The Christian's Reasonable Service, Volume 4: Ethics and Eschatology

by Wilhelmus à Brakel

First published in 1700, The Christian's Reasonable Service (De Redelijke Godsdienst) ran through twenty Dutch editions in the eighteenth century alone! The title is derived from Romans 12:1, 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.' It expresses what God requires from man, and particularly from the Christian, that he serve Him in Spirit and in truth intelligently, rationally, and in harmony with and response to God s revelation of Himself, His Word. With a decidedly Puritan flavor and representing Reformed experiential religion at its best, Wilhelmus à Brakel systematically moves through the major doctrines of the Bible in hopes of seeing the minds of God s people renewed for the purpose of promoting godliness. Throughout his work, but particularly in the practical application of each doctrine, à Brakel strives unceasingly to exalt the name of Jesus as the name that the Father has given above every other name there being no other name given under heaven among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Table of
The Doctrine of Salvation (cont.)
75. Fasting
76. Watchfulness
77. Secret Prayer
78. Spiritual Meditation
79. Singing Spiritual Songs
80. Vows
81. The Practice of Reflecting upon Previous Experiences
82. Love Toward Our Neighbor
83. Humility
84. Meekness
85. Peaceableness
86. Diligence
87. Compassion
88. Prudence
89. Spiritual Growth
90. Regression of Spiritual Life in the Godly
91. Spiritual Desertion
92. The Temptation Toward Atheism or the Denial of God's Existence
93. The Temptation Whether God's Word Is True
94. Unbelief Concerning One's Spiritual State
95. The Assaults of Satan
96. The Power of Indwelling Corruption
97. Spiritual Darkness
98. Spiritual Deadness
99. The Perseverance of the Saints
The Doctrine of the Last Things
100. Death and the Ensuing State of the Soul
101. The Resurrection of the Dead
102. The Last Judgment and the End of the World
103. Eternal Glory
The Administration of the Covenant of Grace in the Old and New Testaments
1. The Church of the Old Testament from Adam to Abraham
2. The Church from Abraham to Sinai
4. The Ceremonial Laws Given at Sinai and the Condition of the Church from Sinai to Christ
5. The State of Believers in the Old Testament
6. The Church of the New Testament from the birth of Jesus Christ to the Revelation of John

Genres: Theology, Reference, Nonfiction, Christian, Christian Living

592 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1700

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

My views on this volume are much the same as those on the previous instalment: it is basically good, but a bit bloated with some unnecessary material. Intriguingly, the author argues that the restoration of the Jews - according to the postmillennial interpretation of Romans 11 - will see them restored to the land of Canaan as an independent republic. He differs from most contemporary premillennialists, however, by arguing that the Jerusalem temple will not be rebuilt.

Edit: On second reading, I concur with the above comments.

[Vincent Lemieux · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ overall.

His chapters on "ethics" are marvellous and very experiential. The bests, in my opinion, are those on Solitude, Spiritual Meditation, Love for One's Neighbour, Diligence, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Desertion, Unbelief Concerning One's Spiritual State, The Assaults of Satan, The Power of Indwelling Corruption. 4 ⭐️

Then, À Brakel add a big appendix (more than 150 pages) on the Administration of the Covenant of Grace in the Old and New Testament. Nothing is really contributing to the discussion of Covenants. Something interesting is the way Brakel is defining and identifying what is and is not a true type of Christ. Really different from contemporary typology. 3 ⭐️

I'm very surprised with RHB for the fact that they purposely cut À Brakel's last chapter (1xx pages) on his commentary on Revelation, because "of its controversial nature", as they say. A Brakel is a historical-millenarist and his view, even if someone think it's wrong, isn't controversial in my mind. Im quite amazed they made that decision. It would be equivalent for a Reformed Baptist to translate and print a Chinese version of Bavinck but to cut his discussions on the Covenant of Grace.

[Andrew Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brakel is deeply experiential throughout, though perhaps a touch too pietistic* for my liking (comes through strong in the final non-appendix chapter on the earthless eternal state). This is not my favorite Reformed systematic, but it fills a niche in my library.

I am disappointed with the usually excellent Reformation Heritage Books for cutting out his last chapter (a rather novel interpretation of Revelation), "due to its controversial nature." This is just disrespectful to Brakel and what he believed and taught. Editing your spiritual heroes to be more to your liking is poor form.

*I am using pietism here in the sense of "completely heaven focused to the near exclusion of creation." Trying to get across the finish line with as little earthly dirt on you as possible. I believe pietism to be a latent form of gnosticism in this regard. Briefly critiqued, man is a psychosomatic unity, both earth (body) and spirit (soul). Both need redemption, and focusing on one aspect to the near exclusion of the other truncates the Gospel and Christ's finished work on the cross.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biblical, understandable, and detailed (and thus, long). This volume covers soteriology, eschatology, and the administration of the covenant of grace. I like that it includes objections and answers to them.

You can get a free ebook from Monergism.

Notes
Fasting
Fasting is not eating any food (Est 4:16) for 24 hrs (in the Bible, evening to evening) (Lev 23; Isa 58:5).

Bible also records consecutive days of fasting (1 Chr 10:12; Est 4:16), during which people ate each evening.

When fasting privately (not on public fasting days called by government or church), we may choose the degree of fasting done, such as eating a limited amount, to keep our fasting unknown to others (Mt 6:16-18).

