The Wanderer

I have been away for a few days at a generally excellent Banner of Truth Ministers’ Conference in Leicester.  Good preaching and warm fellowship made for a great week.  Unfortunately – and some of you may remember my previously-expressed awareness of entropy – I have run into more problems.  I had a pleasant ride home with Martin Holdt, during which we discussed God’s care of his people by various means, some more obvious and others better hidden.  I was aware that the car was not running too smoothly, but it was not until I reached home that I realised that the Lord had been preserving us even as we discussed his preserving mercies: it was not the road surface that was ropey, but a strut in one of the wheels that was collapsing, and leaving a large portion of the tyre bare.  I also got home to find that my computer – which has been a touch unstable for a few months – has again been just stopping.  Hard drive?  Heat event?  Software crash?  Who can tell, but it may be on its last legs, which is a touch awkward.  In God’s kindness, we are looking after my mother’s somewhat limited laptop (operating system, nothing more!) which at least allows me to do some of the basics online.  We may now be past mending and into replacing.  If things are a little quiet here for a while, you will know why.

From the Banner of Truth website comes a fascinating snippet from a rare book by J. S. Curwen published in 1880, Studies in Worship Music. The author seems to have surveyed the United Kingdom at the time, commenting on the psalms and hymns sung by the different denominations, the place of the organ if one was used, chanting, harmonizing, and how to train a congregation to sing. The last third of the book describes his visits to the main churches of London including the following description of his visit to the Metropolitan Tabernacle one Sunday when Spurgeon was preaching. It was a curious encouragement to see that some of the issues we face in our much smaller congregation – seeking to sing at a good pace, encouraging some not to drag behind, seeking the appropriate mood and tone of a tune to match the words of the hymn – were writ large in the experience of the Tabernacle.  At least I am not the only preacher with an instinct to stop the singing and offer some suggestions, although I am not sure that I have a sufficiently Spurgeonic twinkle in my eye to encourage people who drag out their singing to prevail over the devil and keep up!  For the record, despite strangely thin congregations yesterday, our singing was excellent for tempo and feeling, so I can safely post this today.

The mere fact that Mr. Spurgeon’s is the largest congregation in the country invests the singing with an interest to the church musician, and there are other reasons which make the Tabernacle psalmody a profitable study. But the congregation is a special one from its size and the spell which Mr. Spurgeon’s voice and presence exert upon it. One is, therefore, cautious in drawing general conclusions from the good and bad points in the singing.

Nothing but hymns are sung at the Tabernacle, and these are taken from a collection of no less than 1,130, made by Mr. Spurgeon about seven years ago. The book superseded Dr. Rippon’s selection and Dr. ‘Watts’s Psalms and Hymns,’ which had before been in use. Dr. Rippon, by the way, was a former pastor of the church from which the Tabernacle congregation has descended. He was an earnest worker in the service of song, and published a tune-book which was much used in old times. The tunes used at the Tabernacle are chiefly taken from the ‘Union Tune Book.’ A few come from the ‘Bristol Tune Book,’ and three or four from ‘Hymns Ancient and Modern.’ A new tune is not introduced unless it has become popular in the schools and classes connected with the place; then it is tried in the service, and if it goes well it is permanently placed on the list; if not, it is dropped at once. This caution is commendable, and contrasts with the carelessness of the people’s interests which many precentors and choir­masters display. The tunes are led by a precentor. Mr. Hale, who has held the office from boyhood, has lately been disabled by weakness of the voice, and Mr. Turner, who had before led the week-night service, now does the whole duty.

The first hymn on Sunday morning last was ‘God is our refuge and our strength,’ to the tune ‘Evan.’ Mr. Spurgeon read it slowly through, then he announced the tune and read the first verse again. As the people stood up the precentor advanced from the back of the platform, and started the melody with a clear voice. Like a giant that needs a moment to arouse himself the congregation allowed a note or two to pass before they entered in full strength. Then the heavy tide of sound streamed forth from every part of the building. Many churches have more cultivated congregational singing than Mr. Spurgeon’s, but, from the numbers engaged, no other singing touches the heart with such an indefinable pleasure, and makes the frame glow with such a sense of worshipful sympathy. ‘There are waterfalls,’ it has been said, ‘more beautiful than Niagara, but none so overwhelming.’ To yield oneself to the power of this great human voice, to let the spirit sink and rise with the swell of this mighty bosom, is to know the force of human sympathy, and feel the joy that companionship in worship inspires.

The second hymn was ‘Thou hidden love of God,’ to one of the old tunes, ‘New Creation’, made up from Haydn’s chorus, ‘The heavens are telling.’ This the people enjoyed, and sang as generally as before. The third hymn was ‘Beneath Thy cross I lay me down,’ to the tune ‘Buckingham,’ which, of course, was a congenial melody. The people were warming to their work, and the volume of sound poured forth more solid and powerful than before. But why should the hymns be read twice through? It may help some illiterate people to understand the words, and Mr. Spurgeon’s energetic reading may infuse the devotional spirit of the poet among the congregation; but nearly all the hymns are so well known that these considerations must be of little practical worth. The reading takes up time, and is evidently wearisome to many; besides, it takes away the freshness of the thoughts that are to be uttered. The sermon was followed by the benediction; it is very rarely that a hymn is sung at this part of the service.

I have said that the singing was led by a precentor; but Mr. Spurgeon is the real motive power of the music, as of everything else at the Tabernacle. The fact is that when the precentor has set the ponderous body of voices rolling, he finds it beyond his power to control it. He battles with his Goliath, but it is all in vain, and if he were three or four notes in advance, the people would not quicken. Mr. Spurgeon evidently takes delight in the service of song, and is anxious above all things that every man, woman, and child in the place should sing. In announcing the hymn he generally makes some remark, such as, ‘Let us sing joyfully the 48th Psalm,’ — ‘Dear friends, this hymn is full of joy, let’s sing it with all our hearts,’ &c. Occasionally he will stop the congregation, and make them sing more softly or more quickly, when the effect is at once felt in a surprising degree. ‘Dear friends,’ he said at the watch night service last week, ‘the devil sometimes makes you lag half a note behind the leader. Just try if you can’t prevail over him to-night, and keep in proper time.’ For this dragging, the besetting fault of the Tabernacle singing, the immense size of the congregation is partly the reason. It is also encouraged by the use of a class of tunes in which the tendency is always to linger on the notes, — I refer to tunes in triple time, and those in common time with runs and slurs. But neither tendency is invincible, if pains were taken to instruct the people in the duty of intelligent and joyful praise.

At present the beauty of the Tabernacle singing is religious and spiritual. That is the highest attribute of congregational singing; without that quality no church singing is worth anything. But its musical improvement would not make it less of heart singing: it ought to make it more. It is a pity that the reaction against Romish ritual has driven the Puritan churches to an opposite extreme, and led them to take this objectionable ground, that ‘it does not matter how we sing, so long as we sing with our hearts.’ Why should the service of praise be singled out like this, for in other actions of our lives we do not say, ‘Never mind how you do it, as long as it is done.’ Such a view of praise is dwarfed and incomplete. If we have the foundation, it does not follow that we are to be content with an ugly superstructure. ‘Clothes do not make the man, but when he is made they improve him.’

