From Day to Day by Robert Macdonald
From Day to Day, Helpful Words for the Christian Life, Daily Readings for a Year, by Robert Macdonald, published by the Banner of Truth Trust, hardback, 392 pages, £14.50; it may be obtained from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom.
Over the past few years there have been a number of reprints as well as new publications of daily readings by various writers. This present one was first published by Thomas Nelson and Sons, London, in 1880.
This well-produced book contains a very clear and helpful introduction by Rev David Campbell, a minister in Preston, who informs us that Robert Macdonald was born in 1813, a native of Perth, Scotland. He “was converted in his mid-teens when a student at the University of St Andrews”, and “a key factor, as in the case of his close friend Robert Murray M’Cheyne, was the death of a godly brother”. Following his conversion, Robert went on to study for the ministry in Edinburgh, where he was under such men as Thomas Chalmers and David Welsh, and was described by Chalmers as one of the ablest of his students. The Introduction also tells of Macdonald’s work following the Disruption of 1843, of how he “toured the country, preaching the gospel, and raising funds for the building of church schools and teachers’ salaries”.
After a ministry of almost 20 years in Blairgowrie, he in 1875 accepted a call to the Free Church congregation of North Leith, where he laboured until his death in 1893. His ministry in Leith, according to a fellow student, Robert Cowan, who wrote a sketch of his life and work, was much blessed. “During the first years of his ministry, a beautiful and commodious new church was built. . . . The communion roll speedily rose from 450 to its present point of 1100.”
It would seem that, of the several books that came from Macdonald’s pen, none was so popular as the present one. It had commendations from his close friend Andrew Bonar, as well as the already-mentioned Robert Cowan.
Perhaps a couple of quotes here would be helpful. In the reading for January 23, under the title, “He is beyond rich who can say, ‘My God'”, the writer says, “This was Paul’s experience; and as it may be ours also, none should be content without it. We do not say that such an assured and appropriating faith is essential to salvation; far from it. There have been timid, trembling ones in the Church of Christ, ‘bruised reeds’ who, in speaking of their God, would fain say, ‘my’, but are afraid to say it, and who consequently go on their way with saddened heart and weeping eye; but are God’s jewels notwithstanding, and shall yet sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But though not indispensable to safety, such an assured hope is yet so essential in many respects to strength, and joy, and blessed usefulness, that we are ever urged to give all diligence to secure it.”
One more example of the many helpful comments is found on April 11 under the title, “Many a thing has failed in the testing, but never a promise of God”. Macdonald writes, “Generally speaking, good men are sparing of their promises, because limited in their resources; and because, moreover, they never make them without honestly purposing to carry them out. But with God there is no limitation either as to fulness or faithfulness, all His exceedingly great and precious promises are freely open to every believer. And as the promises are like the stars in multitude, so like them, also, they are best seen and most prized in our night seasons of sorrow and trial.”
One of the helpful features of these daily readings is the two or three relevant Scripture references at the conclusion of each of them. The reviewer appreciated the variety and relevance as well as the clarity of these readings, and happily recommends the book.
(Rev) W A Weale
On the Way to Eternity by Angus Smith
On the Way to Eternity, by Angus Smith, published by Reformation Press, 323 pages, hardback, £24.30, paperback, £13.65; it may be obtained from the Free Presbyterian Bookroom.
This book, contains 18 sermons preached by Mr Smith (1928-2019) during the last two years of his life. This volume includes a 45-page biographical sketch of a much-appreciated minister of the gospel. We are told on the cover of the book, that “his crystal-clear communication style in explaining the Bible matched his personality: lively, engaging, personal, and warm in recommending Christ as the sinner’s Saviour and friend”. Anyone who knew Mr Smith would concur with that sentiment.
Mr Smith was a teacher before he became a preacher of the gospel, and his desire to teach and aptitude for the work are apparent in his preaching. There is much teaching and exposition as well as exhortation in his sermons. His engaging manner, earnestness and deep concern for the souls of those sitting in the pews before him are evident.
His presence at communion seasons was greatly anticipated and appreciated, throughout various congregations of the Free Presbyterian Church, and this book clearly shows why this was so. Many of the sermons run like a narrative with the historical background and spiritual applications accompanying the call of the gospel, which is at the very core of these exhortations. The subjects include The Great Supper, Nicodemus, Three approaches by the woman of Canaan, The builder of Zion and His materials, Paul’s experience of the law, Comfort to the sorrowing Church.
The sermons were preached when Mr Smith was about 89 years old or more, and one senses a special urgency in them. At the end of the sermon on the woman of Canaan he says, “The great question then is, How are we going to spend eternity? Time is so short! It’s a new year. It’s begun; it’s running; it’s roaring; it’s moving. The whole of time from beginning to end is very, very short. Never mind your own age – from Adam until the last man, it’s going to be very very short compared to eternity. Think of the endless aeons of eternity to which we are going. O the folly of people who refuse even to think of eternity, to think of what is beyond the grave! The folly of it all! The madness of it all!”
The sermon on “Delighting in Public Worship”, taken from Psalm 84:1-5, which begins, “How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!” is full of background explanations and encouragements. It concludes, “God has a delight in mercy. He is a father of mercies, He’s a God of mercies. He has a delight in mercies – far more delight and pleasure in saving you, than you can ever have in being saved and coming to know His love. Yes, far more pleasure! May He be your God and Saviour.”
In the sermon on Isaiah 66:1-2, “But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word”, he remarks, “They tremble because they love Him. It’s not easy for them to speak of loving God. You see it’s a spiritual love. . . . But then, as we go on, we begin to understand it, when grace is in the heart. Spiritual love shows itself when we begin to respect God’s Word and honour His Word and seek to live by His Word and live by feeding upon His Word, and by feeding upon Himself in His Word. This love shows itself when we cannot live without His Word.
And spiritual love also shows itself in this way: when His Word is opposed, we feel it. When there are preachers who say that parts of the Bible are wrong, and reject parts of His Word, then we feel it. It hurts us because we tremble at His Word. They are sitting above the Word and judging it, whereas the Word should be above us and should be judging us. Those who tremble at God’s Word desire to respect His Word. They believe that the Holy Spirit has given us the Word, and has looked after the Word in every generation.”
There are many more quotable passages one could repeat, but we will leave it there. This reviewer finds the inclusion of the concluding prayer helpful and would like to see the references of the psalms used by the preacher included also. This is a well-produced book, full of readable, edifying, sermons and is a worthy addition to the Christian bookshelf. FRD