In my last post, Silent Night ~ Not! ... , I challenged you to be offering up prayer for the Lord continually, as the Psalmist (and the Lord Himself) directs:

In that post I also mentioned the desire God has been giving me to be praying for reformation and revival in the Church. As the Church herself is reformed and revived, the Psalmist's prayer comes to fuller and fuller fruition:

As Christians, we are all poor, needy, and helpless sinners who were redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb, so we might know the Father and the Son whom He sent (John 17:3); and in turn, that we might sent out into all the earth so lost souls from every tribe, every tongue, every people, and every nation would come to know Him (Rev. 5:9-10)... that the knowledge of the glory of the Lord would indeed fill the earth as the waters cover the seas (Habakkuk 2:14; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:47). (Where don't the waters cover the seas?)

Many of you may be wondering what reformation and revival looks like, and why in the world I'm praying for these things, and why I am encouraging you to be praying along with me.

We too easily become accustomed to and comfortable with the Church as we have always known her ("we've always done things that way"), and what we think she should be, rather than seeking the face of God through the Bible and prayer, so we might begin to understand what God intends for us to be. All too often, we've been placated and pacified with a culture of religious mediocrity.

Much like the Church at Laodicea, we are full of ourselves, rather than full of the Spirit. Why? Because we don't see our need of Him. We get along quite fine with our own resources, working out of the flesh, keeping busy, busy, busy with all our programs and activities –– all the while we are oblivious to the fact that we are grieving the Holy Spirit of God, and for all intents and purposes we are shutting Him out of the Church. A.W. Tozer once said something to this effect:  if the Holy Spirit were to leave the Church, 95% of the activity would continue on as usual.

Are we taking time to taste, see, and savor our Bridegroom? Are we so busy that we don't hear Him knocking and hearing His strong desire to sup with us? So many of us are blinded to what Martyn Lloyd-Jones called "the great and glorious possibilities of the Christian life" (see here & here).

We look at our own lives and the Church, and we think that in comparison with the world around us, we are doing fairly well. And, well, I suppose many of us might rightly say we are. But how are we doing in comparison with the New Testament Church as we read of her in the book of Acts? How are we doing in comparison with the Church in times of revival? How are we doing in comparison to Jesus' words that those who believe on Him would do greater works than He had done?

We are thankful that Jesus, the Son of God, became incarnate, that He came in the flesh just over 2000 years ago, and we certainly look forward to His second coming, but few Christians today have any understanding that we are in desperate need of the Lord Himself to come again in the meantime, an advent of a different sort: – to pour out His Holy Spirit to revive His Church again. God has graciously done that very thing on certain blessed occasions throughout Church history, a repetition of what happened on the Day of Pentecost.

As I've mentioned previously (e.g.- see here & here) one of the most refreshing tonics to short-sightedness, myopia, lethargy, lukewarmness, and complacency in the Christian life is to read Christian biography and Church history, particularly accounts of past revivals.

In that vein, I present to you today a letter which Jonathan Edwards wrote to a minister in Boston on this date in 1743. In it, Edwards gives us a glimpse of what it looks like when God rends the heavens and comes down (Isaiah 64): a time when God arose and awakened (Psalm 44, Isaiah 51:9) and stretched out His hand (Psalm 138:7-8) for the sake of His holy name in New England almost 300 years ago.

Edwards' words below provide us a little window into what reformation and revival in the Church looks like, and they will also give you a little more insight into why I'm praying for reformation and revival. (The excerpt is from Chapter X of Edwards' Works, Vol. 1; I'd also encourage you to read the entire chapter, as well as Chapters VI, VII, VIII and IX.)

As you read Edwards' report of some of the wonderful work of God during the latter days of the First Great Awakening, I am praying that God might be pleased to send down His baptizing, holy fire into your soul, so you might have a clearer view of the current condition, that you might be sparked to make prayer for Christ continually, to plead day and night until the LORD rends the heavens and comes down again in reviving power as he did in New England:  that the LORD might shine once again upon His people (Psalm 80) in this 21st century as He did in the 18th century, that the Kingdom of Heaven would suffer violence, and there would be appearance of a glorious progress of the work of God. Perhaps a year from now we might be able to joyfully report to one another that the LORD has done great things for us (Psalm 126), that our mouths would be filled with laughter and our tongues with singing:  that He has signally blessed us as He did the people of New England! Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Revive Your work in the midst of the years! Let the whole earth be filled with Your glory!

