Charnock, Stephen (1628-1680)

Stephen Charnock -- from The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge

Discourse of God's being the Author of Reconciliation

Description: Stephen Charnock (1628-1680), best known for his book entitled Existence and Attributes of God introduces the book Discourse of God's Being the Author of Reconciliation with these words: "If there be any mystery in Christianity more admirable than another, it is this of reconciliation." According to Charnock, "The scripture... gives us a short but full and clear account of the doctrine of reconciliation, which is the substantial part of the gospel." Charnock addresses four issues in this book: 1. What reconciliation is, and wherein the nature of it consists. 2. That God the Father is and must be the prime cause of this. 3. Wherein the agency of the Father appears, and by what acts it is maniftested in the transaction. 4. The use.

Discourse of the Efficient of Regeneration

Description: Stephen Charnock preached alongside Thomas Watson from 1675 until his death in 1680. Nearly all of his writings and sermons were published posthumously, the most famous being The Existence and Attributes of God, a treatise defending the rationality of belief in God and exploring that God’s nature. His discourse on the “efficient of regeneration” (in other words, what causes regeneration) seeks out what allows Christians to live renewed lives in Christ. He focuses on John 1:13—“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Rather than through sacrifices or any other act of the human will, only God can bring about sanctification. Along with this discourse, Charnock wrote several others on the topic of regeneration, including the discourses on the “Nature of Regeneration” and “the Word, the Instrument of Regeneration.”

Kathleen O’Bannon
CCEL Staff

Discourse of the Nature of Regeneneration

Description: Stephen Charnock preached alongside Thomas Watson from 1675 until his death in 1680. Nearly all of his writings and sermons were published posthumously, the most famous being The Existence and Attributes of God, a treatise defending the rationality of belief in God and exploring that God’s nature. Along with this discourse on the nature of regeneration, Charnock wrote several others on the topic of regeneration, including the discourses on the “Efficient of Regeneration” and “the Word, the Instrument of Regeneration.” In this particular discourse, he explores what it means to live a life after becoming a member of Christ and his Church. Charnock draws attention to 2 Corinthians 5:17—“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Kathleen O’Bannon
CCEL Staff

Discourse of the Word, the Instrument of Regeneration

Description: Stephen Charnock preached alongside Thomas Watson from 1675 until his death in 1680. Nearly all of his writings and sermons were published posthumously, the most famous being The Existence and Attributes of God, a treatise defending the rationality of belief in God and exploring that God’s nature. This discourse (or sermon) begins from James 1:18, which reads, “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” Not only does Christ, the living Word of God, transform the heart of those he calls, but he transforms creation through those he calls. Charnock explains that, when Christians live lives obedient to God, they represent God and his love to the entire world.

Kathleen O’Bannon
CCEL Staff

Discourse on the Cleansing Virtue of Christ’s Blood

Description: Stephen Charnock preached alongside Thomas Watson from 1675 until his death in 1680. Nearly all of his writings and sermons were published posthumously, the most famous being The Existence and Attributes of God, a treatise defending the rationality of belief in God and exploring that God’s nature. This discourse (or sermon) sets out from 1 John 1:7 to explain how Christ’s sacrifice cleanses Christians of their sin. Charnock provides extensive scriptural and theological support for his position while at the same time maintaining a devotional tone.

Kathleen O’Bannon
CCEL Staff

Necessity of Regeneration

Description: Stephen Charnock preached alongside Thomas Watson from 1675 until his death in 1680. Nearly all of his writings and sermons were published posthumously, the most famous being The Existence and Attributes of God, a treatise defending the rationality of belief in God and exploring that God’s nature. The Necessity of Regeneration addresses the message of John 3:3—“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Charnock presents a strong biblical case for the absolute necessity of repentance for living the Christian life. Being “born again” means taking on a new life, dead to sin and alive to Christ.

Kathleen O’Bannon
CCEL Staff