The Tabernacle singing is, musically speaking, such as may naturally be expected from an undisciplined company of untrained voices. It is breathy and whispering in effect, and lacks that musical ring which comes from people who have learnt to use their voices. But much might be done to improve it, notwithstanding that the vast size of the congregation and the large number of strangers in it will always be difficulties to contend against. To begin with, it is out of all reason to expect any improvement until some means commensurate with the size of the congregation are taken to practise the people in the tunes, and to provide them with enough reading power to take their part in a hymn-tune. One tune-book should be adopted and adhered to, and this should be in the hands of the congregation. Until the average musical culture of the nation is much higher that at present, good musical congregational singing in a church can only be maintained by systematic training, extending from the Sunday School upwards. We see in the Tabernacle how helpless a precentor, who is nothing but a precentor, is to control a large congregation. But if the precentor were also the teacher of large singing classes, through which numbers of the congregation had passed, if he were also the conductor of a ‘psalmody association’ of several hundred members which met weekly for practice, and though scattered all over the place during the service, had all the esprit de corps of a choir — the case would be different. All the best singers of a congregation would be familiar with the voice and manner of the precentor, and would be accustomed to obey it with precision. In a year or two they would have grown in numbers sufficient to carry the congregation along with them. The heavy, rhythmless singing, with its gliding from note to note, would give place to a more impulsive and accented style, in keeping with the joy and thanksgiving of Christian worship. With all its shortcomings, the Tabernacle singing is thoroughly enjoyable. The heartiness of Mr. Spurgeon’s manner is felt by the congregation. They use their voices, if with a drawl, yet with a will; and no one can doubt that they sing as much from the heart as any congregation in the kingdom.

Lledrod L.M.

O touch my heart with grace divine,
The Father, Spirit, Son combine;
Save me through merit not my own:
Great Saviour, touch a heart of stone.

Touch me with mercy sweet, divine,
A sinner by my sins entwined,
My weakness great, my heart untrue,
Only the blood can make me new.

O touch me now with truth sublime,
The truth that conquers space and time,
And do what you alone can do:
Make me to know salvation true.

Touch now my heart with peace divine,
Safe knowing that the Lord is mine,
Each day show me undying love:
Show me anew, O heavenly Dove.

O touch my heart with love divine,
And let it through my being shine;
Sing out, my soul, to tell his praise,
To bless my God through endless days.

©JRW

See all hymns and psalms.

If you are a dad or mum, next time bath time is a bit of a palaver, read this.

“Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him! He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Job 1:8

We ought not to set up our rest in low degrees of grace; or content ourselves to be like others in grace. We should labour (if it be possible) to go beyond all others in grace. It did not satisfy Job that he had gotten to such a degree, to such a frame and temper of heart, to such a course of holiness, as his neighbors or brethren had attained unto; but he laboured to go beyond them all, “Not such a man upon the earth as Job.”  It is an holy ambition to labour to exceed all other in grace and goodness.  We have a great many in the world that desire to be so rich, as none should be like them; to be so gay in their apparel, as none should be like them; so beautiful, as none should be like them; but where are that desire and endeavour to have such a portion or stock of grace, that none should be like them, to be above others in holiness, as Job was?  True grace never rests in any degrees or measures of grace, but labours to increase: he that hath any grace would have more; do not think it enough when you are like others, you ought to labour to be beyond others.

Practical Observations on Job, Joseph Caryl (1:103)

HT: Johnny Farese.

Al Mohler gives us some statistics and challenges for the cities of the future now becoming the cities of the present:

The history of humanity traces the flow of the earth’s inhabitants into cities. For thousands of years, that flow was slow, but still traceable. In 1800, only 3 percent of the human population lived in cities. By 1900, cities held 14 percent of the population. By 2000, fully half of all human beings lived in urban areas. We are fast becoming an urban species. . . .

These new metacities will shape the future and, by extension, all of us. The Financial Times produced this important report with primary concern for the future of the cities as engines of economic development and political innovation. Christians must look to this report with a sober acknowledgment that the church is falling further behind in the challenge of reaching the cities. The emergence of these vast new metacities will call for a revolution in missiology and ministry.

This much is clear — the cities are where the people are. In the course of less than 300 years, our world will have shifted from one in which only 3 percent of people live in cities, to one in which 80 percent are resident in urban areas.

If the Christian church does not learn new modes of urban ministry, we will find ourselves on the outside looking in. The Gospel of Jesus Christ must call a new generation of committed Christians into these teeming cities. As these new numbers make clear, there really is no choice.

Read it all.

If you have been following the blog recently, you will know that the pastors of Maidenbower Baptist Church wrote to the Parliamentary candidates of the three main parties with a series of questions, hoping to clarify some of the issues for Crawley’s Christian voters.  All three candidates were kind enough to respond, and their answers are now posted, as follows (alphabetically, by surname):

• Chris Oxlade (Labour)
  
• Henry Smith (Conservative)
  
• John Vincent (Liberal Democrat)

I am very grateful to all three gentlemen for taking the time to answer.

I should also point out that another Crawley congregation, Three Bridges Free Church, are hosting a hustings on Thursday 29th April from 8-9.30pm to which all the Parliamentary candidates for Crawley have been invited (though I am not sure how many have confirmed their attendance).  If you would like to know more, or would like an opportunity to follow up the answers provided here, that is the place to go.  In addition, the Christian Institute has made an election briefing available.

The pastors of Maidenbower Baptist Church wrote to the Parliamentary candidates of the three main parties with a series of questions, hoping to clarify some of the issues for Crawley’s Christian voters.  Chris Oxlade, the Labour Party candidate, has kindly provided his answers.  Links to the other candidates’ answers are below.

Chris Oxlade ∙ Henry Smith ∙ John Vincent

1.         Is our society broken?  If it is, how does your party hope to fix it?

I don’t beleive our society is broken. I believe there are issues and problems which need a fresh look at and tackling but society isn’t broken. I’ve had the honour of working with charities, faith groups, voluntary groups and residents associations in Crawley for the last 15 years with the Mercury FM Charity Appeal, which I run. So many people are caring, giving, dedicated people who care about society and want to make a difference. To label their work as a “broken society” which some opposition politicians like to do is pretty offensive and degrades the community spirit which is building all the time in Crawley.

2.         Do you believe that Christian values have a beneficial role to play in contemporary society?  Is Christianity merely a private matter, or should it be allowed freely and publicly to influence the words and deeds of those who believe?

I do. I had a Christian upbringing, (was even a choir boy at Worth Church!) and it has given me a passion for trying to help others and care about where we live. It should be allowed freely and publicly to influence the words and deeds of those who believe.

3.         Do you believe that marriage is for a man and a woman alone and that it is the duty of the state to do all it can to strengthen and encourage the institution of marriage?

I strongly believe that the family unit is the bedrock of society and I’d like to see more done by the state to strengthen this.

4.         Do you accept that people who believe that heterosexual marriage is the only proper context for a sexual expression should be free to say so without falling foul of the law or losing their jobs?

I believe in free speech, I also believe that people have rights to a personal life, and that’s exactly what it is. A personal life, which if not hurting anyone else, has nothing to do with anyone else.

5.         Do you believe that churches/religious groups should be free only to employ people whose beliefs and lifestyle are in accordance with the specific teaching of those churches/groups?

