Say it with confessions
December 11, 2012
For those persuaded beyond all reasoned argument that Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year (and, indeed, for those who are not), might I draw your attention to a couple of new volumes from the Banner of Truth? Just published are two gift edition confessions of faith in the Pocket Puritan series.
The Westminster Confession is that approved by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1647, with chapters 20, 23 and 31 as altered, amended and adopted as the Doctrinal Part of the Constitution of the PCA in 1788, with footnotes to identify other alterations by the OPC and PCA.
The gents at the Banner have gone with the popular title for The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689, which saves the hassle of writing "The (Second London) Baptist Confession of Faith 1677/1689" every time you want to refer to it. It includes the all-too-often-overlooked epistle to the judicious and impartial reader (hooray!) but sadly omits the appendix on baptism (understandable, but boo!). The text has been lightly edited for the modern reader.
They are both in a soft cover edition (that durable leather-lite feel) at £10 or $14 each. Small enough to slide into a common or garden pocket, these are ideal editions for those who want to learn or to refresh their understanding of these gems from the past.
All in all, I sincerely hope that these small but rich volumes will get these time-honoured testimonies to Biblical truths into the hands and hearts of more people. Buy one for the Baptist/Presbyterian in your life, whack it in the Crimbo knitted footgear, and get ready for the whoops of joy untrammelled on that morning that hordes of you will be celebrating with all manner of vim and excitement.
The Westminster Confession is that approved by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1647, with chapters 20, 23 and 31 as altered, amended and adopted as the Doctrinal Part of the Constitution of the PCA in 1788, with footnotes to identify other alterations by the OPC and PCA.
The gents at the Banner have gone with the popular title for The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689, which saves the hassle of writing "The (Second London) Baptist Confession of Faith 1677/1689" every time you want to refer to it. It includes the all-too-often-overlooked epistle to the judicious and impartial reader (hooray!) but sadly omits the appendix on baptism (understandable, but boo!). The text has been lightly edited for the modern reader.
They are both in a soft cover edition (that durable leather-lite feel) at £10 or $14 each. Small enough to slide into a common or garden pocket, these are ideal editions for those who want to learn or to refresh their understanding of these gems from the past.
All in all, I sincerely hope that these small but rich volumes will get these time-honoured testimonies to Biblical truths into the hands and hearts of more people. Buy one for the Baptist/Presbyterian in your life, whack it in the Crimbo knitted footgear, and get ready for the whoops of joy untrammelled on that morning that hordes of you will be celebrating with all manner of vim and excitement.
