“Duty Faith”, By John Foreman, Minister of Mount Zion Chapel, London, 1860

Preface

These Letters, by Mr. John Foreman, ought to be read by all the Churches in Christendom. They are a wholesome handful of meal, suited to counter act the deadly poison passed off for Gospel in the present day. Never was decision…

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Sir,

I am, from the truth, example, and authority of the New Testament word of God, a Strict Baptist communionist, knowing most assuredly, that no man, living under the profession of the name of Christ, can really regard and solemnly take that holy word for the standard of his faith and sole rule of his life, and not be so. But having, on the 17th of December last, received some papers, in the form of…

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You consider that the obligation of every man to believe unto salvation, depends on ‘The rule of universal obedience, which is the very essence of God’s law.’ This is a most sorry huddling together of things which are fundamentally dissimilar in their…

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There is properly, nothing without covenant system and order, of all things that are of God with man; whether they be gifts or claims, obligations or blessings. For when the Lord made Adam, and the whole human race in him as their head, he made a covenant with him, Gen 2:15-17, and according to which he gave him the good of Eden, and thereby all the good of pure…

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God made a covenant with Abraham, by which he gave to him and his seed the land of Canaan, and all the good thereof. The whole race of Adam universally were never within this covenant with Abraham and his seed, nor intended to be so; and so they, accordingly, were never universally partakers of its peculiar form of privileges, and so, accordingly, were not under its peculiar form of obligations to obey its…

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The Lord saith, I have made a covenant with my chosen,’ Ps 89:3,4, meaning with David as the type and figure, but with Christ as the true antitype and head, and with his seed, the chosen in him, of the redeemed and represented by him. And this is called, an everlasting covenant, Heb 13: 20 the covenant of peace that shall not be removed, Isa. 54:10 “a covenant that God will not…

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Now I cannot see what the obligations of the Eden covenant of nature can have to do with faith in this covenant of mercy, by a surety’s blood, as a duty; because the most perfect obedience maintained in Eden could in no way, from its very nature, be any title, or even any sort of introduction, to any of the mercy favors: of this covenant. And as the Eden covenant, which was but a fair legal contract between sinless man and…

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May 2nd, 1831

My dear Brother,

I was very glad to hear by your last letter that your wife has safely delivered another son; and I hope that he will prove a blessing to you both. God’s mercies have been great and manifold towards you in this life, and I pray that they may not prove snares. The children of God almost always flourish more in trials and difficulties than in the sunshine of health and prosperity. The promise is, “As your days, so shall your strength be”; consequently, if there are not trials within from Satan’s temptations, or afflictions and persecutions from without, we would not call upon God heartily for help. So when we pray for grace, we at the same time ask for trials. In the case when Paul prayed that the messenger of Satan might depart from him, the Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you; for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” “Most gladly, therefore,” he adds, “will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” So the Lord answered his prayer, not as Paul asked; but he was content that it should be so, that he might enjoy more of the power of Christ in his own soul.

Your last letter was very short, and you never gave your opinion respecting the important change I contemplate about leaving the Establishment. My mind is perplexed upon the subject, which I believe will end in my leaving. “But he who believes shall not make haste.” I trust that God will direct me. I can assure you that the…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“What Manner Of Man Is This?”

For the full order of service, including hymns and reading, please follow this link…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“The Everlasting Father”

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Some of the points covered in this sermon:
• Reviewing the three main parts of Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the Messiah, as recorded in Isaiah 9:6
• Explaining the difference between the first Person of the Godhead identified as the “Father”, and the second Person of the Godhead identified as the “Everlasting Father”
• Showing how Christ is the Everlasting Father of creation
• Showing how Christ is the Everlasting Father of providence
• Showing how Christ is the Everlasting Father of the elect as their covenant head
• Showing how Christ is the Everlasting Father of the elect in regeneration and sanctification
• Showing how Christ is the Everlasting Father of the new administration of the gracious covenant

For the full order of service, including hymns and reading, please follow this link…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“Falling Into Trouble”

