“ An Alarm Indeed! ” This book is also known as "A Sure Guide to Heaven." This is the title it was published under when the Banner of Truth published it.
The language is potent and its warning is the blast of the marshall trumpet in the ear of a hypocrite. Who would not be alarmed at these words, "The unsound convert takes Christ by halves. He is all for the salvation of Christ, but he is not for sanctification. He divides the offices and benefits of Christ. This is an error in the foundation. Indeed, many divide here again; they still would be content to have SOME of their sins destroyed, but they cannot leave the lap of Delilah, or divorce the beloved Herodias. They cannot be cruel to the right eye or right hand. It is an undoing mistake of which you have often been warned, and yet none is more common"
“ Great Sermon! ” This was a good sermon for many reasons, not the least was the bold application. Obviously it is not going to meet with approval from all sides. But in our day it is more needed than ever since the idea of presumptive regeneration (or now presumptive justification) is gaining the ascendancy. Further, through the teachings of new theologians writing boldly against looking for conversion experiences in children, something to the contrary needs to be said. Hence the application P.B's are in danger.
The arguments for presumptive regeneration are far more subtly defined in our day, or as the Puritan Thomas Shepard would say - more finely spun are the webs of deceit. The result is that too many students of these writings embrace them and may be, unknowingly, placing a lie in their children's right hands.
“ Great Book Narration! ” Isn't this the Stephen Charnock who wrote, "Existence and Attributes of God?" Is this book in his collected works? I wonder if it is still in print. Amazing there is so little interest here for such a great writer! I am a fan of the Puritan writings.
KEEP up the Good work.
“ About this Author ” This sermon is called, Alive or Dead
From the Anglican Library
Thoroughly evangelical in his doctrine and uncompromising in his principles, J.C. Ryle was a prolific writer, vigorous preacher, and faithful pastor.
He was born at Macclesfield and educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. He was a fine athlete who rowed and played Cricket for Oxford, where he took a first class degree in Modern Greats and was offered a college fellowship (teaching position) which he declined. The son of a wealthy banker, he was destined for a career in politics before answering a call to ordained ministry.
He was spiritually awakened in 1838 while hearing Ephesians 2 read in church. He was ordained by Bishop Sumner at Winchester in 1842. For 38 years he was a parish vicar, first at Helmingham and later at Stradbrooke, in Suffolk. He became a leader of the evangelical party in the Church of England and was noted for his doctrinal essays and polemical writings. In 1880, at age 64, he became the first bishop of Liverpool, at the recommendation of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.
“ A Solemn Warning to Watch and Pray ” Biography of John Owen - the author of this book...
(9th Edition of The Encyclopaedia Britannica -- 1885)
OWEN, John (1616-1683), theologian, was born of Puritan parents at Stadham in Oxfordshire in 1616. At twelve years of age he was admitted at Queen's College, Oxford, where he took his B.A. degree in 1632 and M.A. in 1635. During these years he worked with such diligence that he allowed himself but four hours sleep a night, and damaged his health by this excessive labour.
“ From the Narrator ” This: the fourth download of ten commences the beginning of the third part of the book on the Religious Affections, the positive signs of gracious affections. The Sermon Overview you read here, is for the whole book, not necessarily for each individual download.
Since tape 7 was missing from my collection, I re-narrated that section of the book just last week, January 2004, hence the difference in audio quality.
The original narrated recording was done approximately in 1993 for the Chapel Library.
“ More to Come ” This is the second tape of a three tape book. The first and third tapes are on order from the Chapel Library, www.mountzion.org They will be added when they arrive. This book was recorded about 10 years ago.
"Of Temptation" is the second treatise of four in the Collected Works of Dr. John Owen, 1616-1683 volume 6.
Tom Sullivan - The Narrator
“ About the Narrator ” Thomas Sullivan started narrating in December of 1985 for the Chapel Library, then in Venice, FL, and now in Pensacola. This desire came, to put books on cassettes, while an attendant of the Reformed Baptist Church of Montville in 1985. Looking in the Trinity Baptist Book Store at volume 6 of the collected works of John Owen, the desire was entertained to put such books on tapes. The opening came when some Chapel Library lit. was sent from a friend in Brooklyn. While perusing the catalog, a number of books on tapes were noted. After listening to the narration of John Flavel's "Christ Knocking at the Door of Sinners Hearts", the conviction that it should be done with more pathos and conviction led Tom to send a sample tape of a narration of Archibald Alexander's Practical Truths to the Chapel Library. About 600 ninety minute tapes later, the narrating ceased in 1995 after reading Edward's Treatise on the Religious Affections. It was commenced again for a while on the internet, but this site gives a better opportunity due to the tremendous band width that such downloads require.
Some of the Chapel Library narrations may be suitable to upload here, but most of the narrations are brand new, from November 2003 to the present.
