Joseph Irons
Joseph Irons (1785-1852) was an Independent sovereign grace preacher, author and hymn writer. In 1819, he was appointed the minister of Grove Chapel, Camberwell, a position he held until his death thirty-three years later.
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Letter 4: To Berith—On The Covenant Of Grace
My dear Berith, The conspicuous change which has been effected in you, by the grace of God, affords me peculiar satisfaction, and begets in my mind, an anxiety for the increase and permanency of those pleasures of which you have already tasted; and with this object in view, allow me to lead your attention to the inexhaustible treasure, whence all spiritual blessings are derived; even the COVENANT OF GRACE. “Be ye always mindful of his covenant” is the express command of Jehovah to his people, by his servant David; and if my dear young friend were fully aware of the advantage arising from habitual appropriation of the covenant plentitude, and holy communion with the covenant head, the constant cry of his heart would be “Lord…
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Letter 3: To Ibhar—On Election
My dear Ibhar, The important subject upon which I addressed your brother Elimelech, involves the topic on which I shall write to you, praying, that the Holy Ghost may render it as consoling and profitable to you as he has to me. The election of grace must necessarily follow upon the admission of the absolute sovereignty of God: but as this doctrine has always been, and still is, so offensive to those who have only a name to live, but are spiritually dead; and as your comfort and peace so much depend on your “knowing your election of God,” I will endeavour to present you with a concise view of it, and to assist you in coming to some decision concerning it. That the Lord…
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Letter 2: To Elimelech—On Divine Sovereignty
My dear Elimelech, A clear apprehension of the sovereignty of God, and an habitual submission to it, will lay a firm foundation for your peace of mind, and afford you satisfactory solutions of the most mysterious things. I am aware that an aversion to this important doctrine is deeply rooted in our nature, and the very essence of the first transgression was a quarrel with Jehovah’s sovereignty; “ye shall be as Gods,” was the bait with which the tempter ruined mankind. This disposition to usurp Jehovah’s prerogative, discovers itself in every direction, and produces much of the distress, confusion, and guilt, which disgrace human nature, and agitate the whole creation of God: errors, doctrinal and practical, may be traced to this source, and even the…
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Letter 1: To Silas—On The Trinity
My dear Silas, I take up my pen to invite your attention to a subject the most exalted and sublime in its nature, and the most important in its relation to the whole scheme of Redemption. The doctrine of a Trinity of Persons in the Godhead is so closely interwoven with every part of the sacred volume, and feature of Christian experience, that every new creature in Christ Jesus might be expected to admit, although he cannot comprehend it. Indeed if we determine to admit no more than we can comprehend we shall soon find ourselves on the high road to Atheism, but allowing Jehovah’s testimony of himself to be true, and attending to its influence in every Christian’s heart, we shall flee firom the…
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Introduction
If there be any minister of Christ, whose happiness I envy, it is he who is surrounded by a number of young Christians, to whom the Lord has blessed his message so as to effect a divine change in their hearts; such an one has a charge of vast importance, requiring the most vigilant attention, and from which he may reasonably expect the choicest fruit; I can enter somewhat into the anxious solicitude of such an individual, and I am not a total stranger to his pleasures: it is therefore my earnest desire to cultivate, prune, and water the tender plants, from whom I expect the fruits of righteousness. With this object in view, I present this little volume to the people of my charge,…
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Second Edition
I feel encouraged to present this Second Edition to the household of faith, by the extensive circulation of the first, accompanied, as it has been in many instances, by the Divine blessing; and, among other testimonies in its favor, the following extract of a letter from Dr. Hawker, on his second reading of the volume, affords me peculiar pleasure, and with his kind permission I insert it. "Your little volume on gospel doctrines, entitled Jazer, is now before me. I have read the first three letters on the Trinity, Divine Sovereignty and Election. And from the specimen there given on these glorious truths, I promise myself much satisfaction from the further perusal of the work. Allow me in the mean time to say, that I…
