THE SECEDERS (1829-1869). The Story of a Spiritual Awakening as told in the Letters of Joseph Charles Philpot, M.A. (Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford, 1827-35) and of William Liptaft, M.A., Vicar of Sutton Courtney, Berks., 1829-31. With an Introduction by J. H. Philpot, M.D., London: C. J. Farncombe & Sons, Ltd., 30 Imperial Buildings, Ludgate Circus, E.C.4. Price, 7s. 6d.
This is a most interesting book. The deep spiritual experience of the letters in which the writers lay bare their feelings and conflicts against the world, the flesh and the devil, is rarely to be met with in these days. Both these noted men began their career in the Church of England and though Mr. Philpot long hesitated he was driven at length by the upbraiding of his conscience to leave it forever with all the prospects it held out to him of a life of ease and affluence. But for the grace of God, as one put it, he might have become a bishop. While J. H. Newman and others were groping in the dim light that led them into the Church of Rome and F. W. Newman and J. A. Froude were wending their way to the darkness of atheism a great spiritual awakening was going on in the hearts of a number who afterwards left the Church of England. Mr. Philpot’s association with the Newmans neither influenced him to Romanism or atheism—the work of grace wrought in his heart was too thorough for that. The letters written by these worthy men are invaluable—not that one needs to pin his faith to everything they wrote—but they breathe such spirituality that one feels he is in the company of men deeply taught by the Holy Ghost. Both of them laid great stress on experimental preaching. The letter written to the Provost of Worcester College by Mr. Philpot when he resigned his fellowship is one of the most searching we have ever read. It must have made the College dignitary wince if he had a conscience at all. Both Mr. Liptaft and Mr. Philpot ended their days as strict Baptist ministers.
The book is prefaced by very readable and instructive biographies of Mr. Liptaft and Mr. Philpot by Dr. Philpot, a son of the latter. There are a few statements in it with which we do not agree, e.g., the remark about the call of the gospel. The distinction between “the sense of sin” and “the conviction of sin” as worked out on page 106 we think is misleading and untenable. The terminology of the modern school of psychologists sounds like the language of Ashdod when applied to the spiritual experiences of God’s people. Again in equaling the theological doctrine of Predestinarianism with the metaphysical doctrine of Determinism injustice is done to the former. We are not forgetful that such distinguished Calvinistic theologians as President Edwards and Dr. Chalmers were philosophical Determinists but no one who has ever read Principal Cunningham’s masterly article trouncing Sir William Hamilton is ever likely to forget that the metaphysical doctrine is not synonymous with the theological.
The book is handsomely bound and excellently printed and is a credit alike to the publishers and printers.
“IS THY GOD ABLE?” by the Rev. A. B. Lewis. The China Inland Mission, 4 Bouverie Street, London, E.C.4. Price, 9d.
This is a most impressive account of the trying experience of Rev. R. W. Porteous and his wife, missionaries of the China Inland Mission, who passed through a fiery ordeal as prisoners in the hands of the “Red” Army in Kiangsi. The beautiful devotion shown by the native Christians especially Mr. Chen and his two companions is inspiring and is as fine as anything one can read in missionary annals. God carried them safely through in the face of untold dangers until at length their labours were successful and Mr. and Mrs. Porteous were released after 100 days imprisonment during which they time and again heard their guards say that they would be put to death on the morrow. God ordered it otherwise and this little booklet tells the story in unaffected language. By all means let our readers purchase a copy. The menace of Communism to Christianity is seen in that missions were wiped out wherever the “Red” Army went. Anti-Christ has no place for the Christ of God.
OLD TIME REVIVALS by John Shearer, M.A., Glasgow: Pickering & Inglis, 229 Bothwell Street. Price, 2s. net.
A very readable account of some of the great revivals when the Spirit was poured forth from on high beginning with Puritan times and the Kirk of Shotts down to the North of Ireland revival in 1859. The book is pleasantly written and gives one an impressive idea of these mighty works of the Holy Ghost.