Watts: the divine perfections

Saturday, November 26, 2011
    Commemoration of Isaac Watts, Hymnwriter, 1748
Meditation:
Sing the glory of his name;
    make his praise glorious!
    —Psalm 66:2 (NIV)
Quotation:
The Divine Perfections.

How shall I praise th’ eternal God,
    That Infinite Unknown?
Who can ascend his high abode,
    Or venture near his throne?

The great invisible! He dwells
    Conceal’d in dazzling light:
But his all-searching eye reveals
    The secrets of the night.

Those watchful eyes that never sleep,
    Survey the world around;
His wisdom is the boundless deep,
    Where all our thoughts are drown’d.

He knows no shadow of a change,
    Nor alters his decrees;
Firm as a rock his truth remains,
    To guard his promises.

Justice, upon a dreadful throne,
    Maintains the rights of God;
While mercy sends her pardons down,
    Bought with a Saviour’s blood.

Now to my soul immortal King,
    Speak some forgiving word;
Then ’twill be double joy to sing
    The glories of my Lord.
    ... Isaac Watts (1674-1748), Hymns and Spiritual Songs [1707], in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, ed. Samuel Melanchthon Worcester, Boston: Crocker & Brewster, 1834, book II, hymn 166, p. 470 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    With the congregation, Lord, I say Amen!

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Thomas a Kempis: arm yourself

Friday, November 25, 2011
    Commemoration of Katherine of Alexandria, Martyr, 4th century
Meditation:
    Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
    —Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Arm yourself like a man against the devil’s assaults. Curb your appetite and you will more easily curb every inclination of the flesh. Never be completely unoccupied, but read or write or pray or meditate or do something for the common good.
    ... Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471), Of the Imitation of Christ [1418], Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1877, I.xix.5, p. 57-58 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, grant me Your defense against evil inclinations. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Babcock: eternity now

Thursday, November 24, 2011
    Thanksgiving (U.S.)
Meditation:
God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
    —Psalm 46:1 (NIV)
Quotation:
    No clocks keep time tomorrow. Springs push and hands point now. Now is the appointed time for clocks as well as people. God never helped anyone tomorrow. He is a very present help. What is eternity, but God’s now? Let us then live the eternal life with God now.
    ... Maltbie D. Babcock (1858-1901), Thoughts for Every-day Living, New York: C. Scribner’s sons, 1901, p. 44-45 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, forgive me for ignoring Your constant presence. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Owen: the implantation of holiness

Wednesday, November 23, 2011
    Commemoration of Clement, Bishop of Rome, Martyr, c.100
Meditation:
    [Jesus in prayer:] “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
    —John 17:17 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Holiness is nothing but the implanting, writing and realizing of the Gospel in our souls.
    ... John Owen (1616-1683), IV.1 in A Discourse Concerning Holy Spirit, bk. I-V [1674], in Works of John Owen, v. III, London: Johnson & Hunter, 1852, p. 370-371 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, place Your word on the throne of my heart. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Lewis: a hint of the truth

Tuesday, November 22, 2011
    Commemoration of Cecilia, Martyr at Rome, c.230
    Commemoration of Clive Staples Lewis, Spiritual Writer, 1963
Meditation:
    At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
    “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
    Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
    Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
    —Acts 26:24-29 (NIV)
Quotation:
    I have been asked to tell you what Christians believe, and I am going to begin by telling you one thing that Christians do not need to believe. If you are a Christian you do not have to believe that all the other religions are simply wrong all through. If you are an atheist you do have to believe that the main point in all the religions of the whole world is simply one huge mistake. If you are a Christian, you are free to think that all those religions, even the queerest ones, contain at least some hint of the truth.
    ... C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), Mere Christianity, New York: MacMillan, 1952, reprint, HarperCollins, 2001, p. 35 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, help me to discern Your truth wherever it might be seen. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Forsyth: finding a Master

Monday, November 21, 2011
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.”
    —Matthew 23:8 (NIV)
Quotation:
    It is useless to preach the Kingdom when we do not carry into the centre of life the control of a King. The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master. And the first charge of every Church is to offer, nay to mediate, Him.
    ... P. T. Forsyth (1848-1921), Positive Preaching and Modern Mind, New York: A. C. Armstrong & Son, 1907, p.42 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I cast all other masters away. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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Augustine: cramped quarters

Sunday, November 20, 2011
    Feast of Edmund of the East Angles, Martyr, 870
    Commemoration of Priscilla Lydia Sellon, a Restorer of the Religious Life in the Church of England, 1876
Meditation:
    Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
    —Revelation 3:20 (KJV)
Quotation:
    Narrow is the mansion of my soul; enlarge Thou it, that Thou mayest enter in.
    ... St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Confessions [397], Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1886, I.vi., p. 5 (see the book)
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, my heart is open to You. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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