Thomas Watson

Question: In what sense must a Christian not deny himself?

Response 2: A Christian must not deny his grace. He must not disown any good work wrought in him. He ought not to say that he is a dry tree when the dew of heaven lies upon his branches. As it is a sin for a man to make himself better than he is, so it is to make himself worse. To say he has grace when he has none is presumption. To say he has no grace when he has is ingratitude. It is bearing false witness against the Spirit of God.

I found this fascinating. I think most people can grasp the idea of a person making themselves out to be better and more than they are. But, it is a little harder to see how we make ourselves out to be less than we are. I think that Watson's point is that we are not to wallow in or long for our misery. But more than that we are not to diminish who we are in Christ. That's quite a tension. Watson's warning is against this tendency: We say we are not struggling when we are struggling greatly and we say we are struggling when we are not struggling greatly.

What is Rev. Watson's answer for this fight? First, trust in Christ. Rest in His grace. Also believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, the doctrine of the incarnation and the doctrine of the resurrection. That's good advice, no?

I've been reading more of these puritans lately and man can they be pretty dark. Rev. Watson's sermon The Duty of Self-Denial was published in 1675. They lived in dark times and evidently social convention didn't mandate them to just grin and bear it in their writings. You definitely don't hear "peace, peace when there is no peace." from these men. I thank God for their writing because their answers to life's questions are weighty and point to joy in Christ.

Chase CA update

Brett, Elizabeth and the boys moved to California a few months ago. We miss them a lot. They have joined Covenant OPC. I'm a big fan of their new church and especially Pastor Landis. But this is somewhat of a cautionary tale (just kidding really)...





apparently this is what happens to men who move to California

Family night supper

We had fun Wednesday night.

From the Sketch of Rutherford's life written by Andrew A. Bonar:

These letters will ever be precious to all who are sensible of their own, and the Church's decay and corruptions. The wound and the cure are therein so fully opened out: self is exposed, specially spiritual self. He [Rutherford] will tell you, "There is as much need to watch over grace, as to watch over sin."

That is so quotable and what a reminder: Watch over grace. Are you struggling? There is as much need to watch over grace in your life as there is need to watch over sin. This is more than just positive thinking. Anyone can do that for a time. We must be mindful of God's grace in our lives especially when we see our own and the Church's corruptions. For by His grace we are saved and by God's grace He will see us through.

He will show you God in Christ, to fill up the place usurped by self. The subtleties of sin, idols, snares, temptations, self-deceptions, are dragged into view from time to time. And what is better still, the cords of Christ are twined round the roots of these bitter plants, that they may be plucked up.

Great image there- I can't help but think of a huge tree stump being ripped with amazing force from the ground, uprooted from the soil. I guess that would be after sin has grown past the woody plant stage to be a full grown tree! All the more need to keep an eye on grace.


I also really like this Rutherford quip:

We live far from the well, and complain but dryly of our dryness

Samuel Rutherford's solution would be to stir up that thirst- beg God for spiritual refreshment- seek Christ who is the giver of living water.
I have a feeling this guy could really preach.

ok two more:

this said to turn a friend away from looking inward, to look upon the heart of Jesus

Your heart is not the compas that Christ saileth by

And this said to remind that Jesus has got to be our focus!

As holy walking is a duty coming from us, it is no ground of true peace. Believers often seek in themselves what they should seek in Christ