In Their Own Words, The Testimonies of Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, and John Bunyan, by David B Calhoun, published by the Banner of Truth Trust, paperback, 240 pages, £6.25, obtainable from the F P Bookroom.
Here are short biographies of four men who, by God’s grace, were giants of the Christian Church. The accounts are by no means entirely in the subjects’ own words, but the extent to which these men are allowed to speak for themselves verifies the statement in the book’s blurb that “there is something unique to be gained by listening to these men tell their stories in their own words“.
Luther, after severe troubles in struggling with sin, discovered that “this is wonderful news, to believe that salvation lies outside ourselves”. He recalled, “When God in His sheer mercy and without any merit of mine has given me such unspeakable riches, shall I not then freely, joyously, wholeheartedly, unprompted, do everything that I know will please Him?”
Prominent events in Luther’s life are covered, such as his opposition to Roman indulgences, his break with Rome, and his appearance before the Emperor at the Diet of Worms, where he declared, “I am bound to Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. . . I cannot do otherwise. Here I stand. God help me.” We see, in this book, the public side of Luther’s work, but also his personal and family life (as is true for Calvin, Knox and Bunyan). A quotation on the last page of the account sums up Luther’s understanding of the gospel: “The Christian truly lives by faith alone rather than by the merit of good works aimed at pacifying God” – an understanding that was so fruitful at the beginning of the Reformation.
John Calvin, of course, stood on the shoulders of Luther. He confessed, “I was God’s arch-enemy, and in me there was not even a semblance of obedience towards Him at all, but I was rather full of . . . a diabolic obstinance to
resist God and to plunge myself into eternal death”. Yet he could later testify that God “brought my mind to a teachable frame”.
Calvin was the Reformer of Geneva, though he did not labour alone. His work there was by no means easy; yet he could say, “Although Geneva was a very troublesome province to me, the thought of deserting it never entered my mind. For I consider myself placed in that position by God, like a sentry at his post from which it would be impiety on my part were I to move a single step.” Yet Calvin, for his faithfulness, was sent away from his post, but was later recalled to the work of the gospel in Geneva. He commented, “When I remember that I am not my own, I offered up my heart, presented as a sacrifice to the Lord”. One could go on giving quotations from this book which shed light on the godly tenacity of this faithful Reformer when faced with duty. One final example: “I take pains to live in such a way that my character and conduct do not conflict with what I teach”.
John Knox was helped by John Calvin in Geneva during times of exile from Scotland. After 19 months as a prisoner on the French galleys, Knox spent six years preaching in England. His leadership was vital to the Scottish Reformation; yet as Dr Calhoun states, he “gave all the credit to God”. He wrote, “We do nothing but go about Jericho, blowing with trumpets as God gives strength, hoping victory by His power alone”. Again, “My life is in the custody of Him whose glory I seek”. Knox “never feared the face of man”, and spoke to his Queen as in the presence of God. Whatever his difficulties, he, like Calvin, was faithful to the post where God had placed him; he wrote, “I dare not cast off that burden that God has laid upon me to preach to unthankful . . . Scotland”. Many readers would have felt much more comfortable if the quotations from, in particular, Knox’s prayers had left him addressing the Most High as “Thou” rather than the word being changed to “You”.
John Bunyan is best known for his Pilgrim’s Progress. A godless young man, he “grew more and more rebellious against God, and careless of my own salvation”. Yet he was deeply convinced of sin; but only with difficulty did he give up playing sport on Sabbaths (a quotation from another writer referring to the Puritans’ “petty renunciations” (p 188) is unsatisfactory). But Bunyan found that conversion comes primarily, not through “the overheavy load of sin, but the discovery of mercy; not the roaring of the devil, but the drawing of the Father, that makes a man come to Jesus Christ”. Later, Dr Calhoun says, “With ‘great fear and trembling’ and knowledge of his ‘own weakness’, he began to preach ‘that blessed gospel’ that God had shown him ‘in the holy word of truth’”. He suffered much during the persecution under Charles II, including years in prison – one fruit of it being Pilgrim’s Progress.
Apart from the reservations made above, this book gives a brief but inter-
esting account of four historical figures who were much used in advancing the cause of Christ in their times. There are fuller accounts of all these men which make useful reading,1 but this small volume provides a helpful introduction to them at all.