Comprehension Questions:

1.  How do the following categories intersect: church member (baptized), non-church member, Christian, elect, non-elect?  Elect, Christian, and Church member (baptized).

2.  Explain why you cannot be a good Christian if you neglect the Church, using both chapters 25 & 26?  Because the Head of the Church is Christ and to neglect the Church is to neglect Christ; unless the Church is corrupt in its teachings… I hope that suffices. I couldn’t exactly get a good outlook on what they want in those two chapters. Maybe you can read in those chapters and see for yourself if ya want to… http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/index.html

3.  Why is church discipline (or censure) necessary?  Church censures are necessary, for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren, for preventing others from the like offenses, for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump, for justifying the honor of Christ, and the holy profession of the Gospel, and for preventing the wrath of God, which might justly fall upon the Church.

4.  What are the responsibilities of church councils?  To consult and advise about matters of religion: to determine controversies of faith, and cases of conscience; to set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God, and government of his Church; to receive complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the same

Why do you think it is important to have church governments above local churches?  The church government makes sure its "family" of churches are on the same page on their point of views concerning Scripture. As for the local churches, they go off on their own views; not having anybody to steer them in the right direction if heading down the wrong path. So, like the missionary churches have a "church government" where they come together and discuss their teachings and views and correct their wrongs, if any.

5.  From where does the authority of synods and councils come?  The Church officers and magistrate(s)

When may they be disregarded?  When related to civil affairs which concern the commonwealth

6.  Is it enough for Christians to believe in the immortality of the soul?  Not only believing in the immortality of the soul, but Heaven, upon which the soul is sent after departure. There, the soul if judged by God to either enter the Kingdom of Heaven or be thrown into the pits of hell.

7.  Who will be resurrected on the last day?  At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed: and all the dead shall be raised up, with the selfsame bodies, and none other (although with different qualities), which shall be united again to their souls forever.

8.  How is the nature of God revealed in the last judgment?  The manifestation of the glory of His mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of His justice, in the ****ation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient

9.  Can (or should) we predict when Christ will return?  No, but we must be alert and prepared.

Egypt: The Art of the Immortality

            Ramesses II was the third Egyptian of the nineteenth dynasty. He ruled from 1279 to 1213 B.C. and was one of the greatest Egyptian pharaohs to reign. He was born in 1303 BC (possibly February 22^nd) as the second child to the pharaoh Seti I and his queen Tuya. He had one sibling, a sister Princess Tia. At age 14, he was appointed by his father as Prince Regent. He reigned in his father’s place in 1279 BC. His reign lasted 67 years, longest reign of the pharaohs. He married eight women barring the title Great Royal wives and had countless others and sired more then 100 children. Nefertari was one of his wives, the most famous and important of his consorts. The tomb of Nefertari is referred to as one of the greatest achievements of Egyptian art.

            Ramesses II is known for the Battle of Kedash. He built the city Per-Ramesses for the manufacturing of the weapons, shields, and chariots. The time came to march out to battle. He was tricked by some spies, who told him Hittite king was miles away. The spies were forced to tell them the King and his thousands of armies were just beyond the valley waiting to attack. Ramesses hardly had time to gather his divided army before the enemy attacked. The battle was crazy, both gaining nothing. Ramesses had to retreat back, for the battle loss. A peace treaty was later made between the two countries, dating to be the first peace treaty ever accomplished.

            Ramesses II died in 1213 BC and buried in the Valley of the Kings. He was later moved to the mummy cache at Deir el-Bahri. His mummy was discovered in 1881. They examined the mummy and scientific analysis revealed battle wounds and old fractures, as well as the pharaoh's arthritis and poor circulation. His last years, he suffered arthritis in his back, causing a hunched back. Also, the mummy was found to still have hair, red hair in fact.

