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About this book
First published in 1700, The Christian's Reasonable Service (De Redelijke Godsdienst) ran through twenty Dutch editions in the eighteenth century alone! The title is derived from Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." It expresses what God requires from man, and particularly from the Christian, that he serve Him in Spirit and in truth—intelligently, rationally, and in harmony with and response to God's revelation of Himself, His Word.
With a decidedly Puritan flavor and representing Reformed experiential religion at its best, Wilhelmus à Brakel systematically moves through the major doctrines of the Bible in hopes of seeing the minds of God's people renewed for the purpose of promoting godliness. Throughout his work, but particularly in the practical application of each doctrine, à Brakel strives unceasingly to exalt the name of Jesus as the name that the Father has given above every other name—there being no other name given under heaven among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Contents:
Volume 1: God, Man, and Christ
Volume 2: The Church and Salvation
Volume 3: The Law, Christian Graces, and the Lord's Prayer
Volume 4: Ethics and Eschatology
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Table of contents
- Title Page
- Table of Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- "Wilhelmus à Brakel" by Dr. W. Fiere
- "The Dutch Second Reformation" by Joel R. Beeke
- "To the Congregation of God" by Wilhelmus à Brakel
- Preface to the Third Edition
- Theology: The Doctrine of God
- 1. The Knowledge of God from Nature
- 2. The Word of God
- 3. The Essence of God
- 4. The Divine Persons
- 5. The Decrees of God: General Observations
- 6. Eternal Predestination: Election and Reprobation
- 7. The Covenant of Redemption Between God the Father and God the Son Concerning
- 8. The Creation of the World
- 9. Angels and Devils
- Anthropology: The Doctrine of Man
- 10. Concerning Man, Particularly the Soul
- 11. The Providence of God
- 12. The Covenant of Works
- 13. The Breach of the Covenant of Works
- 14. Original and Actual Sin
- 15. Man's Free Will or Impotency and the Punishment Due Upon Sin
- Christology: The Doctrine of Christ
- 16. The Covenant of Grace
- 17. The Necessity of Satisfaction by the Surety Jesus Christ
- 18. The Divinity, Incarnation, and Union of the Two Natures in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ The Lord Jesus Christ is Very God
- 19. Concerning The Three Offices of Christ, and Particularly His Prophetic Office
- 20. The High-Priestly Office of Christ
- 21. The Kingly Office of Jesus Christ
- 22. The State of Christ's Humiliation by Which He Made Satisfaction for the Sins of the Elect
- 23. The State of Christ's Exaltation
- Preface (volume 2)
- Ecclesiology: The Doctrine of the Church
- 24. Concerning the Church
- 25. The Duty to Join the Church and to Remain with Her
- 26. The Communion of Believers with Christ and with Each Other
- 27. The Government of the Church, and Particularly the Commissioning of Ministers
- 28. The Offices of Minister, Elder, and Deacon
- 29. Ecclesiastical Authority and the Use of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven
- Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation
- 30. The External and Internal Call
- 31. Regeneration
- 32. Concerning Faith
- 33. Distinguishing Marks of Saving Faith
- 34. Justification
- 35. The Adoption of Children
- 36. Spiritual Peace
- 37. Spiritual Joy
- 38. The Sealing of the Believer by the Holy Spirit and by Means of the Sacraments
- 39. Holy Baptism
- 40. The Lord's Supper
- 41. The Practice of the Lord's Supper Consisting in Preparation, Celebration, and Reflection
- 42. The Life of Faith in Reference to the Promises
- 43. A Warning Exhortation against Pietists, Quietists, and All Who in a Similar Manner have Deviated to a Natural and Spiritless Religion under the Guise of Spirituality
- 44. Sanctification and Holiness
- 45. The Law of God: General Considerations
- 46. The First Commandment
- 47. The Second Commandment
- 48. The Third Commandment
- 49. The Fourth Commandment
- 50. The Fifth Commandment
- 51. The Sixth Commandment
- 52. The Seventh Commandment
- 53. The Eighth Commandment
- 54. The Ninth Commandment
- 55. The Tenth Commandment
- 56. The Glorification of God
- 57. Love Toward God
- 58. Love Toward Jesus Christ
- 59. The Fear of God
- 60. Obedience Toward God
- 61. Hope in God
- 62. Spiritual Strength or Courage
- 63. The Profession of Christ and His Truth
- 64. Contentment
- 65. Self-denial
- 66. Patience
- 67. Uprightness
- 68. Prayer
- 69. The Lord's Prayer: Explained and Applied
- 70. The Second Petition: Thy Kingdom Come
- 71. The Third Petition: Thy Will Be Done on Earth as it Is in Heaven
- 72. The Fourth Petition: Give us this Day our Daily Bread
- 73. The Fifth Petition: Forgive us our Debts as we Forgive our Debtors
- 74. The Sixth Petition: And Lead us not into Temptation, but Deliver us from Evil
- 75. Fasting
- 76. Watchfulness
- 77. Solitude
- 78. Spiritual Meditation
- 79. Singing
- 80. Vows
- 81. Concerning Experience
- 82. Love for One's Neighbor
- 83. Humility
- 84. Meekness
- 85. Peaceableness
- 86. Diligence
- 87. Compassion
- 88. Prudence
- 89. Spiritual Growth
- 90. Backsliding in the Spiritual Life of the Godly
- 91. Spiritual Desertion
- 92. Concerning the Temptation Toward Atheism, or the Denial of God's Existence
- 93. Concerning the Temptation Whether God's Word Is True
- 94. Unbelief Concerning One's Spiritual State
- 95. The Assaults of Satan
- 96. The Power of Indwelling Corruption
- 97. Spiritual Darkness
- 98. Spiritual Deadness
- 99. The Perseverance of the Saints
- Eschatology: The Doctrine of the Last Things
- 100. Concerning Death and the State of the Soul After Death
- 101. The Resurrection of the Dead
- 102. Concerning the Last Judgment and the End of the World
- 103. Concerning Eternal Glory
- Appendix: The Administration of the Covenant of Grace in the Old and New Testaments
- 1. The Church of the Old Testament from Adam to Abraham
- 2. The Church from Abraham to the Law, or Sinai
- 3. The Ceremonial Laws Given at Sinai and the State of the Church from Sinai Until Christ
- 4. The Nature of the Suretyship of Jesus Christ During the Old Testament
- 5. The State of Old Testament Believers
- 6. The New Testament Church from the Birth of Jesus Christ to the Revelation of John
- Indexes
- Name Index
- Textual Index