Timothy Dwight, 1752–1817
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
God honored the tears, prayers, and work of the distinguished president of Yale University, Timothy Dwight, to bring to that campus in 1795 a startling spiritual revival. It soon spread to other nearby universities as well. Prior to his administration, most of the students at Yale and other eastern schools had been infected with the “free thought” of Thomas Paine, Rousseau, and the French Revolution.
Timothy Dwight, grandson of the brilliant and powerful American preacher, Jonathan Edwards, was an unusually successful and distinguished person in many areas. A graduate of Yale University at 17, he was a chaplain in the American Revolution, a Congregational minister, a prosperous farmer, a member of the Connecticut state legislature, a faculty member at Yale and eventually president of the university. Timothy Dwight also wrote a number of scholarly books, authored thirty-three hymn texts, and revised the hymnbook used by New England Congregational and Presbyterian churches for 30 years.
In Dwight’s text, the term kingdom suggests three different levels of Christ’s church:
• The Church Personal— “The kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21
• The Church Local— individual congregations Matthew 11:28-29
• The Church Universal— believers of every age, race and culture Revelation 7:9
The kingdom of God is a living body, not merely an organization. Its purpose is to extend Christ’s influence, build up the members of His body, and glorify His name. The promise of Christ is that nothing, not even the gates of hell, will ever triumph over His Church Matthew 16:18.
I love Thy kingdom, Lord! The house of Thine abode—The Church our blest Redeemer saved with His own precious blood.
I love Thy Church, O God! Her walls before Thee stand, dear as the apple of Thine eye and graven on Thy hand.
Beyond my highest joy I prize her heav’nly ways—Her sweet communion, solemn vows, her hymns of love and praise.
Sure as Thy truth shall last, to Zion shall be giv’n the brightest glories earth can yield, and brighter bliss of heav’n.
For Today: Matthew 16:15-18; Ephesians 2:19, 21-22; 5:23-27
Be thankful for your local church and what it means in your life. Ask yourself if you are as joyful and enthusiastic about Christ’s kingdom and its mission on earth as you should be. Allow this hymn to renew your vision—
Osbeck, K. W.
- He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:15–18
- Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. Ephesians 2:19
- In whom all the building is fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:21-22
- For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:23–27
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Isn’t it heartbreaking how godless Harvard, Yale, and Columbia are presently when they were founded to educate students fuller in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The reason men were equipped to pen the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the American Republic, and the Bill of Rights was because they were homeschooled and then attended college where the foundation laid by their mother, usually, was nurtured by professors. People are always surprised that my child graduated with honors, by God’s grace, at fifteen; but, it was due to being homeschooled and no wasted hours on standing on line between classes. If any of you have children, I strongly encourage home schooling there are communities like Classical Conversations where the “socialization” argument of grandparents, colleagues or friends is made moot. You don’t have to be licensed to teach as you taught your child to walk, read, brush their teeth, primary colors and basic math by age 5. Let me encourage you to homeschool – God will come alongside and equip.
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