Coming This April - #8 of 8

Letters of Thomas Chalmers
with introduction by Iain H. Murray

Here you have it, the final unveiling of the eighth title next to be released from the Banner .....
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‘It is not often that the world has seen men like Thomas Chalmers.’ The vast crowds who lined the streets of Edinburgh as Chalmers’ funeral procession made its way from Charlotte Square to the Grange cemetery, no doubt concurred with this statement of Thomas Carlyle. Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) was indeed a remarkable man – parish minister, popular preacher, social reformer, lecturer in moral philosophy, economics, and theology, the first Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland. His great natural gifts, combined with his fervent determination to serve the Lord who had so signally saved him by divine grace, thrust him to the forefront of the evangelical movement that was to bring such a transformation to Scotland.

This volume, first published in 1853, contains a selection of his correspondence, edited by his son-in-law and biographer, William Hanna. These letters breathe the warmth of Chalmers’ devotion to Christ and reveal his true soul. Here we see the man behind the powerful sermons and impressive lectures, the ecclesiastical debates and the studied volumes of theology – a humble servant of Christ who in spite of his outstanding natural gifts longed to be a true man of God. Writing to a friend he says, ‘I long to realize the joys and exercises and the habits of experimental religion, to love Christ as fervently as good Samuel Rutherford . . . There is nothing of which I am more thoroughly aware than the utter difference which there is between a speculative and an experimental conviction of the same truth . . . I long for more of the life and freshness of an actual contact with these things – for the kingdom of God as abundantly in power as it is in word.’

‘Let us all address ourselves to Him as the alone refuge and propitiation of sinners. We cannot surely trust Him too much; nor is there temerity or presumption in venturing our all upon so sure a foundation, Let us not fear that if our dependence be strong enough, we shall fail in our preparations for eternity; as the simpler and stronger our faith, the more fervent will be our love, the more abundant as well as affectionate will be our obedience.’ (Thomas Chalmers, Letter No. CLXXXI)

Coming This April - #7 of 8

Her Husband's Crown
by Sara Leone

Here's what will be the newest addition to the Banner booklet series - to be released in a few short weeks.

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Although much has been written to prepare men for the work of the Christian ministry, there is comparatively little in print that will help prepare the minister’s wife for her role within the church.

The pastor’s wife is neither ‘The First Lady of the Church’, nor just another member of the church. She has certain basic responsibilities laid upon her and this booklet aims to encourage and help her to serve the Lord alongside her husband.

Although written primarily for pastors’ wives, this booklet will encourage Christian wives in general and will stimulate prayer for and support of pastors and their wives everywhere.

Coming This April - #6 of 8

Truth's Victory Over Error
David Dickson

April is fast approaching and I still have two other titles to post after this one, so I will try to get these "sneak peaks" out before they are no longer "sneak peaks." I'm at the GPTS theology conference this week, but will try to get this done soon. In the meantime, here is our "publisher's description" for #6.
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This book is not merely of historical interest; it is also of considerable value now because many of the errors refuted within its pages have surfaced again in the 21st century church under new guises. Christians today can learn a great deal from the faithful witness of former generations who experienced ‘truth’s victory over error’.

Truth’s Victory Over Error contains David Dickson’s lectures on the Westminster Confession of Faith, delivered to the divinity students of Edinburgh University in the early 1650s. Here then is a commentary written just a few brief years after the Westminster Divines drew up their famous Confession of 1647 by one of their senior contemporaries. Dickson's comments reveal the burning issues of the day and supply fascinating insight into the robust theology of the Scottish Puritans.

In the Introduction to the book Robert Wodrow writes that the author ‘as it were, breaks the truths of our Confession small, and prepares them for the meanest capacities.’ Here, then, is a useful aid for Christians who want to study and understand the doctrines of the Confession itself.

Dickson was concerned to explain the truth and refute error. Not content merely to establish the Confession’s articles from Scripture, he also ‘guards against the gangrene and poison of contrary errors, with judgment and perspicuity’ (Wodrow). Like all true evangelicals, Dickson saw the vital need of expressing the Bible’s teaching in both negative and positive propositions.