            Franz Peter Schubert was born in Vienna, Austria in January 31, 1797. His parents were Franz Theodor Florian and Elizabeth Vietz Schubert. His father taught at his schoolhouse on the Himmelpfortgrund. He taught Franz little of what he knew of music. At age seven, his first instructor was Michael Holzer; he did little to improve his knowledge on music, but gave him the opportunity to practice on many beautiful fortes in a warehouse.

            October 1808, he attended Stadtkonvikt as a pupil {the Imperial religious boarding house} through a scholarship. He played in an amateur orchestra, with him and his two brothers and father. Franz played the viola. A man named Antonio Salieri recognized his talent and gave him lessons to improve his knowledge of composition. During his time at the boarding house, Franz wrote his first of nearly his thousand written compositions; his first symphony (D. 82), a cantata (D. 110), and an octet for wind instruments (D. 72/72a). This was said to commemorate the death of his mother in 1812.

            1813, left school and became a teacher at his father’s school. A couple years later in 1816, a man named Franz von Schober offered Franz to leave and lodge with him. He did so and gave lessons of music there.  But he later stopped giving lessons and devoted himself to just writing compositions.

            Schubert hardly performed in public. He was known, though, for throwing the best of parties, there did he perform. Though he wrote nearly a thousand compositions, his work was appreciated years after his death. And it is very impressive composing as much as he did dieing at the age of only 31. And I must add he was only 5’ 1 ½’’.

            Franz had fallen in love with a young girl, Therese Grob; she had an excellent soprano voice and sang Franz’s first completed mass {Mass in F (D.105)}. They were to marry in 1816, but were refused by a law concerning the male needing enough to provide for a family. Unfortunately, Franz was and always had been broke and couldn’t exactly afford to marry. They were forced to part and Franz was absolutely heartbroken.

            Schubert, with the help of his friends, got his work out in public. One of them, Johann Michael Vogl, a famous baritone, sang some of his songs in salons in Vienna. Franz did however perform at parties. The Sonnleithner family was kind enough to let Franz have free access to their home. They even threw many parties on his behalf. There, he was the life of the party and performed his works while people danced and listened and had a good ‘ole time.

            The remainder of Franz’s life is little known but through his works, and there is plenty of them. The reason being his wrote so many songs, I believe, is that that was the only thing he really did in his life. He had no real on-going job; his friends willingly helped him out whenever money was an issue.

            In 1820, Franz began on his unfinished oratorio, “Lazarus”. Also, the Quartettsatz in C minor (D. 703), “Wanderer fantasy” for piano (D. 760), and two operas: Die Zwillingsbrüder (D.647) on June 14, and Die Zauberharfe (D.644) on August 19. He had little amateur orchestra play hi works. A man named Antonio Diabelli hesitantly agreed to publish some of Franz work. The process was later ceased and Franz began to receive the meager pittance, which were all the publishing house ever accorded to him. The public just didn’t seem to be drawn in as easy.

            In 1822-1825 were Franz’s darkest years. Nothing seemed to go right and no one would take in his works. Several operas were rejected, or stopped the performances within days of release. Though, Franz did in 1823 did his first song cycle, Die schöne Müllerin, after poems by Wilhelm Müllen. He also began his “Unfinished” Symphony {Symphony No. 8 in B minor (D. 759)} in 1822. No one is for certain exactly why he never completed it. He also composed Mass in A flat (D. 678).

            1825 and onward were brighter years for Franz. For 1825, a pleasant holiday was being celebrated in Upper Austria and to his surprise Franz was welcomed with delight. 1826, completed Symphony No. 9 (D. 944), but as later refurbished for performance in ’28. He completed “Death and the Maiden”, String Quartet in D minor (D. 894, Op. 78) in winter of 1825-26. Following year, Fantasia for piano and violin in C (D. 934) and Song for Miriam, Mass in E flat (D. 956).