“Northampton, Dec.12, 1743.
Rev. and Dear Sir,

Ever since the great work of God that was wrought here about nine years ago, there has been a great abiding alteration in this town in many respects. There has been vastly more religion kept up in the town, among all sorts of persons, in religious exercises and in common conversation than used to be before. There has remained a more general seriousness and decency in attending the public worship. There has been a very great alteration among the youth of the town with respect to reveling, frolicking, profane and unclean conversation, and lewd songs. Instances of fornication have been very rare. There has also been a great alteration among both old and young with respect to tavern haunting. I suppose the town has been in no measure so free of vice in these respects for any long time together for this sixty years as it has been this nine years past.

There has also been an evident alteration with respect to a charitable spirit to the poor (though I think with regard to this in this town, as the land in general, come far short of Gospel rules). And though after that great work nine years ago there has been a very lamentable decay of religious affections and the engagedness of people's spirit in religion, yet many societies for prayer and social religion were all along kept up; and there were some few instances of awakening and deep concern about the doings of another world, even in the most dead time.

In the year 1740, in the spring, before Mr. Whitefield came to this town, there was a visible alteration. There was more seriousness and religious conversation, especially among young people; those things that were of ill tendency among them were more forborne. And it was a more frequent thing for persons to visit their minister upon soul accounts; and in some particular persons there appeared a great alteration about that time. And thus it continued till Mr. Whitefield came to town, which was about the middle of October following. He preached here four sermons in the meeting-house (besides a private lecture at my house)-one on Friday, another on Saturday, and two upon the Sabbath. The congregation was extraordinarily melted by every sermon; almost the whole assembly being in tears for a great part of sermon time. Mr. Whitefield's sermons were suitable to the circumstances of the town, containing just reproofs of our backslidings, and, in a most moving and affecting manner, making use of our great profession and great mercies as arguments with us to return to God, from whom we had departed.

Immediately after this, the minds of the people in general appeared more engaged in religion, showing a greater forwardness to make religion the subject of their conversation, and to meet frequently together for religious purposes, and to embrace all opportunities to hear the Word preached. The revival at first appeared chiefly among professors and those that had entertained the hope that they were in a state of grace, to whom Mr. Whitefield chiefly addressed himself. But in a very short time there appeared an awakening and deep concern among some young persons that looked upon themselves as in a Christless state; and there were some hopeful appearances of conversion; and some professors were greatly revived.

In about a month or six weeks, there was a great alteration in the town, both as to the revivals of professors and awakenings of others. By the middle of December, a very considerable work of God appeared among those that were very young; and the revival of religion continued to increase; so that in the spring an engagedness of spirit about things of religion was become very general among young people and children, and religious subjects almost wholly took up their conversation when they were together.

In the month of May 1741, a sermon was preached to a company at a private house. Near the conclusion of the exercise, one or two persons that were professors were so greatly affected with a sense of the greatness and glory of divine things, and the infinite importance of the things of eternity, that they were not able to conceal it; the affection of their minds overcoming their strength, and having a very visible effect on their bodies. When the exercise was over, the young people that were present removed into the other room for religious conference; and particularly that they might have opportunity to inquire of those that were thus affected what apprehensions they had, and what things they were that thus deeply impressed their minds. And there soon appeared a very great effect of their conversation; the affection was quickly propagated through the room; many of the young people and children that were professors appeared to be overcome with a sense of the greatness and glory of divine things, and with admiration, love, joy and praise, and compassion to others that looked upon themselves as in a state of nature. And many others at the same time were overcome with distress about their sinful and miserable state and condition; so that the whole room was full of nothing but outcries, faintings, and suchlike.

Others soon heard of it, in several parts of the town, and came to them; and what they saw and heard there was greatly affecting to them; so that many of them were overpowered in like manner. And it continued thus for some hours, the time spent in prayer, singing, counseling, and conferring. There seemed to be a consequent happy effect of that meeting to several particular persons, and in the state of religion in the town in general. After this were meetings from time to time attended with like appearances.

