There was nothing complicated about Duncan's preaching. It was fearless and uncompromising. He exposed sin in its ugliness and dwelt at length on the consequences of living and dying without Christ. With a penetrating gaze on the congregation, and perspiration streaming down his face, he set before men and women the way of life and the way of death. It was a solemn thought to him that the eternity of his hearers might turn upon his faithfulness. He was standing before his fellowmen in Christ's stead and could be neither perfunctory nor formal. His words were not just a repetition of accumulated ideas, but the expression of his whole being; he gave the impression of preaching with his entire personality, not merely with his voice.

    It was prophetic preaching, not diplomatic, and the hearers were called to make a clear choice, for there was middle path. During the revival the wrath of God was emphasized and the coming judgment. God has given him this emphasis. Once he tried to be more pleasing in the presentation of truth but without effect and in spite of constant criticism continued to press the flaming sword into the very heart of the foe, resisting every effort to make him retreat. Leaving a service one night after listening to a famous preacher who was noted for his 'positive gospel', he found himself beside another minister who had often censured his ministry. The sermon they had listened to was on Paul's word to the Philippian jailor: 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.'

    'What did you think of that?' his critic asked. 'Not telling him to flee from the wrath to come!'

    'Maybe not,' replied Duncan slowly 'but you must remember that the dear many was already in full flight.'

    While he thundered the judgments of God unsparingly on those who continued in sin, there was a beautiful tenderness when he addressed those seeking Christ in true repentance. The jewel of grace shone more brightly against the backcloth of law and judgment. Indeed, those who listened sometimes saw his countenance glow with light as he dwelt on the love of Christ and God's welcome to returning sinners.

    Undoubtedly the insistence on a true knowledge of sin and genuine repentance was one of the reasons for the deep conviction of sin which characterised the movement. At times the preacher's voice was drowned with the sound of men and women weeping uncontrollably; on occasions he found it necessary to stop preaching because of the distress manifested by those whose consciences had been awakened. Men, broken in spirit, wept openly over their sin. Here is one working at peats on the moor and suddenly bursts into a flood of tears. 'Why am I crying?' he asks 'I didn't used to be so soft.' He remembers the two ships that had gone down under him at Dunkirk and he had shown no fear; now he trembles. Hastening home he goes to the barn and yields with the prayer: 'Oh God if it's my surrender You want, You've got it now.'

    Another, who had been given up by the ministers as totally indifferent, is cycling along the road with the Word of God pounding in his brain causing him to dismount; it seems that hell has opened up, spitting out balls of fire on the road before him.

    In the fields, or at the weaving looms, men were overcome and prostrated on the ground before God. One said; 'The grass beneath my feet and the rocks around me seem to cry: "Flee to Christ for refuge!"'

    The agony of conviction was terrible to behold, but Duncan rejoiced knowing that out of the deep travail would be born a rich, virile Christian experience, unlike the cheap, easy-going 'believism' that produces no radical moral change. An old man underlined this in his prayer when he said bluntly: 'Lord, now that You have us in the big pot, boil us as well!'

* * *

Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Matthew 10:26  “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27  What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32  So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33  but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

34  “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36  And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38  And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

This morning, I was rereading the accounts of Moses' repeated visits to Pharaoh.

"We must go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he tells us."

Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.”

But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them to serve the LORD our God, and we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there.”

Jude 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (adapted)

Acts 20:18 “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19  serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20  how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21  testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22  And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23  except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24  But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25  And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26  Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27  for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28  Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29  I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30  and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31  Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears..."

10  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
(James 4:17)

"Peace if possible, truth at all costs."
(Martin Luther)

 And Elijah came near to all the people and said,
“How long will you go limping between two different opinions?
If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.”

And the people did not answer him a word.
(I Kings 18:21)

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
“Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say,
Hear the word of the LORD, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the LORD.
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.
Do not trust in these deceptive words:
‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’
(Jeremiah 7:1-4)

My throat is parched, this place so dry
With fear and trembling, I bow and cry

O! Spark! O! Blessed fire of grace
Come and kindle, my need is great!

The lions roar, the dogs do tear
Where is our rescue? Are You there?

In dust and ashes, no comfort found
The heavens brass - nary a sound

Tempted to despair, to make shipwreck
To stop contending for precious faith

Author of faith, finish what You began
Our help is in You; vain is help of man

Like a lonely sparrow, I lie awake
Have mercy on us for Your name's sake!

My friends all scattered, on You I rely
In Your majesty, ride through the skies!

The earthly cisterns futile and vain
O visit us! Doctrine drop like rain!

The wicked encircle me all around
Beguile, confuse, and confound

Truth has perished, cut off from their lips
How can I stand? How can I persist?

