glorycloud's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- a game of free association It is 8:21 PM Friday night in the flow of life in the big top. Carol left for work around 8:50 PM this evening. When she left I was sitting in the dining room reading for evening devotions the Holy Bible and "The Philokalia THE COMPLETE TEXT compiled by St Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St Makarios of Corinth VOLUME TWO Translate from the Greek and edited by G. E. H. Palmer, Philip Sherrard, & Kallistos Ware (I bought The Philokalia when we lived in Houston TX around 20 years ago-I have been blessed many time reading the Philokalia-our son Josiah bought a set of the Philokalia when he was at Calvin College for personal devotions-I think he bought his set from a room mate) So I alone once again with my brain and our dog Rudy. I am not into watching television. I am listening to the music I purchased today with my pension money. How long is the party going to last? "77. So long as the soul advances 'from strength to strength' (Ps. 84:7) and 'from glory to glory' (2 Cor. 3:18), that is, so long as it advances from one degree of virtue to a greater degree and from one level of spiritual knowledge to a higher level, it remains a 'sojourner', one who has no permanent home, as in the saying, 'My soul has long been a sojourner' (Ps. 120:6. LXX). For great is the distance and many are the levels of knowledge through which the soul must pass before it reaches 'the place of the miraculous tabernacle, the house of God itself, with the voice of exultation and thanksgiving, and the sound of feasting' (Ps. 42: 4. LXX). It advances continually from one hymn of praise to another, from one level of divine contemplation to another, full of joy and thankfulness for what it has already seen. For all those who have received the Spirit of grace into their hearts celebrate in this festive manner, crying 'Abba, Father' (Gal. 4:6)." St Mazimos The Confessor SECOND CENTURY ON THEOLOGY pg. 157 "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Galatians 4:4-7 Canons of Dort The Fifth Main Point of Doctrine The Perseverance of the Saints Article 7: Renewal to Repentance For, in the first place, God preserves in those saints when they fall his imperishable seed from which they have been born again, lest it perish or be dislodged. Secondly, by his Word and Spirit he certainly and effectively renews them to repentance so that they have a heartfelt and godly sorrow for the sins they have committed; seek and obtain, through faith and with a contrite heart, forgiveness in the blood of the Mediator; experience again the grace of a reconciled God; through faith adore his mercies; and from then on more eagerly work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Article 8: The Certainty of This Preservation So it is not by their own merits or strength but by God's undeserved mercy that they neither forfeit faith and grace totally nor remain in their downfalls to the end and are lost. With respect to themselves this not only easily could happen, but also undoubtedly would happen; but with respect to God it cannot possibly happen, since his plan cannot be changed, his promise cannot fail, the calling according to his purpose cannot be revoked, the merit of Christ as well as his interceding and preserving cannot be nullified, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit can neither be invalidated nor wiped out. Article 9: The Assurance of This Preservation Concerning this preservation of those chosen to salvation and concerning the perseverance of true believers in faith, believers themselves can and do become assured in accordance with the measure of their faith, by which they firmly believe that they are and always will remain true and living members of the church, and that they have the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Article 10: The Ground of This Assurance Accordingly, this assurance does not derive from some private revelation beyond or outside the Word, but from faith in the promises of God which he has very plentifully revealed in his Word for our comfort, from the testimony of the Holy Spirit testifying with our spirit that we are God's children and heirs (Rom. 8:16-17), and finally from a serious and holy pursuit of a clear conscience and of good works. And if God's chosen ones in this world did not have this well-founded comfort that the victory will be theirs and this reliable guarantee of eternal glory, they would be of all people most miserable. Article 11: Doubts Concerning This Assurance Meanwhile, Scripture testifies that believers have to contend in this life with various doubts of the flesh and that under severe temptation they do not always experience this full assurance of faith and certainty of perseverance. But God, the Father of all comfort, does not let them be tempted beyond what they can bear, but with the temptation he also provides a way out (1 Cor. 10:13), and by the Holy Spirit revives in them the assurance of their perseverance. Article 12: This Assurance as an Incentive to Godliness This assurance of perseverance, however, so far from making true believers proud and carnally self-assured, is rather the true root of humility, of childlike respect, of genuine godliness, of endurance in every conflict, of fervent prayers, of steadfastness in crossbearing and in confessing the truth, and of well-founded joy in God. Reflecting on this benefit provides an incentive to a serious and continual practice of thanksgiving and good works, as is evident from the testimonies of Scripture and the examples of the saints. Article 13: Assurance No Inducement to Carelessness Neither does the renewed confidence of perseverance produce immorality or lack of concern for godliness in those put back on their feet after a fall, but it produces a much greater concern to observe carefully the ways of the Lord which he prepared in advance. They observe these ways in order that by walking in them they may maintain the assurance of their perseverance, lest, by their abuse of his fatherly goodness, the face of the gracious God (for the godly, looking upon his face is sweeter than life, but its withdrawal is more bitter than death) turn away from them again, with the result that they fall into greater anguish of spirit. Article 14: God's Use of Means in Perseverance And, just as it has pleased God to begin this work of grace in us by the proclamation of the gospel, so he preserves, continues, and completes his work by the hearing and reading of the gospel, by meditation on it, by its exhortations, threats, and promises, and also by the use of the sacraments. Article 15: Contrasting Reactions to the Teaching of Perseverance This teaching about the perseverance of true believers and saints, and about their assurance of it--a teaching which God has very richly revealed in his Word for the glory of his name and for the comfort of the godly and which he impresses on the hearts of believers--is something which the flesh does not understand, Satan hates, the world ridicules, the ignorant and the hypocrites abuse, and the spirits of error attack. The bride of Christ, on the other hand, has always loved this teaching very tenderly and defended it steadfastly as a priceless treasure; and God, against whom no plan can avail and no strength can prevail, will ensure that she will continue to do this. To this God alone, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen." THE CANONS OF DORT from "Reformed Confessions Harmonized With an Annotated Bibliography of Reformed Doctrinal Works" Edited BY Joel R. Beeke & Sinclair B. Ferguson. It is 8:46 PM Friday night as I was pondering Galatians the Canons of Dort came to my mind-remember we are playing a game of free association this evening-this is how I write in my personal diary or when I feel the need to let it all hang out. I told my wife this evening before she went out the door that I write because it is a "harmless form of insanity." I have no one to talk to as I got down the Narrow Way. THE NARROW WAY please read chapter 13 of The Gospel of Luke "Strive to enter through the narrow gate for many, I say to you will seek to enter and will not be able" Luke 13:24 As I type I hear gun shots somewhere in reality. Maybe it is from the CD I am listening to this evening? I am listening to the NEW Damien Jurado CD "Caught In The Trees". I dig all the music of Damien Jurado-a wonderful american song writer-artist in my book. "and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. I AM COMING QUICKLY The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." Revelation 22:18-20 It is 9:02 PM Friday evening. I should go to bed early this evening since I did not go to bed till 1:30 AM last night. When Carol came to bed I though we were going to listen to music and get lost in love but she fell asleep on me. I laid in the bedroom darkness alone listening to music awake So I got up to eat something and mess with my main computer. I live days alone so why not spend nights alone reading my words over and over out of boredom? It is ok since I am not climbing a corporate ladder but dreaming of climbing the ladder of perfection. "And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." John 1:51 I should close shop and read "The Letters of Allen Ginsberg" for a change of intellectual pace. I do not want to cook my brain. 9:27 p.m. - 2008-09-05 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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