But a little after it, at the conclusion of the public exercise on the Sabbath, I appointed the children that were under sixteen years of age to go from the meetinghouse to a neighbor house, that I there might further enforce what they had heard in public, and might give in some counsels proper for their age. The children were there very generally and greatly affected with the warnings and counsels that were given them, and many exceedingly overcome; and the room was filled with cries. And when they were dismissed, they, almost all of them, went home crying aloud through the streets, to all parts of the town. The like appearances attended several such meetings of children that were appointed.

But their affections appeared by what followed to be of a very different nature; in many they appeared to be indeed but childish affections, and in a day or two would leave them as they were before. Others were deeply impressed; their convictions took fast hold of them and abode by them. And there were some that from one meeting to another seemed extraordinarily affected for some time, to but little purpose, their affections presently vanishing, from time to time; but yet afterward were seized with abiding convictions, and their affections became durable.

About the middle of the summer, I called together the young people that were communicants, from sixteen to twenty-six years of age, to my house; which proved to be a most happy meeting. Many seemed to be very greatly and most agreeably affected with those views which excited humility, self-condemnation, self-abhorrence, love, and joy; many fainted under these affections. We had several meetings that summer of young people attended with like appearances. It was about that time that there first began to be cryings out in the meetinghouse; which several times occasioned many of the congregation to stay in the house after the public exercise was over, to confer with those who seemed to be overcome with religious convictions and affection which was found to tend much to the propagation of their impressions, with lasting effect upon many, conference being at these times commonly joined with prayer and singing. In the summer and fall, the children in various parts of the town had religious meetings by themselves for prayer, sometimes joined with fasting; wherein many of them seemed to be greatly and properly affected, and I hope some of them savingly wrought upon.

The months of August and September were the most remarkable of any this year, for appearances of conviction and conversion of sinners, and great revivings, quickenings, and comforts of professors, and for extraordinary external effects of these things. It was a very frequent thing to see a houseful of outcries, faintings, convulsions, and suchlike, both with distress and also with admiration and joy. It was not the manner here to hold meetings all night, as in some places, nor was it common to continue them until very late in the night; but it was pretty often so that there were some that were so affected, and their bodies so overcome, that they could not go home, but were obliged to stay all night at the house where they were. There was no difference that I know of here, with regard to the extraordinary effects, in meetings in night and in the daytime. The meetings which these effects appeared in the evening being commonly begun, and their extraordinary effects, in the day, and continued in the evening; and some meetings have been very remarkable for such extraordinary effects that were both begun and finished in the daytime.

There was an appearance of a glorious progress of the work of God upon the hearts of sinners in conviction and conversion this summer and fall; and great numbers. I think we have reason to hope, were brought savingly home to Christ. But this was remarkable, the work of God in His influences of this nature seemed to be almost wholly upon a new generation; those that were not come to years of discretion an that wonderful season nine years ago, children, or those that were then children. Others that had enjoyed that former glorious opportunity without any appearance of saving benefit seemed now to be almost wholly passed over and let alone. But now we had the most wonderful work among children that ever was in Northampton. The former great outpouring of the spirit was remarkable for influences upon the minds of children, beyond all that had ever been before; but this far exceeded that.

Indeed, as to influences on the minds of professors, this work was by no means confined to a new generation. Many of all ages partook of it; but, yet, in this respect, it was more general on those that were of the younger sort. Many that had formerly been wrought upon, that in the times of our declension had fallen into decays, and had in a great measure left God and gone after the world, now passed under a very remarkable new work of the spirit of God, as if they had been the subjects of a second conversion. They were first led into the wilderness, and had a work of conviction, having much greater convictions of the sin of both nature and practice than ever before (though with some new circumstances, and something new in the kind of conviction) in some with great distress, beyond what they had felt before their first conversion.

