Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt
(Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland
Pastor: Colin Maxwell. Email: colin.maxwell@fpcmission.org
CALVINISTIC BOOK REVIEWS
Just a few thoughts on various books which I have read over the years.
We don't sell the books…contact Amazon or the publisher. I'm not
taking the time to put up the ISBN number etc., If you are really keen
to get hold of a copy and need it, you can email me, and I will help
you, if I can. BOT = Banner of Truth Trust. The reader will know that
there must be hundreds, if not thousands, of books out there dealing
with the Calvinistic issue. I do not make a point of buying or reading
every last book I can which expound these blessed doctrines. Those
listed below are found in my own library/or I have read them in the
past.
CALVIN'S INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION - WESTMINSTER.
REVIEW: The great text
book expounding the Biblical Doctrines of Grace. I haven't read it all
but I have read all the controversial bits which deal with election
etc., It's a pity those who take upon themselves to oppose Calvin don't
do likewise instead of picking out bits here and there and quote them
out of context. You need to read it all. I have the entire Institutes
on CD Rom and also a good hardback copy, complete with search engine
(Rom) and several indices. It is relatively easy to read, although the
size (2 large volumes) may well put some folk off. There are some
edited efforts which may well get you started but I always feel we miss
something in edited productions.
CALVIN'S SERMONS - ON GALATIANS, EPHESIANS, ELECTION AND PREDESTINATION: ETC., VARIOUS PUBLISHERS.
REVIEW: My experience with Calvin's sermons is that you need to read
the whole sermon for all the drift. They do not yield their full
potential if you are just looking up his comments on a verse or part of
a verse. He is not wordy as such, but neither is he noted for his
concise comments. If I am tired, I will read someone else. However, he
is good and there is always a blessing waiting for those who will find
a quiet seat somewhere and start to read. I usually let a few weeks
lapse between reading one set of sermons before starting another. His
sermons on Election and Predestination are largely based on Jacob and
Esau's birth and life together and are wider than the title suggests.
When you remember that his church was crowded every day to hear these
sermons, there was obviously something there! I am currently reading
his sermons on the Saving Work of Christ based on some gospel passages.
These sermons are worth reading if you would rather get away from the
controversial debate type books and see how these doctrines are worked
out in the various books of the Bible. Calvin, it is said, was first
and foremost a pastor and only studied theology in order to be a better
pastor. The way it ought to be!
CALVIN'S WISDOM - AN ANTHOLOGY BY GRAHAM MILLER. (BOT)
REVIEW: A very useful book indeed giving snippets from Calvin's works
and arranged under many subject headings. Well documented and a very
useful tool. I have supplemented my copy by inserting "Sticky notes"
with excerpts from my own readings of Calvin. Calvin's comments are
always weighty. I picked my copy up at a fraction of the RRP and
therefore feel very pleased with myself indeed!
THE GOSPEL AS TAUGHT BY CALVIN BY RC REED. BAKER HOUSE.
REVIEW: Small (155pp) easy to read paper back explaining and defending
the "5 points" In many ways, a mini version of Boettner's Reformed
Doctrine of Predestination. His arguments are simple…and
irrefutable. I was greatly encouraged by the statistic he gave, that in
his day in America (early 1900's) while 1 in 10 Christians were
Presbyterians, yet this strain of evangelicalism yielded 1 in 4 of the
foreign missionaries. Who dares say that Calvinism kills off missionary
enterprise? A delightful read and useful as an introduction to the
doctrines. Incidentally, another statistic (gleaned from elsewhere) is
that DL Moody once claimed that something like 80% of his financial
support came from Presbyterians. So we do our money where our mouth is!
THE ATONEMENT CONTROVERSY IN WELSH
THEOLOGICAL LITERATURE AND DEBATE 1707-1841 BY OWEN THOMAS (TRANSLATED
FROM THE WELSH BY JOHN AARON) BOT
REVIEW: Large enough hardback book (391pp) but a "must read" if you are
interested in the various debates about the Doctrine of Particular
Redemption. A pamphlet war raged for decades among the people of God in
Wales. The first part of the book deals with the traditional
Calvinist/Arminian debate between the two strains of Methodists - the
Whitefield connection (Calvinists) and the Wesleyans (Arminians) Then
the author deals with the differences within the Calvinistic camp
itself. All Calvinists certainly deny that Christ atoned for the sins
of reprobates, yet many believe that the atonement is sufficient to do
so in its nature, even if limited in its intention. In other words,
Christ would not have suffered a pang more had the number of the elect
been increased. To deny the sufficiency of the atonement is to deny the
sufficiency of the Person of Christ, because "He is the propitiation of
our sins" (1 John 2:2) It is because of this sufficiency that we can
preach the gospel to every last person we meet, whether they are elect
or reprobate. Some brethren in Wales became practically hyper Calvinist
in their efforts to protect the efficacious end of the atonement, but
such was unneeded. Often it boiled down to a different emphasis among
brethren, but there were no shortage of pen wielders in those days and
sometimes other factors i.e. internal Church politics came into play.
It is sad to read how some disputes became bitter and how some could
stretch words and put father wrong interpretations on their opponents.