            Franz had been sick with syphilis in 1822. His health declined since. He came down with other symptoms, most likely the typhoid fever to end it. There was also a hint of mercury poisoning as well. Franz Schubert died at age 31 on November 19, 1828. At 3 p.m., “someone observed that he had ceased to breathe.” He had been staying in the care of his brother, Ferdinand at the time in his apartment in Vienna. At his request, he was buried next to Beethoven in the Währing cemetery. His remains was moved, along with Beethoven’s, to the Zentralfriedhof in 1888. In 1872, a memorial was erected to Franz Schubert in Vienna’s Stadtpark.

Writing: The Sacraments. 

The Sacraments, to me, are the union of God and man. They are performed for the presentation of Christ being in us and His benefits of Him dwelling in us. The two sacraments which are celebrated are the Lord’s Supper and the baptism. They are the holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace.

            Baptism is a way of saying “I’m in!” Being baptized is the newness of being a Christian. It signifies one as regenerated, the forgiveness of sins, and the giving up one’s life to follow after Christ. It is to be done with the pouring or sprinkling of water. The renewed person is to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit by a minister in the Gospel.

            It is not tied into the regeneration of a person; one can meet Jesus after giving up his life and still not baptized. Baptism to me is just a signification of one being truly reborn and cleansed. Yet, refusing to be baptized is a sin; this is disobedience toward Jesus’ instructions. Also, the baptism is of the Lord. In other words, a newly reborn Christian does not need water for baptism right away. It is of the Lord’s time and will be done when is necessary. Baptism should be done once by one person in his lifetime.

            The Lord’s Supper is a way of saying we are still one with Christ and continue to grow in Him. It is also a remembrance of Christ’s crucifixion the cross. “…This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me…This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” – Romans 11:24-25. Christ is not offered up to His Father. Christ offered Himself by Himself for all. On the night before His crucifixion, He used the bread being His body and the wine His blood; as it says in Matthew 26: 28: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

The Lord’s Supper is celebrated by communion: taking and eating the bread and drinking the wine. His followers take in the elements by faith and spiritually receiving and feeding upon Christ crucified, and all benefits of His death. Transubstantiation is the view of the bread and wine of Christ actually becoming the body and blood of Christ when in prayer by the pope. This view, I and the Confession states, is false. It goes against Scripture and cancels out common sense, as well.

And such as the refusing of the baptism, it is a sin when one does not take the Lord’s Supper seriously. One is committing sin when one does not have faith and yet takes the bread and wine.

            Ludwig van Beethoven was born on December 16, 1770 in Bonn, Germany. His parents were Johann and Magdelena Keverich van Beethoven. His father was his first tutor in his early years. Unfortunately, his father was an alcoholic. Beethoven did become a tenor singer in the Electoral Court.

            1779, Beethoven became the protégé of Christian Gottlob Neefe. He taught Ludwig composition. In 1781, he was an assistant organist and in ’84, a paid employee of the court chapel. Beethoven’s first three piano sonatas were published in 1783. The Elector, Maximilian Franz recognized his talents and helped support him through his couple rough years to come.

            1787, traveled to Vienna, but cut short by his mother’s poor health, who later died. He had to stay home for the next several years to take care of his younger brothers, for his father went head-over-heels in his alcohol addiction. Beethoven even got legal order by which half of his father’s income paid to himself for family support. Beethoven also pursued a violin career in the court orchestra.

            With the help of the Elector, Beethoven went to Vienna in 1792. There he studied performed piano concertos. He was under the teaching of Haydn, but he left in 1794 to England. Beethoven stayed in Vienna with the help of other financial supporters.

            Ludwig had his first public performance in Vienna, 1795, with the Second Piano Concerto. Same year, the first of his compositions were published, to which he assigned an opus number, the piano trios of Opus 1. In 1800-02, he wrote the First and Second Symphonies; and in 1800, his first six quartets.

            1801, Beethoven’s hearing began to fail him. He suffered a severe case of tinnitus. The actual cause is unknown, but many say it is of high levels of lead poisoning. Because of this mishap, Beethoven became depressed and had suicide on his mind. He moved out of Vienna to Heiligenstadt, a small Austrian town.