Under these convictions they were excited to strive for salvation, and the Kingdom of Heaven suffered violence from some of them in a far more remarkable manner than before. And after great convictions and humblings and agonizings with God, they had Christ discovered to them anew, as an All-sufficient Savior, and in the glories of His grace, and in a far more clear manner than before; and with greater humility, self-emptiness, and brokenness of heart, and a purer and higher joy, and greater desires after holiness of life, but with greater self-diffidence and distrust of their treacherous hearts.

One circumstance wherein this work differed from that which had been in the town five or six years before was that conversions were frequently wrought more sensibly and visibly; the impressions stronger and more manifest by external effects of them; and the progress of the spirit of God in conviction, from step to step, more apparent; and the transition from one state to another more sensible and plain; so that it might, in many instances, be as it were seen by bystanders. The preceding season had been very remarkable on this account beyond what had been before; but this more remarkable than that. And in this season these apparent or visible conversions (if I may so call them) were more frequently in the presence of others, at religious meetings, where the appearances of what was wrought on the heart fell under public observation. . . .

In the beginning of the summer 1742, there seemed to be some abatement of the liveliness of people's affections in religion; but yet many were often in a great height of them. And in the fall and winter following, there were at times extraordinary appearances. But in the general, people's engagedness in religion and the liveliness of their affections have been on the decline; and some of the young people, especially, have shamefully lost their liveliness and vigor in religion, and much of the seriousness and solemnity of their spirits. But there are many that walk as becomes saints; and, to this day, there are a considerable number in the town that seem to be near to God, and maintain much of the life of religion, and enjoy many of the sensible tokens and fruits of His gracious presence.

With respect to the late season of revival of religion among us for three or four years past, it has been observable that in the former part of it, in the years 1740 and 1741, the work seemed to be much more pure, having less of a corrupt mixture, than in the former great outpouring of the spirit in 1735 and 1736. Persons seemed to be sensible of their former errors, and had learned more of their own hearts, and experience had taught them more of the tendency and consequences of things. They were now better guarded, and their affections were not only greater but attended with greater solemnity, and greater humility and self-distrust, and greater engagedness after holy living and perseverance; and there were fewer errors in conduct.

But in the latter part of it, in the year 1742, it was otherwise. The work continued more pure, till we were infected from abroad. Our people, hearing and some of them seeing the work in other places where there was a greater visible commotion than here, and the outward appearances were more extraordinary, were ready to think that the work in those places far excelled what was among us; and their eyes were dazzled with the high profession and great show that some made who came hither from other places.

That those people went so far beyond them in raptures and violent emotions of the affections and a vehement zeal, and what they called boldness for Christ, our people were ready to think was owing to their far greater attainments in grace and intimacy with Heaven. They looked little in their own eyes in comparison of them, and were ready to submit themselves to them, and yield themselves up to their conduct, taking it for granted that everything was right that they said and did. These things. had a strange influence on the people, gave many of them a deep and unhappy tincture, that it was a hard and long labor to deliver them from and which some them are not fully delivered from to this day.

The effects and consequences of things among us plainly shows the following things, viz.: that the degree of grace is no means to be judged of by the degree of joy, or the degree of zeal; and that indeed we cannot at all determine by these things who are gracious and who are not; and that it as not the degree of religious affections but the nature of them that is chiefly to be looked at. Some that have had very great raptures of joy, and have been extraordinarily filled (as the vulgar phrase is), and have had their bodies overcome, and that very often have manifested far less of the temper of Christians in their conduct since than some others that have been still and have made no great outward show. But then again there are many others that have extraordinary joys and emotions of mind, with frequent great effects on their bodies, that behave themselves steadfastly as humble, amiable, eminent Christians

'Tis evident that there may be great religious affections that may, in show and; appearance, imitate gracious affections, and have the same effects on their bodies, but are far from having the same effect in the temper of their minds and course of their lives. And likewise there is nothing more manifest by what appears among us than that the goodness of persons' state is not chiefly to be judged of by any exactness of steps and method of experiences in what is supposed to be the first conversion; but that we must judge more by the spirit that breathes, the effect wrought on the temper of the soul, in the time of the work, and remaining afterward.

