Augustine: “This is to preach Christ: to say not only what one must believe about Christ but also how one must live who wishes to be joined to the body of Christ” Cited by Allen, M. (2017). Sanctification (M. Allen & S. R. Swain, Eds.; p. 40). Zondervan.

Augustine: “We should advise the faithful that they would endanger the salvation of their souls if they acted on the false assurance that faith alone is sufficient for salvation or that they need not perform good works in order to be saved.” Cited by Allen, M. (2017).

If you are interested in Reformed covenant theology, then check out the latest edition of MAJT. I have an article on the meaning of same in substance and different in administration.

Ever wonder about the expression regarding the covenants, same in substance but different in administration? Read on zurl.co/z3Gqb

“Understanding the proper meaning of the Reformed formula helps us to see that the modern notion of what is now called “administrative republication” is incoherent.” reformation21.org/what-does-same…

“we must note that the covenant of works itself is a gracious gift. While it is not a redemptive gift or a merciful gift (both of which would involve provision for sin or response to wrongdoing), it is a generous gift of God.” Allen, M. (2017). Sanctification, 103

I was not expecting, in a book entitled "Sanctification," a fair evaluation of John Murray's semantic differences with the CW and a devasting rebuttal of James Torrance's critique of the CW. But that is exactly what you find in M. Allen's book.

Richard Baxter: "It’s true, in some sense it is; but in other, not.” Anthony Burgess: "It is true, in some sense learned men say, Justification may increase" :) To be fair, they do specify the sense, so they escape Jonathan J. McKenzie's condemnation!!

“The deepest calling of the covenant of works is the summons to consistent and perfect, unceasing and constant trust in the God who created, who promised, and who gives again and again.” Allen, M. (2017). Sanctification (M. Allen & S. R. Swain, Eds.; p. 112). Zondervan.

Everyone should read John Ball on the covenant of grace. In case you don't know who he was, here is a brief article I wrote about him: placefortruth.org/why-bother-wit…

If this is what it means to be monocovenantal, then the Westminster Standards are monocovenantal, which is odd because they affirm two disctinct covenants that differ in substance: covenant of works and covenant of grace.

Michael Allen: "Because the old and new covenants are “the same in substance” (WCF 7.5–6), we do well to read Christ in light of that constitutive covenantal context and vice versa." Yes...BUT we must understand what it means to say that they are "the same in substance." See👇

This needs to be addressed. Glad he did. “the Right and Anti-semitic conspiracy theories”

Love Carson. So good. Reminds me of what John Ball once wrote: “…faith is not grounded upon sense and feeling: but upon God’s gracious promises, immutable goodness, and infallible truth… placefortruth.org/faith-feelings…

"Surely, our God is love; creation shows it as well as the cross! Surely, our God is grace; the first covenant proves it as truly as the second!" J.H. Thornwell

Piper is again taking heat for his teaching on good works. Part of the problem is that people who have a problem with Piper misunderstand the Reformed tradition, including the common Reformed distinction between title and possession, as I explain here: patrickspensees.blogspot.com/2026/04/good-w…