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Some of the points covered in this sermon:
• Providing a definition for the Greek verb, peripiptō, translated in the English as “fall into” and “fell among”
• Highlighting the historic and geographical context for each of the three references in which this Greek verb occurs—Luke 10:30; Acts 27:41; James 1:2
• Making a comparison between these three texts for the purpose of drawing out several interesting connections and practical lessons
• First, historically speaking, there is a 15 year gap between each of the three texts
• Second, the first text is a parabolic lesson, the second text is a historic event and the third text is a pastoral exhortation
• Third, Jesus uses the term in Luke 10, which the words are recorded by Luke; Luke uses the term in Acts 27, but he is recording an event relating to Paul; James uses the word in his letter, but He is addressing a group of believers who had fallen into troubles
• Fourth, in all three texts, that into which something had fallen was very unpleasant
• Fifth, in all three texts, that into which something had fallen created a serious crisis
• Sixth, in all three texts, they who had fallen into something had opportunity to avoid it
• Seventh, in all three texts, they who had fallen inevitably did so according to the will of God
• Eighth, in all three texts, they who had fallen were delivered out of all their troubles by the Lord

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“If thou dost well, shalt thou not be accepted?”—Genesis 4:7

I. It will be proper to inquire, whether a wicked, an unregenerate man, as was Cain, can perform good works. To which may be answered,

1. Adam had a power to do every good work the law required; which men, since the fall, have not. Men indeed, in an unregenerate state, might do many things which they do not; such as reading the Scriptures, attending on public worship, etc. No doubt but the persons in the parable, who were invited to the dinner, could have gone to it, had they had a will, as well as the one did to his farm, and the other to his merchandise. Men have an equal power, had they an heart, a will, an inclination, to go to a place of divine worship, as to a tavern, or alehouse; but it is easy to observe, that persons oftentimes have it…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“He Expounded All Things”

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Preached at North Street Chapel, Stamford, on Lord’s Day Morning, Dec. 8, 1861

These words which, as uttered by my voice, are still sounding in your ears, form a part of the message sent by the Lord Jesus Christ through his servant John to the angel of the church of Smyrna. This, I need not tell you, was one of the seven churches in Asia to which special messages were addressed by the Lord Jesus when he appeared to John in the Isle of Patmos. In that lonely isle, whither John had been banished “for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ,” he had a glorious vision of the Son of God, and by him was bidden to write to the seven churches. It is the opinion of some learned, and, I may add (which is of greater authority), of some gracious interpreters of God’s word—I need only mention among the latter as a proof of my assertion the revered names of Dr. Gill and Mr. Huntington— that these seven churches of Asia Minor have a prophetical aspect; in other words, that they represent seven church states which were to intervene between the apostolic age and the consummation of all things, when our Lord shall come a second time without sin unto salvation. I shall not occupy much of your time in stating the various arguments used to establish this position, more especially as it is not one much commended to my conscience. But they view it thus. They argue that as the Revelation is wholly a prophetical book, it would be very strange and unsuitable to its title if the three first chapters contained in them nothing prophetical; that the glorious appearance of Christ to introduce these messages seems scarcely necessary to send messages to a few particular churches; and that promises are contained in them which seem…

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My dear Friend in the glorious Head of the Church,—I received your epistle, and am greatly obliged to you for it. I was sorry to learn that our dear brother Martin was so ill, but much pleased and profited to find that our blessed Lord so sweetly and powerfully supported his mind.

Indeed, in very deed, there is no God like the God of Jeshurun. None can save like him; none can succour, comfort, and support like him; no, nor can any one give timely reproof like him. Through the rich aboundings of his matchless grace, I have in thousands of instances proved him to be a very present help in time of trouble; yea, and have proved his very reproofs to be mercies. Our covenant God has treasured up in Christ, our glorious Head, an indescribable fulness of all…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“The Prince Of Peace”

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Some of the points covered in this sermon:
• Highlighting the three main parts of Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the Messiah, as recorded in Isaiah 9:6
• Providing a definition of “prince” and “peace”
• Explaining how Christ is the Prince (or Captain) of the sinner’s health and welfare
• Showing how the covenant of grace is often called a covenant of peace
• Linking the covenant of peace in Ezekiel 37:26, with the covenant of peace in Hebrews 13:20,21
• Exploring the four passages where this Greek term translated “prince” appears in the New Testament
• Providing a comprehensive overview on the doctrine of the “Prince of Peace”, by comparing and contrasting these four passages—Acts 3:12-15; Acts 5:29-32; Hebrews 2:9,10; Hebrews 12:1,2

For the full order of service, including hymns and reading, please follow this link…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“I Need The Affirmation Of Thy Love, O Lord”

