A Bargain With the Devil?

John Brown of Haddington was a poor, orphaned shepherd boy in 1742 or so when, having been affected following a series of illnesses by a spiritual awakening in connection with reading the Bible and various theological works (he mentions the Westminster Larger Catechism and the expositions of the Shorter Catechism by Thomas Vincent and John Flavel, Joseph Alleine's Alarm to the Unconverted, William Guthrie's The Christian's Great Interest, Samuel Rutherford's Letters, and Thomas Gouge's Christian directions Shewing How to Walk with God All the Day Long), Brown was inspired to take it upon himself to learn the Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages. It is said that, leaving his sheep "on the braes of Abernethy" in the care of a trusted companion, he set off on a midnight hike to St. Andrews, twenty-four miles away. The next morning he visited a bookseller seeking to purchase a Greek New Testament. The bookseller only smiled at his request, but a Professor from the University of St. Andrews, having engaged him in conversation, told him that if he could read a passage from the Testament, he would buy the book for him. He did so, and obtained the book, which was the beginning of a life-long love of languages that would lead him to learn Greek and Hebrew without a tutor, and Latin, studying under a tutor for one month; as well as, later, Arabic, Syrian, Persian, Ethiopian, French, Spanish, Dutch, German and Italian.

After mastering the first three languages, he casually conferred with a student at the University about his accomplishments, but this individual took it amiss and accused him of having acquired his great linguistic learning by means of a compact with the Devil. Others supported his accuser, and in fact, the accusation, as outrageous as it sounds, dogged him over the years to such an extent that at one point he was denied a certificate of church membership based on this allegation. He was forced to vindicate his learning in a letter dated August 6, 1745 (when he was 23 years old), in which he gives an account of his studies and relates his thought processes in some detail, a published extract of which maybe found here (pp. 29-33). Despite the false aspersion, Brown would go on to become one of Scotland's greatest and most famous and godly ministers of the eighteenth century.

His great-grandson Dr. John Brown would later quip, speaking of the Devil, "That astute personage would not have employed him on the Greek Testament."

The Continuators (Part 1)

In literature, a continuator completes the unfinished work of an author after their death or creates a new work based on another's prior text. Because I like to know when I am reading something who wrote what, I have done a bit of research on the continuators of certain Puritan works which may be of interest to some who share my love for historical or literary trivia.

I have previously listed the continatuors of Matthew Poole's English Annotations here. I would add that at least one authority claims it was not Peter Vinke but Edward Veale who completed the annotations on Acts.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Bible

Matthew Henry died after completing the section on Acts. Romans - Revelation was completed by his friends and colleagues as noted below:

Mr. [afterward Dr.] John Evans (1680-1730) (see below) - Romans.
Mr. Simon Browne (1680-1732) - 1 Corinthians
Mr. Daniel Mayo (1672-1733) (his father Richard Mayo was a continuator of Matthew Poole's English Annotations) - 2 Corinthians; 1 & 2 Thessalonians.
Mr. Joshua Bayes (1671-1746) - Galatians.
Mr. Samuel Rosewell (1679-1722) - Ephesians.
Mr. [afterwards Dr.] William Harris - Philippians; Colossians.
Mr. Benjamin Andrews Atkinson - 1 & 2 Timothy.
Mr. Jeremiah Smith - Titus; Philemon.
Mr. William Tong (1662-1727) - Hebrews; Revelation
Dr. S. Wright - James.
Mr. Zec. Merrill - 1 Peter.
Mr. Joseph Hill (1667-1729) - 2 Peter
Mr. John Reynolds, of Shrewsbury - 1, 2 & 3 John.
Mr. John Billingsley - Jude.

William Gouge's Commentary on Hebrews

William Gouge died before completing his commentary on Hebrews. His son, Thomas Gouge, completed the last chapter.

William Perkins' Commentary on Galatians

William Perkins died after completing his exposition of the fifth chapter of Galatians. The sixth chapter was completed by Ralph Cudworth (d. 1624), father of the famous Cambridge Platonist by the same name.

