Another Anniversary

Yes, I do know that today is the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birthday. I am not going to write about that because others will do that, and will surely provide better material than I would. I don't know much about the man Calvin; my exposure to Calvin, obviously comes through his theological legacy. Most of my growing understanding of Calvinism has come through writers such as R.C. Sproul and B.B. Warfield. I read through the first third of the Institutes earlier this year. I decided to take a break because I was falling behind with the reading schedule at Reformation 21, and I wanted to be able to follow along with the postings there. I will pick it up again after the summer, I think. One thing I really liked about it was Calvin's references to the history of the times, and how he refuted the allegations about his views and defended his position Scripturally.

But there is another anniversary this year that I have been reading about of late, and that is the Ulster Awakening of 1859. Earlier this year, I took out a subscription to the magazine that Banner of Truth puts out. The past few issues have contained excerpts from The Ulster Awakening by John Weir. Banner of Truth has an article here that gives a good picture of what the book is about. The Reverend Hugh Hanna was minister of Berry Street Presbyterian Church, and his letters are part of the excerpts that Banner of Truth has been re-printing. In talking about the good things that the awakening generated, Hanna commented on the decrease in drunkenness:

A higher argument and influence than they can wield, has regenerated the masses, and the absence of drunkenness from our streets — in markets, fairs, and on fair-days — is as marked as it is gratifying.

I like that; "a higher argument and influence."

I think I'd probably like to read this book, but I am working hard at reading what I have "on deck" that I know I should not purchase it .... yet.