These Christians who once walked on this earth like we do today lived lives filled with the same struggles that we do today. Our world has so few examples of living the Christian life. Here are examples from the past on how to live a deeper Christian life in these latter days.

ABOUT THOMAS BOSTON

Thomas Boston was born in 1676, in the midst of the “killing times” in Scotland, when the English King and his myrmidons in Scotland hunted down and persecuted the Covenanters. Thomas was born in the tiny parish of Duns in Berwickshire, in the Scottish borders, an area known for turbulence and rebellion. Thomas’s father John was a cooper by trade and a strict Presbyterian by conviction. Agents of the Crown arrested him for not conforming to the government’s demands regarding worship. Thomas remembered in his later years, visiting his father in prison. After the Act of Toleration in 1687, the Bostons began travelling to Whitsome, about four miles from their home, to hear Henry Erskine preach. Young Thomas was “spiritually awakened” at the age of eleven, after hearing preaching on John 1:29 and Matthew 3:7. He “loved reading the Bible” and began a lifelong study of Latin and Greek, to which in later years he added Hebrew.

Boston attended Edinburgh University in the early 1690s and moved on to a theological education. After only one year, financial restraints compelled him to take a tutoring position, where his spare time was spent studying the Scriptures. Boston was licensed to preach in the Church of Scotland at the age of 22. His memoirs indicate he was a man of intense and constant prayer and a preacher of uncommon zeal. He served only two pastorates in his lifetime, Simprin and Ettrick, both in the Scottish borders.

Church historians have classified Boston as one of the great preachers of his age, though he labored in rural, relatively obscure parishes. He kept a diary for many years and his memoirs have been kept in print by Banner of Truth; he wrote out his sermons; a twelve volume collection was published in 1849. Several books he wrote became Christian classics and have never been out of print. Twentieth century historian and theologian J. I. Packer, considers Boston and Jonathan Edwards the last of the Puritans, “prolonging into the eighteenth century of pure Puritanism,” though one was Scottish and one American. Boston, according to Packer:

“…exhibited “a dazzling mastery of the text and teaching of the Bible; a profound knowledge of the human heart; great thoroughness and clarity in exposition; great skill in applicatory searching of the conscience; and a pervasive sense of the wonder and glory of God’s grace in Christ to such perverse sinners as ourselves.”

Boston served only two pastorates in his lifetime — Simprin and Ettrick, both in the Scottish borders

In Boston’s first call to the church in Simprin was the formative period of his life. “It was in the quiet of that secluded charge, and in the exercise of his calling among his ‘flock’ . . . that he first formed those habits of public work and private study from which he never deviated till the end.” That powerful and gifted preacher gave his all, regardless of the size of the congregation. He preached every week, held prayer and praise meetings in his home every Tuesday, catechized all over the parish and visited his family. When he accepted the call to the much larger parish of Ettrick, he did not deviate from his ministerial pattern. The new congregation, however, was “full of pride, self-assurance, and conceit.” The pulpit had been empty for four years and “the people had grown careless.” Through many hardships he persevered with very direct and convicting sermons to a congregation that began with under a hundred attendees, till at the end of his life had grown to over eight hundred.

Boston did not back down from confronting doctrinal compromise in the larger church, taking unpopular positions on theological issues of the day. His role in the so-called “Marrow Controversy” still resonates in some reformed churches today. He was criticized for too much enthusiasm in preaching and in pressing “heart religion” on his auditors. Dead orthodoxy had no place in Boston’s ministry. Today, Thomas Boston is probably best known for his work entitled Human Nature in Its Four-fold State, and The Crook in the Lot, concerning the suffering and setbacks in the Christian life. The Memoirs of Thomas Boston tell the profound story of a humble and devout pastor whose thirty-two years of ministry have blessed generations of Christians ever since. He died May 20, 1732.

Source: landmarkevents.org/the-death-of-thomas-boston-1732/

QUOTES BY THOMAS BOSTON

AS THE CROOK IN YOUR LOT

“As to the crook in your lot, God has made it; and it must continue while He will have it so. Should you ply your utmost force to even it, or make it straight, your attempt will be vain: it will not change for all you can do. Only He who made it can mend it, or make it straight.” —Thomas Boston, The Crook in the Lot; or, The sovereignty and wisdom of God displayed in the afflictions of men."

- Thomas Boston (1676-1732) Scottish Presbyterian Church leader, Theologian 

LET THE MANTLE OF WORLDLY ENJOYMENTS HANG LOOSE AROUND YOU

"Let the mantle of worldly enjoyments hang loose about you, that it may be easily dropped when death comes to carry you into another world."

- Thomas Boston (1676-1732) Scottish Presbyterian Church leader, Theologian 

BY THE COUNSEL AND APPOINTMENT OF HEAVEN

"Has God decreed all things that come to pass? Then there is nothing that falls out by chance, nor are we to ascribe what we meet with either to good or ill luck and fortune. There are many events in the world which men look upon as mere accidents, yet all these come by the counsel and appointment of Heaven."

- Thomas Boston (1676-1732) Scottish Presbyterian Church leader, Theologian 

SAVING FAITH IS THE SPECIAL GIFT OF GOD

"Saving faith is the special gift of God to the elect, wrought in them by his Spirit."

- Thomas Boston (1676-1732) Scottish Presbyterian Church leader, Theologian 

THE DECREES OF ARE GOD A VAST OCEAN

"It is our duty to look to God's commands—and not to His eternal decrees. We are to look our own duty—and not to His hidden purposes. The decrees of God are a vast ocean, into which many possibly have curiously pried to their own horror and despair—but few or none have ever pried into them to their own profit and satisfaction."

- Thomas Boston (1676-1732) Scottish Presbyterian Church leader, Theologian 

AS FISH IN THE WATER LOVE DEEP PLACES

"As fish in the water love deep places and wells and are most frequently found there, so wicked men have a great love to carnal security and have no will to strive against the stream. Fish love deep places best where there is least noise. Oh, how careful are natural men to keep all quiet, that there may be nothing to disturb them in their rest in sin! They love to be secure which is their destruction. O my soul, beware of carnal security, of being secure, though plunged over head and ears in sin."

- Thomas Boston (1676-1732) Scottish Presbyterian Church leader, Theologian 

NON CAN COMPREHEND ETERNITY 

"Yes, from the mountain of eternity we shall look down, and behold the whole plain spread before us. Down here we get lost and confused in the devious valleys that run off from the rdots of the hills everywhere, and we cannot make out where the streams are going, and what there is behind that low shoulder of the hill yonder. But when we get to the summit peak and look down, it will all shape itself into one consistent whole, and we shall see it all at once. None can comprehend eternity but the eternal God."

