R.C. Sproul writes: "Yet there is a cause for optimism. The growth of Ligonier reveals a growing interest in Reformed theology. The reprinting of Puritan works by Soli Deo Gloria Publishing, Banner of Truth and Still Waters Revival shows a deep and widespread hunger for Reformed doctrine" ("Calvinism: The Once and Future Queen 'Right Now Counts Forever'". Reprinted from Tabletalk magazine, May 1997, emphases added).
Still Waters Revival Books
(www.swrb.com)
*** Get 60 CLASSIC
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- Dr. R.C. Sproul (Ligonier
Ministries)
"Your...
CD's of Reformation and Puritan authors are a great boon to studies in the
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- Dr. Joel R. Beeke, President of Puritan
Reformed Theological Seminary
"Still
Waters Revival Books... have released an incredible array of... compact disks
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(The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended, and Documented, Second [Special 40th Anniversary]
Edition, Updated and Expanded [p. 76, 2004, Presbyterian and Reformed
Publishing Company] by David N. Steele, Curtis C. Thomas, and S. Lance Quinn,
Foreword by Roger Nicole, Afterword by John MacArthur, emphases added).
"I
have been systematically working through reading the Puritan and Reformed CDs I
purchased... I must say, there is nothing like them available anywhere. It is
the most amazing collection of works I know of in one package to date... You
have done an immeasurable service for the Kingdom of Christ in making these CDs
available, and every pastor and theologian should own them without question
(they would be foolhardy to pass them by)" (Dr. C. Matthew McMahon, A Puritan's Mind Ministries).
The
most extensive classic Christian CD library ever (on 90 CDs)!
(The best
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"This
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Now, for the first time ever, ordinary Christians can have direct and near
effortless access to the very cream of Puritan and Reformed, as well as
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John Flavel's preaching, can be said of these CDs: they are 'hissing hot'! (Dr Jonathan D. Moore, Cambridge, Scholar
of 16th and 17th century Calvinistic literature.).
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"Your...
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Bible" (Email from a
Customer in Georgia, USA).
Some
Additional Customer Comments on SWRB's CD sets (Reformation, Calvinism,
Protestant, Puritan).
"This collection
of… CDs is a truly astounding accomplishment. There is nothing like this
available to the ordinary Christian on the whole face of the earth. Now, for the first
time ever, ordinary Christians can have direct and near effortless access to the
very cream of Puritan and Reformed, as well as Covenanter, literature... What they used
to say of the Puritan John Flavel's preaching, can be said of these CDs: they
are 'hissing hot'! ... more" (emphases added).
- Dr Jonathan D. Moore,
Cambridge, UK.
(Scholar of
16th and 17th century Calvinistic literature.)
"The
purchase of (SWRB's) CD's is proving to be one of the wisest investments that I
have ever made.
They are much more than I expected!! I am having a wonderful time reading and
studying."
-
TC, Internet Customer (USA).
"The
greatest collection of classic Reformation resources on one CD set ever!"
"In
reading this mornings mailing I noticed that you also do the Reformation Bookshelf
CD's so I went to your web site to see what was out -- I was in ecstasy!!!"
-
Missionary working in Hatyai, Southern Thailand
Full
SWRB CD comment from Dr. McMahon:
"I
have been systematically working through reading the Puritan and Reformed CDs I
purchased.
I must say, there is nothing like them
available anywhere.
It is the most amazing collection of works I
know of in one package to date.
In
my opinion, it far surpasses Ages Software and their collections.*
The
Puritan and Reformed material presented on these CDs is exceptional.
I
am continually amazed at the depth and breadth of information in both
collections, and the rarity of works that I now have at my fingertips.
You
have done an immeasurable service for the Kingdom of Christ in making these CDs
available, and every pastor and theologian should own them without question
(they would be foolhardy to pass them by)."
-
For Christ's Crown and Covenant,
Dr. C.
Matthew McMahon
A Puritan's
Mind Ministries, www.apuritansmind.com
John 5:39,
"...search the Scriptures..."
