Barrett’s Book Notes: Reformed Confessions, Antinomianism, Samuel Miller, and The Book of Common Prayer

James T. Dennison, ed. Reformed Confessions of the 16^th and 17 Centuries in English Translation. Volume 3: 1567-1599. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2012.

James T. Dennison, ed. Reformed Confessions of the 16^th and 17 Centuries in English Translation. Volume 4: 1600-1693. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014.

I am very excited to see the next two volumes of Dennison’s Reformed Confessions hit the shelf. Vol. 3 provides Reformed readers with a host of confessions that are unfamiliar to the majority of lay people, from the Documents of the Debrecen Synod (1567) to The Stafforts Book (1599). Volume 4, however, includes well-known documents. Here is the contents page:

92. The Points of Difference (1603)

93. Waldensian Confession (1603)

94. Confession of the Synod of Cassel (1607)

95. Hessian Catechism (1607)

96. Confession of the Heidelberg Theologians (1607)

97. The Remonstrance (1610)

98. The Counter Remonstrance (1611)

99. The Bentheim Confession (1613)

100. Confession of the Evangelical Church of Germany (1614)

101. The Confession of John Sigismund (1614)

102. The Irish Articles (1615)

103. Scottish Confession (1616)

104. Seven Articles of the Church of Leiden (1617)

105. The Cannons of Dort (1618–1619)

106. The Confession of Cyril Lukaris (1629)

107. Leipzig Colloquy (1631)

108. The London Baptist Confession (1644)

109. Brief Confession of the Westminster Assembly (1645)

110. The Colloquy of Thorn (1645)

111. The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)

112. The London Confession (1646)

113. Benjamin Cox’s Baptist Appendix (1646)

114. Westminster Larger Catechism (1647)

115. Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647)

116. The Geneva Theses (1649)

117. The Cambridge Platform (1648)

118. The Principles of Faith (1652)

119. A New Confession of Faith (1654)

120. The Midlands Confession (1655)

121. Waldensian Confession (1655)

122. The Somerset Confession (1656)

123. The Savoy Declaration (1658)

124. Waldensian Confession (1662)

125. The Formula Consensus Helvetica (1675)

126. The London Baptist Confession (1677)

127. The Baptist Catechism (1693)

Having written a book on the Synod of Dort and its canons, I am especially pleased to see not only Dort’s canons published, but also the two preceding documents: The Remonstrance (1610) and The Counter Remonstrance (1611).

Additionally, as a Baptist I was pleasantly surprised to see that Dennison included The London Confession (1646), The London Baptist Confession (1677), and The Baptist Catechism (1693), among others. Right now (thanks to Gary Steward bringing it to my attention), my children are memorizing The Baptist Catechism, as sung by Jim Orrick (see his interview with Credo Magazine), and they just love it.

All that to say, this fourth volume is a gem. Get your hands on it. Presbyterians and Baptists alike will benefit greatly from studying these confessions as well as Dennison’s introductions to them.

Mark Jones. Antinomianism: Reformed Theology’s Unwelcome Guest? Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2013.

In light of the recent sanctification debates, Mark Jones’ book is timely. As Michael A.G. Haykin says in his commendation:

“We are living in a deeply encouraging day when the sovereignty of God’s grace is being rediscovered far and wide. But as has happened in the past, when such times of biblical ressourcement have occurred, the error of antinomianism has made its appearance. This new work by Mark Jones is thus a timely tract for the times. It is rich in scriptural argument, illustrations from church history, and vigorous application. May it have a wide reading and even wider heeding!”

Carl Trueman praises Jones’ contribution as well, while simultaneously explaining the crux of the debate:

“The problem of antinomianism is a hardy perennial for the church. A mischievous movement is afoot at the moment—its soaring rhetoric about grace is matched by an equally casual presumption on grace. Mark Jones’s book is thus to be welcomed: it is biblically grounded, historically sensitive, and above all timely. In addition, through his careful attention to the role of Christ in Scripture and to historical Reformed confessional treatments of sanctification, Jones provides a significant supplement to other recent books pleading for a biblical emphasis on personal piety.”

James M. Garretson. An Able and Faithful Ministry: Samuel Miller and the Pastoral Office. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014.

Books continue to roll off the press on Old Princeton (and even a magazine or two, see here). With the revival of New Calvinism there is a renewed interest in Old Calvinism too. James Garretson’s new book on the life and theology of Samuel Miller (1769-1850) contributes to this steady stream of publications. Miller is often forgotten in the Old Princeton lineup. But Garretson brings him front and center, highlighting his publications, sermons, and lectures, and unpacking Miller’s pastoral and theological mind. Gutjahr and Haykin commend Garretson’s work:

“James Garretson has already provided erudite and welcome additions to the history of American pastoral theology with his work on Archibald Alexander. Now he has moved on to look at the life and teaching of another Old Princeton giant, Samuel Miller. Once again, his contribution to antebellum American religious history is remarkable. By contextualizing Miller’s pastoral teaching within his larger life and historical setting, Garretson reveals much to us about why Miller was so hugely influential among Presbyterians (and others) during his lifetime. Miller himself would appreciate Garretson’s emphasis on the practical uses of religious biography and history for contemporary readers. It is a profoundly welcome work on an Old Princeton figure who has received far less attention today than he deserves.”
– Paul Gutjahr, Professor and Chair, Department of English, Indiana University

“For those of us like myself who knew Samuel Miller primarily as a historical author, this book is worth its weight in gold. As James Garretson demonstrates through careful research and pellucid prose, Miller has much to teach moderns when it comes to biblical theology, sermon preparation and delivery, and ministerial character and deportment. All in all, a highly extremely helpful work for anyone concerned about pastoral ministry or seriously considering such a calling.”
– Michael A. G. Haykin, Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Brian Cummings, ed. The Book of Common Prayer: The Texts of 1549, 1559, and 1662 (Oxford World’s Classics). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011.

OUP has released The Book of Common Prayer, as edited by Brian Cummings. This volume is notable because it not only includes a historical introduction by Cummings, but shows the evolution of the TBCP from 1549 to 1559 to 1662. I am not sure I can say it better than OUP:

The words of the Book of Common Prayer have permeated deep into the English language all over the world. For nearly 500 years, and for countless people, it has provided a background fanfare for a marriage or a funeral march at a burial. Yet this familiarity also hides a violent and controversial history. When it was first produced the Book of Common Prayer provoked riots and rebellion, and it was banned before being translated into a host of global languages and adopted as the basis for worship in the USA and elsewhere to the present day.

This edition presents the work in three different states: the first edition of 1549, which brought the Reformation into people’s homes; the Elizabethan prayer book of 1559, familiar to Shakespeare and Milton; and the edition of 1662, which embodies the religious temper of the nation down to modern times.

Also, here is a video interview where Cummings explains the controversial nature of the editions he chose to focus on, as well as the historical background and origins of TBCP.
 

Brian Cummings on The Book of Common Prayer from George Miller on Vimeo.

Matthew Barrett (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Assistant Professor of Christian Studies at California Baptist University, as well as the founder and executive editor of Credo Magazine. Barrett is also Senior Pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church. He is the author and editor of several books, including Salvation by Grace: The Case for Effectual Calling and Regeneration. You can read about Barrett’s other publications at matthewmbarrett.com.