- Thomas Boston (1676-1732) Scottish Presbyterian Church leader, Theologian

(Reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers - 1895)

THOMAS BOSTON BOOKS AND SERMONS

• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: The Crook in the Lot (HTML at iclnet.org)
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732, ed.: The Marrow of Modern Divinity (Edinburgh: J. Boyd, 1828), by Edward Fisher (multiple formats at Google)
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: Memoirs of the Life, Time, and Writings of the Reverend and Learned Thomas Boston (HTML at iclnet.org)
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: A collection on sermons ... preached ... on several occasions, particularllly fast-days ... (Edinburgh, J. Gray, 1772) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: The crook in the lot. (New York, Robert Carter., 1842) 
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: The crook in the lot; (London, the Religious tract society, 183-), also by Religious Tract Society (Great Britain) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: The crook in the lot : or, A display of the sovereignty and wisdom of God in the afflictions of men, and the Christian's deportment under them / (New York : Robert Carter & Brothers, 1852) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: The crook in the lot, or A display of the sovereignty and wisdom of God in the afflictions of men, and the Christian's deportment under them. (New York, R. Carter & Brothers, 1851) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: The crook in the lot, or, A display of the sovereignty and wisdom of God in the afflictions of men, and the Christian's deportment under them / (New York : Robert Carter, 1848) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: The crook in the lot; or The sovereignty and wisdom of God, in the afflictions of men displayed; together with a Christian deportment under them. Being the substance of several sermons on Eccl. VII. 13, Prov. XVI.19, and I Pet. v. 6. (Philadelphia, D. Hogan, 1811) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: The distinguishing characters of true believers ... : in several practical discourses, largely handled, and excellently calculated to promote the comfort and direction of Christians, and the advantage of human society / (Falkirk : Printed by Patrick Mair, 1791) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: The everlasting espousals : being a sermon preached at the administration of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, August, 1714 / (Troy : Henry Fero, 1812) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: An explication of the first part of the Assembly's Shorter catechism ... (Edinburgh, Print. by W. Gray, 1755) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: A general account of my life, (Edinburgh, London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1908), also by George D. Low 
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: Human nature in its four-fold state of primitive integrity ... (Bungay, C. Brightly & co., 1812) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Boston, Thomas, 1677-1732: Human nature in its four-fold state of primitive integrity ... (Philadelphia, Presbyterian board of publication, [18-?]) (page images at HathiTrust)

Source: onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Boston%2C%20Thomas%2C%201677%2D1732

Photo Credit: challies.com/articles/the-puritans-thomas-boston/

ABOUT THOMAS CHALMERS

Thomas Chalmers FRSE (17 March 1780 – 31 May 1847), was a Scottish minister, professor of theology, political economist, and a leader of both the Church of Scotland and of the Free Church of Scotland. He has been called "Scotland's greatest nineteenth-century churchman". 

He served as Vice-president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh from 1835 to 1842.

The New Zealand town of Port Chalmers was named after Chalmers. A bust of Chalmers is on display in the Hall of Heroes of the National Wallace Monument in Stirling. The Thomas Chalmers Centre in Kirkliston is named after him.

He was born at Anstruther in Fife, the son of Elizabeth Hall and John Chalmers, a merchant. 

Age 11 Chalmers attended the University of St Andrews studying mathematics. In January 1799 he was licensed as a preacher of the gospel by the St Andrews presbytery. In May 1803, after attending further courses of lectures at the University of Edinburgh, and acting as assistant to the professor of mathematics at St Andrews, he was ordained as minister of Kilmany, about 9 miles from the university town, where he continued to lecture. Kilmany was a small and predominantly agricultural parish, with a population under 800 in 1811. 

Lecturer and Minister

Chalmers made an issue within the University of St Andrews of the quality of mathematics teaching. It came to involve attacks on John Rotheram, the professor of natural philosophy. His mathematical lectures roused enthusiasm, but they were discontinued by order of the authorities. Chalmers then opened mathematical classes on his own account which attracted many students; at the same time he delivered a course of lectures on chemistry, and ministered to his parish at Kilmany. In 1805 he became a candidate for the vacant professorship of mathematics at the University of Edinburgh, but was unsuccessful. 

In 1815 he became minister of the Tron Church, Glasgow, in spite of determined opposition to him in the town council on the grounds of his evangelical teaching. From Glasgow his reputation as a preacher spread throughout the United Kingdom. When he visited London Samuel Wilberforce wrote, "all the world is wild about Dr Chalmers." At this time he lived at Wellington Place in Glasgow. 

In November 1817 Chalmers used a memorial sermon for Princess Charlotte of Wales to appeal for a Christian effort to deal with the social condition of Glasgow. His parish contained about 11,000 persons, and of these about one-third were not connected with any church. He considered that parochial organizations had not kept pace in the city with the growing population. He declared that twenty new churches, with parishes, should be erected in Glasgow; and he set to work to revive the old parochial economy of Scotland. The town council agreed to build one new church, attaching to it a parish of 10,000 persons, mostly weavers, labourers and factory workers, and this church was offered to Chalmers. 

In September 1819 he became minister of the church and parish of St John, where of 2000 families more than 800 had no connection with any Christian church. He first addressed himself to providing schools for the children. Two school-houses with four endowed teachers were established, where 700 children were taught, at moderate fees. Between 40 and 50 local Sabbath schools were opened, where more than 1000 children were taught. The parish was divided into 25 districts with 60 to 100 families. Chalmers was the centre of the whole system, visiting families and holding evening meetings. 

Moral Philosopher and Theologian

St. Andrew's Church, Edinburgh, scene of the Disruption

In 1823 Chalmers accepted the chair of moral philosophy at the University of St Andrews, the seventh academic offer made to him during his eight years in Glasgow. His lectures led some students to devote themselves to missionary effort. Among his pupils were William Lindsay Alexander, Alexander Duff, and James Aitken Wylie. At this period Robert Morrison and Joshua Marshman visited St Andrews. 

In November 1828 Chalmers was transferred to the chair of theology at the University of Edinburgh. He then introduced the practice of following the lecture with a viva voce examination on what had been delivered. He also introduced text-books. 

Chalmers' townhouse on the Moray Estate, 3 Forres Street, Edinburgh

In 1834 Chalmers was elected fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and in the same year he became corresponding member of the Institute of France; in 1835 Oxford conferred on him the degree of DCL. At this time he was living at 3 Forres Street on the Moray Estate in the west end of Edinburgh. 

In 1834 he became leader of the evangelical section of the Scottish Church in the General Assembly. He was appointed chairman of a committee for church extension, and in that capacity made a tour through a large part of Scotland, addressing presbyteries and holding public meetings. He also issued numerous appeals, with the result that in 1841, when he resigned his office as convener of the church extension committee, he was able to announce that in seven years upwards of £300,000 had been contributed, and 220 new churches had been built. His efforts to induce the Whig government to assist in this effort were unsuccessful. 

In 1840 Chalmers was unsuccessful in applying for the chair of divinity at the University of Glasgow. It went to the Moderate Alexander Hill. 

Non-intrusionism and the Free Church

Chalmers found himself at the head of the party in the Church of Scotland which stood for "non-intrusionism": the principle that no minister should be intruded into any parish contrary to the will of the congregation. Cases of conflict between the church and the civil power arose in Auchterarder, Dunkeld and Marnoch. The courts made it clear that the Church, in their opinion, held its temporalities on condition of rendering such obedience as the courts required. The Church then appealed to the government for relief. In political manoeuvres with Westminster politicians, Chalmers was opposed by John Hope. 

In January 1843 the government put a final negative on the church's claims for spiritual independence. The non-intrusionist movement ended in the Disruption: on 18 May 1843, 470 clergy withdrew from the general assembly and constituted themselves the Free Church of Scotland, with Chalmers as moderator. He had prepared a sustentation fund scheme for the support of the seceding ministers. 

In 1844, Chalmers announced a church extension campaign, for new building. In 1846 he became the first principal of the Divinity Hall of the Free Church of Scotland, as it was initially called. 

Later in life he was quoted as saying: "Who cares about the Free Church compared with the Christian good of the people of Scotland? Who cares for any Church, but as an instrument of Christian good?" 

Death

On 28 May 1847 Chalmers returned to his house at Church Hill in Morningside, near Edinburgh, from a journey to London on the subject of national education. On the following day (Saturday) he was employed in preparing a report to the General Assembly of the Free Church, then sitting. On Sunday, the 30th, he continued in his usual health and spirits, and retired to rest with the intention of rising at an early hour to finish his report. The next morning he did not make his appearance, and he was discovered lying dead in bed.  

