VALIANT IN FIGHT BY B. F. C. ATKINSON, M.A., Ph.D., Under Librarian in the University Library, Cambridge. London: 39 Bedford Square, W.C.1. Price 2s 6d.
This is a remarkable book in many ways. For while it does not profess to be a history of the opposition encountered by the true Church down through the ages to the present time yet, it gives, within the compass of 212 pages, as informative and useful a summary of that long continued struggle as one can find anywhere. The mighty hosts which have been marshalled against Christ’s cause and those which are still engaged in this unholy war such as Paganism, Atheism, Agnosticism, Communism, Roman Catholicism, Modernism, pseudo-science (Evolution, etc.), pseudo-philosophy, etc., are all passed before us in a masterly review. The book conveys to one in an impressive way the tremendous nature of the struggle carried on down through all the ages from the days of righteous Abel to the present time. And, if the Church of Christ can say: yet they were not victorious, that is not due to any power, wisdom or skill which she possessed, but altogether to Him who promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against her. While it gives us pleasure to recommend the book, we are not to be taken as giving full approval to all Mr. Atkinson says, especially in reference to the Keswick and Moody and Sankey movements, pre-millenianism, etc. It would have been better if reference to Pentecostal days during the Covenaning struggle, especially to the raising of a young man from the dead even though worthy John Howie records it had been omitted. Mr. Atkinson, probably from his religious upbringing, is inclined to give more place to a liturgy than we are willing to allow. Perhaps also his characterisation of the Monophysite and Monothelite controversies as barren, if we understand him aright, is too strong as these, like some of the other Christological controversies, though mixed with much dross, were very useful to the Church in after ages. Was Isaac Watts a Baptist? (p. 154). Was it not Bishop Latimer who used the words quoted at foot of page 199? Notwithstanding all these we heartily recommend this book to all who wish to get within a narrow compass, a view of the great struggle waged against Christ’s true Church down through the ages.
MARTIN LUTHER by ESTELLE ROSS. London: George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd. Price, 2/-.
This interesting life of Luther is one of the series Heroes of all Time published by Messrs. Harrap. The story of Luther’s momentous career is told with an intelligent grasp of the issues at stake and with a sympathetic interest in the chief actor in a struggle which shook the papal world to its foundations. The book is just the kind to place in the hands of those who wish to get a view of the great struggle and of the honoured instrument in it. We could have wished that more was said about the Reformation as a religious movement than stressing the fact that it was a phase of the Renaissance. We are not forgetful that it is spoken of largely as a religious movement but would have preferred that this point was stressed more than it is. Again, the constant use of the term “Catholic” for Roman Catholic is incorrect and should be avoided even by popular writers. The controversy on free will between Erasmus and Luther involved much deeper issues than is indicated in the book before us.