Though there have been very few instances among professors among us of what is ordinarily called scandalous sin known to me, yet the temper that some of them show and the behavior they have been of, together with some things in the kind and circumstances of their experiences, make me much afraid lest there be a considerable number that have woefully deceived themselves. Though, on the other hand, there is a great number whose temper and conversation as such as justly confirms the charity of others toward them; and not a few in whose disposition and walk there are amiable appearances of eminent grace. And notwithstanding all the corrupt mixtures that have been in the late work here, there are not only many blessed fruits of it in particular persons that yet remain, but some good effects of it upon the town in general.

A party spirit has more ceased. I suppose there has been less appearance these three or four years past of that division of the town into two parties, that has long been our bane, than has been these thirty years. And the people have apparently had much more caution and a greater guard on their spirit and their tongues to avoid contention and unchristian heats in town meetings and on other occasions. And 'tis a thing greatly to be rejoiced in, that the people very lately have come to an agreement and final issue with respect to their grand controversy relating to their common lands; which has been above any other particular thing a source of mutual prejudices, jealousies, and debates for fifteen or sixteen years past.

The people are also generally of late in some respects considerably altered and meliorated in their notions of religion, particularly they seem to be much more sensible of the danger of resting in old experiences, or what they were subjects of at their supposed first conversion; and to be more fully convinced of the necessity of forgetting the things that are behind and pressing forward, and maintaining earnest labor, watchfulness, and prayerfulness as long as they live.

I am, Rev. Sir,
Your friend and brother,
Jonathan Edwards”

(Source: Jonathan Edwards' Works I, Chapter X ~ http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works1.i.x.html)

Related:

• Revival resources, etc.
• More revival resources: opportunity and eyes to see the ruins, a burden from God
• The Day of Pentecost ... the first of a series (Martyn Lloyd-Jones on revival)
• Bible Reading: Acts – Some Questions the Church Should Be Asking
• Naphtali News: the Ministry of the Word & Prayer (see the second portion on prayer)
• Here I stand & from here I cast (devoted to prayer & the ministry of the Word)
• Are you storming heaven – or are you sleeping?
• Prayer & Revival in Ireland (R.A. Torrey) & Livingstone in Africa: Are we in our closets?
• Reformation Rebels: Are you willing to be a rebel for the sake of the Church?
• Postcards from England: "the fog is lifting on My Church"
• postcards from England: "The Burden for Revival" (ML-J)
• postcards from England: are we excited over a dead fish and a car wreck?
• 492 years later: You say you want a reformation? (my theses and a call to prayer)
• the lost treasures of Christianity & the call to pray for revival (Bible reading: Ezra 1)
• many will come and deceive - will you do whatever it takes?
• Do we care more for manatees than for His flock?
• adopting God's purpose for the nations is for your joy & His glory (Letter 76 on joy)

Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Work found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:El_Greco_006.jpg  / CC BY-SA 3.0

Work found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jonathan_Edwards.jpg / {{PD-Art|PD-old-100}}

In commemoration of Richard Baxter's (1615-1691) 397th birthday, here are some excerpts from the first portion of his book, "The Causes and Danger Of slighting CHRIST and his GOSPEL:  Or, Eternal Salvation made light of by Multitudes, to whom it is freely offered."

Matthew 22:1  And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3  And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6  And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

Matthew xxii. 5-.
But they made light of it.

. . .

That which carnal Hearers make light of, includes in it, Christ himself, and the Blessings, which he bestows.—Concerning Christ himself, the Gospel declares his Person and Nature, and the great Things he has done and suffered for Men, his redeeming us from the Wrath of God by his Blood, and purchasing a Grant of Salvation for us. The same Gospel makes an Offer of Christ to Sinners, that if they will accept him on his easy and reasonable Terms, he will be their Saviour, the Physician of their Souls, their Head, and their Husband.—the Blessings which Christ bestows upon Sinners, are the Pardon of all their past Sins, and Deliverance from the Wrath of God, and a sure Way of obtaining Pardon for all the Sins they shall commit hereafter, provided they obey sincerely, and turn not again to the Rebellion of their unregenerate State. They shall have the Holy Spirit to be their Guide and Sanctifier, to dwell in their Souls, to help them against their spiritual Enemies, and conform them more and more to a divine Likeness, to heal their spiritual Diseases, and bring them back to God. They shall, also have a right to everlasting Glory, when this Life is ended, and their Bodies shall be raised up to partake of it at the great Day. Besides these, they shall have many excellent Priviledges and Means, abundant Preservation and Provision in their Way, and the Foretaste of their future Joy. All these Blessings the Gospel offers to them that will accept of Christ on his reasonable Terms. For this is the Record, that God hath given to us eternal Life; and this Life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath Life, and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not Life [I John 5:11-12].