Yes, I do.

6.         Should school governors be given discretion over the contents of sex education lessons and should the concerns of parents be taken into account when deciding what children are taught?

Yes.

7.         If elected, would you oppose any extension of Sunday trading hours in shops?

Yes.

8.         If elected, would you support a reduction of 24/7 licensing?

I’m not against more open licensing laws in principal, restricting free choice is something I’m not for, however, more careful implementation of 24/7 licensing needs to be considered.

9.         If elected, will you oppose the introduction of Sunday elections?

Yes.

10.       Do you believe that the law on abortion is too lax, too restrictive or about right?

About right.

11.       Do you think that the law on euthanasia should be changed?

This is a very complex and emotive issue and more research needs to be done into this first

12.       Local issues:

• Crawley does not seem to have a great reputation locally or nationally.  Is this fair, and what – if necessary – should be done about it?

Crawley is a great place to live. I was born and grew up in the town and work in Crawley all my life. It does get a rough deal locally by our town neighbours, but Crawley’s is where most people locally can fly off on holiday from, work in, shop in and visit reguarly. I’d like to see more independent stores in the town centre to help Crawley have a better identity locally, more new green business on Manor Royal and many more community events.

• Do you oppose or support the idea of a second runway at Gatwick Airport?

I would not rule out a second runway at Gatwick. I would like to see the new owners bringing up capacity for the airport, as it’s a long way off of reaching passenger capacity

• If elected, will you actively be seeking to obtain a new hospital for Crawley?

Yes. With full a&e and maternity. In the meantime, I will fight for more services to be brought back to Crawley Hospital.

13.       Why should the people of Crawley vote for you at the upcoming election?

I’m passionate about Crawley, I love the town. I would be honoured to represent Crawley at Westminster, but more importantly I would put Crawley first in everything I do. I want things to change, a new hospital, better housing, more youth facilities, a stronger green ecomony. Crawley is a great place to live. I believe I can make a difference in Crawley in the years to come.

Thank you, Chris.  I know you stayed up late and got up early to get these answers to us as soon as possible.

Chris Oxlade ∙ Henry Smith ∙ John Vincent

Believe it or not, happy or not, this is the blog’s second birthday.  As last year (and again excepting the ‘About’ page and the homepage) here is a list of the top fifteen individual viewed pages of the past year, and then the all-time list, noting the movers and shakers.

The best of last year

1. The poem “The Wanderer”: A short essay on an Old English poem, which provides some of the backdrop to the naming of this blog.  The blips in interest continue to suggest that popularity here is linked to essay deadlines elsewhere.
2. Encouragement for mothers: Despite the fact that this is a nugget from the inimitable Mr Spurgeon, it looks like this is another in the ‘popular photo, shame about the words’ category of popular posts.
3. The skulls of children: Prompted by a programme about the deaths of children in Africa, this post wondered why liberal angst never seems to embrace the horrors of the abortion holocaust.  It continues to prompt a spiky discussion, although I still can’t understand one of the comments.
4. Idols, God and Jesus: Who knew that a picture of the Welsh flag would give such a boost to a mundane article?
5. In Eden’s sinless garden: The first of the hymns on the list.  This is one that I wrote when preaching on masculinity and femininity, frustrated by the lack of material readily available.  It is marked by one of the more unusual rhymes in the oeuvre, prompting a friend to ask quite how his little girl was meant to work through the pairing of ‘abdication’ and ‘insubordination’ – check it out, though, and you will see that it does scan, and fits the context, as well as being an opportunity for education both theological and literary.
6. O Lord, our King, our grateful praise: Another hymn.  This one was written, if I remember rightly, after hearing a friend in the US preach on the person and work of the Holy Spirit at a pastors’ fraternal.
7. What is a true Christian?: This sets out to answer the question by surveying some of the marks of true sons of God that the Apostle John identifies in his first letter.
8. Women in combat: A glorified link to an Al Mohler article, but the picture and the topic seem to have combined to generate a bit of interest.  For the record, I am making plain that women ought to not to be in front-line combat.
9. Here, there, and everywhere: Another meandering report, which I have pretty much ceased doing.  I have no idea why so many wanted to read this.
10. Faithful and true: A little illustration from life as a father, but – again – the search patterns indicate that it is not so much my penetrating insights and flowing eloquence that have garnered such attention, as the fact that the article is garnished with a picture of Thing One and Thing Two from the pages of Dr Seuss.  Tell it not in Gath.
11. Gospel Intimacy in a Godly Marriage: An interview with my good friend, Alan Dunn, considering his excellent book on marriage.  My wife and I are reading it again at the moment (albeit somewhat intermittently) and it remains one of the better volumes on this topic that I know.
12. The works of Jonathan Edwards online: Links to the complete library of Jonathan Edwards’ Works online.  I suspect that this is more of a portal post than a final stop.
13. Prayer an investment: A quote from John Preston via the now defunct Paul Wallace . . . by which I mean, not that Brother Wallace has shuffled off his mortal coil, but rather that he has now ceased blogging (not Preston, Wallace).  Anyway, you get the picture.  In fact, I think that’s why most people visit here: another nice pic.
14. When all about me falters: Another hymn, this one written a long time ago during a lower point.  I think I was at university at the time.
15. John Newton on the pastoral office: A snippet from the excellent Mr Newton on the natural insufficiency of any man for the pastoral ministry, pointing – as every pastor-preacher must – to the sufficiency of Christ alone, in every aspect of our life in and service of him.

The all-time greats?

Last year’s ranking is in brackets.  I haven’t bothered replicating the descriptions.  Evidence of the relative youth of this blog is seen in the fact that most of this year’s top posts have moved into the list of all-time popularity.

1. (1) The poem “The Wanderer”
2. (new entry) Encouragement for mothers
3. (11) The skulls of children
4. (2) Idols, God and Jesus
5. (new entry) O Lord, our King, our grateful praise
6. (new entry) In Eden’s sinless garden
7. (new entry) What is a true Christian?
8. (new entry) Here, there, and everywhere
9. (new entry) Women in combat
10. (new entry) The works of Jonathan Edwards online
11. (new entry) Faithful and true
12. (new entry) Prayer an investment
13. (new entry) Gospel Intimacy in a Godly Marriage
14. (5) Psalm 107: Oh give thanks to God our Saviour: A paraphrase of Psalm 107, as the name suggests.  Not much more to say, really.
15. (4) Punctuality: Joining forces with C. H. Spurgeon, this is a pointed plea for punctuality, especially among believers.  I think I was probably graciously frustrated when I wrote it, but it is fairly good-natured.

Dropping out

In the top fifteen last year, but not floating boats in the same way over the last few months.

Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother: The only review on the list (one other was just outside).  A brief review of Carolyn Mahaney’s very helpful book, I suspect that this is a reflection of her popularity and the recognition of the Mahaney name especially in the US.

Womanly Dominion: An interview with Mark Chanski: My friend Mark Chanski has written two books from the perspective of ‘the dominion mandate’ looking at the roles of men and women.  I interviewed Mark concerning the book for women, although I never did get round to posting a review of the book itself.

A horrifying obituary: The blog equivalent of rubbernecking, this points to the kind of obituary that I cannot imagine anyone wanting – the woman in question was, it seems, unequivocally unmissed.

Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End: Another hymn, this one reviewing some of the names and titles of the Lord Jesus, and seeking to weave them together.

An introduction to John Bunyan and The Pilgrim’s Progress (outline of the book): Another student favourite, perhaps, or maybe a first resort for those who want to get an overview of John Bunyan’s best known labour.  Nothing spectacular.

The end of the law?: Prompted by the Affinity theological conference that ran under this title, this post simply highlighted a trend in modern antinomianism, and suggested or hinted at some of the dangers inherent in the ‘New Covenant Theology’ which is increasingly popular.  It contains links to a number of articles defending what I believe is the Scriptural and orthodox perspective on the enduring nature of the moral law (even allowing for subtle variations among those holding to this perspective).

Facebook friendship #1: One of two posts asking whether the social networking experience offers anything approximating to true friendship as Biblically defined.

Federal Vision UK?: Prompted by another blogger, I was raising questions about the theological pedigree of a new theological webzine.  There is some indication that behind the blurb their lies a definite attachment to the Auburn Avenue theology, also known as the Federal Vision or hypercovenantalism.  Having had some personal experience of the dangers and direction of such thinking, I sounded a significant note of caution (and – having been called out because of my tone of writing – sought to do so more carefully in a revised post).

Don’t ignore polygamy: Probably the aberration on this list.  If I remember rightly, this almost certainly got picked up for some strange reason on one of those sites that draws attention to particular posts.  I have no idea why this was chosen, but it boosted the numbers big time.  It’s a curious post to make this list, being a single quote followed by a sarcastic comment, and I expect it will drop off if I am still doing this kind of list a year from now.

Reformed and reforming: When Time magazine called “the New Calvinism” one of the modern philosophical movers and shakers, it seemed as of the Christian blogosphere went spoony.  Among the responses was a post from Mark Driscoll.  While I have enjoyed and appreciated much of what Mark says (while disagreeing with some of the tone and substance, at times significantly) this one stirred my soul a little.  It raises questions about the nature of ‘being Reformed’ as well as false distinctions sometimes made with regard to Calvinists of different stripes.

It has long been a settled point with me, that the Scriptures make a wide distinction between faith, the assurance of faith and the full assurance of faith.

1. Faith is the hand by which we embrace or touch, or reach toward, the garment of Christ’s righteousness, for our own justification.-Such a soul is undoubtedly safe.

2. Assurance I consider as the ring which God puts, upon faith’s finger.-Such a soul is not only safe, but also comfortable and happy.

Nevertheless, as a finger may exist without wearing a ring, so faith may be real without the superadded gift of assurance. We must either admit this, or set down the late excellent Mr. Hervey (among a multitude of others) for an unbeliever. No man, perhaps, ever contended more earnestly for the doctrine of assurance than he, and yet I find him expressly declaring as follows: “What I wrote, concerning a firm faith in God’s most precious promises, and a humble trust that we are the objects of his tender love, is what I desire to feel, rather than what I actually experience.” The truth is, as another good man expresses it, “A weak hand may tie the marriage knot; and a feeble faith may lay bold on a strong Christ.”

Read the whole thing at Heavenly Worldliness.

The pastors of Maidenbower Baptist Church wrote to the Parliamentary candidates of the three main parties with a series of questions, hoping to clarify some of the issues for Crawley’s Christian voters.  John Vincent, the Liberal Democrat candidate, has been kind enough to provide his answers.  Links to the other candidates’ answers are below.

Chris Oxlade ∙ Henry Smith ∙ John Vincent

1.         Is our society broken?  If it is, how does your party hope to fix it?

Our society is not broken but it is troubled in many ways.  The pressures forced upon people are causing problems in society.  Some of the e-mails I have received during this campaign have highlighted the difficulties and stress some suffer.  An MP can not alone cure all society’s ills but if in a term things can be made a bit better than they were before then it’s a job well done.   Each of us can do a little.  Yes and unlike Mrs T, I believe there is such a thing as society.

2.         Do you believe that Christian values have a beneficial role to play in contemporary society?  Is Christianity merely a private matter, or should it be allowed freely and publicly to influence the words and deeds of those who believe?

Undeniably Christian values are a core part of our history.  People should live by their values.  I will live by mine.

3.         Do you believe that marriage is for a man and a woman alone and that it is the duty of the state to do all it can to strengthen and encourage the institution of marriage?

Please keep the State out of the bedroom as much as possible.  I believe marriage is the basis of healthy families.  The duty of the State is to support families, single people and all the constituent parts of a healthy society.

4.         Do you accept that people who believe that heterosexual marriage is the only proper context for a sexual expression should be free to say so without falling foul of the law or losing their jobs?

I believe in freedom of choice and freedom of individual conscience. As long as someone is not causing harm to another or breaking the law then I believe in allowing people to live their lives in the way they wish and also to have the liberty to express their beliefs freely.

5.         Do you believe that churches/religious groups should be free only to employ people whose beliefs and lifestyle are in accordance with the specific teaching of those churches/groups?

You use the word “employ”.  There has to be one set of employment laws in the UK.  However this should not stop churches/religious groups making whatever choices they prefer with respect to voluntary work.

6.         Should school governors be given discretion over the contents of sex education lessons and should the concerns of parents be taken into account when deciding what children are taught?

The reality is that children need some knowledge of sex as soon as they become of an age where they are active.  Ignorance or moral lessons on abstention are of little help when we are faced with a large number of teenage pregnancies and a growth in sexually transmitted diseases.  A degree of consistency is needed in the messages given but there should be some limited scope for flexibility where religious sensitivities are concerned.

7.         If elected, would you oppose any extension of Sunday trading hours in shops?

Yes.  I like the concept of quiet hours that is in place in Cologne where I work.

8.         If elected, would you support a reduction of 24/7 licensing?

The hours of pub opening were once at the centre of this debate.  Now the problems associated with excessive drinking can’t simply be controlled by licensing hours.  Alcohol is freely available and relatively inexpensive.  I believe we now have a culture of binge drinking that has to be addressed by more than just Government.  There is no magic wand to solve this one but as your MP I would focus on ensuring that Crawley develops an attractive social environment that does not depend on cheep booze.  For example there is great potential to get an ice rink for Crawley.

9.         If elected, will you oppose the introduction of Sunday elections?

I would be open to a review of the idea.

10.       Do you believe that the law on abortion is too lax, too restrictive or about right?

I acknowledge that abortion is an issue of individual conscience.  Not all Liberal Democrats agree on the way forward.  There should never be a ridged Party line on this subject in any Party.  I support a woman’s right to choose.  All women should have access to a legal abortion on the NHS within 14 days of asking.  I do not agree that the time limit for abortions should be changed from 24 weeks.  However the subject should be periodically reviewed on the basis of scientific evidence.

11.       Do you think that the law on euthanasia should be changed?

I believe in the individual’s right to choose. The issue of voluntary euthanasia needs further debate and the law on suicide needs to be clarified.

12.       Local issues:

• Crawley does not seem to have a great reputation locally or nationally.  Is this fair, and what – if necessary – should be done about it?

Many of England’s new towns have similar problems.  However I see opportunity in Crawley.  It has the potential for a very bright future.  It’s a dynamic place that needs some better organisation to capitalise on that fact.  The local authorities have been slow and unimaginative in many cases.  Also, I agree with others that Crawley needs more visible policing to tackle anti-social behaviour and the fear of crime.

