PSALM 119: VOL. 1 by Thomas Manton — hardback. Publishers: Banner of Truth Trust. Cost of set — £25.
Thomas Manton (1620-77) was one of the most outstanding of Puritan preachers of his day. Psalm 119 was the subject preached on to his congregation in sermons three times a week. This volume covers 67 sermons, from verse 1-60 of Psalm 119. He opens up the sweetness of divine truths as experienced in the soul exercises of David, the sweet Psalmist. In some
measure, all true believers find their own experience in Psalm 119. Thomas Manton knew Psalm 119 experimentally, and felt its sanctifying effect. It was his desire that his sermons would enlighten the understanding, win the affections, and lead to practical holiness. A contemporary of Manton said he had never heard him preach a ‘mediocre sermon’. Careful reading of this work, with the blessing of the Holy Spirit, will prove a valuable exercise.
A. McK.
THE JOURNALS OF A. N. BROWN paperback 76 pages. Publishers: The Elms Trust, Tauranga, N.Z. Cost: N.Z. dollars 7.50.
A COMMUNION SERMON by A. N. Brown — N.Z. dollars 1.
Rev. Alfred Nesbit Brown was a missionary under the auspices of the Church Missionary Society (C. of E.) at Paihia, N.Z., from 1829; Matamata from 1835, and finally Tauranga from 1838 till his death in 1884. His journals were preserved in his family. This commemorative, unedited edition covering the years 1840-1842, were hitherto unpublished, as is the case with the communion sermon. It could be said of Rev. A. N. Brown: ‘a workman that needeth not to be ashamed’, II Tim 2: 15. He laboured ‘in season, out of season’ amidst opposition from Roman Catholic priests, setting up their missions. His well-informed instruction of the natives showed his high estimation for admission to the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper. His labours were favoured of the Lord.
In his communion sermon he laments the inroads of Romanism in the C. of E. at that time, exposing the errors. He gives the Scriptural meaning of the Lord’s supper. His journal is of historical interest. Rev. A. N. Brown witnessed the sad effects of murderous feuds between chiefs, which threatened to hinder his missionary labours. Satan’s plans were not allowed to stop the spread of the gospel.
These publications are a witness against the ecumenism of our day.
A. McK.
D. MARTYN LLOYD-JONES Vol. II by Ian H. Murray, Banner of Truth Trust, 809pp, £15.95.
This second volume of the biography of Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who had so influential a ministry in London from 1939-68, is sub-titled, The Fight of Faith, and records the different aspects of his work from the beginning of the Second World War, when he was inducted into Westminster Chapel, down to his lamented death in 1981. This volume, like the first, is up to the high standard we have come to expect from the
pen of Rev. Iain Murray. It contains a thorough documentation, not only of the Doctor’s own life but also of the movements which were afoot in the Churches and religious organisations in England during that period. In some of these Dr. Lloyd-Jones played a conspicuous part. He was very alive to the drift away from the Word of God in the main Churches in the land, and the drift of the people away from those Churches, and recognised the connection between the two. From the outset of his ministry in London he spurned all gimmicks and sought to proclaim a full orbed Gospel to those who attended his ministry. By all accounts it proved to be an influential and fruitful ministry which he exercised through the blessing of God. It would appear that he had many souls for his hire. He attempted to unite together, not necessarily in one denomination, those who adhered to the fundamentals of the faith but was disappointed in this. It particularly saddened him to see evangelicals in the Church of England, not only remaining in that heterogeneous body, but even attempting to come to some accommodation with those who had abandoned the essentials of the faith. He lived at a time when the ecumenical movement was at its height and making headway in most of the Churches. Against that movement he fought with all his might. His adherence to the Independent form of Church government is well known with all the limitations implied in that form of Church government. One aspect of this is the difficulty in obtaining the continuity of a sound gospel ministry as happened in Dr Lloyd-Jones’ case, his ministry being succeeded by a ministry different from his own. Dr. Lloyd-Jones’ view on Romans 7 has also been commented on as out of line with the usual orthodox view.
Since his death there has been much controversy over Dr. Lloyd-Jones’ attitude to Pentecostalism and especially the second blessing. Mr Murray goes in very fully to these matters and shows what Dr. Lloyd-Jones’ position actually was, so that anyone interested in it may by reading the book find it out for themselves. Yet Dr. Lloyd-Jones was among those who longed for and pleaded for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Churches of the land.
In a day of abounding iniquity and of gross backsliding in the nation, Dr. Lloyd-Jones endeavoured to proclaim the fundamentals of the faith of the Gospel to his fellow-sinners and warned of the dangers confronting a people who were turning away from the only gospel that could save their souls. While not without his faults, he was a humble and gracious servant of the Master whom he served.
D.B.M.
DISCOURSES AND SAYINGS OF OUR LORD Volume 2, by John
Brown, Banner of Truth Trust.
This volume by the minister of Broughton Place, Edinburgh from 1829 to 1858 was first republished by the Banner of Truth Trust in 1976. Now bound, even more attractively than previously, and less heavy to handle, it still contains the same solid exposition of the Word of God. It is the middle volume of a trilogy on the subject-title. What emerges from a further perusal of it, is, the abiding value and profit to be derived from expository preaching. It is, to some extent both devotional and experiential, but the emphasis throughout lies in the accurate and painstaking exposition of the Word. It is evident, that the author was acutely aware of the difficulties and dangers to which the best of expositors are exposed. The contents are weighty, edifying, helpful and thought-provoking, and are most obviously the product of much prayer and study. There is evidence too of the pastoral love and experience by which these discourses are coloured and enriched. The author has girded himself for this labour of love, with supreme reverence for the Word of God, in the best orthodox tradition. Traces of the disciplines required for the production of such a worthy contribution to our Christian literature are not difficult to find. When Brown disagrees with the mainstream interpretation of any passage, he does so with characteristic modesty and conviction, furnishing the reader with valid reasons for the adoption of his own point of view. He is rightly convinced that Scripture is best interpreted by Scripture. As far as we can judge, this book is in no way tainted by Higher Critical theories, which were soon to vitiate so many works of this kind. The literary style, while fitting the loftiness of the themes explained and expounded, will not overtax the powers of the average reader. The sometimes distracting appendage of excessive foot-notes (frequently in a foreign tongue) is kept well under control. The price for the three volume set is £25. Surely excellent value for money.
F.M.