Christian's Reasonable Service, The - Volume 4: Ethics and Eschatology

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). 

592 pages

Table of Contents: 

Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation (cont.) 

75. Fasting 

76. Watchfulness 

77. Secret Prayer 

78. Spiritual Meditation 

79. Singing Spiritual Songs 

80. Vows

81. The Practice of Reflecting upon Previous Experiences 

82. Love Toward Our Neighbor

83. Humility 

84. Meekness 

85. Peaceableness 

86. Diligence 

87. Compassion

88. Prudence

89. Spiritual Growth 

90. Regression of Spiritual Life in the Godly 

91. Spiritual Desertion 

92. The Temptation Toward Atheism or the Denial of God’s Existence 

93. The Temptation Whether God’s Word Is True 

94. Unbelief Concerning One’s Spiritual State 

95. The Assaults of Satan 

96. The Power of Indwelling Corruption 

97. Spiritual Darkness 

98. Spiritual Deadness 

99. The Perseverance of the Saints 

Eschatology: The Doctrine of the Last Things 

100. Death and the Ensuing State of the Soul

101. The Resurrection of the Dead 

102. The Last Judgment and the End of the World

103. Eternal Glory 

Appendix: The Administration of the Covenant of Grace in the Old and New Testaments 

1. The Church of the Old Testament from Adam to Abraham 

2. The Church from Abraham to Sinai

4. The Ceremonial Laws Given at Sinai and the Condition of the Church from Sinai to Christ

5. The State of Believers in the Old Testament 

6. The Church of the New Testament from the birth of Jesus Christ to the Revelation of John