Roger Nicole on Polemic Theology

Gillian Law pointed me to this essay by Roger Nicole on Polemic Theology, which in my view is another 'must read' for us young theologians. Here's an extract:

When we give due attention to what we owe those who differ and what we can learn from them, we may be less inclined to proceed in a hostile manner. Our hand will not so readily contract into a boxing fist, but will be extended as an instrument of friendship and help; our feet will not be used to bludgeon another, but will bring us closer to those who stand afar; our tongue will not lash out in bitterness and sarcasm, but will speak words of wisdom, grace and healing. (Proverbs 10:20, 21; 13:14; 15:1; 24; 26; 25:11; James 3)

Baxter's directions for thankfulness

I've been enjoying dipping into Richard Baxter's Christian Directory. Here are some extracts from his directions on thankfulness:

Grand Direct. XIV. 'Let Thankfulness to God thy Creator, Redeemer, and Regenerator, be the very temperament of thy soul, and faithfully expressed by
thy tongue and life.'

Direct. II. 'Let the greatness of the manifold mercies of God, be continually before your eyes.'

Direct. III. 'Be well acquainted with the greatness of your sins, and sensible of them as they are the aggravation of God's mercies to you.'

Direct. V. 'Suppose you saw the damned souls, or suppose you had been one day in hell yourselves, bethink you then how thankful you would have been for Christ and mercy.'

Direct. VIII. 'Compare thy proportion of mercies with the rest of the people's in the world; and thou wilt find that it is not one of many thousands that hath thy proportion.'

Direct. IX. 'Compare the mercies which thou wantest with those which thou possessest, and observe how much thy receivings are greater than thy sufferings.'

Direct. X. 'Bethink thee how thou wouldst value thy mercies, if thou wert deprived of them.' - The want of them usually teachest us most effectually to esteem them.