Rejoice in the Lord

Dear friend,

Let me begin by asking you, what do you think about the Lord Jesus Christ? Well the Bible makes it clear He is a great and glorious Saviour. He came into this world, that is, He took human nature, in order to save sinners. In 1 Timothy 1: 15 we read, “This is faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Many have no time for this wonderful gospel, they have no desire to hear it, let alone rejoice over it. In contrast however, the true Christian, that is, one who has come to Jesus by way of believing and repented of their sins, loves to hear the gospel over and over again and rejoices in it; for it tells of their wonderful Saviour and Friend.

Oh what a joy it is to know Him, and then further to think, that because of what He has done for me, I will one day see Him and be with Him in heaven above. There in heaven, uninterrupted joys and pleasures are known and enjoyed by those who departed this world at death trusting in the Lord Jesus, however here below, because of sin there is much sorrow and misery. Now there are certain things which bring joy and happiness, for instance; the birth of baby, a wedding, or a family get together, yet we only have to read the newspapers or listen to the news and we are reminded there is much sorrow and misery to be found in this world. However, I tell you of a truth, and by experience, there is much joy to be found in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that you would know the precious Saviour and what it is to rejoice in Him.

Latest online sermons:
The doctrine of the Providence of God (Genesis ch 24 v 27), preached on the evening of Wednesday 14th January 2009
Follow that which is good (3 John v 11), preached on the evening of the Sabbath 25th January 2009
Psalm 117 (Rev. Jeremy Brooks), preached on the morning of the Sabbath 8th February 2009
Psalm 119 (Rev. Jeremy Brooks), preached on the evening of the Sabbath 8th February 2009
Life through Christ (Revelation 1 v 18), preached on the evening of the Sabbath 15th February 2009

Special Meetings at Crosslanes Chapel in 2009

The Lord willing, the following special meetings are planned for 2009:

158th Church Anniversary, May 2nd and 3rd



The Rev. John J. Murray of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) will preach at 6pm on the Saturday and at 11am and 6pm on the Sabbath.




2nd Autumn Preaching Meeting, October 31st and November 1st



The Rev. Dewi Higham, minister of Tabernacle, Cardiff will preach at 6pm on the Saturday and at 11am and 6pm on the Sabbath.


Latest sermon online from Crosslanes Chapel: Giving an invitation (John ch 1 v 45-46), preached on the evening of Wednesday 31st December 2008 by Rev. Aaron Lewis.

Bless the LORD O my soul

On Sabbath mornings at Crosslanes Chapel we are going through Psalm 103.

The first two sermons in the series are available online:

Blessing God for His Favours (verses 1 and 2)
The Forgiveness of sins (verse 3)

Autumn Preaching 2008 Online

The sermons preached by Rev. William Macleod at the first Crosslanes Chapel Autumn Preaching meeting are now available for listening online:

Christ in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22 v 42)
Running the race (Hebrews 12 v 1)
Trusting in the Lord (Ruth 2 v 12)

A selection of psalms that were sung at the meetings is also available: Psalm 146 v 7-10 (Orlington), Psalm 19 v 7-13 (Andrew) and Psalm 22 v 23-27 (Ayrshire).

The latest online sermon by the Rev. Aaron Lewis is The doctrine of God and the Holy Trinity (2).

Autumn Preaching 2008

God willing, the first Autumn Preaching meeting at Crosslanes Chapel will be held at 6pm on Saturday 1st November, at the church.

The preacher will be the Rev. William Macleod, minister of Thornwood (Glasgow) Free Church of Scotland (Continuing).

Refreshments will follow the service.

Rev. Macleod will also preach on the Sabbath (2nd November) at 11am and 6pm.

Edit: the sermon The doctrine of God and the Holy Trinity (1) preached by Rev. Aaron Lewis is now online.

