|
| Christian news worldwide |
 Home |
 Archives |
 Subscriptions |
 Adverts |
 Find a church |
 About us |
 Contact us |
 Site Map |
 PrintableVersion The Preachers of ScotlandTHE PREACHERS OF SCOTLAND This is a fine book, well worthy of the present reprint, and an instructive joy to read. Its author (1820-99) was a distinguished professor and pastor. The material now to hand was originally given as a series of lectures in 1888. It has an impressive span, covering some of the leading preachers of Scotland from the sixth to the 19th centuries. After an introductory chapter, a chronological approach is followed, with chapter headings including the early Celtic church, preachers of the Reformation, the Covenanting period, the field-preachers, and so on. There are broad sweep summaries and individual pen portraits, analyses and comparisons, assessments of strengths and weaknesses. While, of necessity, Blaikie's survey finished when it did, the book is very suggestive of application to our own day and is appropriate for the widest possible readership. It provides an always timely reminder of the importance of preaching in the outworking of God's purposes and emphasises the great and changeless themes which true preaching unfolds. It recalls some of the high days of gospel preaching from the past and stirs us up to seek God for more of the same once again. Meditate upon the significance of this rich sentence: 'Unless our preachers of today are men of deep inward exercise - men who know profoundly the powers of the world to come - men to whom sin stands out of all things on earth the darkest and most horrible, and redeeming grace the brightest, holiest, heavenliest - men of intrepid spirit, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost - the pulpit will not have the life and energy of other days'. It was so when Blaikie wrote. It still is. Richard Brooks, York© Evangelicals Now - March 2002 |
|