It is encouraging to read how godly men with their graciousness and
spiritual insight and wisdom could calm the troubled waters. Some
Association meetings which could have been billed as "showdowns" were
melted into tears as such brethren opened the Scriptures and preached
the glory of Christ. A good book to read to gain insight into the
nature of the atonement itself, how to preach it, and how to debate it
(and any other subject). The book has been split up into many chapters
- most ranging from 2-6 pages long and it is amazing how this format
makes a book really easy read. Long chapters can weary even the most
enthusiastic reader. Expensive enough to buy at £18.95 (Stg)
although I got 20% discount. Still…worth the money if you read
and benefit from it.
THE DEFENDER'S STUDY BIBLE (KJV) BY DR HENRY M. MORRIS. WORLD PUBLISHERS.
REVIEW: I bought this hardback study Bible last night when Ken Ham and
Answers in Genesis came to Cork. Although the main strength of this
Bible over other study Bibles is undoubtedly its "defending of the
faith from a Literal Creationist viewpoint" (subtitle) yet its many
notes go beyond this particular perspective. In his own words, Mr
Morris tells us that his views on soteriology (salvation) are
"moderately Calvinistic" (hence this review) He tries to be irenic
rather than argumentative (quaintly put, I thought) and the relative
brevity of some of the notes do not allow him to develop some
controversial points. He is certainly Calvinistic in his interpretation
of God's foreknowledge in Romans 8:29 and Romans 9. God did not choose
us because He foresaw faith. On those universal texts about atonement,
he rightly points out the sufficiency of Christ's atonement for the
whole world. In Ephesians 2:8, he rightly sees "the gift" as a
reference not only to salvation, but also to saving faith itself. In
Ephesians 1:11 he is rigidly Calvinistic. After repudiating again the
notion of foreknowledge being God's ability to see our decision, Mr
Morris writes: In fact he words all things - even evil things -
according to his own will. If it were otherwise, He would not be
omnipotent. The fact that he allows evil, when He could prevent it if
He so chose, and the fact He allows Satan and wicked men to perform and
instigate evil actions, knowing when He created them that they would do
this, yet creating them anyway, can only lead to the conclusion that
God is the ultimate cause (though not the immediate cause) of evil, as
well as good. This conclusion would seem to compromise His perfect
holiness, but any other conclusion would lead to the still more
unthinkable denial of His omnipotence and thus deny that God really is
God!" As is usual in these passages concerning God's sovereignty, he
rightly points out the inability of our finite minds to grasp it all. I
have an online edition of the Geneva Bible notes. If the Geneva notes
come across as black steaming coffee designed to waken you up, then Mr
Morris's brand of the same mixture has a little more milk and sugar.
However it is still coffee when all is said and done.
Perhaps this is too short a time to write this review. I have been in
possession of this study Bible less than 24 hours, but so far it looks
good. On other issues, it is pleasing to see his view that those oldest
mss on which the most modern versions, including the NIV, are based are
"error-filled" (here! here!) Those who are Pre-millennial in their
doctrine (no comment from this fence sitter) will love his comments.
Dispensationalists will note that Mr Morris views (rightly in my
opinion) their belief that church history scenarios are foretold
in Revelation 2 and 3 as "arbitrary" The Bible itself was well priced:
£20 (Stg) or 30 Euro which I understand was the cost price to
Answers-in-Genesis.
MORNING EXERCISES BY WILLIAM JAY. CALVARY PRESS.
REVIEW: This is a hardback book of daily readings by William Jay, who
pastored a Presbyterian Church in Bath, England for 62 years in the
18th and 19th Centuries. Spurgeon called him a "Master in Israel" I
have a number of daily reading devotional books, but none, bar none,
match this by Jay. They are really mini sermons, some lasting two and a
half pages in length. For preachers, many of them are immensely
preach-able with a good Bible verse, a proposition, and three or four
points with supporting Bible verses woven into the prose. Sheridan
regarded Jay as the most natural orator he had ever heard. However, he
is not flowery but solid. I mention in it here in this page of
Calvinistic book reviews to show how warm Calvinist writers can
be. Circumstances has often thrust us into a defensive role where we
get almost sidelined with controversy. Here Jay has avoided all that. A
quick glance at the Scripture index shows that he has no comments on
any texts from Romans 8 or 9 or indeed any of the Calvinistic proof
texts. It is full of grace and glory and any believer will profit and
enjoy these daily meditations. The book itself is superbly produced. A
good friend gave me my copy at Easter and I have hardly missed a day's
reading at it since which is unusual for me with such books. Where I
have missed a day, I have made sure to catch up on it. Buy it!
MEMOIRS OF THE WESTMINSTER DIVINES BY JAMES REID. BOT.
REVIEW: This book has been around for a while (1811), even under the
BOT label (1982) but I only acquired my copy a few months ago. It is
full of biographical details of that great body of Puritans who
eventually framed the Westminster Confession of Faith in 1647. Some
sketches are barely a few paragraphs due to lack of details while
others run to many pages. It is relatively easy read and challenging
because these men were spiritual giants. Reid's own comments,
intertwined with appropriate Scripture, gives an added edge to what is
basically a historical document. Many of these men made good use of the
printing press an a list is given of their books or printed sermons.
Some of their titles make for good and even amusing reading at times.
My favourite is the text which one of them (his name escapes me now - a
"problem" with reading such a book with a kindred theme running
throughout the whole) took in protest against the Romanising plans of
the Stuart line and the Church of England: And they said one to
another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. (Numbers
14:4) This book does not deal with the Calvinistic controversy as such,
but I mention it here again to demonstrate that true Calvinism does not
sap the spiritual life of a believer. These men were spiritual giants,
unmatched today by believers from whatever side of the Calvinist fence
they choose to be.
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