The Book Readers Guild: Orthodox Convictions of Ethereal Thinkers

Song of Songs 8:6,7, “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.” In my further reading, Viktor Frankl in “Man’s Search For Meaning” noted that he discovered an unassailable truth – that love is the “ultimate and the highest goal to which man can aspire”. He echoes Paul’s claim that love has ultimate value, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal”. The value of love is best understood when one considers John’s affirmation that “God is love” (1 Jn. 4:8b). Frankl goes on to say, “I grasped the meaning of the greatest secret that human poetry and human thought have to impart: The salvation of man is through love and in love. I

INTRODUCTION: This book edited by William Brown and published through Banner of Truth Trust in 1974, is remarkable writ. I use the term writ as this copy of the 1862 version summons us to bear witness to the passion and commanding pleas of Richard Baxter, not to mention the truths we can glean from such. Below I have attempted to provide a glimpse into the mind and heart of Richard Baxter. Keeping in mind that the points I make and questions I ask have passed through this man’s personal perspective with all its potential imperfections and distortions, not to mention limited knowledge and study. I ask therefore in advance that you please forgive any ignorance or ill wording discovered and, albeit kindly, enlighten us with your views. Lets begin. As I began to read The Reformed Pastor I soon discovered a man zealous for the Lord and deeply devoted to the Lord’s work. A passionate man of strong conviction surely cannot be contested. It soon became apparent though that Richard