Lesson 35 Outline: Lesson 35. The Westminster Confession as a map of the doctrine contained in Holy Scripture, Part 1. (The pains of the minister demonstrated in their study and contemplation of divine mysteries)
Worship service 10/29.

Greetings and grace to the saints, the people of God, called out of darkness and into the marvelous light of the gospel.
|2 Timothy‬ ‭1:8‭-‬11‬ ‭says,
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
We are called out of darkness and ignorance by the preaching of the word, which is the declaration of the truth in scripture and an exposition of the doctrine contained therein, therefore as Jesus Christ is the true shepherd, the faithful pastor, and as we ourselves have only been made partakers of his grace, we are behooved by this to bless and praise God for sending faithful ministers to preach his will, through which word alone is the salvation of souls.

Psalm 9.

9 I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

3 For mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.

4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.

5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

6 O enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.

7 But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.

8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in due time, even in affliction.

10 And they that know thy name will trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

11 Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his works.

12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

13 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: and rejoice in thy salvation.

15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their foot taken.

16 The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever.

19 Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

20 Put them in fear, O Lord: that the nations may know that they are but men. Selah.

We have noted before that central to this Psalm is David’s giving Glory to the Lord with his whole heart and speaking of all his works, which are two chief characteristics of the Christian. Also important to note is David’s statement concerning God’s name. God is known by the judgment he executes. V16. But Solomon also says in another place that man cannot tell God’s love by what is before him, so how can we know that God is executing judgment on sinners if we cannot perceive whether grief or afflictions are caused by sin or no? For we know that the wicked and the righteous both suffer, and the wicked and the righteous both are given prosperity. As says the gospel of Matthew. He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Seeing it is God that doth all these things, how does David say that God is known by the judgment He executes? First, because oftentimes wicked men scheme against the righteous and plot against him seeking their destruction, so that when God delivers the righteous and rains judgment on the wicked, it is in such a manner that the righteous may openly praise God for His salvation, knowing that the sentence came from His throne. See the case of Haman in the book of Esther. Secondly, the righteous by understanding God’s judgment as spiritual and oftentimes secret, can readily discern that no matter how the wicked appear to prosper on earth, because they are without God’s favor they will fall even by that which they appear to rise. Just as Romans says pertaining to the wicked heaping up treasures of wrath against themselves. And so the wicked by gaining wealth, fame, status and influence gain for themselves no more than the secret curse of God who will reward them exactly according to their works. And so God is known by His open judgments which he inflicts on the persecutors of His church, as it is written, “he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye” and secondly He is known by His secret judgments which are hidden and mingled with all the outward blessings of the wicked. Therefore those who hold to common grace cannot understand this and do not know God.

Also important to note is David’s imprecation against the wicked and all nations that forget God. In our days we are surrounded by the wicked, they are all around us and have the authority and influence in the world. But even such a nation as America, God is able to bring down with His power and reduce them to captivity, poverty, and rubble. Just as the Revelation speaks of Babylon the great so it might be said of America. Alas that great City, that mighty city! For in one hour is Thy judgment come. Let us therefore continue to pray for that nation in which we live, for her peace, stability, and prosperity, for God’s elect which are born of her to be called by His Spirit, and if she continue in rebellion against God’s word, let judgment fall upon her swiftly. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Opening Prayer.
Our righteous and merciful Father, we come before thee seeking forgiveness for ourselves and others for we trespass against thee daily. We ask for Satan’s kingdom to be destroyed, and for the kingdom of grace to be advanced, for ourselves and others to be brought into it and kept in it, we pray for sanctification and growth in grace according to thy free mercy, and for the kingdom of glory to be hastened, for the Lord to come again for our final redemption and resurrection, ascending with Him to the heavens to be with our Father and His Father, to our God and His God. We pray that we would be united in Christ in the bond of Christian fellowship, strengthen our unity by the truth and by holy warfare. Grant us safety from our enemies and help us to know what to desire and what to ask for, that whatsoever thou dost graciously provide might even be on account of thy own work in us causing us to ask for that which is good for us. Give us good leaders in this Nation, and raise up a generation of righteous magistrates to overturn the enterprise of immoral freedoms that natural men crave according to their fallen state. And if it should please thee to permit our country to continue in it’s diabolical path fighting against thy holy ordinances and even the very laws of nature and common sense, yea if men should continue to swallow up the world in decadence and luxury like fat animals even so, rise up in judgment, pull thy sword out of its scabbard, and rain judgment upon thine enemies. Not our enemies as our enemies O Lord, we ask not for ourselves but for thy name and kingdom, for this nation is a backwards Nation, teaching evil as good and good as evil. Destroy them and punish them for their blasphemy, and avenge thy name upon this perverse people, that thou and thou alone might be glorified forever and ever. Turn the wicked into hell and all the nations that forget God.
We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who purchased us for Himself and redeemed us from this wicked age, for His name’s sake we pray , Amen.