The free offer of the gospel

“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2: 10 -11

My dear friends, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is the most joyful message that has ever been heard in this world, the good news from the far country of heaven is like none other. Now many will agree that the gospel is to be preached to all men, however some will then disagree with what is called the ‘free offer of the gospel’. These men do not believe that Jesus Christ is to be freely offered to the sinner in the gospel. I myself wholeheartedly and unreservedly believe in the free offer of the gospel. Consider for a moment again those words of the angel. “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people". Now if Christ be not freely offered to the sinner as one who is willing and able to save them, how can the gospel be a message of great joy for them personally? The sinner needs to be persuaded that it is a joyful message for them, therefore Christ must be freely and sincerely offered to them.

Ebenezer Erskine was born in Dryland, Scotland, in 1680. In his life he battled hard for, and also passionately wrote on the free Offer of the Gospel. Below is a helpful extract from; ‘The beauties of Ebenezer Erskine’, concerning arguments to urge sinners to Embrace Christ. May the gospel minister, like Ebenezer Erskine, be unashamed of the free offer of the gospel, and urge sinners to embrace Christ in the gospel.

1. Consider the absolute need ye have of this Christ whom we offer unto you. Without Him ye are condemned already; without Him ye are without God in the world; God is angry with you every day; the law and justice of God, like the avenger of blood, is pursuing you. And therefore, O sinners, flee to a Saviour, “Turn ye to your strong-hold, ye prisoners of hope”, Zechariah 9:12.2.

2. Consider the matchless excellency of that Saviour whom we call you to embrace. Angels and men are at an everlasting stand to speak of His worth and glory; He is best known by His own or His Father's testimony concerning Him: and if ye would know the record of God concerning Him, search the Scriptures, for these are they that testify of Him; it is in this glass that “we behold His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”, John 1:14. I despair that ever a sinner will embrace Christ, till there be an up-taking of His personal excellency, as Immanuel God-man. There is a seeing of the Son, which, in order of nature, although not in order of time, goes before the soul's believing in Him, John 6:40.3.

3. Consider the ability and sufficiency of this Saviour whom we call you to embrace. Take the Father's testimony of His ability, Psalm 89:20, “I have laid help upon one that is mighty”. Take His own testimony, Isaiah 63:1, “I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save”. Take the Spirit's testimony, in the mouth of the apostle Paul, Hebrews 7:25, declaring Him “able to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by Him”. Thus ye have the three that bear record in Heaven, attesting the sufficiency of the Saviour. O then, “set to your seal, that God is true, by believing the record that God gives of His Son”, John 3:33; for if ye do not, your unbelief gives the lie unto a whole Trinity, 1 John 5:10,11.4.

4. Consider that this sufficient Saviour is “the sent of God”. This is a designation given to Christ thirty or forty times in the gospel according to John, and the ordinary argument with which Christ persuades sinners to embrace and receive Him. And nothing could have greater influence than this designation, if the weight of it were but duly weighed. O consider in what quality and capacity His Father hath sent Him: shall not God's Ambassador-extraordinary get a hearing among a company of condemned rebels? He is sent as a Redeemer to liberate captives; and shall not captives embrace Him? He is sent as a Surety; and will not bankrupts embrace a cautioner? He is sent as Physician; and will not the wounded and diseased sinner embrace Him, and His healing balm?

5. Consider, that His heart and arms are open and ready to embrace all that are willing to be embraced by Him. O may the soul say, fain will I embrace Him, but I doubt of His willingness to embrace me. I tell you good news, He is more willing to embrace you by far than you are to be embraced by Him. He says He is willing, and you may believe His word, for He is “the Amen, the faithful and true witness”, Revelation 3:14, and He says, that He will cast out none that come unto Him: He swears He is willing, and will ye not believe His oath? Ezekiel 33:11, “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live”. Pray tell me, why did He engage from eternity, and voluntarily give His hand to the Father in the council of peace, saying, “Lo, I come; - I delight to do Thy will, O My God?” Why did He assume the nature of man, and the sinless infirmities thereof? Why did He, as the great Law-giver, subject Himself unto His own law? Why did He that is the Lord of life and glory, submit to the stroke of death ignominiously upon a cross? Why doth He send out His ministers to you, with call upon call? Why doth He wait all the day long, saying, “Behold Me, behold Me?” Why doth He expostulate the matter with you? Why is He grieved at the obstinacy of your hearts, if He be not willing that ye should embrace Him? For the Lord's sake therefore consider these things, and do not reject the counsel of God against yourselves. Ye have a full, free, and unhampered offer of Him in the external call of the gospel; and this directed to every one of you without exception, Isaiah 55:1-3, Revelation 22:17, Mark 16:15 and Proverbs 8:4.