"Novum
Testamentum in Vetre latet, et in Novo, Vetus patet." Augustine
( "The
New is in the Old concealed, and in the New, the Old revealed." )
* It is SWRB's
opinion that Ages has done an excellent job in making various Reformed works
available on CD, so much so that we also distribute a number of their CDs at
discounts. Thus, please don't make more out of our publishing this comment than
is warranted, as this is a comment we received from one of our customers and it
expresses his opinion. As for Ages' work, we rejoice whenever the truth is
published, whether through others or through SWRB (as we play only a very small
part in the revival of classic Reformation, Puritan and Covenanter thought that
is now taking place worldwide through God's marvelous grace). The publication
of the best Reformers and Puritans of the past is one of the greatest needs of
our time, as this extends the blessings that come through faithful preachers
and authors into our day and into the future. Lord willing, the growth in the
publishing of faithful works from the past will help stem the tide of the great
declension and unfaithfulness which we are now witnessing all around us, even
(sadly) among many churches that still call themselves "Presbyterian"
and/or "Reformed." So please pray together with us that our Lord will
multiple the number of faithful publishers and publications, and that He will
give many the heart to stand for the truth no matter the consequences (as He
has done for our faithful forefathers, who resisted Satan and sin unto blood
and even to martyrdom in many cases). -- RB.
"SWRB's
Puritan and Reformation CD libraries are an invaluable source for the study of
the history and theology of classic Reformation theology. The collection is
remarkable not only for depth of content, but also for the rarity of many of
the works. Most seminary libraries will not have even a percentage of the works
available on these CD-ROMs. I cannot imagine anyone working in Reformation /
historical theology that would not want to use the Puritan and Reformed
libraries!"
-
Phillip J. Long
Associate
Prof. of New Testament
Grace Bible
College
Grand
Rapids, MI 49509
"I
just received your CD collection. One bit of advice: you should instruct your
customers to take about 1 week off just to peruse the tables of contents for
these CD's, followed by another week off, in order to recover from the
state of shock in which they will find themselves.
In
all seriousness, this collection is almost impossible to describe. It has to be
seen to be believed. As a pastor, my library has just increased
dramatically.
As a Ph.D. student in Puritan and Post-Reformation studies, I have immediate
access to many of the same works for which I would normally need to access
through rare book rooms of theological libraries.
Thank
you for this labor of love. Thank you for making it accessible, both
financially and technologically. May the Lord richly bless you for this service
to his people."
-
Yours for the faith,
Pastor David Owen Filson
Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church (PCA), Nashville, TN
"You
all are doing a wonderful service by making all these materials so readily
available. Having them on my hard drive is BETTER than having access to a
rare book library with all of them in hand... I have found the CD set
invaluable as a tool of scholarship. So once again I commend you brothers for making
it available."
-
Dr. E. Calvin Beisner
Knox
Theological Seminary
Author and
Associate Professor of Historical Theology and Social Ethics
(Author of: Psalms
of Promise: Celebrating
the Majesty and Faithfulness of God, God in Three Persons, Answers: For Atheists, Agnostics,
and Other Thoughtful Skeptics--Dialogs About Christian Faith and Life, Man,
Economy, and Environment in Biblical Perspective, Where Garden Meets Wilderness:
Evangelical Entry Into the Environmental Debate, Evangelical Heathenism? Examining Contemporary Revivalism, as well as other books, scholarly
papers, and contributions to various anthologies).
"It's
been several weeks now since I received the CDs and have had some time to
digest some of them. All I can say is, "WOW!" This is truly a
library like no other, and has already paid great dividends not only in my own
personal worship and study, but in my teaching as well. I first balked at the
price, but after seeing the vastness of the material, I almost feel as though
I'm robbing you!
I
pray that the Lord will allow you to get these materials into the hands of as
many ministers as possible."
-
Email from SC, USA
Full
SWRB CD comment from Dr. Moore:
This
collection of 62 CDs is a truly astounding accomplishment. There is nothing
like this available to the ordinary Christian on the whole face of the earth.
Now,
for the first time ever, ordinary Christians can have direct and near
effortless access to the very cream of Puritan and Reformed, as well as
Covenanter, literature.
These
books are often in fascinating first editions and many are electronically
linked and indexed for the first time. The ordinary Christian may here dig
into a simply staggering wealth of literature, from devotional and sermonic
material to technical and scholarly works. Even in the days of the Long Reformation
itself ordinary Christians didn't get to see this kind of library -- most couldn't
read for a start, and even those who could, would never have been able to
afford to buy even a hundredth part of the material on these CDs. Truly we are
without excuse!
