The Book Readers Guild: Orthodox Convictions of Ethereal Thinkers

Removing the Veil “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” —   Hebrews 10:19 — Excerpts from Chapter Three: “ Among the famous sayings of the Church fathers none is better know than Augustine’s “Thou  hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”” ““Question: What is the chief End of Man? Answer: Man’s chief End is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” … With this agree the four and twenty elders who fall on their faces to worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, saying, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”“ “So the life of man upon the earth is a life away from the Presence, wrenched loose from that “blissful center” which is our right and proper dwelling place, our first estate which we kept not, the loss of which is the cause of our unceasing...

The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” —   Matthew 5:3 — Excerpts from Chapter Two: “ Before the Lord God made man upon the earth He first prepared for him by creating a world of useful and pleasant things for his sustenance and delight. In the Genesis account of the creation these are called simply “things.” They were made for man’s uses, but they were meant always to be external to the man and subservient to him. In the deep heart of the man was a shrine where none but God was worthy to come. Within him was God; without, a thousand gifts which God had showered upon him.” “Our woes began when God was forced out of His central shrine and “things” were allowed to enter. Within the human heart “things” have taken over. Men have now by nature no peace within their hearts, for God is crowned there no longer, but there in the moral dusk stubborn and aggressive usurpers fight among themsel...

Following Hard After God “My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” — Psalm 63:8 — Excerpts from Chapter One: “ Christian theology teaches the doctrine of prevenient grace, which briefly stated means this, that before a man can seek God, God must first have sought the man.” “We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit. “No man can come to me,” said our Lord, “except the Father which hath sent me draw him,” and it is by this very prevenient drawing that God takes from us every vestige of credit for the act of coming. The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him; and all the time we are pursuing Him we are already in His hand: “Thy right hand upholdeth me.”“ “The modern scientist has lost God amid the wonders of His world; we Christians are in real danger of losing God amid the wonders of His Word. … Reli...

“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, oh God.” - Psalm 42 verse 1 - Forward “ There is deep insight, sobriety of style, and a catholicity of outlook that is refreshing. The author has few quotations but he knows the saints and mystics of the centures—Augustine, Nicholas of Cusa, Thomas a Kempis, von Hegel, Finney, Wesley and many more. The ten chapters are heart searching and the prayers at the close of each are for the closet, not pulpit. I felt the nearness of God while reading them.” Dr. Samuel M. Zwemer “The Pursuit of God was the fruit of A. W. Tozer’s spiritual exploration into the essence of God’s nature. What resulted from the efforts of this obscure pastor from the Southside of Chicago has left a profound mark on the evangelical church. The 1949 publication of this book thrust Tozer into a respected position of spiritual leadership that he maintained for the remainder of his life. Tozer’s ministry became a spir...

“For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer.” L UKE 1 7 : 2 4 - 2 5 The Lord Jesus [will be] revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire. 2 T H E S S A L O N I A N S 1 : 7 – 8 T HE A PPEARING OF THE G LORY OF O UR G REAT G OD AND S AVIOR The Second Coming of Jesus Christ Excerpts from the Chapter: “ A t his first coming, Christ partook of flesh and blood so that “through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death . . . and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14-15). He will appear a second time to save those who are eagerly waiting for him (Hebrews 9:28). The time is coming when faith will be swallowed up by sight. For now, “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). But at the last trumpet, when the dead are raised and we are changed ...