In these paragraphs, Calvin moves on from his criticism of the contemporary practice of prayer to the saints to the nature of true prayer itself. Underlying the discussion of private prayer is the understanding that God, as sovereign, is the one who gives all good things; thus; the believer's...

In these paragraphs, Calvin emphasizes the uniqueness and the centrality of Christ's mediation for his intercession, underscoring the fact that it is only through his work, from the very beginning of time, that any believer has ever had access to the Father. Nevertheless, since Christ has risen and...

I knew I was right. And the ever vigilant Mrs Peel has found confirmation from the pen of that modern day Hazlitt, that plain speaking voice of common sense in a world too full of madness, Rod Liddle .

As this nation, if not the world (BBC2 clearing its schedules????), embarrasses itself in California this morning, it's good to read somebody who nails the problem .

So the Catholics have their relics and we have our.... commemorative volumes? How long before John Calvin Soap on A Rope? A signed photo of Del at the Reformers' wall? Would that qualify as a Derelic, I wonder? Del's comments on Geneva (where, despite the strange rumours, I am not and never have...

Three things of note: 1. The interview between Mark Dever and Ken Myers at 9Marks is worth a listen. Myers is particularly interesting on blogs -- he rarely reads them, and never bothers with the comment threads, given their status as the haunt of those well-balanced people with chips on both...

OK, I don't point people to the National Review very often but, as I get older, balder, and descend further into the demented netherworld of MMAGdom, some of it does start to make more sense (especially now that I see Westminster has sold out and joined Facebook, proving, incidentally, that,...

One of the striking things about popular representations of public executions in the eighteenth century is the contrast between the French and the English approach. French artists typically ignored the gathered crowd and focused in detail on the face of the one about to be executed (there is,...

Our friends at Southern Seminary are set for a bumper summer relative to publishing. First, there is the new biography by Tom Nettles of founding president, James Petigru Boyce . Then there are two collections of early Southern Baptist writings from Boyce, Basil Manly Sr., and Basil Manly Jr. The...

Danny Hyde (or is it Danny Jekyll?-- you be the judge) is interviewed about his new book on images of Christ here.

The ever vigilant Mrs Peel spotted this story which may be of interest to readers. Easy to score cheapshots off such things, but I would argue it is a mixed bag, not a total disaster. The use of psalms is surely something to be welcomed; and prayers for chief executives, considering the power they...

Derek has asked what should be read this summer. Here's what I'm aiming to dispatch (and, in case you were wondering, he banned me from citing the Beano Annual as he tells me that is not published until November -- but it will no doubt be a good read when it comes): Two biographies of significant...

The indefatigable Mrs Peel, glamorous defender of the Reformed faith, has brought the following story to my attention: a church that allows mail order communion (in batches of up to 500. I admit defeat: this is beyond satire. Check it out for yourself here . The only problem with the admirable...

The news that Britain has elected two members of the far-right British National Party to the European Parliament is surely bad news for all. Any observer of the political scene in Britain over the last twenty five years can be in no doubt about the violent and racist underpinnings of what is, in...

Westminster has posted a video interview of Greg Beale, by Dave Garner and myself, on its webpage here . Greg is joining WTS as an adjunct next academic year. In addition, he was recently voted (unanimously by both Faculty and Board, making me rethink my motto that the man who has no enemies has no...

Henry Gysen and the gents over at The Reformed Fellowship have just published Danny Hyde's latest book, In Living Color: Images of Christ and the Means of Grace. Don't let Danny's inability to spell `colour' correctly put you off. This is a fine exposition of the Second Commandment and, for those...

To avoid creating further grief for my colleagues at Ref21, I have posted my thoughts on the Church of Scotland decisions over at Scott Clark's place . Thanks to Scott for accommodating me.

More from Marquart, this time on the history of liberal advocacy of tolerance in the Missouri Synod in the late 60s and early 70s: One question...ought to be faced. It has to do with the well-known claim of the 'moderates' that they represent brotherly tolerance, healthy 'diversity,' 'liberating...

Here's another quotation from Marquart, this time on the language of `politics:' Church politics, like beauty, is largely in the eye of the beholder. My "politics" is likely to be somebody else's "responsible leadership" and vice versa. It all depends on whose ox is being gored. As long as there...

Readers of Ref21 will know that, given my understanding of the importance of the church and her courts, I don't like trials by blog, petition, or tabloid press. When someone has an issue with an office bearer in their denomination, the courts of the church are the way to pursue the matter, decently...

On the recommendation of Peter Hastie, I obtained a copy of Kurt E Marquardt's Anatomy of an Explosion: Missouri in Lutheran Perspective, an account of the amazing confessional resurgence in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church in the 1960s and 70s. It is a dry but fascinating read, indicating that...

A student brought this news story to my attention. What is it with these "non-sectarian" established churches that they find orthodox Christianity to be so problematic when it comes to getting people interested in -- ahem -- orthodox Christianity? First Imams and now Lennon -- what next, I wonder?...

At dinner with some friends in the Pacific Northwest last night, I discovered that I had been preceded a few months ago by Derek Thomas who, in addition to rubbishing my taste in music, had strangely omitted to mention to my hosts his time as chief roadie for West Midlands band, Slade, in the 1970s...

Mrs Peel just sent me this link on a whole new branch of doctoral studies: here . Should restore the confidence in the system of any who feel that the post-Thatcherite Gradgrinds of this world are turning education into a downgraded, increasingly utilitarian exercise. What concerns me most, however...