Source: wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Chalmers

QUOTES BY THOMAS CHALMERS

I WANT OT GIVE MYSELF UP IN ABSOLUTE RESIGNATION TO GOD

"I want to feel my own nothingness, I want to give myself up in absolute resignation to God, to lie prostrate and passive at His feet, with no other disposition in my heart than that of merging my will into His will, and no other language in my mouth than that of prayer for the perfecting of His strength in my weakness."

- Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) Scottish Minister, Theologian, Missionary

WITH THE  THE MAGNIFICENCE OF ETERNITY

"With the magnificence of eternity before us, let time, with all its fluctuations, dwindle into its own littleness."

- Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) Scottish Minister, Theologian, Missionary

THE BIBLE IS LIKE A WIDE AND BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE

"The Bible is like a wide and beautiful landscape seen afar off, dim and confused; but a good telescope will bring it near, and spread out all its rocks and trees and flowers and v__ulant fields and winding rivers at one's very feet. That telescope is the Spirit's teaching."

- Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) Scottish Minister, Theologian, Missionary

THOMAS CHALMERS BOOKS AND SERMONS

Chalmers's academic years resulted in a prolific literature of various kinds: his writings fill more than 30 volumes. Contemporaries regarded him highly as a natural theologian. A series of sermons on the relation between the discoveries of astronomy and the Christian revelation was published in January 1817, and within a year nine editions and 20,000 copies were in circulation. 

• Chalmers, Thomas, 1780-1847, contrib.: "The Time of the End": A Prophetic Period, Developing, As Predicted, an Increase of Knowledge Respecting the Prophecies and Periods that Foretell the End (Boston, J. P. Jewett and Co.; et al., 1856), also contrib. by E. B. Elliott, John Cumming, Edward Hitchcock, and John Wesley
  • multiple formats at archive.org
• Chalmers, Thomas, 1780-1847: [Works : Vol. I.-XXV]. (Edinburgh : Published for Thomas Constable by Sutherland and Knox, 1848) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Chalmers, Thomas, 1780-1847: The application of Christianity to the commercial and ordinary affairs of life : in a series of discourses / (Boston : Samuel T. Armstrong ; Crocker & Brewster, 1821) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Chalmers, Thomas, 1780-1847: The application of Christianity to the commercial and ordinary affairs of life, : in a series of discourses. / (Glasgow: : Printed by James Starke ... for Chalmers & Collins, Glasgow; A. Constable & Co.; W. Blackwood; W. Whyte & Co.; Oliver & Boyd ... [and 5 others in Edinburgh and 9 others in London], 1820) 
• Chalmers, Thomas, 1780-1847: The application of Christianity to the commercial and ordinary affairs of life, in a series of discourses. (New York, S. Campbell & Sons, 1821) 
• Chalmers, Thomas, 1780-1847: The application of Christianity to the commercial and ordinary affairs of life, in a series of discourses. (Hartford, O. D. Cooke, 1821) 
• Chalmers, Thomas, 1780-1847: Astronomical and commercial discourses / (New York : Robert Carter, 1880) (page images at HathiTrust)
• Chalmers, Thomas, 1780-1847: The Atonement; being five discourses, (New York, American tract society, [1840?]), also by Charles Thomas Baring, John Maclaurin Dreghorn, Robert Hall, and William Archer Butler (page images at HathiTrust)

Source: onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Chalmers%2C%20Thomas%2C%201780%2D1847

Photo Credit: wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Chalmers

ABOUT THOMAS FULLER

 Thomas Fuller(1608- 1661) was an English clergyman and historian. He was born at Aldwinkle St Peter’s in Northamptonshire and educated at Queens’ and Sidney Sussex colleges, Cambridge. He became rector of Broadwindsor, Dorset, in 1634, and shortly before the Civil War was made a preacher at the Savoy. on 11 June 1635, he achieved the degree of Bachelor of Divinity from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. A moderate Royalist, he followed the war as chaplain to Sir Ralph Hopton (bap. 1596, d. 1652) and during his travels conceived the idea of a more exact collection’ of the worthies of England. After the Restoration, he became ‘chaplain in extraordinary’ to the king.

He published Thomas Fuller(1608- 1661) (i.e. of the Crusades) in 1639; The Holy State and the Profane State in 1642, Good Thoughts in Bad Times in 1645 (followed by two sequels); A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, a topographical and historical work, in 1650. His work The Church-History of Britain; with the History of the University of Cambridge (1655), covers from the birth of Christ to the execution of Charles I. The History of the Worthies of England, his best-known and most characteristic work, appeared after his death in 1662 and was the fruit of much research; in his own words, ‘My pains have been scattered all over the land, by riding, writing, going, sending, chiding, begging, praying, and sometimes paying too, to procure manuscript material.’

Charles Lamb referred to him as ‘the dear, fine, silly, old angel’, and he was much admired by S. T. Coleridge. His writings are marked by a lively and eccentric curiosity, by ‘fantastic caprices’ (Leslie Stephen), and by a fondness for aphorisms.

Source: literaryocean.com/thomas-fuller1608-1661-biography-and-famous-works/

Death

In the summer of 1661 Fuller visited the West in connection with the business of his prebend, which had been restored to him. On Sunday 12 August, while preaching at the Savoy, he was seized with typhus fever, and died at his new lodgings in Covent Garden on 16 August. He was buried in St Dunstan's Church, Cranford, Middlesex (of which he was rector). A mural tablet was afterwards set up on the north side of the chancel, with an epitaph which contains a conceit worthy of his own pen, to the effect that while he was endeavouring (i.e. in the Worthies) to give immortality to others, he himself attained it.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Fuller

QUOTES BY THOMAS FULLER

HISTORY MAKETH A YOUNG MAN TO BE OLD

"History maketh a young man to be old, without wrinkles or gray hairs, privileging him with the experience of age, without either the infirmities or inconveniences thereof."

- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English Churchman, Historian 

THAT WE HOPE TO BE WITH IN ETERNITY

"It the best to be with those in time, that we hope to be within eternity."

- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English Churchman, Historian 

LET US STOP THE PROGRESS OF SIN

"Let us stop the progress of sin in our soul at the first stage, for the farther it goes the faster it will increase." 

- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English Churchman and Historian

IF PRESEVERVED FORM THE GALLOWS 

"Disobedient children, if preserved from the gallows, are reserved for the rack, to be tortured by their own posterity. One complaining, that never father had so undutiful a child as he had, yes, said his son, with less grace than truth, my grandfather had." 

- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English Churchman, Historian 

HE THAT FALLS INTO SIN IS A MAN

"He that falls into sin is a man, that grieves at it is a saint, that boasteth of it is a devil; yet some glory in that shame, counting the stains of sin the best complexion of their souls."

- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English Churchman, Historian 

TIME MISSPENT IS NOT LIVED, BUT LOST    

"He lives long that lives well; and time misspent is not lived, but lost. God is better than his promise if he takes from him a long lease, and gives him a free hold of a better value."    

- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English Churchman, Historian 

THERE IS MENTION OF A SWORD TURNING EVERY WAY

"There is mention of a sword turning every way: parallel whereto is the Word of God in a wounded conscience. Man's heart is full of windings, turnings, and doublings, to shift and shun the stroke thereof, if possible: but this sword meets them wheresoever they move; it fetches and finds them out; it haunts and hunts them, forbidding them, during their agony, any entrance into the paradise of one comfortable thought."

Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English Churchman, Historian 

HE OVERTURNED THE MONEY TABLE  

"When our Savior drove the sheep and oxen out of the temple, He did not drive them into His own pasture; nor sweep the coin into His own pockets, when He overturned the table of the money-changers."  

- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English Churchman, Historian  

THE TRUELY GENEROUS ARE MOST PLIANT AND COURTEOUS 

"As the sword of the best tempered metal is most flexible, so the truly generous are most pliant and courteous in their behavior to their inferiors."

- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English Churchman, Historian 

LET THY CHILD'S FIRST LESSON  

"Let thy child's first lesson be obedience, and the second may be what thou wilt."  

- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English Churchman, Historian 

IF YOUR DESIRES ARE ENDLESS 

"If your desires be endless, your cares and fears will be so, too."  

- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) English Churchman, Historian  

THOMAS FULLER BOOKS AND SERMONS 

The Life, Times and Writings of Thomas Fuller, the Church Historian (1608-1661); Volume 1

The Church History of Britain : from the birth of Jesus Christ until the year 1648 By Thomas Fuller,

The Holy State.: By Thomas Fuller, B.D. and prebendarie of Sarum.

The Collected Sermons of Thomas Fuller, D.D., 1631-1659 By Thomas Fuller, B.D.

A Collection of Essays and "Characters" By Thomas Fuller, B.D.

Good Thoughts in Bad Times, and other papers. By Thomas Fuller, B.D.

• Fuller, Thomas, 1608-1661: The Church History of Britain, From the Birth of Jesus Christ Until the Year M.DC.XLVIII (new edition, 6 volumes; Oxford: At the University Press, 1845), ed. by J. S. Brewer
  • Volume I: page images at Google
  • Volume II: page images at Google
  • Volume III: page images at Google
  • Volume IV: page images at Google
  • Volume V: page images at Google
  • Volume VI: page images at Google
• Fuller, Thomas, 1608-1661: The History of the Holy War (London: W. Pickering, 1840) 
• Fuller, Thomas, 1608-1661: The History of the Holy Warre (Cambridge, 1640) 

Source: onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Fuller%2C%20Thomas%2C%201608%2D1661

Photo Credit: simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Fuller

ABOUT THOMAS MANTON

Born in Somerset in 1620 from a long line of ministers, Thomas Manton entered the University of Oxford as early as 1635. Such was his progress that he was ordained by Bishop Hall at the age of nineteen.

His first charge was in Stoke Newington, Middlesex, where he remained for seven years. Testimony to his remarkable gifts is found in the pages of his Practical Exposition of James which is based on his weekday lectures there.

Called to succeed Obadiah Sedgwick in the better-known pulpit of Covent Garden in London, his ministry came to be widely appreciated. He served as a chaplain to the Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell, and also as one of the ‘Triers’ responsible for the supervision of the Christian ministry. Yet Manton was firmly opposed to the execution of Charles I, causing considerable offence by preaching before Parliament from Deuteronomy 33:4-5.

Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

Later he was instrumental in the restoration of Charles II and became a Royal Chaplain. But when offered the Deanery of Rochester he chose rather to suffer with his Puritan brethren in the Great Ejection of 1662.

Preaching thereafter in his own home he was imprisoned for his ministry. Such was Manton’s character, however, that when the custodian-in-charge was absent he was given the keys to the gaol.

Manton died in 1677, after a lifetime of rich and practical biblical ministry. The Trust publishes his Works, and his expositions of James, Jude, Psalm 119, and Hebrews 11 (By Faith).

- Source: banneroftruth.org/us/about/banner-authors/thomas-manton/

QUOTES BY THOMAS MANTON

IF A MAN WOULD LEAD A HAPPY LIFE

"If a man would lead a happy life, let him but seek a sure object for his trust, and he shall be safe: "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." He hath laid up his confidence in God, therefore his heart is kept in an equal poise."

- Thomas Manton (1620-1677) English Puritan Clergyman

DESIRES ARE IMPULSES OF THE SOUL  

"Desires are the pulses of the soul;--as physicians judge by the appetite, so may you by desires." 

- Thomas Manton (1620-1677) English Puritan Clergyman

MEDITATION BRINGS PROFIT 

"Continued meditation brings great profit to the soul. Passant and transient thoughts are more pleasant, but not so profitable. Deliberate meditation is of most use because it secures the return of the thoughts." 

- Thomas Manton (1620-1677) English Puritan Clergyman 

THOMAS MANTON BOOKS AND SERMONS 

Mortified Eyes – by Thomas Manton (1620-1677)

God’s Unspeakable Love by Thomas Manton (1620-1677)

An Estimate of Thomas Manton – by J.C. Ryle

Some Memoirs of the Life and Character of the Reverend and Learned Thomas Manton – by Dr. William Harris

The Works of Thomas Manton Volume 1

The Works of Thomas Manton Volume 3

Photo Credit: wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Manton

ABOUT VANCE HAVNER

In every age, God has blessed His church by raising up gifted individuals to serve in unique and effective ways.  Surely, one of the most greatly used individuals of recent years was the late Vance Houston Havner.  Through a preaching and writing ministry that spanned over 70 years, Vance Havner spoke forth the truth of God’s Word in a most effectual manner.  A testimony to his lasting influence is seen in the frequent quoting of Dr. Havner by Christian writers and speakers everywhere.  To this day, many a sermon, book, or magazine article will open with a “Havner-ism,” when the author wishes to arrest his audience’s attention in a positive way.  The influential ministry was a result of an intimate walk with Christ, and serves as a lesson for believers today.

Vance Havner was born October 17, 1901, in the Western North Carolina locality of Jugtown.  Though his ministry eventually took him to major cities throughout America, Dr. Havner maintained a love for the quiet and simple ways of his more rural past.  His academic experience began at Hog Hill, Jugtown’s schoolhouse.  Later, he attended schools such as South Fork Institution, and Boiling Springs High School, which later became Garner-Webb College.  He also attended Catawba College, Wake Forest University, and Moody Bible Institute.

Even though he had exposure to a variety of educational experiences, Vance Havner was largely a self-taught individual.  His family attended the old Corinth Baptist Church, and often-times visiting preachers would stay with the Havner family.  Young Vance enjoyed the theological discussions that would be a part of such visits, and these times were no doubt influential.  But much of Vance Havner’s spiritual development took place as he spent time quietly alone with God.  Vance loved the out-of-doors, and it was in the woods as a boy that he opened his heart to Christ.  His love of God and knowledge of scripture was manifest at a very young age, and as a child he frequently drew pictures of Bible stories that were accompanied by his own handwritten commentary. Reflecting back on his call to ministry, Dr. Havner once said,

“I’ve never known a time when I didn’t want to preach. The desire was always there.”

Dr. Havner’s first pastorate was at the Salem Baptist Church in Weeksville, NC.  While serving at Salem Baptist Church, the first of his 38 books was published, By the Still Waters.  In 1934, Havner went to Charleston, SC to serve as pastor of the First Baptist Church.  Later, he was called to an itinerant ministry of evangelism and conference speaking, and it was in this capacity that his greatest contributions were made.

Havner’s reputation grew as he traveled and spoke in increasingly larger circles.  His influence extended to a national level, but Dr. Havner’s approach was always to minister where God directed, regardless of the size of the church.  His appeal and influence transcended denominational lines, and he spoke to many different groups of people.

In addition to preaching in many of America’s most influential churches, Dr. Havner was a highly sought speaker for conferences at places such as Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.  He frequently spoke at both state and national meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention.  Dr. Havner delivered chapel messages and baccalaureate sermons at colleges such as the Citadel, Columbia Bible College (now Columbia International University), Liberty University, Southeastern Baptist Seminary, and Garner-Webb College.