John Flavel's Exposition of the Westminster Shorter Catechism

John Flavel died before completing his exposition of the Westminster Assembly's Shorter Catechism. George Trosse (1631-1713) completed the last five questions.

The History of the Puritans

John Evans began the work of writing a History of Nonconformity, but died before it could be completed, as it was by his assistant Daniel Neal with the title The History of the Puritans.

Psalm Singing on the Sabbath Day

Thomas Gouge, "Directions for Sanctifying the Lord's Day," Christian Directions, shewing How to Walk With God all Day Long, in The Works of the Late, Reverend and Pious Mr. Thomas Gouge, pp. 196-197:

II. 'Another private duty, is singing of Psalms;' for this may and ought to be performed in your families, as well as in the congregation. This David commended for one duty of the Sabbath: as Psalm xcii.1. The title of the Psalm is, 'A psalm or song for the Sabbath day.' And thus it begins; 'It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, to sing praises unto thy name, O most High.'

For the manner of performing this duty, the apostle, (Col. iii.16.) giveth us these directions, in these words, 'Singing with grace in your hearts, to the Lord.'

1. 'First, Therefore, it must be in the heart, or with the heart;' that is our hearts must go with our voices, the one must we lift up as well as the other: for, God is a Spirit, and therefore, will be worshipped with our hearts and spirits, as well as with our bodies. And truly, singing with the voice, without the concurrence of the heart and spirit, is no more pleasing unto God, than a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.

2. 'As we must sing with the heart, so, with grace in the heart;' that is, we must exercise the graces of God's holy Spirit in singing, as well as in praying; laboring to express the same affection in singing the psalm, as David did in penning it. As, if it be a psalm of confession, then to express some humility, and brokenness of heart and spirit in singing. If it be a psalm of prayers and petitions, then must our affections be fervent. If a psalm of praises and thanksgiving, then must our heart be cheerful. And thus must the affection of the heart be ever suitable to the quality of the psalm.

An Exhortation to Family Worship

Thomas Gouge, The Christian Householder:

LET the third Use be an use of exhortation, to stir up all Christian parents, and masters of families, to be careful, that their whole house do faithfully serve the Lord, as well as themselves; that they take up Joshua's resolution, As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. As you would not be guilty of the body and blood of your children, and servants' souls; and as you would not have them cry out against you in everlasting fire, see that you bring them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. And to this end:

Oh! let religion be in your families, not as a matter of small importance, only to be mined by the bye, or at leisure hours, when the world will give you leave; but let it be the tending business of the house. O let your houses be nurseries for the church of God.

Yea, let it be said of your houses, as that of the Psalmist, Psalm lxxxvii.5. That this man and that man was born there. And, if you would that your children should bless you, that your servants should bless you? Oh! then set up religion and piety in your families. And, as ever you would be blessed, or be a blessing to them; let your hearts and your houses be the temples of the living God, in which his worship may be duly performed.Yea, every parent, master and governor, should be that in the body politic of his own house, which the Heart is in the natural body of man; as it communicateth life and vital spirits to the rest of the members: so must the master of the household endeavour to impart the spiritual life of grace, to all that are members of his body politic; and his house, by a constant conscionable performance of holy and religious duties there; and this would make it a little church; For, the maintaining the worship of God, makes every house to become a sanctuary, an house of God. Hence, divers pious governors in the New Testament, are said to have churches in their houses; as Philemon, verse 2. and 1 Cor. xvi.19. Aquila and Priscilla, and Nimphas, Col. iv.15. all whose houses were called churches; as in respect of the saints in their houses, so, in respect of the worship of God among them. Oh what an honour will this be to us, when, upon this account, our habitations shall be called rather churches, than private houses! temples of God, rather than the dwellings of men!