     The Sin of making light of Christ and Salvation appears in the following Instances.

1. When Men take no great Heed to what the Gospel declares, as if it was not a certain Truth, or else was a Matter that little concerned them, or as if God had not written it for them.

2. When the Gospel does not affect Men, or go to their Hearts; but tho’ they seem to attend to what is said, yet they are not awakened by it from their Security, nor doth it in any Measure excite such holy Emotions in their Souls, as Things of such everlasting Consequence ought to do. We tell Men what Christ hath done and suffered for their Souls, and it scarce moves them. We tell them of keen and cutting Truths, but Nothing will pierce them. We can make them hear, but cannot make them feel. Our Words stop in the Porch of their Ears and Fancies, but enter not into their inward Parts. It is as if we spake to Men that have not Hearts. Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive. For the Heart of this People is waxed gross, and their Ears are dull of hearing, and their Eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their Eyes, and hear with their Ears, and understand with their Heart, and should be converted, and Christ should heal them [~ Matthew 13:15, Acts 28:27; see also Isaiah 6:9-10].

3. Men make light of Christ, when they have no high Esteem for him and Salvation by him, but whatsoever they may say with their Tongues, or may speculatively believe, yet in their serious and practical Thoughts they have a higher Esteem for the Things of this World, than they have for Christ and the Salvation he hath purchased. It is despising Christ, to account his Doctrine but a Question of Words and Names, like Gallio; or a Superstition of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive, like Festus; or to ask the Preachers of the Gospel, as the Athenians did, What will this Babler say? [Acts 18:12-17; 25:13-27; 17:16-21]

Men make light of Christ, when being informed of the Truths of the Gospel, on what Terms Christ and his Blessings may be had, how it is the Will of God they should believe and accept the Offer, and how he commands them to do it upon Pain of Damnation; and yet they will not consent, unless they could have Christ on Terms of their own. They will not part with their Portion in this World, nor lay down their Pleasures, Profits, and Honours at the Feet of Jesus, to be content to take only so much of them back, as is consistent with his Will and Interest, but think it a hard saying, to be resolved to forsake all for Christ. ’Tis a high Contempt Of Christ and everlasting Life, when Men might have their Part in him, if they would; but they will not, unless they may keep the World too, and are resolved to please their Flesh, whatever be the Consequence.

It is also a making light of Christ and Salvation, when Men will promise fair, and profess their Willingness, to have Christ upon his own Terms, and to forsake all for him; but they nevertheless cleave to the World, and to their sinful Courses, nor will suffer their Practice to be changed by all that Christ hath done or said.—This is the Sin of making light of Christ and Salvation.

CHAP. II.

Thy Christ is made so light of.

IT may seem a Wonder that ever Men, who have the Use of their Reason, should be so foolish as to make light of Things of infinite Importance. But the Causes are such as these—

1. Some Men understand not the Meaning of the Words in which the Gospel is expressed; and how can they value what they do not understand? Tho’ we speak to them as plainly as we can, yet they have so estranged themselves from God, and the Concerns of their Souls, that they know not what we say. It is with them as if God in just Judgment had said, With stammering Lips and another Tongue will I speak to this People [Isaiah 28:11].

2. Some understand the Words we speak, but not the Matter, because they are carnal. For the natural Man receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God, for they are Foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. [I Cor. 2:14] The Things of the Spirit are not well known by bare Report, but by spiritual Taste, which none have but those that are taught by the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the Things that are freely given to us of God. [I Cor. 2:12].