Sirs we offer a Christ to you, and the whole fullness of grace and glory, merit and Spirit, that is in Him, as the free gift of God, without the money and price of your own good works and qualifications; if ye bring any such price, to make a purchase of the pearl of great price, ye shall lose Him for ever: God loves to give His Christ freely, but He scorns to receive anything for Him. Let this then be your warrant, that Christ is gifted and offered of God in this gospel: and let it be remembered that in the matter of a gift, there is no difference between man and man; the poorest as well as the richest, may receive a gift presented unto him: a condemned malefactor has as a good a right to receive a gift presented unto Him by the king, as the greatest favourite in the court; his being a guilty criminal is no prejudice at all to his receiving a gift; yea, his being so, qualifies him for receiving the pardon. So here Christ's being the gift of God freely offered and presented, warrants the sinner to receive Him, without respect to any qualifications but that of his being a sinner. Hunger is the best disposing qualification for meat, nakedness fits a man for clothing, etc. And that Christ seeks no other qualifications is evident from His counsel to Laodicea, Revelation 3:17,18, “Thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou mayest see”.

Besides the command of God, ye have a promise of welcome to encourage you in believing, John 6:37, “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out”. John 3:16, “Whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life”. But, say ye, these promises may be to others, and not to me. I answer, The promise is indorsed to you, directed to you, in the external call and dispensation of the gospel, Acts 2:39. There the apostle is preaching to a company of men, whose hands had lately been dipped in the blood of the Son of God. He calls them to faith and repentance. By what arguement does he enforce the exhortation? Why, he tells them, “The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call”. Where it is plain, the promise is extended, first to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles, who at that time were afar off; and then indefinitely, both to Jew and Gentile, to whom the call of the gospel should reach; the external call which is only here intended, howsoever, the Spirit of the Lord did internally concur, being the alone foundation upon which the promise is to be received, and not the internal call of one person, which can never be a warrant of believing to another. And therefore, as the apostle said to them, so say I to you, in the name of God, “the promise is unto you”, I mean, the promise of welcome: “Whosoever of you believeth, shall not perish” This promise in not made to believers exclusively of others, but to everyone that hears this gospel; for if so, we could call none to believe but such as have believed, which is most absurd.

Well then, let God's promise warrant you to believe in Christ: and if ye do not think this sufficient, take His promise of welcome, ratified with His oath, Ezekiel 33:11, these being the “two immutable things wherein it is impossible for God to lie”.

Rev. Malcolm Watts (Emmanuel Church, Salisbury) and Rev. David Silversides (Loughbrickland Reformed Presbyterian Church) have also written helpful articles on this subject.

The Proclaimer, Summer 2008

Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 5
David Brainerd
Quotes from Thomas Watson's Body of Divinity (1)
News of the fellowship
Book Recommendations

'Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching'.

Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 5

Question 5: Are there more Gods than one?

Answer: There is but One only, the living and true God.

God Himself makes it abundantly plain, in His word, putting it beyond any shadow of doubt, that He is the only true and living God. In Isaiah 45:21,22, we read, “Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? Have not I the LORD? And there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else”. He is the only living and true God.

There are, as God reveals in His word, others, or certain things which are called gods, or are referred to as being a god.

