Sermons on Hebrews, by Robert Murray M’Cheyne, published by the Banner of Truth Trust, paperback, 208 pages, £13.95, available from the F P Bookroom.
This book, as the editor, Dr Michael McMullen, explains, is one of three published recently (the others being Old Testament Sermons and New Testament Sermons) which have been taken from manuscripts of M’Cheyne’s sermons lodged in the library of New College, Edinburgh, some years ago. After a brief summary of M’Cheyne’s life, the editor goes on to explain in his Foreword that “these have only been lightly edited to make them more suitable for publication. They are presented, not to show M’Cheyne’s skill at sermon construction” (though they certainly do that) “nor as a piece of nineteenth-century history, but as a testimony to what God can do . . . and to affirm that what God has done He can do again.”
The book contains 24 fairly-full sermon outlines preached at St Peter’s, Dundee. They deal with such precious subjects as: “The Rest that Remains” and “The Word of God” (chapter 4), “The Aaronic Priesthood” and “Christ’s Calling as High Priest” (chapter 5), “The More Excellent Ministry of Christ” and “The New Covenant” (chapter 8), and “The Superiority
of Christ’s Sacrifice” (chapter 9). The final sermon is on “Christ Always the Same” (chapter 13).
Not everyone would agree with M’Cheyne that the “Word of God” in this instance refers to Christ rather than to the written Word, (though this was Owen’s view also), nor that the cherubim represent “the redeemed Church of God”. Yet the sermons provide, as one would expect from this saintly servant of God, choice food for the souls of believers as well as very solemn warnings for unbelievers. The following from “The More Excellent Ministry of Christ” is an example of this:
“Aaron had a little compassion. He could say, ‘Come unto me, and I will show you where you will find rest’. But Christ could say, ‘Come unto Me and I will give you rest’. The high priest offered up sacrifices; Christ offered up the true sacrifice. Brethren, have you gone to this High Priest? Every Jew that ever was saved came, through the shadows, to this High Priest. Brethren, why do you despise Him? Is there any other? Go round the universe; you will not find another that washes out sins. Brethren, why do you not go to Him? There is none other that can save you. There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby you can be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ. This will seal the perdition of many of you.”
We heartily commend this book to all our readers. (Rev) W A Weale