David Dickson (1583-1663) was the son of a wealthy merchant in Glasgow. His early aspirations to enter the family business were diverted through an illness and a subsequently lengthy period of convalescence. The result was that he entered the University of Glasgow (then under Principal Robert Boyd) and prepared for the Christian ministry. Following graduation he remained in the University as a regent until, in 1618, he was called to the parish of Irvine in Ayrshire. Deprived of his ministry in 1622 by the Bishop of Glasgow for his opposition to the Five Articles, he was banished for a year to Turiff in Aberdeenshire, but on his return was the instrument in the hand of God of numerous conversions. It was out of his pastoral experience that his famous manual of spiritual counsel, Therapeutica Sacra, was written. In 1638 he was present at the famous Assembly which restored Presbyterian government in Scotland, and the following year was chosen Moderator of the Scottish Church. In 1640 he became Professor of Divinity in Glasgow, transferring to Edinburgh ten years later. During that period he played a considerable part in establishing vital, orthodox Christianity throughout the land. He helped to draw up the Directory for Public Worship, and with James Durham compiled the Sum of Saving Knowledge (a work instrumental in later years in the conversion of Robert Murray M‘Cheyne). Restoration troubles after the return of King Charles II in 1660, hastened his death. As the end drew near, he spoke the memorable words: ‘I have taken all my good deeds, and all my bad and cast them in a heap before the Lord, and fled from both, and betaken myself to the Lord Jesus Christ, and in him I have sweet peace.’

Coming This April - #5 of 8

How fitting, on the 200th anniversary of his Death, to release this compilation of correspondences from the pen of John Newton. Many of us have discovered the value to be gleaned from another's letters through the devotional "Letters of Samuel Rutherford." Now, add this to your collection and get to know this man who was so moved and changed by the hand of our God! Here's our "publishers' description" to wet your appetite. It should arrive in our warehouse this April!

Letters of John Newton

John Newton (1725-1807), converted slave-trader, preacher, and hymn-writer, was one of the most colourful figures in the Evangelical Awakening of the eighteenth century. ‘Once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa’, he once wrote for his epitaph, ‘by the rich mercy of Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long laboured to destroy.’

It was through his prolific correspondence that Newton fulfilled his distinctive work as ‘the letter-writer par excellence of the Evangelical Revival’. His grasp of Scripture and deep personal experience of the ‘amazing grace’ of God, his many friends (among them, Whitefield, Cowper and Wilberforce), his many and varied trials, his country pastorate, his strong, clear, idiomatic style – all these factors combined to prepare the author of ‘How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds’, for the exercise of his special gift.

These letters, selected by his biographer, Josiah Bull, bear the practical imprint of all of Newton’s writings; they cover a wide variety of subjects and aim ‘to conform the believer to Christ’. Among them are several that were not previously published in earlier collections of his correspondence. Of particular value and interest are the biographical sketches and historical notes supplied by the editor.

COMMENTS FROM OTHERS:
C.H. Spurgeon: "In few writers are Christian doctrine, experience and practice more happily balanced than in the author of these Letters, and few write with more simplicity, piety and force."
William Jay: "‘What thousands have derived repeated profit and pleasure from the perusal of these utterances of the heart! Nor ever will they cease to be found means of grace whilst God has a church on earth."
Josiah Bull: "It was Newton’s goodness rather than his greatness that rendered him so especially attractive – the abundance of the grace of God that was in him. In this respect he was pre-eminent, justifying the eulogy of William Jay who speaks of him as one of the most perfect instances of the spirit and temper of Christianity he ever knew. Some men excel in one virtue more than another. But Newton’s character was beautiful in its entireness. It rested on a solid foundation – the initial Christian grace of humility, and of this grace he was a most striking example. He never for a moment forgot that by the grace of God he was what he was."

Coming This April - #4 of 8 - from The Banner

Jesus Himself: The Story of the Resurrection
by Marcus L Loane

Just looking at the graphic of this new book's cover should tell you that, from The Banner's perspective, something is unique about this title. There's no paper jacket; instead this is being published in a two-color cloth with a gold stamped title. Why? Because it simply needed the different look of a classic devotional book that matched its contents. Here's our "official" publishers' description. As with the others, we should get this in just a few weeks.
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In the foreword of this book, Sir Marcus Loane writes, ‘The wonder and glory of the Resurrection are far greater than we can ever conceive. That great drama took place in the silent tomb a great while before it was yet day. No one else was there when God raised Jesus from the dead: no one saw it happen . . . All that was mortal had put on immortality: death was swallowed up in victory. And it was in his risen glory that he made himself known to his disciples . . .’
The chapters that follow are part of a well-loved and life-long pilgrimage for the author. The Resurrection story they recount comes across with a freshness and loveliness that is full of heart-warming fascination.