• Do you oppose or support the idea of a second runway at Gatwick Airport?

Not in my first term as Crawley’s MP.  That said Gatwick airport is a vital part of the local economy and should be recognised as such.  On its part the airport must take its impact on the environment seriously.

• If elected, will you actively be seeking to obtain a new hospital for Crawley?

If a new hospital is built in Crawley it will cost a great deal of money. That cost can partially be offset by the freeing up of the land of the present Crawley Hospital site.  However wining this argument will not be easy and require a strong commitment from all Crawley’s public bodies.  As you MP I would fight for this.

13.       Why should the people of Crawley vote for you at the upcoming election?

I believe I have the necessary knowledge and experience.  I work hard.  I’m independent minded.  I’m a pragmatic West Countryman.  I’m not a lifetime politician.  I know what public service requires of a person and I have much that I can bring to the job.

Thank you, John, for taking the time to answer our questions, and for the care you have taken with your answers.

Chris Oxlade ∙ Henry Smith ∙ John Vincent

Pascal suggested that the measure of true human being is the ability to sit alone in silence in a room.  Carl Trueman would like us to face our own mortality in a world in which a lost phone demonstrates (and perhaps promotes) a blinding obsession.

Look.  Read (Mt 6.31-34, for example, or Dt 33.27).  Trust.

HT: David Murray, who has an annoying habit of almost always and only writing worthwhile things.  Do follow his blog.

The newest issue of Themelios is out and about.  It is available as a 196-page PDF and in HTML.  Carson and Salter look interesting, and Trueman is usually thoroughly engaging even when one is obliged to disagree.

1. D.A. Carson | Editorial: Perfectionisms
2. Carl Trueman | Minority Report: The Importance of Not Studying Theology
3. Nijay Gupta | New Commentaries on Colossians: Survey of Approaches, Analysis of Trends, and the State of Research
4. Martin Salter | Does Baptism Replace Circumcision? An Examination of the Relationship Between Circumcision and Baptism in Colossians 2:11–12
5. Bill Kynes | Pastoral Pensées: The Church: A Hidden Glory (1 Timothy 3:14–16)
6. Book Reviews

Paul Helm (who has previously surveyed the Trueman-Murray debate over Packer and Lloyd-Jones on his own blog) has a fascinatingly British take on the recent J. I. Packer and the Evangelical Future.  One is left wondering if the absence of any really British voice or assessment of Packer’s early years is not just a reflection of his own departure from these shores, but also of the fact that the baton of fairly vigorous evangelicalism seems to have passed across the ocean as well.

William Carvosso, chronicler of the Cornish revivals of the early 19^th century, records a conversion and death with a godly grandfather’s perspective.  How honouring to God when grandfathers, fathers and (grand)sons can acquiesce in the Lord’s merciful dispensations!

My dear grandson, William Rundle, so recently brought to God, and so hopeful in the church, has been snatched away from us by the hand of death.  He was ill only a very short time; but glory be to God, he died in sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection to eternal life.  How merciful are the dispensations of God!  His conversion took place about six weeks before his removal from hence.  He did not long groan under the burden of guilt, and his evidence of pardon and adoption was very clear.  At a prayer-meeting two or three weeks before his death, he received an overwhelming manifestation of the Spirit, in which every doubt and fear was utterly put to flight.  He attended his class a few days before his death, and seemed to be filled with unspeakable joy: ‘My soul,’ he said, ‘is like a ship in full sail, on the boundless ocean of redeeming love.’  His death was occasioned by the rupture of a blood vessel.  In all the conflict, he was perfectly tranquil and serene; fear was not permitted to come near him.  This was the more striking, because, in every little indisposition before, he was much alarmed and distressed at the thought of death.  But now he seemed at once ready-winged for the flight.  To his father, who had fondly hoped that he would be the help and comfort of his advancing years, he said, ‘Father, you can do very well without me; and I would rather die than live.’  The Lord whom he had so heartily chosen for his portion in the vigour of health, was now his abundant support in the struggle of pain and death.  Just before he expired, he said to me, ‘I used to be struck with terror at the thought of dying, but now I can meet death with a smile.’  He died in his nineteenth year.

Quoted by Paul Cook, Fire From Heaven (91)

Things continue to go well with the book, A Portrait of Paul (click for more information).  As well as being available for pre-order at Reformation Heritage Books and Westminster Bookstore, it is also now available through Christian Book Distributors (CBD) and Grace Books International.  We are still waiting, God willing, on a British co-publisher or distributor.

We also have another couple of positive endorsements (even someone as inept at marketing as I am knows that those are the best ones):

Paul Washer: This work on the Christian ministry is a clarion call to true devotion and piety in the pastorate. The theology is pure and the language is as powerful as it is beautiful. I pray that every pastor and congregant might take up this book and read it. It will hold a place in my library beside Baxter’s Reformed Pastor, Bridges’ Christian Ministry, and Spurgeon’s Lectures. I will refer to it often. It will serve as a great antidote against all that might cause my heart to stray from Christ’s call.

Robert R. Gonzales Jr.: Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker’s A Portrait of Paul is biblically sound, pointedly practical, and sagaciously simple. In addition to an exposition of Colossians 1:24-2:5, they provide the reader with a host of citations from other pertinent texts of Scriptures as well as judicious quotes from past and contemporary authors, all of which help to trace out the contours of Paul’s life and ministry. Each chapter concludes with practical applications directed both to fellow pastors (or aspiring pastors) and also to fellow Christians. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who would seek to imitate Paul as Paul sought to imitate Christ.

We live a few minutes from London Gatwick, one of the UK’s major airports.  Although we are not in the flight path, and noise is very limited, we can see the planes landing and taking off and the skies around us are criss-crossed with vapour trails.  With the ash clouds from Iceland still causing havoc in UK airspace (at least this far south), this is the view toward Gatwick this morning from our back garden: no clouds, no planes, no vapour trails, no noise.  Beautiful.

In The Marrow of Modern Divinity, teacher of truth Evangelista explains the requirements of the fifth commandment to some of those discussing the Scriptures, and what follows is the confession of Neophytus, the young Christian, together with the response and confession of Evangelista himself.  I have been using this section of The Marrow as a help to self-examination in my private devotion, and could really only echo the confessions that the author puts in the mouths of these men, and be thankful for the cleansing blood and perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.  As Evangelista says, “Assure yourself, neighbour Neophytus, this is not your case alone, but the case of every man that has stood in all these relations to others, as it seems you have done, as I am confident any man that truly knows his heart will confess.”

Neophtyus: Well, sir, I cannot tell what my neighbour Nomologista hath done, but for mine own part, I am sure, I have come far short of doing my duty in any relation I have had to others; for when I was a child, I remember that I was many times stubborn and disobedient to my parents, and vexed if I might not have my will, and slighted their admonitions, and was impatient at their corrections, and sometimes despised and contemned them in my heart, because of some infirmity, especially when they grew old; neither did I pray for them, as it seems I ought to have done; and the truth is, if I did yield any obedience to them at all, it was for fear of their corrections, or some such by-respects, and not for conscience towards God. And when I was a servant, I did not think so reverently, nor esteem so highly of my master and mistress as I should have done, but was apt to slight and despise them, and did not yield such humble, reverent, and cheerful obedience as I should have done; neither did I patiently and contentedly bear their checks and rebukes, but had divers times risings and swellings in my heart against them; neither was I so careful to maintain their good name and credit as I ought to have been; neither did I pray unto the Lord for them as I ought to have done; and the very truth is, all the obedience and subjection which I yielded unto them, was for fear of their reproofs and corrections, or for the praise of men, rather than in conscience to the Lord’s commandment.