And
the significance of this collection goes even beyond that. No longer do we have
to wait for modern Reformed publishing houses to predict that a particular
Reformation or Puritan book will be sufficiently popular to make it economical
to reprint, or to deem it "safe" enough to be let loose on the modern
evangelical church. Rather, we are now able to see for ourselves the whole
range of the Puritan and Reformed publishing enterprise, including views that
are usually suppressed by most modern devotees of "Puritan" piety!
Buy
these CDs while you can, and find out for yourself what the First and Second
Reformations were really all about! You'll be truly amazed, and, by God's
grace, will grow from being an ordinary Christian to being an extraordinary
one. What they used to say of the Puritan John Flavel's preaching, can be
said of these CDs: they are "hissing hot"!
-
Dr Jonathan D. Moore, Cambridge, UK.
(Scholar of
16th and 17th century Calvinistic literature.)
"This
side of eternity I'll never be able to repay the favor you have done mankind by
bringing these... CDs together.
The
first week of reading I grew more as a Christian reading those rich, pure
Gospel Commentators than I have in 18 years of Christian life. After reading some of
the Puritan CDs I have to get the Reformation set if it kills me. A fire is
burning within me. These... CDs are liable to start a revival fire unseen in
any generation... the Gospel in its pure form is seen in these... CDs.
Sir,
I cant say enough. What a treasure! I'll never be able to repay you this side
of heaven, but when we get there I am sure you will see the rich fruits of your
labor. God bless you for not being money hungry but wanting to see Christians
grow in the Lord... I love you even though we have never met, you have
helped me in my Christian walk tremendously with these... CDs.
I
am not bragging on the flesh, I am just giving honor where honor is due. The
Holy Ghost will take these CDs and light a fire unseen and unheard of. God
bless you all at Still Waters."
-
Email from the USA
"Thank
you so very much for the CDs.
I am amazed at the quality and quantity of
the literature...
I
cannot imagine any other single thing being done by any man or group of men in
the earth today that is of such extensive, present, and enduring value as
this CD work is.
God
be praised that he uses sickly and weak men to forward his kingdom, that the
work may not be mistaken to be wrought by the might of men, but by his Spirit.
His strength is perfected in weakness."
-
Email from Colorado
______________
Many more comments on the SWRB's CD sets
(by the Banner of Truth magazine, Calvin Beisner [Professor of
Historical Theology and Social Ethics at Knox Theological Seminary], Dr. E.P.
Elliott [Christian Observer magazine], and many others.) can be found at the
end of the page at: http://www.swrb.com/Puritan/calvinism-bookshelf-CDs.htm
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SUPER SPECIALS (http://www.swrb.com/puritan-books.htm)
The Nature and Duty of Covenanting with God (1850)
The author notes, "the great advantages of covenanting with God are
forcibly expressed in the same connection from which we have so often quoted.
Deut 26:18,19, 'The Lord hath avouched thee -- to make thee high above all
nations, which he hath made in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that thou
mayest be a holy people unto the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken.' Those,
whether individuals or communities, who 'join themselves to the Lord in a
perpetual covenant,' have the strongest assurance that it will result to their
greatest benefit. 'The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.' He will make
covenanted nations high above all nations..." This booklet presses the
high and holy duty of individual and national covenanting with God (and its benefits)
-- something which you will not find in contemporary "Christian"
bookstores or hear in many pulpits today. Excerpted from the Original
Covenanter and Contending Witness magazine (volumes 3:21-24).
(Rare bound photocopy) $9.95-60%=$3.98 (US funds)
(Hardcover photocopy) $15.00 (US funds)
This book is also available on Reformation Bookshelf CD volume 27 (CD
SUPER SALE) at: http://www.swrb.com/Puritan/reformation-bookshelf-CDs.htm
SARFATI,
Dr. JONATHAN, B.Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D., F.M.
Refuting
Evolution
Refuting Evolution is a
hard-hitting critique of the most up-to-date arguments for evolution, to
challenge educators, students and parents. It is a powerful, yet concise
summary of the arguments against evolution and for creation. It will stimulate
much discussion and help students and teachers think more critically about
origins. This top-selling book has over 450,000 copies in print. (High
School--Adult) 144 pages.
Dr Jonathan Sarfati was born
in Ararat, Australia in 1964. He moved to New Zealand as a child and later
studied science at Victoria University of Wellington. He obtained a B.Sc.