Coming This April - #3 of 8 - from The Banner

OK, time to preview another title that's just a few weeks away from arriving at both the Carlisle and Edinburgh warehouses.
More to come.
Steve
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Lectures on Revivals
W. B. Sprague (1795-1876)

Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones has described this book as "The outstanding classic on this vital and urgently important matter." Only William Sprague's experience of genuine revivals, his faithfulness to biblical theology, and his balanced view, eminently fitted him to write this book. The chapters cover such important themes as:
- The Nature of Revival
- Obstacles to Revivals
- Divine Agency in Revivals
- General Means of Producing and Promoting Revivals
- Treatment Due to Awakened Sinners
- Evils to be Avoided in Connection with Revivals.
There is also a large and excellent Appendix comprising letters on revivals by various North American evangelical leaders of the nineteenth century. A special and unique feature of this new edition is the biographical sketch of each correspondent, kindly supplied by Dr James M. Garretson. The original Banner reprint, from which the text of this new edition was drawn, was reproduced from the personal copy of Charles Simeon of Cambridge, who warmly commended the volume to his Executor by recording on its flyleaf the words: ‘A most valuable book . . . I love the good sense of Dr Sprague.’

About the Author:
William Sprague, an eminent Presbyterian minister, was born in Andover in 1795. He went to Yale College in 1811 and graduated with honours in 1815. The following year he entered Princeton Seminary where he studied for more than two years, after which he gained experience in two pastorates lasting one year and ten years respectively. Subsequent to this he moved to Albany where he remained for forty years.
A fully committed pastor and preacher, he was also a prodigious author. Besides producing a number of biographies and other volumes, more than 150 of his sermons were to appear in print. Other than his Lectures on Revival perhaps his best known work is his Annals of the American Pulpit.
As a personality he has been described as an ‘illustrious man; a cultivated elegant, a voluminous, useful, and popular preacher; an indefatigable and successful pastor; an unselfish and devoted friend; loving, genial, pure, and noble; an Israelite, indeed, in whom there was no guile; one of the most childlike, unsophisticated, and charitable of men.’
In 1869, at the age of seventy-four, he left his church and after a peaceful retirement died in 1876.

Coming This April - #2 of 8 - from The Banner

The Life of John Murray

by Iain H. Murray

Here's our "Publisher's Description" of another soon-to-be-released title, come April '07, making this again available from Iain Murray.
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Professor John Murray (1898-1974) was recognized in his own lifetime as one of the leading Reformed theologians in the English-speaking world. Born in Scotland, he served in France during the First World War, before pursuing studies, first at the University of Glasgow, and then at Princeton Theological Seminary, USA. In 1929 he was invited to teach Systematic Theology at Princeton, and did so for one year, before joining the Faculty of the newly formed Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. There he shared with such scholars and Christian leaders as J. Gresham Machen and Cornelius Van Til in the great struggle to maintain the old Princeton tradition in theology, represented by the Hodges and B. B. Warfield.
John Murray remained at Westminster until his retirement in 1966. He returned to his native Scotland, married and enjoyed a brief period of fatherhood prior to his death in 1974.
A careful scholar, an eloquent lecturer, a moving preacher, and the author of many outstanding articles and books, Murray’s driving passions were for Christ, his Word, his cause, and his people.
The Life of John Murray, published originally to accompany the four volumes of his Collected Writings is now available again separately in this popular and reset edition.

Coming This April - #1 of 8 - from The Banner

A NEW Puritan Paperback

OK, let's finally get to the "sneak peek" of what's about to hit the streets from The Banner. First, let me tell you that there's a new addition coming to the beloved Puritan Paperback Series. Personally speaking, I love this series, as do many of you. I am always excited to see to grow. It continues to make great works easily accessible to many. Since these titles haven't arrived yet, let me just give you our "publisher's description" of what will soon become the 38th title in this series. It should be available on our Web site in a little more than a month, but keep watching this blog for the first announcement of its arrival in our North America warehouse.
Grace & Peace,
Steve

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Temptation: Resisted and Repulsed
by John Owen
(Abridged and made easy to read by Richard Rushing )

In this abridgement of John Owen’s classic work Of Temptation, the famous Puritan theologian opens up Matthew 26:41, carefully explaining what temptation is and what is involved in entering into it.

He then shows how Christ teaches two means for Christians to use in order to guard against this danger, namely watching and praying: ‘these two’, Owen says, ‘comprise the whole endeavour of faith for the soul’s preservation from temptation’, and he insists that it is the duty of every believer to follow diligently Christ’s instructions to prevent them falling into temptation.

Owen helpfully applies his teaching, showing us how we can know whether we have entered into temptation, what practical steps should be taken to preserve our souls from entering into it, how to identify those particular times when people tend to enter into temptation, and highlighting the best ways of watching the heart itself.

Sinclair B. Ferguson has written that ‘Many of Owen’s readers have come away from reading him on such themes as temptation and indwelling sin feeling that Owen knew them through and through.’ However, not only does Owen’s penetrating writing open up areas of need in our own hearts; it also opens up correspondingly profound assurances of grace in Jesus Christ.