And when I entered into the married estate, I was not careful to choose a religious wife; no, I aimed at beauty more than piety; and I have not dwelt with my wife as a man of knowledge; no, I have expressed much ignorance and folly in my carriage towards her; neither have I loved her so as a husband ought to love his wife, for though it be true I have had much fond affection towards her, yet I have had but little true affection, as it hath been evident in that I have been easily provoked to anger and wrath against her, and have not carried myself patiently towards her; neither have I been careful to maintain mine authority over her, but have lost it by my childish and indiscreet carriage towards her; neither have I lived so cheerfully and delightfully with her as I ought to have done, but very heavily, discontentedly, and uncomfortably have I carried myself towards her; neither have I been careful to instruct and admonish her as I ought; and though I have now and then reproved her, yet for the most part it has been in a passion, and not with the spirit of meekness, pity, and compassion; neither have I prayed for her either so often or so fervently as I ought; and whatsoever I have done, that has been well done, I have been moved thereunto, in former times especially, rather by something in her, or done by her, than by the commandment of God. And since I became a father and a master, I have neither done my duty to my children nor servants as I ought, for I have not had such care, nor taken such pains for their eternal good, as I have done for their temporal. I have had more care, and taken more pains to provide food and raiment for them, than I have to admonish, instruct, teach, and catechize them; and if I have reproved or corrected them, it has been rather because they have some way offended me, than because they have offended God; and truly, I have neither prayed for them so often, nor so fervently as I ought. In a word, whatsoever I have done by way of discharging my duty to them, I fear me, it has been rather out of natural affection, or to avoid the blame, and gain the good opinion of men, than out of conscience to the Lord’s will and commandment.

And if I have at any time carried myself well, or done my duty either to magistrate or minister, it has rather been for fear or praise of men, than for conscience sake towards God; so far have I been from keeping this commandment perfectly: the Lord be merciful unto me!

Evangelista: Assure yourself, neighbour Neophytus, this is not your case alone, but the case of every man that has stood in all these relations to others, as it seems you have done, as I am confident any man that truly knows his heart will confess, yea, and any woman that is well acquainted with her own heart, I am persuaded, will confess, that she has not had such a reverent esteem and opinion of her husband as she ought, nor so willingly yielded herself to be commanded, governed, and directed by him as she ought, nor loved him so truly as she ought; nor been so helpful to him any way as she ought, nor prayed either so oft or so fervently for him as she ought; and I fear me, most women do all that they do rather for fear of their husband’s frowns, or to gain his favour, than for conscience to the Lord’s will and command.

And where is the magistrate that is so careful to establish in his dominions such good and wholesome laws as he ought, or to see them executed or put in practice as he ought, or that is so careful to uphold and maintain the truth of religion as he ought, or that is so careful to provide for the peace, safety, and welfare of his people as he ought? Or where is the magistrate that does not do what he does for some other cause, or some other end, rather than because God commands them, or to the end he may please him?

And where is the minister that does his duty so in his place as he ought? I am sure, for mine own part, I have neither so diligently nor faithfully preached the pure word of God as I ought; nor so fully nor truly expounded it and applied it to my hearers as I ought; nor so poured out my soul to God for them in prayer as I ought; neither have I gone before them as a pattern of imitation in holiness of life and conversation, as I ought: the Lord be merciful to me!

I say, my brother, it won’t do to be content with giving first-rate sermons without being endowed with power from on high.  The world will give its applause and hurrahs, and foolish preachers may be pleased with the honour; but it will go out like a falling star.

Isaac Marsden (1807-1882), quoted by Paul Cook, Fire From Heaven (70)

The pastors of Maidenbower Baptist Church wrote to the Parliamentary candidates of the three main parties with a series of questions, hoping to clarify some of the issues for Crawley’s Christian voters.  First out of the blocks with the answers was Henry Smith, the Conservative candidate.  His answers are below, and there are links to the other candidates’ responses.

Chris Oxlade ∙ Henry Smith ∙ John Vincent

1.         Is our society broken?  If it is, how does your party hope to fix it?

There are many great examples of communities working well and harmoniously, often with faith based organisations at the centre of that. I believe, however, that there are too many people, often the young and under privileged, who are excluded from our society or who have decided to exclude themselves. In this sense I think significant sections of British society are broken.

I believe that part of the problem over the past half-century or so has been increased pressure on the family; pressures from changing work patterns, societal attitudes and a lack proper recognition from the state. My personal belief is that the family is a God given structure and the ‘bedrock’ of our society for millennia and that fact has not changed simply because we live in modern times.

I believe there is such a thing as society, it is just not the same as the state.

2.         Do you believe that Christian values have a beneficial role to play in contemporary society?  Is Christianity merely a private matter, or should it be allowed freely and publicly to influence the words and deeds of those who believe?

I believe in the values of freedom and faith. The Christian community and other faith groups have a positive and essential role in our society and believers should of course be free to express their faith.

3.         Do you believe that marriage is for a man and a woman alone and that it is the duty of the state to do all it can to strengthen and encourage the institution of marriage?

As the family is the basis of a healthy society so I believe marriage between a man and a woman is the basis of healthy families. Unfortunately it is not currently the case but the tax and benefit system should recognise and support marriage.

4.         Do you accept that people who believe that heterosexual marriage is the only proper context for a sexual expression should be free to say so without falling foul of the law or losing their jobs?

I believe in freedom of choice and freedom of individual conscience. As long as someone is not causing harm to another or breaking the law then I believe in allowing people to live their lives in the way they wish and also to have the liberty to express their beliefs freely.

5.         Do you believe that churches/religious groups should be free only to employ people whose beliefs and lifestyle are in accordance with the specific teaching of those churches/groups?

Yes.

6.         Should school governors be given discretion over the contents of sex education lessons and should the concerns of parents be taken into account when deciding what children are taught?

Yes.

7.         If elected, would you oppose any extension of Sunday trading hours in shops?

Yes.

8.         If elected, would you support a reduction of 24/7 licensing?

Yes.

9.         If elected, will you oppose the introduction of Sunday elections?

Yes.

10.       Do you believe that the law on abortion is too lax, too restrictive or about right?

I believe that the current law on abortion is about right.

11.       Do you think that the law on euthanasia should be changed?

I believe in the individual’s right to choose. The issue of voluntary euthanasia needs further debate and the law on suicide needs to be clarified.

12.       Local issues:

• Crawley does not seem to have a great reputation locally or nationally.  Is this fair, and what – if necessary – should be done about it?

I think Crawley is a good place to live with just about everything on our doorstep, that is why I chose to live here when I got married and why we are raising our young family here. However, I think our town could be better still. As a local resident, if fortunate enough to be elected MP, I will speak for local people’s interests in Parliament, not be simply a Government mouthpiece here at home. Crawley needs more visible policing to tackle anti-social behaviour and the fear of crime. In addition we need to bring important hospital services, such as A&E and maternity, back to the area.