Firstly. Angels. Psalm 97:7, “Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods”. The apostle citing this verse in Hebrews 1:6, calls them “angels”.

Secondly. Magistrates. Exodus 22:28, “Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people”. (margin, “judges”). See also John 10:34.

Thirdly. Idols. Deuteronomy 32:16,17, “They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not”. Further in 1 Kings 11:33, we read of “Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Mil-com the god of the children of Ammon”.

Fourthly. Satan. The devil is called the god of this world. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them”. John Brown of Haddington writes, “He is believed, obeyed, adored, under various form, by most of the inhabitants (of this world)”.

Fifthly. Man's belly. Philippians 3:19, “Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things”. Such a man has a carnal appetite, being chiefly concerned about themselves.

John Flavel writes, “But doth not the Scriptures say”, (in 1 Corinthians 8:5), “that there are gods many, and lords many? Yes; there are many in title, and many in opinion, but only one in truth”. There is, as the Scriptures make plain, and further as the catechism states, “but one only, the living and true God. Jeremiah writes, “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation”. Jeremiah 10:10.

Firstly. He is the true God. James Fisher asks, “Why is he called the true God?” And then answers, “In opposition to all false and imaginary gods”. “Thus shall ye say unto them, the gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens”. Jeremiah 10: 11. Other gods are false gods, but our God, who is ours through grace, is the true God, the real God. The first command of the Decalogue says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”. He alone is to be worshipped in a religious way, why? For other gods are false. In seeking to keep that command we wholeheartedly acknowledge and humbly confess before God, that He is the only true God. Ebenezer Erskine speaking of the positive duty of obeying the first commandment writes, “to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God”.

As being true, He is referred to as “A God of truth”. Moses in Deuteronomy 32:4 said, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgement: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he”. God is infinitely holy, pure and just. The Psalmist, in Psalm 92:15 says, “there is no unrighteousness in him”. There is none whatsoever in God, He is free from, and, is the complete opposite to sin.

We know him to be true, for in all his words and works, He speaks and acts in perfection.

First, His words. Christ in that High priestly prayer to His Father said, “Thy word is truth”. John 17:17. The apostle writes in Hebrews 6:18, “It is impossible for God to lie”.

Second, His works. “He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4. In the work of creation, then in His unfolding providence, and further by the work of Redemption we bear testimony to the truth of God.

Secondly, He is the living God. These two words “true” and “living” go together. If He were not the true God, He would not be the living God, if He were not the living God, He could not be the true God. His name “Jehovah” in itself, conveys to us that He is the living God. The name Jehovah means the eternal, self existent one. “I am that I am”. Exodus 3:14. He has always been there, He is there, and will always be there. Christ says in Revelation 1:8, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty”. He needs none other. He exists by His own infinite power. He is the living God. The Psalmist in Psalm 90:2 writes, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God”.

Pause and reflect on those words: “Thou art God!” He knows God to be there. We, as believers, know God to be there.

Consider firstly, by our existence here upon earth. Paul said in Acts 17:28, “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being”. We breathe, walk, talk, sing, eat, drink and sleep. We exist because He is the living God.

Secondly, by the existence of that new Spiritual life within. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, that principle of grace, has been implanted within us. Faith along with those other graces from Christ have been put within. We have faith in Him, we love Him, we live for Him, our new life bears evidence that He is a living God. Recall what Paul said, “Christ liveth in me”. Galatians 2:20. Job could say by faith, “I know that my Redeemer liveth”. Job 19:25. The apostle Paul, in writing his first epistle to the brethren that were at Thessalonica, wrote concerning their faith that was being spoken of by many. In verse 9 of the first chapter he wrote, “how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God”.

My dear friends , let us pause and consider, we serve and worship the living and true God, He who is the only God.

