Day 40

Finally got through Webster’s book on Holy Scripture. The final chapters continue with his reflection on the importance of Scripture and the fact that we are all pupils of it.

He quotes from the Geneva Catechism which in answer to the question, ‘How are we to use Scripture in order to profit by it?’ states –

‘By receiving it with the full consent of our conscience, as truth come down from heaven, submitting ourselves to it in right obedience, loving it with a true affection by having it imprinted on our hearts, we may follow it entirely and conform ourselves to it.’

What he was suggesting reminded me of the passage from Deuteronomy 6 that we most often use at services of thanksgiving and dedication –

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Webster also quotes Bonhoeffer – ‘ Holy Scripture is the living voice of God, and that living voice demands an attitude of ready submission and active compliance.’

Webster is also keen to stress that faithful reading of Scripture in the economy of grace is not the work of masters but of pupils in the school of Christ.

The author believes Theology is 'not a set of improvements on Scripture', but is rather 'most properly an invitation to read and reread Scripture, to hear and be caught up by Scripture's challenge to a repentant, non-manipulative heeding of God's Word'.

He ends his book with this prayer of John Calvin –

‘May the Lord grant that we may study the heavenly mysteries of his wisdom, maing true progress in religion to his glory and our upbuilding.’

No Blog for the next 8 days. We are off to the Society of Mary & Martha in Devon to be part of the ‘12000 mile service for ministers’ and also fit in a visit to friends on the way south and a visit to family on the way back north.