• Do you oppose or support the idea of a second runway at Gatwick Airport?

My view on the future of Gatwick is exactly the same as the opinion of the airport’s new owners – that it should grow in terms of passenger numbers but on the current ‘one runway, two terminals’ configuration. the Department for Transport estimates that numbers can increase by an extra ten million throughput passengers per annum without the need for an additional runway. Gatwick and its effect is vital to our economic success and local employment. I believe economic growth can be achieved without runway expansion which would damage the local environment.

• If elected, will you actively be seeking to obtain a new hospital for Crawley?

Yes. This is the most important local issue. An important town like Crawley with a growing and aging population; major transportation links, such as Gatwick, in addition to being at the centre of the sub region, needs a new hospital. East Surrey Hospital is ten miles away over congested roads, is overloaded and receives bad hygiene reports. My wife, Jennifer, used to work at Crawley Hospital until her job moved to East Surrey, from home in Maidenbower some mornings it could take her up to an hour to reach work – inconvenient for residents at best, life threatening at worst.

13.       Why should the people of Crawley vote for you at the upcoming election?

I am local, am raising my family here and have represented the area on the County Council for over a dozen years.  As Leader of West Sussex County Council I have been pleased to realise investment of over £100 million into three new Crawley schools, the new library (twice the size of the old library and the most sustainable public building in West Sussex) and the recycling centre at Metcalf Way which is now achieving a recycling rate in excess of 50%. I believe I have local knowledge and experience.

Thank you, Henry, for taking the time to answer our questions, and for your swift and precise answers.

Chris Oxlade ∙ Henry Smith ∙ John Vincent

Taking a leaf from the book of Guy Davies, and drawing on some briefing from DayOne, the pastors here at Maidenbower have submitted a series of questions to our local Parliamentary candidates (from the three main parties).  The Christian Institute has also produced an election briefing.

With the first of the UK’s televised debates by the leaders of the main parties threatening to alter the political landscape, this could be an interesting election.  We sent the note and asked the questions below of the three candidates with a view to discerning their personal opinions on various issues, and helping the people of God here – and in Crawley more widely – to make a decision about their vote in the upcoming election.

I will post the answers as they become available.

Dear Candidate,

We are writing on behalf of Maidenbower Baptist Church, Crawley, and other Christians in Crawley.  We are taking a keen interest in the election, and consistently pray for the government and other civil authorities at local and national level.

As a means of helping the individual members of this church and other churches, we should be very grateful if you would take a few minutes to consider and respond to the questions below.  These are some of the questions that may help Christians in Crawley decide how to vote in the upcoming election.  We hope to make your answers available to the members of the church at Maidenbower and other interested Christians.

Thank you for taking the time to consider these questions.  We very much look forward to reading your answers.

Questions for candidates standing for Crawley at the General Election (May 2010)

1.         Is our society broken?  If it is, how does your party hope to fix it?

2.         Do you believe that Christian values have a beneficial role to play in contemporary society?  Is Christianity merely a private matter, or should it be allowed freely and publicly to influence the words and deeds of those who believe?

3.         Do you believe that marriage is for a man and a woman alone and that it is the duty of the state to do all it can to strengthen and encourage the institution of marriage?

4.         Do you accept that people who believe that heterosexual marriage is the only proper context for a sexual expression should be free to say so without falling foul of the law or losing their jobs?

5.         Do you believe that churches/religious groups should be free only to employ people whose beliefs and lifestyle are in accordance with the specific teaching of those churches/groups?

6.         Should school governors be given discretion over the contents of sex education lessons and should the concerns of parents be taken into account when deciding what children are taught?

7.         If elected, would you oppose any extension of Sunday trading hours in shops?

8.         If elected, would you support a reduction of 24/7 licensing?

9.         If elected, will you oppose the introduction of Sunday elections?

10.       Do you believe that the law on abortion is too lax, too restrictive or about right?

11.       Do you think that the law on euthanasia should be changed?

12.       Local issues:

• Crawley does not seem to have a great reputation locally or nationally.  Is this fair, and what – if necessary – should be done about it?
• Do you oppose or support the idea of a second runway at Gatwick Airport?
• If elected, will you actively be seeking to obtain a new hospital for Crawley?

13.       Why should the people of Crawley vote for you at the upcoming election?

Chris Oxlade ∙ Henry Smith ∙ John Vincent

A little more from Marcus Loane’s The Hope of Glory: An Exposition of the Eighth Chapter in the Epistle to the Romans (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1968):

The great Latin Father, Jerome, has left a clear record of the way in which he tried to obey the law and to subdue the flesh in his own strength.  He lived as a hermit alone in the desert and gave himself up to weeks of fasting; but he had to confess at last that he could not banish the dark passions which were always ready to haunt his mind.  “How often,” so he wrote to Eustochium, “when I was living in the desert, parched by a burning sun, did I fancy myself among the pleasures of Rome!  Sackcloth disfigured my unshapely limbs, and my skin from long neglect had become as black as an Ethiopian’s . . . And although in my fear of hell I had consigned myself to this prison, where I had no companions but scorpions and wild beasts, I often thought myself amid bevies of girls.  My face was pale, and my frame chilled with fasting; yet my mind was burning with desire, and the fires of lust kept bubbling up before me when my flesh was as good as dead.  Helpless, I cast myself at the feet of Jesus.”  Jerome found that only one thing could meet his need; nothing could take its place.  God was willing to do for him what he could not do for himself: he had to cast himself, helpless, at the feet of Jesus. (28-29)

The following extract comes from Marcus Loane’s The Hope of Glory: An Exposition of the Eighth Chapter in the Epistle to the Romans (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1968), pages 15-16.  When he faced death, Sir Walter Raleigh was already reckoning himself dead indeed to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord, and therefore without condemnation in the court of heaven.

Thus the logic in St. Paul’s mind was this: there is now no prospect of that fatal condemnation in the case of those who have come into such a union with Him; God cannot pass sentence of death on those who are in Christ Jesus because that is His has been reckoned as theirs.  It is this fact that lies at the heart of the most astonishing declaration which he ever made with regard to Christ and the sinner: “He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we (who have no righteousness) might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:21).  He was for us in the place of condemnation; we are in him where all condemnation has spent its force.  He took what was ours as though it were His, and gave what was His as though it were ours.  What He was not, that He became, so that we might become what we were not.  It was in fact because He knew no sin that He could be made sin for us; and now it is because we are in him that we have no condemnation to fear.  It is as a result of this reciprocal exchange that God clears the guilty, and this is what He does for all who are in Christ Jesus.

Perhaps the most versatile of all the great Elizabethans was Sir Walter Raleigh: courtier, soldier, sailor, explorer, scientist, poet, author, historian.  It was his misfortune that he outlived the great queen when she died in March 1603.  Four months later, he was suddenly imprisoned on a very doubtful charge of treason.  His trial took place in the following November: he was condemned to death, and the scaffold was set up in the grounds of the Tower of London.  He wrote what he believed would be his last letter to his wife; a poem followed.  He had denied the charge of high treason, and he now stands acquitted at the bar of history.  But in the Tower he could only look up to the “bribeless hall” of heaven where the King’s attorney is none other than Christ Himself:

“And when the grand twelve-million jury
Of our sins, with direful fury,
Against our souls black verdicts give,
Christ’s pleads his death, and then we live.”

