Devotional

Timothy East’s practical book is intended to, “disturb the false peace of the criminally indifferent… impart consolation to the conscientiously fearful, (and to) excite to higher degrees of gratitude the comparatively few, who know that they are safe for eternity.”

29 Sep 2022

“For nearly [three] hundred years Starck’s Daily Handbook has been a standard book of devotion; and it is not likely to be superseded by anything superior for many years to come. First published in 1728, it was at once received with great favor. As new editions were demanded, the original dimensions of the work were increased by the addition of other prayers, until finally, in the edition of 1776, edited by the son of J. F. Starck, the book appeared in its completed form, containing prayers for almost every conceivable time and emergency.

4 May 2022

“Once family devotions were general, now they are rare… Yet the need of spiritual adjustment is ever the same… But how and when? Why not the breakfast table? Surely one or two minutes may be spared. Thirty seconds of silence, then the reading of a noble sentiment from some one who has been thinking for us,—another pause,—and a few words of prayer, framed by some one with more leisure than we have, but who puts us in the mood of prayer and so starts us right upon the duties of the day,—this will bring the needed readjustment.

2 Mar 2022

“[Luther] felt that many things were wanting in this extemporaneous explication… But as he was satisfied that the sense and substance of each Psalm were everywhere faithfully given, and that a very important part of the true religion was here copiously handled; he was, under these assurances, the more willing to overlook any thing that might be wanting in the way of greater correctness, and loftier language and expression.”

3 Feb 2022

“Jesus was asked by one of his disciples (Luke 11:2), not one of the twelve, but a more recent follower, who had not been present at the first giving of the prayer, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ It is a suggestive fact that the Lord did not find it necessary to give any further instruction or any substitute or improvement but repeated the answer He had already given, and thus distinctly authorized the use of what we call the Lord’s Prayer, not only as a model, but as a fixed form. ‘And He said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven.’ Here, once for all, is given justification, nay, even command, for the devout and fervent use of forms of prayer.” — Charles Armond Miller

12 Jan 2022

Prayers for all different types of situations easily accessible for use as needed. Keep it on your smartphone or laptop. You might also find True Christianity by John Arndt and Starck’s Daily Handbook useful.

25 Nov 2021

Samuel Laird (1835-1913) “…belonged to a group of stalwart preachers and leaders whose influence could not be confined to a congregation or a city or a synod. Among them were numbered such men as Krauth, Krotel, Mann, Spaeth, the Schaeffers, Schmucker, Seiss, Greenwald, Passavant. They rose into prominence at a time when Lutheranism in its English form was passing through a crisis because it had in large measure forgotten the rock whence it was hewn and the pit whence it was digged.”

27 Oct 2021

“There are many who would be saved, but they will not do that which is required in order to be saved, namely, to endure… and to walk in the grace vouchsafed to the end. They wish blessedness in Christ; but they also wish to be merry, or rich, or admired in this world. Hence they may believe in Christ; but withal they love the world, thinking that they can find some joy and blessedness in both. But they will lose both and be eternally wretched.”

28 Jul 2021

“If any clergyman needs a spiritual guide, let him choose Scriver. He is the preacher for preachers, full of consolation and encouragement to the well-meaning, but a storm of hail to the faithless and slothful pastor.”

9 Apr 2021

“Amid other employments in this the evening of his long and useful life, Mr. East has, we think, been wisely guided to revise and publish these remarkable pastoral experiences. They include some exceedingly interesting cases of conversion and spiritual revival.” — John Macfarlane, from the Introduction.

18 Feb 2021