(Hons.) in Chemistry with two physics papers substituted (nuclear and condensed
matter physics). His Ph.D. in Chemistry was awarded for a thesis entitled 'A
Spectroscopic Study of some Chalcogenide Ring and Cage Molecules'. He has
co-authored papers in mainstream scientific journals on high temperature
superconductors and selenium-containing ring and cage-shaped molecules. He also
had a co-authored paper on high-temperature superconductors published in Nature
when he was 22.
Dr Sarfati has been a
Christian since 1984. He has long been interested in apologetics, the defense of
the faith, and was a co-founder of the Wellington Christian Apologetics Society
(New Zealand).1 Creation vs evolution is of course a vital area, because of the
ramifications for the doctrines of Creation, the Fall which brought death into
the world, and their links to the doctrines of the Incarnation, Atonement and
Bodily Resurrection of the God-man Jesus Christ.
In August 1996, he returned
to the country of his birth to take up a position as a research scientist and
editorial consultant for Creation Ministries International in Brisbane. In this
capacity, he is co-editor of Creation magazine, and also writes and reviews
articles for Journal of Creation, CMI's in-depth peer-reviewed publication, as
well as contributing to CMI's CreationOnTheWeb
website.
In 1999, his first book was
published--Refuting Evolution, which countered a teachers guidebook by the
National Academy of Sciences, Teaching about Evolution and the Nature of
Science, which had been widely circulated and publicized. Refuting Evolution
now has 450,000 copies in print. Later that year he was a co-author of the
updated and expanded Answers Book [note: now entitled The Creation Answers
Book], answering 20 of the most-asked questions about creation/evolution. He
later wrote Refuting Evolution 2, countering the PBS Evolution series and an
anticreationist article in Scientific American.
In 2004, he wrote Refuting
Compromise, defending a straightforward biblical creation timeline and a global
flood, and answering biblical and scientific objections, concentrating on the
errant teachings of day-age/local flood advocate Hugh Ross. It has been
acclaimed as 'the most powerful biblical and scientific defense of a
straightforward view of Genesis creation ever written!' See the introductory
chapter and some reviews.
In 2006, he co-authored 15
Reasons to Take Genesis as History with Don Batten, as a concise reference
guide for Christians, including pastors and theologians, why Genesis can be
trusted as real history of Creation about 6000 years ago and a global Flood.
- http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3547/
(Softcover) $16.00 (US funds)
SARFATI,
Dr. JONATHAN, B.Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D., F.M.
Refuting
Evolution 2
Respected CMI scientist Dr Jonathan Sarfati, author of the best-seller Refuting Evolution, has written a sequel that comprehensively refutes arguments to support evolution (as presented in TV documentaries and Scientific American). Read world-leading evolutionists in their own words, and then find straightforward answers from science and the Bible. Refuting Evolution 2 will prepare you to answer the best arguments thrown at you by peers, teachers, neighbours and sceptics. (High School--Adult) 240 pages.
(Softcover) $16.00 (US funds)
More about Dr.
Sarfati and his books and DVD's on Creation.
SCHLISSEL,
STEVE (REFUTED)
FREE! (Contra
Schlissel's Denial of Reformed Worship)
An irenic letter written to a PCA elder, regarding Steve
Schlissel's recent attacks on historic Reformed (biblical) worship, which is a
nice introduction to the Brief Critique listed directly below, is FREE at:
http://www.cashflows.org/rpw.htm
SCHLISSEL,
STEVE (REFUTED, AGAIN)
A Brief Critique of Steven M. Schlissel's Articles Against
the Regulative Principle of Worship
by Brian M. Schwertley
Brian Schwertley has challenged both Steve Schlissel and Andrew
Sandlin (Chalcedon Report) to a public debate on the worship issues that are dealt with in
this paper. Mr. Schwertley has also stated that he is willing to have the
complete debate taped and made available to the public. Thus far, both Mr.
Schlissel and Mr. Sandlin have refused to accept this challenge.
We
pray that our publicizing of Brian Schwertley's FREE
article will be used of the Lord to help others from falling into the same
type of Romish/Episcopal errors that Mr. Schlissel now publicly espouses against
the biblical and historic Reformed Faith (regarding worship). It would also be a
blessing (for which we pray) to see Mr. Schlissel granted repentance in this
matter and to see him preaching the Apostolic faith, "the faith which was
once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3), which was so magnificently
recovered (through the grace of God) by the best early Reformers and the
Puritans and (especially) the Covenanters which followed in their train.
