Be faithful and fearless, but skillful and affectionate

In regard to preaching unpopular doctrines, such as election before some audiences, future punishment, depravity, and even missions, before others; one comprehensive rule maybe given, be faithful and fearless, but skillful and affectionate.

John Broadus, On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons, p. 25.

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The burning crucible of desert

Into the blistering wilderness, the man who walked with kings now walks alone. Torn from the pinnacle of royal power, stripped of all rank and earthly wealth, a forsaken man without a country and without a hope, his soul in turmoil. Like the hot winds and raging sands that lash him with the fury of a taskmaster’s whip, he is driven forward, always forward, by a God unknown for a land unseen into the molten wilderness, where granite sentinels stand as towers of living death to bar his way. Each night brings the black embrace of loneliness. In the mocking whisper of the wind, he hears the echoing voices of the dark. His tortured mind wonders if they call the memory of past triumphs or wail forebodings of disasters yet to come, or whether the desert’s hot breath has melted his reason into madness. He cannot cool the burning kiss of thirst upon his lips, or shade the scorching fury of the sun. All about is desolation. He can neither bless nor curse the Power that moves him, for he does not know from where it comes. Learning that it can be more terrible to live than to die, he is driven onward, through the burning crucible of desert, where holy men and prophets are cleansed and purged for God’s great purpose. Until at last, at the end of human strength, beaten into the dust from which he came, the metal is ready for the Maker’s hand.

Source: The Ten Commandments- Cecil B. DeMille (1956)

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There are three mysterious unions

There are three mysterious unions in our religion. (1.) The substantial union of the three persons in one Godhead. (2.) The personal union of the divine and human natures in Jesus Christ. (3.) The mystical union betwixt Christ and believers, which is that wherein Christ and believers, are so joined, that they are one Spirit, and one mystical body, 1 Cor. vi. 17. and xii. 13.

There are three myfterious unions in our religion. (1.) The fubftantial union of the three perfons in one Godhead. (2.) The perfonal union of the divine and human natures in Jefus Chrift. (3.) The myftical union betwixt Chrift and believers, which is that wherein Chrift and believers, are fo joined, that they are one Spirit, and one myftical body, 1 Cor. vi. 17. and xii. 13.

Source: Thomas Watson (1676-1732), Illustration Of The Doctrines Of The Christian Religion With Respect To Faith And Practice Upon The Plan Of The Assembly’s Shorter Catechism Comprehending A Complete Body Of Divinity

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