This is the second outing that we are going to spend with
George Swinnock whom was introduced in the previous post. One of the chief ways of gaining insight into
the Puritans is the need to read their sermons but even more so than that is to
think and meditate on what they have written.
Early on you will discover that there were some matters that set the
writings of the Puritans apart. I intend
on showing you some of the chief themes and characteristics about their
preaching. First, they were very
concerned about the state of their conscience.
Secondly, they were very focused in on the brevity of life. Thirdly, they used some of the most masterful
word pictures in their preaching. I have
gathered most of the material I will write today from Volume 1 of George
Swinnock’s work (pp. 1-26).
The State of the
Conscience
The condition of the human heart is sinful and has great
proclivities toward sin. This is the reason
that men must be converted because of his fallen nature. Never be surprised at the actions that
sinners fall into. “Men’s hearts
naturally, are like Nebuchadnezzar’s, the hearts of beasts, grazing only in
fleshly pastures, savouring only sensual pleasures, till their reason returneth
to them; then they bless and honour the most high God, who liveth forever, Dan.
iv. 34; then they mind spiritual dainties, and relish celestial delights” (pp.
3-4). This is the kind of understanding
of the human condition that has been seriously lost and sorely neglected by
much of our world today. Somewhere along
the way, educators, politicians, news commentators, and even religious leaders
have come to believe that man is basically good. Take that single sentence that Swinnock wrote
in the 17th century and make a comparison with any Christian
bestseller today and you will notice a drastic difference in the content of the
books. In fact, the New York Bestseller
List for the Religion/Spirituality list for today has a book about Scientology
in the first slot. The books that follow
are those which are very marketable which means that there is very little of a
call toward holiness and devotion to God but rather how to get God to do what
we want Him to do.