Describing
this paper Brian Schwertley writes, "Recently, a series of articles was
written by Pastor Steven M. Schlissel against the regulative principle of
worship, entitled "All I Really Need to Know About Worship... I Don't
Learn from the Regulative Principle." These articles were published in
Schlissel's newsletter, Messiah's Mandate, and were reprinted in an edited-abridged form in Chalcedon Report. They received a rather wide audience in Reformed
circles and are being referred to by opponents of Reformed worship. The
purpose of this essay is to examine Schlissel's main arguments and expose them
as false, unscriptural, and based upon poor exegesis and faulty reasoning. After reading Schlissel's articles we want to
commend him for his openness and honesty regarding his position on the
regulative principle. Many people in Reformed churches give lip service to the
regulative principle while doing everything they possibly can to get around it.
They confess it with their lips, but dread it with their hearts. They formally
adhere to what they in practice continually deny. At least Schlissel, in his
quest for human autonomy in worship, is consistent. He jettisons the foundation
of Reformed worship altogether and in its place advocates what he calls the
"informed principle of worship," which we will see is, in principle
and in reality, no different than the Lutheran or Episcopal conception of
worship... The arguments offered by Schlissel (and
others such as Doug Wilson) regarding the regulative principle are not new but
are (in general matters) restatements of old prelatical arguments long ago
rejected by the Reformed churches... In essence, it is no different
than the typical conservative evangelical understanding of worship.
Evangelicals reject the regulative principle and in its place say that we must
not do what is forbidden and we must make sure our worship is biblical. This
is the old Lutheran-Episcopalian conception of worship. He says that our biblical theology must guide our
worship, and that a biblical theology would produce biblical worship... Most
conservative Lutherans, low-church Episcopalians or conservative evangelicals
would agree. Why? Because Schlissel has abandoned
the Reformed understanding of worship for a conservative Lutheran
conception. He openly admits that he believes that human tradition in
worship is acceptable...
Schlissel
wants us to abandon the regulative principle and adopt his view because he
believes his position can better withstand "exegetical attack" and
thus will better preserve biblical worship. How will allowing human tradition
in worship preserve biblical worship? How can allowing what Jesus and Paul
explicitly forbid withstand exegetical attack? We live in a time in which many
human innovations are coming into the churches--even "Reformed" ones.
The pastors and elders in "Reformed" churches which have puppet
shows, sermonettes for children, drama groups, musical groups, dance troupes,
liturgical calendars, and unauthorized holy days love these articles by
Schlissel. Why? Because his articles justify human
autonomy, i.e., human tradition in worship. If one were to talk with
a CRC or PCA pastor who practiced such things, one would find essential
agreement with Schlissel's arguments. People despise the regulative
principle of worship not because it is itself an innovation but because they know
it condemns their best-loved human worship inventions. It condemns all
will-worship. Schlissel may object to
the so-called "celebrative" worship described above. But, according
to his own principles, there is really nothing he can do to stop it. For these
things are not expressly forbidden by Scripture. (Where is the list of
forbidden worship practices in the New Testament?) All that Schlissel can do is
argue that such worship is not "majestic" enough, or that is not done
decently and in order. The proponents of such worship would of course disagree.
They would argue that it is session-controlled, very orderly, and wonderfully
"majestic."
The regulative principle of worship (i.e., truly Reformed worship) is the only principle that can withstand all exegetical attacks and stem today's sweeping tide of human worship innovations. It can withstand all exegetical attacks because it is founded upon the sacred Scripture and nothing else. It can stem the tide of human innovation in worship because it cuts off, at the root, all innovation, all human tradition and will-worship. The seeds of will-worship are killed before they can sprout. Humanly originated worship traditions are forbidden at the outset, and are thus not given the opportunity of taking root and displacing that worship which God has instituted. Everything in worship must have a divine warrant; i.e., it must be proved from the word of God. Thornwell writes: "As under the Old Dispensation nothing connected with the worship or discipline of the Church of God was left to the wisdom or discretion of man, but everything was accurately prescribed by the authority of God, so, under the New, no voice is to be heard in the household of faith but the voice of the Son of God. The power of the c