Bøger udgivet af Hail & Fire

The Huguenot Galley Slaves, from the Memoirs of Jean Martielhe. The captivating true story of Jean Martielhe, who, at sixteen, was forced to flee home and country in search of religious freedom. In the year 1700, a fresh revival of persecution against the Huguenots was storming across southern France under the command of the Duke de la Force. King Louis XIV had issued the infamous "Revocation of the Edict of Nantes" in 1685 and 15 years later, still finding no end to the number of adherents to the Reformed faith, unleashed yet another wave of dragoonades in a determined effort to abolish Protestantism and unite France under Pope, creed, and King. Bibles were burned, children were taken from their parents, conversions were forced by every means, and the citizens were subjected to outrages, torture, and death. Such an unbridled fury against the Protestants excited an exodus of France's most productive and pious citizens, and no further threat of penalty, imprisonment, slavery for life, torture, or execution, could stop it. Follow our young Christian as he perseveres through imprisonments, attempts to bring him to renounce his faith, and ultimately his enslavement on the French Royal Galleys.

The Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod Thomas Brooks first published this work in 1659 as the expression of his own experience under trials and afflictions and as an encouragement and an admonition to others. Here afflictions, trials, temptations, and human weakness are set in the balance against Scriptural knowledge in an exhortation to faith and the humble acceptance and profiting of the children of God under the disciplining hand of a God who would be known as our Father: "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." Hebrews 12:9-11 And as recorded in the Psalms, "My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; if they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips." Psalms 89:28-34

"As the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." - Ephesians 5:24-25An exhortation on CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE AND ITS DUTIES.The secret of happiness lies folded up in the leaves of the Bible and is carried in the heart of true religion. A good Christian cannot be a bad husband or father and, as this is equally true in everything, he who has the most piety will shine the most in all the relationships of life.A Bible placed between man and wife as the basis of their union, the rule of their conduct, and the model of their spirit will make up for many differences between them, comfort them under many crosses, guide them through many straits, support them in their last sad parting from one another and reunite them in that happy world where they shall remain forever. Let the two parties in wedded life be believers in Christ Jesus and partake themselves of the peace that surpasses understanding. And if happiness is to be found on earth, it will be enjoyed within the hallowed circle of a family thus united by love and sanctified by grace.BONUS SERMON - included at back of book: Right to Divorce & Remarriage in the Case of Adultery by John Owen.

"What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26) CHRISTIAN SERMON ON TEMPTATION & SECRET SINS: Although written for the instruction of children, this remarkably powerful Puritan style sermon proves to be as soul stirring an admonition to the young and old alike. Using the Biblical story of Gehazi, servant of the prophet Elisha-2 Kings 5-this work methodically drives home the dangers of allowing temptation and sinful desire to take root within our hearts and entice us to sin. It carefully dissects the whole history of Gehazi, from the beginning of his covetous desire and enthusiastic resolution to sin, through the short lived success of his evil scheme, its detection and punishment. Special emphasis is placed upon the absolute necessity of repentance, a lively faith in Christ Jesus' atonement, and the continuous sanctification of all those who truly believe and rely upon God.

A Christian History and Martyrology: Henry Fliedner's work offers a concise history of those known as the Vaudois or Waldensians - Christians of the pre-Reformation era. Fliedner traces their Bible only (Sola Scriptura) faith, and the horrific persecutions they endured, from ancient times to the early 1900's. "'They often travelled on horseback in different countries as hawkers, and, thanks to their bales of goods, obtained access to the rich and poor. . . . While the merchant was doing business, he would observe the character of his customers, and when, at the end, they asked if he had anything else to sell, he would reply, "Certainly, I have treasures much more precious than those which you have seen. . . . a jewel which shines with such brightness, that it enables one to see, and to come to the knowledge of God." . . . The merchant then drew out of his pocket, or from a secret drawer of his travelling chest, a Gospel, and commenced to read. ' . . . In this way the Vaudois found a means of spreading the Word of God more and more. . . . What wonderful results might this seed-time have produced, if the storm of persecution had not broken out, reducing almost to naught the people of God." Henry Fliedner

"Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith." 2 Corinthians 13:5. Doubtless, many who profess faith in Jesus Christ are dangerously mistaken in regard to their own character, and although they draw around themselves the form of Christianity, they are strangers to its transforming efficacy, its living influence, and heavenly consolations. The trial of our graces or religious affections is all-important-for as they are, so is our prospect for a happy and glorious eternity. We must judge of our faith by examining its foundation; we must scrutinize our hearts in the light of divine truth and ascertain and demonstrate whether our affections are holy. To the test we must come and by the truth, we must be judged. Our eternal happiness stands or falls with our sincerity; bring your hearts, therefore, to the trial. With the vivid, exhortative style distinctive of the English Puritans, John Flavel's Touchstone offers a straightforward and biblical aid to discerning true Christian graces, from false.

Godliness is Profitable for All Things by Isaac Barrow. In all places and in all societies, piety-or godliness-produces, advances, and establishes order, peace, safety, prosperity, all that is good, all that is lovely and agreeable, and all that is convenient and pleasant for human society and ordinary life. Piety is the special interest of all who are involved in governing and education. Piety is their greatest wisdom and policy; it will both preserve their outward state here in this world, and it will satisfy their consciences and save their souls. All the Machiavellian arts and tricks amount to nothing in comparison to this one plain and easy way of securing and furthering the interests of men. Piety is not moved to needless change. Piety cherishes worth and encourages industry, whereupon virtue flourishes and wealth is increased and, as a result, the occasions and means of disorder are stopped and the pretences for sedition and faction are cut off. If every governor would have the people honest and diligent, if every parent would have his children obliging and grateful, if every man would have his friend faithful and kind, if we would have others act in a just and sincere manner, then we must each strive to further piety from which all good dispositions and practices proceed. Piety is a fence protecting each individual-rendering each man civil, condescending, kind, and helpful to others. Piety is the only and right ballast of society.