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Some of the points covered in this sermon:
• Providing an overview of the Apostle Paul’s three evangelistic campaigns against the backdrop of a geographical timeline
• Tracing the time and location around which the events of Acts 14:20-22 occurred
• Highlighting the term “confirmed”, providing a definition for the Greek term and the number of time it appears in the New Testament
• Tracing the time and location around which the events of Acts 15:30-35 occurred
• Tracing the time and location around which the events of Acts 15:36-41 occurred
• Tracing the time and location around which the events of Acts 18:18-23 occurred
• Tying together these four texts, by comparing and contrasting the way in which the term “confirmed” is used in each passage
• Drawing from these texts an application for today—there is not a more pressing need among believers, than for the Lord to affirm His everlasting love to their hearts
• Highlighting four ways that a believer may receive the affirmation of God’s love on a daily and weekly basis

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March 9, 1830

My dear Friend in Eternal Union,—Yours came to hand; and very glad I was to receive it, and happy to hear that our dear friend Martin is in any measure better; but the best of all is, the sweet peace of mind which our ever-to-be-adored God is pleased to afford him. I often think of him when my dear Lord affords me access to himself; and sure I am that the union which exists between Christ and his dear family, and between them as one body in him, can never be broken. Let what bonds break that may, this is a bond that can never, no never be broken. Indeed, those very storms and tempests which break in pieces other bonds, only tend, through the sweet teachings of God the Holy Ghost, to make manifest the unalterable nature and divine glory of the bond of the everlasting covenant.

You are right, in very deed you are right; for we only learn the glorious beauties of eternal realities through scenes of affliction, either in body, mind, or estate, or in all put together; and these only tend to good purpose as God the Holy Ghost makes use of them as instruments in his glorious hands; “for no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

I can assure you that I have always been a hard learner, and have always stood in need of much discipline; but such is our dear Lord and Master that he is determined to teach, and teach to profit too. Honours crown his brow! He will bring us to his feet, yea, to his bosom, and cause us experimentally to…

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In the year 1735, the First Part of this work was published, in which are considered the several passages of Scripture made use of by Dr. Whitby and others in favour of the Universal Scheme, and against the Calvinistical Scheme, in which their arguments and objections are answered, and the several passages set in a just and proper light. These, and what are contained in the following part in favour of the Particular Scheme, are extracted from Sermons delivered in a Wednesday evening’s lecture.

Examination of

1. Genesis 4:7
2. Genesis 6:3
3. Deuteronomy 5:29
4. Deuteronomy 8:2
5. Deuteronomy 30:19…

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It should be known by the reader, that the following work was undertaken and begun about the year 1733 or 1734, at which time Dr. Whitby’s Discourse on the Five Points was reprinting, judged to be a masterpiece on the subject in the English tongue, and accounted an unanswerable one; and it was almost in the mouth of every one, as an objection to the Calvinists.

Why do not ye answer Dr. Whitby? Induced hereby, I determined to…

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A Fragment of a Sermon

“One shall say, I am the Lord’s; and another shall call himself by the name of ]acob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.”—Isaiah 44:5

The three characters spoken of in my text were children of God in different stages of experience: the first, in the full assurance of faith, with the enjoyment of peace and pardon in the soul; the second seemed to embrace by far the largest number of God’s family—poor, fearful, staggering, doubting sinners, yet spiritual Jacobs; and the third, those who possessed some good degree of confidence, whose desire was unto the Lord, to serve him with purpose of heart.

I. “One shall say, I am the Lord’s.” Highly favoured and greatly blessed is the soul that can feelingly, honestly and, with the Spirit of God testifying to the conscience, humbly say, “I am the Lord’s.” How many are there of my hearers in the chapel this morning who can thus unhesitatingly declare, “I am the Lord’s”? “My Beloved is mine, and I am his”? I do not think there are many who without a doubt or without fear could say so. Now, if we were in private conversation together, there would be many, doubtless, who would say, “I hope and trust I am the Lord’s; but I fear to be presumptuous.” But there are some here, I dare venture to say, who can well remember the time when the Lord…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“Root, Shoot And Fruit”

For the full order of service, including hymns and reading, please follow this link…

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Manchester, 1841

Messrs. Editors,—I am concerned to know how we may assure ourselves that a passage of Scripture, when applied to the mind, is by God the Holy Spirit, and not by the evil one who lieth in wait to deceive. If you or some of your correspondents will endeavour, through the medium of the Standard, to bring me to a satisfactory conclusion upon that matter, it will be greatly esteemed by your constant reader,—ELIZABETH.

Answer.

