Do Thyself No Harm
The Works of John Macdonald of Ferintosh, vol 1, published by Reformation Press, 343 pages, hardback £23.85; paperback £14.90. John Macdonald (1779-1849) is still relatively well known, in some circles, among Scottish Presbyterians – not as a writer, but as a preacher. He laboured assiduously, not only in his own Black Isle parish, but throughout the Highlands and beyond, as he went about preaching the gospel, most notably in places where the local minister’s preaching was more or less devoid of the good news about Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
No fewer than four sketches of Macdonald’s life make up the first section of the volume under review. Inevitably there is overlap between them but, as the Foreword states, “various facets of his character and ministry are depicted” in them. A fuller biography, The Apostle of the North, was written by his younger colleague, John Kennedy of Dingwall, and is a good picture of his life, not least of his remarkable efforts to spread the pure gospel over a wide area – not only in his native Highlands, but also in the remote islands of St Kilda, and districts in southern Ireland. (Contrary to what is said in the newly-published work, The Apostle of the North is still available from Free Presbyterian Publications.)
The second main section of Do Thyself No Harm consists of sermons that Macdonald preached. The first of these provides the title for the book; it was known as the “Cholera Sermon”, and was based on the warning of Paul and Silas to the jailer in Philippi. In 1832 there was an outbreak of cholera in Dingwall and, as Kennedy described the situation, “men were compelled to think of death and to ask if they were prepared to meet it. Conscience was awake, and men were disposed to listen to one who called them to ‘flee from the wrath to come’. The ‘Apostle of the North’ was just the preacher for such an occasion. No other could more vividly portray the danger, more clearly indicate the only way of escape, more earnestly urge men to flee ‘for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before them’.”
Macdonald’s first main point in the sermon was: “Do no harm to your body”. He warned against idleness and excessive drinking and “neglecting the means for restoring us to health”, and he went on to give advice relevant to the cholera outbreak. The second main point was: “Do no harm to your souls”. In particular, he warned his hearers against “harming the soul by continuing in sin”, “by not caring about it”, and “by refusing salvation”. The sermon was preached in Gaelic, and printed at the request of the local Board of Health – something that would be highly unlikely today. It is now for the first time printed in English. There are eight sermons in all, but some of them are only notes of what was said.
A third section reprints two booklets on the Gospel of Matthew. One of them gave Macdonald’s notes for his lectures on chapters 1-4 (a lecture, in this sense, is an expository sermon; ministers such as Macdonald might preach many consecutive lectures on a passage). The other booklet was entitled The Sermon on the Mount, but concludes after chapter 6, verse 9.
Here are two quotations from The Sermon on the Mount. First, some lessons from the blessing the Saviour pronounced on “the peacemakers”: “(1) The reverse of this character must be called the children of the devil. (2) How necessary to cultivate this character. (3) The more one resembles God, the more does he possess it. (4) Saints, cultivate it more; sinners, seek to possess it.”
Secondly, we may quote from Macdonald’s general lessons from the Beatitudes. He begins by pointing to the marks given of Christians: “(1) What a change does grace produce on sinful men, from characters quite the reverse by nature, making them such as [are] here represented. See this in Paul, and in true men in all ages. See also Isaiah. And what could effect the change but almighty grace? Have we felt it? . . . And let those who are destitute of these characters have recourse to the same almighty grace. (2) See what constitutes the Christian character. Any one of these characters demonstrates the truth of one’s Christianity, and connects with all the rest, but it is the union of the whole that constitutes the Christian character. Each may be assessed in its place, and all in succession, but they must all have their place and exercise. How completely was this the case in Christ. Those in whom they shine most, approach nearest to Him. . . . (3) The nature and excellency of true religion.”
Macdonald then turns to the blessedness of Christians: “(1) See Christ’s goodwill to men, and what affection, interest, and tenderness does He manifest and express in this passage. (2) How certain they are of support and consolation through this life. (3) What felicity and glory awaits them in the heavenly world, when their poverty, mourning, etc shall be over, and they are put in possession of all these blessings.
“Therefore you who possess these characters are blessed; you who desire them, follow on – look to Christ. You who have them not are under the curse.”
A final section provides English translations of Macdonald’s Gaelic poetry. In some cases the English translation is in verse; in other cases no versification is attempted. Throughout the book, background information has been helpfully supplied by the publisher.
