| The Wicket Gate Magazine
A New Venture?
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As regular readers of our "wee" magazine will already know, Pastor Seaton retired from the Pastoral Ministry during the course of the past 2 months. With the kind permission of Mr Seaton, the Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Baptist Church here in Inverness, it is the intention to repeat back articles from the last 35 years of the magazine.
The first edition appeared in January 1967 and the following letter introduces the members of the church, into which Pastor Seaton had recently been inducted, to the magazine.
The Concern
"The Wicket Gate" was born out of a concern - a concern caused by the apparent lack of READING among Christians today. There is a tremendous dearth of knowledge among present-day believers when it comes to the things of our faith. Years ago, even the most average believer was well versed in the writings of men like John Bunyan, Samuel Rutherford, Thomas Boston, John Owen, Richard Baxter, John Calvin, Martin Luther, to mention only a few.
They had a working knowledge of most of the principal doctrines of our faith, and a fair outline of the history of the Church of Christ. Nowadays - and I feel confident in saying this - most Christians don't even have a nodding acquaintance with these things. I know that many of the old works are tomes which make even the most ardent reader draw back, but some professedly evangelical Christians today haven't read even so much as the most basic and classic of the Christian books. The Pilgrim's Progress, Grace Abounding, The Remains of R.M. McCheyne, The Letters of John Newton, a Life of Spurgeon - and so "The Wicket Gate" is being produced in an effort to stimulate interest in some of the forgotten treasures of the faith. The articles will be drawn from the Scriptures, the lives of the saints, and the history of the church; small enough to read in a few minutes, and, we trust interesting enough to make you search deeper for yourself.
The Cover
The cover should be well known to most. It is one of the most famous scenes from Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and shows the burdened sinner being pointed to "yonder wicket gate" by the evangelist. It was when the Pilgrim got through the Wicket Gate that he come to the cross and his burden fell off; and it was also through this Wicket Gate that "The House of Interpreter" lay - the man who was to teach him in the things of God. So, it is our desire that through this "Wicket Gate" there will be found salvation for sinners, and establishment in the faith for believers.
And so, my brethren and friends, we lay this new venture before you. We pray you will avail yourself of it, and that it will lead you on to "Search out these things for yourself", and to "study to show yourself approved, a good workman....rightly dividing the word of truth".
Sincerely,
W.J. Seaton
Click here to see the original cover of the magazine
This Page Title -
The Wicket Gate Magazine - A Continuing Witness.
Internet Edition number - placed on line
Wicket Gate contact address - Mr Cliff Westcombe cw@zetnet.co.uk
If you wish to be notified when each new edition goes on line please send an e-mail to the above address
Magazine web address - www.users.zetnet.co.uk/westcombe
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