While speaking at Florida Bible Institute in 1939, Vance Havner met Sara Allred, whom he married in 1940.  She was a dedicated Christian, and faithful helper with her husband’s ministry.  For thirty-three years, Dr. and Mrs. Havner traveled to many meetings together, and their labor yielded much fruit.

Thousands of people made decisions for Christ in revivals and evangelistic services where Vance Havner preached.  Thousands more were impacted through the many books that Vance Havner had opportunity to write.  These included such titles as Why Not Just Be Christians?, Pepper ‘N Salt, Playing Marbles With Diamonds, Hearts Afire, Peace In the Valley, Pleasant Paths, On This Rock I Stand, and many others.  After Mrs. Havner’s death in 1973, Vance Havner wrote Though I Walk Through the Valley, a book which has been a great comfort to many grieving persons.  Dr. Havner lovingly wrote of Sara’s “innumerable ministries as wife, homemaker, and companion.”

Recognition of his contributions to the Christian community came from many sources, but Vance Havner ministered for the glory of God alone.  In 1973, he was named “Preacher of the Year,” by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  Protestant leaders from many denominations called Havner, “The Dean of America’s Revival Preachers.”  His unique sense of humor endeared him to many, and Havner could choose the right words to express a truth like no other communicator.  He was truly gifted with an ability to phrase a thought in such a way, as to drive home a point with absolute effectiveness. During a hospital stay in the late 1970’s, Vance was told by Billy Graham,

“You can’t go home just yet.  We preachers need more sermon material!”

Dr. Havner’s perception and communication skill is evidenced in quotes such as the following:

“We are the salt of the earth, mind you, not the sugar.  Our   ministry is to truly cleanse and not just to change the taste.”

“Too many churches start at eleven o’clock sharp, and end at twelve o’clock dull.”

“Plenty of church members are shaky about what they believe, while not many are shaken by what they believe.”

“Some preachers ought to put more fire into their sermons, or more sermons into the fire.”

“The church is a hospital for sinners, and not a museum  for saints.”

During the 1950’s, Vance Havner was asked his opinion about the Hollywood movies coming out that were based on Biblical themes.  Havner noted the irony of Hollywood putting the Bible on film:

“I’d just as soon hear a gangster lecture on honesty,”

he observed.  When asked about the duties of a minister, Havner once said,

“The preacher is to comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.”

Throughout his ministry, Vance Havner lived and preached that a Christian should should exhibit faithfulness to Jesus in all areas of life.  He taught that the Christian should attend to,

“the outliving of the inliving Christ.”

Havner wrote,

“To some, Christianity is an argument.  To many, it is a performance.  To a few, it is an experience.”

For over 70 years, the church was blessed and challenged by the ministry of Vance Havner.  For the past 29 years, the church has been strengthened by the scholarship ministry which bears Dr. Havner’s name.  The Vance H. Havner Scholarship Fund Inc., and the students who receive scholarships, all share Dr. Havner’s high standards of sound doctrine and loyalty to the local church.  Through the scholarship fund, dedicated laborers are prepared for the work and sent out, intent on fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission.

Though Dr. Havner died in 1986, his influence for Christ continues.  His ministry is a testimony to the way in which God can use one surrendered life to touch countless other lives.  Those persons whose support makes the Scholarship Fund possible are doing the same, by helping surrendered servants to go forth in Jesus’ name.

QUOTES BY VANCE HAVNER

IF GOD HAS BROUGHT YPOU TO THE BACKSIDE OF THE DESERT

"If God has brought you to the backside of the desert, if you are reduced, as it were, to a shepherd's rod, cast even that gladly at his feet and He will restore it to you the rod of God--and with it you shall work wonders in His name so long as you "endure as seeing Him Who is invisible."

- Vance Havner (1901-1986) American Country Preacher

IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, YOU ARE NOT A CITIZEN OF THIS WORLD  

"If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven; you are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world." 

- Vance Havner (1901-1986) American Country Preacher

THE CHURCH IS A HOSPITAL FOR SINNERS

"The church is a hospital for sinners, and not a museum for saints."

- Vance Havner (1901-1986) American Country Preacher

GO FORTH AND SPEAK WITH AUTHORITY  

"It is not that God is stingy and must be coaxed, for He "giveth liberally and upbraideth not." It is that we ourselves are so shallow and sinful that we need to tarry before Him until our restless natures can be stilled and the clamor of outside voices be deadened so that we can hear His voice. Such a state is not easily reached, and the men God uses have paid a price in wrestlings and prevailing prayer. But it is such men who rise from their knees confident of His power and go forth to speak with authority." 

 - Vance Havner (1901-1986) American Country Preacher

EARLY CHRISTIANS CONDEMNED FALSE DOCTRINE 

"The early Christians condemned false doctrine in a way that sounds almost unchristian today."  

- Vance Havner (1901-1986) American Country Preacher

I KNOW THAT SOME ARE ALWAYS STUDYING THE MEANING

"I know that some are always studying the meaning of the fourth toe of the right foot of some beast in prophecy and have never used either foot to go and bring men to Christ. I do not know who the 666 is in Revelation but I know the world is sick, sick, sick and the best way to speed the Lord's return is to win more souls for Him."

- Vance Havner (1901-1986) American Country Preacher

VANCE HAVNER BOOKS AND SERMONS 

Vance Havner Sermons - Sermon Index 

Vance Havner Sermons - PDF Docs 

Vance Havner Sermons - Solid Christian Books 

All the Days 0800708121 

Blood, Bread And Fire: The Christian's Three-Fold Experience 1436698707 

Blood, Bread And Fire: The Christian's Three-Fold Experience 1497546117 

By the Still Waters 1937428613 

Consider Him 1500392944 

Consider Jesus 1937428702 

Consider Jesus and Other Brief Devotionals 0801043069

Day by Day: 366 Devotions 0801042798 

Fourscore: Living Beyond the Promise 0800713079 

Hearts Afire 1499768699 

Hope thou in God 0800709020 

In Tune with Heaven 0801043352 

It Is Time 1499787235 

It Is Toward Evening 1937428923 

Jesus Only 1937428605 

Lord of Whats Left 0801042860 

Messages on Revival 0801042755 

Moments of decision 0800710916 

On This Rock I Stand 0801042968 

Pepper 'n Salt B0007DSO8A 

Playing Marbles With Diamonds and Other Messages for America 0801042909 

Pleasant Paths 0801042682 

Pleasant Paths 1937428745 

Reflections on the Gospels 0875087833 

Repent or Else! 1937428826 

Repent or Else! 1937428826 

Rest Awhile 1499780532 

Rest for the Weary 1500230928 

Road to Revival 1495496287 

Sermon Sparklers: Outlines and Quotes 0801043344 

Song at Twilight 0800706358 

That I May Know Him: A Personal Testimony 1937428869 Book 

The Best of Vance Havner 0801042348 

The Secret of Christian Joy 150011233X 

The Treasury of Vance Havner 0801082854

The Vance Havner devotional treasury: Daily meditations for a year 0801042577

The Vance Havner Notebook 0801043158 

The Vance Havner Quotebook 0801042992 

Though I Walk Through the Valley 0800706544 

Three-score & Ten 0800705785 

Vance Havner, Just a Preacher: Selected messages 0802491421 

When God Breaks Through: Revival Sermons by Vance Havner 0825428734

Why Not Just Be Christians? 1937428516    

Photo Credit: israelmyglory.org/article/advice-from-vance-havner/

ABOUT WARREN WIERSBE

Dr. Warren Wiersbe once described Heaven as “not only a destination, but also a motivation. When you and I are truly motivated by the promise of eternity with God in heaven, it makes a difference in our lives.”

