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A Biography of John Hazelton, by William Styles (Complete), William Styles, A Memoir Of John Hazelton (Complete)
Chapter 13
ANALYTICAL.—THE PREACHER. I would describe him simple, grave, sincere, In doctrine uncorrupt; in language plain, And plain in manner; decent, solemn, chaste, And natural in gesture; much impressed Himself, as conscious of his awful charge. And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds May feel it too; affectionate in look, And tender in address, as well becomes A messenger of grace to guilty men.—Cowper. Nothing was further from the character of John Hazelton than the common ambition to figure as "an all-round man." He had thoughts on politics, and deemed it right for a Christian to vote according to his convictions, but he attended no meetings that were not distinctly religious or philanthropical, and he was always silent in public on the questions of the…
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A Biography of John Hazelton, by William Styles (Complete), William Styles, A Memoir Of John Hazelton (Complete)
Chapter 14
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee, peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, peace be within thee, because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good."—Psalm 122:6-9 John Hazelton was as remote from the spurious catholicity which acknowledges and receives all professed Christians without inquiry into their faith and practice, as he was free from the bitter sectarianism which cannot acknowledge the existence of spiritual good without the pale of its own communion. He nevertheless at all times manifested a denominational spirit. He loved his own section of the Church with profound affection, identified himself with it with unconcealed satisfaction, rejoiced…
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A Biography of John Hazelton, by William Styles (Complete), William Styles, A Memoir Of John Hazelton (Complete)
Chapter 15
How fine has the day been! How bright was the sun! How lovely and joyous the course that he run! Though he rose in a mist when his race he begun, And there followed some droppings of rain: But now the fair traveller conies to the west, His rays are all gold, and his beauties are best; He paints the sky gay, as he sinks to his rest, And foretells a bright rising again. Just such is the Christian. His course he begins Like the sun in a mist, while he mourns for his sins, And melts into tears; then ho breaks out and shines, And travels his heavenly way: But when he comes nearer to finish his race, Like a fine setting sun, he…
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High-Calvinism and the Strict Baptists
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High-Calvinism and Preaching the Gospel
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Duty-Faith and the Free-Offer
Duty-Faith and the Free-Offer are two of the most pernicious heresies infiltrating churches today. Preachers that demand sinners exercise faith, as the initiating cause of the new birth, are appealing to the flesh, wherein dwelleth no good thing. Subsequently, false converts are mass produced through manipulative devices in getting people to 'make a decision for Christ'. The scriptural concept of faith is this—the sinner believes because he has been born again; he is not born again because he believes. Hence, faith is a gift to the saint, not a duty of the sinner. In addition, preachers that 'offer' the gospel (as if it lies in the sinner to accept or reject it) contradict the central message of sovereign grace. The sinful heart must be made…