Lesson 27. (The Excellency of the Westminster Standards and the Necessity of a Godly Life)

Worship service:
Greetings and grace to you, beloved brethren of the Lord, ye who are called out of darkness into His marvelous light. Blessed be God for sending us a Savior and a deliverer, and such is the cause and material of our worship. We come before God to praise Him for His salvation, and the subject of our praise is the manner in which He saved us. Let all glory and praise be to God through Jesus Christ forever and ever. 
Psalm 92 a song for the Sabbath day says, 
“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, And to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, And thy faithfulness every night…”
We show forth the loving kindness of our God in the morning, like as the sun rising in its meridian splendor expels the darkness of night, so is our regeneration, and further our Thanksgiving to God for delivering us from the long sleep of our misery. And so also we show forth His faithfulness in the night, for when darkness comes upon us in the way of affliction or temptation, the promises of the gospel are a sure comfort to us, a veritable light in the darkness, Wherein God demonstrates His faithfulness to us, as He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5. In the Greek it is repeated 5 times for our invincible comfort.
Observe Thomas Manton on the text (we’re speaking of the faithfulness of God in the night from Psalm 92):
I observe, that it is a promise emphatically delivered. 
[1.] For the matter, ‘I will not leave thee, nor forsake thee;’ that is, I will be so far from forsaking or casting thee off, that I will not so much as leave thee for a time. It is such another as that, Ps. 121:4, ‘Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.’ There is no time that his people are left to shift for themselves, but they are under the care of his providence continually.  [2.] For the form, ὀυ μή σε ἀνὠ οὐδʼ οὐ μή σε ὲτκαταλίτω. ‘I will not not leave thee, neither not not forsake thee.’ Five negatives. He will not, yea, he will not; surely he will not forsake his servants, or neglect them, and withdraw his presence and providence from them.  [3.] For the duplication, ‘I will not leave thee, nor forsake thee.’ Joseph told Pharaoh the dream was doubled, because it was established by God, Gen. 41:32.  All this is to show how dull and stupid we are in conceiving of God’s promises: ‘O ye fools, and slow of heart to believe!’ Luke 24:21. We are backward to everything, but especially to faith, or dependence on God for something that lieth not in our own power.”

Behold then the faithfulness of God in the night! He will never leave us, but will keep us to the end. As it is written, “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, which is prepared to be revealed in the last time, Wherein ye greatly rejoice…”

Therefore let us praise and worship God together, remembering His lovingkindness and faithfulness to us.

1Psalm 3: David driven forth of his kingdom, was greatly tormented in mind for his sins against God:  4 And therefore calleth upon God, and waxeth bold through his promises, against the great railings and terrors of his enemies, yea against death itself, which he saw present before his eyes. 7 Finally, he rejoiceth for the good success that God gave him and all the Church.

A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.

3:1 Lord, how are mine adversaries increased! many are they that rise up against me.

2 Many there be which say to my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy mountain. Selah.

5 I laid me down and slept; I rose up again; for the Lord sustained me.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the wicked.

8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Henry: As the foregoing psalm, in the type of David in preferment, showed us the royal dignity of the Redeemer, so this, by the example of David in distress, shows us the peace and holy security of the redeemed, how safe they really are, and think themselves to be, under the divine protection.

Calvin: It was a mark of uncommon faith, when smitten with so great consternation, to venture freely to make his complaint to God, and, as it were, to pour out his soul into his bosom. And certainly the only remedy for allaying our fears is this, to cast upon him all the cares which trouble us; as, on the other hand, those who have the conviction that they are not the objects of his regard, must be prostrated and overwhelmed by the calamities which befall them.

Opening prayer:
Our gracious and merciful Father, holy, just and true, blessed be thy name, forever and ever, let thy name be esteemed and magnified in the hearts of thy people, and let us fear thy great and awesome name as we come before thee to worship, knowing that thou art a consuming fire. Yet let us come before thee as children to a Father, knowing that thou art ready and able to help us when we call to thee. We give thee thanks therefore for thy lovingkindness to us, in birthing us anew by the miracle of the gospel. We see around us daily the effects of sin, men with darkened hearts vomiting out their defiled thoughts, words and actions, showing themselves to be children of hell, and yet although we were no better by nature, according to thine own infinite goodness, thou hast shined the light of the gospel into our hearts and turned us back from following after vanity, leading us in the right way, the way of truth. So continue to lead us O Lord, guide us like a shepherd into thine everlasting kingdom, for that only is where our hearts shall be truly and fully satisfied. So guide us, and sprinkle us even on our journey with grace that we might ever seek thee, and not turn back after the vanity of the world. Show us mercy O Lord when we go astray, and turn our hearts back unto thee by the rod and repentance that we might not have cause to be ashamed, but established in the faith, and walking uprightly, might seek thee with a pure conscience. Prepare us according to thy promise for that blessed day when we shall be received up in glory, and let the whole work of salvation, from the rising of the sun of righteousness in our hearts, to our final shout of victory be attributed to the free grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ, who is our Chief Shepherd, by whose blood we are washed from the guilt and pollution of sin, and in whose holy name we pray, Amen. 

Lesson 27.

