Beholding His Glory, by J K Popham, published by Ettrick Press, paperback, 134 pp, £4.95, may be obtained from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom.
The nine sermons collected together in this small book were preached by Mr J K Popham during his time at Galeed Gospel Standard Chapel, Brighton, where he was pastor for over 50 years. The sermons are devoted to the Person and work of the Lord Jesus. They were mainly from the first chapter of John’s Gospel, a rich place to find golden texts. This is a re-issue of a book first published in 2010, with a couple of extra sermons added.
In the second sermon, taken from John 1:14, “And we beheld His glory”, one of the doctrines emphasised is that of the trinity of persons in the Godhead. “Rabbi” Duncan is quoted: “Salvation is built on distinctions in the Trinity”. Mr Popham goes on to say, “That is true, everything hangs on the distinctions of the Trinity. One God, three Persons. One love manifested by three Persons. One salvation administered by three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost”. In the gospel of Christ there is a “full blessing, full forgiveness, full sanctification, a full welcome, a blessed welcome to the vilest sinner, and all through this glorious God-man, whose omnipotence, with His love, brought Him to the cross to lay down voluntarily His life. God give us to see this.”
“He is full of grace and truth.” “Go begging, and when you beg, do not excuse your poverty. Confess that it is your sin. When you go to beg, do not excuse any thriftlessness, any wickedness, any waywardness of which you have been guilty. Confession goes well with Him; excuses, never, never! He is ‘full of grace and truth’ to give away; alms to dispense; mercy to reign over every poor sinner’s fears and to remove and wipe away all tears from His eyes.”
In another sermon, from John 1:16, “Of His fulness have all we received”, the preacher says, Without the Saviour we are dead, “we are under the law without Him, we are under condemnation without Him. We have no life without Him – no faith, no hope, no love, no liberty, no access to God, no hope of heaven without Him.
In a sermon on Christ’s dying, taken from John 13:31-32, Mr Popham advises anyone who feels drawn to follow the drawing: “Do you feel impelled to go? Go. Do you feel, if you perish, it shall be in trying to find God’s face, to seek His mercy? Go on. For God, who set forth Christ “to be a propitiation through faith in His blood” (Romans 3:25), will be sure to grant all that the coming sinner wants – that pardon, that acceptance, and that adoption into His family that he is led to seek”.
Mr Popham concludes the last of these lovely sermons with the following: “Now may we go to our homes by the merciful help of the Spirit of Christ, to think on these things. Do not be displeased with me for my poverty in the matter; rather look at the riches I have just named, and tried to commend to you. Look at them – rather, look at Him in whom they all are, at the Lord Jesus, the fairest, the dearest, the sweetest, the greatest in heaven and in earth.” Surely these must be the sentiments of every one of Christ’s ambassadors.
As one would expect from a Gospel Standard minister, Mr Popham does not freely offer the Saviour to his hearers, openly inviting them to come to Christ. However, as you would also expect from a godly minister, his preaching in these collected sermons speaks of Jesus in the most loving and endearing way. Although the invitation is not there, there is a presentation of the Saviour which would have made the hardest-hearted of his hearers, with the help of the Spirit, see something of His beauty and desirability, and of His call to repentance and salvation. “And I, if I be lifted up . . . will draw all men unto Me.” The beloved Saviour is most certainly raised up as the “Wonderful One” in these sermons.
This little book is to be heartily recommended.
FRD
A Very Present Help, A Tribute to the Faithfulness of God, by Lieutenant General Sir William Dobbie, published by the Ettrick Press, paperback, 110 pages, £5.95, may be obtained from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom.
Sir William Dobbie was once well known for his leadership in the defence of Malta during World War II. Previously he had gained a degree of fame as the British military officer who signed the order which brought fighting to an end in World War I.
The first chapter sets the scene in Malta when Dobbie was Governor there. On the day that France fell to the Germans in 1940, Dobbie issued an order in Malta, acknowledging that it was “with God’s help” that they would “maintain the security” of Malta and called “upon all officers and other ranks humbly to seek God’s help, and then, in reliance upon Him, to do their duty unflinchingly”. This is the spirit in which Dobbie led the successful defence of the island in spite of serious damage caused by air raids.
The second chapter gives information about Dobbie’s early spiritual experience. Chapter 3 is the first of a number of helpful practical chapters; it deals with “The Christian and the World”. The author says, “The Bible has been written for all times, and therefore deals in principles which are applicable to all times. One of the principles laid down for the Christian is separation from the world” – though not “as a hermit or a monk”. Other such chapters are entitled: “God – A Very Present Help”, “Prayer – Contact with God” and “The Bible – God’s Word”. There are a few fascinating chapters where Dobbie recounts God’s protection in preventing damage being more serious than it was through enemy action against Malta. Many had to acknowledge that this was in answer to prayer. The author also provides a defence of military service in opposition to pacifism.
Overall the book is interesting and helpful but some expressions are not as careful as they might have been.
Sinful self-love is the very heart and core of the carnal man and the great idol of all unconverted sinners.
All things shall work together for the good of them that love God and Jesus Christ. Nothing shall befall them, but first or last shall further them in their way to heaven and tend to their advantage. Many things seem to be against you, but all shall work for you.
Thomas Doolittle