Banner of Truth’s recent publication of [George Smeaton's] Sermons and Addresses affords readers the opportunity of a brief, accessible introduction to this worthy man of God. After a brief biographical sketch by Rev. John Keddie, the book contains thirteen sermons or addresses by Rev. Smeaton. This review will identify three leading features of the book.
David Dickson (1583-1662) represents a season of the finest theology and pastoral diligence in Scotland’s history and arguably the world. Born in the generation following Knox’s death, he lived through initial controversies and challenges that were brought against the Reformed church. Additionally, alongside the like of Alexander Henderson and Samuel Rutherford, he was instrumental in bringing the church again to a state of purity in doctrine, worship, government, and practice. His life itself is a microcosm of the challenges, victories, doctrine, principles, and faith of the second reformation.
“The Holy Ghost is pleased here,” that is, in the book of the Song of Solomon, “to condescend to our infirmities; and, that we might help ourselves in our spiritual estate by our bodies, he speaketh here of heavenly things after an earthly manner, and with a comfortable mystery. As in other places the Holy Ghost sets out the joys of heaven by a sweet banquet, so here he sets out the union that we have with Christ by the union of the husband with his wife; and that we might the better understand what this union is, he condescends to our weakness, that we might see that in a glass which we through our corruptions cannot otherwise discern.
“Are ye so foolish,” asked Paul of the Galatians, “having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect in the flesh?” (Gal. 3:3) Because of our legal bias, we are prone to strive after perfection according to the tenor of the covenant of works, which is nothing but a striving in the flesh. This causes many to be discouraged, and thereby Satan tempts them to give up seeking after holiness at all. However, the way of being sanctified and thus enabled to perform the duties of the law is revealed only in the gospel. Hence, practical godliness is a “gospel mystery” (1 Tim. 3:16). Contrary to fleshly expectations, the reason that sin will not have dominion over the Christian is because he is not under law (namely, not under it as a covenant), but under grace (Rom. 6:14).
he relationship between Grace and Law, as they relate to the life of a believer, has been a frequent issue of tension in theological history and practice. This has a bearing on how we view the proper of relation between Justification and Sanctification, the place of good works in the life of a believer and the polar dangers of Legalism on the one hand and Antinomianism on the other. In the medieval period the Roman Catholic Church adopted a view where the believer’s obedience to the Law of God was meritorious and thus a component part of his Justification before God. At the Reformation, the Protestant Church rejected this and recovered the Biblical doctrine of Justification by faith alone, but there were different views between the Lutheran and Reformed Churches in the relationship between the Law and the Gospel.
Christian biographies display the impact of God’s truth and grace upon human lives. We find them both encouraging and challenging. While we certainly benefit from faithful doctrinal, devotional, and practical works, we gain models of Christianity when we read the lives of faithful men and women who trusted, loved, and served our Savior. They help us see what is possible in God’s children by his grace. In doing so, they often elevate our own expectations and longings for a greater measure of God’s grace to us.
Sometimes men pay the least attention to what they see most often. They can drive a familiar route to work on ‘auto-pilot’, noticing few details along the roadside. Physiological developments in children pass unnoticed by parents who see them every day. We, however, become conscious of our oversight as soon as someone points out these overlooked details. A similar experience can occur in reading familiar passages of Scripture. Repeated acquaintance with the wording can leave the language imbedded in our memory, while disabling our inclination to think deeply about the meaning. We appreciate, therefore, the aid of those who come alongside and draw our attention to insights we have failed to observe. Hugh Martin proves an ideal help in this regard.
Great whales cruise the pathways of the deep with mouths agape. They do so to vacuum the food they need to survive. This instinct, instilled in them by the Creator, demonstrates how every creature – even the great whales – are dependent on his mercy for food convenient to their nature. The nature of man, being naturally prone to evil continually, leads us to suck in food, clothes, riches, the praise of men, for happiness and satisfaction. Some of it is necessary to sustain life. None of it satisfies. The gaping souls of the great mass of men still seeks after they know not what. So great is our appetite that we would suck in the entire world. Were it possible we would consume heaven itself in the pursuit of happiness and satisfaction.
“I have always thought that good books (being silent teachers of goodness) are the best part of a man’s furniture in his house, and the choicest goods of a commonwealth,” wrote Andrew Gray. While the term “furniture” may have narrowed in its meaning since those words were written in the 17th century, they remain true, and Gray’s book, A Door Opening Into Everlasting Life, is an excellent piece of furniture for any home.
A common engraving on seventeenth century gravestones depicts an hourglass with wings. The image conveys a clear message to even the illiterate bystander: time flies. Outside of cemeteries, a barrage of subtle reminders pelt men with the truth that “time is short and eternity is long.” The natural propensity of men, however, tends to suppress and ignore this inescapable reality.