For Wiersbe, the promise of eternity became the motivation for his long ministry as a pastor, author, and radio speaker. Beloved for his biblical insight and practical teaching, he was called “one of the greatest Bible expositors of our generation” by the late Billy Graham.

Warren W. Wiersbe died on May 2, 2019, in Lincoln, Nebraska, just a few weeks shy of his 90th birthday.

“He was a longtime, cherished friend of Moody Bible Institute, a faithful servant of the Word, and a pastor to younger pastors like me,” said Dr. Mark Jobe, president of Moody Bible Institute. “We are lifting up pastor Wiersbe’s family in prayer at this time and rejoicing in the blessed hope that believers share together.”

Wiersbe grew up in East Chicago, Indiana, a town known for its steel mills and hard-working blue-collar families. In his autobiography, he connected some of his earliest childhood memories to Moody Bible Institute; his home church pastor was a 1937 graduate, Dr. William H. Taylor. After volunteering to usher at a 1945 Youth for Christ rally, Wiersbe found himself listening with rapt attention to Billy Graham’s sermon, and responded with a personal prayer of dedication.

In a precocious turn of events, the young Wiersbe was already a published author, having written a book of card tricks for the L. L. Ireland Magic Co. of Chicago. He quickly learned to liven up Sunday school lessons with magic tricks as object lessons (“not the cards!” he would say). After his high school graduation in 1947 (he was valedictorian), he spent a year at Indiana University before transferring to Northern Baptist Seminary in Chicago, where he earned a bachelor of theology degree. His future wife, Betty, worked in the school library, and Wiersbe was a frequent visitor.

While in seminary he became pastor of Central Baptist Church in East Chicago, serving until 1957. During those years he became a popular YFC speaker, which led to a full-time position with Youth for Christ International in Wheaton. He published his first article for Moody Monthly magazine in 1956, about Bible study methods, and seemed to outline his ongoing writing philosophy. “This is more of a personal testimony,” he said, “because I want to share these blessings with you, rather than write some scholarly essay, which I am sure I could not do anyway.”

At a 1957 YFC convention in Winona Lake, Indiana, Wiersbe preached a sermon that was broadcast live over WMBI, his first connection to Moody Radio. “I wish every preacher could have at least six months’ experience as a radio preacher,” he said later (because they would preach shorter).

While working with Youth for Christ, Wiersbe got a call from Pete Gunther at Moody Publishers, asking about possible book projects. First came Byways of Blessing (1961), an adult devotional; then two more books in 1962, A Guidebook for Teens and Teens Triumphant. He would eventually publish 14 titles with Moody, including William Culbertson: A Man of God (1974), Live Like a King (1976), The Annotated Pilgrim’s Progress (1980), and Ministering to the Mourning (2006), written with his son, David Wiersbe.

In 1961, D. B. Eastep invited Wiersbe to join the staff of Calvary Baptist Church in Covington, Kentucky. forming a succession plan that was hastened by Eastep’s sudden death in 1962. Warren and Betty Wiersbe remained at the church for 10 years, until they were surprised by a phone call from The Moody Church. The pastor, Dr. George Sweeting, had just resigned to become president of Moody Bible Institute. Would Wiersbe fill the pulpit, and pray about becoming a candidate?

He was already well known to the Chicago church—and to the MBI community. He continued to write for Moody Monthly and had just started a new column, “Insights for the Pastor.” The monthly feature continued to run during the years Wiersbe served at The Moody Church. Wiersbe would become one of the magazine’s most prolific writers—200 articles during a 40-year span. Meanwhile he also started work on the BE series of exegetical commentaries, books that soon found a place on the shelf of every evangelical pastor.

His ministry to pastors continued as he spoke at Moody Founder’s Week, Pastors’ Conference, and numerous campus events. He also inherited George Sweeting’s role as host of the popular Songs in the Night radio broadcast, produced by Moody Radio’s Bob Neff and distributed on Moody’s growing network of radio stations.

Later in life he would move to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he served as host of the Back to the Bible radio broadcast. He also taught courses on preaching at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary. He kept writing, eventually publishing more than 150 books and losing track of how many (“I can’t remember them all, and I didn’t save copies of everything,” he said.)

Throughout his ministry, Warren Wiersbe described himself as a bridge builder, a reference to his homiletical method of moving “from the world of the Bible to the world of today so that we could get to the other side of glory in Jesus.” As explained by his grandson, Dan Jacobson, “His preferred tools were words, his blueprints were the Scriptures, and his workspace was a self-assembled library.”

Several of Wiersbe’s extended family are Moody alums, including a son, David Wiersbe ’76; grandson Dan Jacobsen ’09 and his wife, Kristin (Shirk) Jacobsen ’09; and great-nephew Ryan Smith, a current student.

Dr. Warren Wiersbe and his son, pastor David Wiersbe, co-authors of Moody Publishers' Ministering to the Mourning.

During his long ministry and writing career, Warren Wiersbe covered pretty much every topic, including the inevitability of death. These words from Ministering to the Mourning offer a fitting tribute to his own ministry:

We who are in Christ know that if He returns before our time comes to die, we shall be privileged to follow Him home. God’s people are always encouraged by that blessed hope. Yet we must still live each day soberly, realizing that we are mortal and that death may come to us at any time. We pray, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Source: moodybible.org/news/global/2019/warren-wiersbe/

QUOTES BY WARREN WIERSBE

JONAH SAW GOD'S WILL AS PUNISHMENT  

"Jonah saw God's will as punishment. Jesus saw God's will as nourishment."   

- Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) American Christian Clergyman

WHEN YOU ARE GOING THROUGH DISTRESS

"Let God enlarge you when you are going through distress. He can do it. You can't do it, and others can't do it for you."

- Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) American Christian Clergyman

THE ATTITUDE THAT THINGS CAN NEVER CHANGE

"Nothing paralyzes our lives like the attitude that things can never change. We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory."

- Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) American Christian Clergyman

THE WORLD'S CORRUPTION IS A RESULT  

"The world's corruption is a result of its defiance."  

- Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019) American Christian Clergyman

WARREN WIERSBE BOOKS BAND SERMONS

Warren Wiersbe Sermons - Sermon Index 

52 workable junior high programs, with Ted W. Engstrom (1960)

Be a real teenager! (1965)

Creative Christian living (1967)

Thoughts for men on the move; strength for the journey (1970)

Be real (1972)

When pastors wonder how, with Howard F. Sugden (1973)

Be successful - 1 Samuel (1973)

Be joyful; a practical study of Philippians (1974)

William Culbertson: a man of God (1974)

Be free : an expository study of Galatians (1975)

Be rich : are you losing the things that money can't buy? : An expository study of the Epistle to the Ephesians (1976)

His name is Wonderful (1976, 1984)

Live like a king : making the Beatitudes work in daily life (1976)

Walking with the giants : a minister's guide to good reading and great preaching (1976)

Treasury of the world's great sermons, compilation (1977)

Be right : an expository study of Romans (1977)

Best of A. W. Tozer : 52 favorite chapters, compilation of works by Aiden Wilson Tozer, 1897-1963 (1978)

5 secrets of living (1978)

Be mature : an expository study of the Epistle of James (1978)

Be ready (1979)

Meet yourself in the parables (1979)

Strategy of Satan : how to detect and defeat him (1979)

Annotated Pilgrim's progress / by John Bunyan ; with helpful notes, essays on the life and times of John Bunyan, and an index to persons and places and what they mean (1980)

Listening to the giants : a guide to good reading and great preaching, with sketches by Amy Van Martin (1980)

Meet your King (1980)

Anthology of Jesus, arranged and selected by Sir James Marchant, edited (1981)

Be complete (1981)

