C. Matthew McMahon
Christian Preacher
Repentance and Prayer by Ralph Brownrig (1592–1659)
Ralph Brownrig (1592–1659) was hailed as one of the greatest lights in the church in his day, was an excellent preacher, a rigid Calvinist, and was nominated to the Westminster Assembly (though he didn't attend).
The work is divided into four sermons, as it was originally published. They contain two foundational practical pillars of the Christian faith, and precisely show the work of saving repentance and the godly exercise of prayer explained in light of God’s presence, God’s blessing, and God’s provision.
Brownrig’s first sermon is on Joel 2:14, “Who knows if he will return and repent and leave a blessing behind him, even a meat-offering and a drink-offering unto the Lord our God?” He explains how the presence of God is found among a repentant people, or lost to a hypocritical people.
His second sermon is on Psalm 78:34-37, a psalm of remembrance on “God our Rock”, where he shows how true repentance works, and differs from the deficiency of illegitimate repentance.
His third sermon comprises the blessing and exercise of godly prayer, on Luke 11:13, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” God is the Christian’s Father, and in prayer Christ not only accepts, fulfills, and grants our requests, but when we ask amiss, he chooses to reward us with his best intentions for our good.
The fourth sermon (worth the volume alone) is from Luke 22:31-32, “And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat…” Here he explains the seasonable and gracious prediction by Christ of a great, coming temptation by Satan, and how Satan is thwarted by the sovereignty and providence of God. He shows how God uses temptations for the improvement of the saint’s welfare, and demonstrates how Christ keeps and preserves his church from finally falling away, or being overcome totally by the devil.
This work is not a scan or facsimile, and has been updated in modern English for easy reading. It also has an active table of contents for electronic versions.
Table of Contents
Introduction to this Volume by C. Matthew McMahon
Meet Ralph Brownrig Edited by C. Matthew McMahon
To the Reader by J.K.
Sermon 1: The Presence of God Among a Repentant People
Sermon 2: True, Spiritual and Saving Repentance
Sermon 3: The Exercise of Prayer
APPENDIX: A Sermon on Satan’s Sifting
Get the eBook pack here at Puritan Publications.
Get the Printed Book here at my Spotlight Page.
Get the Google Play Version here.
Get the Amazon versions here.
