Christ in the Book of Zechariah, by B A Ramsbottom, published by Gospel Standard Trust Publications, paperback, 77 pages, £3.25.
Here is a series of brief chapters presenting, in simple language, explanations of the various passages in Zechariah where the Saviour is held forth in prophecy. And the explanations are accompanied by spiritual applications of the truths presented.
For instance, Mr Ramsbottom refers to Zechariah as “an eminent man” who “confessed there were some things in the vision he did not understand. He waited for answers, and received them.” He then adds: “As we turn from reading God’s Word, our prayer constantly needs to be: ‘That which I see not, teach Thou me’”.
Again, commenting on Zechariah 6:9-15, the author describes the Church as “composed of living stones, hewn out of the quarry of nature; fitted, shaped and formed; then drawn by power divine to the foundation, and firmly built on it”. By way of application he adds: “It is the eternal Father’s purpose that His beloved Son shall be glorified in the work of redemption and in building the Church, and the Holy Ghost’s work is to glorify Him in the hearts of all His people”. Anecdotes and other illustrations add to the appeal of the book. It is warmly commended.
The Tender Heart, by Richard Sibbes, published by the Banner of Truth Trust in their Pocket Puritan series, paperback, 81 pages, £3.25.
This is the first sermon, presented in a very small format, from Sibbes’ series on Josiah’s Reformation (shortly to be published in paperback); it appears also in Sibbes’ Works, vol 6. In the sermon, the preacher focuses profitably on the blessing of having, like Josiah, tenderness of heart. “In a tender heart”, he explains, “there is no resistance, but it yields presently to every truth, and has a pliability and a fitness to receive any impression” from the Word of God, “a fit temper indeed for a heart wrought on by the Spirit”. He emphasises that Josiah’s “heart melted, not so much for fear of judgement, but to think that God should be provoked by the sins of His people”.
The publishers state that “the original text has been lightly edited so as to modernise archaic pronouns and verb forms”; it would have been better, however, to have left Scripture quotations unchanged. The Foreword, supplied by the present publishers, serves as a helpful introduction to Sibbes and his work. By God’s blessing, this little book will make its readers more earnest to seek to have a tender heart themselves.
1Both titles reviewed here are obtainable from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom.