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Adorning the Doctrine - Westminster Conference Papers 1995

Adorning the doctrine
Papers of the Westminster Conference 1995.
128 pages £3.75

This is the latest of the reports of the Westminster Conference which has been convened at Westminster Chapel each December since 1956. It began life as the Puritan Conference led by Dr. Lloyd-Jones; then (after the disruptions of Keele) became the Westminster Conference, chaired by the Doctor until his death. The conference continues to reflect the Doctor's wide interest in historical theology, especially in the work of the Puritans and in revival.
These papers are rather more wide-ranging than has sometimes been the case; their unifying theme is the application of evangelical doctrine to Christian conduct and discipline. The papers are as follows: Nigel Westhead on 'Calvin and the experimental knowledge of God'; Jean Marc Berthoud on 'Pierre Viret'; Paul Cook on 'WIlliam Grimshaw'; Iain Murray on 'Puritans and the maintenance of spiritual zeal'; Robert Sheehan on 'Church discipline and the early Independents'; and Bishop David Samuel on 'Thomas Bilney'.
The papers make stirring reading; there is an even quality and each paper displays soundness of doctrine and judgment. The reviewer particularly enjoyed Iain Murray's paper with its treatment of true and false zeal, and the welcome emphasis on the prospect of heaven.
Worthy papers, and yet, I have one nagging concern. Church history is alive and well as an academic discipline. There is much revisionism, especially with reference to the Reformation. Evangelical Christians work in the field of historical research. I feel the Westminster Conference could serve us well if there was more inclination to engage thoughtfully and faithfully with some of the current research material.

Roger Welch