The Christian's Reasonable Service, Vol. 2

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 the Church
24. The Church
25. The Duty to Join and Remain with the Church
26. The Communion of Believers with Christ and with Each Other
27. The Government of the Church, and Particularly the Commissioning of Ministers
28. The Offices of Minister, Elder, and Deacon
29. Ecclesiastical Authority and the Use of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven
The Doctrine of Salvation
30. The External and Internal Call
31. Regeneration
32. Faith
33. Distinguishing Marks of Saving Faith
34. Justification
35. The Adoption of Children
36. Spiritual Peace
37. Spiritual Joy
38. The Sealing of the Believer by the Holy Spirit and by Means of the Sacraments
39. Holy Baptism
40. The Lord's Supper
41. The Practice of the Lord's Supper Consisting in Preparation, Celebration and Reflection
42. The Life of Faith in Reference to the Promises
43. A Warning Exhortation Against Pietists, Quietists, and All Who in a Similar Manner Have Deviated to a Natural and Spiritless Religion Under the Guise of Spirituality

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

700 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1700

Reviews

[Andy Dollahite · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plenty of outstanding material. The chapters on justification are...idiosyncratic? Brakel's lists wore me down at times, even if the substance of each (in small doses) is edifying.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biblical, understandable, and detailed (and thus, long). This volume covers ecclesiology and soteriology. I like that it includes objections and answers to them.

You can get a free ebook from Monergism.

Notes
Ecclesiastical Authority and the Use of the Keys of the Kingdom
Steps of Christian discipline
1. Rebuke (privately or before church elders).
2. Bar person from Lord's Supper.
3. Inform congregation about person, so they can pray.
4. Excommunicate.

Church members must exhort censured person to repent, and separate from them (2 Thess 3:14-15). The higher the step of censure and the more the person refuses to repent, the more complete the separation (Mt 7:6; 18:17; Titus 3:10; 1 Cor 5:2-5, 13; Gal 5:12; Rom 16:17; 2 Thess 3:14; 2 Jn 10).

The Sealing of the Believer by the Holy Spirit and by Means of the Sacraments
We're assured of salvation by seal of Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:12), Who directs us to verses that promise salvation to His people. Our sanctified judgment convinces us of our salvation, and Holy Spirit joins this through immediate operation in our hearts (Rom 8:16).

Since sacraments are administered on behalf of Christ, they can only be administered by ministers, who are sent and authorized by Christ (1 Cor 4:1).

Holy Baptism
Sprinkling
• Verb "baptize" can also be translated "sprinkle."
• Christ's blood cleansing the soul is described as sprinkling (Heb 12:24; 1 Pet 1:2).
• Bible describes sprinkling as cleansing (Ezek 36:25).
• Apostles sprinkled 3,000 at Pentecost, jailor, others.

Infant baptism
• OT covenant children received sign of covenant (circumcision), so NT covenant children should receive sign (baptism) (Col 2:11-13).
• Children were baptized in OT crossing of Red Sea (1 Cor 10:1-2; Ex 10:24).
• Children of believers are in covenant, entitled to sign of covenant (Gen 17:7; Rom 4:11; Acts 2:38-39; 3:25; 1 Cor 7:14; Ezek 16:20-21).
• Children partake in benefits of covenant and salvation (Mt 19:14; Acts 2:39).

Any objection to baptizing infants would apply to circumcising children, which God clearly commanded.

Requirement to be instructed and repent before baptism applies to adults. Some biblical requirements are for adults, not children (e.g., 2 Thess 3:10 requiring that those who don't work shouldn't eat).

1 Cor 15:29 about baptism for dead means if there were no resurrection from dead, one would be baptized in vain, and baptism wouldn't seal resurrection of the dead. However, baptism does seal resurrection of the dead, so resurrection is a certainty.

The Lord's Supper
Lord's Supper may not be administered to children, because they can't examine themselves and make a believing application by means of sacrament.

Lord's Supper must be administered in gathering of congregation, not privately at home or elsewhere.

[Ronnie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarkable! This is one of the better systematics you will ever read.

[Md Meiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the finest, theologically rich books I have read.

[Shawn Hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Have been greatly encouraged from the tone in which A' Brakel writes these volumes on systematic theology. They have been useful in discipleship and teaching.