JOSEPH CARYL ON JOB 1:12

Puritan minister Joseph Caryl wrote the longest commentary on Job in history. Between 1651-1666, he preached on Job in his church. The completed sermons were written in a book (I should say books), and published. Originally it came to 12 quarto volumes! It is said that Caryl's work amounts to a complete commentary on the entire Bible. Now in 2010 it is available again. I only have a condensed portion titled Treasury of Job. It would take an awful long time to read the twelve volumes, but likely quite worth it for a Bible student, based on the small portion I have read. Here is a sample for you.

(A Nugget from Joseph Caryl)

Joseph Caryl on Job 1:12

Until God gives commission, Satan hath no power over the estates or persons of God's people, or over anything that belongs unto them. Neither our persons nor our estates are subject to the will of either men or devils; Christ must say, All that he hath is in thy hand, before Satan can touch a shoe-latchet: As Christ said John 19:11. unto Pilate, when he spake so stoutly, knowest thou not that I have power to crucifie thee, and power to release thee? He thought that he had all power in his hand: but Christ tells him, Thou couldst have no power at all against me unless it were given thee from above. If the Devils could not go in the swine, much less can they meddle with a man, made after God's image, till God gives them leave. Every soul that hath interest in Christ may suck comfort and consolation in the saddest, in the sorrowfullest day from the breast of this truth. If Satan and wicked men cannot move till Christ saith, go, nor wound till Christ saith, strike, nor spoil, nor kill, till Christ saith their estates, their lives are in your power, surely Christ will not speak a word to their hurt, whom he loves, nor will he ever suffer his enemies to do a real damage to his friends. Beside it may fill the soul with unspeakable joy, to remember, that, while a man is suffering, the will of Christ is doing. By Joseph Caryl -1602-1673

GOD'S SOVEREIGN GRACE

BY CHARLES WOODRUFF

Perhaps some people are going to think I enjoy being in a controversy, but I assure you this is not true. Yet, the very title of my article screams controversy. Present day Christianity has largely rejected the teaching of God's grace in its biblical fullness. Instead, we have on all sides a largely man-centered religion. "Media Event Christianity" is the norm in so many churches. The manipulation of souls and "decisionism" has given us a watered-down gospel that couldn't save a flea. It has been taught that God can only do what man "lets" Him do! But this is a far cry from the God of the Bible. He is the Sovereign of the universe! He does not need our help, we need His!

Naturally to declare God as God Almighty is going to ruffle some feathers. The Baptists of today forget the London Confession, the Philadelphia Confession, and the New Hampshire Confession of Faith, which all contain clear and strong statements regarding the Sovereign God. The Baptists are not alone in forgetting. The Presbyterians of today often fail to take note of the old landmark Westminster Confession of Faith (which differs from the Philadelphia Confession very little). The heritage of the church is largely discarded today, and the new evangelicalism and most of today's fundamentalism cannot shape up when compared to the faith of our fathers. Truth has fallen in the streets!

A good sign, I suppose, is that when I first saw the truth regarding the grace of the Sovereign God about 40 years ago, I was often called a "hyper-Calvinist". This is still happening, but not as much. I have never been "pushy" or intolerant (or at least I don't think I have!), with those who honestly do not see this truth. All I asked then, and all I ask now, is that we search the Scriptures. Actually, I believe, deep inside, every real Christian realizes God is Sovereign, whether he can express it or not. As J. I. Packer said: "I do not intend to spend any time at all proving to you the general truth that God is sovereign in His world. There is no need; for I know that, if you are a Christian you believe this already."¹

At first, I thought maybe Bro. Packer had not met some of the Christians I had met! But he clarifies: "How do I know that? Because I know that, if you are a Christian, you pray; and the recognition of God's Sovereignty is the basis for your prayers."² Then he makes this searching statement: "You would never dream of dividing the credit for salvation between God and yourself. You have never for one moment supposed that the decisive contribution to your salvation was yours and not God's. You have never told God that, while you are grateful for the means and opportunities of grace that He gave you, you realize you have to thank, not Him, but yourself, for the fact you responded to His call. Your heart revolts at the very thought of talking to God in such terms. In fact you thank Him no less for the gift of faith and repentance than for the gift of a Christ to trust and turn to."³

Amen! It is my conviction that the heart of every true child of God must agree with that statement. To believe this does not make one a hyper-Calvinist, but a believer of the Bible. As for hyper-Calvinism, this may be hard to define. I have been called a hyper-Calvinist myself as a result of my preaching and articles like in an earlier Word of Truth: "What Jesus Christ Said About the Sovereignty of God". Yet as J. I. Packer said in his book "When you pray for unconverted people, you do so on the assumption that it is in God's power to bring them to faith." 4 Thus, true believers are forced to believe in God's sovereignty, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY PROTEST THAT THEY DO NOT!

1Taken from Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer. ©1961 by Inter-Varsity Press, England, and used by permission of Inter-Varsity Press, Downers Grove, IL 60515. 2Ibid., p. 11. 3Ibid., p. 13. 4 Ibid., p. 15.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO GOD

BY CHARLES WOODRUFF

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die , but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

“It was the belief in the accountability of man to his maker that made America a great nation.
Among those earlier leaders was Daniel Webster whose blazing eyes and fiery oratory often held
the Senate spellbound. In those days the Congress was composed of strong, noble statesmen who
carried the weight of the nation in their hearts and minds."

“Someone asked: ‘Mr. Webster, what do you consider the most serious thought that has ever
entered your mind?’ ‘The most solemn thought that has ever entered my mind is my
accountability to my maker,’ he replied.”

“Men like that cannot be corrupted and bought. They do not have to worry if someone listens to
their telephone calls. What they were in character and in deportment resulted from their belief
that they would finally be accountable to God.”

"Lord, help me to live my life today in such a way that, should You call me tonight to stand
before You and give account, I would have nothing of which I would need to be ashamed.
Amen.” ( from A.W. Tozer, Echoes from Eden, page 130; Christian Publications, 1981).

Oh, how we need men and women today with the godly character and courage of A.W. Tozer
and Daniel Webster. Men like Spurgeon and Ryle and M’Cheyne. Women like Amy Carmichael,
and Susanna Wesley and Fanny Crosby. Oh God, please send us revival!

“Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation” (Psalm 85:6,7).

“O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2).