Sword & Trowel 2019: Issue 1 


except it were given him of my Father.” Let preaching therefore have its force to bring men to faith’ (Institutes Book 3, chapter 18, paragraph 13).


MARTIN LUTHER ‘The first part then of Christianity is the preaching of repentance, and the knowledge of ourselves…A man, therefore, is made a Christian not by working but by hearing; wherefore, he that will exercise himself to right- eousness must first exercise himself in hearing the Gospel. Now, when he hath heard and received the Gospel, let him give himself to God with a joyful heart, and afterwards let him exercise himself in those good works which are commanded in the law’ (1540 – on Galatians, pp. 104 and 185).


JEROME ZANCHIUS ‘When we meet with a precept, we should simply endeavour to obey it, without enquiring into God’s hidden purpose...Notwithstanding God’s predestination is most certain and un- alterable, so that no elect person can perish, nor any reprobate be saved, yet it does not follow from thence that all reproofs and exhortations on the part of God, or prayers on the part of men, are useless’ (1562 – The Doc- trine of Absolute Predestination, pp. 49 and 120).


WILLIAM PERKINS


‘With the promises there is joined an exhortation or command to believe, which is more general than the prom- ise; because the promise is only made to believers; but the commandment is given to believers and unbelievers also. For the elect are mingled with the wicked in the same assemblies, and therefore the ministers of the Gospel ought indiscriminately to exhort all and every one to repent.’ ‘In very truth, if


page 16 Duty Faith – by A W Pink


thou goest forth of this world being no repentant sinner, thou goest damned to hell: wherefore delay not one minute of an hour longer, but with all speed repent and turn unto God’ (1595 – Vol. 1, p. 379; Vol. 2, p. 692).


RICHARD SIBBES


‘Let us be stirred up to repent imme- diately. Doth not God now warn you? Is it not dangerous living one hour in a state that we would not die in? May God justly strike us on the sudden? Do but purpose to live in sin one quarter of an hour; may we not be taken away in that quarter?’ (1620 – Vol. 6, p. 212).


JOHN OWEN ‘We are expressly commanded to believe, and that upon the highest promises, and under the greatest penalties. This command is that which makes believing formally a duty. Faith is a grace as it is freely wrought in us by the Holy Spirit, the root of all obedi- ence and duties, as it is radically fixed in the heart. But as it is commanded it is a duty; and these commands, you know, are several ways expressed, by invitations, exhortations, propositions’ (1650 – Vol. 14, p. 223).


WILLIAM TWISSE ‘I say there is no simulation at all of God in this: that which he proposeth is but this: “Whosoever believeth shall be saved, and whosoever believeth not shall be damned.” He sends his min- isters to preach this, and to beseech them to believe, and to be reconciled unto God, yea, all they meet with.’ ‘He commands them to preach promiscu- ously unto all, persuade all, exhort all, unto faith and repentance’ (1653 – The Riches of God’s Love, pp. 73 and 169).


THOMAS BROOKS ‘My counsel [to his unsaved hearers] is this: Stir up your souls to lay hold


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