Set a high value upon the word of God. All that is necessary to make you wise to salvation is there, and there only. In this precious book you may find a direction for every doubt, a solution of every difficulty, a promise suited to every circumstance you can be in. There you may be informed of your disease by sin, and the remedy provided by grace. You may be instructed to know yourselves, to know God and Jesus Christ, in the knowledge of whom standeth eternal life. The wonders of redeeming love, the glories of the Redeemer's person, the happiness of the redeemed people, the power of faith, and the beauty of holiness, are here represented to the life. Nothing is wanting to make life useful and comfortable, death safe and desirable, and to bring down something of heaven upon earth. This true wisdom can be found nowhere else.
— Revd. John Newton, author of 'Amazing Grace', (1725-1807)
I see you have started a nice Sunday tradition, Revd. Jolly good.
ReplyDeleteWith all the stress monarchists place on religion, especially the Christian religion, I can only infer that to be monarchist one must perforce be a believer in God, especially in the Christian conception of God. If it is necessary for one to be a religious believer, especially a Christian, in order to be a monarchist, then I am unable to be so. I am most definitely not a religious believer of any sort. I am without religious beliefs and do not believe in any supernatural matter, such as a personal, interventionist god or an afterlife.
ReplyDeleteIn 1999 here in Australia, therefore, I was clearly mistaken when I voted for the retention of the constitutional monarchy, not realising that as an atheist I could not perforce be a monarchist or a supporter of the monarchy, as to be a monarchist presupposes one's religious belief in God, especially in Christian religious belief.