1Both books reviewed here are available from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom
The Passionate Preacher, previously unpublished sermons by Robert Murray M’Cheyne, published by Christian Focus Publications, hardback, 332 pages, £16.99.
This is a welcome selection of M’Cheyne’s sermons, transcribed from his own handwritten notes, and edited, by Dr Michael McMullen. Most of the sermons are just notes or outlines, which M’Cheyne prepared for preaching. Of the 77 sermons in this volume, only 10 are at least five pages long, whereas 29 of these 67 are but one or two pages.
Nevertheless, the reader comes away from the book with the distinct impression that M’Cheyne was truly a passionate preacher who felt deeply about the spiritual needs of his people. In preaching about Christ building His church from living stones, he told them, “Ah, I sometimes fear lest God should have taken all the stones He means to take out of this place and that you may be left like a deserted quarry”.
These sermons are Christ-centred. It was M’Cheyne’s delight to display the sufficiency of the Saviour and to press upon the people their constant need of Him. “There is a supply in Him for every need”, he proclaimed. “You have divine wrath over you, but He is a divine Saviour to shelter you. You have a world of sins upon you. Well, but behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. You need one who can save you from sin and from hell. He is able to save to the uttermost. You need one who can save the chief of sinners. Well, He came into the world to save sinners, even the chief. Oh, He is a most sweet and precious Saviour.”
M’Cheyne’s language is clear and direct. Indeed, one of the striking features of these sermons is how pointedly he addresses his hearers, both converted and unconverted, and applies the truth to their various cases. He most skilfully, searchingly and solemnly dissects and lays bare the evasions and objections of sinners in their opposition to God’s claims upon them. How earnestly he shows their need of being born again. “The best natural man in the world cannot get above nature,” he declares.
Professing Christians are also dealt with freely and faithfully. While he comforts the Lord’s people in their trials, he solemnly warns them against being at ease in Zion, or being enemies of the cross of Christ. He wrote at the foot of his notes on “Enemies of the Cross” (Phil 3:17-21), “Many were deeply affected during the preaching of this discourse, especially when that head on being enemies of the cross was given. Many sobbed aloud.”
This selection also confirms M’Cheyne’s well-known love for the Lord’s Day. In one of the two almost-identical sermons about the Sabbath (which were obviously the basis of his tract, “I love the Lord’s Day”, included in his Memoir and Remains), he says, “We love the Lord’s Day because it is His. Every hour of it is dear to us, sweeter than honey, more precious than gold. It is the day He rose for our justification. It reminds us of His love, and His finished work, and His rest. And we may boldly say that that man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ who does not love the entire Lord’s Day.”
Another commendable feature of the sermons is the frequent use of suitable illustrations. He obviously thought in pictures and elucidates point after point by succinct and striking similes. It is an example that some of us would do well to follow. This is how he describes the unregenerate heart: “The natural heart is given over to idols. In the Greek churches abroad, the walls are painted round and round with idols. And you will often see the people choosing out their favourite idol and bowing down to it. Such is the natural heart. In every cell of it there is a different idol. And the soul bows down to each in turn. Sometimes it worships money, sometimes praise, sometimes dress, and sometimes sensual pleasure.”
It is clear that M’Cheyne was steeped in the Word of God. He not only ably uses Scripture passages to support his teaching, but also earnestly commends the searching of the Scriptures. “What a wonderful book is the Bible,” he says in one sermon. “Every time you read it, if the Spirit breathes over the page, you will find new light – new nourishment to the soul. The Bible is the green pasture where He maketh His flock to lie down and feed, and every time the hungry flock return to it, they find the pasture has grown richer and more verdant than before.”
Many of M’Cheyne’s statements are eminently quotable, and we do not wonder that there is a website which includes quotations from his other sermons. Some of his language is quite poetic although not extravagant. However, we feel he lets his imagination go beyond the bounds of Scripture when he makes conjectures about the holy angels perhaps pleading for the fallen angels (p 217), Nicodemus covering his face when visiting Jesus, and John on the Isle of Patmos labouring in the mines.
It has also to be said that there are some phrases which are theologically imprecise or suspect, and some interpretations of Scripture passages with which we cannot agree. Saintly minister though M’Cheyne certainly was, it would appear that he did not have the theological robustness of many others. However, it is to be borne in mind that these are only preparatory notes and that in preaching he would no doubt have qualified what appears questionable as he fleshed out what are in many instances just skeletons.
There are some smaller points to note. First, there appear to be several errors in transcription. In his preface the editor takes responsibility for any such mistakes, noting that M’Cheyne’s handwriting “is not altogether clear”, but it is surprising these were not eliminated by the publisher during the editing process.
Some of the titles given to the sermons (whether by M’Cheyne or the editor we cannot say) are not descriptive of the content. Some sermons are repeated in a slightly different form (sermons 6 and 7, for example), and half of the 20 outlines under the heading “Types of Jesus” are not in fact presented by M’Cheyne as types. It might also have been wiser to have excluded those particularly cryptic notes which are no more than bare indications of his line of thought.
These points aside, this is a volume which is not only full of searching matter for all and heart-warming instruction for believers, but also useful for ministers in stimulating their minds in preparation for the pulpit. We can only admire Dr McMullen’s painstaking dedication and perseverance in preparing these 133 000 or so words for publication. (Rev) Neil M Ross
The Lord’s Supper, by Thomas Watson, published by the Banner of Truth Trust, paperback, 96 pages, £3.75.
This little book was first published in 1665 and has long been out of print. Those who enjoy Watson’s warm devotional writing need no further recommendation than to say that he is the author.
In introducing the subject, the author sets out his purpose by saying, “It is to excite holy ardour of soul in such as intend to partake of” the Lord’s Supper. He deals with every aspect of the Sacrament under the following chapter headings: The Mystery of the Lord’s Supper, the Consecration of the Elements, the Benefits of the Lord’s Supper, Christ’s Love Displayed in the Sacrament, the Broken Body of Christ, and the Blood of Christ.
One quotation encapsulates, we think, the gist of the book: “Behold the amazing love of God, His body was broken. The cross, says Augustine, ‘was a pulpit from which Christ preached love to the world’. Let us see in the cross a holy culmination of the love of Christ.” The book contains two brief but useful chapters on Self-examination, and True and False Faith, followed by an answer, for weak believers, to objections against coming to the sacrament. He concludes with a chapter entitled: Comforts to Believers and Warnings to Unbelievers. It is an excellent little book, thoroughly commended.
(Rev) D J MacDonald