3. Carnal Minds apprehend not a Suitableness in these spiritual and heavenly Things, and therefore set light by them. Tell them of everlasting Glory, and they hear you, as if you, as if you was persuading them to go and play with the Sun. The Affairs of another World are out of their Element, and therefore they have no more Delight in them, than a Fish would have in the pleasantest Meadow, or a Swine in a Jewel. They that are after the Spirit, may mind the Things of the Spirit; but they that are after the Flesh, do mind the Things of the Flesh. [Romans 8:5]. . . .

 7  But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8  Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10  So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

My friend, are you making light of Christ?

Do you have a higher esteem for the things of this world than for Christ and the salvation He purchased?

Have you made your fair promises and professed your willingness to Him ––
and yet all the while continued to cleave to the World, and to your sinful Courses?

Do you delight in Christ –– or do you consider Him as a fish would the pleasantest meadow and a swine a jewel?

Source: Richard Baxter's "The Causes and Danger Of slighting CHRIST and his GOSPEL:  Or, Eternal Salvation made light of by Multitudes, to whom it is freely offered," 1763 edition, abridged by Benjamin Fawcett. Accessed 11.12.12 from <http://www.ccel.org/ccel/baxter/causes.html>. I added the Scripture references in brackets, as well as the surrounding Scripture text from Matthew 22:1-14.

Work found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Teachings_of_Jesus_29_of_40._the_man_without_a_wedding_garment._Jan_Luyken_etching._Bowyer_Bible.gif - Author Phillip Medhurst, Photo by Harry Kossuth. Copyleft: This is a free work, you can copy, distribute, and modify it under the terms of the Free Art License - http://artlibre.org/licence/lal/en

More on Richard Baxter:

• Richard Baxter on "inward defects" and the "need of a higher work"
• the minister's examination: "Who is my master?"
• thoughts on necessity (Richard Baxter, myself)
• Happy Birthday, Richard Baxter: Reforming pastoral ministry

Other related posts:

• you say you want Jesus
• Resurrection Sunday: Two Responses to the Son (Psalm 2)
• Bible Reading: Lamentations 1:12-Is His Sacrifice nothing to you?
• Have you believed with your heart ... all your heart? (The Ethiopian Eunuch - Acts 8:37)
• How's your spiritual appetite? (Jonathan Edwards)
• Moderation in pursuing God? An answer from George Whitefield
• Moderation in pursuing God? An answer from Jonathan Edwards
• Who's the real thriller?
• Two Fountains ~ Where are you drinking? What is flowing? Don't waste your drinking!
• occupy ~ do you seek your own – or the things of Christ? does His Spirit occupy?
• "Saving faith is wanting Jesus" ~ Are you loving His appearing or this present world?
• consider ... our ways, the great cloud of witnesses, Susanna Anthony
• What is a nominal Christian?
• the Holy Spirit and Life
• Why preach the Gospel? # 1: Bad men need Good News!
• Why preach the Gospel? # 2: Dead men need Life!
• why we need a new heart (Bible reading - Matthew 5)
• At Calvary: Can you say, "I'm with Him"?

As we reread familiar portions of Scripture, it's a real danger for us to pass over words quickly and not to meditate on them as we ought, not to sink our roots down into them (Psalm 1) and not to gnaw on them. At the 2009 Gospel Coalition Conference, Don Carson explained that John Piper took Scripture and gnawed on it like a bone. A couple years ago, based on that, I exhorted my readers to Get gnawing, put your nose down in the Book to feed the white-hot flame of God's gift. Here's a little excerpt from that post:

I had recently read through Isaiah 50 and 51, and part of Isaiah 52. The fourth Servant Song, that portion of Isaiah 52 beginning in verse 13 and continuing through all of chapter 53, is all too familiar to many of us, myself included. As I sat in the library, and began reading, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me the word MANY in verse 15:

According to Strong's Concordance, the word many is the Greek word rab rab – abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality):--(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).

Solomon expresses it this way:

And Isaac Watts like this:

At the time, I wrote the verse in my journal, capitalizing, circling, and double underlining the word many. (I can't do exactly the same here, but I think you get the idea.)

And then I wrote beneath the verse:

My dear Christian brothers and sisters who live along with me in the United States, as we celebrate our country's 236th birthday today, let us beware of becoming hard-hearted and spiritually blinded, so we succumb to the sin of spiritual pride, much as what happened to the Old Testament nation of Israel. God's plan is not first and foremost for our political nation, the United States of America, but rather, His plan is and has always been to gather a holy nation out of all the nations (ethnic groups) scattered throughout all the earth.

