Zach Byrd > Recent Status Updates

“Though the whole life of Jesus Christ was but like one great sermon of love, yet the death of Christ was, as it were, a longer and clearer sermon of love than all His life was. Never did Christ speak love more fully and more freely than when He was, as it were, in that pulpit, the cross.”

“So much as we see of the love of God, so much shall we delight in him, and no more. Every other discovery of God, without this, will but make the soul fly from him; but if the heart be once much taken up with this the eminency of the Father's love, it cannot choose but be overpowered, conquered, and endeared unto him.”

A little maturity has made this book immensely better.

“Few do cleave to the holy Scriptures; many do rest in scholastic, senseless sounds; and most men do hang their faith upon their rabbi's sleeves.”

VM on regeneration and conversion is some of the best discussions I’ve read on the topic. His discussion on conversion would render half the preaching models of our day moot, for he articulates a theological foundation that first engages the intellect, then the affections, and finally the will. Preaching heavy on emotion, light on exegesis does not stand upon VM’s theological foundation.

“Many kings and rulers aim at themselves in their commands, and they seek too often rather their own greatness than their subjects' good. But, believe it, Jesus Christ, your King, is not such a one.”

Reading Calvin’s discussion of the church in the Apostles’ Creed was providential and encouraging.

“Christ God is more than grace, pardon, holiness—than created glory, as the husband is more excellent than his marriage-robe, bracelets, rings; and we are to lay our love and faith principally upon the Father and the Son, more than all created graces.”

“There be so many other things that are pouring out of the soul in prayer; as groaning, sighing, looking up to heaven, breathing, weeping; that it cannot be imagined, how far short printed and read prayers come of vehement praying: for you cannot put sighs, groans, tears, breathing, and such heartmessengers down in a printed book; nor can paper and ink lay your heart, in all its sweet affections, out before God.“