            The “Middle period” (or “Heroic”) began in Beethoven’s lifetime after his hearing left him, in 1802. He declared he wanted something different in his work. He started out with “Eroica” Symphony in E flat. Later he composed the opera Fidelio, Third through Eight Symphonies, string quartets 7-11, the Violin Concerto, and the Waldstein and Appassionata piano sonatas. In 1812, Beethoven’s “middle period” ended with his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies and third version of Fidelio. During this time, Beethoven’s popularity was at its peak. Beethoven turned to writing many string quartets. He wrote Fourteenth Quartet, op. 131 in C# Minor, which is said to be his greatest work in Schubert’s view.

            Beethoven wrote the last few Quartets during his failing health. His last completed work was the final movement of the Thirteenth Quartet. 1821, Beethoven caught a serious case of jaundice, a sign of his liver failure. In 1825, he was bedridden and ill for a month. He soon recovered, only in December of 1826 he fell ill again, having four minor operations to relieve ascites. Unfortunately he fell into an unconscious state dieing that same day on March 26, 1827. He was buried in the Währinger cemetery, west of Vienna. His remains were then moved in 1888 to the Zentralfriedhof.

            Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria on January 27, 1756 to Leopold and Maria Anna Pertl Mozart. His father, Leopold, was a music teacher; the deputy Kapellmeister to the court orchestra of the Archbishop in Salzburg. He recognized Wolfgang’s talents early. Leopold taught the child music his first few years. Mozart is said to have written two compositions by age five.

            Mozart began touring Europe with his father in 1762, starting in Munich at the Court of the Elector of Bavaria, then the Imperial Court I Vienna and Prague. Then another tour involving Paris, London, Mannheim, and Munich for 3 and a half years. London, he met Johann Christian Bach. He was one of the greatest influences on Mozart. Mozart then performed in Vienna in 1767 and remained there until the end of 1768, there catching smallpox.

            Mozart took on three tours in Italy. During those tours he wrote three opera pieces: Mitridate Rè di Ponto (1770), Ascanio in Alba (1771), and Lucio Silla (1772). All performed in Mulin. There he also became an important member of the Academia Filarmonica of Bologna.

            1777, Mozart toured accompanied with his mother through Europe. Unfortunately, his mother died the following year. Mozart did though met and almost married Aloysia Weber, but broke the relationship with him. He ended up marrying her sister, Constanze Weber {1763-1842} on August 4, 1782. They had six children, only two boys survived childhood.

            1782, Mozart became the Konzertmeister for the Archbishop Colloredo. Yet, it did not work out between the two, so Mozart became a freelance in his music career. In 1781, his first great opera work, Idomeneo, was performed in Munich. 1783, completed Mass in C Minor in Salzburg, having his wife be the lead female solo voice piece. This is said to have written to please Mozart’s father, whom did not appreciate their marriage or Constanze herself.

            1782, mozart became acquainted with Haydn. Together they played in string quartets. They both praised each other, and Mozart dedicated to him six sets of quartets. During these years, Mozart had been performing solo in piano concertos, making a nice sizable porfit. These were also the last years Mozart really did a lot of composing and performing.

            1789, Mozart toured with his patron Prince Karl Lichnowsky. They went to Prague, Berlin, Leipzig, and Dresden. In Prague, said to be Mozart’s favorite city, he performed for the King of Prussia himself. In Dresden, he performed for Elector Friedrich August III of Saxony and wife Amalie. That trip earned him a snuff-box with 100 ducats.

            Mozart’s death has never revealed itself. Many have their opinions on how he died, such as of illness or poisoned by someone. The illness that could have taken him was rheumatic fever. He had caught it several times as a child. The sickness does have a tendency to reoccur and leaving damages of rampant infections and heart valve damage. So, he did die on December 5, 1791. His burial is even unknown. Mozart had been writing on a piece, Requiem, before his death. It was never completed.

