Christian Experience by Donald MacDonald. Banner of Truth Publications. 145pp. £5.95.
A short biographical account of the life of the late Rev. Donald MacDonald, contained in this book and a selection of his sermons, show him to have been taught of the Lord from his early days. Brought up in the doctrines of the Truth, he came to realise his spiritual ignorance. His inability to believe in Christ was his sin, and his responsibility to believe was his duty. By free and sovereign grace he was enabled to embrace Christ in the Gospel. All the doctrines of the Bible are faithfully expounded in his sermons. I note that in the sermon “Heaven: the Lamb adored,” page 141, there is uncertainty expressed as to whether the wounds, which were in the Saviour’s resurrection body are in His glorified body in Heaven. On page 25 a quotation by an English preacher, “I feel that I would not break a promise, not even if it were to the devil I made it” is given. To break promise with unscriptural secret societies, such as Free Masons, is a duty.
I enjoyed reading this edifying book and I gladly recommend it.
A. McK.
No King but Christ by Maurice Grant. Evangelical Press. 274pp. £6.95.
This attractive paperback tells the story of Donald Cargill, the Covenanter, and also gives an outline of the history of the Covenaning period. It is well written and documented but its most attractive feature is the sympathetic spirit in which it is written. Today the Covenanters are looked upon more as a strange band of people who went to extreme lengths in holding to their beliefs and so brought the wrath of the Government upon themselves. It is good to find a writer who sees them as a people who contended for principles that were worth contending for — a people who were valiant for the truth in the earth, and who were ready to seal with their blood the truths to which they adhered. This is a notable period in the history of Scotland and the writer of “No King but Christ” in his study of this period of Church History has come to sympathise with them in their struggle for Christ’s Crown and Covenant. We are glad to recommend this book to our readers, which has already been favourably reviewed in the Young People’s Magazine.
D. B. M.
The Welsh Revival by Thomas Phillips. Banner of Truth Trust. 147pp. £4.95.
This Banner of Truth hardback deals with the origin and development of the 1859 Welsh Revival. Many parts of Wales were favoured at that time with a copious outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Many souls were awakened and brought to a saving knowledge of the truth, and the people of God themselves were favoured with a gracious reviving in their souls. The only people who had reason to complain were the public house owners whose trade suffered severely and some had to close down altogether. The revival affected all denominations and its effects were permanent in the lives of many, though, as in all revivals, a small number who at first gave promising signs of conversion afterwards went back. The Welsh revival was largely free of the unusual manifestations that were exhibited in some other revivals and flowed in a relatively calm channel. As with other accounts of revivals, it makes the reader long for the return of such days of spiritual prosperity to Zion.
D. B. M.
Some Favourite Books by John Macleod, Banner of Truth paperback. 125pp. £1.50.
In this book Principal Macleod the author of Scottish Theology introduces readers to some of the great classics of Reformed literature. In all he writes on 22 different books and writers. The selection, though a personal one, must be considered a truly representative one in view of Principle Macleod’s phenomenal memory and his knowledge of Reformed literature. A book like this is most useful to direct readers to truly worthwhile literature in a day when modern second rate religious books abound. A number of the books reviewed by Principal Macleod are now out of print but may still be obtainable in Church libraries. We are glad to recommend this paperback to readers of the Magazine.
D. B. M.