For example...

On several occasions, the LORD Himself declared to Abraham that he was being blessed to be a blessing to many nations, including these words in Genesis 22:17-18:

And again to Isaac in Genesis 26:4:

Throughout the Old Testament, we see that truth that the Gentiles (all the nations) were going to be brought in to God's Kingdom, yet until the coming of Christ, it was a hidden mystery (Eph. 3:7-11). I'd encourage you to do a search for the word "nations" in the book of Isaiah (as well as throughout the whole of the Old Testament); you'll find a treasure trove there. For example:

And, please indulge me, a little plug for the wonderfully rich and full, but often-overlooked book of Zechariah:

If this doesn't thrill you, if it doesn't humble you that we are involved in God's grand scheme Gospel proclamation to bring dead souls to life, to pluck firebrands from the fire, and to bring glory to His holy name, if it doesn't make you long for the day that all the ransomed will be gathered around the throne in worship to the Lamb to the glory of God the Father – then pray that God's Spirit might baptize you afresh with His reviving fire, so it might exhilarate you! (I am saddened to say I had very little passion for missions for many years, and only in the past few years, but all praise, glory and thanksgiving to God, God Himself has begun growing that in me.)

In stark contrast to that gathering described in the book of Revelation, according to the Joshua Project, at the current time, there remain billions of souls who have not yet been reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ:

As John Piper has said, "Missions exists because worship doesn't."

God is all about Himself being worshiped and adored! That's our chief purpose as Christians.

For the Christian, our true citizenship is in heaven. Yes, we are all citizens in nations on the earth; however, we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and we have been born again of incorruptible seed by the Holy Spirit into a holy nation, the family of God. Our primary prayer ought to be that our Father's Kingdom might come, that the glory of the LORD would cover the earth as the waters cover the sea – not that our form of democratic government might cover the earth. We have been entrusted with the everlasting gospel, the power of God unto salvation to all nations; therefore our commission is to export the Good News of great joy to all the nations, so they might join us in worshiping our God, to the glory of God.

In John 10, Jesus Himself declared:

That phrase "I must" is known as the divine imperative, meaning Jesus had a holy compulsion to bring others to Himself who were not of this fold. By "this fold," Jesus meant the Jews. So, Jesus was emphatically saying, "I must bring sheep from all the nations because I am the Good Shepherd not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles."

Do you have such a holy zeal, compulsion, and jealousy for all the nations to be brought into Christ's fold? If you have the Spirit of Christ indwelling you, if you are being conformed into the image of Christ, you ought to.

Question:  How then does Jesus fulfill that divine imperative, how does He gather and bring sheep from all the nations since He has ascended and now dwells in heaven at the right hand of His Father?

Answer:  Jesus commissions His disciples, and He equips them with His Holy Spirit to do that work.

Earlier in Isaiah 52, we read this commendation of those who take the good news to the ends of the earth:

And the apostle Paul references that verse in Romans 10:

Are your feet beautiful?

We have three options...

In his message, Pursuing the Glory of God in the Gladness of the Nations in God (which I blogged on here), John Piper tells us we have three options regarding missions:

God forbid we put ourselves in the position of Jonah, and balk at going to our "Ninevehs," and instead we get on our boats to go to "Tarshish."

God forbid we stay at home and waste our lives and our energy and our resources day after day after, year after year after year, on matters that have no impact on eternity.

God's commandments are not burdensome. He has promised to give us all we need to serve Him. As we ask our Father in heaven, will He not give us His Holy Spirit? (Luke 11:13). As we ask, we will be given a zeal for the glory of God; a desire to embrace the cause of Christ in the world; God's compassionate heart of mercy to love and long for souls from all nations, including our enemies – so we might pray for all the nations, and go and preach to them, or else to be engaged in sending others to preach to them – with an eye to the glorious day that we will be gathered around the throne with all the saints from all the nations whom the Lord Jesus Christ has sprinkled!

Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Work found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ede_ethnic_groups.jpg  / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Public Domain