Concerning 1. the particular excellency of these ensuing treatises, we judge it unneedful to mention those eminent testimonies which have been given them from 2. persons of known worth, in respect of their judgment, learning, and 3. integrity, both at home and abroad, because themselves spake so much their own praise;

Intro. 
1. The particular excellency of the Westminster Confession.
i. In its form. 
a) The outline of the Confession. 
b) The superior English of the Confession.
Especially the Larger Catechism. (WLC 1-5)
c) The plainness of the style. Especially the Shorter. (WSC, 7, 11-12, 14, 18-21)
ii. In its matter. 
a) The very heart of the gospel. (WLC 64-81, 70-73)
b) A map of the essential points of scripture.
c) A treasury of scripture proofs. + (Q. 70)

2. The authority of others to convince us of the use and excellency of it.
i. God uses means to guide us into truth.
All information received is received in the manner of accepting a word by authority.
“trust in the Lord” is synonymous with “believe His word” “believe in the Lord Jesus”
“Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” 2 Chron. 20:20
ii. The singular duty we have to those under our care to persuade them of its excellency and use.
iii. The special role of parents and their authority over their children.
a) They have a particular duty to read and teach the holy scriptures to them.
b) They have a particular duty to recommend those treatises that are most beneficial to the engendering and promoting of faith in the soul. 
(Westminster Confession, Calvin’s Institutes, Watson’s Body of Divinity, Richard Rogers seven treatises.) 

3. The necessity of maintaining a godly reputation.
i. Piety is first in the heart, before it is displayed.
Hypocrisy makes a pretense of righteousness, but the person being without grace is not inwardly transformed or moved.
ii. Integrity begins in the home, and then is showed also abroad. In most cases, men and women act in public like they are righteous, but in the comfort of the home, they act like devils, hating one another, backbiting, contemning, using spiteful language, and then convincing themselves that all is well.
Like vipers they maintain the appearance of peace until disturbed, then they bite and devour.
James 4:1-3
Hell is the end of hypocrites. But the righteous are loving, joyful and peacemakers at home as well as abroad. The eyes of the Lord are upon us.

App. Let us remember our calling as Christians and strive for peace and harmony in the soul, by fighting against sin, in the home, by loving our neighbor (performing our duty to them and bearing with their weaknesses), abroad, by fulfilling our office and occupation.
iii. Without a consistent life of inward piety and outward godliness, we can have no influence and authority to point others to this excellent treatise. (although according to the apostasy of the times we are without a formal church, yet our doctrine and life is proof of our communion with God) 
iv. It is our duty to point others to this treatise, and maintain a godly life as evidence of its usefulness and excellency.

Sub. App. If Christians are persecuted by the world and the false church because of their message, and the Westminster Confession is an expression of the faith, as it is written, “Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake” 
First let us observe the certainty of the enmity. 
i. “Ye shall be hated” just as before it was written, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed” There is an unreconcilable war between the devil’s children who are born of this world only, and the members of Christ’s church, who receive His doctrine, being born from above.
ii. “By all men.” These are the subjects of this enmity. Those who are hostile towards Christ and His kingdom. They are men of the world, men of Adam, men of sin, men of Belial. All men who have not been regenerated by the Spirit of God working with the word spoken by His ministers are at such an enmity towards God and His people. Let no one think he is exempt from this rule. “all men” 
iii. “For my name’s sake” This is the cause and the object of their hatred. We are light, they are darkness. Our doctrine is upright, theirs is full of contradiction. Our lives are pure being sincere, theirs are full of inward lawlessness and hypocrisy. We are of God and have overcome the world by His gospel. They are waiting to be cut down like grass, and burned like fuel. 
Note, We are not persecuted for our persons, our attitude, or behavior, but for our doctrine and the holy effects thereof.
Let us then conclude the application. If we are persecuted on account of our faith (which is our doctrine) although we have a duty to shine as lights, and recommend this excellent work to others, we can only expect their hatred and animosity, because the doctrine contained in this confession is holy, and men are by nature desperately wicked. Our vindication will come on the last day. Let us prepare for it by godly learning and godly living. 

Conclusion.
All Christians are lovely, excellent, noble creatures born anew by the Spirit of the living God. Let us demonstrate to the world that our word is worth giving heed to by a good testimony of love to God and our neighbor. Love to God, clinging to His doctrine, so excellently summed up in the confession and catechisms, and love to our neighbor, doing all that is in our power to promote their wellbeing and if opportunity arises, their salvation also. We shall be persons of known worth when we are called to judgment on the last day. Regardless of how the world hears us or receives our message, let us strive to increase daily in the profit of godliness, by prayer, by study, by meditation, by activity in God’s service, and let us lean on Him for the grace to maintain, uphold and perfect the performance of it. 

Concluding prayer,
Our gracious and merciful Father, whose name alone is holy, we come before thee as a people in distress, even as thy people have in times of old. Thy ordinances are not faithfully kept and thy gospel is not heard. Thy law is contemned and all men everywhere call upon a god of their own making. Thou hast not promised us a smooth and easy life according to the flesh, nor of peace on earth, nor of great worldly possessions. But thou hast promised us much more, even peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit, increase of grace and perseverance therein to the end. Thou hast promised us victory over our enemies, over our sins, over the devil, over the whole world. Therefore may we thy people rejoice as David, and say, I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy mountain. For thou hast promised to hear us when we call unto thee in truth. If we regard iniquity in the soul, and imagine vanity when we pray, thou wilt not hear us, for thou art holy, just and pure. Therefore give us a clean heart to approach unto thee. Wash away our sins by the power of the cross. Forgive us and cleanse us according to the promise of the gospel, and may we who are so blessed and forgiven ever praise thy holy name, and say, “salvation belongeth unto the Lord, thy blessing is upon thy people.” so let us take our rest in thee, and evermore trust in thee, and let us esteem the name of the Lord Christ who hath redeemed us by His own blood above all riches and may His name ever be adored by us, and so we pray to thee our Father in the name of the Son, who is our advocate and mediator, our captain, governor and mediator. In His blessed name, Amen. 

YouTube Audio: https://youtu.be/nCRDRLSfM98