The Iron Pen #64

God & Country

"We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord Build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."

Benjamine Franklin

Brief Biographies Of Believers

He Came For A Week’s Rest And Stayed Thirty-six Years

Isaac Watts was a small man, just five feet tall. One biographer states, "his big head made his small body look even smaller and his long hook nose made his homely face even uglier." He was sickly, too. Health problems had plagued him since smallpox nearly killed him when he was fifteen. But that did not keep him from serving the Lord. In the fall of 1696 he became the tutor for the children of Sir John Hartopp. When he was 24 he was chosen assistant to Dr. Isaac Chauncy (1632-1712), pastor of the Independent Mark Lane Church in London. Two years later he succeeded Dr. Chauncy as the pastor.

Dr. Isaac Watts was a diligent pastor. In fact, his frail health was further injured by overwork. At Mark Lane he rarely preached two Sundays in succession, but the congregation wouldn't let him quit. They hired an assistant and told Dr. Watts to preach when he felt like it. He was attacked by a fever in 1712 which incapacitated him for four years. That Sunday in 1712 he preached, but he didn't feel like it. The Lord Mayor of London, Sir Thomas Abney and Lady Abney took their sick pastor to their mansion in the country. "A week's rest," they said, "would do him good."

While at the Abney home Watts developed a wonderful fondness for the three little daughters of his hosts. He wrote verses for them about the "busy little bee" and dogs that "delight to bark and bite," and he wrote a cradle song that began "Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber; holy angels guard thy bed."

Sir Thomas and Lady Abney became so attached to their guest that they wouldn't allow him to leave. In 1720 Watts collected his juvenile verse into his classic Divine and Moral Songs for Children. The book sold 80,000 copies a year and six generations were raised out of it. Watts died, still a bachelor, at the Abney home in November 1748. He was buried at Bunhill Fields, the nonconformist cemetery, where Susanna Wesley, John Bunyan, Daniel Defoe, John Owen and other heroes of the faith are buried. He had come to the Abney home for a week’s rest but ended up staying thirty-six years.

Faith Is The Answer!

No more, my God, I boast no more
Of all the duties I have done:

I quit the hopes I held before,
To trust the merits of Thy Son.

The best obedience of my hands
Dares not appear before Thy throne;

But faith can answer Thy demands,
By pleading what my Lord hath done.

Isaac Watts

Meat – Not Strawberries!

by Hugh Latimer

"The preaching of the Word of God unto the people is called meat. The Scripture calleth it meat; not strawberries, that come but once a year, and tarry not long, but are soon gone: but it is meat, it is not dainties. The people must have meat that must be familiar and continual, and daily given unto them to feed upon. Many make a strawberry of it, ministering it but once a year; but such do not the office of good prelates." (From: Sermon of the Plough, preached in 1548)

Preach The Word

• It Is Life – Philippians 2:16
• It Is Light – Psalm 119:105
• It Is Power – Romans 1:16
• It Is Pure – Psalm 119:140
• It Is Unchanging – Psalm 119:89
• It Searches – Hebrews 4:12
• It Judges – John 12:48

                    (Selected Sermon Outline from 1879)

Point To Ponder

"Cursed be all learning that is contrary to the Cross of Christ." (An official statement from Princeton University in the time of Dr. John Witherspoon)

On The Light Side

• Wear short sleeves! Support your right to bare arms!
• Laughing stock: cattle with a sense of humor.
• Who is General Failure and why is he reading my hard disk drive?
• If you choke a smurf, what color does it turn?
• When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
• Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm
• Corduroy pillows: They're making headlines!