Text Analysis:

1.  What are the types of law, and which apply to us?  The ten commandments consists of two types of law: the first four commandments containing our duty towards God; and the other six, our duty to man

What is the purpose of this law in the Covenant of Grace? 

2.  What are Christians liberated from?  From the guilt of sin, and condemning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law; and, in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin; from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlasting ****ation.

What are they liberated to?  To God, and their yielding obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear, but a child-like love and willing mind.

3.  When and why are we obligated to follow human commands and traditions?  We are to follow their commands and such, unless it involves disobedience toward God.

4.  According to the Confession, must every aspect of worship be explicitly commanded in Scripture?  Do you agree with the Confession?  What does it mean for something to be “explicitly commanded”?  I'm not exactly sure what they mean by this...

5.  Suppose you have a friend who says, “I love Sundays - after church I can relax and have the whole afternoon to myself.”  According to the Confession, is he keeping the Sabbath? Why or why not?  No, for as I see it, he is having the whole Sunday afternoon revolving around him and not of praising God; for that is what the Sabbath {or Sundays} are for, praising God.

6.  When, if ever, are we obligated to take an oath?  Upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calls God to witness what he asserts, or promises, and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he swears.

A vow?  When out of faith, and conscience of duty, in way of thankfulness for mercy received, or for the obtaining of what we want, whereby we more strictly bind ourselves to necessary duties.

Progymnasmata

Mistress Anne Askew, daughter of Sir William Askew, Knight of Lincolnshire

            “I for one must start off as to say I have not described or condemned the priests of the papal of any evil nature. Christopher Dare himself only put words into my mouth. For, my only point was to get a crossed, was I would refer to read five lines from the Scriptures instead of hearing five masses. All I was saying was I find it more appealing in the Bible than of their lips.

            “Sir Dare, who hath questioned me on this opinion of mine he heard of, referred to my point as ‘if the evil priest ministered, it was the devil not God’. I only answered him I had said no such thing. In turn, I did tell him the evil priest’s ministry fell on deaf ears and did not hurt my faith, for it is in spirit that I receive the good news of Christ.”

A question to consider:

·        What are repentance and faith, and what are their roles in salvation and in the Christian life?  Repentance: the act of giving up sinful behavior; Faith: the act of believing in something one cannot see. Salvation rests in these to acts. One must repent and then have faith in the one they repented to.

Text Analysis:

1.    From where does faith come?  The work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts.

2.       What exactly is involved in “having faith”?  To believe what is written in the Word and acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come.

3.       How are people moved to repentance?  The sinner realizes his sinful behavior and so grieves for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God.

4.      Does salvation depend on true repentance?  Yes.

5.    To whom must we confess our sin?  To God.

Franz Joseph Haydn was born in an Austria village, Rohrau, on March 31, 1732 to Mathias and Maria Koller Haydn. His father was a wheelwright and a town official. He also was the musical type. Though both could not read music, his father taught himself the harp. They recognized Joseph’s music talents and had him stay with a relative, Johann Matthias Franck, at the age of six in Hainburg.

            Franck took Haydn in a taught him little of music and composition. In 1740, the director of music in St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Georg von Reutter recognized Haydn’s talents and signed him up. There Haydn worked for him for the next nine years.

            1749, Haydn was let go, and stayed with a friend for a few months. He pursued the career of a freelance musician, being a music teacher and later becoming the valet-accompanist for Italian composer, Nicola Porpora. There he learned of “the true fundamentals of composition”. As a chorister, he composed an opera, Del Krumme Teufel, “The Limping Devil”. It was a big hit in 1753, but shut down by the censors.

            The Countess of Thun had heard of Haydn and hired him for her keyboard and singing teacher. He was recommended to Baron Carl Joseph Furnberg, then to Count Morzin. With Count Morzin, he picked up his first full job as a Kapellmeister.

