Richard Sibbes (1577-1635) was one of the English Puritans whose preaching was greatly blessed. He was an eminent servant of Christ, and his ability and skill in handling the Word of God can be seen in his work “Expositions of St Paul”, which has been published by the Banner of Truth Trust. While his style of writing, in my estimation, may not be as attractive as that of Flavel or Owen, his expositions of the Word are deep, lucid and searching.
When the reader takes up Sibbes’ book, he must be prepared for hard study and follow him through every avenue of the text, until at length Sibbes carefully and thoroughly explores them all. At the end of the day the thoughtful reader will not regret his labour but will indeed find himself richly rewarded for patiently following this great divine.
The reader may realise that “the art of contentment” is something different from what some may fondly imagine. Sibbes shows that it is a long, painstaking process of learning self-denial, and receiving strength from Christ. His explanation of assurance of faith is precious and refreshing, and he shows that “a man never enjoys his own assurance of Christ’s particular love but with a great deal of conflict.” It can be truly said to his credit that Sibbes has much of Christ in his sermons.
The table of contents at the beginning of the “Expositions of St Paul” proves very helpful as a guide to the page where any particular subject may be found. This precious book of 450 pages costs £4.00.
A. McK.
The Unlisted Legion by Jock Purves. Banner of Truth Trust. Price 80p.
This paperback contains an account of missionary work in Baltistan and Ladakh in what was then North-West India (now North-East Pakistan) during the years 1926-30.
The opening chapter states the tremendous challenge facing missionaries in lands where Buddhism, Hinduism, Mohammedanism and Communism reign. The next chapter graphically describes Kashmir, the land of the Himalayas, through which the missionaries journey on their way to Baltistan and Ladakh. The descriptive writing throughout the book is masterly. It is as though we are there.
In reading this book we cannot but be moved at the thought of men leaving the comforts of a civilised land to become closely identified, for the sake of Christ, with an uncivilised race, so as to make known to them the way of salvation. The privations they endure are clearly brought out. That progress was slow in such conditions is not to be wondered at. Certainly in Baltistan progress was slow, the discouragements enough to make the stoutest hearts despond and the dangers many; whether from the zealots of Islam, the dangerous mountainous terrain, or the sudden avalanches and floods. The language barrier constituted a difficulty which had to be overcome and medical care had to be provided where there was none. Perseverence in such circumstances was at length to be rewarded. There were those, however few, who manifested that they had in their heart some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel and who professed Christ’s Name in the midst of trials and persecution — men whose names are in the Lamb’s book of life.
The book is a reminder to us of the multitudes yet in the world who are in need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It should be an incentive to us to plead for the sending forth of labourers into the harvest — “for the harvest truly is plenteous but the labourers are few.”
D.B.M.
The Man of Geneva by E. M. Johnson. Banner of Truth paperback. Price £1.00.
This little volume on Calvin, published by the Banner of Truth Trust, is exactly what it claims to be — an introduction to Calvin. One would hope that after reading “The Man of Geneva” interest would be aroused and a desire given to know more about this great man of the Reformation. The book is most interestingly written and gives a fairly clear outline of the outstanding events in Calvin’s life. Boys and girls of from 10-12 years should be able to read and enjoy it. We would commend it to the young.
L.M.
The Two Kingdoms by Elizabeth Whitley. Scottish Reformation Society. Paperback, £1.50; Cloth £2.50.
This book spans a most unimportant era in Scottish History — from the death of John Knox in 1572 to the Revolution of 1688. It is the story of the life-and-death struggle between the House of Stewart and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
The book is in 3 parts. The first part covers the period from 1572 to just after the signing of the National Covenant in 1638. During most of this period the Church of Scotland was at a low ebb. Her ablest and most faithful ministers such as Robert Bruce, Andrew Melville, John Welsh and others were banished, while the King used all his power to bring in episcopacy. In 1603 there was the Union of the Crowns. James continued his opposition to Presbyterianism to the end and it was then taken up by his son Charles I. With the signing of the National Covenant Presbyterianism once again gained its rightful place.
The second part covers the Civil War, Scotland’s involvement, the Westminster Assembly, the Cromwellian Period, etc. One gets the impression here that the Westminster Assembly of Divines was a failure. While the uniformity aimed at was not achieved, yet when one considers the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Catechisms, etc. produced by this Assembly, its importance must not and cannot be ignored.
The third part deals with the witness and sufferings of the Covenanters from the Restoration to the Revolution. It is obvious that Mrs Whitley has a warm place in her affections for the men and women who suffered and died during the “Killing Times” — 1660-1688. She shows that they did not die in vain.
“The Two Kingdoms” is a frank and honest book. The craftiness, intrigues and vileness of James VI and of his son and grandson, Charles I and Charles II are exposed. Mrs Whitley knows her subject well. “The Two Kingdoms” is a book well worth reading.
L.M.
The Life and Letters of Robert Lewis Dabney by Thomas Cary Johnson. Banner of Truth Trust. 585pp. Price £4.00.
This massive biography — it is almost an autobiography, as it consists for the most part of Dabney’s own letters — gives an account of one of the outstanding 19th century Southern Presbyterian theologians in the U.S.A. Dabney lived from 1820-1898, a period particularly eventful in the history of the Southern States. He was born and laboured for a great part of his life in Virginia. It was there that he passed through the traumatic experience of the American Civil War. As a loyal supporter and fervent defender of the Confederate Cause, the defeat of the Confederate States was a bitter blow to him and was an outcome to which he was never reconciled. During the Civil War he had first hand experience of the conflict, being called for a period to act as Adjutant General to the Army under General (Stonewall) Jackson in which post he proved his worth. Later Dabney wrote an outstanding biography of General Jackson for whom he had great admiration.
With regard to his theological labours it is hardly possible to say too much. They were prodigious and his work was of outstanding quality. He was esteemed a leading theologian in the U.S.A. in a day when such persons as Shedd, Thornwell and the Hodges were on the scene. As a philosopher he was in the first class and spent eleven years as Professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas. Previous to that he had been first Professor of Ecclesiastical History and later Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological College, Hampden-Sydney. Besides these fields of study he was highly proficient in many others. His literary labours were extensive. Writing after writing on a wide variety of subjects, yet of the highest standard, flowed from his pen.
Here is a biography to engage the mind, and one which leaves us astonished as we realise the capacity, stamina and forcefulness of this Southern Presbyterian divine in accomplishing so much. Even in later years when blind and led by the hand of his little grand-daughter, his intellect is still alert and he is able to teach and to preach with unabated zeal. A Robert Dabney appears on the scene only once in a while. Yet his appearance reminds us of the great amount of good which can be achieved by one man when his talents are wholly laid out in the Master’s service.
The text of the book is good. It is regrettable that the quotations which occupy so much of the work are printed in smaller type. The first 100 pages of the book are lacking in interest and could have been compressed lest any reader would weary before he reaches the part which holds his attention. Dabney’s name will not be altogether unknown to readers as the Banner of Truth issued two volumes of his Discussions some years ago. We are glad to commend this reprint of the 1901 edition of Dabney’s Life and Letters.
D.B.M.