Seeking teachers to suit their own passions
Unsound preachers robed in current fashion

A fountain of tears are my eyes
Their ears itch, entertaining lies

Wolves in sheep's clothing: Satan's disguise
They bend their tongues like bows for lies

A horrible thing has happened in the land
Lightly esteemed the Christ, built on sinking sand

Scoffed at the Rock of our salvation
Provoked You with our abominations

We kicked, we forsook our God who gave us birth
Trusted our beauty, exalted human worth

But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked:
thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness;
then he forsook God which made him,
and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods,
with abominations provoked they him to anger.
They sacrificed unto devils, not to God;
to gods whom they knew not,
to new gods that came newly up,
whom your fathers feared not.
Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful,
and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
(Deuteronomy 32:15-18, KJV)

“And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood,
I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’

You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty.
And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty,
for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you,
declares the Lord GOD.

“But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore
because of your renown and lavished your whorings on any passerby...
(Ezekiel 16:6, 13b-15a)

Their trumpet blasts uncertain in the air
Have You not heard? Do You not care?

O! Spark! O! Blessed fire of grace
Come and kindle, our need is great!

The strange and earthly, I do disdain
I seek gladd'ning oil, Your shining face

Unless I believed, I surely would faint
In Thee I trust. On Thee alone I wait!

To finish my course, to stand in the gate,
To proclaim Thy truth, I need Thy grace

No one understands, no not one –
Except my Advocate, God's only Son!

Having received this sentence of death
Beyond all measure I am pressed

God forbid I waver and compromise
Shrink back from speaking the words of Life

You said to ask, and You said to knock
Living Water, burst from flinty rock!

Not a liar, Your promises You keep
You never fail to feed Your sheep

O! Spark! O! Blessed fire of grace
Come and kindle, my need is great!

From glory to glory, grace to grace
Inflame me in my flickering race

Hurry over Bether, the mount so high
Hasten to me! Come! Swiftly fly!

Be not a stranger! Do not forsake!
O my God! Arm of the LORD, awake!

To look upon Your goodness in desert land
To feel the embrace of Your right hand

To sup again, to taste Thy grace
To enter Thy courts, see Thy face

My greatest ambition, one thing I seek
To dwell with Thee, see Thy beauty

Good Shepherd, cast me not away,
I am Your sheep, called by Your Name

By Thee alone can I stand unashamed
For Your glory and renown of Thy Name

To proclaim in Your temple Your sovereign grace
Grant me grace that I might not shrink or faint!

O! Spark! O! Blessed fire of grace
Come and kindle, my need is great!

My throat is parched, this place so dry
With fear and trembling, I bow and cry

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus...
(II Timothy 2:1)

I had fainted,
unless I had believed
to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait on the LORD:
be of good courage,
and he shall strengthen thine heart:
wait, I say, on the LORD.
(Psalm 27:13-14, KJV)

Then I saw in my dream, that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand, and led him into a place where was a fire burning against a wall, and one standing by it, always casting much water upon it, to quench it; yet did the fire burn higher and hotter.

Then said Christian, What means this?

The Interpreter answered, This fire is the work of grace that is wrought in the heart; he that casts water upon it, to extinguish and put it out, is the devil: but in that thou seest the fire, notwithstanding, burn higher and hotter, thou shalt also see the reason of that. So he had him about to the back side of the wall, where he saw a man with a vessel of oil in his hand, of the which he did also continually cast (but secretly) into the fire.

Then said Christian, What means this?

The Interpreter answered, This is Christ, who continually, with the oil of his grace, maintains the work already begun in the heart; by the means of which, notwithstanding what the devil can do, the souls of his people prove gracious still. 2 Cor. 12:9. And in that thou sawest that the man stood behind the wall to maintain the fire; this is to teach thee, that it is hard for the tempted to see how this work of grace is maintained in the soul.

John Piper's message at the 2012 Together for the Gospel Conference: Glory, Majesty, Dominion, and Authority Keep Us Safe for Everlasting Joy

Galatians 1:10 . . . if I yet pleased men . . .
learning to run without fear
the world says . . . You say . . . I say (a prayer of dedication)

one woman's (not so secret) addiction
I can't keep walking on eggshells here (more on Revelife, Calvinism, the Body of Christ and self)
As the Visible Disappoints
"Blessed is the Man that endureth Temptation" by Joseph Hart
The Shepherd's Examination (Dear shepherds...if you're not feeding the flock, then who will?)
the shepherds' confession: may Christ and His Gospel become a joy and delight to us once more
Happy Birthday, Richard Baxter: Reforming pastoral ministry
Combatting the creepy guys (Sola Scriptura + priesthood of believers)
O, Church, to whom are we listening: the frogs or the nightingale?
never underestimate the prowling lion
the church reformed, always being reformed, lest we become deformed (Reformation Day)
A famine of hearing the words of the Lord
Wake up and tremble, rightly ascribe
"Consider your ways" (Haggai 1)
The Glory of God in Sovereign Electing Grace
the lost treasures of Christianity & the call to pray for revival (Bible reading: Ezra 1)
Reformation Rebels: Are you willing to be a rebel for the sake of the Church?
even among the voices (Bible reading: Nehemiah 6:1-14)

