Jump to content

Please read the Forum Rules before posting.

Photo

Reference Books (topx) - Binning, Hugh - A Treatise on Christian Love


  • Please log in to reply
No replies to this topic

#1 superaben

superaben

    Liking e-Sword

  • Veterans
  • PipPip
  • 15 posts
  • LocationShenandoah Valley, VA
Offline

Posted 05 May 2012 - 07:18 PM

File Name: Binning, Hugh - A Treatise on Christian Love

File Submitter: superaben

File Submitted: 05 May 2012

File Category: Reference Books (topx)

Author: Hugh Binning
e-Sword Version: 9.x - 10.x
Suggest New Tag:: Body-Life Fellowship, Puritan

Hugh Binning was a scholar that puts us to shame. Entering the University of Glasgow at age 14, he graduated with a Master of Arts at age 19. Binning taught philosophy, and his lectures were designed to “redeem philosophy from mythical barbarism.” However, he was willing to leave his professorship to shepherd a church in Govan, serving the congregation for 4 years. The Lord took His servant home in his 26th year, 1653.

Hugh Binning’s legacy today remains nearly 900 pages of scattered works, a few leaflets in private collections, and many recruits who have fought and are fighting for Jesus Christ. Although he died young, Binning is remembered as a man who could speak a “word in season.”

During the controversy between the Resolutioners and the Protesters (c. 1647-c. 1660) Binning thought the Scottish church forgot their common brotherhood in Christ. Although he choose a side in the controversy and held strong opinions, he believed the Scottish church should put aside their unimportant divisions and stand together to fight for Christ’s kingdom when necessary. Binning published a book on Christian love to contribute a balanced voice against the controversies which (as he predicted) caused disaster in the Scottish church.

John Howie, author of Scot’s Worthies, wrote that Binning “was no fomenter of factions, but was studious of the public tranquility. He was a man of moderate principles and temperate passions, never imposing upon or overbearing others, but willingly hearkened to advice, and always listened to reason.”

For the church today, we need to hear about Christian love from one who experienced some of the worst divisions in church history, and was willing to be an example and to make a stand for proper harmony and brotherhood among those the LORD has chosen.




Preface from the Original Edition


This treatise concerning Christian Love, was composed by the pious and learned Mr. Hugh Binning who was minister of the gospel at Govan, near to Glasgow. He was much celebrated and esteemed in this church, for several practical treatises, frequently printed for the benefit of the public, but this is not inferior to any of them.

Though there have been many excellent discourses in late years on this divine subject, yet, considering that there never was a time wherein a treatise of this kind was more seasonable and necessary than the present, when the love of many, of too, too many, is waxed cold, and this holy fire is almost extinguished, this cannot be thought to be superfluous.

The author was a minister of a most pacific temper, and this amiable grace and virtue did illustriously shine forth in him; and in this discourse, he breathes with a spirit of love in the most affecting and gaining manner, so that, I dare say, that, though it be above ninety years since he composed it, it does not fall short of any performance of this kind that has since appeared in public.

This treatise, with a great number of excellent sermons, preached by this able minister of the gospel, many of which have never been printed, in a manuscript in folio, was found in the late Rev. Mr. Robert Wodrow, minister at Eastwood, his library, and all care has been taken to publish it faithfully, without any alteration either by adding or diminishing any thing from it.

This divine subject of Christian love he lays a great stress upon; he shows that there is a greater moment and weight in Christian charity, than in the most part of those things for which some Christians bite and devour one another. It is the fundamental law of the gospel, to which all positive precepts and ordinances should stoop. Unity in judgment is very necessary for the well being of Christians, and Christ’s last words persuade this, that unity in affection is most essential and fundamental. This is the badge that he left to his disciples; if we cast away this upon every different apprehension of mind, we disown our Master, and disclaim his token and badge.

Mr. Binning treats of this subject in a most sublime and pathetic strain; he explains the nature of this grace, discourses of the excellent properties and blessed effect and fruits of it, in a ravishing and captivating manner. There is such a variety of beauties in this treatise, that they deserve to be noticed in this preface, and particularly, his admirable commentary on the 13th chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, wherein he outstrips all that went before him and, in fine, he enforces the exercise of this grace with the most convincing argument and the most powerful motives. And now, not to detain the reader from the perusal, it is earnestly wished that the end of the publication may, by the blessing of God, be obtained, which is, that Christians in our days may be as the primitive ones,—of one mind and of one heart, and that they may love one another with a pure heart fervently.

Click here to download this file






0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users




Similar Topics



Latest Blogs