28 February 2006

Spucatum tauri: A poke at secularism

Well Done: B.B. Warfield


B. B. Warfield (1851-1921)

One of Christianity's quiet champions, a writer and teacher, and a Husband above all else. And yet Warfield despised any truce bought at the price of compromise or surrender. A lady once met him during the week of the General Assembly. "Dr Warfield, I hear that there is going to be trouble at the Assembly. Do let us pray for peace." Dr. Warfield replied, "I am praying that if they do not do what is right, there may be a mighty battle."


To read more about Dr. Warfield, click here.



His wife's nervous system failed during a storm on their honeymoon. She was an invalid and barren the rest of her life. With diligence and love, Warfield cared for her throughout the next thirty years, shunning almost all engagements save those in the classroom or church service. A colleague remembered, "I used to see them walking together and the gentleness of his manner was striking proof of the loving care with which he surrounded her." Warfield demonstrated to all the love of Christ for the Church in his love for his wife.

The ten volume set of his writings is once again available, a reprint of the classic Oxford 1927-1932 editions.

"His mind was so clear and his literary style so chaste and lucid that it is a real joy to read his works and one derives pleasure and profit at the same time."

Orthodox Presbyterians recall him with fondness, writers and theologians appreciate his wisdom and mastery of language, and the rest of the Presbyterian church might do well (even unto the salvaging of their sinking ship) to rediscover Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield. We honor his faithful life and rejoice in one who fought the good fight.

27 February 2006

Christian Reflections, Three


A warning on spiritual pride:

"This is the main door by which the devil comes into the hearts of those who are zealous for the advancement of truth. It is the chief inlet of smoke from the bottomless pit to darken the mind and mislead the judgment."

Jonathan Edwards, from "Some Thoughts concerning the Present Revival of Religion in New England"

Spucatum tauri: When the diversity crusade goes too far

The Taliban's former spokesman is now a Yale student. Anyone see a problem with that? Sayed Rahmatullah Hashemi, former ambassador-at-large for the Taliban, is now studying at Yale on a U.S. student visa.

This reminds me of a passage I once read from R.A. Lafferty's book The Fall of Rome:

"There is a term placed on everything, even the world. On the night of August 24 of the year 410 the term was finished. One account states that it was at midnight; but a more trustworthy version states that it was about an hour after dark, and that it had begun to rain. At that time the Salarian Gate of Rome was secretly opened by Gothic slaves in the City. The troops of Alaric entered, and their entry was signaled by a giant trumpet blast such as will never be heard again till the last day.

"And, on the terrible blast of the Gothic Trumpet, the world came to its end. It had endured, in the central core of it that mattered, for eleven hundred and sixty-three years."


Romans once watched with horror as the barbarians neared the gates. Then they turned to realize that the barbarians had been there all along.

(For the unversed, "Spucatum tauri" is the latin phrase for bovine excrement, also known as bullsh*t. It is also the name of a category to which various people, groups, events, etc., will be consigned here when their crimes don't necessarily merit damnation.)