Be faithful : it's always too soon to quit! : an expository study of the Pastoral Epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus (1981)

Be challenged (1982)

Be confident : an expository study of the Epistle to the Hebrews (1982)

Be hopeful (1982)

Listen! Jesus is praying : an expository study of John 17 (1982)

Key Words of the Christian Life (1982)

Be wise : an expository study of 1 Corinthians (1983)

Expository Outlines on the new testament

Making sense of the ministry, with David Wiersbe (1983)

Meet yourself in the Psalms (1983)

Classic sermons on suffering, compilation (1984)

Steps of faith : the NIV New Testament for growing Christians, compilation (1984)

Be alert (1984)

Victorious Christians you should know (1984)

Why us? : when bad things happen to God's people (1984)

Wycliffe handbook of preaching and preachers, with Lloyd M. Perry (1984)

Classic sermons on faith and doubt, compilation (1985)

Be victorious (1985)

Comforting the bereaved, with David W. Wiersbe (1985)

Be Compassionate (1988)

Run with the winners (1985)

Be What You Are (1988)

Be Patient : an Old Testament Study – Job (1991)

With the Word: the chapter by chapter Bible Handbook (1991)

Be Comforted : Feeling Secure in the Arms of God : an Old Testament study Isaiah (1992)

On being a servant of God (1993)

Be Decisive: Taking a Stand for the Truth-Jeremiah (1995)

Be Heroic: Demonstrating Bravery by Your Walk - Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah (1997) Victor Books

Be Obedient: Abraham (2001) Scripture Press

Be God's Guest: Feasts of Leviticus 23, The Good News Broadcasting Association, 1992.

Photo Credit: moodybible.org/news/global/2019/warren-wiersbe/

ABOUT WESLEY L. DUEWEL

Dr. Wesley Duewel invested himself in the cause of missions for more than 70 years. Following ministry in India, he served as president of One Mission Society (OMS). After stepping aside from the presidency of OMS, he served as President Emeritus and Special Assistant to the President for Evangelism and Intercession.

At the encouragement of the OMS Board of trustees, Dr. Duewel incorporated the Duewel Literature Trust and launched a distinguished career as an author. His writings on the Holy Spirit, revival, and soul winning call God’s people back to prayer, the source of all power and passion for ministry. His hundreds of poems and all of his books express his hunger and passion. His articles appeared in many publications, and he edited Revival Magazine, published in 12 languages. His book Touch the World through Prayer, published in 1986, is now in its 32nd printing. Later books, Let God Guide You Daily, Ablaze for God, Mighty Prevailing Prayer, Measure Your Life, Revival Fire, God’s Power Is for You, More God, More Power and Heroes of the Holy Life are also widely acclaimed. More than 2.5 million copies of his books are now in circulation in 58 languages or national editions around the world. International editions continue to be published, especially in India and China.

Recognized as an authority on missions, Dr. Duewel served on the board of directors and as president of the Evangelical Foreign Missions Association (now Missio Nexus), on the North American Board of the World Evangelical Fellowship, on the board of the National Association of Evangelicals, and as a lifetime trustee of Asbury Theological Seminary. In September 2007, The Mission Exchange (formerly Evangelical Foreign Missions Association-now Missio Nexus) honored him with their first-ever Lifetime of Service Award. Also, during his years in India, he followed closely the development of postwar independent India. He was prominent in leadership of the North India Christian Literature Society, as well as the Bible Society of India. He helped pioneer the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) and, for a time, served as its President. In October 2009, the EFI presented him with the “Lifetime Service Award in recognition of his servant leadership exemplified to the Body of Christ and faithful contribution to the Church and Mission in India.”

Dr. Duewel held the earned degree of Doctor of Education from the University of Cincinnati and was awarded with an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Taylor University. He was a much appreciated speaker, ministering in more than 45 countries throughout his lifetime. In March 2016, just three months short of his 100th birthday, God called Dr. Duewel to his heavenly reward.

https:duewelliteraturetrust.org/dr-wesley-duewel/

QUOTES BY WESLEY L. DUEWEL

FREEDOM TO APPROACH HIM AT ANY TIME

"The greatest privilege God gives to you is the freedom to approach Him at any time."

- Wesley L. Duewel (1916-2016) Missionary to India 

PRAYERS PRAYED IN THE SPIRIT WILL NEVER DIE

"Prayers prayed in the Spirit never die until they accomplish God's intended purpose. His answer may not be what we expected, or when we expected it, but God often provides much more abundantly than we could think or ask. He interprets our intent and either answers or stores up our prayers. Sincere prayers are never lost. Energy, time, love, and longing can be endowments that will never be wasted or go unrewarded."

- Wesley L. Duewel (1916-2016) Missionary to India 

GOD WAITS FOR YOU TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM

"God waits for you to communicate with Him. You have instant, direct access to God. God loves mankind so much, and in a very special sense His children, that He has made Himself available to you at all times."

- Wesley L. Duewel (1916-2016) Missionary to India

THE GREATEST PRIVILEDGE GOD GIVES YOU

"The greatest privilege God gives to you is the freedom to approach Him at any time."

- Wesley L. Duewel (1916-2016) Missionary to India 

IF GOD'S PEOPLE HUNGER DEEPLY ENOUGH

"If God's people hunger deeply enough, God will hear and send revival. God requires more than casual prayers for revival. He wants His people to hunger and thirst for His mighty working. To seek God's face is far more than occasionally mentioning revival in our prayer. It involves repeated and prolonged prayer. It requires holy determination in prayer, examining ourselves to see if anything in our lives is hindering God."

- Wesley L. Duewel (1916-2016) Missionary to India 

REAP THE HARVEST OF GOD'S DESIRES

"Prayer is the only adequate way to multiply our efforts fast enough to reap the harvest God desires."

- Wesley L. Duewel (1916-2016) Missionary to India 

HOLY SPIRIT IS READY TO ENCOURAGE

"Prayer has mighty power to move mountains because the Holy Spirit is ready both to encourage our praying and to remove the mountains hindering us."

- Wesley L. Duewel (1916-2016) Missionary to India 

PRAYER IS YOUR WAY, OFTEN THE ONLY WAY

"Prayer is your way, often the only way, to water the harvest. By prayer you can bring the Holy Spirit's blessing on any gospel effort anywhere in the world."

- Wesley L. Duewel (1916-2016) Missionary to India

UNUSAL POWER IN UNITED PRAYER

"There is unusual power in united prayer. God has planned for His people to join together in prayer, not only for Christian fellowship, spiritual nurture, and growth, but also for accomplishing His divine purposes and reaching His chosen goals."

- Wesley L. Duewel (1916-2016) Missionary to India

FAITH THROUGH GOD'S WORD

"Faith comes through God's Word and through praise. Faith grows as you praise the Lord."
- Wesley L. Duewel (1916-2016) Missionary to India 

FASTING IN THE BIBLICAL SENSE IS CHOOSING

"Fasting in the Biblical sense is choosing not to partake of food because your spiritual hunger is so deep, you determination in intercession so intense, or your spiritual warfare so demanding that you have temporarily set aside even fleshly needs to give yourself to prayer and meditation."  

- Wesley L. Duewel (1916-2016) Missionary to India 

WESLEY L. DUEWEL BOOKS AND SERMONS 

Wesley L. Duewel Sermons - Sermon Index 

Revival Fire Audiobook By Wesley L. Duewel cover art

Mighty Prevailing Prayer Audiobook By Wesley L. Duewel

Ablaze for God Audiobook By Wesley L. Duewel, Robert E. Coleman 

Photo Credit: duewelliteraturetrust.org/dr-wesley-duewel/

ABOUT WILLIAM BOOTH

William Booth (April 10, 1829 - August 20, 1912) was the founder and 1st General (1878-1912) of The Salvation Army.

