Big Trip with the Trac

Plain Man's Pathway to Heave

The Plain Man’s Pathway to Heaven, was first published in 1601 and was one of two books given to John Bunyan by his wife, upon his return home from service in the army. It was reported that this book became Bunyan’s second favorite book, the Bible being his favorite after his salvation.

The Plain Man’s Pathway to Heaven is a valuable book, not only as an historical but as theological tour de force, explaining the errors of humanism, the truth of Scripture, and man’s fallibility in interpreting Scripture.

Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven

The Life of David Brainerd, part 2

 The life of David Brainerd, part 2. Here we review the journal he wrote to his sponsors in Scotland and see how, as his mortal life was flickering out, his passion for the glory of God was increasing.

A Plea for Liberty of Conscience

In 1614, a poor Englishman published the earliest comprehensive apologetic for liberty of conscience known to be in print. 

This small book has been updated in grammar, vocabulary, and structure to be easier and more native for 21st century readers.

With nearly 300 footnotes, this is not merely one man's flight of fancy. It is a well written defense of a doctrine too many have lost sight of, drifting into being a disciple of the preacher or of thinking they have no responsibility to the fellowship to which they belong.

Pick up and read!

Leonard Busher's Religion's Peace

Baptists and the Fifth Monarchy

Editor's Preface

The Lord Jesus was clear - His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). Yet Christians have been overly focused on worldly things since Peter tried to stop Jesus from going to the cross. Theonomic Reconstructionists believe Mosaic Law is to be forcibly imposed upon society, apparently oblivious to the covenant structure in Scripture which applies law given within a covenant to those in that covenant. Man does not have the authority to extract laws from a covenant without express warrant from Scripture.

But man tends to make his own rules, trying to redeem culture and make the world ready for Christ's return; putting himself in place of God. Every time this agenda is pursued, men claiming Christ use force of arms to gain support for their cause.

Baptists and our fore-runners have consistently resisted such movements, seeing the overlapping division God has instituted between His kingdom and the state. We participate in state affairs but we do not conflate the state with the spiritual kingdom to which we belong.

Louise Fargo Brown has written one of the best accounts of the political turmoil in 17th century England, with dozens of footnotes per chapter. It is not a difficult read, though it may be difficult to accept for those who think it our charge to claim the culture and country for God.

I think Christians are better prepared to live for Christ in our own time if we have some understanding of how they lived in our history. As the history of Israel was preserved, in part, so we would not sin like they did (1 Corinthians 10).We should be eager to learn from history outside the Bible for the same reason.

It is my prayer that my brothers and sisters in Christ will learn from those who have gone before and walk as wise children in this dark time.

For the kingdom of God and not that of man, I am your fellow sojourner and servant in Christ,

Stuart L. Brogden 

Buy here: Baptists and the Fifth Monarchy

Captive to the Word of God - version 2

Version 2 of my book is now available in Kindle, paperback, and hardback! Changes from version 1 include a correction on a Scripture reference, modification on the use of "church" to describe the assembly of saints, and an additional appendix explaining how law and covenant do not transfer outside the covenant, the New Covenant has a new law. But though law ends as regulation, it continues as revelation and is useful to the saints, as is all of Scripture.

Available in Kindle, Paperback, and Hardback.

Captive to the Word of God

 

From the Reformation to the USA

History from the Reformation to today in the USA. With a warning against Down Grade and an exhortation to walk humbly.

The Origin of the Baptists

 

The Dark Ages

 A message about God's care for His own and their testimonies of Him during the Dark Ages.

The First 500 years

 

How then, shall we live? A look at the ancient saints' lives. Truly in but not of the world.

From chapter 2, volume 1 of John T. Christian's "History of the Baptists." Good encouragement for us in all times. Maybe more so in our current circumstance. If we be in Christ, He is our comfort and fellow saints are given to one another to encourage and care for each other.

A most beautiful and pathetic picture is given by the author of the Epistola ad Diognetum in the early part of the second century. He says:

The Christians are not distinguished from other men by country, by language, nor by civil institutions. For they neither dwell in cities by themselves, nor use a peculiar tongue, nor lead a singular mode of life. They dwell in the Grecian or barbarian cities, as the case may be; they follow the usages of the country in dress, food, and the other affairs of life. Yet they present a wonderful and confessedly paradoxical conduct. They dwell in their own native lands, but as strangers. They take part in all things, as citizens; and they suffer all things, as foreigners. Every foreign country is a fatherland to them, and every native land is a foreign. They marry, like all others; they have children; but they do not cast away their offsprings. They have the table in common, but not wives. They are in the flesh, but do not live after the flesh. They live upon the earth, but are citizens of heaven. They obey the existing laws, and excel the laws by their lives. They love all, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown, and yet they are condemned. They are killed and made alive. They are poor and make many rich. They lack all things, and in all things abound. They are reproached, and glory in their reproaches. They are calumniated, and are justified. They are cursed, and they bless. They receive scorn, and they give honor. They do good, and are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice, as being made alive. By the Jews they are attacked as aliens, and by the Greeks persecuted; and the cause of the enmity their enemies cannot tell. In short, what the soul is to the body, the Christians are in the world. The soul is diffused through all the members of the body, and the Christians are spread through the cities of the world. The soul dwells in the body, but it is not of the body; so the Christians dwell in the world, but are not of the world.

The soul, invisible, keeps watch in the visible body; so also the Christians are seen to live in the world, for their piety is invisible. The flesh hates and wars against the soul; suffering no wrong from it, but because it resists fleshly pleasures; and the world hates the Christians with no reason, but they resist its pleasures. The soul loves the flesh and members, by which it is hated; so the Christians love their haters. The soul is enclosed in the body but holds the body together; so the Christians are detained in the world as in a prison; but they contain the world. Immortal, the soul dwells in the mortal body; so the Christians dwell in the corruptible, but look for incorruption in heaven. The soul is the better for restriction in food and drink; and the Christians increase, though daily punished. This lot God has assigned to the Christians in the world; and it cannot be taken from them (Epist. Ad Diognetum, C. 5 and 6 p.69 sq. Otto. Lips., 1852).