David Brainerd

In volume 2 of The Works of Jonathan Edwards, BOT 1974, pages 313-458, there is recorded, (double columned), the spiritual journey of David Brainerd, (Edwards' son in law). We witness Brainerd's struggles with faith, his discouragements as well as his awareness of God's comfort and guidance. He was much concerned for the souls of the American Indians at a time when such concern was unpopular among white men. Riding horse back to Indian villages, he travelled alone through the wilderness of eighteenth century New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, braving harsh weather, ‘hideous’ mountains, and many dangers.

At first, the results of Brainerd's efforts were not very rewarding. He had to overcome the language barrier and the mistrust of the Indians. Many times Brainerd records that he preached, “yet there appeared nothing of the power of God among them”. Though much of his disappointment is recorded, he makes more of the goodness and mercy of God. As he worked among the Indians, there were many joyful moments when they responded to his preaching in repentance and faith towards God in Christ.

Brainerd's life was brief, (he died at the age of twenty nine), but it was given to God with an intensity and wholeheartedness that few experience. As we consider just a fragment of his ministry may we be inspired to greater service in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

David Brainerd was born in America, April 20th. 1718, of godly parents. Awakened by the Spirit of God, he was born again at the age of twenty. He attended for the next three years Yale College, and began to preach when he was twenty four and continued to do so among the Indians from 1743 to 1747. It was most fitting that his life story should be written and his journal published. Men like William Carey were influenced by it. He urged his fellow labourers in India to “think of David Brainerd wrestling in prayer among the solitudes of the backwoods of America”. Henry Martyn, brilliant scholar of Cambridge University was also influenced by Brainerd, “I longed to be a flame of fire continually glowing in the divine service, and building up Christ's kingdom to my last and dying breath...now to burn out for God!”

Among his other graces, David Brainerd had a supreme desire for God's glory, a deep longing after holiness, and a daily practice of intercessory prayer. “O that I could spend every moment of my life to God's glory!” he once said. “Here I am, Lord, send me to the rough, savage pagans of the wilderness; send me from all that is called comfort even to death itself, if it be Thy service and to promote Thy kingdom. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”. On other occasion he burst out, “Oh that my soul was holy as He is holy! Oh that it were pure even as He is pure!” One cannot but believe that if he had applied more to the all cleansing blood of Christ of which so little is said in his diary, we should not have had those bitter upbraidings and bemoaning of corruption, nor those awful melancholy complaints which at length he came to regard as “sinful dejection”, and which hindered his usefulness.

On April 1st. 1742, at the age of twenty four, he writes, “I seem to be declining with respect to my warmth in divine things. Oh that God would humble me deeply in the dust before Him”. During the night of October 19th. of that same year, he records, “I felt a sweet longing in my soul after holiness”. These intense longings after sanctification are soon followed by confessions of failure and defeat that might seem discouraging to us who read these things in the experience of a man of God. In the following November, he records, “Had still a sense of my great vileness.... Oh, what a nothing, what dust and ashes am I”.
However, on a Sabbath in December there was a gleam of brightness on his dejected soul, “I preached with some sweetness on Matthew 6:33. This has been a sweet Sabbath to me”. This temporary relief was soon after succeeded by such fresh gloom and darkness of soul that, in unworthiness he shrank from ever going to the heathen with the gospel. Jonathan Edwards says that “his mind was overwhelmed with an exceeding gloominess and melancholy”.

On April 1st. 1743 Brainerd arrived among the Indians of Kaunaumeek and writes this, “ was greatly exercised with inward trials and distresses all day, and seemed to have no God to go to. However, preached to the Indians both forenoon and afternoon”. He was only twenty five, and records these words, “Enjoyed not much sweetness this morning, was very weak in body throughout the day; and thought that this frail body would soon drop in the dust, and had some very realising apprehensions of a speedy entrance into another world”.

On a Sabbath in that same year Brainerd mentions this, “Was much perplexed with some very irreligious Dutchmen. All their discourse turned upon the things of this world. O what a hell it would be to spend an eternity with such men! Well might David say, “I beheld the transgressors, and was much grieved”, Psalm 119:158. Soon after he writes, “I spent this whole day alone in prayer and fasting, being very dull and lifeless, melancholy and discouraged, but having read 2 Kings 19, my soul was moved and affected. I saw there was no other way for the afflicted people of God to take, but to go to God with all their sorrows as Hezekiah did, in his great distress, went and spread his complaint before the Lord”.

Another entry in his diary records this, “studying the Indian language, need to be alone in the back woods to do this, where I can also spend much time in prayer”. His father in law, Jonathan Edwards comments, “this study of the Indian language necessitated his frequent riding twenty four miles backward and forward through uninhabited woods, and exposed him often to extreme hardship especially in the winter”.

On the Sabbath of February 24th. 1745, Brainerd discovered this vital truth: “My discourse was well suited to my own case, for of late I have found a great want of apprehension of divine grace, and have often been greatly distressed in my soul, because I did not suitably apprehend this fountain opened to purge away sin; and so have been too much labouring for spiritual life, and peace of conscience, and progressive holiness in my own strength. But now God has shown me in some measure the arm of all strength and the fountain of all grace”. Edwards comments, “This is the secret of holiness that even earnest souls often miss. They magnify law rather than grace, they see the exceeding sinfulness of sin and forget the omnipotent Saviour, they deplore their guilt and stain, but do not extol the precious blood of Jesus”.

Next we find Brainerd in the lovely Susquehannah valley, to preach to another tribe of Indians, but even there he finds himself disconsolate, weak and exhausted. He writes, “I feel what Job must have felt, in 9:16, “If I had called, and He had answered me, yet would I not believe that He had hearkened to my voice”. But from that moment were there were conversions among the Indians, which brought such joy to his heart, he wrote, “God was pleased to assist me in prayer and give me souls for my hire”.

At this time we read of Brainerd's increasing weakness, and the alarming symptoms preceding his home call. Once, this weakness was so great that he almost fell off his horse when riding through the woods. He spent his last months in the home of Jonathan Edwards who notes Brainerd`s last words, “O why is His chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels? I am very willing to part with all to be for ever with the Lord. I am almost in eternity. I long to be there. My work is done. All the world is nothing to me. I long to be in Heaven praising the Lord with the holy angels. All my desire is to glorify God. My parting prayer is for gospel ministers, that they may be filled with the Spirit.

Let us, as we watch David Brainerd's heavenward translation, pray like Elisha. “Oh that I might receive a double portion of his spirit” – his love for the heathen, and his longing for the kingdom of God to come.

Quotes from Thomas Watson's Body of Divinity (1)

Glory is essential to the Godhead, as light is to the sun.

We glorify God, by being contented in that state in which Providence has placed us.

Though nothing can add to God's essential glory, yet praise exalts Him in the eyes of others.

Let us lead Scripture lives. Oh that the Bible might be seen printed in our lives! Do what the Bible commands. Obedience is an excellent way of commenting upon the Bible.

What a mercy is it that God has not only acquainted us with what His will is, but that He has made it known by writing.

God knows whatever is knowable.

He is God, and has a sovereignty over us; therefore, as we received life from Him, so must we receive a law from Him, and submit to His will in all things.

Oh study the shortness of life and length of eternity!

God has decreed troubles for the church's good. The troubles of God's church is like the angel's troubling the water, which made way for healing His people.

I fear I shall not hold out. Christian, dost thou believe the power of God? Has not God preserved thy grace thus far? Mayest thou not set up thy Ebenezer? God has kept thy grace hitherto as a spark in the main ocean; and is He able to still keep it?

This divine worship God is very jealous of; it is the apple of His eye, the pearl of His crown; which He guards, as He did the tree of life, with cherubims and a flaming sword, that no man may come near it to violate it. Divine worship must be such as God Himself has appointed, else it is strange fire.

Thanksgiving does not stand in church-music, the melody of an organ, but rather in making melody in the heart to the Lord.

News of the Fellowship

We were being greatly blessed through the faithful ministry of Rev. John Thackway from Holywell at our 157th Church Anniversary. The three sermons are available on the Church website.

On May 28th, we set apart Mr. John Adamson as our Deacon. We thank God for guiding us as a congregation.

We continue to witness in the open air at Ringwood, and visit homes in Fordingbridge where gospels and tracts are distributed. Every home has received “The Gospel according to Luke”, and then further visited. We pray for the Lord’s assistance in visiting the whole town again, the Lord willing, in the next few years. The Proclaimer is currently being distributed around the local hamlets.

We are praying for our young people who come to Sabbath School, Thursday Club, Senior and Junior Clubs. We are very pleased to have at least six young people at our Sabbath Services. The monthly Ladies Coffee Mornings continue to be a great blessing.

We continue to support Stephen and Yolanda at the New Tribes Mission H.Q.

Book Recommendations

Religion Our True Interest (Thomas Watson)
Meet The Puritans (Joel Beeke and Randall Pederson)
Letters (Samuel Rutherford)

Letters of Samuel Rutherford

The letters of Samuel Rutherford have for long been the constant companion of the most devout minds. Therein we have a treasure, for they are an extolling of the virtues of Christ, and record of “love banquets with my royal, high, and princely King Jesus”. Yes, the glorious greatness of Emmanuel is his constant theme. His heart is full of Christ, and “out of the abundance of his heart, his mouth speaketh”. While love to God was the ruling affection of his heart, love to man breathes from every page of his spiritual letters.

In a short review only one example may be given. It is in a letter to John Gordon at Rusco, “Remember, many go far on and reform many things, and can find tears, as Esau did; and suffer hunger for truth, as Judas did; and desire the end of the righteous as Balaam did; and fight for the Lord, as Saul did; and desire the saints to pray for them, as Pharoah did; and prophesy of Christ, as Caiaphas did; and fear God`s judgements, as Ahab did; and put away idolatry, as Jehu did; and hear the Word of God gladly, as Herod did; and offer to follow Christ, as the servant did, (Matthew 8:19). “And yet”, Rutherford says, “all these are but like gold in colour only”.

“But let us try ourselves, and not rest till we be a step nearer to Christ. I commend Christ and His love to you in all things. Let Him have the flower of your heart and love”.

Publisher: Banner of Truth (April 2006)
ISBN-10: 0851513881
ISBN-13: 978-0851513881

Meet The Puritans With A Guide To Modern Reprints by Joel R. Beeke and Randall J. Pederson

“Meet the Puritans” is a remarkable portrait gallery and a wonderful library of biographies. It is a reader's guide to great Christian literature and a record of an international movement of the Spirit. It is also a personal tutorial in Puritan history and theology, and much more.

The revival in interest and commitment to the truths of Reformed Theology over the last fifty years is due largely to the rediscovery of Puritan literature. “Meet the Puritans” introduces the leading figures of the Puritan movement in England, Scotland, Holland and America, with brief biographies and extracts from their works. All that you ever needed to know about the Puritans and Puritanism has come from the pens of these two distinguished scholars, Joel Beeke and Randall Pederson, who have given their lives to making the Puritan men and their works known and accessible to this present generation. Their work has been painstaking, thorough and comprehensive – a splendid achievement!

Publisher: Reformation Heritage Books (2006)
ISBN-10: 1601780003
ISBN-13: 978-1601780003

Religion Our True Interest by Thomas Watson

Here we have Thomas Watson's most helpful exposition of Malachi 3:16,17. We can do no better than to give the famous preacher's own outline:

,1, A Character of the Godly: i) In general, they were fearers of God; “they that feared the Lord”. ii) in special, a. “They spake often one to another”. b. “They thought upon God's Name”.

,2, The Good Effects of their Piety: i) The Lord regarded; “He hearkened and heard”. ii) He recorded it; “a book of remembrance was written”.

