John Knox Tracts, No. 64. True Religion or False?
By the late Rev. J. R. Anderson. Glasgow: Pickering & Inglis, 11 Bothwell Circus. London: Alfred Holness, 14 Paternoster Row, E.C.
Another of the John Knox Tracts, by the late Rev. Jonathan R. Anderson, of Glasgow, newly published, has been sent us for review. The present tract proposes and answers two most momentous questions—(1) “Am I a child of God, or am I not?” (2) “Will the prevailing religion of the present day lead to heaven?”
He offers proof from God’s Word and the experience of His people in answering the first question. He begins by showing that, when the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the sinner, he sees that all his former ideas about God were idle dreams. He finds himself now a guilty, dark, and corrupt sinner in the presence of God, whose eyes are as a flame of fire against sin and all impurity. In this awful condition the sinner is led by the Spirit to betake himself to God’s mercy through Christ crucified, and then he finds peace through the blood of His cross. Our author then enters into a very serious, careful, and thoroughly Scriptural examination of the work of sanctification in the soul, and its concomitants in conduct towards God and man. These matters, of eternal importance to every sinner, are very ably handled in this tract, and all the facts stated are based upon the solid rock of eternal truth. In the second part he appeals to both ministers and people:—”Do not many indeed give an uncertain sound, and build with untempered mortar, trying to patch up the old fabric of corrupt nature, instead of pulling it down, yea, overturning its very foundations, and pressing upon their hearers in language not to be misunderstood, ‘Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.'” Nothing could surpass in earnestness, real seriousness, and solemnity the appeals he makes to all concerned.
We have great pleasure in commending this tract to the serious consideration of our readers. Copies may be had at 1s. per dozen from Pickering & Inglis, 11 Bothwell Circus, Glasgow, and Alfred Holness, 14 Paternoster Row, London, E.C.
N. C.
The Church in Arran from the Earliest Period to the Present Day.
By the Rev. J. Kennedy Cameron, M.A., Professor of Systematic Theology, Free Church College, Edinburgh. Edinburgh: John Grant, 31 George IV. Bridge. Price 3s. net; postage 3d.
This book is an ecclesiastical history of Arran, and contains much useful information on the subject on which it treats. It ought to be interesting to Arran people in general, as filling a niche in the history of the island hitherto unoccupied; but it is not meant to supply spiritual food for its readers, touching as it does only the outer fringe of the Spirit-given revivals that at one time visited Arran and produced many valuable fruits to the praise of God’s grace. The author enters, in the closing chapters, into the effects of the decision of the House of Lords in the Church case, and takes a brief survey of the various Presbyterian Churches in Scotland. His remarks on the subject of schism are dealt with elsewhere under the title, “Are Free Presbyterians guilty of Schism?” The book is well printed and neatly got up.
J. S. S.