What if revival doesn’t come? “I would continue the meetings & preach on, every night…” answered James Caughey (1854)

"We had evidence before our eyes, the most convincing, that if the people of God set their hearts upon a revival, and use the proper means, they cannot fail to obtain their desire. [...] "I would urge the continuation of the meeting for weeks, with or without success. Whether the congregations are large or small,…Read more What if revival doesn’t come? “I would continue the meetings & preach on, every night…” answered James Caughey (1854)

Richard Watson on Romans 7: an *un*regenerate man (1834)

Richard Watson, in Conversations for the young (1834), at pages 234-235: [I]n the seventh chapter [of Romans] the apostle proves that the law is no more able to regenerate, than it is to justify; since the utmost it can do is to discover the extent and hopelessness of our slavery to sin, leaving us to…Read more Richard Watson on Romans 7: an *un*regenerate man (1834)

Daniel Steele, “The Work of the Holy Spirit before the day of Pentecost” (1897)

I've written elsewhere that I see a strong parallel between the Holy Spirit's work pre-Pentecost and His continuing, pre-regenerating work on unbelievers after Pentecost. For believers, we now also experience regeneration and indwelling; work of the Holy Spirit that was promised, but not experienced, in the Old Testament. My basic argument is: The promises of…Read more Daniel Steele, “The Work of the Holy Spirit before the day of Pentecost” (1897)

New YouTube Shorts: Calvinist ‘effectual calling’ /regeneration before faith vs Arminian Prevenient Grace /conviction of the Holy Spirit

"But the great danger of supposing that the first operation of divine grace upon the heart is regeneration, is, that it serves to delude sinners into a belief that they are saints when they are not." -Rev. Nathan Bangs (1818)- I have posted two new YouTube shorts with quotes from Rev. Nathan Bangs' 1818 book,…Read more New YouTube Shorts: Calvinist ‘effectual calling’ /regeneration before faith vs Arminian Prevenient Grace /conviction of the Holy Spirit

“What is the gospel?” And other changes between the 1846 and 1898 Canadian Methodist Catechisms

I've been working through two Canadian Methodist catechisms: the 1846 edition produced by the Wesleyan Methodists of Canada (ie: the British influenced Canadians) vs the 1898 Catechism (after the 6 Canadian Methodist denominations merged). The 1846 that I compare below is specifically "for children of seven years of age and upward” which may account for…Read more “What is the gospel?” And other changes between the 1846 and 1898 Canadian Methodist Catechisms

John Wesley, “What is the direct antidote to Methodism, the doctrine of heart-holiness? Calvinism…”

From "Minutes of Several Conversations between the Rev. Mr. Wesley and others, from the year 1744, to 1789" (bold mine): Q. 74. What is the direct antidote to Methodism, the doctrine of heart-holiness ?A. Calvinism: All the devices of Satan, for these fifty years, have done far less toward stopping this work of God, than…Read more John Wesley, “What is the direct antidote to Methodism, the doctrine of heart-holiness? Calvinism…”

Daniel Steele, “Ordinarily the Spirit’s power … is silent & unseen, giving a penetrating energy to the speaker’s words, even when they seem powerless to himself” (1897)

Below is an excerpt from Daniel Steele's 1897 book, The Gospel of the Comforter, which I first read a few months ago, but this part stuck with me. For myself, I tend to write my successes in sand, but engrave my failures in stone, remembering them far too often, so I found the account he…Read more Daniel Steele, “Ordinarily the Spirit’s power … is silent & unseen, giving a penetrating energy to the speaker’s words, even when they seem powerless to himself” (1897)

William Burt Pope on blasphemy against the Holy Ghost: “it is the state of the heart hardened against Divine grace … and therefore of necessity hopeless” (1889)

"... In the Gospels, it is the state of the heart hardened against Divine grace, blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, and therefore of necessity hopeless..." - William Burt Pope, Compendium Vol. 2 (1889) I've been reading Matt Ayars, The Holy Spirit: An Introduction (2023), and in chapter 6, "The Holy Spirit and Salvation", Dr. Ayars…Read more William Burt Pope on blasphemy against the Holy Ghost: “it is the state of the heart hardened against Divine grace … and therefore of necessity hopeless” (1889)

BT Roberts, “Restraint of the Holy Spirit” (pub. 1912)

From BT Roberts, in Pungent Truths (published 1912), a book compiled from the editorial paragraphs written while he was editor of The Free Methodist (HT: @RealBTRoberts, via Twitter): The wicked are not wholly destitute of the Spirit of God. Bad as they are, they would be much worse were it not for his restraining influence.…Read more BT Roberts, “Restraint of the Holy Spirit” (pub. 1912)

Richard Watson on the origin of Depravity: “the withdrawing of that Spirit from Adam” (1832)

"Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me." - King David, Psalm 51:11 KJV "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing…Read more Richard Watson on the origin of Depravity: “the withdrawing of that Spirit from Adam” (1832)