John Macdonald was a remarkable preacher in his day. It cannot be expected that the full force of a preached sermon will be felt from the printed page, but it would be good if even a degree of the blessing which followed many of his sermons when preached would fall on those who read this book. As Dr Robert Dickie notes in his Foreword, “the most earnest and faithful preaching will only benefit hearers if it is accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit”. That is the power we need today. May that power again accompany the preached Word in our time and accompany also what is reproduced in books such as this!
The Adoption of Sons
Its Nature, Spirit, Privileges, and Effects, by Thomas Houston, published by Ettrick Press, paperback, 212 pages, £8.50.
There are very few Reformed books on this subject available today; so this reprint from 1872 is welcome. It carries the further sub-title, “A Practical and Experimental Treatise” and comes from the pen of a Reformed Presbyterian minister in Northern Ireland, who lived from 1803 to 1882. He wrote several books, which were collected in four volumes towards the end of his life. A biographical sketch quotes his own words: “I owed much to the instruction and training and example of simple-minded and godly parents” (presumably simple-minded points to their limited education, but they were obviously by no means illiterate, for Houston’s father was pointing him to respected authors such as Thomas Watson and Thomas Boston). Houston was converted in his teens and was licensed to preach at the end of 1826. He was minister of a congregation near Belfast for 51 years, until his death; he also served his denomination as a professor.
The sonship of believers, who are in the family of the Most High, is a very high privilege. Houston speaks of God’s family as “a separate society, called out of a world lying in the wicked one, and each individual responding to the Saviour’s gracious and powerful invitation, ‘Come out from among them, and be ye separate . . . and I will receive you'”. He then speaks of it as “a holy family. This is its grand characteristic. ‘Israel was holiness to the Lord’ (Jer 2:3).” In this section, the author makes two further points: it is a loving family and one that brings blessing.
“This adoption of sons”, Houston says, “is properly a divine act and declaration.” He further states: “The adoption of the elect . . . originates from God’s eternal love and sovereign grace. Its objects were children of wrath and aliens from God; of the family of the evil one, and under condemnation. Yet, in the Father’s eternal decree, they were chosen in Christ . . . associated with Him before the foundation of the world; predestinated to sonship; and all this as expressive of His wondrous love towards them, and His infinitely gracious and tender interest in them.”
The author speaks of God as the father of the saints: “His fatherhood to them is a gracious relation, standing in the covenant of redemption, and fully exhibited in their union to Christ, the only begotten Son”. He further insists that God’s “fatherly relation to believers is in and through Christ”, and that “the fatherhood of God, which believers enjoy through Christ, is to them the source and assurance of all blessing for time and eternity. They are entrusted to the Father’s infinite and eternal love, and nothing shall ever be able to separate them from it. He pities them as a father does his children. Even when they are wayward and rebellious . . . and they are chastised with the rod of men . . . He heals their backslidings, and restores them again.” All this is in complete contrast to ideas about the universal fatherhood of God.
Other chapters deal with the believer’s relation to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit; “fellowship in the adopted family”; and “the spirit of the adopted”. A further chapter draws attention to “the privileges of sonship”. Houston emphasises that “adoption is itself the grandest distinction and highest privilege that God confers upon any human being . . . We cannot speak on this subject without declaring the riches of divine benevolence towards the saints, and the peculiar honour and happiness which, in consequence, they enjoy.” Among the privileges the author discusses are the following: “an interest in the love of their heavenly Father”, “access with boldness into His presence”, “the surest divine protection”, “abundant provision for all their needs”, and “guaranteed deliverance and final victory”.
Houston addresses “the duty of those who lack evidence of their sonship”. He counsels those in this situation to be “diligent[ly] searching for the causes” of their lack, “seeking to rest in the promise”, “walking in the pathway of obedience”, “believing in the Lord Jesus”, and “praying in the Spirit”.
The final chapter deals with “practical uses” of the teaching he has given on adoption. This doctrine “shows the fearful state of those who are not adopted”, “calls adopted ones to walk” as God’s children, “provides clear marks for self-examination”, “supplies motivation to seek the blessing of sonship”, “supplies consolation”, and “gives a solid foundation for hope”.
Adoption is an important doctrine, as should be clear from the chapter headings and other quotations given above. It is probably given less attention than it ought to receive. A prayerful reading of Houston’s book ought to be profitable, particularly for God’s children, so that they may better understand the privileges that are theirs.
1Both books reviewed here are available from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom.