Christian's Reasonable Service, The - Volume 2: The Church and Salvation

First published in 1700, The Christian’s Reasonable Service (De Redelijke Godsdienst) ran through twenty Dutch editions in the eighteenth century alone! The title is derived from Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” It expresses what God requires from man, and particularly from the Christian, that he serve Him in Spirit and in truth—intelligently, rationally, and in harmony with and response to God’s revelation of Himself, His Word.

With a decidedly Puritan flavor and representing Reformed experiential religion at its best, Wilhelmus à Brakel systematically moves through the major doctrines of the Bible in hopes of seeing the minds of God’s people renewed for the purpose of promoting godliness. Throughout his work, but particularly in the practical application of each doctrine, à Brakel strives unceasingly to exalt the name of Jesus as the name that the Father has given above every other name—there being no other name given under heaven among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). 

720 pages

Table of Contents: 

Ecclesiology: The Doctrine of the Church

24. The Church 

25. The Duty to Join and Remain with the Church 

26. The Communion of Believers with Christ and with Each Other 

27. The Government of the Church, and Particularly the Commissioning of Ministers 

28. The Offices of Minister, Elder, and Deacon 

29. Ecclesiastical Authority and the Use of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven 

Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation 

30. The External and Internal Call 

31. Regeneration

32. Faith

33. Distinguishing Marks of Saving Faith

34. Justification

35. The Adoption of Children 

36. Spiritual Peace 

37. Spiritual Joy

38. The Sealing of the Believer by the Holy Spirit and by Means of the Sacraments 

39. Holy Baptism 

40. The Lord’s Supper 

41. The Practice of the Lord’s Supper Consisting in Preparation, Celebration and Reflection 

42. The Life of Faith in Reference to the Promises 

43. A Warning Exhortation Against Pietists, Quietists, and All Who in a Similar Manner Have Deviated to a Natural and Spiritless Religion Under the Guise of Spirituality