Pastoral Admonitions, Warnings and Letters
James Dodson
A shepherd and his flock.
PASTORAL ADMONITIONS AND WARNINGS OF THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
[together with some profitable ones from other Reformed churches.]
“[The pastor] ought also to watch over the manners of his flock that the better he may apply the doctrine to them in reprehending the dissolute persons and exhorting the godly to continue in the fear of the Lord.”—Second Book of Discipline. (1572).
PASTORAL ADMONITIONS, WARNINGS AND LETTERS:
Review of Thomas Chalmers on Astronomy.-1817-Alexander McLeod.-In this review, McLeod shows how Chalmers’ arguments, though designed to defend Christianity in light of modern astronomy, actually undermine its defense. This article demonstrates that adoption of the latest theories about science on the part of the ministry is worse than useless. Indeed, it often does more harm than good.
A Pastoral Letter to the Members and Other Individuals.-1829-Thomas Houston.-In this pastoral letter, Houston seeks to inculcate the practice of the Reformed Presbyterian church into his addressees. He is concerned that credal Christianity not be undermined by the laxity of her professors. Thus, Houston spends much time on the duty of prayer and experimental religion. Secret prayer and family worship are the great pillars of devotional life. Houston also spends time encouraging attendance upon fellowship meetings of the church. His plea is couched in his postmillennial hope for the complete victory of the Gospel.
Address to the Reformed Presbyterians and other Christians in British America.-1834-Reformed Presbyterian Church, of Scotland.-An address of counsel for those who are scattered and dispersed without any regular access to faithful ministry. These are some of the concerns that should be studied in your relative isolation in order to maintain and promote true religion.
Pastoral Address, Containing Causes of Fasting. By the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, 24th November, 1842.-1842-Reformed Presbyterian Synod, Scotland.-This is a pastoral address from the Reformed Presbyterian Church Synod in 1842, calling for fasting due to what they perceive as divine judgment manifesting through severe economic depression, moral decay, political turmoil, and religious corruption. The document interprets widespread commercial stagnation, Sabbath desecration, rising socialism, and the Church of Scotland's struggles with state interference as signs of God's displeasure with national sins. While acknowledging some mercies like good harvests and international peace, the Synod urges repentance and spiritual renewal, warning that only through "thorough and general repentance" can true restoration occur.
Pagan Evils in the Church.-1851-James Renwick Willson.-In this introductory lecture at the theological school of the Reformed Presbyterian church, Dr. Willson gives his catalog of the pagan and worldly elements which have entered the church. He explains how the lust of the eye and the pride of life have allowed practices, including the use of immoral pagan literature and opulent forms of worship, into the life of the church.
A Pastoral Letter.-1854-James Smyth.-This sermon, given with reference to the recent act of covenant renovation amongst the Irish Reformed Presbyterian Church, is an interesting production for several reasons. First, it gives a short history which helps us to understand the relation of the Irish Covenanters to the Reformed Presbyterian movement at large. Second, it contains a very good and concise outline of the doctrine of public social covenanting. Third, it shows an awareness of the moral obligation of covenants upon posterity. This is a good place to begin reading to gain insight into the distinctive principles of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
A Call for a Public Fast.-2020-Presbytery of the Puritan Reformed Church in Brazil-What should the church’s response be to the demands of the state when, under pretext of plague, they call for the churches not to assemble? How should Christians response and why? The presbytery spells out both the Biblical and historical grounds for resisting such ungody commands.