How to Read the Word of God

John Brown of Haddington's Self-Interpreting Bible:

In order to the profitable reading of the Word of GOD it is necessary to approach its sacred pages with becoming reverence and humility. Some persons read the Bible as a book of amusement, while others peruse it for its antiquarian character and its historical records. Others again read thoughtlessly; being accustomed from childhood to see the Book in their households, they unconsciously come to treat it as a common thing. In order, however, to study it with saving benefit, the heart must be prepared with pious dispositions and with illumination of the HOLY GHOST, which is promised to those who ask it.

1. Read with reverence. Remember that it is an inspired revelation in which ALMIGHTY GOD sets forth His plan of grace and mercy. To read a message from the LORD with lack of reverence or with thoughtlessness is as unwise as it is dangerous.

2. Read with docility. Remember that GOD is the Teacher in the Word. Do not therefore use it so as to make it sustain favorite theories or preconceived opinions. To act thus is to assume that man knows beforehand what GOD should reveal, and that it is not dishonoring to GOD to compel His Word to speak as man pleases. So also to reject the teachings of the Bible because they are humiliating to man's supposed ability or dignity is to act as if GOD knew not our state and nature, and that man were wiser than GOD.

3. Read with intelligence and care. Compare passage with passage, and it will be found that the Bible will be its own interpreter. There are many difficult and profound places in the Bible. Do not reject or deal rashly with such passages. Lay them aside for thought and prayer and future reading, and in time it will be found that light will arise in unexpected quarters, and such portions will be made plain.

4. Read studiously. Let the earnest attention of the mind and all the faculties of the soul be applied, remembering that the Word is given to make wise unto salvation. Do not ignore the lessons of any book or part of a book. Realize the fact that the Bible is all from GOD, and that, though all the books are not of equal interest, they are all designed for our instruction, and they all unite to complete the revelation as a whole. Read the Bible so as to discern the system of truth which pervades the Book, and remember always that if natural things in the universe are worthy of study, much more so are the lessons of JEHOVAH, set forth in His Word, that reveal a Saviour and tell us of the inheritance of the saints in another world.

5. Read regularly. It is related of CHRYSOSTOM that he read the Epistle to the Romans twice every week, and of the Rev. THOMAS GOUGE, that he read fifteen chapters daily. Aim not so much as quantity as at regularity, so as daily to feed on the Word, and thus we shall experience its sustaining and controlling power. In the labors and cares of every-day duty, as well as in the temptations, we shall feel the benefit of such feeding on the Divine counsels in the Holy Word.

6. Study the design of each book. Errors and heresies generally arise from separating passages and reading them without regarding their relative bearing and connection, and applying a dogmatic meaning to them, instead of ever reading with the conviction that no one part and no one book can be opposed to any others, and that a spirit of unity pervades the whole.

7. Discern always the connection which is shown to exist between doctrine and duty, and strive after spiritual obedience. To receive right views of GOD, heaven, hell, the SAVIOUR, pardon and acceptance, will necessarily lead to right feelings, and where the affections and the heart are right, then right acting will follow. In other words, true doctrines, rightly apprehended, are inseparable from spiritual feelings and efforts after corresponding obedience. There is darkness in every mind where mere legality or notional formality prevails.

8. Remember that the Bible is given not only to teach, but to sustain under trial, and to cheer under affliction. This is a world of care, a scene of disappointments, bereavements, trials and distress. This is not the inheritance and the rest. Here the believer walks by faith, and the soul has to lean on an unseen stay, but a never-failing support. Of that support the Word is ever full, both of direction and promise. Read with faith and receive the promise with the simplicity and heartiness of a little child, and it will be found that the Lord is a present help in time of trouble. Study, then, the Word that teaches the soul how to cast the burden on the Lord.

9. Rely constantly on the teaching of the HOLY SPIRIT, and look for His gracious presence to shin on the Word and make the soul wise unto salvation. Remember that the "natural man receiveth not the things of the SPIRIT OF GOD. They are spiritually discerned." The HOLY GHOST has given the Word by His inspiration, and it is His office to interpret it to the soul, and to seal it on the heart. Ever look for that teaching. Read with humility, with a tender, docile spirit, being assured that if any man lack wisdom, let him ask of GOD, who giveth liberally, and it shall be given to him.