Lesson 35. The Westminster Confession as a map of the doctrine contained in Holy Scripture, Part 1. (The pains of the minister demonstrated in their study and contemplation of divine mysteries)

1. If the reverend and learned composers 2. of these ensuing treatises were willing to 3. take the pains of annexing scripture proofs to every truth, 4. that the faith of people might not be built upon the dictates of men, but the authority of God, so some considerable pains hath now been further taken in transcribing those scriptures; partly to prevent that grand inconvenience, (which all former impressions, except the Latin, have abounded with, to the great perplexing and disheartening of the reader,) the misquotation of scripture, the meanest reader being able, by having the words at large, to rectify whatever mistake may be in the printer in citing the particular place; partly, to prevent the trouble of turning to every proof, which could not but be very great; partly, to help the memories of such who are willing to take the pains of turning to every proof, but are unable to retain what they read; and partly, 5. that this may serve as a Bible commonplace, the several passages of scripture, which are scattered up and down in the word, being in this book reduced to their 6. proper head, and 7. thereby giving light each to other.

1. The authors of the Confession.
i. The necessity of learning.
ii. The necessity of correct doctrine.

2. The work at hand.
i. The Westminter Confession of Faith (for authority in the church)
ii. Shorter Catechism (for children and young adults)
iii. Larger Catechism (for students and adults)
iv. All ministers/churches/sermons must conform to the doctrine contained here as a rule.

3. The pains of laboring in the word.
i. The duty and joy of the minister.
“The burden of the word of the Lord”
“Ye have said what a weariness is it”
ii. The work in particular of drawing scripture proofs. (In the ministry in general, the WCF in particular)

4. The goal and aim of every Christian minister.
i. To give glory to God. “If I please men I were not the servant of Christ”
ii. To submit to His authority. “Preach the word” (not to flatter or gain advantage)
iii. To speak His mind. (Correct doctrine)

Conclusion.
Summarize the lesson.

Closing prayer.

Our righteous and holy Father we give thee thanks and praise for the free gift of thy Spirit and thy ministers whom thou hast sent to deliver unto us thy will. Thou hast spoken and said unto thy messengers, he they heareth you heareth me and he that heareth me heareth him that sent me. Therefore he that hearkens to the voice of the minister, speaking that which is right and true, hears the voice of Christ speaking to them by it, and he that hearkens to the voice of Christ hears the Father speaking with all authority and Majesty from heaven. Thy word is true and righteous all together. Therefore thou hast also taught us what to say to the people in thy word, for thy word is light and thy Spirit causes us to understand it as thou dost instruct us by thy grace. So teach us to speak right things, for the rest of the world and the church has gone astray, speaking lies in hypocrisy, flattering the people to gain advantage of them, and beating them into submission with hard words. But thou art a gentle and merciful Father, guiding us into green pastures like a shepherd taking a little lamb in His arms, or like a good husband is jealous over the safety and security of his wife. So lead us O Lord in thy grace and in thy Mercy by the word and by those whom thou hast sent. And may all praise, honor and glory be unto Christ our King who hath saved us with everlasting life. Let our hearts, our minds, our wills be captive in the bonds of love for Jesus Christ, who is the rightful king of the earth and who will return and claim us for His own special people. In confidence of this and according to His word we pray, amen.

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