks of a Man who is Going to Heaven, we get some clue as to what Watson wants to accomplish. He wants us to note the "characteristic marks" of God's people.

Page after page he describes these characteristics, drawing heavily from Scripture. Page after page the reader is challenged, at least this one was, when we see that we do not measure up to the mark in demonstrating all of these characteristics, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24). Page after page we find cause to pray and to confess.

Watson must have known, to some degree, that this would be the effect upon his readers. I am so, so thankful that he does not conclude his book before telling us, just as Richard Sibbes did in our January reading, that "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoking flax he will not quench." (Isaiah 42:3, Matt. 12;20) I am so thankful that Watson reminds us that our journey is not complete, our sanctification, while sure, is not yet perfected, and that we are mysteriously joined to Christ our Savior in such a way that no one can snatch us out of His hand.

The benefit in reading a book such as this is found in the fact that we can use it to show us in which ways God has already begun a work in us, as well as discovering those areas in which He still desires to change us. One should read a work like this, mark out those areas of deficiency, and then periodically review in the future to see the work of God in His continuing to sanctify us.

We can say, with the Apostle Paul, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) In Christ Jesus, trusting Him to do His work in us.

Godly Man's Picture - Correct Thinking

Fanaticism and Rationality

Too often we worry about what other people will think of us. We lament, "what if they think that I am some kind of fanatic?"

And thus I have shown the marks and characteristics of a godly man. If a person thus described is reputed to be a fanatic, then Abraham and Moses and David and Paul were fanatics, which I think none but atheists will dare to affirm! (pg. 188)

Who cares what "they" think? Being a "fanatic" for God is the true rational course:

'Now are ye light of the Lord' (Eph. 5:8). Will not anyone be willing to exchange a dark prison for a king's palace? Will he not exchange his brass for gold? You who become godly change for the better; you change your pride for humility, your uncleanness for holiness. You change a lust that will damn you for a Christ who will save you. If men were not besotted, if their fall had not knocked their brains out, they would see that it is the most rational thing in the world to become godly. (pg. 201)

If the world had any brains, it would seek after God. We who have been given a new heart, a new mind, and spiritual understanding, should dedicate ourselves to His glory. To do otherwise would be foolish and irrational.

Each of us are fanatical about something or other. Wouldn't it be most profitable to be a fan of our Creator?

Godly Man's Picture - The Law

Is the Law important for the Christian today?

A godly man strives to walk according to the full breadth and latitude of God's law. Every command had the same stamp of divine authority on it, and he who is godly will obey one commande as well as another: Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect to all thy commandments' (Psa. 119:6). A godly man goes through all the body of religion as the sun through all the signs of the Zodiac. Whoever is to play a ten-stringed instrument must strike every string or he will spoil the music. The ten commandments may be compared to a ten-stringed instrument. We must obey every commandment, strike every string, or we cannot make any sweet music in religion. True obedience is filial. It is fitting that the child should obey the parent in all just and sober commands. God's laws are like the curtains of the tabernacle which were looped together. They are like a chain of gold where all the links are coupled. A conscientious man will not willingly break one link of this chain. If one command is violated, the whole chain in broken: 'whosoever shall keep the whole law, yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all' (Jas. 2:10). A voluntary breach of one of God's laws involves a man in the guilt and exposes him to the curse of the whole law. True obedience is entire and uniform. A good heart, like the needle, points the way in which the lodestone draws. (pg. 166-167)

"Law to the Proud, Grace to the Humble"

Godly Man's Picture - Distractions

Have you ever sat down to read God's Word, proceeded to move your eyes down the page, and a few minutes later discovered that you haven't comprehended a thing? Well, I have.

Have you ever engaged in prayer, only to discover that your mind wanders all over the place and never gets around to talking with God? Well, I have.

I guess that I am not alone:

Question: But may a godly man have roving thoughts in duty?

Answer: Yes. Sad experience proves it. The thoughts will be dancing up and down in prayer. The saints are called stars and many times in duty they are wandering stars. The heart is like quicksilver which will not settle. It is hard to tie two good thoughts together. We cannot lock our hearts so close but that distracting thoughts, like wind, will get in. Jerome complains about himself. 'Sometimes,' he says, 'when I am doing God's service, I am walking in the galleries or casting up accounts.'
But these wandering thoughts in the godly are not allowed: 'I hate vain thoughts' (Psa. 119:113). They come like unwelcome guests who are no sooner spied than they are turned out. ( pg. 162)

One has to wonder how our media saturated culture exacerbates this situation. If it was a problem in the pre-electronic age, how much worse must it be today? Despite the distractions and the intrusions, we need to "be still and know that He is God."