Dec 21st
THE BEST
BOOKS
1] The best of the Banner of Truth books are
the double volumes, that is, on the lives of Whitefield (Dallimore),
Spurgeon, Lloyd-Jones (Murray) and on
2] Everything
3] The best book of Dr Lloyd-Jones is his
‘Studies in the Sermon on the Mount’ because it addresses the conscience and
follows a biblical narrative. But all his books are enormously important. He is
wordy. He does not use enough illustrations in preaching, but the
few he uses are grand. I have been reading his Philippians recently and am
impressed with these sermons of fifty years ago. They are thoughtful and
thorough. He despises passivity.
4] John Murray’s first volume in his Collected
Writings, a gathering of his articles on many subjects, shows a clarity and, of
course, seriousness and commitment to confessional Christianity. He is
lucid. His other essential book is ‘Redemption Accomplished and Applied’,
though the first chapter is a little harder going. Some men here read it
together paragraph by paragraph, but they read part two first.
5] Splendid introductions to the Puritans are
Thomas Brooks’ 'Precious Remedies for Satan’s Devices' and Thomas Watson’s
'Body of Divinity.' Once you get a taste for them you will find many more, such
as the Banner’s modern translations by Law of John Owen’s
works. For example, once you have read Owen’s
paperback on the Holy Spirit you question if anything else is needed..
6] For a one volume Systematic Theology I
reluctantly think that Wayne Grudem is the best. I
don’t find his chapter on the gifts of the Spirit, and writing a chapter on
prophecy and nothing on preaching or on revival is crackers. It is special
pleading. He scores, though, in his spirit and his respect for the Bible. He
comes across as an experiential Calvinist. His treatment of all the millennium
views is over fair. Surely one is better than another . . . surely. It is a
very accessible and enjoyable book to read - for a volume of systematic
theology - and that silences 95% of our
grumbles.
7] For a brief introduction to Christian
doctrine you can’t beat Don MacLeod’s 'A Faith to Live By.' It is unputdownable. It is absolutely hopeless on
creation. He hits at the easy targets - we creationists - when we need someone
to speak up for a historic Adam and Eve, paradise and the fall. I am surprised
that that chapter survived into a second edition.
8] 'Robert Murray M’Cheyne'
by Andrew Bonar succeeds in capturing the holiness of the man. It becomes a
little austere, but don't be frightened. There are flashes that remind us of
his manhood - as does the other biography of him by Smellie.
It gives a picture of what Christ must have been like, and how powerful was his
preaching.
9] J.C.Ryle is
superb in almost everything he writes. One familiar caveat is some
of his essays defending the Establishment, bishops and the baptismal
formula of the Church of England in his book ‘Knots Untied.’ Other than
that tiny point, buy and read all his books. His classic is ‘Holiness’.
10] J.I.Packer is
also an important figure though all his best writings were yesteryear. His book
on the Puritans, ‘Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God’, ‘Knowing God’ ,
‘God’s Words’, ‘Amongst God’s Giants,’ and his 4 volumes of Shorter Writings
(get at cut price) are his best. But though he writes freshly I would
still pit the lucidity of
11] B.B. Warfield is important, but where to
start with him is not easily decided. He has a
fine selection of writings on the Holy Spirit. They are grand, and his
'Selected Shorter Writings' in two volumes are full of light and truth and
warmth.
12] Some of the young men in the congregation
were meeting at
13] Spurgeon is magnificent. As a preacher he
can take another preacher's breath away with his language and insights and
passion. Wherever you meet him, in his daily devotions or his 'All Round
Ministry' - he has scores of books - you must get familiar with him.
14]. Read Whitefield's Journals for an
immediate fresh-from-his pen insight into a young man caught up in a Great
Awakening and recording naively his impressions, open eyed with wonder at what
is happening to him and through him.
15. Jonathan Edwards' sermon 'Sinners in the
hands of an Angry God' could have been preached yesterday. Unlike that
Victorian quality that touches some of Spurgeon's sermons that
sermon seems freshly minted each time you read it, and so it
encourages you to read more of Edwards' sermons.
16. R.L. Dabney is a
southern Presbyterian theologian who was rediscovered forty years ago but
seems to be neglected in our Dabney-lite days. The
value of his three volumes is in the kaleidoscope of fascinating short
essays you discover there, coming from another of those massive
Victorian intellect whose hearts were bound to Jesus Christ and his Word.
Time would fail me to tell of
Geoff Thomas