Calvin Synod Herald, 2005 (106. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2005-05-01 / 5-6. szám
4 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD On the morning of February 4th 1555 he was awakened and told that he would be burnt at the stake that day. Fie met his wife and children on his way to Smithfield (the site of execution), but refused to recant his biblical beliefs. On his way to the stake he said, “That which I have preached I will seal with my blood”. Thus it was that John Rogers became the first of the “Marian Martyrs.” Permission to reproduce is given by the author, Barbara Cross, Worcester, England Useful Directions for Reading and Searching the Scriptures 1. Follow a regular plan in reading of them, that you may be acquainted with the whole; and make this reading a part of your private devotions. Not that you should confine yourselves only to a set plan, so as never to read by choice, but ordinarily this tends most to edification. Some parts of the Bible are more difficult, some may seem very barren for an ordinary reader; but if you would look on it all as God’s word, not to be scorned, and read it with faith and reverence, no doubt you would find advantage. 2. Set a special mark, however you find convenient, on those passages you read, which you find most suitable to your case, condition, or temptations; or such as you have found to move your hearts more than other passages. And it will be profitable often to review these. 3. Compare one Scripture with another, the more obscure with that which is more plain, 2 Pet. 1:20. This is an excellent means to find out the sense of the Scriptures; and to this good use serve the marginal notes on Bibles. And keep Christ in your eye, for to him the scriptures of the Old Testament look (in its genealogies, types, and sacrifices), as well as those of the New. 4. Read with a holy attention, arising from the consideration of the majesty of God, and the reverence due to him. This must be done with attention, first, to the words; second, to the sense; and, third, to the divine authority of the Scripture, and the obligation it lays on the conscience for obedience, 1 Thess. 2:13, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” 5. Let your main purpose in reading the Scriptures be practice, and not bare knowledge, James 1:22, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Read that you may learn and do, and that without any limitation or distinction, but that whatever you see God requires, you may study to practice. 6. Beg of God and look to him for his Spirit. For it is the Spirit that inspired it, that it must be savingly understood by, 1 Cor 2:11, “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” And therefore before you read, it is highly reasonable you beg a blessing on what you are to read. 7. Beware of a worldly, fleshly mind: for fleshly sins blind the mind from the things of God; and the worldly heart cannot favour them. In an eclipse of the moon, the earth comes between the sun and the moon, and so keeps the light of the sun from it. So the world, in the heart, coming between you and the light of the word, keeps its divine light from you. 8. Labour to be disciplined toward godliness, and to observe your spiritual circumstances. For a disciplined attitude helps mightily to understand the scriptures. Such a Christian will find his circumstances in the word, and the word will give light to his circumstances, and his circumstances light into the word. 9. Whatever you learn from the word, labour to put it into practice. For to him that has, shall be given. No wonder those people get little insight into the Bible, who make no effort to practice what they know. But while the stream runs into a holy life, the fountain will be the freer.- by Thomas Boston We are getting older To be in control of life and feel good about one’s self is important in any age. The “golden years” of old age many times do not seem to be a reward or honor. Despite denial, people are aging. The golden glow fades away as people try to adjust to the variety of changes related to aging. Older people are sorry that they are unable to be productive and perform everyday tasks as well as in previous years. When there is nothing to do and it seems that no one needs us, life becomes completely empty. Fear remains as constant companion of aging. Older persons have fears of becoming incapacitated, not being useful to anyone. They have many questions but do not receive assuring or encouraging answers. For many older people the biggest threat of all is losing independence and becoming partially and later totally dependent on others. People can look at old age from two different points of view. It could be considered as a coming dark fűmre, slow descent to oblivion and the slow death of creativity. “Acknowledging fear of our own diminishment and not-so-distant death is an early waking up call, alerting us of some kind of passage into an unknown and threatening future” writes Robert Reinesin his book (Creative Aging). Recognizing the limitations could lead to irritation, anger and resentment. Resenting the losses could lead to constant complaints or denial of losses. While denial leads to losing contact with reality, constant complaining mm people away and the isolation increases. Getting older means learning to adjust to what happens. Some changes are pleasant and easy to accept. Other changes could be resisted or even denied. All should learn that denying the changes do not reverse the process of aging. From a positive point of view age can be accepted as extended opportunities and endless possibilities for living. Older adults should be encouraged that life is not just existence with monotonous days coming, and going in boring similarity. Older people have to look for new purposes, to feel that they