,3, He rewarded it; and this reward consisted in three things. i) God's owning them; “they shall be mine”. ii) God's honouring them; “in that day when I make up my jewels”. iii) God's sparing them; “I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him”.

Thomas Watson himself says that the main design of this excellent Scripture, is to encourage solid piety, and confute the atheists of this world, who imagine that there is no gain in godliness. Will the world, or men's lusts, give them such noble recompenses of reward, as God bestows upon His followers? It is an unhappiness that, in these luxuriant times, religion should for the most part run either into notion or ceremony.

Publisher: Banner of Truth (June 2006 but re-titled "The Great Gain of Godliness")
ISBN-10: 0851519388
ISBN-13: 978-0851519388

Standing for Prayer Booklet

The practice has been retained in many congregations in Scotland and Ireland, but, sadly, in England, along with other departures, standing for prayer has for some time been discontinued. However, and thankfully, there are signs in some quarters of a growing concern for the purity of worship and, in consequence, there has been a return to the biblically recognized posture for public prayer. It is our prayer that other churches will follow the lead given and that soon we shall see a general reformation in this area.

This booklet is now available price £0.34 + P & P. For a copy, please contact Rev. Aaron J. Lewis at

The best news

News is now available to those who desire it, 24 hours of the day, seven days of the week, from all over the world. With the modern media, news travels very quickly, so fast, that much of what is received has only just happened. In a matter of hours the world was shocked by the terrorist attack on the twin towers, and recently, the disasters in Burma and China. The news spread, and as it did, be sure many prayers were uttered. News from, as it were, 'the home front', is, have you noticed, often shocking and disturbing. Much of the news, would you not agree, does not bring us joy.

The Bible, which is God's Word, brings us news, which does not bring joy to our hearts, for there is the news of sin, death, punishment and Judgment. However it also brings to us the best news that you will ever hear, for it tells us of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Luke 2: 10 & 11, the shepherds were told by the angel, ”Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Oh what wonderful news! By Jesus Christ, through what He has done, particularly suffering and dying on the cross because of sin, one can be saved, forgiven, have a life with God, and go to heaven, rather than that other place. Do you truly know this good news? In God's hymnbook in the middle of the Bible, we read this; “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound:” Psalm 89:15 Are you happy to hear the gospel? and then, further, are you truly happy, because you know the gospel? If not, look unto the Lord, repent of your sins and believe the Gospel. Jesus said, “Come unto me” He says that today, for He is alive, there in heaven above.

2008 Anniversary Sermons Online

You can now listen to the sermons preached at the 157th Anniversary of Crosslanes Chapel by Rev. John Thackway:

Isaac intreated the LORD (Genesis 25 v 21)

People, pastor and prospects (Romans 1 v 7-12)

The Lord be with you all (2 Thessalonians 3 v 16)

Also online is a recent midweek meeting sermon on the grace of God, joy and exhortation (Acts 11 v 23) preached on the evening of 13th May 2008.

Edit: Another midweek meeting sermon is now online: the Lord's teaching on judgment (Matthew 7 v 1-5) preached on the evening of 4th June 2008.

Forthcoming Events, the Lord Willing

157th Church Anniversary

10th & 11th of May 2008

Rev John Thackway

Autumn Preaching

1st & 2nd of November 2008

Rev William Macleod

158th Church Anniversary

2nd & 3rd of May 2009

Rev John J Murray

Latest online sermon:

Our needs known and provided for (Matthew ch 6 v 32)

preached on the evening of 2nd April 2008.

Church Anniversary 2008

God willing, the 157th Anniversary of Crosslanes Chapel will be marked by a Service at 6pm on Saturday 10th May, at the church.

The preacher will be the Rev. John Thackway, minister of Holywell Evangelical Church, North Wales and editor of the Bible League Quarterly.

Refreshments will follow the service.

Rev. Thackway will also preach on the Sabbath (11th May) at 11am and 6pm.

Edit: the anniversary sermons are now online.