Work found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jeremiah_lamenting.jpg / CC BY-SA 3.0 / {{PD-Art|PD-old-100}}
Work found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yorkshire_dales_sheep.jpg  / CC BY-SA 3.0
Work found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Campfire_and_sparks_in_Anttoora_2.jpg / CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
But without faith
it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God
must believe that
he is,
and that
he is a rewarder
of them that
diligently
seek
him.

Habakkuk 2
3  For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.
4  “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith.

Luke 18:1 (KJV)
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint ...

Exodus 33
12  Moses said to the LORD, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13  Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.”

Jeremiah 33:3
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Thomas' Song ~ If only, if only I'd see Your face!

All my dreams, I would watch them fade
All the earthly, I'd gladly trade

If only, if only I'd see Your face!
The just shall wait –– shall live by faith
The just shall wait –– shall seek by faith
O! to pray, that I might not faint!

My highest ambitions placed upon the fire
To gain Christ, to know Him – my blazing desire!

If only, if only I'd see Your face!
The just shall wait –– shall live by faith
The just shall wait –– shall seek by faith
O! to pray, that I might not faint!

O! To see my Lord with mine own eye!
My portion fore'er, perfect supply!

If only, if only I'd see Your face!
The just shall wait –– shall live by faith
The just shall wait –– shall seek by faith
O! to pray, that I might not faint!

In this barren and thirsty land
To hear Your voice, to grasp Your hand!

If only, if only I'd see Your face!
The just shall wait –– shall live by faith
The just shall wait –– shall seek by faith
O! to pray, that I might not faint!

Among the captives, heavens be rent
To my panting soul, refreshment sent!

If only, if only I'd see Your face!
The just shall wait –– shall live by faith
The just shall wait –– shall seek by faith
O! to pray, that I might not faint!

In this nighttime valley of death
Pour, precious oil, Holy Spirit breath!

If only, if only I'd see Your face!
The just shall wait –– shall live by faith
The just shall wait –– shall seek by faith
O! to pray, that I might not faint!

In the wilderness, so desolate
A table prepared, celestial treat!

If only, if only I'd see Your face!
The just shall wait –– shall live by faith
The just shall wait –– shall seek by faith
O! to pray, that I might not faint!

As enemies rush upon me like a flood
Remember Your covenant – redeeming blood!

If only, if only I'd see Your face!
The just shall wait –– shall live by faith
The just shall wait –– shall seek by faith
O! to pray, that I might not faint!

As I go to You outside the camp
Be my shield and be my lamp

If only, if only I'd see Your face!
The just shall wait –– shall live by faith
The just shall wait –– shall seek by faith
O! to pray, that I might not faint!

In the darkness – a glimmer, Glory's sight!
A moment on the Mount: truest delight!

If only, if only I'd see Your face!
The just shall wait –– shall live by faith
The just shall wait –– shall seek by faith
O! to pray, that I might not faint!

All my griefs, my every tear
Worth it all, as You draw near!

If only, if only I'd see Your face!
The just shall wait –– shall live by faith
The just shall wait –– shall seek by faith
O! to pray, that I might not faint!

While shut up here in this prison court
Living manna, fall! Word of the LORD!

If only, if only I'd see Your face!
The just shall wait –– shall live by faith
The just shall wait –– shall seek by faith
O! to pray, that I might not faint!

Having found grace, I cry, "Grace!
Find me in this desert place!"

If only, if only I'd see Your face!
Yet I shall wait –– and live by faith
Yet I shall wait –– and seek by faith
O! to pray, that I might not faint!

Jeremiah 33
1  The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard: 2  “Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it—the LORD is his name: 3  Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Ezekiel 1:1
1  In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

Genesis 39
20  And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21  But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Acts 7
54  Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55  But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56  And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Psalm 23
4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5  You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Habakkuk 2
3  For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.
4  “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith.

Job 42
1  Then Job answered the LORD and said:

2  “I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3  ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4  ‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
5  I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
6  therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”

John 20
24  Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26  Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29  Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Hebrews 13
10  We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11  For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12  So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13  Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14  For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15  Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Jeremiah 31
1  “At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.”

2  Thus says the LORD:
“The people who survived the sword
found grace in the wilderness;
when Israel sought for rest,
3  the LORD appeared to him from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

---