SERMONS, by Mr J. K. Popham, Brighton, Editor of the “Gospel Standard.” London: Messrs Farncombe and Son, 30 Imperial Buildings, Ludgate Circus, London. E.C. 4. Price 4s 6d; post free, 5s.
A second volume of sermons by Mr J. K. Popham, Strict Baptist minister at Brighton, has appeared. One feels grateful, in these days of trashy novels and pernicious rationalistic, pseudo-theology, to meet with a volume of sermons based upon the infallible Word of God. Mr Popham is a believer in the absolute inerrancy and infallibility of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. He treats, in these sermons, the doctrines of the Trinity and the whole scheme of Redemption, and the concomitant effects of saving faith in the hearts and practice of all true believers with ability, lucidity, brevity, and a finality not often met with in our day. We feel reluctant to criticise, but we did miss in them the free call of the gospel to sinners as such. Notwithstanding, we consider them valuable discourses.
N. C.
SCENES IN THE HOLY LAND: Thirty-three Illustrations of Sacred Scenes and Eastern Customs, photographed by Rev. G. Robinson Lees, M.A., F.R.G.S. with Explanatory Articles by Rev. David Catt, L.Th., F.R.A.S. London: David Catt, 21 Clapton Square, London, E. 5. Price, cloth, 2s; paper covers 1s 6d. post free.
These photographs give one an idea of the appearance of the land and places we read of in the Bible. Such places as Hebron, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives, the Jews’ Wailing Place, etc., are all brought before us in excellent photographs. The accompanying letterpress by the late Rev. David Catt is very instructive, and enables one to follow the incidents recorded in the Bible occurring in the places photographed. It is an excellent guide to the topography of the Bible.
SPURIOUS CHARITY, by J. Forbes Moncrieff, Scottish Reformation Society, 17 George IV. Bridge, Edinburgh. Price Three Halfpence.
This is an excellent little booklet, and should be scattered by thousands. It exposes the hollowness of modern charity. Thomas Carlyle, who wrote some very wise and some very foolish things, spoke wisely when he said that genuine tolerance was to be found only among the saints; the so-called tolerance of others is but doubt and indifference. “Touch the thing they do believe and value, their own self-conceit,” he says, “they are rattlesnakes then.” There is a fine healthy ring about Mr Moncrieff’s treatment of the subject, and he has handled it with marked skill.
THE SCOTTISH CHURCH (1500-1920): A Graphic Chart, compiled by Robert Adams, Assistant City Librarian, The Mitchell Library, Glasgow. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1923. Price 3s 6d net.
This is decidedly one of the best attempts yet made to show on a chart the various divisions and unions of the different denominations in Scotland. An excellent feature of the Chart is the list of notable events in Scottish ecclesiastical matters, with dates of the same. A few typographical mistakes have been overlooked: “Rev. A. Erskine” should read “Rev. R. Erskine”; in the right-hand margin, “ordnance” should read “ordinance.”