            1757, Haydn became Kapellmeister for Count Morzin. He was the music director and led the count’s small orchestra and wrote his first symphonies. In 1760, he married Maria Anna Aloysia Apollonia Keller {1729-1800}. Unfortunately, they led an unhappy marriage with no children. 1761, Count Morzin was dealing with financial problems and let Haydn go, but found a similar job as Vice Kapellmeister for the Esterhazy family, one of the wealthiest and important families in Austrian country. In 1766 he succeeded as head Kapellmeister when former Gregor Werner died.

            There Haydn wrote more compositions, such as Paris symphonies {85-86} and the Seven Last Words of Christ {86}. 1784, he became acquainted with Mozart. They both praised each other’s work, and Mozart dedicated a set of six quartets to him.

            Prince Nikolaus died {former pupil of the Esterhazy family} and was succeeded by an unmusical prince. Haydn was given a pension and let go. A German impresario, Johann Peter Salomon, offered Haydn to visit England and conduct new symphonies with his large orchestra. Here, the public loved him. He visited England in 1791-2 and also in 1794-5, composing Surprise, Military, Rider quartet, and Gypsy Rondo piano trio. Between his visits to England he was acquainted with and was the apprentice of Ludwig van Beethoven. Though, he did not stay around long for they did not get along well.

            1795, Haydn moved to Vienna and bought his own large house there. He composed of religious works for chorus and orchestra: such as two oratorios, the Creation and the Seasons, and six masses dedicated to the Esterhazy family. He also composed instrumental pieces.

            1802, an illness Haydn had been dealing with took a serious turn. The illness allowed him to not compose anymore. He later died in 1809, March 31^st. His last moments were of the attack on Vienna made by Napoleon’s French army. It said his last words were of comforting of his servants from the sound of canons.

The hanging gardens of Babylon. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was built by Nebachadnezzar II in 600 B.C. Some say it was to fulfill the longing and homesickness of his wife, Amytis of Media, who grew up with trees and plants everywhere. It was later destroyed by an earthquake in the first century B.C.

            The fortress was said to be 75 feet high, by the poets of its time. the walls were recorded as 25-32 feet in thickness.The where abouts of the actual existing place is unknown, archaeologists did uproot walls of 25 feet thickness. The Hanging Gardens itself may not exist, a figment of poetic creation. The exact place would be east of the Euphrates River, 50 km from Bahgdad, Iraq.

            One of the Seven Wonder of the Ancient World: Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Great Pyramid of Giza, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Temple of Artemis, Mausoleum of Maussollos, Colossus of Rhodes, Lighthouse of Alexandria.

          George Frideric Handal was born on February 23, 1685 to Georg and Dorothea (nee Taust) Handal in Halle, Germany at Saxony-Anhalt. His father was a barber-surgeon who wanted his son to study law. His mother on the other hand, encouraged him on his music talents. George was skilled on the harpsichord and pipe organ by age seven and was composing music by age nine.

          1702, Handal went to University of Halle to study law to please his father. Year later, his father passed and he quit the university. He became the organist at Protestant Cathedral. Later moved to Hamburg to become a violinist in a orchestra of the opera house. There he wrote two operas: Almira and Nero in early 1705 and Daphne and Florindo in 1708.

          He moved to Italy, but the local authorities banned opera. So, he found a job as a composer of sacred music and wrote pieces in operatic style: Dixit Dominus in ’07, Rodrigo in Florence in ’07, and Agrippina in Venice in ’09. He also wrote two oratorios in Rome: La Resurrezione in ’09 and Il Trionfo del Tempo in ’10.

          One of his famous works Water Music was written in 1717. He wrote it for King George I. He held a concert on River Thames on a boat w/ other musicians. He liked Handal’s piece so much, he had him play it three more times. Messiah is considered Handal’s most famous work. Messiah is a oratorio written in 1741. It was first performed in Dublin on April the 13^th of 1742. The choir contained 26 boys and 5 men.

          April of 1737, Handal had a s stroke, leaving him paralysed in the right arm, cutting his performing years over at age 52. He also claimed he had problems with his eyesight. He later became blind in one eye in 1751 and the other followed.

          George Frideric Handal died in London on April 14^th, 1759. He was mourned by 3,000 attendants and buried in Westminster Abbey. He never married and he lead a rather private life. He left an estate in London and tons of money he gave to a niece in Germany and other gifts to relations, friends, and charities. He was one of the big influences of the younger musicians in his time, such as Mozart and Beethoven and Haydn.

          His music is rather relaxing. Not like Bach or Haydn. They have a soothing melody for the clam soul.

hey gma,  I was to write an essay on "free will and sovereignty of God" for westminster on session IV. I did write it, but the microsoft word I wrote it on won't let me bring it up, some kind of error. I'll get mom to help me, but she is with Carter and mom doesn't like to be disturbed when carter is on a roll with completing his school. So, if I can bring it up I'll post it.  k?

love ya  Paigie

Question to Consider:

* How do people display their faith?  By showing love, compassion, etc, etc, etc of other emotions from the heart. By dying for their faith and what they believe, like the martyrs. By doing anything they can to spread their own faith and beliefs to others.

Text Analysis:

1.  Compare Hooper's response to the first persecution he faced and the second:  His first, he claimed he was marride and did not believe in the sacraments. The second, he claimed the Roman Catholic Church was not the true church at all. {?}

What did John Hooper say to those who were urging him to flee the country after Mary became Queen?  "Once I did flee, but now I am thoroughly prepared to face what lies ahead. I will live and I will die with my sheep."

2.  What did Hooper say to Anthony Kingston when Kingston urged him to save his life by considering that "life is sweet and death is bitter"?  That the death to come is more bitter, and the life to come is more sweet.

How does this reflect his faith?  He has faith a small as a mustard seed {Jesus' quote}. In other words, he is confident he is going to live eternally in Heaven.

3.  Which martyr's faith and trust in the Lord has most struck you to this point and why?  John Wycliffe; he was one of the first men who stood up to the Roman church. Yet, he wasn't executed for His faith, so I'll pick one who did.  John Hooper; he amazes me how he stood his ground and didn't flee when Mary vecame queen. How he endured the long, horrid years in prison.

Cultural Analysis:

1. Where does our culture encourage us to place our trust and confidence?  In our job and money, family, government/politics.

Comprehension Questions:

1.  What makes sinners change their lives and begin to put faith in Christ?  The Holy Spirit renewing sinners minds and allowing them to react to the calling and embrace the grace offered.

On what basis does God choose the elect?  Infants dying and those who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.

2.  Are we justified by faith alone? No, it is acompanied by other saving graces.

Does our faith justify us?  Yes.

3.  How does salvation display both grace and justification?  both the exact justice, and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.

4.  Can someone be "un-justified"?  No, but they can fall under God's displeasure and are sinners til repentance.

5.  How did faith and justification change from the Old to the New Testament?  It did not change.

6.  What does it mean to be "adopted" by God?  God takes the justified in as His own, giving them the liberties and privileges of children of God.

{put in own words} How is it different from justification?  When receiving justification, one is saved from the clutches of death and is now free. The adoption of God, one receives the rewards and riches of being justified. The action: justification, then the reward: adoption {of God}

7.  What is sanctification?  The decision of answering the call and the renewal of the heart and being regenerated w/ a new spirit.

Are Christians sanctified by good works?  No, good works does not gain sanctification.

8.  When are we fully sanctified?  When we overcome our weaknesses and our corruptions

Comprehension Questions:

1.  What three points may we derive from Jesus' statements about the church in Matthew 16:18?  One, He will have a Church in this world; two, The Chuech will be mightily attacked; and three, none of the devil's attacks will ever destroy the Church.

2.  List ten persecutions of the early church: Luke, Mark, Bartholomew, Peter, James, Thomas, Paul, Andrew, Stephen, and Jude

3.  What three important events marked Constantine's reign?  He was the first Christian emperor of Rome, he made Christianity a lawful religion, and he founded the city of Constantinople.

