The Saviour — Sermons by Rev. Dr John Kennedy, Dingwall. Vol. I. Paperback, published by Reformation Press, 11 Churchill Drive, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, PA87 2NP. 115pp.
‘The Saviour’ is the first volume of a planned series of reprints of Dr Kennedy’s works. It consists of a biographical sketch of Rev. Dr Kennedy’s birth and upbringing; his education, conversion and early spiritual experiences; licensing and ordination; and his ministry in Dingwall. Dr Kennedy’s personal qualities were outlined by his biographer — his prayerfulness; his faithfulness in dealing with souls and as a defender of Bible doctrines in an age when Scripture was under attack. The seven sermons published in this volume expound various aspects of the person and work of Christ. These sermons were originally published as individual sermons in “Sermons by Dr Kennedy, Dingwall”, Inverness 1885. May these sermons be blessed to many today, as was the case during the ministry of the man of God. I recommend this book of sermons of Dr Kennedy ‘whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches.’ II Cor. 8: 18.
A. MacK.
Sermons by William Gadsby, Gospel Standard Trust Publications.
This neatly bound volume of short sermons by the well known Baptist hymn writer, contains much that is precious, sweet and spiritually savoury. It includes a helpful and interesting sketch of the Author’s life by B. A. Ramsbottom.
Mr Gadsby’s abhorrence of Arminianism we share and appreciate. His insistence on the possession and knowledge of vital godliness as distinct from the form, without the power also strikes a chord in our hearts. There is most definitely a spiritual sweetness and savour in what he writes. His deepening acquaintance with the unutterable depravity of the heart and the ineffable preciousness of the blood of the adorable Mediator, are pleasing features that enhance the value of this volume. Add to that, the wholesome breath of rare originality which is quite striking, and your appetite for perusal is already whetted.
However, we cannot accord to him the fulsome praise of his friend, endorsed by J. C. Philpot — “Mr Gadsby’s ministry contains the cream of all the preachers I ever heard.” In our view these sermons are flawed by their excessively experimental nature. A sound and thorough exegesis of each part and passage of the Word of God is a ‘sine qua non’ for the full proclamation of the Truth. Experience and practice have their place in each proper sermon, but the base is sound doctrine, faithful and painstaking exegesis of the passage being treated.
Perhaps the most striking example of Mr Gadsby’s weakness is to be found in his sermon on Malach 1: 6. Surprisingly, by far the greater part of this sermon is confined to a dissertation on the Scripturalness and necessity of Baptism by Immersion. Now, this is not the place to dilate on this thorny subject — yet we feel that we must disagree. To our minds and those of the great Scottish Reformers and preachers, Mr Gadsby is too sure of his ground. The Baptist error on this score stems, we think, at least in part, from a failure to recognise the organic unity of the whole Word of God, and the consequent implications inherent in this view.
Another weakness we discern is the absence of the universal call of the Gospel. The rich free overtures of sovereign grace are to be addressed to every creature — Isaiah 55: 1 and 2 describes the character and condition of those who are exhorted, yea, appealed to, to come and participate in the blessings of the covenant of grace. Surely we must follow the example of the divinely inspired prophet, and not be wiser than God.
We would advise our Baptist friends whom we love, to read again from the pages of possibly the greatest Baptist preacher of all, John Bunyan, on ‘Come and welcome to Jesus Christ.’
F.M.
SERMONS by the late J. C. Philpot M.A., Gospel Standard Trust Publications.
These two volumes of sermons by the late J. C. Philpot need no introduction to the people of our church. His works have been read with spiritual profit and pleasure by our fathers, and are still treasured among us by the living in Jerusalem.
Searching, edifying and comforting, they certainly are, and afford evidence of much devotional prayer and study of the Word of God. The discourses are studded with homely similitudes and apt illustrations borrowed from the realm of nature. They will not be relished by the ‘humanitarian’ Christians of our day, but to the tender contrite ones who often fear they mistake head knowledge for heart knowledge, they will make no small appeal.
The author’s special gift is in the field of experience. With no ordinary skill he traces the origin, nature and fluctuations of the life of grace in the souls of believers. He solemnly warns the ungodly and the mere carnal or nominal professors of religion. In our view however, this great and godly man does not preach the full-orbed gospel. Simply stated, he does not address himself or his message to sinners as such — but only to ‘convinced’ sinners. We search in vain for the clarion call of the Gospel. “Unto you, O men I call, and my voice is to the sons of man” Proverbs 8: 4 and again Proverbs 1: 22-23 “How long ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn ye, at my reproof: behold I will pour out my spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you.”
The absence of such an appeal is strange indeed. Mr Philpot goes so far as to refuse to call sinners to repent and believe the Gospel. Not so, the best of the Scottish divines, such as Boston and the Erskine brothers. Perhaps it would help to remind ourselves that God did not lose His right to command obedience to His will, though man lost his ability to obey. “Again, it should be noted that man’s inability to believe does not at all affect his warrant to believe. Though none but the quickened sinner can take Christ, it will not follow that none but he may or might take Him. At that rate we must bid none believe, but such as have got the spirit of faith. Nor will it follow that it is unjust in God to command them to believe, who cannot; or mockery to offer Christ to such as cannot take Him” — ‘Bell on the Nature of Saving Faith’ page 257.
Another serious error we noticed was the doctrine of imputed holiness. Imputation belongs exclusively to Christ’s righteousness in justification, and the very word in its Biblical sense belongs to the act of justification.
These blemishes apart we would cordially commend these two volumes, which are indeed true specimens of Mr Philpot’s type of preaching.
F.M.