Benjamin Ramsbottom
Benjamin Ramsbottom (1929-2023) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. In 1967, he was appointed pastor of the church meeting at Bethel Strict Baptist Church, Luton, Bedfordshire, a position he held for fifty-five years.
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The Everlasting Covenant
In past years this was one of the favourite texts in our chapels. Actually, it was the text preached from at my own baptism. The old, godly people used to quote it in prayer, and they used to cling to it, that “everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure.” But at one time, the preaching of the everlasting covenant was not just the glory of our chapels. Even in the Church of England, there were people like Dr. Hawker who gloried in these truths – covenant love, covenant faithfulness, covenant blood, an everlasting covenant. People so often feel the uncertainty of everything here below, everything all around, everything in their own lives, everything in their own hearts. There is such a beautiful, sweet attraction…
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The Preaching Of The Cross
The preaching of the cross, the preaching of Christ and Him crucified – when did it begin? Not with the Apostle Paul. I believe it began in the Garden of Eden when man had sorely fallen, when he was there in his lost, ruined condition, and Almighty God first preached to him deliverance. The first promise: that the Lord would bruise the serpent’s head, O but the serpent should bruise His heel. That was in the crucifixion, when the Saviour’s heel was so dreadfully bruised, even unto death. And then all this with that revelation, there was the shedding of blood, there was the coat of skins, and they were clothed. There was life instead of death. I solemnly believe that was the first preaching…
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Hard Questions
This was a most interesting occasion in the life of King Solomon. The Queen of Sheba, hearing of the fame of Solomon, and as it is emphasised, the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord (see 1 Kings 10. 1), she was attracted, and she came. It was a long journey, but she ventured, and she was not disappointed; she did not come in vain. I just mention for the sake of the young ones, different divines hold different views where Sheba was. Some think it was in Arabia, somewhere like Iran or Iraq. Others think it was in Africa. But of course, that is not anything of great importance. Now I do not intend to speak of this word only in a…
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The Everlasting Gospel
These are three extremely well-known words. They have become almost part of our spiritual vocabulary, and often in prayer or in preaching or in conversation when the gospel is referred to, it is referred to as “the everlasting gospel.” Now this is a strange place to find these beautiful words, Revelation chapter 14. Mind you, there are some very beautiful things concerning Christ in this chapter, but really the theme is the downfall of Babylon, signifying all the power and influence of the world which lieth in the wicked one. Mysteriously, we are told that it was an angel here having “the everlasting gospel” to preach. How often have you heard from our pulpits and our ministers that God never sent angels to preach, that…
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Divine Providence
This is an immense verse. It includes everything, it embraces everything: the whole of creation, the whole of providence, the whole of redemption. And the point here is very simple: that it is all in the Lord’s hands, that everything, great or small, past, present or to come, grace or providence, is in His hands. It is a wonderful mercy if we can realise it this evening, that all things – and that embraces everything – all things are in the Lord’s hands. And then if we can feel this personally: “My times are in Thy hand.” “The lot is cast into the lap” – everything. If only we could believe this; if only we believed what we do believe, that “the lot is cast…
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What Confidence Is This Wherein Thou Trustest
There is no more important question in the whole Word of God than this, and it is your mercy and mine if we know the answer. This was a day of darkness, sorrow and blasphemy, Jerusalem surrounded by an invading army, death and destruction staring them in the face, and this question was hurled at godly King Hezekiah in a way of scorn, in a way of contempt: “What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?” Hezekiah knew the answer, and beloved friends, it is your mercy and mine if we do. We think first of all of this vital question concerning the everlasting salvation of our souls. Now, what confidence is this wherein we trust? In other words, what hope have we that our sins…