4.  How long did Christians enjoy relative peace in the Western Roman Empire that Constantine established?  For more than a thousand years.

5.  Prior to the is period, the persecutions against God's peiple came from pagans; from whence did they come after this period?  The papal and the inquisition.

6.  Who were the Waldenses? Peter Waldo and his followers who opposed the Roman Catholic chuch.

7.  Briefly describe the Inquisition. When was it instituted? What was its purpose? What means did it use to accomplish its ends? The Inquisition was founded in 1231. It was to bring in heretics {and other charges}, bring them before the church court, question them, and if found guilty burned. The accused were also tortured beyond belief.

8.  Who was John Wycliffe?  Englander, Oxford scholar and philosopher, a Christian who sood firm on His beliefs.

Who were the Lollands?  Wycliffe and his followers, opposed the Roman Catholic church.

9.  Which English Reformer influenced both John Huss and Jerome of Prague?  John Wycliffe

What were the chief ways in which his writings influenced them?  Wycliffe's rejecion of the pope being the full authority, the Scriptures are the full authority of the Church; the church's doctrine of transubstantiation; every Christian should have a Bible in their own native tongue; and his insistence on extensive reforms in the wealth, abuses, and corruption of the Roman church.

10.  In which country did both John Huss and Jerome of Prague minister?  Bohemia

11.  Who was the first preacher of the Reformed faith in Scotland?  George Wishart

12.  What burning desire motivated the life and labors of William Tyndale?  The translation of the Bible from Latin to English.

Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, is located in the Pacific, west of South America. The island has a population 4,000. Among them are the Stone Giants. These stone giants number about 887. The islanders call them "moai". The average giant weighs 14 tons and stands 13 feet tall with their backs to the sea. The tallest recorded, by archaeologist Jo Anne Van Tilburg, was 71.93 feet tall and weighing 145 tons. This also includes the styand the heads are placed on. And also some have a "hat" on the heads.

The Stone Giants were erected in 1400 ot 1600 AD. Many believe the giants symbolize rulers and powerful poeple of the island. And it is still a mystery of how the islanders moved the statues from the extinct volcano to their destined place, called a 'ahu'.

Cultural Analysis:

1.  How do other religions and our secular culture describe and explain sin and guilt? Do they teach that people are basically good or basically bad? That people, on their own, can be good?  I don't acknowledge the thoughts and views of the world. Probably though, many people believe people rebel and become "bad" for whatever circumstances they are confronting...  If this doesn' t make sense then just forget it. I really don't know the secular's views. And plus Mom says some of these questions are dumb anyway.

2.  How do other religions, such as Islam and Buddhism, try to relate their gods to man?  How do secular gods (such as the secular democratic state) relate to their worshippers?  Are the relationships based on works or grace?  I do not know. I have never encountered a muslim or looked into their religion and such.

3.  Many liberal Christians believe that Christ's life and death "save" us because He gave us an example of how to live rightly. What is wrong with this view?  Ok, Christ's life and death save us through knowing Him personally and following those examples. Not just good deeds

Text Analysis:

1.  Why did God allow the human race to fall into sin?  God allowed such a Fall, so man will be able to develop a relationship with Him through His son. (?)

2.  What were the effects of the Fall?  The Fall brung sin which led to guilt and shame. It also brought upon mankind death {mortality}.

3.  According to the Confession, what were the two major covenants God made with man?  One, the covenant of works. Two, the covenant of grace.

4.  What is the role of Christ in God's relationship with man? Christ is the mediator

5.  Why must Christ be both God and man? How is His double nature not a contradiction?  He must take on the human nature and be sinless {making Him God in human flesh,... duh} to redeem man. 

6.  What did Christ accomplish with His earthly life, death and resurrection?  Christ made way an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven for  His followers and also reconciliation.

7.  Who is saved by Christ's death and resurrection?  All who accept His death and resurrection as truth and claims Him the Son of God.