“Elizabeth” says she is “concerned to know how we are to assure ourselves that a passage of Scripture, when applied to the mind, is by God the Holy Spirit, and not by the evil one who lieth in wait to deceive.”

Now to me it appears that what comes from the Lord is sure to lead to the Lord, and what comes from Satan leads to Satan. Therefore, whatever portion of the Word of God is applied to the mind by the power of God the Holy Ghost, it will invariably lead the mind, in some good degree, to act in conformity to the nature of that very truth which is applied. The Word of God is designed for the real benefit of his people. Now if any branch of this blessed word is applied to the conscience by the Holy Ghost, it is to answer some of the above purposes. If it is a passage of reproof or rebuke, it will lead them to feel a solemn check, and they will fall under it before the Lord and confess their sins with deep humility and prayer; and if it be a passage of admonition, of exhortation, or caution, it will lead them to self-examination, and to…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“A Kingdom Which Cannot Be Moved”

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Some of the points covered in this sermon:
• Highlighting the seven parts of Hebrews 12:28,29
• Using the framework of sovereign grace, identifying five separate kingdoms and showing which kingdom is referred to in the text
• Explaining how this kingdom cannot be moved
• Showing who are the recipients of this kingdom
• Explaining how the recipients of this kingdom are to have grace
• Explaining what it means for the recipients of this kingdom to serve God acceptably with reverence and fear
• Explaining how the recipients of this kingdom are blessed by God who is a consuming fire

For the full order of service, including hymns and reading, please follow this link…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“How Do I Share The Gospel—The Motive”

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Some of the points covered in this sermon:
• Reviewing the four main branches of sharing the gospel
• Highlighting several ways many preachers attempt to motivate believers to share the gospel
• Turning to the text, providing a definition for the terms “sanctify” and “heart”
• Explaining how the TriUne Jehovah sanctifies His people unto Himself
• Explaining how the regenerate sinner sanctifies the Lord God in his/her heart
• As the Lord God has set His affections upon you, so you should set your affections upon Him
• As the Lord God pursues you and has procured for you all gospel blessings, so you should pursue Him and present yourself a living sacrifice
• As the Lord God has endeared Himself to you, so you should endear yourself to Him
• As the Lord God has honored you as a vessel of honor, mercy, gold and silver, so you should honor Him as the King of your life
• Explaining how sanctifying the Lord God in one’s heart rightly motivates the regenerate sinner to share the gospel

For the full order of service, including hymns and reading, please follow this link…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“Take Heed What You Hear”

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“God’s Will For Your Life”

This sermon was recorded during a tropical storm, which accounts for the background noise.

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Some of the points covered in this sermon:
Exploring the will of God for His regenerate people, as it relates to the practicalities of life, according to the threefold view of life depicted by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 3:1-4
I. The Life That Was—“For ye are dead,” (3a)
II. The Life That Now Is (1,2,3b)
1. Its Essence—“and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (3b)
2. Its Evidence—“If ye then be risen with Christ,” (1a)
(1) Seeking After Christ—“seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” (1b)
(2) Setting Affections On Christ—“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (2)
III. The Life That Will Be—“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (4)

For the full order of service, including hymns and reading, please follow this link…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“How Should I Share The Gospel—The Method”

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Some of the points covered in this sermon:
• Reviewing the four main branches of sharing the gospel
• Distinguishing between evangelizing and proselyting
• Highlighting several tactics and gimmicks employed by proselyters
• Highlighting the twofold methodology of evangelism emphasized by the Apostle Peter—meekness and fear
• Identifying the object of meekness and fear
• Examining the meaning of meekness and fear
• Exploring the relationship between meekness and fear
• Meekness and fear protect the hearers and the message of your gospel witness
• Meekness and fear prevent debates and arrogance in your gospel witness
• Meekness and fear promote truth and love through your gospel witness

For the full order of service, including hymns and reading, please follow this link…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“The Parable Of The Sower”

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“Paul’s Farewell Blessing”

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Some of the points covered in this sermon:
• Reviewing the subject and theme of Newton’s hymn, “May The Grace Of Christ, Our Savior”
• Aligning Newton’s hymn with the teachings of Paul in 2 Corinthians 13:11-14
• Expounding verse 14, as it relates to the gracious covenant between the three Persons of the Godhead
• Expounding verses 11-13, as it relates to the church covenant between the baptized believers of the congregation
• Verse 11, the first obligation as church members—be in harmony with one another
• Verses 12,13, the second obligation as church members—be hospitable to one another

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