Lord’s Day, Vol. 11 No. 42
Church’s First Old Paths Conference
God willing, from 13-15 December 2023, the church shall gather for the first “Old Paths Conference”.
Jeremiah 6:16a (KJV) Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls…
The verb “stand” means “stand and stop moving”, in the imperative, a command to the people of God to stand steadfastly in the ways of God as taught in the Scriptures. The second command, “see”, speaks of spiritual sight and discernment to know the godly way by careful examination. The third command, “ask” speaks of inquiring and desiring to seek earnestly what is called the “old paths” alluding to a well-walked way amongst the godly in ages past. For that is the good way, therefore, choose to walk therein. The spiritual benefit is that God’s people who do so shall find rest for their souls. The verb “find” is the fourth and final command in the verse, speaking of God’s peace that resides in the heart of those who stayed upon Him.
As the psalmist who prayed earnestly, let God’s people also pray – Psalm 25:4 (KJV) Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
The prophet Samuel likewise prayed and taught God’s people in Israel – 1 Samuel 12:23 (KJV) Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
This year’s conference theme is “The Godly Heritage of the Puritans”.
SM Houghton in “Sketches from Church History – An Illustrated Account of 20 centuries of Christ’s Power” wrote concerning the English Reformation, “Protestants who believed that the Reformation of the church was not yet complete – they soon came to be termed Puritans – pressed for further change.”
It was the time when the 1611 Authorized Version of the Bible was published. It gradually replaced the Geneva Version in public esteem and is recognised as the best version ever produced in English. This is the King James Bible (KJV) that the church uses for public and private reading and study of the Scriptures.
And for the reformation of religion in England, Scotland and Ireland in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed churches, the English parliament agreed to convene an Assembly of English and Scottish ministers who would combine bring about the desired changes. The meeting place of the Assembly was a large room attached to Westminster Abby, London; hence it is known as the Westminster Assembly. It drew up a Confession of Faith, also a Larger and Shorter Catechism. Some Puritan ministers belonged to the Assembly, for example, Thomas Goodwin of Oxford University and Samuel Rutherford represented Scotland.
In the English-speaking Churches, the Westminster Confession has exercised great influence, and not only among Presbyterians. American Confessions of Faith owe a great debt to the Westminster Assembly. As for the Larger and Shorter Catechism, these too have great influence, especially in the Scottish churches. For many generations the Shorter Catechism was “the real Creed of Scotland as far as the mass of the people was concerned”, and comment has been passed on its striking opening lines, for example by Thomas Carlyle: “The older I grow – and I now stand upon the brink of eternity – the more comes back to me the first sentence in the Catechism which I learned when a child, and the fuller and deeper its meaning becomes: What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever”.
This is the spiritual heritage of the Bible-Presbyterian Church. Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church is a fundamental, Bible-believing church using the KJV. The doctrine of the Church is in accordance with that system commonly called “the Reformed Faith” as expressed in the Confession of Faith as set forth by the historic Westminster Assembly together with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.
More than that, we have the rich spiritual heritage of the writings of these men of God during the time when the continuing Reformation of the church gave her best sons. Books by Puritans appeared in great numbers throughout the 17th Century. As the Puritan period drew to its close Matthew Henry began a Commentary on the Bible which still ranks as one of the most useful ever written.
We shall be studying a short book “Christian Love” by Hugh Binning together. And we shall be taking time to study a short book of the Bible together.
There shall be a collection of Puritan books made available during the conference for participants below cost price to encourage the reading of these books which will be beneficial for our spiritual progress.
Also, God willing, we shall be launching the church’s very own KJV Bible without chapters and verses as a spiritual endeavour for the church to read the Bible in the new year of Grace 2024. It would require good focus and concentration and much prayer to accomplish this profitable spiritual effort to glean the themes and emphasis of the biblical writers as it was first written.
One feature of this conference is that there will be two-night meetings on 13 and 14 December 2023 where we can invite friends and loved ones to join in these meetings.
Let us pray fervently that the church by His grace may be gathered to study His Word so that we may grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of His blessed Name. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee