Expositions of Holy Scripture, by J C Philpot, published by Gospel Standard Trust Publications, hardback, 207 pages, £13.00, available from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom.
Joseph Charle Philpot was probably the best-known preacher among the Gospel Standard Baptists in England during the nineteenth century. A “Historical Introduction” prefaced to this volume explains the origin of the addresses it contains: “It would appear that it was Mr Philpot’s custom that, having read a portion of Scripture, he would briefly expound the passage before he prayed”. Yet that passage did not necessarily contain the text from which he later preached. The writer goes on to suggest that Philpot carried this practice over from the Church of England, where he had previously been a clergyman.
These expositions do not so much explain the meaning of the passage as
bring out its spiritual application. For instance, in speaking on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, “… a time to be born, and a time to die …”, Philpot acknowledges, “These words are true taken literally”, and before long he is giving a spiritual application. The exposition concludes, “So you see that these are not matters merely of time, but matters of eternity, and you will see each of these things opens up a wide field of experimental religion, for the heaven-taught soul to walk in”.
Perhaps the warning note predominates; for instance: “If you walk according to the ordinary course of this life, in pride and self-righteousness, you are not walking worthy of the Lord”. Yet he encourages believers: “Many a saint of God has had many fears and terrors about death; but Christ has proved stronger than Satan, and enabled the dying to say, ‘O death, were is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?’”
One other small point in a book with much spiritual instruction: most of the page numbers on the contents page are inaccurate.