Monthly archives: June, 2017

Of Willows and Harps

June 18, 2017 jakin7

 

By the rivers of Babel we sat, and there we wept, when we remembered Zion.

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

Then they that led us captive, required of us songs and mirth, when we had hanged up our harps, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

 

How shall we sing, said we, a song of the Lord in a strange land?

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget to play.

If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth: yea, if I prefer not Jerusalem to my chief joy.

Psalm:137:1-6  1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

 

 

Seeking God

June 16, 2017 jakin7

…it is obvious, that in seeking God, the most direct path and the fittest method is, not to attempt with presumptuous curiosity to pry into his essence, which is rather to be adored than minutely discussed, but to contemplate him in his works, by which he draws near, becomes familiar, and in a manner communicates himself to us.

…though we are deficient in natural powers which might enable us to rise to a pure and clear knowledge of God, still, as the dullness which prevents us is within, there is no room for excuse. We cannot plead ignorance, without being at the same time convicted by our own consciences both of sloth and ingratitude….

…for no sooner do we, from a survey of the world, obtain some slight knowledge of Deity, than we pass by the true God, and set up in his stead the dream and phantom of our own brain, drawing away the praise of justice, wisdom, and goodness, from the fountain-head, and transferring it to some other quarter.

John Calvin from Institutes of the Christian Religion   Book First Chapter 5