Raleigh’s fate was postponed, and his execution did not take place until 1616; but when at last he was required to die beneath the axe, he met that death with an unfaltering faith and courage.  He had grasped in essence the great fundamental meaning of the Pauline theology of grace: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”

In By Grace Alone: How the Grace of God Amazes Me (Reformation Trust, 2010) we see Sinclair Ferguson in his best clothes, as pastor-preacher.  In this companion volume to In Christ Alone (Reformation Trust, 2007) we find nothing novel but much that is fresh and sweet.  Taking the hymn of African pastor Emmanuel T. Sibomana (“O how the grace of God/Amazes me”) as his Rough Guide to Christian truth and experience, the author guides us with a Scripture map more closely through God’s gracious dealings with sinners.  Addressing readers of all situations and circumstances, the exegesis is simple and thorough with occasional particular insights to ponder, and profundities into which we gaze, humbled.  This is more than a mere study of doctrine by a disinterested observer: a man captured by grace calls on us to know and feel the truth in its power – to taste, enjoy and live relying on God’s amazing grace in Christ.  Warmly recommended for those needing to arrive at or return to first things.  (Westminster Bookstore/Amazon)

Despite sounding like an invitation to some kind of evangelical Iron Man event, The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men by Richard D. Phillips (Reformation Trust, 2010) is an excellent contribution to the literature on Biblical manliness.  Phillips helpfully begins by considering man as man, called to ‘work’ and ‘keep’ as God’s image bearers on earth.  Only then does he consider that calling in the context of marriage, child-discipling and friendship, then more broadly in the church, making the book useful for men of different character and circumstance.  Phillips avoids the current trend in some circles to call upon men to summon up their inner cage-fighter, and produces a sane, balanced, and Scriptural approach in fairly brief scope that will be of help to many.  (Westminster Bookstore/Amazon)

In The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief (Moody Publishers, 2010), author James S. Spiegel sets out not so much to shift the goalposts as to choose a new playing field.  The aim is to get behind the protestations of intellectual difficulty to the (im)moral underpinnings of atheism.  With a thesis that may be familiar from more in-depth considerations of the motives and appetites of intellectuals of various stripes, Spiegel suggests that atheism involves a wilful rejection of God, often precipitated by immoral indulgences and typically a damaged or broken paternal relationship.  Atheism is revealed as a moral rather than rational stance which increasingly blinds the eyes and deadens the conscience over time.  The Scriptural basis for such assertions receives only a brief treatment, and for the most part the writer seeks to turn atheism’s guns back on itself.  Certain throwaway comments also raise the question of exactly what kind of Christianity the author would be inviting an atheist to.  Nevertheless, a provocative little book that may help Christians to look beyond the appearances and protestations of modern atheism and then to consider and address the folly in the heart of the natural man.  (Westminster Bookstore/Amazon)

A little cheesed off with material on bringing up children that seemed to miss, neglect or even bypass the gospel, I wondered if Gospel-Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting by William Farley (Presbyterian & Reformed, 2009) would provide the answer.  There are helpful principles and wise counsel to be found here.  The material on legalism and moralism hits the spot, and the positive treatment of the fear of God, the power of example, and real holiness are profitable.  At the same time, I was left feeling that the book had missed its mark.  It was difficult at times to gauge the author’s assumptions about children (for example, when distinguishing between the converted and unconverted), and at times it seemed that the main concern for our children is to have them inherit a worldview rather than trust a Saviour.  Useful in parts, but not as satisfying as one would hope.  (Westminster Bookstore/Amazon)

No one will read C. H. Spurgeon’s Sermons Beyond Volume 63 (DayOne, 2010) and retain the idea that Spurgeon was merely a genial Victorian pulpiteer.  I would go so far as to suggest that there is an unusual degree of bite and drive in these sermons, with the cutting edge sharp and the pleading earnest.  All Spurgeon’s strengths and many of his idiosyncrasies are on display.  Hopefully very minor quibbles with the formatting of some sermon divisions can be cleared up in another printing.  Never just a collector’s item for those looking for a complete set, this is an excellent and highly-profitable showcase for the kind of trenchant, memorable, gospel-soaked sermons that Iain Murray was commending in the February 2010 edition of The Banner of Truth magazine (Issue #557).  If we read to profit, our souls will be fed.  (Amazon)

R. B. Jones: Gospel Ministry in Turbulent Times by Noel Gibbard (Bryntirion Press, 2009) is, for the most part, straight history.  The author seems to suspend the exercise of any critical faculty for the bulk of the book, concentrating on data without much analysis.  The result is a stream of information, some facts and anecdotes seeming more to impede than assist the flow.  We see determination and vigour, committed holiness and evangelistic zeal, and distinctive views (especially on sanctification, revival, and Christ’s return) vigorously defended by the subject.  Though few readers might agree with all those distinctive views, none will deny that here was a man of conviction, whose life reflected his faith.  Given the period in question (1869-1933) it is interesting to consider to what extent the context is formed by the consequences of the evangelical decline known as the Downgrade.  The critical faculty stutters into life in the final chapter, but gently and sometimes defensively of this “enlightened fundamentalist,” at heart a preacher, teacher and evangelist.  An interesting book on a singular man, probably most appealing to students of Welsh evangelical history.

Pastors looking for help in counselling might appreciate CrossTalk: Where Life & Scripture Meet by Michael R. Emlet (New Growth Press, 2009).    The author’s aim is to carry the man of God beyond shallow and temporary prescriptions of limited help for struggling men and women – considered as sufferers, sinners and/or saints – to a richer appreciation and application of Scriptural truth, seeing and pressing home the overlap between “the story of God” and “the stories of people.”  Emphasizing the redemptive-historical approach, the writing is clear and the suggestions are straightforward.  This book will help ministers of others (including but not exclusively pastors) to understand and relate truth to those who need it in particular ways, an approach at which the best Puritans were true masters.  However, despite the excitable flood of exclamation marks employed, the substance can feel a trifle obvious.  A useful primer, though perhaps not as profound as it hopes.  (Westminster Bookstore/Amazon)

This new edition of The Marrow of Modern Divinity, confidently ascribed to Edward Fisher (Christian Focus, 2009) is excellent.  Although the book may be well-known to some, the new format is of great help in reading.  The main text is clear; broad margins contain both shorter notes by Thomas Boston and references to his longer contributions, which are helpfully broken out into their own sections.  This assists the reader to follow the flow of the author’s main argument while benefitting as required from Boston’s elucidations.  Neither does one have to agree with every nuance of the author’s convictions to appreciate the rich substance of the book.  Written in the form of a conversation between a true minister of the gospel, a new convert, an antinomian and a neonomian, the whole is for the most part pitch-perfect, putting words into the mouths of the various contributors that sound as fresh and as accurate today as they did in the seventeenth and succeeding centuries.  This continues to be a vital contribution to a perpetual debate, and ministers would do well to advance their appreciation and understanding of the gospel by means of this Scriptural tuning-fork.  (Westminster Bookstore/Amazon)