Holiness, Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, by J C Ryle, published by the Banner of Truth Trust, hardback, 475 pages, £15.00.
This excellent book will need little introduction to many of our readers and we are pleased that it has been reprinted in such an attractive form by the Banner of Truth Trust. Ryle’s great theme is the need in the Christian life for holiness: “its nature, hindrances, difficulties and roots”. The wonderfully clear and practical way he addresses this subject is calculated to leave the reader in no doubt about its significance. Indeed, if Ryle held it to be of the utmost importance in the late nineteenth century, then we too have great need to pay heed since the line of separation between the Church and the world has become so greatly blurred in our day.
Ryle wrote the work initially for an Anglican audience and refers rather too frequently for our liking to the formularies of the Church of England; nevertheless his constant warnings regarding the danger of formalism and works-based religion are needful for everyone to lay to heart. At the end of the book, there is a chapter entitled “Christ is all”, based on the words of Colossians 3:11. There Ryle observes, “These three words are the essence and substance of Christianity. If our hearts can really go along with them, it is well with our souls. If not, we may be sure we have yet much to learn . . . . A right knowledge of Christ is essential to a right knowledge of sanctification as well as justification. He that follows after holiness will make no progress unless he gives to Christ His rightful place.” It would be good if the message of this book were to be taken seriously throughout the Christian Church.
(Rev) A W MacColl
Christ Set Forth as the Cause of Justification and as the Source of Justifying Faith, by Thomas Goodwin, published by the Banner of Truth Trust, paperback, 263 pages, £5.75.
Christ Set Forth was written with the aim of encouraging weak believers especially to draw greater consolation from Christ as the cause of their justification. Goodwin writes, not only as a master theologian, but as “a man of like passions” who, with Elijah, knew what it was to be dejected in the spiritual warfare. From his own experience he identified a tendency to look within, and not to Christ, as a cause of the poor believer’s lack of spiritual joy and strength. In the introduction he carefully describes the right use of searching within for marks of grace, and stresses that this is necessary to determine whether one has grace or not. However, in the matter of forgiveness and acceptance with God, we will never find any encouragement within and must look away from ourselves to a crucified Christ. The believer is therefore directed to live by faith and to engage in “a more constant actual exercise of daily thoughts of faith towards Christ immediately, as He is set forth to be our righteousness”.
In a most edifying and accessible way, the book expounds these themes on the basis of Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us”. Indeed the beauty of this book is that it opens up text after text, revealing the treasure of Christ the Mediator in the field of the Word.
The method which he adopts is very simple. He explains each clause of Romans 8:34 in turn, allocating a distinct section to each. He shows how Christ’s Person, death, resurrection, ascension to God’s right hand, and intercession are together the foundation for justifying faith, and thus provide matter of comfort to the trembling believer. In doing so, he brings out the special suitability of Christ suffering and dying to the case of the guilty and troubled soul. Christ dying for sinners is “the most pleasing and grateful [acceptable] object to a soul that is humbled; for this makes Christ suitable to him as he is a sinner”.
Christ’s resurrection from the dead is shown to be evidence that God fully accepted His finished work on behalf of those whose sin He bore. Goodwin also makes the point that Christ arose from the dead as the Head and Representative of His people. He was then justified, and the elect were virtually justified in Him also. He goes on to clarify that their actual justification does not take place until they are united to Christ in due time by regeneration and faith.
Almost half of the book is dedicated to explaining the clause, “who also maketh intercession for us”. In opening up the intercession of Christ, he draws on Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them”. The significance of Melchisedec as a type of Christ is also explained in the light of Christ interceding as a High Priest for ever. This most interesting section is closed with encouragements to sinners, including the following exhortation: “Let not the want of assurance that God will save thee, or that Christ is thine, discourage thee, if thou hast a heart to come to God by Christ to be saved, though thou knowest not whether He will save thee or no”. Believers are described as “comers to God by Christ; such as go out of themselves, and rest in nothing in themselves”, and these “do come unto God through Christ, though with trembling”.
We heartily recommend this book, which is taken from volume 4 of the Nichols edition of Goodwin’s Works. The content is Christ-centred and applied to the case of the soul throughout. Readers, especially those used to the works of the Puritans, will find the language to be choice and clear.
(Rev) I D MacDonald
The Men of Lewis, by Norman C Macfarlane, published by William Murray, paperback, 285 pages, £5.00.
This book contains brief accounts of prominent Christian men – as distinct from ministers – in Lewis. These accounts were originally published in issues of The Stornoway Gazette and were first printed in one volume in 1924. The author was born in Stornoway in 1853 and became a minister in the Free Church; he joined the United Free Church in 1900 and ended his days in the Church of Scotland. Some of the material was collected by Principal John Macleod during his time in Stornoway in the late nineteenth century; if he had proceeded to publish a book on the same subject, we can be sure that it would have been much more satisfactory.
Clearly the author had great respect for those he wrote about, laying considerable stress on how they spoke at fellowship meetings. But his book suffers from too much of a focus on using colourful language rather than what is solidly spiritual. And in his efforts to do so, there are many references which will not be recognised by today’s readers. For instance, how many will recognise, without searching a reference work or the internet (as the reviewer did) that Teufelsdrockh (p 100) was a character in a novel by Thomas Carlyle? Some of these references may raise questions about the solidity of the author’s religion, as does his appreciation of the Declaratory Act of 1892, which seriously weakened the relationship of the old Free Church to The Westminster Confession and its scriptural doctrines. It would have been helpful if more dates had been given; they would have placed these men better in their historical context.
Among the profitable anecdotes is the account of Malcolm Smith, of Gravir, in south-east Lewis, crossing a moor. He entered an empty house and went on his knees to pray. As he prayed, his voice became louder. Another man heard Malcolm’s voice as he too crossed the moor. He stood outside the house to listen. This man never went to church; he did not keep the Sabbath; he was thoroughly godless. But that day, listening outside the lonely house on the moor, the man received a blessing in his soul, as Malcolm poured out his soul quite unconscious of anyone listening except the Most High.
Another man, John Mackay of Garrabost, was overheard praying in his barn. Something serious had happened to one of his sons. Yet his faith was seen when he bowed before the Lord and said, “I thank Thee for this which crushes me to the dust, for I am persuaded Thy purpose is wholly of mercy”. A third of these men, Murdo Stewart of Back, confessed, “The greatest regret of my life is my lost opportunities”.
There is no reason to believe that the men of Sutherland were of a higher spiritual calibre than their contemporaries in Lewis, but the volume, The Men of Sutherland, previously published by Mr Murray, is a much more solid and satisfactory book. Yet, in spite of what has been said, one is glad that it was written and glad that it has been republished. Readers should find it interesting and profitable even if they share the reviewer’s wish that the tone of the book was more satisfactory.