Humility
How to learn humility
• Consider how often you sin, and you'll see you have no reason to complain when God afflicts you. You don't deserve God's mercy or human favor.
• When suffering, observe and repent of your pride, and submit yourself to God Who appointed your suffering.
• Consider the benefits and blessings God has given, how ungrateful you've been for them, how unable you are to use them well, how unworthy you are of them.

The Perseverance of the Saints
Perseverance of the saints: Jn 6:39; 10:27-29; 17:11-12, 15, 24; 1 Pet 1:5; 2 Tim 3:3; 1 Cor 1:8; Rom 2:7; 8:30, 35, 38; Lk 8:15; Ps 37:24; 1 Jn 3:9; Heb 6:17-18; 7:25; Eph 4:30.

Saints persevere because of immutability of election (Rom 8:30; 9:11; Heb 6:17; 2 Tim 2:19; Mal 3:6; Jas 1:17; Isa 14:27).

Mt 13:21; Jn 15:2-6; Heb 6:4-6; 2 Pet 2:1 aren't about true believers; it's about those who seem to believe but don't persevere (1 Jn 2:19). In Heb 6:4-6, "renew again to repentance" means restoration to previous state of temporal profession of faith (not true believer).

Heb 10:29 is rhetorical, and doesn't prove that believers apostatize.

Concerning Death and the State of the Soul After Death
Immediately after death, souls of believers go to Heaven to be with the Father, Christ, and other souls of believers (Rev 6:9-11; 7:9-10, 14; 14:13; Lk 16:22; 23:43; 2 Cor 5:1, 8; 12:2, 4; Heb 12:23; Phil 1:23).

Immediately after death, souls of unbelievers experience punishment, suffering (Lk 16:23-24; 1 Pet 3:19-20; Jude 7; Mt 26:46; ).

1 Pet 3:19-20 refers to Christ by His Spirit and through Noah preaching to disobedient world.

Purgatory doesn't exist
• Christ has already removed sins of elect.
• It can't remove sins; forgiveness requires shedding of blood.
• Living humans (except Christ) can't atone for sins of dead.
• All sins are mortal, and all are forgivable, except rejection of Christ as Savior.
• Upon death, souls of believers immediately enter Heaven.

Concerning the Last Judgment and the End of the World
Some think sins of believers will be made public on Judgment Day, others think not. à Brakel says it's not a fundamental doctrine, though he thinks they will be public.

Sins of believers will be made public on Judgment Day
• Bible includes general statements about Judgment Day that don't exclude believers (Rom 14:12; Ecc 12:14; Acts 17:31).
• Both believers and unbelievers will appear before God's judgment seat (Rev 20:12).
• God's justice can only be manifest if believer's guilt and satisfaction for their sins are contrasted.
• Christ's satisfaction for sin can only be understood when magnitude of sin is made manifest.
• God's mercy can only be understood when guilt of believers is made manifest.
• Believers and unbelievers sometimes sin in conjunction, so if unbelievers' sins are made manifest, that will reveal believers' related sins.

Some think creation will be annihilated, others think it will be purified and restored. à Brakel says it's not a fundamental doctrine, though he thinks the latter.

Creation will be purified and restored, not annihilated
• Acts 3:21 says creation's substance will continue, but characteristics will be restored.
• Rom 8:19-23 says creation will be delivered from bondage, restored to liberty, as believers will be.
• Heb 1:11-12 describes creation as changing in state and characteristics, not being annihilated.
• 2 Pet 3:6-7, 10-13; Rev 2:1 describe universe changing in characteristics, not substance; they don't describe annihilation. 2 Pet 3:6-7 compares end of world to Flood, and Flood changed world, but didn't annihilate it. Bible sometimes uses "new" to mean "renewed" (Jn 13:34; Gal 6:15).

Concerning Eternal Glory

All they who are glorified [in Heaven] will be filled with felicity to overflowing; that is, as much as they can endure. Thus, there neither will be a desire for more, nor will this be possible. … As one vessel can, however, contain more than another vessel, while yet all being full, we believe that also the one will excel the other in glory. This is, however, not due to merit. … Rather, on the basis of His free grace, God will elevate in glory those who have done or suffered much as a witness for His Name. [See Dan 12:3; 1 Cor 3:8; 15:41-42; 2 Cor 9:6; Lk 19:12-19; Mt 19:28.]

Believers will know each other in Heaven
• We'll have perfect memory.
• Ignorance is an imperfection, and there won't be any imperfections.
• Our fellowship will be based on knowledge, not ignorance.
• Disciples knew Moses and Elijah at transfiguration (Mt 17:3).
• Poor will know their benefactors (Lk 16:9).

[Shawn Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 4 was good, it had a great chapter on Meekness that I have already re-read (84). The book was technically over at page 330, There was an appendix with several chapters about the covenant of grace, of which I read 90. I skimmed a couple other chapters just to get their gist. The covenant of grace feels like overreach, calling it a covenant to begin and starting it with the animal sacrifice for the sins of Adam and Eve, just does not constitute a covenant. That said he did have a helpful section in the appendix on types and antitypes, which shows that there is nothing new under the sun, and our modern Bible study methods that are being written owe gratitude to those who previously have written on this.

[Ronnie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may have enjoyed this last volume better than the first three. Putting the doctrine that we learned in the first three books to practical use and application. I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed these books. They should be in every Pastor's library and within reach.