THE SECEDERS (1829-1869), Vol. II. Edited by J. H. PHILPOT, M.D. London: Farnecombe & Sons Ltd., 30 Imperial Buildings, Ludgate Circus, E.C.4. Price, 8s. 6d. Illustrated. Pages, 359.
For Scottish readers it may be necessary to say at the outset that the Seceders referred to are not the Erskines but William Tiptaft and Joseph C. Philpot. In these days it is a rare occurrence that such a book is issued from the press. Its pages breathe the atmosphere of a deep religious experience that was at war to the death with lifeless religion, hypocrisy, formality, self-righteousness, the world, the flesh and the devil. No one who believes in the clear cut work of the Holy Spirit can read these searching letters of J. C. Philpot without being made conscious that here was a man who had his eye fixed on the distant goal and who was pressing to it with all his might. He smote the lifeless religion, orthodox and heterodox, with resounding blows and as a result these formalists turned on him as if he were an agent of Satan. He felt the attack keenly but he did not lay aside his sword. The searching nature of his preaching laid him open to enemies from every side but he candidly admitted that he was to blame at times for drawing their fire. He had an abiding sense of the desperate wickedness of his heart and the all-suitability of Christ’s atoning blood to cleanse from all sin. He laid special stress on experimental preaching and he excelled in this department but there are expressions used by him in condemnation of doctrinal preaching with which we cannot agree. We fully understand the type of doctrinal preaching at which he was aiming his well directed blows but to condemn all doctrinal preaching as some of his sentences seem to do without a word of qualification is as wrong as it would be to condemn all experimental preaching because some kinds of it does not reach very much higher than a lifeless emotionalism. We believe Dr. Duncan was right when he warned against purely doctrinal preaching for that would be all head and this would be a monster; if all experience this would be all heart and this would be a monster; and if all practice this would be all hands and feet and this too would be a monster. The Scriptural way is to combine the three and preach doctrine, experience and practice; for the experience and practice which have not as their solid foundation the doctrine of Scripture is worthless for eternity. Another matter with which we cannot agree is what Mr. Philpot says about teaching children prayers. Here again we recognise the danger of parents and others thinking that saying of prayers is the same thing as praying; nevertheless many a one will have to bless God throughout eternity for the blessed privilege of being taught to pray at their mother’s knee. These and a few other points we do not agree with but when it comes to the deep, searching, spiritual experiences we delight in reading these gracious letters. Mr. Philpot was conscious of his own weaknesses and there is a refreshing candour in what he says about those who mistake the fire of their own spirit for fire from heaven. “I have had this spirit myself,” he writes, “and know from experience that there is no dew nor unction of the Spirit attending it. This carnal fire dries up all such heavenly dew.” The letters will be valued most of all by those who know something of the plague of their own hearts and who long to have a clear distinction made between the clean and unclean. Searching though he is, he does not wield such a piercing and keen blade as Samuel Rutherford, Thomas Shepard and Jonathan Edwards but he belongs to this goodly company. Though a Baptist Mr. Philpot was by no means narrow minded on the important question involved. The letters are written in a polished literary style and indicate a mind acute and well-balanced capable of treating momentous matters with a becoming sanity of judgment. There is no conscious effort to deck out his mental output with meretricious adornment but no one can read the letters without feeling they are worthy of a one time Fellow of one of our ancient and most renowned Universities.
Dr. Philpot, in this act of filial piety, has done his work exceedingly well. The introductory part will be read with pleasure by many who have heard of such men as William and John Gadsby, John Warburton, John Kershaw, John MacKenzie, Thomas Godwin and others less known but whose names we believe were written in the Lamb’s book of life. There is a tribute fitly worded to that beautiful Christian gentlewoman, Lady Lucy Smith, of the Scottish house of Leslie-Melville, who lived a devoted life to her Lord and though of high social station she did not disdain to cast in her lot with the Lord’s chosen ones of low degree. We are sure many will thank Dr. Philpot for the brief but interesting sketches he has given of those worthy men who when they had served their generation fell asleep in Jesus. The book contains many illustrations and portraits and does high credit to the publishers in its binding, printing and general get up.