Some sermons have been narrated more than one time, this particular sermon has been narrated as many as 8 times over the years.
“ Treatise Description ” John Owen’s treatise on "Indwelling Sin" is always ranked high among the productions of this author. The opinion, which Dr Chalmers entertained of it, will be seen in the "Life of Owen," vol. i. p. 84. That such a work should have been prepared under the gloom of public trials, and the hardship of personal exposure to civil penalties, evinces not merely great industry, but strength of religious principle with which no outward commotions were permitted to intermeddle. Temptations were strong at that time to merge all duty into a secular struggle for the rights of conscience and liberty of worship. Owen issued various tracts, which had some share in securing these blessings for his country. But he was intent, with engrossing zeal, on the advancement of vital piety; and his treatise on "Indwelling Sin" is a specimen of the discourses, which he preached whenever a safe opportunity occurred. It is avowedly designed for believers, to aid and guide them in the exercise of self-examination. There is uncommon subtlety of moral analysis in many of its statements, --an exposure, irksome it may be thought, in its fullness and variety, of the manifold deceitfulness of the human heart.
“ Celebrating the Lord's Birth ” Yes, believe it or not... A well known pastor of the past believes in celebrating the birth of a Savior that came into the world for sinners! How refreshing. How needed! I am not sure which is worst to behold, the way Christmas is profaned by a lost world around us, or the way some professing Christians have an "ax to grind" if they know of other Christians who gather to remember Christ's birth.
I suppose, if I wanted to share the gospel - it might serve to talk to the lost about the meaning of Christmas, and I might gain a hearing. I may not reach them if I come at them in condemnation for their profaning of a holiday.
“ William Gurnall 1617-1679 ” From 1911 Edition Encyclopedia.
GURNALL, WILLIAM (1617-1679), English author, was born in 1617 at Kings Lynn, Norfolk. He was educated at the free grammar school of his native town, and in 1631 was nominated to the Lynn scholarship in Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he graduated BA. in 1635 and MA. in 1639. He was made rector of Lavenham in Suffolk in 1644; and before he received that appointment he seems to have officiated, perhaps as curate, at Sudbury. At the Restoration he signed the declaration required by the Act of Uniformity, and on this account he was the subject of a libellous attack, published in 1665, entitled Covenant-Renouncers Desperate Apostates. He died on the 12th of October 1679. Gurnall is known by his --Christian in Complete Armour--, published in three volumes, dated 1655, 1658 and 1662. It consists of a series of sermons on the latter portion of the 6th chapter of Ephesians, and is described as a magazine from whence the Christian is furnished with spiritual arms for the battle, helped on with his armour, and taught the use of his weapon; together with the happy issue of the whole war. The work is more practical than theological; and its quaint fancy, graphic and pointed style, and its fervent religious tone render it still popular with some readers.
“ Baxter on Mortification ” Richard Baxter's counsel to avoid fornication and to "buffet the body" will sound ascetic to the modern ear. Maybe even it will be mistaken for the false means of mortification practiced by the monastics and others that had for its foundation superstition as much as anything. What must be kept in mind is that in the puritan mindset and doctrine, mortifying the deeds of the body is the means to the end of final salvation, not the cause and the effect of it. See John Owen's treatise on the same subject. One uses these means (mortification) unto that (final salvation) end. Not that it is meritorious, for at the same time you will be exhorted to trust Christ as if you made use of no means whatsoever. At the same time, Baxter hardly had his equal as an exhorter to earnestness. He is certainly more salt as a puritan whereas Goodwin and Howe are more light. But is there any other subject that needs more of the martial trumpet blast to warn us?
Still it is strong counsel for a flesh pampering age.
“ Background Information ” There are some interesting facts about this sermon that might not be so well known. When the same sermon was preached in front of his own congregation in North Hampton, there were no visible fruits that resulted. When this sermon was preached in Enfield, the convictions of the congregation was so overwhelming that Edwards was never able to finish preaching it.
(2) According to George Marsden in a new biography of Edwards, Jonathan Edwards: A Life, this sermon was likely preached more than twice.
(3)Jonathan Edwards often appealed to selfish motives to move sinners who were at ease in Zion to seek an interest in Christ. (See his sermon, "Pressing Into the Kingdom.") Gerstner says that Edwards wasn't trying to "frighten persons into heaven" but certainly was trying to frighten them away from hell.
Finally, if you enjoy this narration of Edwards' sermon, I would invite you to listen to other narrations I have done and I look forward to adding many other useful narrations in the future, from John Owen and John Flavel for example.
TMS
“ Great Sermon! ” This preacher minces no words. His doctrine is a totally cut off case for a sinner. Pure Calvinist.. This is refreshing.. Hopefully all his sermons (7 Volumes) will be put up for listening. We read his sermons in our church
2/26/04 5:10 AM