He was born in Sneinton, Nottingham, England, the only son of four surviving children born to Samuel Booth (1775-1832) and Mary Moss (1794-1875). His father was wealthy, but lost his money to bad investments and left his widow and children poor.

At age 13, William was apprenticed to a pawnbroker's shop to help support his mother and sisters. In 1845, he was born again of the spirit. He read extensively and trained himself in writing and in speech, becoming a Methodist lay preacher. He moved to London in 1849, regularly sending a portion of his wages from the pawnbroker home to his mother.

He also continued his lay preaching. In 1852, he became a licensed minister and travelled whenever he could, evangelising in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Cornwall and Wales.

William Booth and Catherine Mumford were married June 16, 1855 at Stockwell Green Congregational Church in London. She became his helpmate in his ministries, and was an ardent preacher herself, until she died in 1890. They had eight children: Bramwell Booth, Ballington Booth, Kate Booth, Emma Booth, Herbert Booth, Marie Booth, Evangeline Booth and Lucy Booth.

Though he became a prominent Methodist evangelist, he was unhappy with the ministries of the church. He wanted to reach out to the poor and desperate souls who were being shunned as lowly creatures. Believing the Methodists had become too middle class and snobbish, he became an independent evangelist in 1861. His doctrine remained much the same, though. He preached that eternal punishment was the fate of the unsaved and the necessity of repentance and the promise of holiness, manifesting itself in a life of love for God and mankind. Eventually, the Booth's children became involved in the ministry.

In 1865, he and Catherine opened The Christian Revival Society, and later changed its name to The Christian Mission, in the East End of London, where they held meetings every evening and on Sundays, to offer repentance, Salvation and Christian ethics to the poorest and most needy, including alcoholic criminals and prostitutes.

He and his followers practiced what they preached. They performed self-sacrificing Christian and social work, such as opening "Food for the Million" shops (soup kitchens), not caring if they were scoffed at or derided for their Christian ministry work.

Deciding there was a need for revitalisation, William Booth changed the name of the church in 1878 to The Salvation Army, modelling it after the military, with its own flag (or colours) and its own music. He and the other soldiers in God's Army would wear the Army's own uniform, 'putting on the armour,' for meetings and ministry work. He became the General and his other ministers were given appropriate ranks as officers.

Though the early years were lean ones, with the need of money to help the needy an ever growing issue, the General and The Salvation Army persevered. In the early 1880s, operations were extended to other countries, notably the USA and India.

During his lifetime, the General established Army work in 58 countries and colonies, travelling extensively and holding salvation meetings.

General Booth regularly published a magazine and was the author of a number of books; he also composed several songs. His book In Darkest England and the Way Out not only became a bestseller after its 1890 release, it set the foundation for the Army's modern social welfare schemes.

The book speaks of abolishing vice and poverty by establishing homes for the homeless, farm communities where the urban poor can be trained in agriculture, training centres for prospective emigrants, homes for fallen women and released prisoners, aid for the poor, and help for alcoholics. He also lays down schemes for poor men's lawyers, banks, clinics, industrial schools and even a seaside resort. He says that if the state fails to meet its social obligations it will be the task of each Christian to step into the breach. In Darkest England and the Way Out was reprinted in 1970.

Opinion of the Army and General Booth eventually changed to that of favour. In his later years, he was received in audience by kings, emperors and presidents, who were among his ardent admirers. Even the mass media began to use his title of 'General' with reverence.

General Booth explained, 'Salvationism means simply the overcoming and banishing from the earth of wickedness.' His mission was to win the world for Jesus. The Salvation Army was a classic 'ultra-revivalist movement,' preaching repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the means of forgiveness and regeneration.

General William Booth died at age 83 in Hadley Wood, London. He is interred with his wife in Abney Park Cemetery, London.

Source: thelatinlibrary.com/chron/civilwarnotes/boothw.html

QUOTES BY WILLIAM BOOTH

IF I THOUGHT IC OULD WIN ONE MORE SOUL

"If I thought I could win one more soul to the Lord by walking on my head and playing the tambourine with my toes, I'd learn how!"

- William Booth (1829-1912) Founder, Salvation Army

NOT CALLED! DID YOU SAY?    

'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world."    

- William Booth (1829-1912) Founder, Salvation Army

I AM NOT WAITING FOR A MOVE OF GOD

"I am not waiting for a move of God, I am a move of God!"

- William Booth (1829-1912) Founder, Salvation Army

THE TENDANCY OF FIRE IS TO GO OUT

"The tendency of fire is to go out; watch the fire on the altar of your heart. Anyone who has tended a fireplace fire knows that it needs to be stirred up occasionally."

- William Booth (1829-1912) Founder, Salvation Army

YOU CANNOT WARM THE HEARTS

"You cannot warm the hearts of people with God's love if they have an empty stomach and cold feet."

- William Booth (1829-1912) Founder, Salvation Army

MOST CHRISTIANS WOULD LIKE TO SEND 

"Most Christians would like to send their recruits to Bible college for five years. I would like to send them to hell for five minutes. That would do more than anything else to prepare them for a lifetime of compassionate ministry."

- William Booth (1829-1912) Founder, Salvation Army

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE FUTURE

"If you want to change the future, then you are going to have to trouble the present."

- William Booth (1829-1912) Founder, Salvation Army

WORK AS IF EVERYTHING DEPENDED

"Work as if everything depended upon work and pray as if everything depended upon prayer."

- William Booth (1829-1912) Founder, Salvation Army

YOU MUST PRAY WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT

"You must pray with all your might. That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God. This kind of prayer be sure the devil and the world and your own indolent, unbelieving nature will oppose. They will pour water on this flame."

- William Booth (1829-1912) Founder, Salvation Army 

THERE ARE MEN SO INCORRIGIBLY LAZY  

"There are men so incorrigibly lazy that no inducement that you can offer will tempt them to work; so eaten up by vice that virtue is abhorrent to them, and so inveterately dishonest that theft is to them a master passion. When a human being has reached that stage, there is only one course that can be rationally pursued. Sorrowfully, but remorselessly, it must be recognized that he has become lunatic, morally demented, incapable of self-government, and that upon him, therefore, must be passed the sentence of permanent seclusion from a world in which he is not fit to be at large."  

- William Booth (1829-1912) Founder, Salvation Army

THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FIRE

"There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools as to refuse good bank notes because there are false ones in circulation; and although we see here and there manifestations of what appears to us to be nothing more than mere earthly fire, we none the less prize and value, and seek for the genuine fire which comes from the altar of the Lord."

- William Booth (1829-1912) Founder, Salvation Army

WILLIAM BOOTH BOOKS AND SERMONS

William Booth Sermons -- Sermon Index 

Literature

In Darkest England and the Way Out Diggory Press, ISBN 978-1-84685-377-7

Purity of Heart Diggory Press, ISBN 978-1-84685-376-0

Boundless Salvation: The Shorter Writings of William Booth, Edited by Andrew M. Eason and Roger J. Green. New York: Peter Lang, 2012. ISBN 978-1-4539-0201-1

Sergeant-Major Do-Your-Best of Darkington No. I: Sketches of the Inner Life of a Salvation Army Corps 1906

"Founder Speaks Again" Salvation Army, 1 Dec 1960. ISBN 978-0854120826

Music

O Boundless Salvation (1893)

Send the Fire (1894)

Bless His Name He Sets Me Free, which was set to a popular music-hall song of the time, Champagne Charlie.

Photo Credit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Booth