Shortly after my post earlier, bro. Jared Payne called to share with me that he had some similar thoughts and had posted this quote (below),
“At such a season as this, it becomes an urgent duty on parents, guardians, and tutors to watch, not only over the morals, but the principles of those committed to their care; to mak[e] it appear that a concern for their eternal welfare is their chief concern; and to imbue them early with that knowledge of the evidences of Christianity, and that profound reverence for the Scriptures, that, with the blessing of God (which, with submission, they may then expect,) πππ¦ ππππ π‘βππ ππππ π‘βππ βππ’π ππ π‘ππππ‘ππ‘πππ π‘βππ‘ βππ ππππ π’πππ πππ π‘βπ π€ππππ, π‘π π‘ππ¦ π‘βππ π‘βππ‘ ππ€πππ ππ π‘βπ ππππ‘β. To an attentive observer of the signs of the times, it will appear one of the most extraordinary phenomena of this eventful crisis, that, amid the ravages of atheism and infidelity, real religion is evidently on the increase. πβπ πππππππ ππ πΊππ, we know, πππππ‘β πππ‘ π€ππ‘β πππ πππ£ππ‘πππ; but still there are not wanting manifest tokens of its approach. The personal appearance of the Son of God was announced by the shaking of nations; his spiritual kingdom, in all probability, will be established in the midst of similar convulsions and disorders. The blasphemous impiety of the enemies of God, as well as the zealous efforts of his sincere worshippers, will doubtless be overruled to accomplish the purpose of his unerring providence; while, in inflicting the chastisements of offended Diety on corrupt communities and nations, infidelity marks its progress by devastation and ruin, by the prostration of thrones and concussion of kingdoms; thus appalling the inhabitants of the world, and compelling them to take refuge in the church of God, the true sanctuary; the stream of divine knowledge, unobserved, is flowing in new channels, winding its course among humble valleys, refreshing thirsty deserts, and enriching with far other and higher blessings than those of commerce the most distant climes and nations, until, agreeably to the prediction of prophecy, the ππππ€πππππ ππ π‘βπ πΏπππ π βπππ ππππ πππ πππ£ππ π‘βπ π€βπππ ππππ‘β.”
βRobert Hall, Modern Infidelity Considered, with respect to its influence on society. Preached at the Baptist Meeting, Cambridge.
The essence of the matter is that of the spiritual preceding physical reconstruction, and the matter of how we are endeavoring to bring about reform in the world. Two other quotes were sent my way as follows reinforcing this end. The first quote is from A.H. Strong, a baptist as well, who wrote the following (see pic below):
And one more is from Andrew Fuller, who wrote the following words (pic to right below).
The important matter is this: The gospel is what changes lives, and anything promoting change in the world that is not attached foremost and solely to Godβs revealed will, the Sonβs redemption, and the Spiritβs regeneration will prove more worldly and works based than true Evangelical Calvinists have ever proposed, or ever should. These baptists were all hopeful about the conquering of Christβs kingdom in this world, but never sacrificed the spiritual nature of that kingdom preceding and having priority in their mission. God help us to bring the gospel to our nation in these days. Amen.
