"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." - Romans 16:17, KJV

Separation From False Worship, Idolatry, and Popish Principles by John Calvin (Free SWRB MP3)

John Calvin wrote, "If it be asked, then, by what things chiefly the Christian religion has a standing amongst us, and maintains its truth, it will be found that the following two not only occupy the principal place, but comprehend under them all the other parts, and consequently the whole substance of Christianity, viz., a knowledge first, of the right way to worship God; and secondly of the source from which salvation is to be sought. When these are kept out of view, though we may glory in the name of Christians, our profession is empty and vain." - Cited in, Carlos, Eire, War Against the Idols: The Reformation of Worship, p. 198, citing from Calvin's On the Necessity of Reforming the Church FREE at: http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/NRC_ch00.htm.

What Are Terms of Communion? What is Close Communion? What is Occasional Hearing? What Is Biblical Separation? By Pastor Greg Price and Dr. Michael Wagner (Free Covenanter MP3s)

"When the greatest part of a Church maketh defection from the Truth, the lesser part remaining sound, the greatest part is the Church of Separatists." - Samuel Rutherford, The Due Right Of Presbyteries, p. 255.

Gradual Reformation Intolerable: Luther & Calvin On Reforming the Church Against False Teaching and False Worship By Dr. Matthew McMahon, Greg Price, Dr. Steven Dilday, Dr. Michael Wagner & Others (Free)

"Some one will therefore ask me what counsel I would like to give to a believer who thus dwells in some Egypt or Babylon where he may not worship God purely, but is forced by the common practice to accommodate himself to bad things. The first advice would be to leave (i.e., relocate-ed.) if he could... If someone has no way to depart, I would counsel him to consider whether it would be possible for him to abstain from all idolatry in order to preserve himself pure and spotless toward God in both body and soul. Then let him worship God in private (in his home-ed.), praying him to restore his poor church to its right estate." - John Calvin, Come Out From Among Them, The Anti-Nicodemite Writings of John Calvin, Protestant Heritage Press, A Short Treatise, pp. 93-94, emphases added.

A Warning Against Backsliding, False Worship and False Teachers by John Flavel, John Calvin, Greg Price, Samuel Rutherford, Greg Barrow, George Gillespie, Dr. Reg Barrow & Others (Free MP3s, Books, etc.)

"Divisions and separations are most objectionable in religion. They weaken the cause of true Christianity... But before we blame people for them, we must be careful that we lay the blame where it is deserved. False doctrine and heresy are even worse than schism. If people separate themselves from teaching that is positively false and unscriptural, they ought to be praised rather than reproved. In such cases separation is a virtue and not a sin." - J.C. Ryle.

On Shunning the Unlawful Rites of the Ungodly and Preserving the Purity of the Christian Religion by John Calvin (Free SWRB MP3) (SEARCHABLE, NEWLY INDEXED, SWRB PDF)
John Calvin here points out the sinfulness of outward conformity to any kind of false worship. Dealing with a major problem in his day, Calvin shows that false worship (i.e., worship not commanded by God in Scripture) should never be tolerated or participated in (even by bodily presence), no matter the cost -- whether it be persecution, exile, or death.

PURITAN HARD DRIVE SUPER SALE

The Necessity of Reforming the Church (1543) by John Calvin (Free Online Book)
Written in 1543 this short book covers the principal disputes of the first Reformation. Kevin Reed summarizes the main points of this treatise as follows: "Calvin declares the biblical doctrine of justification. The reformer also unfolds the wider scope of the Reformation, as he states the need to restore biblical doctrine and practice regarding the proper means of worship,the correct administration of the sacraments, and the government of the church. Calvin defends the reformers against the charge of schism. He rebukes the spirit of ungodly toleration which masquerades as 'moderation.' The Necessity of Reforming the Church is more than just an historic monument to the Reformation. It is a spiritual manifesto, calling us to repentance in our own era of religious corruption." This book is also free in MP3 audio here.

I was one of those who had profited much from using the plethora of out-of-print Reformation materials offered by Still Waters Revival Books in the 62 CDs (Puritan CDs and Reformation CDs) for a number of years in my ministry -- works that I could only have found in select libraries (usually hundreds of miles away from my residence).

With the CDs, it took a little while to go to the index of each set, locate the documents I needed, and then find the correct CD. Of course, the time was always well spent in finding that particular document that I needed.

However, now that I have the Puritan Hard Drive, I am able to use my time much more efficiently in finding that particular document I need by quickly searching for it and finding it in a matter of seconds. It's like going from "dial up" to "high-speed" Internet!

And for all of those documents that have a font that are in block letters, I am able to simply cut and paste from the Puritan Hard Drive to my own document with ease.

Amazing surprises do come in small packages!

May the Lord continue to use this most profitable tool to promote a Third Reformation that encompasses the whole world (Isaiah 2:2-4)!

- Greg L. Price (Covenanted Presbyterian Pastor, USA)Free online books, MP3s and videos by Greg Price at http://www.swrb.com/newslett/freebook/gprice.htm